Full text of Monthly Labor Review : May 1951, Vol. 72, No. 5

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

MAY 3 1 1951

Monthly Labor Review

L1C LIBRAR

U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF L A B O R • B U R E A U OF LA B O R S T A T IS T IC S

uAw r e n c e

R. K

l e in ,

Chief, Office of Publications


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

CONTENTS
Special Articles
509
514
523
528

Wage Escalators and the Adjusted CPI
Work Stoppages During 1950
Hours of Work in Key Industries, December 1950
Labor-Management Relations in Scandinavia
Summaries of Studies and Reports

533
534
537
540
542
543
545
549
554
555
561
563
564
564

Shift Operations in Metalworking Plants, January 1951
New Home Financing in Washington Area, 1949-51
Federal Classified Employees: Salary Trends, 1939-50
Price Movements in 2 Months Following GCPR
Ceiling Price Regulations Numbers 8-16
Mobilization Director’s First Quarterly Report
Developments Among Consumers’ Cooperatives in 1950
Injury Rates in Manufacturing, Fourth Quarter, 1950
Industrial Personnel Seminar on Management Training Programs
Wage Chronology No. 15: New York City Printing, 1939-50
Wage Chronology No. 10: Pacific Longshore Industry—Supplement
No. 1
Wage Chronology No. 3: United States Steel Corporation— Supple­
ment No. 3
Supervision and Morale Factors in Productivity
Structural Steel Fabrication: Earnings, 1949 and 1950
Departments

III
566
571
574
578
585

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

M ay 1951 • Voi. 72 • No. 5

Notice to Subscribers

•

©

•

Effective July 1, 1951, the annual subscription price of the Monthly
Labor Review will be increased by $1.

The price o f single copies will

also be increased.
Rising production costs—for paper, printing, and binding— have dic­
tated the price change, the first since October 1947.

The new rates will

be as follows:

Domestic Subscriptions $5.50


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

Foreign Subscriptions $7.00

Single Copies 50 cents

Orders as usual should be placed with
The Superintendent of Documents
Government Printing Office
Washington 25, D. C.

The Labor Month
in Review

A f t e r a 2 months’ absence, representatives of
organized labor returned to the defense agencies.
Acting on the recommendation of a majority of
the National Advisory Board on Mobilization
Policy, President Truman created a new Wage
Stabilization Board with jurisdiction extended
beyond purely wage issues. The new 18-man
WSB started consideration of applications for
approval of wage increases in over 1,100 cases in
which approval appeared necessary. The rate of
price advances slackened as a result of controls
combined with lessened consumer demand.

committee headed jointly by Frank Graham and
Arthur Flemming, and a network of regional and
local labor-management committees.
In view of labor’s satisfaction with settlements
reached on these issues, return of labor represen­
tation to a number of top defense agency positions
was arranged. George M. Harrison, president of
the AFL Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, was
appointed assistant to Defense Mobilization Di­
rector Wilson. David J. McDonald, CIO Steel­
workers secretary-treasurer, became deputy to
Economic Stabilization Director Eric Johnston.
A1 J. Hayes, AFL Machinists’ president, again
became special assistant on manpower in the
Department of Defense.
As a means for continuing the labor effort for
other points in the ULPC program, United Labor
Committees are being set up by AFL, CIO, and
railroad union leaders in many communities;
notable among these are committees already func­
tioning in Philadelphia, Louisville, Toledo, and
New York City.
New Wage Stabilization Board

Labor Rejoins Defense Agencies

The United Labor Policy Committee, speaking
for almost all of organized labor, declared that
“ a significant change of attitude has taken place
in Washington” and sent its representatives back
to the defense agencies they left 2 months before.
While satisfaction was expressed with certain
policy changes which have been effected, the
ULPC announced it would continue efforts for
other major objectives: a more flexible wage
policy; revision of the Defense Production Act;
tightened rent and price controls; more adequate
housing; revision of the tax structure; and crea­
tion of a Smaller War Plants Corporation.
The ULPC had insisted on a “ one package
settlement” including:
(1) The appointment of the 17-member quad­
ripartite National Advisory Board on Mobiliza­
tion Policy, reporting directly to the President.
This Board, at its first meeting, voted 12 to 4 for
the reconstitution of the Wage Stabilization Board.
(2) A new and enlarged tripartite Wage Stabi­
lization Board with jurisdiction over both wage
and nonwage disputes.
(3) Agreement on handling defense manpower
problems through a top-policy labor-management


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

The reconstituted WSB met first on May 8.
George W. Taylor, University of Pennsylvania,
was named chairman of the new board; Cyrus
Ching, chairman of the former WSB, had asked
to be returned to his position with Federal Media­
tion and Conciliation Service. Clark Kerr serves
as vice chairman.
In expanding the Board from 9 to 18 members,
all the old Board members except Mr. Ching were
continued; 3 members each were added represent­
ing labor, industry, and the public. With the
four industry members of President Truman’s
Advisory Board voting against the creation of
the new WSB, employer groups continued their
opposition to WSB’s jurisdiction over nonwage
disputes. Despite management opposition, in­
dustry members accepted places on the new WSB
The WSB is authorized to rule on wage ques­
tions; it also has power to make recommendations
for the settlement of disputes in defense industries
arising out of nonwage matters. It was this ex­
pansion of jurisdiction over nonwage issues which
make management groups apprehensive; fear was
expressed that the new board would bypass TaftHartley Act provisions, despite explicit legal
proscriptions in the Defense Mobilization Act.
in

IV

TH E L A B O R M O NTH IN R E V IE W

Wage Adjustment Issues

The Month’s Economy

WSB General Regulation No. 6 prohibited wage
increases over 10 percent above January 15, 1950,
levels.
Cost-of-living escalator clauses signed
before January 25, 1951, were allowed to operate
until June 30, 1951, even though resulting adjust­
ments may breach the 10-percent limit.
As the new WSB took up its tasks, it faced
the problem of how much of this line could be
held in view of the general economic situation.
Over 1,100 wage agreements made by employers
with an estimated 3,000,000 workers were on the
docket for approval; most of these involved in­
creases beyond the limits set by Regulation 6.
The line had already been breached with ap­
proval of the findings of the Emergency Railroad
Wage Panel recommending a cost-of-living wage
boost for a million nonoperating railway employ­
ees. By virtue of the ensuing order, workers
affiliated with 15 unions won a 6-cents-an-hour
boost which was added to a 12%-cent increase
granted them in the agreement signed at the
White House on March 1; it was specified that
this pattern could be extended to Pullman Co.
and Railway Express Agency employees and to
employees on railways not under Government
seizure. Economic Stabilizer Johnston declared
that this order was not a precedent for further
exceptions to Regulation 6.
Continuing wage stabilization problems facing
the new WSB included tandem wage adj ustments;
escalator clauses; wage rates in new plants; pro­
ductivity clauses; fringe benefits; and hardship
and inequity cases. Special public panels were
named to deal with stabilization of salaries and
with wages of agricultural labor. Mr. Johnston
has instructed the WSB to restudy the 10-percent
wage boost limitation in light of the April 15
BLS Consumers’ Price Index.

Inflationary drives, so strong in the months
since the start of the Korean action, were moder­
ated for a second month. Prices advanced slowly.
Wage advances in excess of allowable limits were
being held in check; workers’ gross weekly earn­
ings in March were $64.36, up 60 cents from the
previous month and nearly $8 above a year ago.
Production, for the most part, was high. The
labor market grew tighter, with no serious evidence
of conversion unemployment.
To some observers the month appeared to be
a lull when effective checks should be instituted
to prevent a dangerous inflationary storm in the
months ahead; both ODM Director Wilson and
Mr. Johnston issued warnings that the Nation
must make haste to tighten its inflationary controls.
Though the March 15 Consumers’ Price Index
showed an advance to 184.5, a record high, the
increase of 0.4 percent was much lower than the
1.3-percent rise in the preceding month. Con­
sumer demand for many items slackened.
While inflationary tendencies in the consumer
goods field slowed, industrial expansion, with huge
expenditures in capital goods, moved ahead. Rec­
ord inventories of consumers goods were reported.
A contra-seasonal decline was reported in hous­
ing construction. April starts in housing were
45,400 below April 1950, starts for the first 4
months of 1951 were 16 percent below the corre­
sponding 1950 period. Both banks and insur­
ance companies indicated reluctance to invest
much more in housing.
The trend toward a tighter labor market con­
tinued. A BLS estimate indicated that a labor
force expansion of 2.3 million would be required
between December 1950 and December 1951.
Scattered lay-offs dotted the industrial map,
some resulting from conversion, some from mate­
rials shortages, some from glutted markets; none
were ominous. Total unemployment decreased
400,000 to 1.7 million in April, according to the
Census Bureau. Local manpower shortages in
various occupations showed an increase; 58 labor
market areas were reported with a tight or bal­
anced labor supply. Skilled workers were in short
supply in some labor markets. The factory work­
week averaged 41.1 hours in mid-March, contin­
uing at about the same high level that has been
maintained for the last 8 months.

Pressure for wage increases came from both
employers and unions. Some employers expressed
the need for adequate wage levels in order to
attract or hold their labor force; General Electric,
for instance, sought permission to extend to all
of its employees a 9-cent an hour cost-of-living
increase payable to G E’s IU E-CIO employees,
whose contract calls for a cost-of-living adjust­
ment based on the rise of the BLS CPI from
September 15, 1950, to March 15, 1951.


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

Wage Escalators and the Adjusted CPI
Extent and Terms of Escalator Clauses in Union Contracts
and the Manner in which They Are Affected
by Adjusted Consumers’ Price Index

L ucy M. K ramer and James N ix *

A l m o s t 3 million workers were affected by labormanagement agreements providing for cost-ofliving wage adjustments by the end of March
1951.
Nine-tenths of these adjustments are
made on the basis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Consumers’ Price Index; and the re­
mainder are based on the CPI for a particular
city, or on a State cost-of-living index. Adjust­
ment of wages is quarterly for 88 percent of the
workers covered, and of these over 95 percent
are covered by two major categories: 1 cent per
hour change for each 1.14 point change in the
index, and 1 cent for each 1 point change.
The problem created by the revision of the CPI
has been taken into account in some of the major
agreements which provide wage escalation by
specifying that the BLS will be called upon to
assist in computing a conversion formula; or by
requiring arbitration, renegotiation, or termina­
tion of the existing clause; or by including a plan
for conversion.
The Economic Stabilization Administrator’s
General Regulation No. 8, issued on March 1,
1951, permits continuance of escalator clauses in
union agreements which were in effect on January
25, 1951. They may operate until June 30, 1951,
even if the resulting increases exceed the 10-per­
cent limit on general pay increases over the Janu­
ary 1950 base. However, under the regulation,
cost-of-living increases payable under contracts


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

signed after January 25 may not exceed the 10percent limit.
This limit on pay increases was established by
General Regulation No. 6, effective February 27,
1951. The regulation permits pay increases of 10
percent from the base pay period defined as “ the
first regular payroll period for each appropriate
employee unit ending on or after January 15,
1950. ’ ’
As of April 1, 1951, over a million workers were
covered by agreements signed after January 25,
1951, which contained wage escalator clauses.1
Prevalence of Escalator Wage Adjustments

The practice in labor-management negotiations
of adjusting wages according to changes in the cost
of living increased to such an extent from the end
of June 1950 to the end of March 1951 that the
number of workers affected has increased more
than fivefold. In June 1950, about a half million
workers were known to have been covered by the
relatively few collective bargaining contracts pro­
viding for such automatic adjustments. By the
end of March 1951, about 2,650,000 workers were
covered by approximately 500 agreements.1
In addition, an estimated quarter of a million
office or other salaried personnel, employed by
firms which have negotiated labor contracts cov­
ering their production workers, also receive gener509

510

W A G E ESCA LA TO R S AND TH E ADJU STED CPI

ally comparable cost-of-living allowances or bo­
nuses. Therefore, about 2,900,000 employees were
under various types of escalator plans, linking
their wages to changes in living costs, by the end
of March.
The coverage of escalator clauses is, of course,
only one reflection of changes in living costs as a
factor in wage adjustments. Both in collective
bargaining and through employer personnel action,
many wage increases in recent months have been
designed to offset, in part, higher living costs.
Metalworking (primarily the automobile indus­
try) and transportation each accounts for about
42 percent of the workers known to be covered by
wage escalator provisions. Construction and tex­
tiles together account for another 10 percent, the
remaining 6 percent is scattered among various
manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries.
The largest number of transportation workers
are railroad nonoperating employees (totaling
about a million) covered by a single joint contract
of 15 unions signed March 1, 1951. In other
industries, the great majority of workers covered
by escalator clauses are employed by a relatively
few large companies or associations—General
Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Studebaker, Hudson,
Nash-Kelvinator, Packard, Kaiser-Frazer, Briggs,
Bendix, North American Aviation, United Aircraft,
International Harvester, Allis-Chalmers, Deere &
Co., General Electric, American Woolen Co., New
Bedford & Fall River (Mass.) Cotton Textile Man­
ufacturers Associations, Building Trades Employ­
ers Association of New York City, Railway Ex­
press, Greyhound Bus Lines, and Philadelphia
Transportation Co.
At least 80 national and international unions
are known to have negotiated contracts contain­
ing escalator clauses. The most extensive use of
wage escalators has been by the United Automo­
bile Workers (CIO). In addition to the 15
unions of railroad nonoperating employees, other
labor organizations which represent significant
numbers of workers covered by escalator clauses
are the International Union of Electrical Workers
(CIO); Textile Workers Union (CIO); United
Electrical Workers (Ind.); and the International
Association of Machinists (AFL).


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

Characteristics of Escalator Clauses

Although upward of 100 formulas for computing
or applying cost-of-living wage adjustments are
specified in the contracts examined, the bulk of the
workers involved (almost 90 percent) are covered
by only two types of nearly identical provisions.
Typically, wages are adjusted at 3-month intervals
at a rate of 1 cent for each 1 point, or 1 cent for
each 1.14 point change in the CPI.2 (See table.)
Ratio and frequency of adjustment between wages and C P I
for workers covered by escalator provisions
Frequency of adjustment for
workers covered (in thousands)
Ratio of wage change to C P I change
Total

Once
Sem i­
during
Quar­
An­
annu­
life of
terly
nually
ally
agree­
ment

Total_____________________________________

12,577 2,269

1 cent hourly for 1.14 point change...........
1 cent hourly for 1 point change_________
1.25 cents hourly for 1 point change_____
1 cent hourly for 1.2 point change_______
5 cents hourly for 5 point change________
2 cents hourly for 2.46 point change_____
5 cents hourly for 4 point change________
1 cent hourly for 1.25 point change______
1 cent hourly for 1.12 point change______
$1 weekly for 2 point change____ ________
1 percent for 1.7 point change____________
1 percent for 1.6 point change____________
Wage change same percent as C P I
change_________________________________
Other_____________________________________

1,165 1,078
1,094 1,084
22
2
18
18
15
15
10
10
10
8
5
5
10
15
15
7
7
13
3 183

4
33

62
13
10
20

27
3

219
2 71

10
10
1

1

1
7

7

3

8
9

3 134

1 A n additional 73,000 workers are known to be covered by contracts with
escalator provisions, but information regarding the ratio and frequency of
adjustment for these workers is not available.
2 Includes 65,000 workers covered by the General Electrie-ITTE (CIO )
contract, which provides for one cost-of-living adjustment in March 1951,
6 months after the effective date of the agreement.
5 Includes 125,000 workers covered by the contract between the A F L
Building Trades Council in New York C ity and the Building Trades E m ­
ployers’ Association. Under this agreement if the cost-of-living index for
New York C ity rises by more than 10 percent between June 1950 and Octotober 1951 “ the percentage in excess of 10 percent shall be multiplied by the
hourly rate and then corrected to the nearest multiple of 5 cents.” The
resulting amount is then to be added to the hourly rates of building trades
employees for the period Jan. 1, 1952, to June 30, 1953.

Approximately 45 percent of the 2,577,000
workers are under a 1 cent-1.14 index point ratio,
and 43 percent are under a 1 cent-1 index point
ratio. As already stated, adjustment of wages is
quarterly for 88 percent of the workers;3 of these,
more than 95 percent are covered by the two
major categories of ratios, i. e., the 1 cent-1.14
point and the 1 cent-1 point ratios.
A small number of contracts covering approxi­
mately 160,000 workers, or about 6 percent of the
total coverage, use a percent-point, or percent-

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W A G E E S C A LA TO R S AND T H E ADJUSTED CPI

percent ratio; i. e., a percent change in wages
correlated with a point change in the index or a
percent change in wages correlated with a percent
change in the index.
A percent increase in wages, based on a point
or percent change in the index, gives both lower
and higher paid workers in a given plant the same
proportional increase, but widens the spread
between established wage scales. For example, a
wage rate of $1 an hour increased 5 percent is
$1.05; $2 an hour increased 5 percent is $2.10.
The original spread in the two job categories was
$1. Under a percentage adjustment it becomes
$1.05. On the other hand, a flat cents-per-hour
increase, while maintaining the spread between
wage categories, gives a proportionally higher
increase to the lower wage group. Thus, a wage
rate of $1 an hour plus a cost-of-living allowance
of 5 cents equals $1.05 (a 5-percent increase);
$2.00 an hour plus the 5-cent allowance yields a
rate of $2.05 (only a 2.5-percent increase).
The national CPI is specified by about ninetenths of the contracts with escalator clauses.
The remainder use the index for a particular city,
or in rare instances, State cost-of-living indexes.
Conversion to Adjusted CPI

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI from
January 1950 forward has been adjusted to cor­
rect for the error in the rent index, and to incor­
porate up-to-date commodity and population
weights. The old series will continue to be
published at least through 1951.4
Practically all the agreements, known by the
Bureau to use its index as a wage adjustor, use
what is now termed the “ old” or “ unadjusted”
series. This raises the question whether labor
and management will decide to convert contracts
to the adjusted index, and if so, how. Some
agreements have already made such provision and
examples follow of the major methods specified.
(A)
Typical of agreements which call upon the
Bureau for assistance in converting to the adjusted
CPI, is the contract between the railroads of the
United States and 15 railroad labor unions of
nonoperating employees. It provides that, should
the Bureau of Labor Statistics—


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

511

. . . during the effective period of this agreement
revise or change the method or basic data used in
calculating the BLS Consumers’ Price Index in such
a way as to affect the direct comparability of such
revised or changed index with the index for August
15, 1950, then that Bureau shall be requested to fur­
nish a conversion factor designed to adjust to the new
basis the base index of 178.0, described in paragraph
(a) hereof, and the several indexes listed in para­
graph (c) hereof.

(B) An example of provision for arbitration is
found in the current contract between the In­
ternational Association of Machinists (AFL) and
the Santa Clara (Calif.) Machine Shop Employers
Association:
The parties to this Agreement agree that the con­
tinuance of the Cost-of-Living allowance is dependent
upon the availability of the official San Francisco
BLS Consumers’ Price Index in its present form and
calculated on the same basis as the index for Septem­
ber 1950, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.
In the event the parties fail to reach such agreement
the matter shall be submitted to arbitration as
provided for in Section 21 of the Agreement.

(C) The contract between the California Metal
Trades Association and various AFL Unions,
provides for use of the revised Bureau of Labor
Statistics index, as well as for reopening to re­
compute the wage adjustment basis:
It is agreed that the cost-of-living adjustments are
to be based on the revised BLS index. However,
should there be a complete revision of the method
used by the U. S. Department of Labor to calculate
the Index (Consumers’ Price Index) the Index will
be invalidated as a means of computing cost-of-living
wage adjustments in this agreement. In such event
this agreement will be reopened for the sole purpose
of developing a new basis for computing adjustments
in wages due to changes in the cost-of-living.

(D) The agreement between Four Wheel Auto
Drive Co. and United Auto Workers (AFL)
provides for a specified period of negotiating on a
conversion formula, and then wage reopening in
event of no agreement:
In the event the U. S. Department of Labor
ceases to publish the BLS Index or changes the present
method of computation thereof, the parties hereto
will first attempt to agree upon a formula for de­
termining the cost-of-living adjustment and if such
agreement cannot be reached within 60 days the
contract may be opened on the question of wages.

512

W A G E E SC A LA TO R S AND TH E ADJU STED CPI

(E) The Pennsylvania Greyhound and the
Street Electric Railway Workers (AFL) escalator
plan is contingent on the continuation of the old
Consumers’ Price Index, and may involve termina­
tion if there is disagreement on a conversion
formula:
Continuance of the cost-of-living allowance shall
be contingent upon the continued availability of
official monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics Price
Index in its present form and calculated on same
basis as Index for September 1950, unless otherwise
agreed upon by parties.

(F) The Landers Corp. and the Textile Workers
Union (CIO) provide for complete termination of
the escalator provision if there is any change in
the form of the Consumers’ Price Index:
This cost-of-living allowance is dependent upon the
availability of the official monthly BLS Consumers’
Price Index in its present form and calculated on the
same basis as the June 1950 Index. It is hereby
understood and agreed to by both parties to this
agreement that this entire section (6) terminates if:
(1) The BLS Consumers’ Price Index is discon­
tinued, or
(2) Its method of calculation changed, or
(3) The base period is changed (1935-1939 = 100).

(G) Specific plans for converting from the
“ old” to the “ new” or adjusted index have already
been worked out by some employers and unions.
A notable example is the General Motors-UAW
(CIO) “ Memorandum of Understanding” of
March 3, 1951. This provides for use of the “ old”
index until it is discontinued by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Thereafter, the “ new” or
adjusted index is to be used:
4. If, in this transition, any disparity in Index points
exists between
(i) the “ Old” Index, for the last month of its issu­
ance, plus the “ new unit rent bias” correction in
effect at the time . . . and
(ii) the “ New” Index . . . for the same month,
the index points brackets in the table in Paragraph
101 (g) of the M ay 29, 1950, National Agreement
between the parties, shall be adjusted up or down, as
the case may be, by the amount of such disparity, if
any, so that the transition, as such, from the “ Old”
Index to the “ New” Index will not increase or decrease
the amounts of the Cost-of-Living Allowances pro­
vided for in Paragraph 101 (g) of the National Agree­
ment between the parties.
5. It is understood that either party may at any
time initiate discussion concerning changing from
the “ Old” Index to the “ New” Index.


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

Under the GM-UAW conversion formula, a
change-over from the “ old” to the adjusted CPI
would be comparatively simple, given the cut-off
date. If, for example, March 15, 1951, had been
the conversion date and, allowing for the 0.8 point
“ new unit rent bias” correction adopted by
General Motors and the UAW, the method
would be:
184. 5 (U.

S. Average, All Items (Old C PI— 3 15-51))
+ 0. 8 (Correction for new unit rent bias)

185. 3
— 184. 5 (U. S. Average, All Items (New CPI— 3 15-51))
0. 8 (Factor to be subtracted from the CPI point
bracket schedule in the M ay 29, 1950,
G M -U A W agreement.)5

Thus, the schedule of “ old” CPI point brackets
presently in effect in the GM Agreement:
Allowanceper-hour

16 4.7-16 5.8 _____________________________________ 1 cent
165.9—166.9_______________________________________2 cents
167.0-16 8.1--------------------------------------------------------- 3 cents
168.2— 169.2------------------------------------------------------ 4 cents
1 6 9 .3 - 170.3------------------------------------------------------ 5 cents
(and so forth, with 1 cent per hour allowance for each
1.14 points change in the index) would become, when
converted to the “ new” or adjusted CPI points:
Allowanceper-hour

1 6 3.9-16 5.0_____________________________________
1 6 5 .1 - 166.1-----------------------------------------------------1 6 6 .2 - 167.3-----------167.4— 168.4-----------------------------------------------------1 6 8 .5 - 169.5------------------------------------------------------

1
2
3
4
5

cent
cents
cents
cents
cents

Neither the cost-of-living allowance nor the spread
of 1.14 index points within each bracket is changed
by the transition to the new index.
Several important considerations are involved
in converting from the “ old” to the adjusted CPI:
(1) The conversion should be made in a period
for which both “ old” and adjusted series are
published.
(2) The spread between the “ new” and the
“ old” series should be considered in adjusting the
base figure. One way of doing this is the General
Motors-UAW method previously described. An
alternative is available, if the date of the base
figure in the current contract is January 15, 1950,

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W A G E E SCA LA TO R S AND TH E ADJUSTED CPI

or later, inasmuch as the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics has computed both the “ old” and “ new”
series of the CPI as far back as that date. In
such cases the parties to the contract could sub­
stitute the adjusted CPI for the “ old” CPI of the
base date, and thereafter measure change accord­
ing to the adjusted CPI.
(3) If a correction has been added to the “ old”
index for the downward bias in the rent index (as
in the GM -U AW , Pennsylvania GreyhoundStreet Electric Railway Workers, and other con­
tracts), allowance should be made for it in con­
verting to the “ new” index, which has been cor­
rected to eliminate the understatement of the
rent component.
(4) Since the spread between the “ old” and
“ new” series may vary from month to month,
the choice of date for converting to the adjusted
series is an important factor.
(5) If the original ratio of wage adjustments to
point changes in the CPI was derived from aver­
age hourly rates and an “ old” CPI, a new ratio,
based on the new adjusted index may have to be
calculated, although the difference would probably
be insignificant. For example, the CPI for Jan­
uary 1950 was 166.9 computed under the old and
168.2 under the new method. If average hourly
rates were $1.50, the ratio of hourly wage adjust­
ment to index change would be 1 cent to 1.11
points (166.9-p-$1.50) if the old CPI were used
and 1 cent to 1.12 points (168.2-i-$1.50) if the
adjusted CPI were used.

941298— 51

2


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

513

(6)
Where percent changes, either in wages or
the CPI or both, are involved in any wage adjust­
ment clause, the conversion problem is relatively
simple. The parties could substitute the adjusted
CPI for the “ old” CPI of the current date, and
thereafter measure percentage wage or index
changes according to the adjusted CPI.
* 0 f the Bureau’s Division of Prices and Cost of Living and Division of
Industrial Relations, respectively.
1 This estimate represents the minimum coverage of workers by cost-ofliving escalator provisions in collective bargaining agreements. The estimate
is based on labor contracts on file with or otherwise available to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. It is probable that similar provisions exist in some
additional contracts, especially for smaller companies, that have not come
to the attention of the Bureau.
The estimate includes workers covered by several important contracts
which are under review by the Wage Stabilization Board. On April 25,1951,
the Economic Stabilization Administrator approved an increase of 6 cents
an hour for the million or so railroad nonoperating workers covered by the
largest of these contracts. This increase, which exceeded the 10 percent
ceiling set by General Regulation No. 6, was made on the recommendation
of a special railway labor panel appointed by the Administrator.
2 The 1 cent to 1.14 point ratio first appeared in the General Motors—
United Automobile Workers’ agreement of M a y 1948 and was obtained by
dividing the average hourly rate of G M workers (approximately $1,485 in
the spring of 1948) into the National C P I for April 15, 1948 (169.3).
3 Over a million workers— most of them railroad nonoperating employees—
are covered by contracts providing for quarterly wage adjustments in April,
July, October, and January, based on the C P I for February, M ay, August,
and November, respectively. Contracts between the U A W -C I O and
large automobile and machinery companies provide for a quarterly review
of wages in March, June, September, and December, based largely on the
C P I for January, April, July, and October, respectively. These metal­
working contracts, together with textile and a scattering of other agreements,
bring the total number of workers eligible for adjustments in March and
each third month thereafter to well over a million. Relatively few workers
receive wage adjustments during the other four months of the year.
4 For a full discussion of the nature of the adjustment, see Interim Adjust­
ment of Consumers’ Price Index by Doris P. Rothwell of the Division of
Prices and Cost of Living in the April 1951 M onthly Labor Review.
3
See M onthly Labor Review, July 1948 (p. 3) for original schedule of
cost-of-living allowances continued in the M a y 1950 agreement.

Work Stoppages
During 1950
A nn J. H erlihy *

W i t h t h e g e n e r a l u p t u r n in business activity
in 1950, labor-management tensions, which in
recent years had gradually subsided from their
wartime peak, became more evident, especially in
certain industries. As a result, the number of
strikes increased sharply to near-record levels.1
Proposals for improved health, insurance, and/or
pension plans, which had been accelerated in 1949,
continued to be prominent in many important col­
lective-bargaining negotiations in 1950, especially
during the first 6 months. In many instances,
such benefit plans were established by agreements,
without resort to work stoppages, in such diverse
industries as automobiles, apparel, textiles, rubber,
public utilities, and flat glass. Also covered by
employee-benefit agreements were industries char­
acterized by casual employment (e. g., building
trades, longshoring, maritime, etc.) in which few,
if any, insurance or pension programs existed prior
to 1950. These issues, either alone or combined
with wage demands, accounted for more than 50
percent of the total strike idleness during the year.
In the field of wages, the General Motors 5year agreement with the United Automobile Work­
ers (CIO), harmoniously concluded on May 24,
gave prominent evidence of the effect that ex­
panding business activity and sustained near-ca­
pacity production levels had on labor-management
relations. The agreement retained the cost-ofliving wage provisions, increased the annual im­
provement factor, provided for a pension fund,

‘ Assisted b y B ernard Y afroff and D aniel P. W illis, Jr ., of the B u­
reau’s Division of Industrial Relations.

514


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

and established a modified union shop. This set
tlement influenced the peaceful conclusion of wage
agreements by the Chrysler Corp. on August 25,
and the Ford Motor Co. on September 4, as well
as in a number of other industries.
After the outbreak of the Korean war in mid1950, demands for wage increases came to the
forefront. Unions, anticipating early institution
of Federal wage controls with a resultant loss in
real earnings because of rising prices, proposed
and, with few exceptions, obtained wage increases
substantially greater than those sought in the
first 6 months.
Few serious breakdowns in collective bargaining
occurred in 1950, despite the large number of stop­
pages. Significant exceptions were the widespread
coal stoppage continuing from 1949; several walk­
outs by railroad employees; prolonged strikes at
the Chrysler Corp., International Harvester Co.,
and Deere & Co.; and disputes affecting large
numbers of workers at General Electric Co.,
Western Electric Co., and at various construction
projects.
The 4,843 work stoppages recorded in 1950
exceeded by a third the 3,606 counted in 1949.2
This was in marked contrast to the relatively
even and substantially lower strike levels of the
postwar years after 1946 when the all-time high
of 4,985 strikes was recorded. However, the
number of workers involved was lower in 1950 than
in 1949—2,410,000 compared with 3,030,000.3
Man-days idle also declined— 23 percent— from
50.5 millions in 1949 (the second highest figure on
record) to 38.8 million in 1950.
In the first 3 months of the year, strikes de­
clined slightly below levels in corresponding
periods in 1947 and 1949. In the second quarter,
following customary patterns of increasing labormanagement contract negotiations, strikes rose
substantially and continued upward in the summer
and early autumn. Although the number of con­
troversies declined seasonally in the final quarter
of the year, it was higher than in comparable
periods of the preceding postwar years (1946-49).
Twenty-two stoppages in 1950 involved 10,000
or more workers, compared with 18 stoppages
in 1949, 20 in 1948, and 15 in 1947. On the other
hand, approximately half the 1950 strikes involved

W O R K STOPPAGES D URING 1950

fewer than 100 workers each. These accounted
for a relatively small proportion of workers and
man-days idle, in contrast to the 22 large stoppages
which included almost a third of all strike par­
ticipants and over half the aggregate idleness
(table 1).
Average duration of all strikes declined to 19.2
calendar days in 1950, the lowest level in recent
postwar years. Strike duration for 1946, 1947,
1948, and 1949 was, respectively, 24.2, 25.6, 21.8,
and 22.5 days. The 1950 decline was attributable
to the large proportion of relatively brief strikes
and the absence of long Nation-wide strikes
(except coal) involving large numbers of workers.
T a b l e 1.— Work stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers,
in selected periods
Stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers
Workers involved
Period
Num ­
ber

1935-39 aver­
age—
1941__________
1946__________
1947__________
1948__________
1949- ________
1950 _________

11
29
31
15
20
18
22

Percent
of total
for
period

0.4
.7
.6
.4
.6
.5
.5

Number 1

365, 000
1,070,000
2, 920, 000
1,030, 000
870, 000
1, 920, 000
738,000

Percent
of total
for
period

32.4
45.3
63.6
47.5
44.5
63.2
30.7

M an-days idle

Number

5, 290,000
9,340, 000
66, 400,000
17, 700, 000
18, 900, 000
34, 900, 000
21,700,000

Percent
of total
for
period

31.2
40.5
57.2
51.2
55.3
69.0
56.0

1 Figures on number of workers involved, include duplicate counting where
the same workers were involved in more than 1 stoppage during the year, in
which ease they were counted separately for each stoppage. This is par­
ticularly significant for the 1949 figure, since 365,000 to 400,000 miners were
out on 3 separate and distinct occasions during the year, thus comprising
1,150,000 of a total of 3,030,000 workers for the country as a whole.

“ National Emergency” Disputes

Labor-management disputes, generally desig­
nated as “ national emergency” disputes, are of
two types: (1) Disputes specified in the Labor
Management Relations Act as imperiling the
“ national health and safety” and (2) disputes
designated under the Railway Labor Act “ which
threaten substantially to interrupt interstate com­
merce to a degree such as to deprive any section
of the country of essential transportation service.”
During 1950, the national emergency proce­
dures provided under the Labor Management
Relations Act were invoked only once— in con­
nection with the protracted bituminous-coal dis­
pute. No recourse was made to this machinery
in 1949; in 1948 it had been invoked on seven
occasions, four of which resulted in work stoppages.


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

515

B itu m in ou s-C oa l Controversy. The coal stoppage
first began in September 1949 as an industry­
wide walkout over new contract terms and con­
tinued for approximately 6 weeks. Subsequently
sporadic stoppages recurred in various coal fields
until the first week of February 1950 when the
stoppage again became general throughout the
industry. The major issues centered on the
union’s demand for (1) increased employer con­
tributions to the union pension and welfare fund,
(2) wage increases, and (3) a reduction in the
workday. The mine operators insisted on elimi­
nation of certain provisions previously included
in the contract, e. g., the union-shop clause, the
“ willing and able” to work clause, and the clause
permitting the union to halt work during “ me­
morial periods.” On February 6, 1950, after all
efforts to obtain voluntary agreement between
the coal operators and the United Mine Workers
(Ind.) had failed, the President invoked the
national emergency provisions of the Labor Man­
agement Relations Act and appointed a board of
inquiry to investigate the dispute and report by
February 13.
The Board’s report, submitted on February
11, noted that immediate settlement of the dis­
pute was unlikely. A court restraining order,
issued the same day, directed that the strike be
discontinued and production resumed for a 10day period (later extended for the full 80 days
provided by law). The miners’ refusal to return
to work, despite instructions by their president
calling for compliance with the court order,
resulted in contempt charges filed against the
union on February 20. When the proceedings
were dismissed on March 2 on the ground that the
charges had not been supported by sufficient
evidence, President Truman recommended to
Congress that the mines be seized by the Govern­
ment. Such action was made unnecessary by
settlement of the dispute on March 5.
The agreement provided for increases of 70
cents in the basic daily wage and of 10 cents per
ton—from 20 to 30 cents—in the employers’ pay­
ment into the welfare and retirement fund; con­
tinuance of the union shop “ to the extent . . .
permitted by law” ; limitation of memorial period
stoppages; and elimination of the “ able and will­
ing” clause. The new contract, effective until
July 1, 1952, permitted reopening on wage ques­
tions after April 1 , 1951.*

516

W O RK STOPPAGES D U R IN G 1950

D isp u tes.
During 1950, several seri­
ous work stoppages and one critical Nation-wide
strike threat involved the railroad industry.
Three of these disputes, two of which resulted in
Federal seizure of railroad properties, are de­
scribed here.

R a ilroa d

D iesel case: A 7-day strike by 18,000 mem­
bers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen beginning on May 10, idled
approximately 175,000 workers on five large
railroads: the Pennsylvania; New York Central;
Southern; Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe; and
Union Pacific. (The last-named system became
involved when its firemen refused to operate
trains over Santa Fe tracks.)
The dispute involved a long-standing union pro­
posal, twice refused by Presidential emergency
boards, that an extra fireman (helper) be placed
on multiple-unit Diesel locomotives as an added
safety measure. However, the specific terms of
the settlement, reached on May 16, did not deal
directly with this issue. The parties agreed to
correct some wage differentials for firemen on
different types of locomotives. They also agreed
to arbitrate a union claim that employment of
“ special duty” men, instead of firemen, to per­

form certain maintenance work on high-speed pas­
senger Diesel locomotives violated the terms of
existing agreement; and on the question of em­
ploying firemen on small switching Diesels.
S w it c h m e n ’ s c a se . The strike of members of
the Switchmen’s Union of North America (AFL),
which occurred June 25 on 5 western and midwestern railroads, idled approximately 59,000
workers. It followed the union’s rejection of an
emergency board’s recommendations to reduce the
workweek for yard-service employees from 48 to
40 hours, with a partially compensating wage
increase of 18 cents an hour.5 It was largely ter­
minated on July 6 when the union ordered resump­
tion of work on four of the railroads. However,
continuance of the walkout on the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad, resulted in an Execu­
tive Order (on July 8), directing the Army to seize
and operate this road.
The men returned to their jobs in compliance
with a Federal District Court order issued on the
same day. Settlement of the dispute occurred on
September 1 when the union and 10 western and
midwestern railroads agreed to a 3-year contract
which provided for a wage increase of 23 cents
an hour and a cost-of-living escalator clause.

Chart 1. Trends in Work Stoppages
THOUSANDS

BUREAU OF LABOR S TA TISTICS


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

M O N TH LY LABO R

MILLIONS

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W O R K STOPPAGES D URING 1950

B R T -O R C c a s e : All of the country’s major
railroad lines were seized by the Federal Govern­
ment on August 27 to avert a Nation-wide strike
scheduled for the next day. The Government’s
action followed unsuccessful efforts to settle an
18-month dispute over a 40-hour week for yard
service employees and numerous rules changes for
road service employees.5 The unions involved
were the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (Ind.)
and Order of Railway Conductors (Ind.), repre­
senting 250,000 workers. White House sponsored
conferences during August resulted in an offer by
the carriers of a 23-cent an hour wage increase
plus further increases geared to the cost-of-living
in place of the terms that had been recommended
by the emergency board on June 15. The unions
rejected the proposal. Union requests for Gov­
ernment seizure of the railroads were followed by
scattered 5-day “ token” strikes beginning on
August 21 and 22 and by the scheduling of a
Nation-wide withdrawal from service on August
28. An Executive Order, issued August 25, di­
rected the Army to take over operation of the
railroads on August 27. The President called
the seizure action “ imperative for the protection
of our citizens.” The unions postponed indefi­
nite^ the threatened strike upon announcement
of the Government’s intervention.
On December 13, unrest among yard members
of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (Ind.)
over the long-deferred settlement resulted in a
strike at rail terminals in Chicago, 111. Within 2
days, it had spread to terminals in St. Louis, Mo.;
Washington, D. C.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and other
cities. Issuance of court-restraining orders and
appeals by President Truman and union officials,
brought the idle workers back to their jobs on
December 16. However, the prolonged dispute
remained unresolved at the year’s end.6
State Seizures

Strikes and an impending stoppage in the vital
public utility industry were met by resort to
State seizure action. The facilities of the New
Jersey Bell Telephone Co. and Public Service
Electric and Gas Co. of New Jersey were seized
under the provisions of that State’s public
utility anti-strike law.


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

517

In the telephone dispute this action was taken
on March 1 in order to prevent an imminent
strike by traffic members of the Communications
Workers of America (CIO), following prolonged
negotiations with the company over wage and
union-security issues. An arbitration board, ap­
pointed under the anti-strike law, awarded a
wage increase and a modified union-shop to
approximately 10,000 telephone operators on
April 20. This award was reversed by the State
Supreme Court on October 2, on appeal by
the company, although the Court dismissed the
claim that the law itself was unconstitutional.
Holding that the arbitration board had failed to
show whether its wage award was based upon
“ facts or speculation,” the Court directed the
board to reconsider the case on the basis of
“ findings of fact.” The Court held also that the
board’s requirement that the company accept a
modified union-shop provision conflicted with the
Labor Management Relations Act of 1947. The
parties reached a settlement of the disputed
issues on October 6, the day on which the union
scheduled a strike protesting the Court decision.
In the Public Service controversy, the com­
pany’s properties were taken over by the State on
May 15, following a 6-day stoppage for increased
wages by some 4,000 maintenance and installa­
tion workers represented by the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL). The
strikers returned to work the next day and an
agreement was concluded after further negotia­
tions. Three additional plants of the company
were also seized on December 21, following a 1-day
stoppage by production workers. An agreement
was reached on December 21 with workers at
the Jersey City plant represented by the Steamfitters, Plumbers, and Pipefitters Union (AFL).
Settlements with the International Chemical
Workers Union (AFL) and the Federation of
Paterson Gas Workers (Ind.) representing the
striking workers at the Harrison and the Pater­
son plants, respectively, were not reached until
mid-January 1951.
Monthly Trend— Leading Stoppages

As the year 1950 began, there were 120 stop­
pages in effect which had continued from 1949.

518

The most prominent of these was the recurring
strike of bituminous-coal miners. (See p. 515.)
In the first quarter of 1950 fewer stoppages
started than in any corresponding period in the
postwar years, except 1948. Most of the strikes
were small and brief. However, strike idleness
reached the highest level of the year in February
(table 2), as a result of industrywide resumption
of the bituminous-coal strike and the lengthy
Chrysler strike.
The 102-day Chrysler strike, which began on
January 25 and involved 95,000 workers, ac­
counted for the second largest amount of time
lost in the year. (The bituminous-coal stoppage
was responsible for the largest number of mandays idle.) The stoppage arose out of differences
between the company and the United Automobile
Workers (CIO) over the form and administration
of pensions and social insurance. In early May
the parties signed a 3-year contract (with pension
benefits effective for 5 years). Pensions of $100-amonth were provided, together with establishment
of an actuarily determined, jointly administered
pension trust fund; and various social-insurance
benefits.
The other large first quarter stoppage was a
15-day strike in February and early March by
10,000 bituminous-coal miners in Illinois. These
miners, represented by the Progressive Mine
Workers (Ind.), obtained a wage increase similar
to that obtained by the United Mine Workers
(Ind.).
Strikes increased substantially during the second
quarter of the year. Idleness receded, however,
as the result of the settlement of the bituminouscoal strike in March and the Chrysler strike in
early May. During these 3 months, most stop­
pages were generally local and relatively brief; 7
each, however, involved 10,000 or more workers.
The only large strike beginning in April was a
4-day stoppage of 12,000 building service em­
ployees employed by operators of apartment
houses in New York City.
Three large stoppages were attributable to wage
disputes in the construction industry. Strikes
affecting 10,000 construction workers in the Den­
ver, Colo., area, and 20,000 workers in the Buffalo,
N. Y., area began on May 1 and continued for 80
and 40 days, respectively. In early June 12,000


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

W O R K STOPPAGES D U R IN G 1950

T able 2.— Monthly trends in work stoppages, 1949 and 1950
Number of
stoppages

Month

Workers involved
in stoppages

Man-days idle
during month

In effect during
month

Begin­
ning
in
month

In
effect
during
month

Beginning
in
month
(thou­
sands)

274
239
289
360
449
377
343
365
287
256
197
170

382
369
436
531
678
632
603
643
536
475
388
323

77.1
77.5
490.0
160.0
231.0
572.0
110.0
134.0
507.0
570.0
56.6
45.5

99.7
106.0
520.0
208.0
309.0
673.0
249.0
232.0
603.0
977.0
914.0
417.0

248
206
298
407
485
483
463
635
521
550
329
218

368
358
453
605
723
768
732
918
820
801
605
423

170.0
56.5
85.2
159.0
354.0
278.0
224.0
346.0
270.0
197.0
200.0
61.1

305.0
527.0
566.0
294.0
508.0
373.0
389.0
441.0
450.0
330.0
308.0
114.0

N um ­
ber
(thou­
sands)

N um ­
ber
(thou­
sands)

Percent
of esti­
mated
work­
ing
tim e2

0.29
.32
1. 56
.62
.93
2.01
.74
.68
1.76
2.92
2. 72
1.23

726
675
3,460
1,880
3,430
4,470
2,350
2,140
6,270
17, 500
6, 270
1,350

0.10
.10
.45
.27
.49
.61
.35
.27
.87
2. 49
.93
.19

.93
1.63
1.71
.88
1.49
1.07
1.11
1. 22
1.23
.90
.84
.31

2,730
8, 590
3,870
3,280
3,270
2,630
2,750
2,660
3,510
2, 590
2,050
912

.40
1.39
.51
.49
.44
.34
.39
.32
.48
.32
.27
.12

Per­
cent of
total
em­
ployed 1

191,9

January___ __
February_____
M arch________
A pril_____ _____
M a y ___ __ . . .
June...... .............
July___________
August____
September_____
October __ __
Novem ber____
December_____
195 0

January. _ . . .
February.. . .
M arch. ______
April__________
M a y ____
June_______ __
July___________
August_____ .
Septem ber___
October_____ _
N ovem ber_____
D ecem ber____

1 “ Total employed workers” (based on nonagricultural employment re­
ported by the Bureau) as used here refers to all workers except those in occu­
pations and professions in which there is little if any union organization or
in which strikes rarely if ever occur. In most industries, it includes all wage
and salary workers except those in executive, managerial, or high supervisory
positions or those performing professional work the nature of which makes
union organization or group action impracticable. It excludes all self-em­
ployed, domestic workers, agricultural wage workers on farms employing
fewer than 6 persons, all Federal and State government employees, and the
officials, both elected and appointed, in local governments.
2 For each year, “ estimated working time” was computed for purposes of
this table by multiplying the average number of employed workers (see
footnote 1) by the number of days worked by most employees. This number
excludes Saturdays when customarily not worked, Sundays and established
holidays.

construction workers in Salt Lake City, Ogden,
and other communities in Utah were idle for sev­
eral days. Each of these strikes was terminated
by a wage settlement.
Two of the year’s largest strikes occurred
during the second quarter of the year: the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (Ind.) in May and the Switchmen’s Union
of North America (AFL) in late June.
A 5-day strike of 13,000 bituminous-coal miners
in Kentucky and Tennessee, during June, was
terminated when the United Mine Workers (Ind.)
and the mine operators agreed on the selection of a
neutral member for their arbitration board.
Strike incidence rose to its highest level of the
year in the July-September period when a third

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W O R K STOPPAGES D URING 1950

of the year’s stoppages occurred, largely for higher
wages. Ten large stoppages involving 10,000 or
more workers occurred in this period-—more than
in any other quarter of the year.
During July, 40,000 construction workers in
Southern California were affected when the
Carpenters’ Union (AFL) sought higher wages.
By mid-August virtually all of the workers had
returned to their jobs. Brief stoppages involving
12.000 Kaiser-Frazer Corp. employees over the
disciplinary suspension of a union steward, and
20.000 Studebaker Corp. employees in a dispute
over work standards, also occurred during July.
The largest August strike— 52,000 International
Harvester Co. employees in 5 States—involved
three unions: United Automobile Workers (CIO );
Farm Equipment Division of the United Electrical,
Radio and Machine Workers (Ind.); and Inter­
national Association of Machinists (Ind.). The
strike was partially settled on September 18 when
the company and the FE-UE (Ind.) agreed on a
2-year contract providing for a 10-cents-an-hour
wage increase. The IAM (Ind.) obtained wage
increases and a modified union shop on October 1.
Early in November the UAW (CIO) and the
company signed a 5-year contract providing for
an hourly wage increase of 10 cents, an escalator
clause, a 4-cents-an-hour annual wage improve­
ment factor, and a modified union shop, thus
ending the stoppage.
Another significant stoppage in August in­
volved 40,000 General Electric Co. employees in
8 States in a dispute over wage and pension
issues. Plans of the International Union of Elec­
trical, Radio and Machine Workers (CIO) to
extend the strike to other GE plants across the
Nation were abandoned on September 4, when
the Director of the Federal Mediation and Con­
ciliation Service advised the parties that such
action might seriously threaten national defense.
The dispute was settled on September 15 with
a 10-cent-an-hour wage increase, a further costof-living wage adjustment 6 months hence, and a
contributory pension plan.
Brief strikes by 12,000 employees of the Briggs
Manufacturing Co., over a job-security issue,
and by 15,000 employees of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad Co., over a job-reclassification
dispute, also occurred in August.


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

519

The most significant strike beginning in Sep­
tember involved 13,000 Deere and Co. employees
in Illinois and Iowa. It was the longest large
strike in 1950— 111 days. The United Auto­
mobile Workers (CIO) and the company settled
the dispute in December when they agreed to
a 5-year contract including provisions for in­
creased wages, an escalator clause, an annual
wage-improvement factor, and a modified union
shop.
Other major stoppages in September were:
a 17-day wage strike involving 11,500 glass workers
in 7 Eastern and Mid-western States and a 4-day
stoppage involving 15,000 employees of the
Hudson Motor Car Co. over a seniority grievance.
Strike frequency declined in the last quarter
of 1950 but still remained relatively high. Idle­
ness dropped to its lowest level of the year.
In October, the only large stoppage was a
13-day strike involving 13,000 cotton pickers in
the San Joaquin Valley of California. It was
settled with a wage increase of approximately
17 percent.
The largest strike in November— employees
of the Western Electric Co. and the Michigan
Bell Telephone Co.— occurred as a result of a
lengthy wage dispute. Approximately 80,000
workers were idle at one time or another before
agreements on wage increases were reached
November 19.7
The last large stoppage of the year was the wide­
spread December strike of 10,000 yard members
of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. (See
p. 517.)
As the year closed, 151 small, localized stop­
pages were still in effect.
Other Characteristics of Stoppages

Wages and related matters (in­
cluding pensions and social insurance) constituted
the most prominent issues in work stoppages
during 1950 as in 1949. Together or separately,
they were of primary importance in over half of
all strikes. They accounted for 60 percent of all
workers involved and over 80 percent of strike
idleness (table 3).
Pensions and/or insurance issues (either alone
or combined with important wage demands) were
M a jo r Issu es.

520

W O R K STOPPAGES D U R IN G 1950

major issues in only 365 stoppages (approximately
8 percent of the total) but yielded about half of
the year’s total strike idleness. Although most
of this idleness resulted from the bituminous-coal
and Chrysler stoppages, these issues were im­
portant also in major walkouts affecting the
T able 3.— Major issues involved in work stoppages in 1950
W ork stoppages beginning
in 1950

M an-days idle
during 1950
(all stoppages)

Workers
involved

Major issues
PerN u m ­ cent
ber
of
total

Num ­
ber

Per­
cent
of
total

Number

Percent
of
total

All issues_____________________

4,843

100.0 2, 410,000

100.0 38.800,000

100.0

Wages and hours___________

2,559

52.8 1, 460,000

60.7 32, 500,000

83.8

33.6
.7

771,000
13,900

32.0
.6

8,840,000
486,000

22.8
1.3

1.4

98,000

4.1

815,000

.1

100

6.7

218,000

9.0 13, 800,000

35.6

.8
9.5

116,000
245,000

4.8 7, 280,000
10.2 1,300,000

18.7
3.3

270

5.6

53, 700

2.2

789,000

2.0

175

3.6

23, 900

1.0

269,000

.7

Wage increase_________ 1, 630
Wage decrease.. ________
32
Wage increase, hour de­
crease_______________ _
67
Wage decrease, hour in­
crease________ ______
3
Wage increase, pension
and/or social insurance
benefits 2_____ . ____
325
Pension and/or social in­
surance benefits3 ___
40
Other____________________
462
Union organization, wages
and hours_______ __________
Recognition, wages and/
or hours.
Strengthening bargain­
ing position, wages
and/or hours..
Closed or union shop,
wages and/or hours____
Discrimination, wages
and/or hours. _________

1,100

(')

2.1
0)

23

.5

4,730

.2

122,000

.3

64

1.3

24,300

1.0

366,000

.9

8

.2

740

31, 700

.1

649

13.4

76,200

3.2

1, 560,000

4.0

Recognition_______ ____
Strengthening bargain­
ing position________ __
Closed or union shop___
Discrimination
Other____________________

476

9.9

33, 700

1.4

580,000

1.5

26
89
38
20

.5
1.8
.8
.4

2,870
18, 900
8, 630
12,100

.1
.8
.4
.5

113,000
502,000
153,000
212,000

.3
1.3
.4
.5

Other working conditions___

1,065

22.0

746,000

30.9 3, 450,000

8.9

Job security L ________
Shop conditions and
policies
_________ _
Work load. _________ . .
Other____ _______ ______

590

12.2

472,000

19.5

2, 250,000

5.8

379
74
22

7.8
1.5
.5

198,000
47, 200
28,400

8.2
2.0
1.2

855,000
254,000
93, 700

2.2
.7
.2

Inter- or intra-union matters.

255

5.3

65,800

2.7

419,000

1.1

Sympathy____________
Union rivalry or fac­
tionalism_________ . . .
Jurisdiction____ . ___
Union regulations_______
Other___________________

49

1.0

18, 600

.8

76, 600

.2

77
123
3
3

1.6
2.5
.1
.1

20, 900
24, 900
900
430

.9

1.0
(>)

152,000
188,000
1,210
1,240

.4
.5

45

.9

7,330

.3

Union organization________

N ot reported_______________

(0

0)

65,800

(>)
(>)


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

General Electric Co., Deere & Co., and building
service employees in New York City apartment
houses.
Disputes over working conditions (other than
wages and union organization matters), precipi­
tated about a fifth of the stoppages. These were
generally terminated rather quickly and accounted
for less than 10 percent of the year’s idleness.
They accounted for almost a third of all workers.
The largest of these strikes involved 175,000
railroad workers in May. Other large strikes
in this group were the coal miners in Kentucky
and Tennessee; Studebaker Corp. employees; em­
ployees of the Kaiser-Frazer Corp.; Briggs Co.
workers; and Hudson Motor Car Co. employees.
Union recognition, the closed or union shop,
discrimination, and other union-security questions
were the primary issues in about 13 percent of
work stoppages. These important issues, in con­
junction with wages, accounted for an additional
6 percent. For the most part, these stoppages
were small and local in character and relatively
minor in terms of workers involved and mandays idle.
Jurisdictional, rival union, and sympathy strikes
accounted for about 5 percent of all stoppages—
about the same as in preceding postwar years.
These stoppages affected only 3 percent of all
workers and caused only 1 percent of the year’s
strike idleness.
Although the average strike in 1950 lasted 19.2
calendar days, important variations were notice­
able. Stoppages over combined issues of wages
and union-organization matters averaged 26
calendar days compared with 44 days in 1949; on
union organization matters alone they averaged 20
days compared with 29 days in 1949; those over
wages and related demands lasted 18.5 days com­
pared with 26 days in 1949. Disputes over interor intra-union affairs averaged 16 days in both
years but those over other working conditions
lasted only 8.5 days in 1950 compared with 12
days in 1949.

.2

1 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
This category includes the strike of approximately 400,000 anthracite and
bituminous-coal miners which began Sept. 19,1949, and terminated M ar. 5,
1950.
s This category includes the 102-day strike of 95,000 workers at the
Chrysler plants.
4 This category includes the 175,000 workers involved in the M a y railroad
strike of firemen.
1

M O N TH LY LABOR

In d u stries A ffected . In terms of man-days of idle­
ness, the mining and transportation-equipment in­
dustries were affected to the greatest extent
(table 4). Owing largely to the widespread and
protracted Nation-wide coal and Chrysler stop-

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W O R K STOPPAGES D U R IN G 1950

T able 4.— Work stoppages beginning in 1950, by industry
group

Industry group

All industries_____________________________

Manufacturing

____

W ork­
N u m ­ ers In­
volved
ber
(thou­
sands)

N um ­
ber
(thou­
sands)

Percent
of esti­
mated
work­
ing
time

4,843 22,410.0 38, 800. 0

0. 44

1

1.450.0 22, 900. 0
309
142.0
1,180. 0

.66
.41

278
2

85.8
.5

969.0
6.1

.45
.11

_______
..............

168
317
171

132.0
224.0
368.0

1, 420. 0
4. 410.0
8, 540. 0

.73
1.40
2. 88

___ ____
____

119
106
132
147

23.6
15.8
44.6
48.4

700.0
315.0
652.0
686.0

.38
.38
.55
.23

187
84
185
5
76
54
96
22
136

17.9
25.3
57.0
2.8
18.9
10.4
39.2
16.4
136.0

228.0
157.0
691.0
33.0
360.0
240.0
795.0
792.0
385.0

.08
.17
.19
.16
.33
.14
.50
1.39
.66

26
96

23.1
18.6

158.0
237.0

.27
.22

959.0 15, 900.0
20.7
152.0
196.0 9, 700. 0
237.0
2, 460.0
70.1
927.0
52.5
13.0

.30
(4)
4. 37
.44
.04

(4)

386
182

405.0
13.9

2, 380. 0
161.0

.25
(4)

28

3.9

32.7

__

_

M an-days idle
during 1950

_32, 705

Primary metal industries_________________
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation
equipment)_________________
_________
Ordnance and accessories
____ ______
Electrical machinery, equipment, and
supplies_________________________________
Machinery (except electrical)
Transportation equipm ent.
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)-..
_______________________
Furniture and fix t u r e s .
Stone, clay, and glass products...
Textile mill products
________________
Apparel and other finished products
made from fabrics and similar materials.
Leather and leather products __________
Food and kindred products _________
Tobacco manufactures____________________
Paper and allied products _________ ______
Printing, publishing, and allied industries.
Chemicals and allied products___________
Products of petroleum and coal
_____
Rubber products_________________________
Professional, scientific, and controlling
instruments; photographic and optical
goods; watches and clocks____
...
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.

_

Stoppages be­
ginning in 1950

__

_

_

_ __

_
__
________________
.
___
_. ___ ___ __
—
—
Nonmanufacturing

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing..
M ining _________ _____
___________
Construction
Trade
__________________________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Transportation, communication, and
other public utilities
Services personal, business, and other...
Government administration, protection,
and sanitation5 . . . ________________

32,138
12
508
611
381
31

(4)

1 See footnotes 1 and 2, table 2.
2 See footnote 1, table 1.
3 This figure is less than the sum of the figures below because a few stoppages
which extend into two or more industry groups have been counted in this
table as separate stoppages in each industry group affected; workers involved,
and man-days idle were allocated to the respective groups.
4 N ot available.
3 Stoppages involving municipally operated utilities are included under
“ Transportation, communication, and other public utilities.”

pages, approximately 10 million and 9 million
man-days idle, respectively, were recorded in
these industry groups— almost half of the total
for 1950.
Five other industry groups experienced as many
as 1 million man-days idle in 1950. Except for the
primary metals group in which stoppages were
numerous but did not involve relatively large
groups of workers, these instances also reflected
the substantial effect of one or more major stop­
pages— the Deere & Co., and International Har­
vester strikes in the “ machinery (except elec­
trical)” group; stoppages by building and construc­
tion workers in the Los Angeles, Denver, and


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

521

Buffalo areas, in the construction industry; rail­
road switchmen and firemen strikes in the “ trans­
portation, communication, and other public utili­
ties” group; and the General Electric Co. strike
in the “ electrical machinery equipment and sup­
plies” group.
The primary metal industries,
which recorded a large share of the preceding
year’s strike idleness as a result of the basic-steel
T able 5.— Work stoppages in 1950, by State
W ork stoppages
beginning in 1950
Workers
involved

State
N um ­
ber

All States. _

______

Man-days
idle during
1950 (all
stoppages)

_ ________ • 4, 843

Number
(thou­
sands)

Per­
Number
cent of (thou­
total
sands)

Per­
cent of
total

22,410.0

100.0

38,800.0

100.0

Alabama
_ _ _____
_
Arizona__________
_ __
Arkansas. ___
_ _ _ _ _
California._ __
_
________
Colorado.
_____
Connecticut..
___ ._ .
D elaw are___
_
________ _

108
23
21
238
34
83
11

51.1
8.0
4. 1
138.0
24.5
13.3
5.1

2.1
.3
.2
5.7
1.0
.5
.2

676.0
55.3
144.0
1,630. 0
528.0
87.1
55.4

1.7
.1
.4
4.2
1.4
.2
.1

District of Columbia
___
Florida____ _
____
Georgia
_
___ __ _ _ _
Id a h o ..
_ _ _
Illinois.. __ _
__ _
Indiana ___•
__
__ __ _
Iowa. _ ____
___

18
31
42
10
331
179
52

4.6
8.5
9.8
.5
164.0
159.0
32.4

.2
.4
.4
(3)
6.8
6.6
1.3

32.5
65.7
101.0
4.7
2, 970.0
2,010.0
1,060.0

.1
.2
.3
(3)
7.6
5.2
2.7

Kansas___ __ _
K entucky..
_ __ _ _ ___ _
Louisiana.
______
M aine___
_____
______ _
Maryland
_____
_ _ _
Massachusetts.
__________
M ichigan_____ __
_ __

41
160
39
23
38
193
322

16.7
72.9
9.2
2.5
8.4
58.4
345.0

.7
3.0
.4
.1
.3
2.4
14.5

191.0
1,260.0
104.0
21.6
115.0
776.0
7,360.0

.5
3.2
.3
.1
.3
2.0
19.1

Minnesota______ _
_
Mississippi____
Missouri _ _
______
M ontana. .
_ ___
Nebraska____
_
______ __
N evada. ___
_
___ __
New H am pshire.. _
_ __

74
15
161
18
15
8
17

29.0
2.2
47.9
5.7
5.6
.9
2.4

1.2
.1
2.0
.2
.2
(3)
.1

228.0
27.2
347.0
60.8
55.2
9.6
22.8

.6
.1
.9
.2
.1

N ew Jersey______
New Mexico. __ _ __
New York _ _ _ _ _ _ _
North Carolina___ _
_ _ _
North Dakota
____
O h io .. ____
____
Oklahoma___
_
___ __ _

309
18
578
31
8
469
43

116.0
5.6
187.0
12.7
4.4
220.0
11.1

4.8
.2
7.8
.5
.2
9.1
.5

1,030.0
98.1
2,190.0
75.7
37.1
2, 550. 0
111.0

2.6
.3
5.6
.2
.1
6.6
.3

Oregon _
___ __
Pennsylvania___
__ _ _
Rhode Island_____ _______ __
South Carolina... . _
____ _
South Dakota _ _ __ _ _ _ _
Tennessee.
___ .__ _
T e xas.._
_ _
_______

48
603
29
15
5
131
101

12.2
297.0
5.0
8.3
.7
72.3
41.4

.5
12.5
.2
.3
(3)
3.0
1.7

226.0
5,280.0
86.5
156.0
6.2
636.0
769.0

.6
13.6
.2
.4
(3)
1.6
2.0

Utah____________________________
Vermont.
__________ __ _ _ _
Virginia.. _
__________
Washington___
_ _ _
W est Virginia
___
Wisconsin.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
W yom ing
_ _ _
_

31
5
84
76
216
119
13

21.4
.3
26.3
23.4
54.4
57.2
2.5

.9
(3)
1.1
1.0
2.3
2.4
.1

369.0
1.8
419.0
446.0
3,340.0
902.0
96.9

.9
(3)
1.1
1.1
8.6
2.3
.2

(3)

.1

1 The sum of this column is more than 4,843 because the stoppages extend­
ing across State lines have been counted in this table as separate stoppages in
each State affected, with the proper allocation of workers involved and
man-days idle.
2 See footnote 1, table 1.
3 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.

522

W O R K STOPPAGES D U R IN G 1950

T a b l e 6.— Work stoppages in 1950, by affiliation of unions
involved

Stoppages beginning in 1950

Work ers
invoh red

Affiliation of union
Per­
N u m ­ cent
ber
of
total

T o ta l-. ___________ __________
American
Federation of
Labor____ __ ___________
Congress of Industrial Organizations_______ _____ ____
Unaffiliated unions__________
Rival unions (different affiliations)_______________ _
.
Single firm unions___
Cooperating unions (different affiliations) __________
N o union involved _________
1 See footnote 1, table 1.

Man-days idle
during 1950
(all stoppages)

N um ­
ber 1

Per­
cent
of
total

Number

Per­
cent
of
total

4,843 100.0 2, 410, 000 100.0 38,800,000 100.0
2,171

44.8

643, 000

26.7 7. 640,000

19.7

1,394
1,085

28.8 1, 060, 000
22.4
592, 000

43.8 15, 700, 000
24.6 12, 800, 000

40.5
33.0

64
20

1.3
.4

14. 000
16, 400

29
80

.6
1.7

78, 500
6,050

.6
.7

103, 000
75, 800

.3
.2

3.3 2,450, 000
.3
18, 500

6.3
(2)

2 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.

stoppage, were relatively free from any major work
stoppage in 1950.
The construction industry, which experienced
record building activity, had the heaviest concen­
tration of strikes (611) in 1950, as in the previous
year when a peak number of 615 strikes was re­
corded. Four of the 22 major stoppages*in 1950
which involved 10,000 or more workers also were
in that industry.
Those States identified with auto­
mobile and coal production recorded the greatest
strike idleness (table 5). Time losses exceeded 7
million man-days in Michigan, 5 million in Penn­
sylvania, and 3 million in West Virginia. They
exceeded 2 million each in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
and New York.
As in the past several years, Pennsylvania and
New York experienced the largest number of stop­
pages, 603 and 578, respectively. Ohio ranked next
with 469 stoppages; Illinois, 331; Michigan, 322;
and New Jersey, 309. Fewer than 10 stoppages
were recorded in each of 4 States— Nevada, North
Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont.
States Involved.

U nion s Involved. Unions affiliated with the AFL
were involved in about 45 percent of all stoppages.


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

CIO affiliates accounted for 29 percent of the
year’s total (table 6). Stoppages of CIO unions
involved a third more workers and accounted for
more than twice as much strike idleness as AFL
unions, due in large part to the prolonged and
widespread Chrysler dispute. Unaffiliated unions,
although identified with only a fifth of all stop­
pages, accounted for a third of the year’s idleness.
This was due principally to the Nation-wide bi­
tuminous-coal stoppages by members of the UMWA (Ind.) which occurred in late 1949 and early
1950 and the several railroad controversies involv­
ing unaffiliated transportation brotherhoods.
1 A forthcoming bulletin will contain more complete data on stoppages
during 1950.
2 All known work stoppages arising out of labor-management disputes, in­
volving six or more workers and continuing as long as a full day or shift are
included in reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures on “ workers
involved” and “ man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for as long as
one shift in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not
measure the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or indus­
tries whose employees are made idle as a result of material or service shortages.
3 The 1949 figure for workers involved includes some 365,000 to 400,000
bituminous-coal miners who were idle on three separate occasions. The
1950 figure excludes miners who were out from January to March, since this
stoppage had begun in 1949 and was counted in that year. However,
the man-days of idleness occurring in 1950 are, of course, included in the
1950 total.
4 The miners’ agreement, like many other long term contracts, was re­
opened prior to its scheduled date. B y agreement reached in late January,
bituminous-coal miners were granted a wage increase of 20 cents an hour and
the termination date of the existing contract was changed to March 31, 1952.
The contract was to continue after that date unless either the mine operators
or the union gives 60 days’ notice of termination.
For a detailed summary of the 1949-50 coal mining stoppages, see United
States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin N o. 1003,
Analysis of W ork Stoppages During 1949.
8 The 40-hour week issue was also before the same Board in a broader case
involving the Order of Railway Conductors (Ind.) and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen (Ind.). In its report on April 18 in the Switchmen’s
dispute, the Board stated that it had been unable to make a complete investi­
gation within the 30-day limit prescribed under the Railway Labor Act.
It recommended, therefore, that the issues in the two cases be considered
jointly and that the Switchmen be accorded the same treatment as might
subsequently be recommended for the Conductors and Trainmen. All unions
involved rejected the Board’s report of June 15, recommending a 40-hour
basic week and an 18-cent-an-hour wage increase.
6 In the autumn of 1950, negotiations under the auspices of John R . Steel­
man, assistant to the President, broadened to include the question of a general
wage increase. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Brother­
hood of Locomotive Firemen and Fnginemen were also included in the
discussions. On December 21, a tentative agreement was announced but
early in January 1951 the general chairmen of all four brotherhoods rejected the
proposed settlement.
7 Measurement of the number of workers involved for a full shift or more
was complicated by the union’s technique of picketing, intermittently, first
one, then another, of the companies’ plants and offices. This caused wide­
spread, scattered idleness for short periods which reportedly affected more
than the 80,000 workers idle for a full shift or longer.

Hours of Work
in Key Industries,
December 1950
R

ic h a r d

H. Lew

is

*

hours and in plants averaging under 40 hours.
In the vitally important copper-mining industry,
75 percent of the workers were employed at mines
that were averaging at least 46 hours a week. The
machine-tool industry, following its usual practice,
has responded to the increased demands from in­
dustries tooling up for war production by sched­
uling a 48-hour week or longer for more than half
of its production workers. In December 1950,
about 3 out of 5 production workers in this indus­
try were employed in plants averaging 46 hours a
week or more.
T a b l e 1.— Percent of ‘production workers in plants averaging
46 hours or more and in plants averaging under
hours,
selected industries, December 1950

40

S ome l e n g th e n in g of the workweek, as well as a

general increase in employment, has occurred in
industrial plants as a means of expanding produc­
tion since the outbreak of hostilities in Korea.
Durable-goods industries increased their average
workweek from 41.3 hours in June 1950 to 42.2 in
December 1950, while the average in nondurable
plants rose from 39.5 to 40.4 hours over the same
period. Data on average weekly hours in manu­
facturing and in some nonmanufacturing indus­
tries are published monthly by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, but these averages do not reveal
the varying practices of individual plants in sched­
uling the hours of work for their employees. To
provide a clearer picture of the pattern of working
schedules, the Bureau made a special study of the
hours of work in December 1950 in 30 key indus­
tries.
This study showed that many plants were
already scheduling relatively long workweeks for
their employees. In six of the industries studied,
more than 30 percent of the production workers
were in plants with average weekly hours of 46
or more. Three other industries had at least 20
percent of their workers in plants averaging 46
hours or more. Because of such factors as ab­
sences, turn-over, and lost time from machinery
breakdowns, a scheduled 48-hour workweek usu­
ally results in an average of about 46 hours. These
data, therefore, indicate that in some industries
substantial numbers of workers are employed in
plants which are already scheduling at least a
48-hour workweek.
Table 1 shows the percentage of workers in each
industry employed in plants averaging at least 46


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

Percent of workers
in plants with
average workweek
of—

Industry

46 hours Under 40
or more
hours

Iron and steel foundries_______________

____

________

75. 4
57. 6
43.1
39.1
36.4
30. 4
28.1
25.1

2.7
5.8
7.6
20.3
3.9
28.8
16.4
18. 5

24.3
19.8

34.0
10.5

19.1
18. 7
17.9
17. 2
16.4
15.7
13.6
11.3
10.6
8.0

360
35.5
33.9
12.9
46.5
14.8
45.1
67.1
18.6
27.7

7. 7
7.1

35.0
60.6

7.0
6.8
5.4
4.9
3. 7
1.9
1.1
.4

33. 6
16.2
57.6
10.7
17.7
27.1
41.8
49.1

Service industry and household machines except refriger-

Primary smelting and refining of copper, lead, and zinc_.
Oil burners, heating and cooking apparatus______________
Professional and scientific instruments. . . . ___ __ . . .
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills_____________

Broadwoven fabric mills (cotton, wool, silk, and synthetic

In contrast to the industries in which many of
the plants had already gone on longer workweeks,
a number of industries had not yet found it neces­
sary or possible to lengthen their workweek signifi­
cantly. More than half of the workers in three
industries were in plants in which the workweek
averaged less than 40 hours in December. These
were the rubber tires and tubes industry, which
has been operating with limited supplies of raw
material; the shipbuilding and repair industry,
which had not noticeably expanded its operations
523

524

H OU RS OF W O R K — K E Y IN D U S T R IE S

M O N TH LY LABOR

Hours of Work in Selected Industries
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTION WORKERS
BY PLANT AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS
DECEMBER 1950

50

MACHINE TOOLS

40

10

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


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

50

-

40

-

30

-

20

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

HOURS OF W O R K — K E Y IN D U STR IE S

as the result of the post-Korean defense produc­
tion program; and the farm machinery industry.
A total of 13 industries had more than 30 percent
of their production workers employed in plants
with average workweeks under 40 hours.
Work-schedule patterns varied considerably
among the 30 industries studied as shown by the
(percent) distribution of production-worker em­
ployment by the average workweek in the individ­
ual plants in December 1950 (table 2). In the
vital aircraft and parts industry, about 95 percent
of the employment was in plants averaging between
38 and 48 hours a week. Almost 30 percent of the
workers were in plants averaging between 42 and
44 hours; plants averaging between 40 and 42
hours had over 20 percent of the employment.
In the automobile industry, on the other hand,
employment was fairly broadly distributed over a
wide range of scheduled workweeks. This situa­
tion was partly influenced by model change-overs
in some plants during December.
In the radio and television industry, which has
been operating at a very high production rate, but

525

which was beginning to be affected by material
shortages in December, most of the workers were in
plants averaging between 38 and 44 hours a week.
Work schedules in the refrigerators and air con­
ditioning units industry were largely concentrated
within a narrower range—38 to 42 hours.
Even more striking was the concentration of
working schedules in the farm machinery industry,
which was also affected by shortages of materials.
In December, about 53 percent of the workers in
this industry were employed in plants averaging
between 38 and 40 hours a week. However, a
larger proportion than in the refrigerator industry
were in plants averaging more than 42 hours a
week—about a sixth of the workers-—compared
with less than 10 percent.
Less concentration of employment in particular
workweeks was shown by individual iron and
steel foundries. About a sixth of the workers
were in plants working less than 40 hours and
almost 30 percent were in plants averaging over
46 hours a week. Plants averaging between 40
and 42 hours employed the largest single group of

T able 2.— Distribution of production workers in selected industries by plant average weekly hours, December 1950
Total
production
workers

Percent of production workers in plants which had average weekly hours of—

Industry
N um ­
Per­
ber
(th o u ­ cent
sands)
Copper mining
__ _ _
Lead and zinc mining _
_______
_____
Ordnance and accessories ________
M eat packing wholesale__________
Broadwoven fabric mills (cotton, wool, silk,
and synthetic fiber)___
__________
Household furniture_____________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills..
.
Industrial inorganic chemicals_____
Synthetic rubber . . .
Petroleum refining_____ . _
. .. .. ..

25.0
17.9
23. 5
177. 5

100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

603.0
238.3
212. 2
56.7
7.0
147. 5

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

Rubber tires and tubes._
_ _
_______
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills .
Iron and steel foundries_________________________
Primary smelting and refining of copper, lead,
and zinc. . . .
. . . . . .
Iron and steel forgings. . . . .
_____
_ .
Hardware . . . . .
______
Oil burners, heating and cooking apparatus .
Engines and turbines. . . . .
______
Tractors.. _ _ ___ . . . .
_________ __
______
Farm machinery (excluding tractors).

93.1 100.0
555.5 100.0
237.9 100.0
26.5
32.3
76.4
81.5
62.3
63.2
68.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

Construction and mining machinery _ _
Machine tools.. ______ __
. . . . .
Refrigerators and air conditioning u n i t s . ____.
Service industry and household machinery, except refrigerators . . . .
. __
_______
Radios and related products. . . . . . .
Automobiles. . __
____ _ .
_____

83.8
51.1
103.9

100.0
100.0
100.0

147.1
190.1
754.4
254. 8
66.3
23.6
120.1

100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0

Shipbuilding and repairing.. _
_
_____
Locomotives and parts.
___ __
Professional and scientific instruments__________
1 Less than 0.05.


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

U n­ 30.0
to
der
31.9
30

4. 7
.1
.7
1.1
(i)
(>)

.7

.1
(9
(!)
.7
.7

36.0
to
37.9

38.0
to
39.9

40.0
to
41.9

42.0
to
43.9

44.0
to
45.9

46.0
to
47.9

48.0
to
49.9

(>)

1.0

2. 7 0. 6 6. 5 14. 8 49. 2 2. 7
3. 2 10.1 22. 9 13. 9 19. 6 14. 0 9.7
36.0 22. 0 14. 2 8. 7 19.1
.4
6.1 17.1 11.1 21.1 17.6 13.9

.8
1.4
l})
.1

2.3
3.3
.3
.1
1.6
1. 1

7.2 22.1
7.1 20.6
3. 6
2.8
7.8
16.1
9. 5 16.1

2.1
.1

.4
.4

19.2
4.6
1.0

.2

3.0
.1

(>)
.5
.4
(')

2.4
.i

.3
(0
7.0

34.0
to
35.9

0. 5

.3
.6
.2

32.0
to
33.9

2.1
(!)
2.4
(>)
.2
(')
.3
(')

.1
.4
.1
2.0

.3
.7

5.9 11.0
.7
4.3
2.7 30.1

. 1 5. 8 5.2
.4
9.9
1.2
1.1 16.1
3.6
.1
. 2 (i)
7.9
2. 5 20. 5
.6
.5
. 2 7.4

22. 9
23.2
14.7
10. 2
28. 7
48.5
9.8

52.0
to
53.9

54.0
to
55.9

4.1

19.3

0.7
7.9

1.6
.1
.7
2.2
«

5. 7
2.9
11.1

5.6
2. 0
8.4

2. 0
2.0

.8
4.4

.2
1.0

26. 5
24.5
32. 0
21.5
15.7
41.5
26.1

8. 6 10. 9
2.0
31.8 13.6
5.7
15.3 29. 7 1 9
14. 5 5.3
6.6
7.7 17.4 17.9
15.4
28.0
5.4
5. 5 3.0

3. 4
5.8
3.4
2.5
6.9

2. 1
3.1
1 2
3.5
4. 7

.5

1.3
1

14.8
11.1
51.1

10.9
12.6
3.6

14.9
12.9
2.4

16.9
28.0
17.4
22. 8
18.3
28.8
20.3

18.8
25.6
18.0
28. 0
12. 6
10.3
27.3

6.0 16.7
3.7
5.6
10.4
6.8
18. 9 15.1
1.4
1.3
.4
11.4
7.0
23.2

24.9 11.9
5.3
13.2 17.9
8.5
22. 4 13. 6 15. 6
2. 6
16. 5 8.0
20. 7
7
15 1 3 2
3.1
9.7
15.5

56.0
to
57.9

58.0 60.0
to
and
59.9 over
0 1
1

0.6

.9
.2
5.4
2.2
8 1 6 5
. 7 1.1
3. 7
1 1 «

22.6
17.1
23. 7
59.9
57.9
52. 7

2.7 45.2
9.1
9.4
5.9 14.1 37. 7 16.9
4.3 10.4 21.5 18.1

5.8
7. 5 30. 2
.6
2.8
9.2
. 1 2. 2 11. 5
2.7
5.8 34.4
1.6 10.9 16.3
5.4
1.8
7.6
. 8 3.0 53.0

50.0
to
51.9

l .i

.8

.9
2. 6

.1
(■)
1 3
.5

(')

0.2

.4
.1

.1
1

(0
1

(i)

2.1

.3
7.9
10.3
.2

1.9
5.6
.2

.8

3.1
.2
6.4
4.1
3. 2

2.7
.2
«

2. 0
.1
1.2
(i)
0)

2.2

.8

.1

.9

0)

.8
(i)
.9
.3

.9

6.5
19.8
17.2 21.0
.4
.2

.i
.7

.1

(!)
.9
.6

1.7
1.8
.1

.2

1.4

1.5
.1
.3
—

.4
1.0

0)
.1

.1
1.8
(>)

(')
.2

.1
.1
2.3

«
.5

—

—

526

M O N TH LY LABOR

H OU RS OF W O R K — K E Y IN D U S T R IE S

workers—slightly over a fifth of the total.
In the blast furnace, steel works, and rolling
mills industry, which operates many of its facilities
on a continuous-process basis, there was a con­
siderable concentration of employment in plants
averaging between 40 and 42 hours a week. These
plants were apparently scheduling more than the
typical peacetime 40-hour week for some of their
employees. In petroleum refining, another typical
continuous-process industry, more than half of
the workers were in plants averaging 40 to 42
hours a week.
In the broadwoven fabrics industry (cotton,
rayon, wool, etc.), employment was fairly well
distributed, with about the same percentage of
workers employed in plants averaging between 38
and 40, 40 to 42, and 42 to 44 hours a week. Very
few workers in this industry were working more
than 48 hours a week.
Although many of the industries studied had
sharply increased their workweek between June
and December 1950, in most cases the workweek
was still considerably shorter than it had been
during World War II. Table 3 shows a compari­
son of average weekly hours in December 1950

with the wartime peak, and the Decembers of
1943, 1947, 1948, and 1949 for industries where
comparable data are available. The only in­
stance in which December 1950 hours approached
the wartime peak was in copper mining. Most of
the industries were operating with average weekly
hours of at least 3 or 4 hours below their World
War II peak. For example, petroleum refining
averaged 40.7 hours in December 1950, compared
with 48.4 hours in April 1945, and blast furnaces,
steel works, and rolling mills industry, 41.0 in
December 1950 as against 47.1 hours in October
1944. These comparisons indicate that further
substantial increases in most of these industries
are feasible, if labor supply conditions and pro­
duction requirements should make it necessary.
That working schedules in effect in December
1950 were relatively short compared with the
wartime experience is also illustrated by a com­
parison of the distribution of employment by
plant average weekly hours for October 1942 and
December 1950. Although in October 1942
weekly hours were somewhat below the wartime
peak, the distributions reflect a much longer
workweek in that month than in December 1950.

T able 3.— Average weekly hours in key industries, wartime peak and selected months, 1943-50
Wartime peak
Industry
Date

Copper mining_____________________
Lead and zinc mining_____________
Ordnance and accessories..................
Meatpacking, wholesale___________
Broadwoven fabric m ills...................
Household furniture_______________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.
Industrial inorganic chemicals____
Synthetic rubber________ ______ ____
Petroleum refining_________________

December 1944. _
January 1945___

Rubber tires and tubes___________________________________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills.____ ______
Iron and steel foundries_______________________ _________
Primary smelting and refining of copper, lead, and zinc.
Iron and steel forgings____________________________________
Hardware_____________________ _____ ________ ______ _______
Oil burners, heating and cooking apparatus_____________
Engines and turbines_____________________ _____ __________
Tractors___________________________________________________
Farm machinery (excluding tractors)___________ ________

January 1945___
October 1944____

Construction and mining machinery.........
Machine tools______________________________
Refrigerators and air conditioning u n its...
Service industry and household machinery , except refrigerators
Radios and related products..........................
Automobiles_______________________________
Aircraft and parts_______ ______ ___________
Shipbuilding and repairing_______________
Locomotives and parts____________________
Professional and scientific instruments___
1
3

N ot available.
Includes boat building.


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

December 1944 __
O ctober 1944____
April 1945

November 1943-_
October 1943____
M a y 1943_______
January 1944___
M ay 1944-...........
January 1942___
March 1943_____
November 1943..
October 1943____
January 1942___
December 1944..
December 1943 . .

Average weekly hours

Average
weekly
hours
47.4
45.5
(•)
51.9

(>)
(•)
49.1
(')
(')

48.4

Decem­ Decem­ Decem­ Decem­
ber 1943 ber 1947 ber 1948 ber 1949

46.0
45.4

0)

51.2
(>)

(')
46.7
0)
0)

46.0

49.0
47.1

45.2
45.0

49.2
48.7

48.3
47.5

C1)
0)
0)

0)

(')

0)

50.9
47.6
48.2

55.0
48.6
(*)
46.8
47.6
48.7
3 49.3
50.8
(>)

49.7
46.6
46.7
49.8
47.7

0)

45.7
44.5
45.8
»47.1
50.8
(>)

June
1950

Decern
ber 1950

45.6
42.9
43.0
47.9
41.5
42.8
44.6
40.7
40.5
40.3

46.2
43.1
41.4
44.4
38.7
40.9
43.3
40.8
40.1
40.4

42.5
43.3
40.7
43.5
40.3
42.4
43.6
40.8
40.3
39.7

44.3
40.5
40.7
41.1
39.2
41.7
43.8
39.9
40.7
40.2

47.2
42.9
42.5
45.6
41.4
42.1
44.9
41.6
41.9
40.7

39.5
39.6
41.9
41.1
41.7
41.7
42.0
40.3
41.4
40.6

35.6
39.8
40.7
40.9
41.4
41.6
39.7
40.9
40.5
40.3

37.3
39.3
38.3
40.1
38.4
40.8
39.8
39.0
38.6
39.3

40.6
39.8
42.0
40.8
41.5
41.9
40.5
40.7
40.5
39.9

40.1
41.0
44.2
41.6
43.3
43.1
41.3
43.5
42.1
40.2

43.1
43.3
41.3

42.0
42.1
40.0
0)
40.2
39.7
41.4
39.0
40.6
39.8

40.2
39.5
40.0
40.5
41.3
38.2
41.2
38.3
39.4
40.1

42.7
42.3
42.3
42.3
40.1
42.8
40.7
37.9
39.5
41.3

44.2
46.9
39.5
41.3
41.2
41.1
43.2
39.7
40.6
42.6

(>)

40.4
41.5
41.0
40.4
40.7
40.7

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

H OU RS OF W O R K — K E Y IN D U S T R IE S »

For example, in the automobile industry 47.3
percent of the production workers were in plants
averaging at least 46 hours a week in October
1942, as compared with only 18.7 percent in
December 1950. Corresponding figures for the
aircraft and parts industry were 61 percent in
October 1942 and less than 20 percent in December
1950. In shipbuilding, 55 percent of the October
1942 production workers were in establishments
averaging 46 hours or more, compared with only
7 percent in December 1950.
The analysis of working hours in December
1950 shows that only a few of the industries (such
as copper mining, machine tools) studied had put
a substantial number of their employees on sched­
uled workweeks of over 44 or 46 hours. The
other industries had either increased their average
workweek only moderately or were still operating
on normal peacetime working schedules. As
demonstrated by experience during World War
II, these industries and their workers are both
able and willing to increase their working hours
substantially if required by production demands
and labor shortages.
In December, however, many of the industries
were not yet engaged on any significant volume of
defense production. Many of the metalworking
industries are or will be in the process of converting
some of their facilities and employment to defense
production. During this period of transition some
of them may temporarily cut working hours to
spread employment. In addition, there are still


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

527

more than 2 million unemployed persons in the
labor market and a reserve of women, older work­
ers, and students which can also be drawn upon
for expansion of employment if necessary. From
the point of view of utilizing the Nation’s man­
power resources most effectively, it may be de­
sirable to expand employment as much as possible
from these sources before sharply increasing the
workweek.
After readjustment to defense production is
completed, working hours are likely to expand
gradually in most industries as production pro­
grams are accelerated and as available supplies of
manpower become progressively tighter. There
are, however, practical limits to expansion of work­
ing hours in most industries. A Bureau of Labor
Statistics study of a number of industries during
World War II and early postwar years indicated
that the unit output per man-hour tended to de­
cline as the scheduled workweek was increased be­
yond 40 hours.1 In addition, labor costs were
affected by increased absenteeism and higher in­
jury-frequency rates. The study indicated that
under emergency conditions, when a large volume
of output rather than low costs is the goal, it is
feasible to expand scheduled hours in most indus­
tries up to 48. Beyond this schedule, a sharp de­
cline in worker efficiency usually occurs, which
limits the gain in production resulting from the
longer workweek.
* Of the Bureau’s Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics.
'Hours of Work and Output, Bulletin N o. 917, U. S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics.

Labor-Management
Relations
in Scandinavia
Jean A. Flexner *

F ree collective b a r g a in in g in Scandinavia,
modified but not superseded by State controls,
presents some similarities to American and also to
British experience. Yet the labor and employer
organizations of Scandinavia differ in many im­
portant respects from their British and from their
American counterparts. Both the similarities and
the differences are worth study.
For two decades (1930-50) Sweden, Norway,
and Denmark have been comparatively free of
industrial strife. Institutions developed during
the first quarter of this century have been adapted
and enlarged to deal successfully with problems
arising out of World War II. These problems
were met by the continuing machinery which had
been devised for settlement of disputes and still
more important, by the habit which had developed
of negotiating important issues between the central
federations of unions and employers at the
national level.

Centralized Organization

In all three countries, the central federations of
trade-unions and of employers’ associations are
the leading instruments for preservation of
industrial peace, the settlement of disputes, and
the negotiation of collective agreements covering
major segments of the economies. They have set
the pattern of labor-management relations. Since
1939, they have assisted the Governments in
restraining inflation by promoting wage-stabiliza­
tion policies and by providing an orderly method
of adjusting wage rates to compensate in whole or
528

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

in part for changes in the retail price level. The
success of these joint dealings at the highest level is
attested by comparative freedom from time lost in
industrial disputes (except for one prolonged strike
in the Swedish metal industry), the moderate rise
in retail prices, and the preservation of the level of
real earnings for most Scandinavian workers
despite economic dislocations between 1939 and
1949. Admittedly, a pronounced but temporary
decline occurred during the war years. The full
effects of devaluation of the crown, induced by
devaluation of sterling in September 1949, may
yet cause another drop in real earnings.
The usually troublesome problems connected
with union recognition, union security, and senior­
ity rules were solved at an early date in all three
countries by agreements between the central fed­
erations of unions and employers granting mutual
freedom to organize. Recognition of unions was
guaranteed by employers in return for giving
management a free hand in the employment, dis­
missal, and allocation of labor in the interest of
efficiency. No large scale conflicts over union
recognition or the closed or the open shop occurred
after the conclusion of these agreements.
Nor did the unions of production workers suffer
from making these concessions and foregoing the
closed shop.2 Collective agreements were widely
adopted and union strength steadily increased.
In this connection, account must be taken of the
favorable environment created by homogeneous
populations and moderate industrialization, the
mutual assistance rendered each other across na­
tional boundaries by the labor movements of three
countries, and the close link between the economic
and political wings of the Scandinavian labor
movements. After World War II, the proportion
of nonagricultural wage and salary workers organ­
ized in the three countries was approximately 53
percent in Denmark, 60 percent in Norway, and
77 percent in Sweden. This compares with 45
percent in the United Kingdom, and about 33 per­
cent in the United States. So far as industrial
establishments are concerned, organization is al­
most complete in the Scandinavian countries.
Organization on the employers’ side followed
organization on the workers’ side, except in Den­
mark; there, the Employers’ Association, formed
in 1896, preceded the Trade Union Federation by
2 years. However, in all three countries, the em­
ployer federations were not, even at the outset,

SCANDINAVIAN LABOR— MANAOEMENT RELATIONS

designed merely to fight the unions but to nego­
tiate with them. Perhaps this was just another
manifestation of the impulse, so common in
Europe, to form combinations for mutual ad­
vantage. Just as the legal framework favored
business cartels (instead of attempting to prevent
them, or break them up), so it favored, or at least
did not hamper, the organization of the labor
market. The principal organizations (of labor
and employers) are affiliated with these central
federations, although there are in each country a
few and sometimes powerful independent organ­
izations, which generally follow the lead of the
central federation.
Extent of labor organization, post World War I I
Item

D en­
mark

N orw ay Sweden

United
Kingdom

United
States

Total population______ 4, 290, 000 3, 281,000 7,050,000 50,800,000 152, 271,000
Total labor force_______ 1, 950,000 1,518, 000 3,000,000 '23, 558,000 64, 453,000
Nonagricultural:
E m p lo y ées________ 1,178,875
815,600 1, 943,000 20,079,600 45,000,000
Trade-union mem628,667
490,400 1,504,000
8,947,640 15,000,000
Percent organized—
53
60
77
45
33
1 For Great Britain only.

True, the development of strong central organ­
izations, with centralized strike funds and a dis­
ciplined membership behind them, holds the
threat of widening the scale of industrial conflict.
Actually, the formation of these central organiza­
tions did not immediately put an end to industrial
conflicts, chiefly over wage issues, which recurred
at intervals up to World War II. With every
swing in the business cycle, unions strove to
raise, or employers sought to lower, the wage level.
But in Scandinavia, a threat of this magnitude
eventually produced its own remedies: (1) the
negotiation of basic agreements between the
central federations on principles and procedures,
and (2) the federations’ entrance into the field of
collective bargaining.
Control and influence over member organiza­
tions, exercised by the central labor and employer
organizations of Scandinavia, is greater than the
accepted practice either in the United States or
in Great Britain by trade-unions or employer
associations. Thus, in Norway, under a consti­
tution adopted in 1949, approval of the Executive
Council of the National Federation of Trade
Unions is required before any member union may
terminate a wage agreement, raise a wage demand,
or give strike notice. If approval is obtained,


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

529

the National Federation will assist the striking
union with its own central strike fund— as is true
also in Denmark, if the strike lasts more than
7 days. In Sweden, a similar provision applies
to strikes involving more than 3 percent of a
union’s membership. Employers’ organizations
also enforce uniform rules and assist their members
in approved conflicts. The Swedish organization,
for example, requires its members to give bonds
which are forfeited if a rule of the association is
violated (e. g., if a member employer signed a
closed shop agreement); it may also impose fines;
and it levies a central strike and lock-out fund
and pays benefits to member firms involved in
work stoppages.
Basic Agreements

Dominant in Scandinavian industrial relations
are the agreements concluded from time to time
by the central or nation-wide federations of
unions and employers.
The first such agreement, negotiated
in Denmark in September 1899 after a bitter and
protracted lock-out, laid down basic principles and
procedures which are still incorporated into every
Danish collective bargaining agreement. Therein,
the right to organize was recognized as well as the
right to strike and to lock-out, provided that a
three-fourths vote in favor was cast at a competent
meeting of the organization concerned. The
giving of notice of an intended stoppage, and the
manner of terminating wage agreements were
spelled out. The agreement guaranteed the
employer’s freedom to distribute the work and to
use labor as he deemed suitable, and barred
salaried foremen from joining unions of production
workers. Workers were protected from arbitrary
changes in piece rates (a clause invoked chiefly in
the building trades).
The signatory organizations were held re­
sponsible for assuring that agreements concluded
between them were carried out by the member
organizations on each side; breaches of this basic
agreement had to be referred to a permanent
arbitration court. The central federations also
pledged themselves to develop rules for the
arbitration of disputes arising under collective
bargaining agreements in the several trades.
Such standard rules were centrally negotiated in
D en m ark.

530

SC A N D IN A V IA N L A B O R — M A N A G E M E N T R E L A T IO N S

1908; and mediation committees were set up, with
final resort to arbitration. Disputes arising over
the interpretation and application of collective
agreements have not been permitted to cause
stoppages in Denmark.
Uniform rules for the negotiation and for re­
newal or amendment of collective bargaining
agreements in the various trades were agreed to
by the central federations in 1936, and have been
altered from time to time. Two-year contracts,
most of them terminating simultaneously and all
requiring 3 months’ notice, have become the
general pattern. The Danish Federation of Trade
Unions convenes union representatives in advance
to agree upon demands. Negotiations are begun
at the trade or industry level. After about 6
weeks, the Danish Federation of Trade Unions
and the Danish Employers’ Association inter­
vene to settle any issues that remain outstanding;
if they fail, the State mediators take over.
The September Agreement, concluded in Den­
mark in 1899, created the forerunner of Scandi­
navian labor courts. The Danish Labor Court,
initiated by this agreement, was established by
law in 1910; it was copied in slightly altered form
by Norway in 1915, and by Sweden in 1928.
All three Labor Courts are now part of the judicial
systems. They are composed of lay representa­
tives selected by the central labor and employer
federations and have independent presiding judges.
The distinctive function of the Labor Courts in
the three countries is the settlement of all disputes
arising under existing contracts and involving
either breach or interpretation of agreement (i. e.,
conflicts of law, or jural disputes). In all three
countries strikes and lock-outs over such disputes
are illegal. The Labor Courts may impose fines
against whichever party engages in an illegal
strike or lock-out, or otherwise violates the agree­
ment, e. g., by underpayment of wages, discharge
of a shop steward, refusal to work stipulated over­
time, etc. They are not, however, authorized to
arbitrate disputes arising out of the negotiation
or renegotiation of agreements.
The question of requiring arbitration to
avoid strikes in these conflicts over interests was
fully debated in Sweden in the 1930’s, and was
ultimately settled by the parties themselves in
top-level negotiations. Between 1920 and 1934
Sw eden.


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

an average of almost 3 million man-days had
been lost annually in work stoppages.
The
Swedish Parliament debated Government regula­
tion but neither unions nor employers would
agree to compulsory arbitration of all disputes.
A Government commission, after several years’
study, in 1935 recommended that the parties
themselves— aided by Government representa­
tives— devise machinery for the peaceful settle­
ment of disputes. At the invitation of the
Swedish Federation of Trade Unions, representa­
tives of labor and management held a series of
meetings, without Government participation, ex­
tending over 2 years, at which the Basic Agreement
of 1938 was drafted. It was subsequently ratified
by the member organizations.
It established a uniform procedure for nego­
tiating and renewing collective bargaining agree­
ments, and a code of rules governing some of the
most troublesome problems in the field of indus­
trial relations: the protection of neutral third
parties from unfair pressure tactics by parties
engaged in labor disputes, and lay-offs and dis­
missals. An inter-federation agreement in 1906
had barred the closed shop but exacted a pledge
from employers not to fire workers for union
membership; except for this limitation Swedish
employers had preserved their freedom to hire,
fire and lay-off at will, and the unions do not
enforce seniority rules.
The Basic Agreement set up a joint Labor
Market Board to settle differences arising under
these general provisions, which has chiefly dealt
with cases of individuals involving lay-offs and dis­
missals.
But the chief interest of this document centers
on the preamble which sets forth a basic philosophy
in regard to the responsibilities of the two sides:
The preamble of the 1938 Basic Agreement
states the basic philosophy as follows:
The central organizations of the Swedish labor
market do fully realize how important it is to have
their disputes solved as far as possible without resort
to open conflicts. . . . However, losses resulting
from such conflicts . . . cannot be regarded as
sufficiently important to justify the present freedom
of collective bargaining being substituted by com­
pulsory public control. . . .
Nor from other points
of view should the State be justified'— aside from the
proper sphere of social welfare legislation— in forcing
upon Swedish employers and workers a regulation of
working conditions, either in general or in specific

B E V IE W , M A Y 1951

SCA N D IN A V IA N L A B O R — M A N A G E M E N T R E L A T IO N S

531

instances. So long as the organizations in the labor
market are prepared to look also to the general public in­
terest involved in their activities, the measure reasonably
called for in the interest of labor peace should most
naturally and appropriately rest with the organiza­
tions themselves.
The Labor Market Committee. . . . has deemed
it requisite in the first place to make more effective
existing methods of collective bargaining and of settle­
ment between the parties, as well as to further a gen­
eral release of tension in industrial relations. . . .
In the activities conducted by trade organizations
in the past for asserting their interests, certain methods
of direct action have sometimes been employed which
cannot be regarded as legitimate for trade organiza­
tions having reached the maturity and strength of the
Swedish organizations.

law in 1915, it exercised a power to adjudicate
all jural disputes, which had long been accepted
by Norwegian management and labor.
A Basic Agreement, negotiated between the
two top federations in 1935, was renewed with
amendments in 1947. It dealt principally with
the rights, duties, and functions of shop stewards,
but also regulated the voting on proposed collec­
tive agreements and sympathetic actions by
members of the two federations. A 1945 agree­
ment, modified in 1950, provided for advisory
plant production committees.

Because any conflict, if of sufficient scope,
might affect the public interest, it was provided
that such cases should be referred directly to
the joint Labor Market Board, but other special
measures were not deemed practicable in view
of the difficulty of defining and limiting the public
interest. Only two cases have ever come before
the Labor Market Board, both referred by
a public authority, but neither eventuated in
action. Although in 1945 the metal workers’
strike shut down an important industry for 5
months, it was allowed to run its course without
invoking these provisions.
The joint Labor Market Committee which
formulated the 1938 Agreement has continued
from time to time to explore new problems. A
1942 agreement supplemented the law on indus­
trial safety by requiring the appointment of
workers’ delegates in plants employing from
10 to 100 workers and of joint safety committees
in larger establishments. Later agreements pro­
vided for labor-management Plant Councils to
discuss production problems, and for the introduc­
tion of time and motion studies by a method
acceptable to the unions.

As indicated, in all three countries work
stoppages have long been banned where agree­
ments are in force (i. e., over disputes arising out
of the application or interpretation of these
agreements). Furthermore, top level negotiations
resulting in basic agreements have reduced the
likelihood of stoppages over new issues. Never­
theless, in all three the possibility remains that
negotiation of contracts may end in a strike or
lock-out. At present there is no general legal
prohibition against strikes or lock-outs over
conflicts of interests in any of the three countries,
provided that the requirements of the mediation
statutes are observed. However, in Denmark the
Parliament from time to time has passed special
acts to terminate particular disputes; in Norway
a 1944 emergency regulation, adopted by the
Government-in-exile, with the concurrence of labor
and management leaders, imposed compulsory
arbitration of all disputes, but this has been
relaxed in important respects. In Sweden the
parties are, and have been during the entire
period, legally free to pursue their own interests.
In all three countries, State conciliation services
are made available to the negotiating parties.
Laws prescribe their methods of operation step
by step. A period of notice to the other party
and to the mediator is required by law in each of
the three countries; in Norway and Denmark, the
mediator may, at his discretion, impose waiting
periods of short duration (the longest time being
2 weeks) to allow for the completion of the
mediation proceedings.
The mediator’s proposals are usually submitted

N o rw a y .

The first interfederation agreement in
Norway was concluded in 1902. It provided for
the arbitration of “ jural” disputes, when requested
by one of the parties, and “ nonjural” disputes,
when requested by both. Although it was not
renewed after its expiration in 1905, similar terms
were included thereafter in most industry agree­
ments. When the Labor Court was set up by


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

State Intervention in Strikes

532

SC A N D IN A V IA N L A B O R — M A N A G E M E N T R E L A TIO N S

to a vote of the interested union and employer
memberships in all three countries. The mediator
may formulate either single or collective proposals
so as to include one or more unions in the voting;
in collective proposals the acceptance or rejection
is decided by the total votes cast. The balloting is
regulated by law, by agreement, or by the consti­
tutions of the central federations, in order to pre­
vent a minority precipitating a stoppage. Where
a fairly complete poll is obtained of the member­
ship involved, the matter is decided by simple
majority; failing this, the final decision (at least
as to rejection), is placed in the hands of respon­
sible union leaders, in Norway and Denmark.
Sweden’s LO considers the vote advisory only.
If the mediator’s proposal is rejected—-or if
he has decided not to submit one— the question
of whether a legal stoppage of work may take
place is handled somewhat differently in the
three countries. In Denmark, when the dispute
threatened to have a sufficiently adverse effect
on the public welfare, the Parliament, by special
act, required the parties to accept the mediator’s
proposal or an amended version of it. This
practice obtained before and after World War II.
Norway followed a somewhat similar course in
the interwar period. After World War II, by
agreement between the top representatives of
employers and labor during the Government’s
London exile, a Wage Board with compulsory
powers was established to settle disputes over
wages. Its jurisdiction was later extended to
other matters. This Board still exists, although its
powers were curtailed in February 1949 by
exempting from its jurisdiction any union or
employer demands endorsed by the central
federations.
Thus full freedom of collective
bargaining, including the right to engage in
strikes and lock-outs, was restored to these fed­
erations—whose sense of responsibility for the
national economic welfare is counted on to avoid
stoppages that would damage the economy.


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

Relation of Unions to Labor Parties

The pattern of industrial relations in Scandi­
navia has been influenced by the close link existing
from the very outset between the trade-union
federations and the Labor or Social Democratic
Parties. In Norway and Sweden the political
party was formed first and assisted in federating
the unions. In each of the three countries the
party and the trade-union federation maintain
either an organizational tie or a close advisory
relationship. Trade-union leaders frequently have
been elected to the Parliaments, and have sat in
the Cabinets. Since the 1930’s these parties have
held office in the three countries, either as minority
or majority governments.
On the one hand political victories placed the
trade-union movements in a very strong bargain­
ing position vis a vis the government, because
trade-unionists provide the bulk of the funds and
the votes of the Labor or Social Democratic
Parties. But on the other hand, the participation
of trade-union leaders in discussions of national
policy during years of economic and political
stress, necessitated a very comprehensive review
of collective-bargaining objectives, particularly
wage and hour demands, in the light of the over­
all public interest, and resulted in modifications of
those demands. Thus, the federations of labor
have restrained their member unions from pressing
postwar demands for shorter hours; and have in
some years accepted less than full compensation
in wage rates for increases in living costs.

* Of the Bureau’s Division of Foreign Labor Conditions,
1 The principal sources used were interviews b y the author with officials of
government, labor, and employer organizations in the three countries, and
the reports of U. S. labor attachés, Oliver Peterson (Stockholm), Edward J.
Rowell (Copenhagen), and Walter Galenson (Oslo).
2 The closed shop was banned only in contracts with federated employers.
In Sweden the Labor Court ruled in 1948 that an employee’s freedom of
association was violated by an employer’s threat to discharge him for refusal
to join a union having a closed shop contract; but in 1950 it upheld the require­
ment that a prospective employee join such a union.

Summaries of Studies and Reports

Shift Operations in
Metalworking Plants, January 19511
O ne in e v e r y four workers in key metalworking
industries was employed on the second and third
shifts during January 1951— 21 percent on the
second shift and 4 percent on the third— accord­
ing to a special survey of shift operations in almost
6,000 metal-goods manufacturing plants. The
survey was designed to give some indication of
the extent that these industries, which are basic
to the expansion of defense production, are utiliz­
ing their existing facilities. Industries reporting
included those making aircraft, ships, machinery,
and a wide range of other fabricated metal
products.
Half of the plants surveyed operated with more
than one shift; a seventh were utilizing three
shifts. In some plants, additional shifts were be­
ing used to balance production and make neces­
sary repairs to equipment; but in many others,
the extra shifts reflected the relatively high rate
of production. World War II experience has in­
dicated that it is possible, in many industries, to
employ as many workers on the evening and night
shifts combined as on the day shift. None of the
industries surveyed approached this unusually
high level, but many reported one worker on the
extra shifts for each two on the first shift, a high
proportion considering that in January most of
these industries were still largely on a peacetime
basis.
Metalworking industries already using extensive
second- and third-shift operations to carry on
production at the high January rate included air­
craft and parts, automobiles, tin cans, iron and
steel forgings, locomotives, and refrigerators and
refrigeration machinery. (See accompanying
table.) The high level of extra-shift operation in
some of the consumer goods industries was due,
in part, to a large volume of demand fed by con­
sumer fears of prospective shortages. Together


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

with strong industrial demand, the cumulative ef­
fect of these factors lifted durable-goods produc­
tion in January 1951 to a post-World-War-II high.
Industries which had relatively few workers on
extra shifts included shipbuilding, office and store
machines, radios and related products, and heat­
ing and cooking apparatus. In some of these in­
dustries, lack of sufficient demand in relation to
capacity held down the use of extra shifts; in
others, expansion was limited by shortages of ma­
terials and skilled workers.
Percent of production workers in selected metalworking
industries on each shift, January 1951
Percent of product ion workers on—
Industry
All
shifts

First
shift

T o ta l1____________________

100.0

75.0

20.9

4.1

Fabricated metal products1
Tin cans and other tinware
Hardware, not elsewhere classifieds
Heating and cooking apparatus______
M etal stam pings... . . .
Machinery, except electrical1
Tractors_____________ ___
Farm machinery (except tractors)
Machine tools________
Office and store machines and devices
Refrigerators and air-conditioning
units____ . . . . .
Electrical machinery1______
Motors and generators . . _. . .
Electrical appliances, not elsewhere
classified. . . . .
Radios and related products........... ..
Transportation equipm ent1_______ _
Motor vehicles and parts___ . . . .
Aircraft and parts______ ______
Shipbuilding and repairing___________
L o com otives.___________
Iron and steel forgings________ _________
M etal furniture____ ________________

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

76.7
67.9
72.9
83.9
70.0
79.3
67.6
83.6
80.5
90.0

18.7
26.9
21.8
13.5
24.3
17.6
24.8
14.5
17.8
10.0

4.6
5.2
5.3
2.6
5. 7
3.1
7.6
1.9
1.7

100.0
100.0
100.0

67.5
76.4
71.8

28.3
19.6
22.9

4. 2
4.0
5.3

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

73.7
85.2
69.2
64.9
70.3
83.3
61.0
66.2
83.0

22.3
13.8
26.4
29.9
25.0
14.9
34.6
25.9
14.7

4.0
1.0
4.4
5.2
4. 7
1.8
4.4
7.9
2.3

Second
shift

Third
shift

1 Includes a number of industries not separately shown.

Among the plants that were operating three
shifts, 37 percent of the workers were on the second
and third shifts. As might be expected, threeshift plants employed a far greater ratio of workers
on the second shift than did those with only two
shifts. For every 10 workers on the first shift,
two-shift plants had 2 workers on the second shift,
while three-shift plants had 5 workers on the second
shift and 1 on the third.
Multi-shift operations were found mainly in the
533

534

N E W H O M E F IN A N CIN G

larger establishments; thus, while only about a
seventh of the firms operated three shifts, these
firms employed about half the total workers in
the survey. On the other hand, about half the
plants operated one shift but accounted for only
12 percent of total employment. Stated another
way, the average three-shift plant employed al­
most 1,300 workers; those with two shifts, 400;
and those with only one shift, somewhat less than
100.

M O N TH LY LABOR

Chart 1. New Mortgaged 1-Family Houses Bought
Under Pre-Regulation X Credit Terms
W ASH INGTO N A R E A H O U S E S C O M P L E T E D IN L A S T
Q U A R T E R 1950 A N D P U R C H A S E D B Y M A R C H 1,1951
Percent of Purchases

|00 -------------------------------------------------

80

-

With VA 1st or 2nd mortgages'1

1

Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Manpower and Employment

Statistics.

60

-

With FHA insured or conventional loans

New Home Financing in

20

-

Washington Area, 1 9 4 9 -5 1 1
0 __________ I__________ I__________ I__________ I________

M ost of th e n e w houses in the Washington

metropolitan area in late 1950 were bought by
veterans, and were financed under loan commit­
ments made before Regulation X 2 credit restric­
tions became effective, October 12. Sales prices
of new homes did not change much between 1949
and 1950. However, incomes of new home buyers
and tenants were higher, and more new “ luxury”
apartments were rented, in 1950 than in 1949.
These are partial results of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics’ surveys of financing, prices, and
rentals of new housing built in the Washington
metropolitan area. The surveys covered 3,780
new one-family houses and 4,190 new rental units
(mostly in multifamily buildings) completed dur­
ing the last 6 months of 1949 and purchased or
rented before January 15, 1950; and 3,725 houses
and 1,510 rental units completed during the last
quarter of 1950 and sold or rented by March 1,
1951. Excluded from the studies were houses for
which the construction cost was $30,000 or more,
and those on which the owner did a significant
part of the work himself or acted as his own
general contractor.


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

Under
$10,500

$10,500
under
$12,500

$12,500
under
$14,500

$14,500
under
$16,500

$16,500
and
Over

PURCHASE PRICE
UNITEO STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Housing Credit Terms

The surveys showed that apparently veterans
(about 3 in 4 of all purchasers in both periods
studied) were able to obtain more liberal terms
under VA-guaranteed (GI) financing in 1950 than
in 1949. Of the houses financed with GI aid, a
third were bought without a down payment in
1950, compared with a fourth in 1949.
For this reason, a greater proportion of new
houses were bought under pre-Regulation-X
credit terms in the 1950 than in the 1949 survey
period— three-fourths, as against two-thirds— al­
though Regulation X was in effect during most of
the 1950 period. Well over a fifth of the home
buyers made no down payment at the time of
purchase in 1950, and another fifth initially in­
vested less than 5 percent of the purchase price,
compared with only 15 percent and 14 percent,
respectively, in 1949.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

N E W H OM E FINANCIN G

Purchase Price

financing were in that price range, but, unlike the
GI houses, a very high proportion sold for $16,500
or more.

Little change occurred between the 1949 and
1950 survey periods in the purchase prices of new
homes completed. Prices averaged $13,160 in
1949 and $13,495 in 1950. Half of the units com­
pleted in 1949 sold for under $12,300, while in
1950 the median price was $12,100. The price
range also varied little between the two periods.
Few new houses sold for less than $8,500. In
both periods, about 30 percent were sold for less
than $10,500, not quite 40 percent for $10,500$14,500, and another 30 percent for more than
$14,500. About 1 house in 10 sold for $18,500
or more.
A comparison of the housing bought with and
without GI aid reveals that veterans generally
bought less expensive houses than nonveterans.
Of the Gl-financed houses (80 percent in 1949
and 90 percent in 1950 of the houses bought by
veterans) two-fifths in 1949 and almost a half in
1950 were priced under $10,500. Only a tenth
of the houses bought without VA-guaranteed
T able

1.

535

Rentals

Almost none of the rental units completed dur­
ing the survey periods rented for less than $60 a
month. The average monthly rent for units com­
pleted during July-December 1949 was $86.80.
For new units finished during October-December
1950, rents averaged $95.70. These figures are
considerably above the $62.07 average, reported
in a February 1950 Bureau survey, of both old
and new housing.
The marked increase in the volume of highrental units completed in “ luxury” elevator-type
structures in the 1950 period was strikingly
revealed by the surveys. Only 2 percent of the
new units built in the 1949 period rented for $120
or more, as against 27 percent in 1950. However,
few if any tenants in the 1949 survey reported
family incomes of as much as $10,000; in 1950,
15 percent had incomes of $10,000 or more.

Price class and type of mortgage of new one-family houses purchased in Washington metropolitan area, 1949 and
1950, by percent of initial equity 1
P R IC E C L A S S

Item

All new pur­
chased units

Num ­
ber

Per­
cent of
total

Percent of houses with initial equity in
purchase price of—

All
houses

0

1-5
per­
cent

6-15
per­
cent

All new pur­
chased units

16-25 26-100
Num ­
per­ per­
ber
cent cent

Per­
cent of
total

Percent of houses with initial equity in
purchase price of—

All
houses

1949 2
A ll

new purchased u n it s _______________

Under $9,500_____
$9,500-$io,4yy________
$10,500-12,499____________
$12,500—$14,499 _ _ _
$14,500—$16,499 ____ _______
$16,500 and over, . ___ __

0

100

100

15

14

19

19

33

3 3, 725

100

100

23

550
700
695
700
550
585

14
19
18
19
15
15

100
100
100
100
100
100

58
26
11

10
38
17
9

14
25
27
20
19
7

8
8
28
34
22
11

10
3
17
37
57
79

245
835
950
495
390
810

7
22
26
13
10
22

100
100
100
100
100
100

77
56
17
(4)

9)

9)

6-15
per­
cent

16-25 26-100
per­
per­
cent cent

19503

3,780

9)

1-5
per­
cent

9)
9)

9)
9)

21

9)

33
45

9)
9)
9)

16

9)
9)

19
39

9)
9)

10

9)
9)
(4)
(4 )

32

9)

30
(4 )

(4)
(4 )

30
35
77

T Y P E OF M O R T G A G E
1949 2
A ll new purchased houses______________

1950 3

3,780

100

100

15

14

19

19

33

3 3, 725

3 100

100

23

21

16

10

30

Mortgaged houses_____ ______
3, 520
First mortgage onlv:
VA-guaranteed_________________
1,275
FH A-insured_______
_________
855
Conventional ................................
300
First and second mortgages................ 7 1, 090
Unmortgaged houses____________________
260

93

100

17

15

20

20

28

3,380

91

100

24

22

16

10

27

34
23
8
29
7

100
100
100
100
100

32

9

19
13
(4)
34

20
40

19
45
93
5
100

2, 260
300
600
8 220
115

61
8
16
6
3

100
100
100
100
100

36

31
(0

18
(4)
(4)

8
f4)
(4)
(4)

6
51
93

9)
9)

16

w
37

1 Represents the difference between total purchase price and amount of
mortgage; excludes settlement charges.
2 1949 survey covered new houses completed during July-December and
purchased by Jan. 15, 1950.
3 1950 survey covered new houses completed during October-December and
urchased by M ar. 1,1951.
4 Too few to show separately.


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

9)

8

9)
9)
9)

9)

(*)

(4)

pi
100

5 Includes 230 units for which financing and mortgage information was
lacking.
6 Percentages computed on basis of units for which mortgage information
was reported.
7 M ostly F H A -V A combination.
8 Practically all conventional mortgages.

NEW HOME FINANCING

536
Selling Price and Buyers’ Income

Rising family income of Washington area home
buyers is reflected in the changing proportion of
new homes bought by families at various income
levels. Over half the sales housing in 1949 and
two-fiftlis in 1950 were bought by families whose
annual income ranged from $3,000 to $5,000.
In 1949, 1 in 10 houses was bought by families
in the $7,500 and over income group, compared
with 1 in 5 in 1950. Half of the new home buyers
in 1949 had incomes up to $4,700; half in 1950
had incomes up to $5,200.
Credit terms during both survey periods per­
mitted more liberal financing for lower-priced
than for high-priced housing. As a result, the
lower income families have been able to pay
relatively more than the high-income families
for their housing. Families in the $3,000-$4,000
income class bought houses costing, on the average,
between $10,500 and $11,000, or three times the
median annual income. In contrast, the average
purchase price of houses bought by families with
incomes of $7,500 to $10,000 was about double
their annual income.

Chart 2. Monthly Rent of New Dwelling Units
W A SH IN G T O N A R E A , 1 9 4 9 and 1950
Percent

M O N TH LY LABOR

2 . — Family income 1 of buyers and renters of new
dwelling units, in Washington metropolitan area, 1949
and 1950

T able

1949 3

1950 3

N ew 1-family houses purchased
Income class
Num ­
ber of
units

Percent Average N u m ­
of
purchase ber of
to ta l4
price
units

Percent Average
of
purchase
to ta l4
price

All new purchased
units _ _ _________

« 3, 780

100

$13,160

« 3, 725

100

$13, 495

Under $3,000.
$3,000-$3,999__________
$4,000-$4,999________
$5,000-$5,999______
$6,000-$7,499__
$7,500-$9,999____
$10,000 and over _.

185
830
1,135
715
570
230
80

5
22
31
19
15
6
2

13, 340
10, 890
12,090
13,665
14,220
17,860
24,385

150
815
665
800
435
380
250

4
23
19
23
13

10, 580
10, 660
11,835
13,055
14,160
16, 760
22, 760

h

7

New dwelling units rented
Num ­
Average N u m ­
Average
ber of Percent monthly ber of Percent monthly
of total4
units
rent
units of total4
rent
All new rented units..

4,190

100

$86. 80

7 1, 510

100

$95. 70

Under $3,000
_______
$3,000-$4,999__________
$5,000-$7,499__________
$7,500-$9.999__
$10,000 and over_____

120
2, 425
1,470
175
(*)

3
58
35
4

91. 55
82.90
91.20
101.05

200
460
430
120
220

14
33
30
8
15

77. 00
79.70
107.10
104 90
122.35

1 Covers estimated total money income of head of household and spouse;
does not represent total assets.
2 1949 survey covered new houses, and new rental units, completed during
July-December and purchased or rented by Jan. 15,1950.
3 1950 survey covered new houses, and new rental units, completed during
October-Deeember and purchased or rented by M ar. 1, 1951.
4 Percentages computed on basis of units for which income data were reported.
5 Includes a few units for which income data were not reported.
6 Includes 230 units for which income data were not reported.
7 Includes 80 units for which income data were not reported.
8 Too few to show separately.

Effects of Regulation X

MONTHLY RENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


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

The effects of Regulation X on the Washington
area housing market may be illustrated by exam­
ining the sales conditions affecting houses in the
$10,500 to $12,500 price range. In the 1950 survey
period, 45 percent of these houses were sold with
down payments of 1 to 5 percent of the purchase
price; 17 percent were sold with no down payment.
This means that for almost two-thirds of the houses
in this price range the buyers had to furnish, at
the most, $500 or $600 in cash. When the supply of
houses available on pre-Regulation-X term; is ex­
hausted, the Washington area families in the
$3,000-$5,000 income range, who are the most
common buyers of houses in the $10,500-$12,500
price range, will have to make down payments of
$l,500-$2,200, if the buyers are veterans, or
$2,400-$3,200, if nonveterans.
Veteran home buyers, the 1950 survey indicates,
will be affected more by Regulation X than will
non veterans. Credit terms for nine-tenths of the

S A L A R IE S —-FE D ER A L

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

houses bought under Gl-financing (used by most
Washington area veterans) were below Regulation
X requirements. In contrast, only half of the
units financed with FHA-insured or conventional
loans— used largely by nonveterans—were bought
with down payments lower than those required
under Regulation X.
In addition, the information obtained gives some
indication of how much more extensively the Octo­
ber 12 regulations will affect the market for the
lower-priced homes veterans buy, than the market
for the higher-priced houses bought most frequently
by nonveterans. Not quite a tenth of the houses
selling for less than $10,500 in 1950 were bought
under credit terms that would meet Regulation X
requirements, as against almost half of those priced
at $16,500 or more.
— A dela L. S tucke
Division of Construction Statistics

1 Data are based on reports from a sample of housing projects and therefore
are subject to sampling variability. A detailed statement of sampling vari­
ability is available upon request to the Division of Construction Statistics,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 The regulations require, on F H A and conventional loans, a minimum of
10 percent down on houses of $5,000 or less to a maximum of 50 percent down
on houses priced at $24,250 and over. For G I loans, the range is from about
5 percent down on houses priced around $6,000 or less to 45 percent down on
houses costing $24,250 or more. Veterans with G I loans m ay have up to
30 years to amortize the mortgage, compared with 20 years for F H A and

C L A SSIFIE D

E M P LO YE E S

537

the increase in the Consumers’ Price Index; aver­
age salaries rose slightly more than the index.
Salaries discussed here are those of about
800,000 per annum employees subject to the
Federal classification acts; these workers perform
mainly clerical, administrative, and professional
functions.1 The present study is the third in a
series presenting indexes of wage and salary rates
of various groups of workers in nonmanufacturing
employment.2 For Federal classified workers, the
salary rate indexes reflect changes in basic salary
scales and merit increases within the same occupa­
tional classification. However, shifts in occu­
pational composition resulting from changes and
expansion in governmental activity during the
period covered by this report have affected average
salaries as distinguished from salary rates. Con­
sequently, indexes of average salaries, reflecting
the combined effect of all these factors, are also
presented.
Since the effect of either merit increases or
changes in grade composition on Federal workers’
pay will vary from period to period, depending on
rates of hiring and promotion, there is interest in
a measure of salaries unaffected by either of these
factors. Accordingly, a Civil Service Commission
measure of basic salary changes alone is incor­
porated in table l.8

conventional borrowers.

Basic Scales and Salary Rates

Federal Classified Employees:
Salary Trends, 1939-50
B asic sa la r y scales of Federal classified employ­

ees increased 55 percent, on the average, between
Augu^cT939 and July 1950. The merit increases
in pay within the same grade (occupational classi­
fication) added to the rise in basic scales raised
average salary rates 60 percent for this period.
Average salaries showed an 83-percent increase;
this third measure of salary changes takes into
account the growth in the proportion of workers
at higher salary rates as well as basic scale and
merit increases. The rise in basic scales and salary
rates, August 1939 to July 1950, lagged behind
9 4 1 2 9 8 —

5 1 ---------- 3


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

Practically all of the 55-percent rise in basic pay
scales and of the 60-percent increase in average
salary rates occurred after June 1945. Con­
gressional action increased basic pay scales in
July 1945, in July 1946, and in July 1948; in
addition, a revision of the classification system in
October 1949 included some changes in these basic
scales. Up to June 1945, both basic pay scales
and average salary rates i had risen only about
1 percent as a result of increased scales for certain
of the lower grades.5
Most of the rise in average salary rates which is
attributable to merit increases also occurred after
the wrar, although legislation in 1941 provided
uniform standards for merit increases in pay for
those remaining in the same position more than a
specified amount of time.6 During World War II,
force expansion and rapid turn-over, which re­
quired hiring large numbers of workers at mini­
mum grade rates, caused a decline of average pay

SALARIES— FEDERAL CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

538
T

a

b

l e

M O N TH LY LABOR

1. — Indexes of basic pay scales, average salary rates, and average salaries of workers covered by Federal Classification
Acts, 1989-50
Basic pay scales 1
Period
All
workers

Aug. 1939 (base)____
_
________ ___
June 30, 1945__________________________________
July 1, 1946___________________________________
July 1, 1947___________________________________
July 15, 1948__________________________________
July 1, 1949 ___
______________________ . - July 1, 1950 _____________________ _ _ _____

General
schedule

100.0
101.1
133.8
133.8
148.5
148.5
154.6

Average salary rates 1

Crafts,
protective,
custodial

100.0
100.2
131.9
131.9
145.7
145.7
151.5

All
workers

100.0
110.1
146.9
146.9
168.3
168.3
176.0

General
schedule

100
3 101
133
135
151
152
160

100
3 100
131
133
149
150
158

Average salaries 2

Crafts,
protective,
custodial
100
3 110
149
152
176
177
189

All
workers

General
schedule

100
(4)

143
150
168
170
183

Crafts,
protective,
custodial

100
(‘ )

100
«

136
144
160
163
175

154
154
178
180
192

1 Merit increases in pay within the same grade, which affect the averagesalary-rate indexes, compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, have been
excluded from the basic-pay-scale indexes, compiled by the Civil Service
Commission. Both these index series exclude the effects of changes in the
distribution of workers among grades.
2 In addition to showing the effect of increases in basic salary scales and of
merit increases in pay within the same grade, these indexes are influenced by
shifts in the proportion of workers among grades.

3 Estimated by assuming the same distribution of employees among grades
and steps within grades in 1939 as in 1945— i. e., by assuming that the change
in basic pay scales and in average salary rates was the same during this period.
It is known that during this period there was little or no increase in average
rates because of merit increases.
4 N ot available.

in some grades.7 After the war, reduced Federal
employment under a policy of seniority retention
augmented the effect of merit increases; conse­
quently, average salaries in each grade advanced
somewhat more than basic pay scales.
The effect of merit raises on average salary
rates in the postwar period was overshadowed by
increases in basic pay scales, except between
mid-1946 and mid-1947 and again between mid1948 and mid-1949, when pay scales were not
changed. Between June 1945 and July 1946,
salary rates increased by nearly 32 percent almost
entirely because of 2 pay raises— effective July
1, 1945, and July 1, 1946, respectively. The rise
in the 1948 indexes was dominated by the uni­

form $330 increase in scales put into effect in the
first half of July 1948. By July 1, 1950, salaries
had risen approximately 5 percent more (8 index
points), primarily because of the Classification
Act of October 1949.
Although the principal objective of the classifi­
cation act was a realignment of salary scales, it
did provide increases in minimum base rates rang­
ing, in most cases, from $100 to $175. It also
added 3 grades to the top of the salary scale.
Over the entire 1945-50 period covered, all but
about a twelfth of the 58 percent rise in average
salary rates resulted from increased basic pay
scales.
Salaries have increased proportionately more

indexes of Salaries of Classified Federal W orkers, July 1 9 5 0
AU G U S T

1 9 3 9 =1 0 0

B a s e d on cu rr e n t d o lla r s

ES2E3

BASIC PAY SCALES

W o rk e rs

S c h e d u le

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


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

B a s e d on d o lla r s d e fla te d by C on sum e rs’ P r ic e Index

AVERAGE SALARY RATES

W o rk e rs

S c h e d u le

AVERAGE SALARIES

W o rk e rs

S c h e d u le

S e e fo o tn o te s on t a b le 1

SALARIES—FEDERAL CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

in the lower than in the higher grades. Most of
the legislation either specifically provided higher
percentage increases in pay for the lower than the
higher grades of classified employees or uniform
dollar increase in salaries regardless of grade;
the latter, of course, resulted in a higher percentage
increase for the lower salary levels. Thus, the
indexes for the crafts, protective, and custodial
group, whose salaries are at the lower end of
the scale (CPC), are higher than those for the
general schedule (GS). (See table 1.) Basic pay
scales for the “ CPC” group rose 76 percent and
for the “ GS” group (formerly clerical, adminis­
trative, fiscal, and professional workers) 52 percent,
between 1939 and 1950. Salary rate increases
for these groups averaged, respectively, 89 percent
and 58 percent.
Within each of the two broad groups, increases
for the lower salary grades were also greater,
percentage-wise, than for the higher levels. This
is illustrated for the clerical, administrative,
fiscal, and professional group by table 2, which
shows salary trends for 3 grades within the
General Schedule (GS-3, GS-9, GS-13). Between
1939 and 1950, average pay rose 70 percent for
grade GS-3, compared with less than 40 percent
T a b l e 2.— Changes in minimum and average salaries 1 for
selected grades under Federal Classification Acts, 1989-50
August
1939

June
1945

July 1, July 1, July 15, July 1, July 1,
1949
1950
1946
1947
1948

Service and grade
Indexes (August 1939=100)
C P C -2:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary1. ____
G S-3:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary1___ __ _
G S-9:
M inim um salary rate.
A verage salary1_______
GS-13:
M inim um salary rate
Average salary1 . . .

100
100

111
(2)

156
151

156
153

187
183

187
183

196
198

100
100

100
(2)

134
133

134
136

154
157

154
158

164
170

100
100

100
(2)

130
130

130
131

140
143

140
144

144
149

100
100

100
0

127
126

127
127

133
133

133
134

136
137

Dollars
C P C -2:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary1 . . . . .
G S-3:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary1_______
G S-9:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary 1____
GS-13:
M inim um salary rate.
Average salary1______

1,080
1,166

1,200
(2)

1,690
1,756

1,690
1, 783

2, 020
2,129

2,020
2,139

2,120
2, 307

1, 620
1,683

1,620
(2)

2,168
2, 238

2,168
2, 287

2, 498
2, 638

2, 498
2, 659

2,650
2,866

3, 200
3, 298

3, 200
(2)

4,150
4, 279

4, 150
4,334

4,480
4, 723

4,480
4, 754

4, 600
4, 923

5,600
5, 793

5, 600
(2)

7,102
7,300

7,102
7, 345

7, 432
7, 727

7, 432
7, 752

7, 600
7, 931

1 Average salaries were obtained by weighting each salary step ithin the
grade by the number of employees at that step. In other wo is. they
reflect the effect of increases in basic salary scales and of merit in reases in
pay within the grade for each period.
2 Average salary data for individual grades not available.


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

539

for GS-13. Table 2 also shows that for CPC-2
(the lowest grade in which a substantial number
of workers are currently employed), pay nearly
doubled.
Average Salaries and Gross Earnings

Changes in the proportion of workers at various
grades within the classification system resulted in
a greater rise in the index of average salaries than
was shown in the indexes of salary rates or basic
salary scales just described. As previously indi­
cated, the combined influence of rate increases
and changes in occupational or grade composition
advanced average salaries by 83 percent between
1939 and 1950. For each period for which data
are available, the rise in average salaries for the
entire group of workers covered by this report, was
greater than the change in salary rates alone.
During World War II, “ gross” earnings of Fed­
eral workers (that is, earnings including overtime
pay) also showed substantially different trends
from salary rates. During the period when salary
scales were stable, overtime pay became a major
source of additional earnings. The workweek for
employees covered by the Classification Act was
increased to 48 hours from December 1942 to
June 1945, with extra pay being provided for most
employees.8 A 44-hour week was widelv sub­
stituted in July 1945 9 and the 40-hour week was
generally introduced in September 1945.10 It is
estimated that in June 1945, when the 48-hour
week was still in effect, overtime pay augmented
earnings of employees under the Classification
Act by roughly 20 percent.
From September 1945 through mid-1950, over­
time was paid only to a limited number of workers
in emergencies; thus, the recent trend in straighttime and gross earnings can be assumed to be
practically the same. Since hostilities started in
Korea, however, the amount of regularly scheduled
overtime work in some of the defense agencies has
increased.
Changes in “ Real” Salaries

Average salaries of classified employees rose
slightly more than the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
Consumers’ Price Index over the period August
L939 to July 1950, but salary scales and rates (pay
for the same type of work) lagged behind living
costs. Salary scales and rates of classified em-

PRICE MOVEMENT AFTER GCPR

540

ployees deflated by the CPI, were only about
nine-tenths as high in July 1950 (the date of the
latest annual salary survey for Federal workers)
as they had been in 1939. Since that time, the
gap between the CPI and salary scales and rates
has been widened further by rising prices.
— R

uth

W . B

enny

Division of Wage Statistics

1 In addition the data include smaller groups in so-called subprofessional
categories and in craft, protective, and custodial jobs. The other groups of
Federal civilian employees, excluded from the present report, are the per
diem workers, postal employees, and the so-called “ blue collar” workers
whose earrings are fixed by wage-board action.
2 Previous studies relate to policemen and firemen in large cities (M onthly
Labor Review, June 1950, p.633), and urban public school teachers (M onthly
Labor Review, March 1951, p. 286).
3 The basic information for all the indexes was obtained from the United
States Civil Service Commission but only those showing changes in basic
salary scales were actually computed by the Commission.
The effect of changes in occupational or grade structure has been excluded
from the measure of average salary rate changes b y applying the same employ­
ment weights to average salaries for a grade or positional group in the classified
service in successive years. A so-called chain index was constructed by mul­
tiplying (weighting) the 1939 average salaries for each grade by 1946 employ­
ment to obtain an over-all average for comparison with the 1946 average
based on the same weights. Then the averages for each grade in both 1946
and 1947 were multiplied by 1947 employment in the grade to get over-all
averages; the percentage relationship between these two averages was
computed and multiplied by the index for the preceding year. The same
procedure was used for each succeeding pair of years.

Price M ovements in 2 Months
Following GCPR
P r i c e a d v a n c e s of most nonagricultural com­
modities slowed down markedly or halted in the
first 2 months after the Office of Price Stabilization
issued the General Ceiling Price Regulation
(GCPR) on January 26, 1951.1 Primary market
quotations for some commodities even declined
after mid-February, partly reflecting specific com­
modity ceilings, and partly because prices of many
commodities had moved beyond their true eco­
nomic level in the light of current supplies and
demand. Also, many markets were unusually
inactive, as buyers awaited the imposition of
specific ceilings which they hoped would be below
the GCPR levels. During the 6 weeks from
January 25 to March 9, 1951, producers’ prices


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

The construction procedures for the index of changes in basic salary scales
are essentially comparable, except that constant weights were also applied
to each pay step within a grade in comparing succeeding years; in this way
the effect of merit increases on average salaries within the grade was excluded.
Further details on the methods used in constructing the indexes will be
provided in a processed Bureau of Labor Statistics Wage Movements report
(Series 3, N o. 6).
1 The June 1945 index of average salary rates is estimated but is believed to
be quite accurate; no complete salary surveys are available for any period
between 1939 and 1946 but it seemed desirable to present an index for a period
late in the war but prior to the increases in pay scales made between June
1945 and July 1946.
3
Grades CPO (crafts, protective, custodial) 1-8 and SP (subprofessional)
1 and 2.
8 Prior to 1941, increases in pay to workers within the same grade were
determined by administrative action subject to certain limitations on their
effect on individual agency payroll costs. In 1941, they were made auto­
matic, providing a certain efficiency rating was obtained. For a description
of legislation and regulations affecting salaries and working conditions of
workers covered by the Classification Acts see M onthly Labor Review,
March 1951 (p. 296).
7 The contrast between the two periods illustrates the variation in the net
effect of these merit increases that occur from time to time depending on
whether Federal employment is expanded or contracted and on whether
there are opportunities for promotion. New workers or workers promoted
to new jobs are generally paid at the minimum scales for the grade and hence
the average salaries for a given grade will be reduced in periods of expansion.
In periods of contraction workers with greater seniority, who have received
more merit increases in pay than new workers, are retained; hence, average
salary rates will increase even in the absence of changes in basic pay scales.
8 The workweek had been increased from 39 to 44 hours early in 1942 without
any increase in earnings. Those receiving basic salaries of over $5,000 were
not paid overtime; others received time and a half on that part of their salaries
up to $2,900.
8 A t that time there was an increase in overtime rates.
10 The increases in salary scales made in 1945 and 1946 were intended at
least in part to compensate for the reduction in earnings by elimination of
overtime compensation.

for hides, tallow, soaps, shortening, and salad
oils were rolled back. Specific price increases
were granted only for automobiles and coal.
One important reason for the slowdown in the
rate of advance was that trading in some major
commodities— such as cotton, wool, and hides—
was suspended for as long as 6 weeks after the
GCPR appeared; thus prices remained nominally
unchanged. In addition, sales of most imported
strategic materials— such as tin, rubber, and
copper— were negligible during February and
March 1951 because world prices were generally
well above United States ceiling prices.
The rise in prices of major commodities quoted
by producers (and on organized markets) was
slightly over 2 percent during the first 2 months
following issuance of the GCPR, compared with
almost 15 percent in the 7 months’ period from
the start of the Korean war to the adoption of

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

P R IC E M O VEM EN T A F T E R OCPR

Chart 1. Weekly Rate of Change in Primary Market
Prices Since Korea
P E R C E N T C H AN G E

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

GCPR.2 Three-fourths of this 2-percent advance
occurred in the first 3 weeks following the regula­
tion, when quotations for farm products and foods
advanced 3K percent. Primary market prices
rose at a much slower rate— a total of less than
one-half of 1 percent— in the following 6 weeks.
The weekly rate of advance in primary market
prices is shown in chart 1. Much of the rise
recorded by the Weekly Index of Primary Market
Prices from January 23 to February 13 was
caused by a 5.5-percent jump in livestock quota­
tions and by a more than seasonal advance of over
5 percent in meat prices. Supplies of poultry and
livestock (other than lambs) were plentiful, and
no threat of meat scarcity existed during February
and March 1951.
Increases of 1.8 percent in the prices of both
food and apparel largely accounted for the 1.3
percent rise in the Consumers’ Price Index from
mid-January to mid-February 1951. (See chart
2.) The period covered by the February Index
included 11 days preceding publication of the
GCPR, so that a part of the increased prices paid
by consumers for essential goods and services


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

541

represents higher costs passed on by retailers prior
to the general freeze. Issuance of Ceiling Price
Regulation No. 7 on February 26, 1951, enabled
retailers of apparel and housefurnishings to
resume use of their individual percent markup in
determining price ceilings instead of keeping their
prices frozen at the level of January 26, 1951.
The moderate rise in retail prices from February
to March 1951 (0.4 percent) appears to indicate
that price regulations, particularly the general
freeze effected by GCPR, have aided in the fight
against inflation.
Moderation in the upswing in retail prices in
March may also be attributed to a decline in
anticipatory buying, particularly of household
appliances, and consumers’ reluctance to pay cur­
rent prices for some categories of apparel, par­
ticularly wool garments. Pre-Easter sales were
disappointing to department and apparel stores,
since store stocks exceeded last year’s inventories.
The improved military outlook during the last
half of March contributed to the return to more
normal buying habits on the part of purchasers of
consumers’ goods and some industrial buyers.
Shortages which were beginning to show up in
essential industrial materials by mid-March had

Chart 2. Monthly Rate of Change in Consumers’ Prices
Since Korea
PERCENT CHANCE

3 .0

2.0

1.0

-.5

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

542

CEILIN G P R IC E REGU LATIO N S

not yet appeared in consumer goods. A sizable
portion of consumer buying power was believed to
be committed temporarily to paying for purchases
made prior to GCPR.
— L ouise J. M ack
Division of Prices and Cost of Living

1 The G C P R was adopted as a temporary measure to stabilize prices for
most commodities and nonprofessional services for an indefinite period until
special price regulations could be prepared for specific groups of commodities
and services. Ceiling prices established by the G C P R permitted each indi­
vidual seller to charge the highest price received for goods delivered or services
performed during the base period December 19, 1950, through January 25,
1951. Prices charged by producers for agricultural commodities were exempt
as were fresh fish, seed, oilseeds and nuts, publications, advertising, insurance,
theaters, and utilities. The Defense Production Act also forbids price control
for agricultural commodities selling below parity.
2 Some of the price increases occurred in the 3-day interval between the
nearest index computation date (January 23) and the imposition of G C P R
on the evening of January 26,1951, or were reported belatedly for pre-G CPR
periods, so that the actual post-G CP R rise in commodity prices in primary
markets was less than the 2.2 percent recorded by the W eekly Index of Pri­
mary Market Prices.

Ceiling Price Regulations
Numbers 8 - 1 6 1
T he O ffice of P rice S t a b il iz a t io n issued nine
price regulations during March 1951. Six of
these covered a varied group of commodities and
services at various market levels, and three set
ceiling prices on certain dry and perishable foods
sold at wholesale and retail levels.

Dollars-and-cents ceiling prices for raw Ameri­
can upland cotton were fixed by Ceiling Price
Regulation 8 (CPR 8), issued by the OPS on March
3. The regulation establishes ceiling prices for
the cotton in mixed or odd lots by grade and staple
and by location for every seller, including the
producer.
Ceiling prices for all commodities sold, but not
manufactured or produced, in Alaska, Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Samoa, and the Virgin Is­
lands, were established by CPR 9, issued on March
7; these ceiling prices are based upon direct cost
plus the dollar-and-cents mark-up in effect during
the base period of December 19, 1950, to January
25, 1951. The mark-up, required by the regula­
tion, is the difference between either the latest,


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

most recent or “ average” cost, that existed prior
to January 26, 1951, and the delivery price.
Specific ceiling prices for manufacturers of
household soaps and cleansers, based on Decem­
ber 1950 levels, were outlined by CPR 10, dated
March 8 and effective on March 12. The regu­
lation permits owners of soap brand names and
soap packagers to establish prices reflecting De­
cember 1950 tallow prices.
Food and beverages served by restaurants were
placed under ceiling regulations by CPR 11, dated
March 13. The regulation provides for a price
control, based primarily on a “ food cost per dollar
of sales” basis. Commencing April 1, eating
places must base their prices on food costs per
dollar of sales during one of two basic periods—
either the calendar year of 1949 or the 12-month
period ended June 30, 1950.
Ceiling prices for milled rice at the processor
or mill level were specified in CPR 12, dated
March 13. The General Ceiling Price Regulation
will continue to be applicable to sales of milled
rice at all other levels of distribution.
Petroleum products at service stations and other
retail outlets were placed under specific price ceil­
ings by CPR 13, dated March 21 and effective
March 26. Ceiling prices, established by the regu­
lation, are the highest prices charged for a product
during the base period of December 19, 1950, to
January 25, 1951.
Certain foods, sold at wholesale and retail levels,
were placed under specific percentage mark-up, by
CPR 14, 15, and 16, all dated March 28 and effec­
tive April 5. The regulations cover approxi­
mately 60 percent of food purchases made by
consumers in retail stores and will affect approxi­
mately 500,000 food sellers. The method used in
the new regulations is the fixed mark-up on cost
technique. The regulation required that the new
system of pricing be installed between April 5 and
April 30.
Sales, by wholesalers, of certain “ dry grocer­
ies,” 2 are affected by CPR 14. Wholesalers,
covered by the regulation, include retailer-owned
cooperative wholesaler, cash-and-carry whole­
saler, service wholesaler, and the institutional
wholesaler.
Retailers of “ dry groceries” 2 and some “ per­
ishables” are affected by CPR 15, which pertains
to retail stores (other than independent stores)
with annual sales volume of less than $375,000,

R E V IE W , M AY 1951

M O B IL IZA T IO N D IR E C T O R ’S REPO RT

and also to retail stores (independent or otherwise)
with annual sales volume of $375,000 or more in
1950.
New ceiling prices for dry groceries and some
perishables are outlined in CPU 16 and are deter­
mined under the specific percentage mark-up
formula for all independent retail stores doing an
annual business of under $375,000.
The “ dry groceries” listed in CPR 15 and 16
are divided into 36 food categories;2 and the
“ perishables” are classified into one food com­
m odity-dairy products, covering butter and
packaged cheese.
1 Sources: Federal Registers vol. 16, No. 44, March 6, 1951, p. 2060; No. 47,
March 9, 1951, p. 2183; No. 64, April 3, 1951, p. 2871; N o. 48, March 10,
1951, p. 2226; No. 50, March 14, 1951, p. 2391; No. 51, March 15, 1951, p. 2428;
N o. 57, March 23, 1951, p. 2628; and No. 61, March 29, 1951, pp. 2725, 2735,
and 2750.
2 The “ dry groceries” affected are as follows: baby foods; cereals, break­
fast; cocoa, chocolate and cereal drink preparations; coffee; cookies, crackers,
toast and crumbs; corn meal, hominy and flour mixes; dog and cat foods;
fish, processed; flour; frozen foods; fruits, berries and fruit juices (canned)
except fruit cocktail, pineapple, peaches and pears; fruit cocktail, pineapple,
peaches and pears (canned) except juices; fruits, dried and dehydrated;
gelatin and pudding mixtures; jams, jellies, preserves, honey and peanut
butter; lard, pure; macaroni and spaghetti products; mayonnaise and salad
dressing; meat, canned; milk, canned; oils, cooking and salad; oleomargarine;
pickles and relishes; rice; shortening, hydrogenated; shortening, other;
soups, canned; soups, dehydrated; spices; syrups; tea; vegetables and vege­
table juices (canned) except corn, green beans, peas, tomatoes and tomato
juice; corn, green beans, peas, tomatoes and tomato juice (canned); vege­
tables, dried and dehydrated; vinegar; miscellaneous foods.

Mobilization Director’s
First Quarterly Report1
B y th e end of March 1 9 5 1 , the Director of the
Office of Defense Mobilization states, production
of goods and services had risen 10 percent over
the first quarter of 1 9 5 0 . The combined strength
of Army, Navy, and Air Force had reached about
3 million— twice the number who were under
arms in July 1 9 5 0 . Military equipment worth
$23 billion had been ordered. Aid was being
furnished to a unified military force in Europe
created under the North Atlantic Pact. Civilian
employment had reached its highest February
level, according to the latest available figures, and
the workweek in manufacturing industries aver­
aged 41 hours in February 1 9 5 1 .


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

543

Phases of Defense Program

As outlined by the Director of Defense Mobiliza­
tion, the defense program, covers (a ) production
of military equipment and supplies for our forces
fighting in Korea and for the expanding armed
services in the United States and in Europe;
(b) assistance to the growing forces of other
nations joined with us in resisting communism;
and (c) accumulation of reserve stocks. It also
covers (d ) the building of sufficient productive
power to make possible the increased activity
that would be needed in case of all-out war.
The Director believes that “ with the fullest degree
of drive and unity,” the job can be done by 1953.
The program will involve the calling of prac­
tically every young man [within specified age
brackets and with other qualifications] into the
armed services; higher taxes; more difficulty in
obtaining civilian needs, such as new housing
and new automobiles; some cut-backs in industry
causing workers to change their locations to avoid
unemployment; more overtime work; a slowing
down of technological and social progress. The
Director explained that the high expenditures per
unit for planes, submarines, tanks, and weapons
are due largely to their greatly increased weight,
fighting power, and complex equipment; and that
the shortage of consumer goods, while incon­
venient, probably will be much less acute than
during the World War II period, when many
items practically disappeared from the market.
Production and Manpower

Production of goods and services rose by 10 per­
cent between the first quarter of 1950 and the first
quarter of 1951, the Director of Defense Mobiliza­
tion states. During the fourth quarter of 1950,
the annual rate of production reached the $300billion mark, approximately equal in real output
to the peak war year 1944.
In order to meet both civilian and defense needs,
the report adds, a further increase of 15 percent is
required in the next 3 years, adding $45 billion to
the total national output.
To meet these defense production goals, from 3
to 4 million additional workers will be required in
1951. It is the Director’s belief that much of the
need for defense production workers will be met
by transfer of workers from nondefense activities,

544

M O B IL IZ A T IO N D IR E C T O R ’S RE P O R T

or by a shift without leaving their jobs as establish­
ments convert to defense production. Some of the
need, of course, will be filled by hiring the unem­
ployed, but these now represent a relatively low
number.
Important reserves of manpower, it is stated,
are available among housewives with grown chil­
dren, older persons near conventional retirement
age, and the handicapped. The Director states
the number of persons of working age that are not
in school and not in the labor force to be about
38 million— 5 million men and 33 million women.
He believes that “ all of the foreseeable manpower
needs for defense production can be met without
using compulsory measures.”
With regard to increased hours of work, the
Director points out that each hour of overtime
added to the average workweek in manufacturing
would result in a production gain equivalent to
almost 350,000 new workers. In February 1951,
the average workweek in manufacturing was about
41 hours. The peak average in World War II,
when many industries were on a 48-hour schedule,
was 4 5% hours.

M O N TH LY LABO R

order, major amendments and various supplements
were issued by the Office of Price Stabilization
covering specific commodities at various market
levels. (For discussion of price regulations, see
Monthly Labor Review, April 1951, p. 410, and
p. 542 of this issue.)
Price controls on farm products present special
difficulties, the report states. Price ceilings must
not be set below either the parity price or the
highest rate attained from May 24 to June 24,
1950. However, work to arrive at effective sys­
tems was progressing rapidly, the Director stated.
General Wage Stabilization Regulation 1 froze
all compensation at the January 25 levels and
required that all future wage increases be approved
by the Wage Stabilization Board.2
As adjustments under the general wage freeze
became necessary, the Wage Stabilization Board
and the Economic Stabilization Administrator
issued several General Wage Regulations liberal­
izing the over-all freeze. (For discussion of wage
regulations, see Monthly Labor Review, April
1951, p. 409.)
International Phases of Mobilization

Price and Wage Stabilization

To combat the rising prices resulting from in­
creased purchasing power caused by defense
activities, adoption of direct price and wage con­
trols became necessary, the report continues.
Increases in volume of earnings available for buy­
ing civilian goods, at the time that many factories
were being diverted to defense production, caused
an upward pressure on prices. Even though, as
the Director believes, the volume of civilian sup­
plies in the current year may still be great—in
some instances greater than it was in 1950— the
increase in money available for buying them will
rise still more as employment increases. Indirect
measures such as credit control and increased
taxes, it was felt, would not by themselves be
adequate to curb inflation, and direct controls
became necessary.
Effective January 26, 1951, direct action in
wage-price stabilization was furthered by adoption
of two over-all freeze regulations—General Wage
Stabilization Regulation 1 and the General Ceiling
Price Regulation. (For discussion, see Monthly
Labor Review, March 1951, p. 282.)
After the date of the initial general price-freeze


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

Without the aid which the United States has
given to a number of free countries, the Director
believes, their present expanded defense programs
could not have been undertaken. The Marshall
Plan, it was stated, has been a success. Industrial
production in Europe by the end of 1950 was 40
percent greater than prewar; and agricultural
production in the current crop year was expected
to be 10 percent above prewar.
The Director stresses the fact that the United
States must rely upon foreign nations for great
quantities of basic materials to supplement our
own resources, and that imports of critical
materials have increased markedly since July 1950.
Inflation is a problem common to all of the
“ free” nations, he points out, and cooperation
between these nations will be necessary in order
to control the prices of goods moving in inter­
national trade. This country, through designation
of Government agencies to act as exclusive
importers of certain commodities, and by working
in international committees to allocate scarce
materials among free countries, is “ helping to end
the current scramble for these materials which
has forced their prices unnecessarily high.”

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

CONSUMERS' COOPERATIVES

-The United States proposes “ to extend economic
aid to foreign countries only as part of a true co­
operative effort.”
The Director of Defense
Mobilization expresses full confidence that “ this
cooperative effort is gaining in momentum and
that the resources of the free world will be equi­
tably distributed to assure the strengthening of
the free world.”
1 In mid-December 1950, the President, by Executive order, proclaimed
existence of a national emergency and established the Office of Defense
Mobilization in the Executive Office, appointing Charles E . Wilson as
Director. “ Building America’s M ight,” the First Quarterly Report to the
President by the Director of Defense Mobilization, was published on April 1,
1951.
2 The 9-member Wage Stabilization Board was established on October 10,
1950, by Executive Order No. 10161, with Cyrus S. Ching as chairman.

Developments Among Consumers’
Cooperatives in 1950
C o n sid er able im p rovem en t in the consumers’

cooperative movement during 1950 was indicated
by reports received by the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics from various sources. Among the retail
associations, volume of business (in terms of
dollar sales) generally increased, but earnings
were usually less than in 1949. The situation
was somewhat similar among the wholesale as­
sociations, all but a few of which showed sub­
stantial rises in sales. Their earnings also showed
a marked gain over the previous year, when a
number were caught in the price “ squeeze” in the
petroleum market.
Extensive modernization of plant took place
among both retail and wholesale associations, as
well as among productive federations. Addi­
tional productive facilities were bought or erected,
and a considerable amount of oil-bearing land was
leased or otherwise acquired. In a few cases
productive enterprises were disposed of.
Events important to the cooperative movement
were the seventeenth biennial congress of the
Cooperative League of the USA, the fourth
annual convention of the Cooperative Health
Federation, and the formation of the National
Association of Housing Cooperatives. The
League meeting heard reports on the 50 years of
9 4 1 2 9 8 — 51

4


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

545

cooperative development, since 1900, in various
branches of the movement. It adopted a 4-year
plan, looking toward closer relationships in the
movement, a program of research and informa­
tion in cooperation with educational institutions
and research agencies, and cooperative develop­
ment in whatever new fields seem, after study,
appropriate.
Local Associations

The decreases in earnings of retail cooperatives,
which appear to have been fairly general, seem
to have been due mainly to lower margins, re­
sulting from wage increases and other higher costs
of operation at the same time that volume of
business was in many cases declining. Another
factor was that many of the wholesales to which
they are affiliated returned either no patronage
refunds or considerably smaller amounts than
usual. Because of the interdependence of the
retail and wholesale associations, the misfortunes
of either set up a chain reaction that affects the
other.
Although the picture of cooperative operation
in urban areas— especially in the large cities—
has not been a cheering one on the whole since
the end of the war, there have been a number of
outstanding exceptions.1 Eastern Cooperatives,
Inc. (New Jersey), whose affiliates are all urban
associations, announced early in 1951 that on the
basis of reports thus far received “ Eastern co-op
food stores did very well in 1950.” In eastern
Michigan, also, union-supported food markets,
which were barely breaking even in 1949, were
stated to have had a good year in 1950. Other
city cooperatives were pulling up slowly after
more or less extended periods of operating losses.
However, small city operations were still closing
in a number of places throughout the United
States, generally after several years of operation
at a loss.
Many cooperatives expanded into new facilities,
mainly gasoline service stations and food stores.
One innovation was the opening of a separate,
complete clothing store at Virginia, Minn., by the
local store association there. In most cases, ex­
pansion and remodeling were followed by sub­
stantial increases in sales and membership interest.
The construction of a new $20,000 chapel was

546

CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES

reported by the 2,000-member cooperative burial
association in New Ulm, Minn.
Some associations— though, it appears, fewer
than usual— were either organized or opened for
business in 1950. Among the latter were a
modern food market and a gasoline service sta­
tion, respectively, in Saginaw, Mich., and Lorain,
Ohio, where for 2 years labor-led groups had been
organizing and raising capital. A campaign of
similar length, in Akron, Ohio, culminated in the
start of a new building to house departments for
groceries, meats, drugs, clothing, hardware, and
petroleum products. In several places, coopera­
tives and labor groups sponsored discount ar­
rangements on clothing, appliances, and other
articles not handled by the local cooperative.
“ More locker plants . . . tougher going” was
the report from the Farm Credit Administration
regarding the cold-storage cooperatives. A drop of
16 percent in average number of lockers rented
and in average volume of food processed, as
compared with 1946, was revealed by a study
made by that agency. “ Yet except for a few
shake-down points . . . locker plants are in good
shape.” The FCA estimates that about 10 percent
of the frozen food plants in the United States are
cooperatives.2
The Franklin Cooperative Creamery Associa­
tion, the largest cooperative of its kind in the
United States, organized by striking milk-wagon
drivers in 1921, started a new delivery route—via
airplane— in 1950, to serve airplane ground and
flight crews in the Aleutian Islands, some 3,000
miles from the association’s plant in Minneapolis.
Credit unions appear to have had another
banner year in 1950. How the current restrictions
on installment buying will affect their operations
remains to be seen.
Housing Associations

The year started with the introduction into
Congress of a bill to provide direct Government
loans to housing cooperatives, under a new
agency. Although reported out by committees
in both houses, it failed to pass. The measure
had the support of cooperative, church, labor, and
veterans’ groups, but was opposed by real-estate
and builder organizations. The law (Housing
Act of 1950) finally enacted directed (by sec. 213)
the FHA to assist cooperatives in the planning of
projects and in other technical matters. An


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

assistant commissioner was given charge of the
new program, regulations were issued, and a
“ kit” of materials and forms was assembled,
which included a guide to show cooperative groups
how to use FHA aids and apply for insurance.
Personnel especially to deal with cooperative
applications were established in local FHA offices.
“ Public interest” advisory groups, composed of
representatives of cooperative, labor, church,
and other groups, are being formed in each area.
No definition of a genuine housing cooperative
was laid down, however, with the result that
many of the proposed projects are the plans of
speculative builders, not of the cooperative groups
to be housed. This is a reversal of the accepted
cooperative procedure. The FHA regulations
prohibit any builder, architect, or technician
benefiting by the project in a pecuniary way from
being an incorporator of a cooperative. They do
not prevent the use of section 213 to promote the
same kind of sales device long used by builders—
the construction of housing which is sold, on the
so-called “ cooperative” basis, to families which
then form an organization to operate the property
cooperatively.
Early in August, because of the Korean situa­
tion, the Public Housing Administration an­
nounced the complete cessation of sales of war
housing. This stopped negotiations then in proc­
ess for the purchase of such housing by mutual
associations of tenants. Later, the order was re­
laxed to exempt the so-called “ greenbelt” towns
and to permit the handling of the other war proj­
ects on an individual basis. In the case of both of
these groups of dwellings, specific legislation by
Congress had directed that they be sold.
This action was followed by Regulation X , de­
signed to curb inflation and conserve materials,
that increased the down payment required and
shortened the period of amortization. Among co­
operatives, these restrictions applied to co-venture
associations (in which members receive title to
their dwellings) but not to all-the-way cooperatives
(in which the association retains title and the mem­
ber receives only a leasehold). The order also did
not apply to applications submitted prior to Octo­
ber 15, 1950.
A further tightening of regulations pertaining to
cooperatives came on January 11, 1951, with the
extension of the restrictions to all multi-unit proj­
ects, thus in effect making practically all coopera-

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES

tives subject to them.3 Under these regulations,
the maximum FHA insurance is 82 to 88 percent
(formerly, under Section 213, 85 to 90 percent),
depending on the percentage of veterans in the
membership of the project.
It is evident, therefore, that although housing
cooperatives ended the year 1950 in a better legal
position than before, as regards their greatest
stumbling block— financing— they were little bet­
ter off. The middle-income families that consti­
tute the main cooperative membership found diffi­
cult even the 10-15 percent down payments
previously required. Higher down payments
coupled with larger monthly payments for amorti­
zation interpose an insuperable bar in many cases.
As of November 20, 1950, the Washington
FHA headquarters announced that 202 applica­
tions had been received under section 213. These
involved a total of $247,449,450 and 27,252
dwelling units. It was stated that the projects
were about equally divided between all-the-way
cooperatives and co-venture associations. The
status of these applications was as follows:
Applications in process, 178; statements of eligi­
bility issued, 17; commitments issued, 4; and
mortgages insured, 3.
During the spring of 1950, a series of meetings
of representatives of local housing cooperatives in
the East and a few from the Midwest and Far
West resulted in formation of the National Asso­
ciation of Housing Cooperatives. It received a
charter in August. The purposes of this new
federation are to assist in the organization and
development of new associations, act as a medium
for exchange of experience, and represent the
interests of the cooperative housing movement
before congressional committees and in negoti­
ations with Federal agencies. As it grows in
strength, the federation hopes to assist in the
formation of regional organizations such as that
in New York (noted below), and to provide tech­
nical and other services. It took over issuance
of the newsletter previously published by the
National Cooperative-Mutual Housing Associ­
ation, formed in 1946, which had never been
very active, mainly because of lack of funds.
Headquarters of the new federation are in Wash­
ington, D. C.
The president of the Amalgamated Housing
Corp.— the organization that, up to 1950, had


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

547

been responsible for construction of more dwell­
ing units on the cooperative basis than all other
housing groups combined— spoke at the Cooper­
ative League congress concerning the problems in
the cooperative housing field. He reported that
his group had erected 1,500 dwelling units since
the end of the war. It was his contention that, if
there is to be any significant expansion of cooper­
ative housing, organizations must be developed
for that specific purpose, which can utilize “ the
accumulated experience resulting from both suc­
cesses and failures of the past.” He went on to
report the formation in New York City of such
an organization, Community Services and Man­
agement Corporation. This corporation was
formed late in the summer under the New York
limited-dividend law. Before the end of the year,
it had announced its sponsorship of a planned proj­
ect to provide housing for 1,400 families, in the
Corlears Hook section of lower Manhattan. It
will be a redevelopment of a slum area and, as
such, will involve the rehousing of families occupy­
ing buildings on the site, that must be razed. The
sum of $1,000 each was advanced by the A. H.
Consumers Society (which operates stores and
other cooperative enterprises in the Bronx build­
ings of the Amalgamated), the Aaron E. Norman
Fund, and the Cooperative League of the USA.
The E. A. Filene Good Will Fund is also partici­
pating by purchasing bonds of the new organi­
zation, to the total of $100,000.
It was pointed out that housing projects owned
by the residents provide stability of population
and a community of interest which favor the
formation of cooperatives in various fields— stores,
credit unions, insurance, etc.
Also of interest is the one workers’ productive
association known to the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics to be operating in the construction field.
It is Cooperative Builders, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
This association was started in July 1948 when 40
building-trades workers each paid a $500 member­
ship fee and subscribed for $500 worth of non­
voting preferred stock. The cooperative has
already built several groups of houses. It esti­
mates that by mass purchase of materials it
saves from 10 to 30 percent. The average net
earning per house for the association is about 7
percent, but cannot (under its bylaws) exceed 8
percent. Earnings are divided among the mem­
bers on the basis of number of hours worked.

548

CONSUMERS' COOPERATIVES

Medical Care

The principal event in the field of medical care
was the holding of the fourth annual convention of
the Cooperative Health Federation of America in
Seattle, August 10-12. Over 500,000 persons are
covered by organizations affiliated with the
Federation.
The Federation, its president pointed out,
seeks to promote (a) the people’s right to operate
in the field of medical economics, (b) the positive
promotion of health as well as treatment of the
sick, (c) prepayment plans for comprehensive
medical care, (d) group practice, (e) the highest
quality of medical care, and ( / ) consumer or lay
control of the business and economic aspects of
prepayment plans.
Acting on the Federation’s recommendation,
several affiliates had applied for approval by State
and local medical societies. The only one which
had received approval by midsummer 1950 was
Group Health Association, Washington, D. C.
Two plans in New York (Health Insurance Plan
of Greater New York and Group Health Associ­
ation) had applied; their applications had been
acknowledged but not acted upon. Two others
(Arrowhead Health Center and Community Health
Center, both in Minnesota) had applied but had
not received an acknowledgment. Labor Health
Institute (St. Louis, Mo.) had made no formal
application, but all its staff doctors are members
of the county medical society. (In certain other
States, doctors on the staffs of consumer-sponsored
prepayment plans have been refused admission
to local medical societies.)
The secretary of the Federation reported: “ De­
spite repeated efforts to arrange for further joint
meetings between the AM A Council on Medical
Service and representatives of consumers of
medical care, we have not during the whole
course of 1950 succeeded in bringing forth from
the AM A any favorable response.”
Regarding the lawsuits by or on behalf of co­
operative medical-care plans, the Seattle case
was dismissed by the King County court but will
be appealed to the State Supreme Court; testi­
mony in the Oregon case was completed in the
spring of 1950 but no decision had been announced
at the end of the year; and in California the case
was about to go to trial. In Oklahoma, the
association at Elk City brought suit against the


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

county medical society, charging a boycott and
various other injurious practices. The associa­
tion asked for damages of $300,000 and a re­
straining injunction.
At the institute preceding the convention, it
was reported that 30 States have laws which
either bar or discourage the formation of consumersponsored plans. This explains in part why
plans now exist in only a few States. The same
report outlined the steps to be taken in forming a
health plan, with special emphasis on the legal
aspects. Specific problems, such as actuarial
difficulties in formulating an adequate system of
dues and fees, and the minimum essentials and
capital needed to establish a branch clinic, were
also presented in detail.4
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not know of
any new cooperative for medical care that was
started during the year. One contract plan, or­
ganized in 1949, received its charter in 1950,
enabling it to begin operations. Four cooperative
hospitals were opened for service; however, one
cooperative association leased its building to a
private physician for 15 years for $1.
Two of the largest urban medical-care plans, at
Washington, D. C., and Seattle, Wash., enlarged
their facilities. The former bought a 10-story
building, to house the various departments of its
clinic (previously in several places) and provide
additional space. The latter, which has both
hospital and clinic, built a 30-bed addition to the
hospital, bringing the total number of beds to 85.
In Staunton, 111., members of locals of the
Progressive Mine Workers (independent) took
the lead in a 4-year community drive that netted
2,000 members in the hospital association, each
paying a membership fee of $50. Some of the
local labor unions also made contributions from
their treasuries. An unused school building was
bought for $1 and remodeled into a 50-bed hospital
to serve 16 towns in the area. The hospital was
ready for use in May 1950. In the interval,
however, the Illinois Legislature had (in 1949)
passed a law authorizing the establishment of
nonprofit medical-care plans, but only on condition
that they be controlled by physicians and that at
least a majority of the physicians in the area were
willing to participate. The hospital association
was unable to obtain the cooperation of the local
doctors; when the hospital was opened in Novem­
ber, after standing idle for 6 months, it was not on

a cooperative or prepayment basis.5 It was re­
ported that an amendment to the 1949 law,
permitting cooperative operation and control,
would be sought in the 1951 session of the legis­
lature.
Other developments during the year were (1)
the establishment of a fund by Group Health
Mutual of St. Paul, Minn., to help finance the
education of students in medicine and related
fields who intend to enter cooperative health work,
and (2) drives in Chicago for establishment of an
optical-care service and of a complete health
center. The AFL building-service employees’
union spearheaded the drive for the health center.
— F lorence E. P a r k er
Office of Labor Economics
1 Some of these will be discussed in a forthcoming bulletin.
2 News for Farmer Cooperatives (Washington, D . C .), October 1950.
3 Few housing projects consisting of detached dwellings are on the “ allthe-way” basis, but practically all apartment projects (multi-unit) are so
operated.
4 Papers on these and other subjects were compiled and published later.
The compilation, entitled “ First Annual Group Health Institute,” is obtain­
able from the Cooperative Health Federation, 343 S. Dearborn Street, Chi­
cago 4, 111.
5 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 27, M a y 31, June 1, October 10,
November 6, and November 20, 1950.

Injury Rates in Manufacturing,
Fourth Quarter, 1950
rates
in manufacturing were
slightly lower in the fourth than in the third
quarter of 1950, but the decreases were less than
the usual seasonal decline for that period. Accord­
ing to preliminary reports, the average injuryfrequency rate 1 for manufacturing establishments
in the fourth quarter was only 3 percent below
that for the third quarter of 1950, and 15 percent
above that for the fourth quarter of 1949.
In every year since such records became avail­
able (in 1943), the average injury rate for the
fourth quarter has been less than that for the
third quarter of the same year. This decrease
was less in 1950 than in any previous year except
1945. The following tabulation shows percent
changes in average injury-frequency rates for all
manufacturing between successive periods:

W ork - in ju r y


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

549

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

Percent change in injury-frequency rates, all manufacturing—

From third
to fourth
quarter

1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950

______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______

-1 4
-1 4
-1
-1 1
-1 4
-1 0
-1 1
-3

From fourth
quarter of
preceding
year

In 12-months
cumulative
rate from
preceding
year

In final
annual rate
from
preceding
year

_________
-6
+6
-1 0
-1 2
-1 4
-1 8
+15

_________
-6
-7
+1
-1 1
-1 4
-1 7
+1

___________
-8
+1
+7
-6
-9
-1 3
___________

The cumulative rate for the 12 months of 1950
was only slightly above that for 1949. Experience
of previous years, however, indicates that pre­
liminary reports tend to underestimate the injuryfrequency rate. Except in 1943-44, the final
annual frequency rates for successive years have
shown smaller declines or greater increases than
have the 12-months cumulative rates based upon
preliminary reports. The final annual injury rate
for 1950 may, therefore, show a considerably
greater increase over 1949 than that indicated by
the preliminary data.
A fairly constant upward trend in injury fre­
quency rates was evident, after adjustments were
made for seasonal fluctuations, in contrast to the
downward trend which prevailed during the pre­
vious 3 years. The average rate for October 1950
was the highest recorded for any month during the
year. November and December showed about the
usual seasonal declines. Although the average for
January 1950 was 14 percent below that for Jan­
uary 1949, averages for October, November, and
December, 1950 were 12,18, and 14 percent above
the corresponding averages for 1949.
The continued high level of employment, a
longer workweek, and changes in manufacturing
procedures associated with stepped-up defense
production undoubtedly contributed to the up­
ward trend in injury rates. In the past, similar
conditions have usually resulted in an increase in
the incidence of work injuries.
An encouraging feature in the present situation
is a leveling of the upward trend in injury rates
during November and December which followed
fairly closely the normal seasonal pattern. Indus­
trial activity likewise leveled off during these
months. It is possible that as conversion to
defense work is completed and employment is
somewhat stabilized, the injury rate will also

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

550

Percent Change in Injury-Frequency Rates in Manu­
facturing

M O N TH LY LABOR

this time, as information regarding the final out­
come of many cases is still incomplete. It may
be estimated conservatively, however, that at
least 2,100,000 man-days were lost during the
quarter.
Wage losses alone amounted to approximately
$21 million— a loss partly paid by employers in
workmen’s compensation and partly absorbed by
the injured workers in reduced income during
disability. These estimates, however, make no
allowance for the continuing economic losses
arising from deaths and permanent impairments,
or for hospital, medical, and other costs incidental
to the treatment of these injuries.
T

able

1 .— Industries showing principal changes in injury-

frequency rates, fourth quarter, 1950
Injury-frequency rates

Points differ­
ence between—

Third
Fourth
and
Fourth Third Fourth
quar­
fourth
quarter quar­ quarter
ters,
quar­
1949 ter 1950 1950
1949
and
ters,
1950
1950

Industry

Increases of 5 points or more

Jan

Feb Mar Apr May

Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct

Nov

Dec

become stable or return to the lower levels pre­
vailing in late 1949 and early 1950.
According to estimates based upon these pre­
liminary reports, approximately 105,500 employees
in manufacturing establishments were disabled for
1 or more days because of work injuries encoun­
tered during the fourth quarter of 1950. Despite
the slight decrease in the injury-frequency rate, in­
creased employment and longer hours of work
resulted in a 5-percent increase in the total num­
ber of injuries in the fourth quarter over the
third quarter.
Approximately 400 of these workers died as a
result of their injuries. Another 6,100 were
known to have suffered some permanent body
impairment which will disable them to some
extent for the remainder of their lives. Some of
the injuries classified as temporary disabilities at
the time of the report may later become more
serious, requiring a slight increase in these esti­
mates.
Estimates of total time lost or of total costs
attributable to these injuries cannot be made at


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

Third to fourth quarter, 1950:
Aluminum and magnesium
products______ _____________
Compressed
and liquefied
gases___ ______ ______________
Wineries___________ __________
Fourth quarter, 1949, to fourth
quarter, 1950:
Logging------------------------------------Sawmills.
_______
Aluminum and magnesium
products___________________
Planing mills_______ ________ __
Compressed
and liquefied
gases__________ _______________
Foundries, steel. _ __________
M ill work, structural.. . . . . . .
Electrical
equipment,
not
elsewhere classified. .......... ...
W ooden containers____________
Cutlery and edge tools________
Foundries, i r o n . . . _______
Stone, clay, and glass prod­
ucts, not elsewhere classified.
Forgings, iron and steel_______
Mechanical power transmis­
sion equipment______________
Paper boxes and containers—
Stamped and pressed metal
products. . . _ _ _______ . .
Steel sp rin g s__________________
Miscellaneous wood products,
not elsewhere classified______

13.4

17.0

26.7

+ 9 .7

+ 1 3 .3

2.6
(>)

4.8
13.6

12.7
19.5

+ 7 .9
+ 5 .9

+ 1 0 .1
(•)

77.9
59.6

95.8
72.4

94.6
74.7

-1 .2
+ 2 .3

+ 1 6 .7
+ 1 5 .1

13.4
31.5

17.0
40.3

26.7
44.2

+ 9 .7
+ 3 .9

+ 1 3 .3
+ 1 2 .7

2.6
17.8
19.1

4.8
24.5
27.6

12.7
26.6
26.8

+ 7 .9
+ 2 .1
-0 .8

+ 1 0 .1
+ 8 .8
+ 7 .7

3.7
31.1
10.2
26.2

7.3
36.8
17.0
33.7

10.6
37.7
16.7
32.1

+ 3 .3
+ 0 .9
- 0 .3
-1 .6

+ 6 .9
+ 6 .6
+ 6 .5
+ 5 .9

9.6
12.5

16.9
23.3

15.5
18.3

-1 .4
-5 .0

+ 5 .9
+5. 8

14.3
12.6

15.2
18.5

20.1
18.2

+ 4 .9
-0 .3

+ 5 .8
+ 5 .6

12.3
14.1

17.7
17.2

17.8
19.2

+ 0 .1
+ 2 .0

+ 5 .5
+ 5 .1

18.2

21.7

23.2

+ 1 .5

+ 5 .0

Decreases of 5 points or more
Third to fourth quarter, 1950:
Canning and preserving_______
Cold-finished steel____ ________
Fertilizers______________________
Plate and boiler-shop productsMiscellaneous textile goods,
not elsewhere classified______
Forgings, iron and steel----------Fourth quarter, 1949, to fourth
quarter, 1950:
Batteries____________ _________ 1Insufficient data.

13.8
14.8
17.5
18.6

25.7
23.0
27.3
22.2

15.1
16.2
21.0
15.9

- 1 0 .6
-6 .8
- 6 .3
- 6 .3

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

16.4
12.5

20.6
23.3

15.0
18.3

-5 .6
-5 .0

-1 .4
+ 5 .8

22.7

16.0

14.5

-1 .5

-8 .2

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

551

T able 2— Industrial injury-frequency rates 1 for selected manufacturing industries, fourth quarter 1950, with cumulative

rates for 1950
Injury-frequency rates for—
Number
of estab­
lishments
(fourth
quarter)

Industry

October

Apparel:
343
277
43
87
Chemicals:
Compressed and liquefied gases *_

_ _

_

_____________

______

19
71
35
78
211
67
27
40
17
18
57

November

December

5.5
4.8

4.6
3.6

6.4
3.5
(2)
12.4

(2)

(2)

(2)

10.7
6. 1
(2)

6.9

10.4
4.2

(2)

Fourth
quarter

JanuaryDecember
1950 cumu­
lative (pre­
liminary)

5.5
4.0
6.8
8.3

6.0
4.0
5.0
8.1

6.6
7.6
9.1
4.8
3.2
2.2
11.6

312.7
11.5
5.4
21.0
7.4
8.3
9.2
5.3
2.3
2.0
11.4

3 8.8
9.5
3.9
25.0
7.4
8.8
6.4
5.3
2.6
1.9
9.6

(2)
5.2
(2)

13.4
5.8

(2)

8.1
8.1
8.6
6.9
1.8
1.4
11.9

7.6
9.2
9.8
4.1
1.7
2.3
10.7

26
25
25
31
257
19
29
105
18

4.8
14.8
4.1
16.4
7.2
6.5
9.5
6.6
10.0

5.4
15.9
2.7
13.3
6.5
3.7
12.5
6.0
13.3

5.1
12.6
4.3
7.4
5.5
3.7
10.2
5.1
8.8

5.1
14.5
3.7
12.4
6.4
4.6
10.7
5.9
10.6

6.0
16.6
3.9
10.9
6.1
3.1
11.7
5.7
9.0

75
87
32
68
35
124
51
127
299
10
10
24
65

11.8
25.1
21.0
15.6
9.2
16.3
5.8
9.5
16.8
(2)
23.5
(3)
13.6

8.2
31.0
19.3
16.6
11.6
17.5
9.1
11.9
14.6
(2)
19.1
(2)
9.1

11.1
26.0
20.8
12.8
10.6
14.3
5.8
9.8
14. 1
19.9
(2)
8.8

10.4
« 27.3
20.4
15.1
10.4
16.0
6.8
10.4
15.6
«34.4
« 20.8
* 19.5
10.5

10.4
* 25.9
22.5
17.1
9.6
17.0
6.3
10.0
15.1
«36.7
« 20.1
4 17.8
10.6

31
121
100
47
204
129

22.0
27.7
15.5
14.0
43.5
21.6

16.6
19.2
15.8
12. 7
36.5
28.2

17.9
18.6
16. 1
13.5
32.6
19.9

18.8
21.9
15.8
13.4
37.7
23.2

19.0
21.0
14.0
15.7
36.2
21.2

45
34
30
200
100
334
108
58
79
147
61
42
112
47
88
68
221
43
19
14
14
52
147
18
26

18.2
14.2
20.2
18.2
20.9
34.1
27.7
13.1
25.8
6.1
24.9
19.7
15.2
22.5
11.3
18.4
20.1
16.1
(2)
21.6
18.4
21.1
16.9
21.9
(2)

14.2
17.3
17.1
18.9
17.8
31.3
25.4
12.6
17.1
5.9
25.4
22.2
18.5
19.6
16.6
21.9
18.0
18.7
(2)
23.1
16.8
19.7
17.6
18.4
(2)

15.1
17.2
12.9
16.0
16.1
31.1
26.6
11.9
17.5
6.0
24.8
19.3
14.1
17.2
15.1
17.1
15.1
14.6
(2)
13.1
9.6
14.0
15.4
15.7
(2)

15.8
16.2
16.7
17.7
18.3
32.1
26.6
12.6
20.4
6.0
25.0
20.4
15.9
19.9
14.4
19.1
17.8
16.4
12.3
19.2
15.1
18.2
16.6
18.7
17.6

15.5
18.7
16.5
17.4
18.5
30.7
23.0
11.1
21.2
6.0
24.0
18.6
19.3
17.7
14.9
17.5
15.5
14.9
13.6
15.0
14.9
16.2
16.9
15.9
13.8

249
38
33

7.8
15.9
(2)

7.3
18.8
(2)

7.5
20.1
(2)

7.5
18.3
7.9

7.9
19.6
8.1

Electrical equipment:

Food:

0)

Furniture and lumber products:

Iron and steel:

Leather:
Leather products, not elsewhere classified------------------------- ----------------------------------

See footnotes at end of table.


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

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

552

M O N TH LY LABOR

T able 2— Industrial injury-frequency rates 1 for selected manufacturing industries, fourth quarter 1950, with cumulative
rates for 1950— C o n t in u e d
Injury-frequency rates for—

Industry

Lumber:
Logging.----------------------------------------Millwork, structural.................. .......
Planing mills______ ______ ______ _
Plywood mills....... ...............................
Sawmills........................... ................. ..
Saw and planing mills, integrated.
Veneer mills________ _____ _________
Machinery, except electric:
Agricultural machinery and tractors.._____________ __________ __________________
Bearings, ball and roller..................................... ....................... ............. ................... ...........
Commercial and household machinery............................................................ ................
Construction and mining machinery____ ________ ______ _____ ________ __________
Elevators, escalators, and conveyors______ _______ _________ _________ ___________
Engines and turbines______________________ _____ ________________ __________ ______
Food-products machinery________________________________________________________
General industrial machinery and equipment, not elsewhere classified________
General machine shops (jobbing and repair)______________________ ______ _______
Mechanical measuring and controlling instruments____________________ ________
Mechanical power-transmission equipment, except ball and roller bearings___
Metalworking machinery.................... .................... ............................... .............................
Pumps and compressors__________________ _____ __________________________________
Special-industry machinery, not elsewhere classified____________________________
Textile machinery....... ......... ................. ............................... ........... ........... ....... ...................
Nonferrous metals:
Aluminum and magnesium products_______________
Foundries, nonferrous_______________________________
Nonferrous basic shapes and forms_________________
Watches, clocks, jewelry, and silverware___________
Nonferrous metal products, not elsewhere classified.
Ordnance:
Ordnance and accessories.

Number
of estab­
lishments
(fourth
quarter)

85
216
57
58
80
96
31

October

November

94.2
29.7
0

97.1
25.4
0

32.0
75.0
47.0

0

25.9
81.2
48.0

0

96
31
137

13.5
19.2
10.9

120

20.2
11.0

December

92.2
25.1
0

31.8
67.2
38.4

0
ll.fi

12.2
9.0
16.2

13.2
8.9
7.7
18.0

Fourth
quarter

JanuaryDecember
1950 cumu­
lative (pre­
liminary)

94.6
26.8
44.2
29.9
74.7
44.7
34.2

92.1
25.3
41.5
31.2
67.8
40.8
37.7

12.6

13.7
13.7
9.2
17.6

13.4
9.2
18.1
9.7

8.2

12.2

6.1

9.8
19.8
14.7
22.5
9.8
19.7

14.7
17.9

422
82
135
27

11.1
17.4
16.5

12.5
17.5
19.1

7.9
11.2
13.4
19.4
7.3
20.4
11.5

11.1

10.6

16.7
8.9

21
217
32
39
87

24.2
26.4
15.0
7.0
14.5

28.6
26.3
14.0
5.3
11.4

27.1
22.2
12.3
3.9
14.4

26.7
24.9
13.8
5.4
13.4

20.5

24
46
54
182
118
56

68

12.2
22.6
11.4

20.1

12.0

10.8
16.2
13.4
21.5
9.5

10.7
15.7
13.6
16.6

8.1

20.1

16.3

11.7
15.6
17.4

11.1

10.2

14.3
16.2
9.9

2 2 .2

13.1

6.1

13.7

13

7.6

4.9

5.6

6.1

5.2

Paper:
Paper boxes and containers_____________
Paper and p u l p .. . . _____________________
Paper products, not elsewhere classified.

280
364
45

18.5
17.2
13.7

16.5
15.7
14.7

19.7
15.5
11.8

18.2
16.1
13.5

16.9
15.3
12.7

Printing and publishing:
Book and job printing.
Bookbinding__________
News and periodicals _

164
23
57

8.4

8.3

Rubber:
Rubber boots and shoes.................................
Rubber tires and tubes___________________
Rubber products, not elsewhere classified

7.8
0
10.6

9.9
0

7.4
(?)

10.0

8.0
6.8

0

8.8
8.1

13
29
89

8.7
5.2
16.4

4.5
4.3
13.9

4.7
12.7

6.7
4.7
14.4

5.8
5.1
14.7

Stone, clay, and glass:
Olay products, stru ctu ral..._________________ __________
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products_________ ______
Glass___________________________ ______ _________ ______ _
Pottery and related products____________________________
Stone, clay, and glass products, not elsewhere classified.

153
149
81
30
57

26.6
33.2
11.5

32.1
29.9
9.3
14.5
16.1

30.5
16.5
9.8
14.1
15.6

29.7
26.9
10.2
17.2
15.5

31.8
26.9
9.9
15.4
15.1

Textiles:
Cotton yarn and textiles____________ ________ ________
Dyeing and finishing textiles________________________
Knit goods_________________ _________________________ _
Rayon, other synthetic, and silk textiles........... ...........
Woolen and worsted textiles_____ ______ _____________
Miscellaneous textile goods, not elsewhere classified.

184
52
72
60
147
41

8.4

12.2
12.8

7.4
7.3
7.4
9.7

8.2
9.1
6.4

11.2

6.4
11.8

10.0

21.1

12.8

10.0
11.6

12.2

10.5

15.0

17.0

5.2
5.4

5.2
5.8

5.0
4.8

5.1
5.3

7.9
14.5
13.8
24.8

7.4
13.0
13.5
23.1

5.8
12.9
11.6
19.0

7.1
13.5
13.0
22.3

4.6
5.3
29.2
6.7
12.3
14.0
22.5

10.9

6.1

11.7
4.2
4.5
4.1

13.5
5.1
5.3
4.9

11.1
2.9
5.3
5.5

13.6

12.6

12.0
4.0
5.0
5.0

12.0

12.8

11.3

Transportation equipment:
Aircraft_____________________
Aircraft parts______________
Boatbuilding and repairing.
M otor vehicles_____________
Motor-vehicle parts..............
Railroad equipment_______
Shipbuilding and repairing.
Miscellaneous manufacturing:
Fabricated plastic products_______ _____ ________________
Optical and ophthalmic goods_________________________
Photographic apparatus and materials________________
Professional and scientific instruments and supplies. __
Miscellaneous manufacturing, not elsewhere classified.
1 The average number of disabling work injuries for each million employeehours worked.
2 Insufficient data.
2 Rates not comparable with those published prior to September 1950,
because of changes in composition of sample.


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

14
38
48
120

121
42
58
34
18
31

64
160

22.6
14.9

8.8
9.9
5.5

!

2.6
5.2

10.0

8.1

8.7
6.4
8.5

4 Formerly included in “ Beverages, not elsewhere classified” ; rate for
industries combined was 24.6 for fourth quarter, and 23.8 cumulative for 1950.
8 Formerly included in “ Sugar refining” ; rate for industries combined
was 25.8 for fourth quarter, and 23.8 cumulative for 1950.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

Industry Rates

Injury-frequency rates of six industries were
lower by 5 points or more in the fourth than
in the third quarter. Canning and preserving
showed a decrease of over 10 points between those
periods; however, the fourth-quarter rate in 1950
was 1.3 points above that in 1949 (table 1). The
rate for iron and steel forgings was 5 points lower
in the fourth quarter of 1950 than in the third
quarter, but was 5.8 points above that for the
fourth quarter of the previous year. All the other
industries recording decreases of 5 points or more
between the third and fourth quarters showed
much smaller decreases, or an increase, when com­
parisons were made over the year’s period. In
the manufacture of batteries the frequency-rate
decreased 8.2 points between the 1949 and 1950
fourth quarters, but only 1.5 points between the
third and fourth quarters of 1950.
Only three industries showed increases of 5
or more frequency-rate points between the third
and fourth quarters of 1950. Two of these also
recorded large increases from the fourth quarter
of 1949 to that in 1950.
A total of 18 industries showed increases of 5
points or more over the year period (table 1).
The largest such increase was found in logging—
from 77.9 injuries per million man-hours in the
fourth quarter of 1949 to 94.6 in the fourth of
1950. A decrease of 1.2 points occurred in log­
ging, however, between the third and fourth
quarters of 1950. A similar trend was shown by
six other industries. The remaining 11 showed
increases from the third to the fourth quarters
as well as from the 1949 to the 1950 fourth quar­
ters.
Cumulative rates for three industries were 5
frequency-rate points or more higher in 1950 than
in 1949. In sawmills, the rate increased from
56.1 injuries per million man-hours in 1949 to


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

553

67.8 in 1950; in planing mills, from 34.2 to 41.5;
and in logging, from 85.8 to 92.1. Decreases of
5 points or more between the cumulative rates
for 1949 and those for 1950 were recorded for
boatbuilding and repairing, from 41.9 to 29.2;
automotive electrical equipment, 13.4 to 6.0;
elevators and escalators, 15.0 to 8.2; and book­
binding, 15.6 to 8.8.
As in previous periods, the highest injuryfrequency rates were found among the lumber
industries. Following are the industries which
had highest cumulative injury rates for 1950:
I9 6 0

cumulative
injuryfrequency
rate

Logging--------------------------------------------------------------------Sawmills____________________________________________
Planing mills_______________________________________
Saw and planing mills, integrated________________

92.
67.
41.
40.

1
8
5
8

Outstandingly low cumulative rates for the year
1950 were shown by the following industries:
I9 6 0

cumulative
injuryfrequency
rate

Synthetic textile fibers_____________________________
Synthetic rubber___________________________________
Optical and ophthalmic goods____________________
Electric lamps (bulbs)______ ,______________________
Communication and signaling equipment, except
radio______________________________________________
Explosives__________________________________________
Clothing, women’s and children’s_________________
Aircraft manufacturing____________________________

1.
2.
2.
3.

9
6
9
I

3.
3.
4.
4.

9
9
0
6

i
The injury-frequency rate is the average number of disabling work in­
juries for each million employee-hours worked.
A disabling work injury is an injury arising out of and in the course of em­
ployment, which results in death or any degree of permanent impairment,
or makes the injured worker unable to perform a regularly established job
open and available to him, throughout the hours corresponding to his regular
shift, on any 1 or more days (including Sundays, days off, or plant shut­
downs) after the day of injury. The term “ injury” includes occupational
disease.
These data are compiled in conformity with the American Standard
M ethod of Compiling Industrial Injury Rates, approved b y the American
Standards Association, 1945.

554

management

tr a in in g

Industrial Personnel Seminar on
M anagem ent Training Programs
r e spo n sib ility for developing
an executive and supervisory training program
and for maintaining good community relations
highlighted the first annual Conference on Indus­
trial Personnel, held in New York City, March
19-23, 1951, under the auspices of the Department
of Industrial Engineering of Columbia University.
The conference sessions and seminars were attend­
ed by approximately 50 personnel directors and
line supervisors, representing major industrial
establishments throughout the United States, and
were addressed by outstanding personalities from
industry and education in the field of industrial
relations and personnel management.
In a talk, entitled “ Optimum Utilization of
Manpower in Industry,” Thomas H. Nelson,
president of Executive Training, Inc., manage­
ment consultants, called attention particularly to
industry’s need of an executive replacement
policy, in view of the considerably higher average
age of top-management today than a decade ago.
According to estimates prepared by Mr. Nelson’s
organization, industry can expect, generally, that,
for every executive expected to retire within the
next 5 years, 5 to 8 other persons, serving in an
executive or supervisory capacity, will leave for
some other reason than retirement. Industry as
a whole and individual companies must make plans
to replace these persons as the vacancies occur, he
said, and, wherever possible, from within their
own organizations. Replacement programs also
serve to keep top-level executives and supervisors
informed with regard to the relations between
business and government, labor, and other ele­
ments which become important to the evolving
science of management, according to Mr. Nelson.
The managerial function has evolved from
emphasis on the specific area of knowledge to a
degree where a good general business manager is
best advised not to specialize in any area of
business knowledge, Mr. Nelson pointed out.
In broadening the scope of business management,
knowledge of psychology and sociology is becoming
increasingly important as a management tool.

M anagem ent’s


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

programs

M O N TH LY LABOR

As a means of increasing labor productivity, Mr.
Nelson told the conference, management must
plan to provide more job satisfaction.
In summing up the problem of developing
executive-supervisory training programs, Mr. Nel­
son told the conference that five major considera­
tions must be recognized: (1) The individual
company must estimate its executive and super­
visory requirements, both quantitatively and
qualitatively, over a foreseeable span of time;
(2) the industrial unit should survey its current
staff to determine executive and supervisory
potentials in terms of persons presently employed
at lower levels; (3) consideration should be given
to making every day work-experience more
educational; (4) a formal curriculum or program,
encompassing the above concepts, is necessary;
and (5) the development of the program must be
coordinated with the activities and operations of
the individual organization in such a manner as
to enable a constant flow of newly trained manage­
ment personnel.
Relationships between company (or industry)
personnel policy and the community was the
subject of a report and discussion by Prof. William
W. Waite of Columbia University’s Department
of Industrial Engineering. The techniques and
findings— based on a University-sponsored project
conducted by industrial engineering students in a
selected Connecticut community— revealed an
increasing need for good community relations. It
is important for an industrial establishment in a
complex modern community to extend its interests
beyond the plant gates, according to Professor
Waite. He pointed out the severe effects on a
community, particularly small and middle-size
communities, of plant relocation, of large-scale
hiring and lay-off programs, and other internal
policies of industrial establishments. Emphasiz­
ing the point that good employee relations result
in good community relations, Professor Waite
concluded that personnel directors and industrial
relations people should recognize the urgency of
considering the effect of policies on their respective
communities.
— H erb ert B ienstock
BLS Regional Office, New York City

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

W age Chronology N o. 15:
New York City Printing, 1939-50
T h e w a g e rates of skilled crafts in commercial
and newspaper printing in New York City have
been determined through collective bargaining for
several decades. This chronology describes the
changes in hourly and weekly rates and in related
wage practices negotiated since January 1, 1939,
for two basic crafts in each field.
In commercial (book and job) printing, two
groups are covered: (1) Hand compositors and
typesetting machine operators, represented by the
New York Typographical Union No. 6, an affiliate
of the International Typographical Union (AFL) ;
and (2) cylinder pressmen, represented by the
New York Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 51,
affiliated with the International Printing Press­
men and Assistants’ Union of North America
(AFL). The commercial printing establishments
operating under the terms of union agreements

555

are represented in negotiations by the Printers
League Section of the New York Employing
Printers Association, Inc.
In newspaper printing, the two basic crafts
covered are (1) hand compositors and machine
operators, also represented by New York Typo­
graphical Union No. 6, and (2) pressmen, repre­
sented by the New York Printing Pressmen’s
Union No. 2. The Publishers’ Association of New
York City now negotiates on behalf of 13 Englishtext daily newspapers.
Separate contracts are negotiated for each of
the four groups. The expiration dates of the
agreements currently in effect are:
C om m ercial:

Hand compositors, machine operators— Sep­
tember 30, 1951.
Cylinder pressmen— December 31, 1951.
N ew sp a p ers:

Hand compositors, machine operators—O cto­
ber 31, 1952.
Pressmen— October 31, 1952.

A— Changes in Wage Rates and Weekly Hours for Day Shifts
Increase in hourly rates (cents)

Standard weekly hours of work i

Newspapers

Commercial

Newspapers

Commercial

Effective date
Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

1939: July 1
Oct. 15
1941: Dec. 19____________
1942: Jan. 1_____________
Apr. 1
July 1
Dec. 19
1943: Jan. 1 ____ __ _
Apr. 1
July 1
Dec. 19
1944: Mar. 1
Apr. 1
July 1
1945: July 1
Aug. 14
Oct. 1
Nov. 15___________
1946: Jan. 1
Mar. 6
M ay 15
July 1
1947: Jan. 20 _
Feb. 15
Apr. 1
1948: Jan. 1
Apr. 19
Apr. 29
Aug. 9
See fo o tn o te s at end of table.


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

Cylinder
pressmen 2

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Pressmen

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Cylinder
pressmen 2

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

3. 3

Pressmen

37. 5

4. 9

37. 5

9. 7

40. 0
10. 0

40. 0
8. 0

37. 5
6. 7

5. 0

37. 5
40. 0

5. 0

40. 0
8. 0

37. 5
4. 0

5. 0

37. 5
40. 0

5. 0

40. 0
7. 4

37. 5
6. 0
4. 7

37. 5
37. 5

26. 0

37. 5

10. 0
11. 0

40. 0
37. 5
21. 0

37. 5
26. 0

6. 1

37. 5
36. 25

6. 1

36. 25

39. 6

36. 25
39. 5

36. 25
41. 6

36. 25
42. 4

25. 6

36. 25
36. 25

25. 4

36. 25
24. 8

36. 25

M O N TH LY LABOR

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

556

A—Changes in Wage Rates and Weekly Hours for Day Shifts—Continued
Standard weekly hours of work <

Increase in hourly rates (cents)
Newspapers

Commercial

Newspapers

Commercial

Effective date
Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Cylinder
pressmen 2

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Pressmen

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Cylinder
pressmen 2

Hand com­
positors,
machine
operators

Pressmen

36. 25

24. 8
N ov. 1 3 _

36. 25

3. 0

1950’ M ay 24
__ __

{

36. 25

13. 8

f

36. 25

9. 7

1 Hours shown represent net working time, exclusive of lunch periods. In
effect on Jan. 1,1939: 40 hours for commercial crafts; 37.5 hours for newspaper
crafts.
2 Increases shown for cylinder pressmen reflect changes in basic wage scales
for journeymen. In New York City, the basic rate was paid for work on
the following equipment throughout the period covered: 1 cylinder press over
68 inches; 1 or 2 cylinders not over 68 inches; 1 poster press 28 by 41 inches or
over; 1 label press (close register work); 1 perfecting press and such single­
color automatic-unit cylinder presses as the Miehle vertical, Miller highspeed,
K elly A , B , and C, and Kelly automatic jobber. Special rates were paid for

work on other presses. Changes in these rates did not always correspond
to changes in the basic scale.
3
Contracts also provided for deferred increase of $2 a week or 5.5 cents an
hour effective N ov. 1,1951, and the following escalator clause: “ In addition,
should the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumers’ Price Index for ‘All
Items’ for New York C ity as of Sept. 15, 1951, show an increase in the cost of
living of more than 4 points over the comparable figure for Sept. 15, 1950,
then on the anniversary date of this contract an additional increase of $1
shall be granted for each 2 full points of increase over 4 points . .

B— Hourly and Weekly Rates 1 for Day Shifts
Commercial

Effective date

Hand compositors, machine
operators

.Tan

Hand compositors, machine
operators

Hourly rate

W eekly rate

Hourly rate

W eekly rate

Hourly rate

$1. 363

$54. 50

$1. 363

$54. 50

$1. 524

$57. 15

$1. 400
1. 433

$52. 50
53. 75

1. 573

59. 00

1. 460

58. 40
1. 653

62. 00
1. 500

56. 25

1. 540

57. 75

1. 600
1. 647

60. 00
61. 75

1. 907

71. 50

2. 331

84. 50

2. 579

93. 50

2. 717

98. 50

19
1

1. 463
60. 40
1. 513

1

60. 50
1. 733

1. 560

65. 00

62. 40
1. 563

62. 50
1. 807

2. 067
1. 660
1. 770

Oct 1

67. 75

77. 50

66. 40
66. 40
1. 773

2D

1. 831

66. 40

2. 227

80. 71

Feb 15

66. 50

1. 834

66. 50

2. 229

80. 80
2. 483

90. 00

1948- Jan 1
2. 483

90. 00
2. 483

Apr 29

90. 00
2. 731

2. 513

1950- M ay 24
Nov. 1 4

{r

1 W eekly rates are based on standard hours, as shown in table A.
2 See footnote 2, table A .


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

W eekly rate

58. 50

July 1

1Q 4-7' .Tan

Pressmen

W eekly rate

1. 510
1Q4A-

Cylinder pressmen 2

Hourly rate

1939: Jan. 1 3____________

1Q 41 • F )p n
1 Q 4 9 - .Tan

Newspapers

99. 00

91. 10
2. 828

102. 50

3 Rates in effect at beginning of year.
* See footnote 3, table A.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

557

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

C— Premium Pay for Night Work (cents per hour in excess of day rates)
Newspapers

Commercial

Effective date

1939: Jan. 1_

Hand compositors, machine
operators
First night
sh ift3

Second night
sh ift4

11. 2

32. 3

11. 2

33. 7

Cylinder pressmen 1

First night
shift3

13. 7

Second night
sh ift4

31. 4

Oct 15
11. 2

Hand compositors, machine
operators
First night
sh ift3

Second night
sh ift4

6. 6

25. 2

6. 7

25. 6

6. 7

26. 1

19. 4
19. 7

20. 3
11. 5

Ton

Night w ork4

47. 5

lulv 1
1043-

Pressmen 3

34. 4
11. 3

1

48. 7
6. 7

26. 1
20. 6

Tulv 1
11. 3

35. 1
11. 2

49. 9
6. 6

27. 2
21. 2
21. 5

lulv 1
9. 3
12. 1

31. 9

41. 0
12. 0

41. 2
26. 7

12. 4

34. 9

15. 3

42. 8

T n lv 1
1Q /17-

Ton

90

Feb 15

12. 5

35. 1

15. 4

42. 9
13. 8

37. 4
29. 6

Apr
Apr
Aue1949" Jan

19
29
9
1

Nov. 1.

15. 4

45. 8
15. 4

13. 8

38. 3
31. 7

15. 4

46. 2
32. 8

l ----------------

1 See footnote 2, table A .
! Exclusive of operators of color and gravure presses, who receive extra
nightwork premium pay.
3 Standard workweek same as for day shifts (table A ) .
4 Standard workweeks on night shifts for newspaper pressmen and on
second night (lobster) shifts for the other crafts covered were shorter than for
day and first night shifts, a factor that accounts in part for the high hourly


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

45. 8

13. 8

38. 6

premiums shown. In commercial printing, the workweek for hand composi­
tors on second night shifts was 35 hours up to N ov. 15, 1945, and 32.5 hours
thereafter; for pressmen, 35 hours up to Jan. 1,1946, and 32.5 hours thereafter.
In newspaper printing, where night work is a more regular part of operations,
the work week for hand compositors on second night shifts was 35 hours
throughout the period covered; on night shifts for pressmen, 34.5 hours up to
Jan. 1, 1948, and 33.5 hours thereafter.

558

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

M O N TH LY LABOR

D— Hourly and Weekly Rates for Night Shifts in Newspaper Printing
Hand compositors, machine operators
Pressmen, night w ork1
Effective date

First night shift
Hourly rate

1939: Jan. 1
July 1
Oct. 15 _______________________
1942: Apr. 1
July 1
1943: Apr. 1
July 1
1944: Apr. 1
July 1
1945: July 1
Aug. 14
1946: Mar. 6
1947: Apr. 1
1948: Jan. 1 _____
Aug. 9
1949: Jan. 1

Second night shift

W eekly rate 2

Hourly rate

W eekly rate 3

$1. 590

$59. 66

$1. 776

$62. 17

1. 640
1. 720

61. 50
64. 50

1. 829
1. 914

64. 00
67. 00

1. 800

67. 50

2. 000

70. 00

1. 873

70. 25

2. 079

72. 75

2. 160

81. 00

2. 386

83. 50

2. 621

95. 00

2. 857

100. 00

104. 00

2. 869
f _____________
l
2. 966

3. 114

107. 50

1 Exclusive of operators of color and gravure presses, who receive extra
night-work premium pay.
2 Based on 37J-i-hour week up to Apr. 1, 1947, and 3614-hour week there­
after.

3. 214

Hourly rate

W eekly rate 4

$1. 594
1. 630

$55. 00
56. 25

1. 703

58. 75

1. 746

60. 25

1. 812
1. 862

62. 50
64. 25

2. 174

75. 00

2. 627

88. 00

2. 896
3. 045

97. 00
102. 00

109. 00
112. 50

3 Based on 35-hour week.
4 Based on 3414-hour week up to Jan. 1, 1948, and 3314-hour week there­
after.
5 See footnote 3, table A .

E— Related Wage Practices 1
Commercial
Effective
date

Hand compositors,
machine operators

Newspapers
Hand compositors,
machine operators

Cylinder pressmen

Pressmen

Overtime Pay— Daily
Jan. 1,1939
Tim e and one-half for 4 hours be­
(in effect).
yond regular shift;2 double time
thereafter.8 Tim e and one-half
for work up to 1 hour before
regular starting time; double
time for work in excess of 1 hour.

Tim e and one-half for first 4 hours
beyond regular shift;3 double
time for second 4 hours;8 triple
time thereafter. Tim e and onehalf for work up to 1 hour before
regular starting time; double
time for work in excess of 1 hour.

Tim e and one-half for work be­
yond regular shift.4 Tim e and
one-half for work before 7 a. m .7
and after 6 p. m . (day shift), be­
fore 4 p .m . and after 4 a. m . (first
night shift), and before 10 p. m.
and after 10 a. m . (second night
shift).

Tim e and one-half for first 4 hours
beyond regular shift;5 double
time thereafter. Tim e and onehalf for work before 7 a. m .8 and
after 7 p. m . for day shift, and
8 p. m . and 6 a. m . (except Sat­
urday) for night shift.

Premium Pay for Work on Sixth Day or Saturday
Jan. 1. 1939
(in effect).

Tim e and one-half for work on 6th
day; double time for work be­
yond regular shift hours on 6th
day. Tim e and one-half for first
half of Saturday night shift,
double time for second half, and
triple time thereafter.

Jan. 1, 1946Apr. 1,1947-

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Tim e and one-half for work on 6th
day; double time for work up to
4 hours beyond regular shift
hours on 6th day; triple time
thereafter. Tim e and one-half
for first half of Saturday night
shift, double time for second
half, and triple time thereafter.
Provisions covering 6th day ap­
plied to Saturday day work.

N o provision for premium pay for
work on 6th day or Saturday,
except for special premium rates
for Saturday night work on eve­
ning newspapers publishing Sun­
day morning editions.

Tim e and one-half for work on offday or night or on 6th shift.

N o provision for premium pay for
work on 6th day or Saturday.

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

559

E— Related Wage Practices 1— Continued
Newspapers

Commercial
Effective
date

Hand compositors,
machine operators

Hand compositors,
machine operators

Cylinder pressmen

Pressmen

Premium, Pay for Work on Sunday
Jan. 1, 1939
(in effect).

Double time for regular shift hours;
triple time thereafter.

Double time for regular shift hours;
triple time thereafter.

N o provision for premium pay for
Sunday work except on evening
newspapers publishing Sunday
editions.

Double time for work between 7 a.
m . and 7 p. m .

Holiday Pay
Jan. 1,1939
(in effect).

Double time for work in regular
shift hours on 10 holidays; triple
time thereafter. N o pay for
holidays not worked.

Double time for regular shift hours
on 10 holidays; triple time
thereafter. No pay for holidays
not worked.

N o provision for premium pay for
holiday work.

Double time for work between 7
a. m . and 7 p. m . on 6 holidays.
N o pay for holidays not worked.
6 paid holidays established. Double
time (total) for regular shift
holiday work between 7 a. m. and
7 a. m . of day following.

July 1,1945.

Oct. 1,1945
N ov. 12,
1945.

6 paid holidays established. Double
time (total) for work on paid
holidays.

Jan. 1,1946

3 paid holidays established. Double
time in addition to holiday pay
for regular shift work on paid
holiday.

Jan. 20,1947
Jan. 1,1948.

Paid Vacations
Jan. 1,1939
(in effect).
Jan. 1,1940.

N o provision for paid vacation s...

N o provision for paid vacations___

N o provision for paid vacations___
2 weeks paid vacation for em­
ployees holding situations dur­
ing entire previous year; other
employees granted 1 day for
each 26 days worked.

1 day for each 24 days worked dur­
ing previous calendar year, up to
10 days.

July 1,1943.

Apr. 1,1944.

Jan. 20,1947.

Paid vacations limited to 10 days..

Employer contributed 26 cents per
employee per shift (up to $1.30
per week); length of vacation de­
pendent on accumulated credits.
Employer contributed 26 cents per
employee per shift (up to $1.30
per week) ; length of vacation de­
pendent on accumulated credits
(maximum 5 days).

M a y 1,1944.

N ov.
15,
1945.

N o provision for paid vacations.

Increase in vacation credits to: 55
cents per day shift, up to $2.75
week; 58 cents per night shift,
up to $2.90 week.
Increased to: 66 cents per day
shift, up to $3.30 week; 70 cents
per night shift, up to $3.50 week.

See footnotes at end of table.


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

560

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 15

M O N TH LY LABOR

E— Related Wage Practices 1— Continued
Commercial
date

Hand compositors,
machine operators

Newspapers
Hand compositors,
machine operators

Cylinder pressmen

Pressmen

Paid Vacations— Continued
Apr. 1,1947.

Paid vacations for employees hold­
ing situations for entire year
increased to 3 weeks; other em­
ployees granted 1 day for each
17 days worked.

Jan. 1. 1948.

Changed to: 1 day for each 16 days
worked, up to 15 days of vacation.

April 1948. .

Increased to: 73 cents per day shift,
up to $3.65 week; 78 cents per
night shift, up to $3.90 week.

D e c . 19,
1949.

Increased to: $1.12 per day shift,
up to $5.60 per week; $1.19 per
night shift, up to $5.95 per week.

M a y 24,
1950.

Increased to: 73 cents per day shift,
up to $3.65 week; 78 cents per
night shift, up to $3.90 week.
M aximum vacation 10 days.

Increased to: $1.13 per day shift,
up to $5.65 per week; $1.20 per
night shift, up to $6 per week.
Maxim um vacation— 15 days.

N o v .1,1950.

Changed to: other employees— 1
day for each 16 days worked, up
to 15 days of vacation

Reporting Time
Jan. 1, 1939.

Full day’s pay guaranteed to em­
ployees reporting for work.

Full day’s pay guaranteed to em­
ployees reporting for work.

Full day’s pay guaranteed to em­
ployees reporting for work.

Full day’s pay guaranteed to em­
ployees reporting for work.

Call-back Time
Jan. 1,1939.

Full day’s pay at overtime rate
plus $3 guaranteed to employees
called back within 24 hours following start of his regular shift.

N o provision for call-back time___

N o provision for call-back time___

Employees called back after com pleting work on regular shift
paid $2 plus double time for
hours worked.

Severance Allowance
Jan. 1, 1939

N o provision______. . . .

(in effect).
Apr. 1,1947.

N ov. 1,1950.

See footnotes at end of table.


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

_ .

.

N o provision.................. .......................
2

N o provision.

weeks’ pay to workers with 1 or
more years as regular situation
holders dismissed by reason of
merger or permanent suspension
of newspaper.
Increased to: 3 weeks’ pay............. . 3 weeks’ pay to workers with 1 or
more years as regular situation
holders dismissed b y reason of
merger or permanent suspension
of newspaper.

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 10— SUPPLEMENT

R E V IE W , M AY 1951

561

E— Related Wage Practices 1— Continued
Commercial
Effective
date

Hand compositors,
machine operators

Newspapers
Hand compositors,
machine operators

Cylinder pressmen

Pressmen

Welfare Plans
Jan. 1,1939
(in effect).
M ar. 1,1950.

N o v .

N o provision_____________________ .

N o provision

N o provision.

Employers to contribute 1 ) 4 per­
cent of employees’ earnings to
union pension fund.

13,

Employers to contribute 30 cents
per man-shift to welfare fund.
Benefits to be negotiated.

1950.

1 The last entry under each item represents the most recent change.
Length of day shift: 8 horns, up to N ov. 15,1945; 7 Yi hours, N ov. 15, 1945,
to M a y 15,1946; 7 H hours, thereafter.
3 Length of day shift: 8 horns, up to Jan. 1,1946; 7 )4 hours,’ Jan. 1 to July 1,
1946; 7J4 hours, thereafter.
2

4 Length of day shift and first night shift: 7 Yi hours, up to Apr. 1, 1947;
7 ) i hours, thereafter. Length of second night (lobster) shift: 7 hours through­
out period covered.
5 Length of day shift: 7 ) 4 hours, up to Jan. 1, 1948; 7 H hours, thereafter.
Length of night shift: 2 nights of 7 )4 hours, other nights 6 )4 hours, up to Jan.
1, 1948; 1 night 7 )4 hours, other nights 614 hours, thereafter.
6 One-half hour paid lunch period provided after first hour and one-half of
overtime and for each 4 hours of overtime thereafter.

W age Chronology N o. 10:

7 $1 bonus paid to workers called to work before 7 a. m .; $2 extra to workers
called to work at or before 5 a. m.
8 $1 bonus paid to workers called to work before 7 a. m.

N ote .— For purpose and scope of wage chronology series, see M onthly
Labor Review, December 1948. Reprints of this chronology are available
upon request.

— Jam es P. C

orkery

D ivision of W age Statistic

national Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s
Union (now independent) negotiated a wage
increase. The present agreement, which can be
terminated on June 15, 1951, does not provide for
another wage reopening.

Pacific Longshore Industry 1
Supplement No. 1

to the terms of the December 6, 1948,
collective bargaining agreement, which provided
for a wage review on September 30, 1950, the
Pacific Maritime Association and the InterP ur su ant

The 1934-50 wage chronology is brought up to
date by the following additions.
1 See Wage Chronology N o. 10— Pacific Longshore Industry, 1934-50,
M onthly Labor Review, M a y 1950, or B LS Serial N o. R . 1995.

A— General Wage Changes
Effective date

Sept. 30, 1950______________


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

Provisions

10 cents an hour increase

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 10-SUPPLEMENT

562

M ONTHLY LABOR

B— Basic Hourly Rates for Selected Longshore Occupations, General Cargo, Effective Sept. 30, 1950 1
Hourly
rate

Occupation and port

$1. 92
Hatch tenders:

Winch drivers:
San Francisco

Gang bosses:

2.
2.
2.
2.

02
02
02
02

2.
2.
2.
2.

02
02
02
02

2. 07
2. 07

Lift-truck-jitney drivers:

2.
2.
2.
2.

1 Exclusive of premium pay for overtime, night work, and handling penalty

02
02
02
02

2 Hatch-tender and gang-boss function performed by same employee,

cargo.

C— Basic Hourly Rates for Handling Penalty Cargoes, Effective Sept. 30, 1950
Hourly
rate

Cargo classification

$1. 92
Selected penalty cargoes:

Phosphate rock in bulk
Creosoted products out of water—
Hold men
Damaged cargo
Explosives
Paper and pulp in packages weip'hinp' 300 pounds or more

2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.

12
37
72
22
02
02

2.
2.
2.
3.
2.
2.

22
12
77
84
22
02

1 Except on cargoes requiring a higher rate.

D— Hourly Overtime Rates for Longshoremen 1
Rate, general cargo

Effective date

Sept. 30. 1950

$2. 88

--

- - - ___________________________

1 Circumstances under which overtime rates are paid are listed in basic chronology.


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

Application to other classifications

Skill differentials and penalty-cargo rates
also increased by 1%.

563

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 3— SUPPLEMENT

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

reopened in October 1950 for wage discussions,
prior to the formal reopening date. A wageincrease settlement was announced on November
30. The agreements, which expire on December
31, 1951, make no provision for another reopening
by the union in 1951.

W age Chronology N o. 3 :
United States Steel Corp.1
Supplement No. 3
a g r e e m e n ts between the steel-producing
subsidiaries of the United States Steel Corp. and
the United Steelworkers of America (CIO) were

T he

1 See Wage Chronology No. 3— United States Steel Corp., 1937-48, M onthly
Labor Review, February 1949. Supplement N o. 2 appeared in M onthly
Labor Review, October 1950.

A— General Wage Changes
Effective date

Provision

Application, exceptions, and other related matters

Dec. 1, 1950____

12.5 cents an hour increase, plus adjust­
ments in standard job rates ranging up to
15.5 cents. Total increase averaged 16
cents an hour.

In addition to wage increase of 12.5 cents, increments
between job classes were increased from 4.5 cents to
5 cents an hour, thus providing additional increases
ranging from 0.5 cent for jobs in class 2 to 15.5 cents
for jobs in class 32. (See table.) At operations of
Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., general increase
and classification adjustments were uniformly 4.5
cents higher.

B— Minimum Plant Rate
Provision
Application, exception, and other related matters

Effective date
Northern subsidi­
aries

Dec. 1, 1950

Tennessee Coal,
Iron & Railroad Co.

$1. 21

$1. 31

_______

Previous differential of 14.5 cents an hour for operations
of Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. was reduced
to 10 cents.

Schedule of standard hourly rates in steel-producing subsidiaries of United States Steel Corp.1

Job class2

0 -1 _____________
2_______________
3_______________
4_______________
5_______________
6_______________
7_______________
8 _______________

July 16,
1948
$1.185
1.230
1.275
1.320
1.365
1.410
1.455
1.500

Dec. 1,
1950
$1.31
1.36
1.41
1.46
1.51
1.56
1.61
1.66

Job class 2

9_______________
10______________
11______________
12______________
13______________
14______________
15______________
16______________

July 16,
1948
$1. 545
1.590
1.635
1.680
1.725
1.770
1.815
1.860

Dec. 1,
1950
$1.71
1.76
1.81
1.86
1.91
1.96
2.01
2.06

1 Applicable to all operations except those of the Tennessee Coal, Iron &
Railroad Co., where the rates for each job class were 14.5 cents lower effective
July 16, 1948, and 10 cents an hour lower effective Dec. 1, 1950.


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

Job class 2

17______________
18______________
19______________
20______________
21................ .........
22______________
23______________
24______________

July 16,
1948
$1.905
1.950
1.995
2.040
2.085
2.130
2.175
2. 220

Dec. 1,
1950
$2.11
2.16
2. 21
2.26
2.31
2.36
2.41
2.46

Job class 2

July 16,
1948

25______________
26______________
27______________
28______________
29______________
30______________
31______________
32______________

2 See basic chronology for typical jobs in each job class.

$2.265
2.310
2.355
2.400
2.445
2.490
2.535
2.580

Dec. 1,
1950
$2.51
2.56
2.61
2.66
2.71
2.76
2.81
2.86

564

MORALE FACTORS IN PRODUCTIVITY

Supervision and Morale Factors
in Productivity1
S u p e r v isio n an d m orale factors and their effect

on productivity were the subject of a 4-year
survey, recently completed by the University of
Michigan’s Institute of Social Research. Dif­
ferences in the effectiveness of supervision, and
the degree of pride in the work among employees,
are two of the main factors in improving pro­
ductivity, according to the survey.
The study was made at the home office (New­
ark, N. J.) of the Prudential Insurance Co. and
covered clerical workers and their supervisors
and was aimed at investigating conditions which
make for variations in productivity and the
specific motivation of workers toward greater
productive effort. The personal interview method
was employed by the Institute in its analysis of
the study and the results are based upon in­
terviews with supervisors and nonsupervisory
employees.
Results of this study seem to indicate that
supervisors of high-producing sections spend more
time in supervision and give general rather than
close supervision to their employees. They tend
to stress the “ human relations” part of their job
(i. e., motivation, and training of employees) as
compared with production and technical aspects
of jobs.
Four indexes were constructed of employee mo­
rale factors to ascertain if any relationship existed
between morale and productivity. The four
variables measured were: (1) pride in work group;
(2) intrinsic job satisfaction; (3) company involve­
ment (degree of satisfaction and identity with the
company); and (4) financial and job status satis­
faction. Of these four, the pride in work group
alone showed a distinct relationship to produc­
tivity.
Limitations of Study

The study is one based on performance of per­
sons engaged in comparable work within a single
organization, i. e., parallel work groups performing
identical jobs under the same working conditions
with the same equipment and the same work meth­
ods and the same flow of work. Measurements
employed were extensive rather than intensive.


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

M O N THLY LABOR

An attempt was made to measure a large number
of variables less precisely, rather than measure a
smaller number of variables thoroughly. The
study does not go into the nature of any causality
factors involved or reasons for existing differences
or relationship of differences to productivity. The
study was largely exploratory and empirical. The
real test of the reliability of the results lies in a
duplicated research plan in other studies.
1
Source: Productivity, Supervision and Morale in an Office Situation,
Part I, by D . Katz, N . Maccoby and N . C. Morse, Institute for Social Re­
search, University of Michigan, December 1950.

Structural Steel Fabrication:
Earnings, 1949 and 1 9 5 0 1
P la n t w o r k e r s in the structural steel fab­
ricating industry averaged $1.39 an hour 2 in May
1950. This was 3 cents higher than the average
in September 1949.
Among the factors accounting for this increase,
general wage-rate increases in a few plants were of
some importance. In addition, a small number
of workers were affected by the 75-cent minimum
rate, effective January 25, 1950, under the Fair
Labor Standards Act. In the relatively few
plants affected by the new minimum, some ad­
justments to workers already at or above the 75cent rate may also have been made.
A general decline in employment appears to
account for part of the increase. Employment in
identical plants decreased by about 5 percent be­
tween the two periods. This reduction generally
affected workers of less seniority and experience
to a greater degree than it did the more experi­
enced and longer-employed workers. A dispro­
portionate reduction in the number of lower-paid
workers would, of course, have the effect of raising
the over-all average of earnings.
Examination of the distribution of earnings for
the two periods shows that about 39 percent of the
workers earned less than $1.35 in September 1949
as compared with only about 34 percent in May
1950. The difference would undoubtedly have
been greater if some plants had not increased their
employment between the two periods, and thus

STRUCTURAL STEEL—EARNIN GS

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

565

Percentage distribution of plant workers in the structural steel fabricating industry by straight-time average hourly earnings
and region, September 191+9 and May 1950
United
States
Average hourly earn­
ings 1 (in cents)

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M ay
1950

0.7
.6
1.1
1.0
1.4
1.8

0.1
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.5
1.9

0.8

105________
110_______
115________
120_______
125_______
130.. ____

3.0
3.0
4.1
6.7
6.7
8.8

under 135________
under 140________
under 1 4 5 . . ____
under 150________
over____________

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M iddle
Atlantic

Border
States

M ay
1950

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M ay
1950

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

1.4
.4
1.4
2.1

0.6
.3
.4
1.3
1.1
1.6

0.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
.3

(2)
0.1
.1
.1
.2
.2

0.1
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.9
2.9

2.3
2.0
3.4
5.1
6.7
7.6

3.5
2.6
7.2
18.3
4. 1
4.2

3.6
2.4
4.3
14.4
7.9
3.4

1.2
1.1
2.0
5.2
5.7
11.2

.9
.7
1.7
4.9
4.8
10.2

9.3
7.0
9.6
6.2
29.0

9.9
7.5
8.8
7.4
32.2

4.4
4.5
25.6
2.8
16.7

5.1
4.6
26.2
3.7
19.1

13.4
8.0
9.4
8.3
33.4

Total______________ 100.0

100.0

100.0

Under
75 and
80 and
85 and
90 and
95 and
100
105
110
115
120
125

New
England

75_______ _____ ____
under 80__________
under 85__________
under 90__________
under 95__________
under 100_________

and
and
and
and
and
and

130 and
135 and
140 and
145 and
150 and

under
under
under
under
under
under

Southeast

Great
Lakes

Middle
W est

Southwest

Mountain

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M ay
1950

Pacific

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M ay
1950

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

M ay
1950

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

0.9
2.5
1.7
2.6
3.0

4.3
3.8
4.2
5.5
6.1
7.6

0.4
9.4
5.6
5.3
5.2
7.1

0.3
.1
.1
.1
.3
.5

0.1
.2
.1
.1
.3
.4

0.6
.6
.7
1.6
2.4
1. 8

0.4
.6
1.4
3.4
2.0

1. 9
2.5
7.3
4.6
5.4
8.5

3.2
3.9
6.2
5.5
10.0

0.1

0.1

.7
.1

.1
.1
.1

5.4
2.7
13.0
7.3
9.2
13.1

4.3
2.8
7.2
4.5
13.3
9.3

10.3
9.3
4.2
6.1
6.0
6.1

7.0
4.4
5.7
5.4
9.0
4.3

1.4
1.7
3.4
8.3
8.6
9.1

1.3
1.2
2.5
4.0
6.7
7.8

5.5
7.2
8.6
6.7
11.0
7.8

3.8
4.7
6.2
8.8
10.4
7.9

7.9
7.4
7.4
8.9
6.0
6.6

7.1
6.6
7.9
7.4
7.1
6.7

2.9
2.3
4.8
5.7
7.8
7.2

.9
1.7
2.3
5.7
9.3
4.5

.4
.4
.8
1.9
1.4
2.2

2.5
2.1

14.2
8.5
8.6
9.4
35.4

7.3
8.6
4.9
4.9
14.8

7.5
7.2
5.5
5.4
22.3

3.0
4.7
8.0
2.9
7.9

5.4
3.8
4.9
5.8
11.3

9.1
6.8
11.2
6.2
32.8

9.5
8.8
11.4
7.1
38.5

9.4
4.9
12.5
4.2
14.5

10.2
6.9
9.2
8.1
16.0

5.1
4.8
3.5
1.6
10.6

5.5
5.2
3.7
2.0
12.0

12.2
6.2
19.0
7.9
23.1

11.2
8.2
21.0
2.4
32.4

5.5
9.4
6.4
7.7
63.8

5.2
7.2
4.6
9.2
65.1

100.0 100.0 100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0 100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0 100.0 100.0

100.0

M ay
1950

M ay
1950

100.0 100.0

M ay
1950

Sep­
tem­
ber
1949

0.1
0.1

Num ber of workers____ 48,498 46,499 1,268 1,186 15,701 15,206 2,673 2,345 4,289 4,242 13, 694 12, 758 3,157 3, 568 3,049 2,863
837
758 3,830
M edian r a t e ____________ $1.36 $1.39 $1.34 $1.39 $1.41 $1.42 $1.26 $1.29 $1.08 $1.13 $1.40 $1.43 $1.27 $1.30 $1.10 $1.12 $1.35 $1.41
(3)
1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
2 Less than 0.05 of 1 percent.

added new workers to the lower end of the earn­
ings distribution.
About 53 percent of the plants, employing about
60 percent of the workers, were located in the
Middle Atlantic and Great Lakes regions; 3 work­
ers in these two regions averaged, respectively,
$1.42 and $1.43 an hour in May 1950. Highest
earnings were reported in the Pacific region (with
over 7 percent of total employment), where nearly
two-thirds of the workers earned $1.50 or more an
hour.4 In the Southwest (having about 6 percent
of total employment), the average was $1.12 an
hour; almost 65 percent of the workers earned less
than $1.25.
Compared with other States, plant workers in
Oregon had the highest hourly earnings in the
industry. More than 79 percent of the workers
in this State earned $1.50 or more, as contrasted
with less than 5 percent in Georgia, where the
median rate was 95 cents. Earnings in Michigan
(next to the highest in the country) were much
above those in the other Great Lakes States.
Only 2 percent of the Michigan workers earned
less than $1.25 an hour, as compared with about
17 percent in the Great Lakes region as a whole.
For purposes of this survey, the fabricated
structural steel industry was divided into two
branches: plants primarily engaged in fabricating
galvanized structural steel, and those primarily

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

M ay
1950

.8
.3
2.2

100.0
3,573
(»)

3 Median rate is over $1.50 and exact amount cannot be determined.

engaged in fabricating ungalvanized products.
However, only 20 plants out of the 823 in the
industry were engaged in fabricating galvanized
products. Workers in these plants averaged
$1.29, as compared with $1.40 in those primarily
fabricating ungalvanized products.
— A. N.

Jarrell

Division of Wage Statistics

1 This study, conducted by mail questionnaire, was made at the request
of the Wage and Hour and Public Contracts Divisions, U. S. Department
of Labor, in connection with determining the prevailing minimum rate for
the industry under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936. It
covered establishments with 5 or more workers whose major activity was
fabricating from iron or steel, according to plans or specifications: shapes,
plates, and bars (galvanized or ungalvanized) for use as structural parts or
members of buildings, bridges, towers, drydocks, and other structures.
Establishments covered in the survey were requested to exclude overtime
and shift premiums from earnings data, but to include earnings under incen­
tive systems of wage payment.
2 Medians (rates above and below which half of the workers are found),
rather than weighted arithmetic averages, are used in this report.
3 Regions used in this study include: New England— Connecticut, M aine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle
Atlantic— New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; Border States— D el­
aware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, and W est
Virginia; Southeast— Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Tennessee; Oreat Lakes— Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; Middle West— Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Southwest— Arkansas, Loui­
siana, Oklahoma, and Texas; Mountain — Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, M on­
tana, New Mexico, Utah, and W yom ing; and Pacific— California, Nevada,
Oregon, and Washington.
4 Distributions of earnings were secured only for rates up to $1.50, which
prevents the computation of a median rate for workers in California, Oregon,
and Washington and in New Jersey and Michigan, where more than 50
percent of the workers were reported as earning $1.50 an hour or more.

Applicability of FLSA to Improvement of Interstate Facili­
ties. A United States district court held 4 that the FLSA

Recent Decisions
of Interest to Labor

Wages and H ours2
Truck drivers— Coverage under FLSA. A District Court
held that the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, prior to
its amendment in 1949, did not apply to intrastate truck
drivers who delivered full bottles of ginger ale and picked
up and returned empty bottles to the producer, and the
drivers were not engaged in the production of goods for
commerce. A United States court of appeals sustained 3
this opinion, but modified its decision; city drivers, high­
way drivers, and helpers were engaged in interstate com­
merce within the meaning of the act, if they delivered
bottles to the docks of vessels which ply the Great Lakes
for at least 20 percent of the workweek.
It was argued by the intrastate drivers that their work
was necessary to production of the ginger ale, as they
collected the empty bottles, which were used in the
process.
(In making this beverage, the ingredients were
placed in the bottle, then agitated so as to mix them.)
The Secretary of Labor filed a brief as amicus curiae,
urging that the drivers were engaged in an occupation
necessary to the production of goods, under section 3 (j)
of the act. That section provides that an employee shall
be deemed to have been engaged in the production of
goods if he was employed in “ producing, manufacturing,
mining, handling, transporting, or in any other manner
working on such goods, or in any process or occupation
necessary to the production thereof.”
The appellate court stated it was not concerned with
the question of whether the drivers were engaged in the
production of goods for interstate commerce, since the
employer neither made nor sold bottles, but rather manu­
factured ginger ale. A closer question was presented as to
whether the drivers were engaged in an occupation neces­
sary to the production of goods. The court considered,
as a test, not how the bottles were used in the production
of ginger ale, but rather the manner in which they were
handled by the drivers. It decided that since the picking
up of the bottles preceded the process of producing the
ginger ale, and since the drivers did not unload the bottles
from the truck or cooperate in washing or filling them,
these employees’ activities did not have such a “ close and
immediate tie with the process of production” so as to
bring them within the scope of the FLSA.
566


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

applied to all employees of a local company engaged in
production of road materials and in improvement or resur­
facing of roads. The company’s three plants were located
in the same State, but 85% percent of its production was
directed to the improvement of interstate facilities or
public highways.
The Secretary of Labor brought an action under the
FLSA against the company for failure to keep proper
records and to pay employees time and a half for overtime.
He maintained (1) that truck drivers who hauled raw
materials to the employer’s plant where they were trans­
formed into road mixes to be used in interstate highways
were engaged in production of goods for commerce; (2)
that employees engaged in the manufacture and hauling
of the finished road mixes to the site of their use were also
engaged in such production; and (3) that employees who
used the mix to repair, extend, construct, or maintain the
road were engaged in commerce within the meaning of
the act.
The employer contended that employees who worked
on the repair or maintenance of highways were subject to
the FLSA, but that all the rest of his employees were
exempt. He also argued that when his employees were
engaged in a major construction job such as resurfacing
and straightening out an old road, such work should be
classified as new construction and therefore be exempt
from the provisions of the act.
“ New construction,” as argued by the Secretary of
Labor, meant absolutely new roads (where no road has
previously existed); as contended by the employer, it in­
cluded new roadbeds partially built over old roads. The
court decided against the employer’s contention, because
even a dirt road was a part of the interstate system of high­
ways, and straightening, repairing, or resurfacing such a
road would not make it “ new construction.”
It was not the magnitude of the work performed on the
old road, the court emphasized, but the fact that the old
road was followed, which was the determining factor.
Hence, work performed on such a road was necessarily in
interstate commerce. In quoting a part of a Supreme
Court case,5 the court demonstrated further that highways
or roads are instrumentalities of interstate commerce and
therefore subject to the FLSA. Employees working on
roads or highways, or operational employees working in
any of the employer’s three plants, would be engaged in
commerce or in production of goods for commerce. There­
fore the act would apply to all employees.

Night Watchman— Coverage under FLSA. In a suit
brought by the Administrator of the Wage and Hour D i­
vision against a wholesale grocery company, a United
States court of appeals sustained a district court, and
held 6 that the FLSA of 1938 was applicable to a night
watchman who guarded freight cars, trucks, and a ware­
house where goods were stored for interstate shipment.
The court stated that the employer’s night watchman was
“ in some measure also engaged in the ‘production of goods
for commerce’ .”

DECISIONS OF INTEREST TO LABOR
The company operated a wholesale grocery business in
Jackson, Miss., where it maintained a large warehouse. It
purchased and sold merchandise, packed rice, and roasted
and packed coffee. Most of its sales were in Mississippi,
but about 8 percent of the coffee and rice was shipped into
Louisiana. The night watchman was hired to guard the
company’s premises, which included its office and ware­
houses, its trucks in an enclosed area, and all merchandise
stored in a warehouse and in freight cars standing alongside
on spur tracks. He was to guard against fire, theft, or any
other damage that could be done to the buildings. It was
part of his duty, also, to punch four time clocks at hourly
intervals.
(Two of the clocks were stationed at both ends
of the spur tracks running alongside the warehouse.)
Fi­
nally, he was required to open the gates whenever an em­
ployer’s truck drove up at night, although most of the
trucking was done in the daytime.
The company admitted that it was engaged in interstate
commerce, claiming that it had complied with the act with
respect to all its other employees. It denied that the night
watchman was engaged either in commerce or in the pro­
duction of goods for commerce. It further asserted that
his duties were so remote from commerce that he could
not be covered by the FLSA.
In upholding the trial court’s decision, the appellate
court found that the night watchman’s duties had a close
and immediate connection with production of goods for
commerce. He guarded instrumentalities of commerce
and goods moving into interstate commerce, and without
his presence the whole process could be impaired or tempo­
rarily stopped.
The company’s final contention that no interstate ship­
ments were made at night, and therefore the night watch­
man was not engaged in commerce or in production of
goods for commerce, did not influence the court. Protec­
tion from fire and theft was required at night more than at
any other time, the court said, and the fact that shipments
were not made at night could hardly be a ground for deny­
ing FLSA coverage.

Labor Relations
Public

Utilities

Compulsory Arbitration

Law Invalid.

With 3 justices dissenting, the United States Supreme Court
h eld 7 that the Wisconsin public utility anti-strike law
violated the supremacy clause of the Federal Constitution,
on the ground that it conflicted with provisions of the
Labor Management Relations (Taft-Hartley) Act. Pro­
visions of the Federal law with which, according to the
court, the Wisconsin statute conflicted are section 7 which
provides that employees shall have the right “ to engage in
other concerted activities for the purpose of collective
bargaining,” and section 13, which provides that nothing
in the act shall impair or impede the right to strike.
The Wisconsin Employment Relations Board, which
administered the public utility anti-strike law, sought and
obtained injunctions against two striking unions composed,
respectively, of transit workers and gas workers. In each
case, the injunction was upheld by the State circuit court
and affirmed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, on the
ground that the State was accustomed to exercise plenary


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

567

power over public utilities. The high Court also stressed
the importance of utility services to the public welfare.
A provision of the Wisconsin act read: “ It shall be un­
lawful for any group of employees of a public utility em­
ployer acting in concert to call a strike or to go out on
strike . . .” The statute further provided: “ it also shall
be unlawful for any public utility employer to lock out his
employees . . . ”
When an “ impasse and stalemate”
occurred in collective bargaining, the law specified, a con­
ciliator would be appointed; and, if the dispute still re­
mained unsettled, an arbitrator would be appointed to
“ hear and determine” the dispute. The provisions were
to apply to “ essential public utility service,” which would
include heat, gas, water, electric power, public passenger
transportation, and communication. Any violation would
“ constitute a misdemeanor.”
In their appeal to the Supreme Court, the unions argued
that the Wisconsin statute conflicted with Federal legis­
lation and that it violated the thirteenth amendment and
the “ due-process clause” of the fourteenth amendment.
The Court dealt only with the former issue, since that
covered both cases.
The majority opinion, written in five main divisions,
pointed out that section 7 of the L M R A guarantees to
employees the right to strike. Citing many cases, the
Court concluded that Congress had preempted this field
and closed it to State regulation. In discussing United
Auto Workers v. O'Brien as its second point, the opinion
declared that the Wisconsin court had tried to distinguish
that case on the ground that the industry to which Michi­
gan applied its notice and strike vote provisions was a
national manufacturer rather than a local public utility.
Congress, the majority declared, regulated labor relations
under the “ commerce clause.”
Whether the enterprise
involved was a national manufacturer or a local public
utility, commerce was affected, and the States were barred
from legislating on the subject. Furthermore, Congress
expressly rejected separate treatment for public utilities
when the act was amended in 1947, the majority empha­
sized.
Perhaps the most weighty argument made by the Wis­
consin Employment Relations Board (and answered by the
Court as its third point) was that the Taft-Hartley Act, in
providing special procedures for national emergencies and
providing no procedures for local emergencies, left the lat­
ter area open for State regulation. The Court pointed out
that the Wisconsin statute was not emergency legislation
but was instead a comprehensive code designed to settle
labor disputes between public utilities and their employees.
Also, the statute had been applied to national as well as to
local disputes and therefore was again in direct conflict
with Federal legislation. The fact that Congress had made
one exception to apply to national emergencies, but had
made no others, clearly implied that it intended no other re­
strictions. The act’s legislative history, the Court pointed
out, made it apparent that Congress considered the prob­
lem of public emergencies and compulsory arbitration,
but rejected proposals such as the restrictions imposed by
the Wisconsin statute, as being inconsistent with the poli­
cies of the act. There was no intent by Congress to leave
part of this field open for State regulation.

568

DECISIONS OF INTEREST TO LABOR

The Court, in its fourth point, stated that many of the
arguments made by the parties were broader than the legal
questions presented, and that such “ debatable policy
questions” were not for a court to decide but were for the
legislature to determine. The majority thought that these
questions had been decided by Congress and decided ad­
versely to the Wisconsin Board. In concluding its opin­
ion, the Court pointed out that the Wisconsin statute in
its very operation would conflict with the L M R A in many
respects. Especially would it conflict with section 7.
The dissenting justices applied the test of whether the
two statutes involved could “ consistently stand together,”
and concluded they could. They noted that the T aftHartley Act did not expressly deal with the problem of
local strikes in public utilities; and that the legislative
history determined “ no more than that” Congress did not
want local utilities to be expressly under Federal control.
Congress should be “ explicit” if it desired to remove mat­
ters from State legislation, the minority stated.
They agreed with the Wisconsin Board that the national
emergency provisions of the Taft-H artley Act were an
“ affirmative indication” that strikes “ may be limited in
emergency situations.” If, in Nation-wide emergencies,
the right to strike could be restricted, the minority thought
that the State, in the exercise of its police power, should
also be allowed to restrict that right in local emergencies.
They declared it was not reasonable to assume that Con­
gress intended that the States should be helpless in a local
emergency.

NLRB Orders Election.

In two unanimous decisions, the
N L R B ruled 8 that elections could be conducted among
employees in a single craft in construction operations of
the building industry. This ruling was the first by the
Board upon such requests for elections, although it had
previously asserted jurisdiction over the building and con­
struction industry when large projects of substantial
duration were involved.
Elections were requested in the respective cases by
locals of the A FL Plumbers’ Union (in Baltimore, M d.,
and Olean, N . Y .). The Baltimore union petitioned for
and obtained a representation election for all plumbers,
plumber apprentices, and gas fitters employed by 22 com­
panies that were members of the Plumbing Contractors
Association of Baltimore. The Olean union petitioned for
and obtained a union-shop poll for all plumbers, steam
fitters, and apprentices employed by five companies
which were members of the Plumbing and Heating Con­
tractors Association of Olean. Eight A F L international
unions opposed the elections and asked the Board to re­
fuse them as a matter of policy.
Rejecting their request, the Board stated it would be
inequitable to continue to process complaints and issue
cease and desist orders against unions in the building in­
dustry and, “ at the same time, to deny to labor organi­
zations the benefits which accrue from certification.”
Congress, they said, did not intend that under the amended
act of 1947 they should use only the “ sword” of the act
against these unions and withhold the “ shield.”
Two further arguments were made by the eight opposing
unions. They feared that the N L R B , if it allowed these


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

M O N THLY LABOR

elections, would be flooded with election petitions from
other unions in the construction industry. Although the
Board realized that this might happen, it answered that
such a contingency was no reason for withholding its
authority and the benefits of the act.
Congress, they
said, intended that the construction industry should be
covered by the L M R A , and the N L R B could not give
that industry “ special treatment,” as the eight unions re­
quested. If a flood of petitions did occur, any budgetary
problems that arose could be submitted to Congress and
the President.
The eight opposing unions also contended that allowing
these elections would impair the work of the National
Joint Board for Settlement of Jurisdictional Disputes in
the Building and Construction Industry. The N L R B
stated, however, that its action in allowing elections and
certifying unions would not in any way interfere with
settlement of jurisdictional disputes.
The Board found no difficulty in exercising jurisdiction
over the employer associations since a large part of the
supplies and equipment used by the employer associations
was manufactured outside the State and shipped to them
in interstate Commerce. It also found that some of the
employers in the association did work outside the State.
The association’s members “ considered as a group” cer­
tainly affected commerce within the meaning of the act, the
Board concluded.
W ith respect to stability of employment, the Board
pointed out that in Baltimore, during the period January
through October of 1950, over half of the employees in­
cluded in the unit requesting an election had worked in that
unit more than 80 percent of the number of weeks covered.
In Olean, N . Y ., the record was even better. W ith such
facts, the N L R B found employment sufficiently stable to
permit elections to be held.

Decertification Petition by Employee Later Made Super­
visor. W ith two members dissenting, the N L R B ruled 9
that a decertification petition, filed by an employee who
later became a supervisor was not subject to dismissal even
though the Board had held in previous decisions that no
supervisor or representative of management could file a
decertification proceeding. The majority of the Board
concluded that a decertification proceeding already
initiated should not abate simply because the employee
who filed the petition later became a supervisor. It there­
upon directed a decertification election.
During a 3-week period in January and another in
March 1950, the employee acted in a supervisory capacity,
afterward returning to his job as a laborer in each instance.
On July 11, 1950, when the union at the employer’s
lumber company was on strike, the employee filed a de­
certification petition. When the strike ended, on July 25,
1950, and the employee returned to work, he was advised
that he was to become a supervisor. A few weeks later
he obtained that position. The union then filed a motion
with the Board to have the decertification petition dis­
missed on the ground that the employee was currently a
supervisor.
The Board did not think the proceeding should abate
merely for that reason. The employee had filed the petition

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

DECISIONS OF INTEREST TO LABOR

pursuant to section 9 (c) (1) (A) (ii), and at the time of
filing was, the Board said, a “ proper person to initiate this
proceeding.” After the filing, the Board stated, it was
not important what position the employee occupied,
since he would be only nominally involved in the case.
The Board would accept all responsibility for the proceed­
ing once the petition was filed; and, the majority added,
any action taken would not affect the employee’s status.
Therefore the employee was not prosecuting the petition.
To dismiss the petition the Board stated, would be to the
prejudice of all employees and not to the prejudice of the
employee who became supervisor.
Majority and minority members agreed that a super­
visor could not file such a petition on behalf of either em­
ployees or management. The dissenting members, how­
ever, argued that if a supervisor could not file a petition,
he certainly should not prosecute one. They pointed out
that the duties of the supervisor changed, and that he
could no longer represent the rank and file of employees.
Furthermore, his duties as supervisor were more than
nominal. If he had withdrawn without substituting some­
one else, the petition would have fallen; therefore, the
minority said, his position was “ indispensable,” not
“ nominal.”
They also thought that his duties and responsibilities
were more than “ nominal,” since, in connection with any
election that might be directed by the Board, he, as well
as the employer and the union, could select observers,
challenge voters, and object to the conduct of the election.

Closing plant after work stoppage not discrimination. A
shoe company did not discriminate against union em­
ployees and did not refuse to bargain collectively in viola­
tion of the L M R A , the board ruled,10 when after two work
stoppages, it closed its plant and refused to open it until
the union signed a contract with a no-strike provision
and an “ escape” clause in the membership-maintenance
provision. The case was closely contested. Two members
dissented and one wrote a separate opinion concurring
with the majority.
The operations of the employer’s plant which manufac­
tured rubber soles and heels, were dependent upon the
smooth functioning of three integrated departments— a
work stoppage in one department would cause the other
two to be disrupted or to cease.
Prior to June 21, 1949, the union and the company
were in agreement on the terms of a contract which was
to include a maintenance-of-membership clause.
The
clause provided that all who were union members at the
effective date of the contract, or became union members
thereafter, would maintain their membership as a condition
of employment. While negotiations were still in progress,
the union campaigned to get as many employees into its
membership as possible, so that when the contract was
signed it would have practically an all-union shop. To
force some recalcitrant employees to join, the union
conducted two intermittent work stoppages. After the
first, the company withdrew its offer of the membershipmaintenance clause, and after the second, it closed the
doors of the plant. The company then wrote a letter to
all its employees stating that its original contract offer
9 4 1 2 9 8 — 51 --------5


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

569

was withdrawn. The following day the union proposed
that all employees go back to work and resume bargaining,
but the employer refused to open the plant until a contract
with a nonstrike clause and an “ escape” provision in the
membership-maintenance clause had been signed.
The Board majority decided that the company’s actions
were justified and did not violate section 8 (a) (3) of the
act, since an employer may discontinue operations provided
his action is not intended to interfere with or defeat union
activities. It noted that the company had bargained in
good faith with the union since 1942 and had agreed to
union demands for a membership-maintenance clause for
the 1949 contract. The harassment of work stoppage was
justifiable cause for closing the plant, the majority con­
cluded.
In basing its decision on the “ special circumstances of
the case,” the Board also found that the employer was
not guilty of refusing to bargain collectively in violation
of section 8 (a) (5), and was justified in refusing to open
his plant until a contract, containing an “ escape” provision
from the membership-maintenance clause, was signed.
In a long opinion, the dissenting members pointed out
that though the union was willing to sign a nonstrike
provision, it was unwilling to sign a contract with an
“ escape” clause.
Therefore, they said, the company
violated section 8 (a) (3) of the act by refusing to open
the plant and reinstate its employees. Stability of opera­
tions, they stated, had no bearing on this question of
bargaining collectively on a contract provision.
By
refusing to open its plant, the company strengthened its
economic position and literally forced the employees to
agree to its terms, the minority said.
The two dissenting members further decided that by lack
of good faith in bargaining, the company had violated
section 8 (a) (5). They submitted as evidence of this
bad-faith bargaining its withdrawal of the entire contract
after it had been accepted by the union, its letter to the
employees rather than to the union, and its refusal to
reinstate the workers after they had agreed on a nonstrike
provision.

Appropriate

Unit for

Less-Skilled

Foundry

Workers.

The N L R B ruled,11 with two members dissenting, that
less-skilled and skilled employees in a foundry together
constituted an appropriate unit. In the past, the lessskilled employees had been represented as part of a
union’s larger production and maintenance unit, and the
skilled employees had been represented by a rival union
on a craft basis. All Board members agreed that the
contract between employer and union covering the lessskilled employees, who currently sought to be represented
by the rival union of skilled employees, was not a bar to
the determination of representatives.
The contract between the production and maintenance
employees’ union and the employer had been construed for
5 years to include the less-skilled employees in the foundry.
The rival union claimed that contract could not act as a
bar, since it did not clearly cover such employees. A
unanimous Board agreed that the contract would be no
bar to the petition of the rival union, not for the reason
advanced by the rival union, but because the contract was
about due to expire.

570

D EC ISIO N S OF IN T E R E S T TO L A B O R

The rival union represented 44 skilled workers in the
employer’s foundry who were classified as core makers,
molders, and apprentices. It sought a unit of all produc­
tion and maintenance employees in the foundry, excluding
the skilled workers it already represented. Three of the
five Board members, ruled against setting up such a sepa­
rate unit as requested by the rival union, but decided that
all employees in the foundry, skilled and unskilled, were
an appropriate unit. The Board ordered a representation
election in this unit, despite the existence of a contract,
with a year to run, covering the skilled employees.
In the opinion of the two minority members, the ma­
jority was giving the rival union a “ gratuity” by placing
the unskilled workers in a unit with the skilled workers
and by depriving the less-skilled employees of a self-de­
termination election. They believed that denial of a selfdetermination election ran counter to the Board’s previous
practice, and that the Board, to be consistent with the
Great Lakes case,12 should have directed such an election.
In that case it was decided that previously unrepresented
groups of employees should be given a self-determination
election when no union was seeking an election in the
broader unit in which the employees involved were sought
to be included. The dissenting Board members stated
that a greater reason existed for a self-determination elec­
tion in the present instance than in the Great Lakes case,
since in this instance the unskilled employees had a past
history of 5 years in a different bargaining unit.

Unemployment Compensation
Taxicab Operators Held Covered {Georgia).

Services per­
formed by certain taxicab operators, the Georgia Court of
Appeals h eld ,13 were covered by the State unemployment
compensation act. Personal service for remuneration is
deemed to be covered unless it is shown that the individual
is free from control or direction in the performance of such
service; that the service is outside the usual course of the
business for which the service is performed; or that the
individual is customarily engaged in an independently es­
tablished trade, occupation, profession, or business.
The taxicab operators were subject to summary dis­
missal for discourtesy to patrons, intoxication, reckless
driving, or other causes. The service was in the usual
course of business of the company owning the cabs. The
operators were not in an independent business, since the
common carrier franchise and the liability insurance were
in the company’s name.

Unfavorable Working Conditions Held Good Cause for
Quitting. {Indiana.) A coal-mine shooter quit, when,
for the second day, he was not furnished water hose for
sprinkling prior to blasting. The Indiana Appellate Court


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

held14 that he was not disqualified for benefits on the ground
of having voluntarily left his work without good cause.
An employer’s rule required sprinkling prior to blasting,
and other shooters were furnished such hose.

Share Fishermen Held Not Covered {Massachusetts).

The
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court h e ld 15 that
services performed by certain “ share” fishermen were not
subject to the State unemployment compensation act.
Under the statute, personal service for remuneration is
deemed to be covered unless it is shown that the individual
is free from control or direction with respect to the per­
formance of such service.
It was customary for the owner of a fishing boat of the
type here involved (10 net tons, manned by 4 to 6 men)
to go to the pier and gather a crew. The owner stocked
the boat with food, medicine, and provisions. This expense
was deducted from the proceeds of the catch before any
profits were distributed.
The owner was entitled to a
certain share of the profits for the use of his boat, and if
he went on the trip, to the same share for his work as other
crew members.
Decisions as to where to fish, type of
fishing, duration of the trip, and selling price of the catch
were settled by a majority vote, the owner voting with
the other crew members. All of the crew took turns at
the wheel and in standing watch. The owner gave no
orders or commands. No guaranteed compensation was
paid to the crew, and if a trip resulted in a loss, a member’s
share of the loss would be carried over to the next trip, or
could be recovered by the owner.
1 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. N o attempt has been made to
reflect all recent judicial and administrative developments in the field of
labor law or to indicate the effect of particular decisions in jurisdictions in
which contrary results m ay be reached, based upon local statutory provisions,
the existence of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts to the
issue presented.
s This section is intended merely as a digest of some recent decisions in­
volving the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Portal-to-Portal Act. It is
not to be construed and may not be relied upon as interpretation of these
acts by the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division or any agency of
the Department of Labor.
* Clougherty v. James Vernor Co. (C. A . 6, Feb. 19,1951).
Tobin v. Alstate Construction Co. (M . D . Pa., Feb. 23, 1951).
Overstreet v. North Shore Corp., 318 TJ. S. 125.
Russell Co. v. McComb (C. A . 5, M ar. 9, 1951).

4
8
*
*Motor

Coach Employees v. Wisconsin Board, 340 IT. S „ 71 S. C t. 313

(Feb. 26, 1951).

8

Plumbing and Heating Contractors (93 N L R B N o. 176, Apr. 2, 1951).
Plumbing Contractors Association (93 N L R B No. 177, Apr. 2, 1951).
Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. (93 N L R B No. 43, M ar. 16, 1951).
International Shoe Co. (93 N L R B No. 159, M ar. 26, 1951).
H W. S. Tyler Co. (93 N L R B N o. 70, Feb. 28, 1951).
i* Great Lakes Pipe Line Co. (92 N L R B N o. 95), 27 L R R M 1123.
i* Redwine v. Wilkes (Ga. Ap p., Feb. 1, 1951).
i* Evans v. Enoco Colliers, 96 N . E . 2d 674 (Ind. 1951).
i* Maniscalco v. Director (Mass. Sup. Jud. C t., M ar. 16, 1951).

8
10

Chronology of
Recent Labor Events

March 12, 1951
T he Secr etar y of L abor announced the appointment of
former U. S. Senator Frank P. Graham from North
Carolina, as Defense Manpower Administrator in the
U. S. Department of Labor (see Chron. item for Mar. 10,
1951, M L R Apr. 1951). (Source: U. S. Dept, of Labor
release of Mar. 12, 1951.)

March 13
T he O ffice of P rice S tabilization issued Ceiling Price
Regulation 11, effective April 1, ordering restaurants and
other eating and drinking establishments to maintain
the same food costs per dollar of sales that were averaged
in one of two base periods— the 12-months pre-Korean
period July 1, 1949, to June 30, 1950, or the calendar year
1949. (Source: Federal Register, vol. 16, N o. 50, Mar.
14, 1951, p. 2391.)
On the same day, the OPS also issued C P R 12, effective
March 15, establishing specific ceiling prices for milled
rice at the processor or mill levels. (Source: Federal Regis­
ter, vol. 16, No. 51, Mar. 15, 1951, p. 2428.)
On March 21, the OPS issued CPR 13, effective March
26, fixing specific ceiling prices for petroleum products at
service station outlets. (Source: Federal Register, vol.
16, No. 57, Mar. 23, 1951, p. 2628.)
On March 28, the OPS issued C P R ’s 14, 15, and 16,
effective April 5, establishing specific percentage mark-up
procedures for certain dry groceries and some perishables
sold at wholesale and retail levels. (Source: Federal
Register, vol. 16, N o. 61, Mar. 29, 1951, pp. 2725, 2735
and 2750; for discussion of the above, see p. 542 of this
issue.)
On April 5, the OPS issued CPR 17, effective April 10,
and C P R 18, effective April 9. C PR 17 establishes ceiling
prices at all distribution levels, except service station
sales at retail, for products of the petroleum industry,
based on prices in effect December 19, 1950, to January
25, 1951. C P R 18 fixes ceiling prices for sales of wool
yarn or fabric by manufacturers. (Source: Federal
Register, vol. 16, No. 68, Apr. 7, 1951, pp. 3033 and 3039.)
On April 5, the OPS issued Amendment 2 to CPR 7
(see Chron. item for Feb. 27, 1951, M L R April 1951),
effective April 10 and fixing a margin-type price control


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

for retailers of the following commodities: musical instru­
ments, radio and television sets, phonographs and records;
housewares, notions, luggage, sporting goods; and silver­
ware, chinaware, glassware, jewelry, watches, and clocks.
(Source: Federal Register, vol. 16, N o. 67, Apr. 6, 1951,
p. 3006.)
On April 6, the OPS issued C P R ’s 19 and 20. CPR 19
establishes ceiling price of $65 per short ton f. o. b. ship­
ping point for sales and deliveries of tungsten concen­
trates. CPR 20 fixes dollar-and-cents ceiling prices for
wool futures at $3,535 per pound, and for wool top futures
at $4,265 per pound.
(Source: Federal Register, vol. 16,
N o. 68, Apr. 7, 1951, pp. 3043 and 3045.)
On April 10, the OPS issued C P R 21 establishing ceiling
prices for coal sold for direct use as bunker fuel. (Source:
Federal Register, vol. 16, N o. 70, Apr. 11, 1951, p. 3157.)

March 14
T he E conomic S tabilization A dm inistrator refused to
approve the wage increase agreed to by employers and
unions in the meat-packing industry (see Chron. item for
Feb. 11, 1951, M L R Mar. 1951), leaving the question open
for consideration by a tripartite Wage Stabilization
Board. (Source: New York Times, Mar. 15, 1951.)
On March 26, a Nation-wide strike against the major
meat packers was averted when the Amalgamated Meat
Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America (A F L ),
the United Packinghouse Workers of America (C IO ), and
independent unions agreed to extension of present wage
agreements until M ay 7. (Source: CIO News, Apr. 2,
1951.)

March 15
T he P resident established the National Advisory Board
on Mobilization Policy, to be composed of the Director of
Defense Mobilization as chairman and 16 members, to
include 4 members each experienced in the fields of business
management, labor, and agriculture. The board is to
“ represent the general public and the public interest,”
and shall advise the President as to the current defense
mobilization program.
(Source: Federal Register, vol.
16, No. 54, Mar. 20, 1951, p. 2543.)
On April 5, the United Labor Policy Committee, follow­
ing a meeting with the President, announced that it would
serve on the Board. Labor will be represented by A F L
President William Green, CIO President Philip Murray,
A F L Secretary-Treasurer George Meany, and Walter P.
Reuther, president of the International Union, United
Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Work­
ers of America (C IO ).
(Source: New York Times, Apr. 6,
1951.)
T he Strike in the woolen and worsted cloth industry (see
Chron. item for Feb. 16, 1951, M L R April 1951) was
settled when the Textile Workers Union of America (CIO)
reached an agreement with the pattern-setting American
Woolen Co. calling for a 12-cents an hour pay increase,
cost-of-living adjustments, insurance improvements, sev571

572

CHRONOLOGY OF L A B O R E V E N T S

erance pay, and other benefits. The agreement is subject
to ratification by local unions.
(Source: Textile Labor,
Mar. 17, 1951.)
On the same day, a pending strike in the cotton-rayon
industry was averted when the Textile Workers Union
(CIO) accepted an agreement with mills in the New
England area providing a 10-cent hourly increase and
other benefits.
(Source: New York Times, Mar. 16,
1951.)
On April 1, approximately 40,000 members of the
Textile Workers Union of America (C IO ), in the cottonrayon industry, went out on strike in 6 Southern States.
(Source: CIO News, Apr. 9, 1951.)
T he A dm inistrator of the U. S. Department of Labor’s
Wage and Hour Division announced that a minimum
hourly wage of 26 cents (formerly 15 to 25 cents) in the
handicraft-products industry in Puerto Rico, would be­
come effective on April 16, under the Fair Labor Standards
Act.
(Source: Federal Register, Yol. 16, N o. 51, Mar. 15,
1951, p. 2428.)
On April 6, the Administrator established a minimum
rate of 35 cents an hour (formerly 24 cents) in the men’s
and boys’ clothing and related products industry in Puerto
Rico. (Source: Federal Register, vol. 16, N o. 71, Apr. 12,
1951, p. 3214.)
On April 10, the Administrator established minimum
rates ranging from 23 to 50 cents an hour (formerly 17 to
30 cents) for the leather, leather goods and related products
industry in Puerto Rico, effective M ay 14.
(Source:
Federal Register, vol. 16, N o. 73, Apr. 14, 1951, p. 3295.)

March 20
M rs . M a r y T. N orton , former member of the House of
Representatives from New Jersey, was sworn in as special
womanpower consultant to the Secretary of Labor.
(Source: U. S. Dept, of Labor Press release, S 51-1366,
Mar. 20, 1951.)
The Secretary of Labor established a W om en’s Advisory
Committee on Defense Manpower in the department, com­
posed of 18 women selected from State departments of
labor, key women’s organizations, labor, and management,
and named Mrs. Norton as vice-chairman. (Source: U. S.
Dept, of Labor Press release, S 51-1366, Mar. 20, 1951.)

M O N TH L Y LABO R

A U nited L abor C onference of approximately 1,000
representatives of the A F L , CIO, and the Railway Execu­
tives Association, was convened in Washington, D . C.,
by the United Labor Policy Committee.
(Source: A F L
News, Mar. 23, 1951; for discussion, see p. I l l , M L R ,
April 1951.)

March 23
T he P resident approved an act extending Federal rent
control through June 30, 1951 (see Chron. item for Dec.
20, 1950, M L R Feb. 1951).
(Source: Public Law 8 of
82d Cong., approved Mar. 23, 1951.)

March 26
T he N L R B , in the case of International Shoe Co. and

Local 198, United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Work­
ers of America (C IO ), ruled that the fact that the plant’s
operations were integrated provided sufficient justification
for an economic lock-out, until the employer could get
written contractual assurance that the strikes would not
continue.
(Source: Labor Relations Reporter, vol. 27,
No. 43, Apr. 2, 1951, L R R M p. 1504.)

March 27
T he N L R B , in the case of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
and E. Carl Rhodus; International Brotherhood of Team­

sters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America,
Over-the-Road and City Transfer Drivers, Helpers, Dockmen and Warehousemen, Local No. 41 (AFL) and same,
ruled that joint action of union and employer under valid
union-security contract in reducing an employee’s senior­
ity because of delinquent dues, was not in violation of
amended N L R A .
(Source: Labor Relations Reporter,
vol. 27, No. 43, Apr. 2, 1951, L R R M p. 1498.)

March 29
T he United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers
of America (CIO) and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
averted a national strike by an agreement calling for a
union shop— the first in 16 years by any of the “ Big Four”
in the rubber industry.
(Source: CIO News, Apr. 2,
1951.)

March 21
March 30
T he N atio n al L abor R elatio ns B oard , in the case of
Cleveland Veneer Co. and International Woodworkers of
America (CIO), ruled that a corporation, which acquired
plant, machinery, and equipment of respondent employer
who committed unfair labor practices, is responsible with
the employer for remedying them.
(Source: Labor Rela­
tions Reporter, vol. 27, No. 43, Apr. 2, 1951, L R R M p.

1487.)


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

T he G en er al C ounsel of the N L R B , in an administrative
ruling, refused to issue complaints alleging discriminatory
discharge under union-security contracts as he found
discharges were for cause— one being for alleged Com­
munist activity and the second for a long record of mis­
conduct. (Source: Labor Relations Reporter, vol. 27,
N o. 43, Apr. 2, 1951, L R R M p. 1510.)

REVIEW, MAY 1951

CHRONOLOGY OF L A B O R EV EN TS

T he N L R B , in the cases of the Plumbing Contractors
Association of Baltimore, M d ., and the Plumbing &
Heating Contractors Association of Olean, N . Y ., for the
first time in its 16-year history, accepted jurisdiction in
the construction industry, and directed a representation
election and union-shop poll, respectively. (Source:
N L R B Press release, R -3 6 4 , Apr. 2, 1951.)

April 2
A 5- y e a r contract to stabilize New York City’s trucking
industry was signed in the Secretary of Labor’s office.
The agreement, covering 11,000 teamsters and their
1,500 employers, provides that the Secretary of Labor is
to name an impartial chairman to handle contract prob­
lems and Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, the Assistant Secretary
of Defense, will appoint arbitrators to decide contested
wage problems. (Source: New York Times, Apr. 3,
1951.)

April 3
A N ation - w id e Strike of 50,000 shipyard workers was
averted when the Industrial Union of Marine & Ship­
building Workers of America (C IO ), at the request of


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

the Government, postponed action for 30 days.
New York Times, Apr. 3, 1951.)

573
(Source:

April 5
T he S ecretary op L abor established a minimum wage of
90 cents an hour in the durable goods branch and 75
cents an hour in the consumable goods branch, of the
dental goods and equipment manufacturing industry,
effective on M ay 11, under provisions of the WalshHealy Public Contracts Act. (Source: Federal Register,
Vol. 16, N o. 70, Apr. 11, 1951, p. 3185.)

April 10
T he A r m y , as operator of the railroads (see Chron. item
for Aug. 27, 1950, M L R Oct. 1950) announced that the
6-cents-an-hour increase provided for by an escalator
clause in the wage agreement reached March 1, 1951 (see
Chron. item for Mar. 1, 1951, M L R Apr. 1951), was in
excess of permitted payments under existing wage stabili­
zation regulations and will be withheld, pending action of
a special wage panel.
(Source: New York Times, Apr.
11, 1951.)

Developments in
Industrial Relations1

P a r t ia l se ttl e m en t of the widespread strike in

the woolen and worsted industry and negotiation
of a contract in the northern cotton and rayon
industry occurred during March 1951. A major
strike followed in the southern branch of the cot­
ton and rayon industry at the beginning of April.
Progress made in separate bargaining negotiations
between the railroads and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen (Ind.) may have a significant
effect on the protracted dispute between the
railroads and the four operating railroad brother­
hoods. Negotiations continued in reconstitution
of the Wage Stabilization Board. The United
Labor Policy Committee agreed to serve on the
National Advisory Board on Mobilization Policy.
Textiles. Contracts negotiated with The Ameri­
can Woolen Co., Botany Mills, Inc., and the
Forstmann Woolen Co., during March brought
partial settlement of the widespread strike in the
industry which began February 16 and made
70,000 workers idle in more than 160 mills, located
mainly in the New England and Middle Atlantic
States. Wage provisions included in the agree­
ments were all subject to Government review and
approval.
On March 16, some 20,000 members of the
Textile Workers Union (CIO), ratified a 1-year
agreement reached by the union and the American
Woolen Co., the industry’s leading firm. This
agreement provided for a wage increase of 12 cents
an hour and a quarterly wage adjustment of 1
cent an hour for each 1.14 change in the Bureau of
Labor Statistics Consumer’s Price Index. Other
provisions called for a 1%-cents-an-hour employer
contribution to improve existing hospitalization
and other insurance benefits; voluntary retire­
ment for employees with 15 years’ service or
574


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

those who reach age 65; and 1 week’s severance
pay for each year of service up to 20.
Agreements were negotiated on March 25 be­
tween the union and Botany Mills, Inc., and the
Forstmann Woolen Co. Both settlements in­
cluded hourly wage increases of 10 cents; quarterly
cost-of-living wage adjustments; and pension and
severance pay benefits. Additional agreements,
covering workers in smaller woolen and worsted
mills, were also negotiated during March but many
mills were still shut down at the month’s end.
A scheduled industry-wide strike was averted
when cotton and rayon mill operators in the New
Bedford-Fall River areas of Massachusetts reached
agreement on March 15, with the Textile Workers
Union (CIO). The contract, which covers some
20 to 30 thousand workers in 25 mills, provides
for a 7%-percent wage increase (10 cents an hour);
quarterly cost-of-living wage adjustments; im­
proved life, sickness, accident, and other insurance
benefits; and severance pay. The 2-year agree­
ment may be reopened March 15, 1952, for general
wage negotiations with a provision for arbitration
in the event no agreement is reached.
Although it was widely anticipated that the
March 15th contract would establish a pattern
for peaceful settlements covering the remainder
of the cotton and rayon industry, a strike by some
40,000 cotton and rayon workers in 40 mills in
six Southern States began on April 1. Major
proposals of the Textile Workers Union (CIO)
were a 12-cent-an-hour wage increase; a minimum
wage rate of $1.14^ per hour; a cost-of-living
escalator clause; sickness and accident insurance
benefits amounting to 60 percent of the weekly
wage; and severance pay.
Prospects for the settlement of the
long-standing dispute over wages and rules changes
between the railroads and four operating railroad
brotherhoods, brightened somewhat during late
March, when the Brotherhood of Railroad Train­
men (Ind.) renewed active bargaining with the
railroads. The union, under pressure from its
membership to conclude a settlement with the
railroads, has been seeking a separate agreement
since February.
On March 21, Senator James E. Murray
(Mont.), chairman of a subcommittee investigat­
ing the controversy, presented to the railroads a
Railroads.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

suggested plan for settlement of the dispute. The
proposed wage provisions were patterned closely
on those included in the memorandum of agree­
ment signed at the White House on December 21,
1950, by the railroads and the four operating
brotherhoods; this agreement was subsequently
rejected by the general chairman of the unions.
However, the new proposal eliminated the pro­
vision in the December agreement, which had
named Presidential aide John R. Steelman, or his
nominee, as arbitrator of disputes over “ details of
agreements or rules” . It also provided for re­
manding the trainmen’s dispute over hose-coupling
rules to individual railroads for further negotia­
tions.
The railroads rejected both nonwage proposals
immediately. However, on March 28, in a state­
ment to the Senate subcommittee, they offered to
accept any person designated by the President to
serve as arbitrator under the December 21 agree­
ment. Two days later, the Brotherhood of Rail­
road Trainmen accepted, with reservations, the
railroads’ arbitration proposal.
Acceptance was made contingent on two de­
mands: The issue of payment for trainmen when
coupling air hoses was to be excluded from arbitra­
tion; and Mr. Steelman was eliminated in the
naming of a Presidential arbitrator. The other
three operating brotherhoods which were also
parties to the December memorandum of agree­
ment rejected the proposal.
On April 6, the President instructed Economic
Stabilization Administrator Eric Johnston to ap­
point an emergency panel which would study the
merits of the wage agreement reached by the
railroads and 15 nonoperating unions on March 1
and make recommendations for disposition of
problems arising out of the agreement.2 The
Army which took over the railroads last August
to avert a strike by trainmen and conductors,
announced on April 10 that it would temporarily
withhold payment of the entire 6-cents-an-hour
cost-of-living increase which had been due on
April 1 under the terms of the agreement. This
decision was made in accordance with a request
by the railroads and the unions that the cost-ofliving wage increase be deferred, pending settle­
ment of the entire escalator-clause problem.
A threatened Nation-wide work
stoppage, scheduled for March 26 by the Amal­

M ea tp a ck in g .


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

575

gamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen
(AFL) and the United Packinghouse Workers
(CIO), was postponed, when tentative wage agree­
ments, reached on February 11, were extended
until May 7. The agreement had specifically
provided that they would become void unless
approved by the Government by March 25.
On March 14, Economic Stabilization Admin­
istrator Eric Johnston refused to approve the
11-cents-an-hour increase provided in the Feb­
ruary agreements. The rejection noted that only
a 3-cents-an-hour increase was permissible under
the Government’s 10-percent Wage Stabilization
Formula; and that increases, exceeding existing
wage limitations, “ can be properly considered
only by a tripartite wage board. . . . Today we
have no board.”
Steel. A gradual shutdown of operations at the
Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp. began at Pitts­
burgh, Pa., on March 10. The company claimed,
that its action was prompted by a slowdown over
wages by members of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen (Ind.) who were employed on the
Monongahela Connecting Railroad (a Jones and
Laughlin subsidiary hauling materials inside its
company’s Pittsburgh mills). The union coun­
tered that the railroad’s rules of operation had
hampered their members in their work. The
railroad has been under Army seizure since Jan­
uary 21, following a work stoppage by trainmen
a day earlier. The stoppage, which idled some
10.000 workers, was terminated on March 22,
when the Army ordered the parties to resume
operations. On the following day, the railroad
and the union agreed on a wage increase of 12 %
cents an hour.
Another stoppage sharply curtailed steel pro­
duction at the Birmingham, Ala., plants of the
Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., and idled
more than 15,000 workers for 2 days in early
March. It began on February 24 when some
4.000 iron ore miners, represented by the United
Steelworkers of America (CIO), struck over a job
reclassification dispute. The stoppage spread on
March 5, when the iron ore miners picketed the
company’s steel mills. On March 7, after receiv­
ing company assurances that jobs would be re­
classified and new pay scales would be instituted,
work was resumed. This company’s operations
were also affected by a walkout of coal miners over

576

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

a seniority grievance. The coal miners, who were
represented by the United Mine Workers (Ind.)
and are employed in the company’s “ captive” coal
mines, resumed work on March 12 and agreed to
settle their differences with the company through
grievance committees.
Rubber. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. agreed
on a company-wide contract with the United Rub­
ber Workers (CIO) at the end of March, thus
averting the threat of a Nation-wide strike by
25,000 workers in Goodyear plants. A union-shop
clause was included. In contrast to the modified
union-shop clause prevailing in contracts with the
other major rubber companies, it “ guarantees com­
plete union security” . Wages were not an issue,
increases having been obtained last autumn.

The Industrial Union of Marine
and Shipbuilding Workers (CIO) averted a Na­
tion-wide strike by 50,000 shipyard workers,
scheduled to begin April 3, when it acceded to
Government requests for a 30-day postponement.
The union had announced on March 18 that the
strike would be called unless the Government
approved the agreement reached with the Bethle­
hem Steel Co. in February (providing for wage
increases ranging from 18% to 31 cents an hour).
The Federal Maritime Administration and the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service had
requested the postponement on March 28. This
request was made in the interest of the defense
program and to permit further consideration of the
union’s demand for approval of the negotiated
wage increase which exceeds existing wage limi­
tations.
Shipbuilding.

Defense Mobilization Policies

Efforts to formulate policies which would in­
duce labor’s representatives to return to defense
agencies from which they had withdrawn on Feb­
ruary 16, continued during March and early
April.
Wage Stabilization Board. On March 16, a com­
promise formula, proposed by Economic Stabili­
zation Administrator, Eric Johnston, for the re­
constitution of the Wage Stabilization Board as a
disputes-settling agency, was rejected by repre­
sentatives of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, the


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

M O N TH LY LABOR

National Association of Manufacturers, and the
Business Advisory Council. Under the plan, the
Wage Stabilization Board was authorized to de­
cide disputes arising over wage-control policies as
well as all disputes, which were referred to it by
the parties jointly, or which were certified by the
President as affecting the defense program. In­
dustry spokesmen opposed granting the Board
authority to decide disputes over noneconomic
issues such as the union shop, seniority, discipli­
nary rules, or other working conditions. They
contended that existing procedures, provided by
law, were generally adequate to handle such con­
troversies. The industry spokesmen, however,
accepted other features of the compromise for­
mula, which provided for enlarging the 9-man
tripartite Wage Stabilization Board to 18 mem­
bers and for the Board’s adoption and adminis­
tration of wage stabilization rules and regulations,
subject to policy review by the Economic Stabili­
zation Administrator.
United Labor P olicy Committee. A Declaration of
Principles, was adopted unanimously on March
21 by some 1,000 State and local labor leaders of
the AFL, CIO, and railroad unions at a meeting
called by the United Labor Policy Committee.
It proposed a completely revised mobilization
program.
The joint meeting— the first of its kind since
the split in the American labor movement in
1935— proposed: Immediate Congressional con­
sideration of a new Defense Production Act to
eliminate defects in the existing law, which expires
June 30, 1951; more effective price control; a more
flexible wage stabilization program, which would
“ honor all existing collective-bargaining agree­
ments, protect basic living standards, allow for
improvements in keeping with technological prog­
ress, and permit adjustments to correct hardships,
inequities, and substandard wage rates.” The
statement of principles also proposed tight rent
controls and reasonably priced defense housing;
taxation in accordance with ability-to-pay; no
Federal sales tax or increased excise taxes; volun­
tary solutions to civilian manpower problems;
and full representation of labor, farmers, small
business, and independent consumer groups in all
mobilization and stabilization agencies at the
policy-making and administrative levels.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

National Advisory Board on M obilization Policy.

President Truman established the National Ad­
visory Board on Mobilization Policy on March 15,
and appointed Charles E. Wilson, Director of the
Office of Defense Mobilization, as its chairman.
The Board is composed of the Chairman and 16
other members representing the general public and
the public interest; in order that the board may
have the benefit of experience in pertinent matters,
four of its members must have had experience in
business management, four in matters relating to
labor, and four in agriculture. The Board, a
counterpart of an agency which functioned during
World War II, will advise the President “ with re­
spect to the current defense mobilization program
or any phase thereof.”
On April 5, following a meeting with President
Truman, the United Labor Policy Committee an­
nounced unanimous agreement to serve on the
National Advisory Board on Mobilization Policy.3
The Committee declared: “ We are hopeful that
this will be the first step toward resolving the
differences between labor and the mobilization
agencies.”
Wage Stabilization Regulations. On March 8, Eric
Johnston, Economic Stabilization Administrator,
issued further regulations on allowable wage
policy. An amendment to General Wage Regula­
tion No. 8 permits cost-of-living wage adjustments
called for in non-collective-bargaining situations
where a written wage or salary plan was formally
determined and communicated to the employees
on or before January 25, 1951. The original
regulation had permitted wage rises in accordance
with such cost-of-living contracts if they were

9 4 1 2 9 8 — 51 -------- 6


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

577

negotiated prior to January 25. The revision also
permits approval of “ escalator” clauses based on
recognized indexes other than the Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ Index.
Regulation No. 9 provides that wage rates in a
company’s new plant shall be based on rates paid
in the company’s existing plant in the same area,
or if none exists, on comparable rates in a compa­
rable industry in the most nearly comparable area.
Regulation No. 10 permits completion of socalled “ tandem” wage adjustments in process
prior to the wage freeze of January 25, but not
completed for all employees normally covered,
before the freeze order was issued. “ Tandem”
adjustments refer, for example, to the established
practice, of an industry or company, of extending
to unorganized “ white collar” employees the same
wage increase granted to organized production
workers.
1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Industrial Relations.
2 Members of the panel named by M r. Johnston are: William M . Leiserson,
former chairman, National Mediation Board; Lloyd K . Garrison, former
chairman, National W ar Labor Board; and Frank M . Swacker, railroad labor
relations authority.
* Members appointed to the Board by President Truman on April 6 are:
P u b lic — William H . Davis, former chairman of the National W ar Labor
Board; John Lord O ’ Brian, former general counsel of the W ar Production
Board; George W . Mead, former member of the National W ar Labor Board;
and Paul A . Porter, former administrator of the Office of Price Administra­
tion and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
L a b o r — William Green, president A F L ; George M eany, secretary-treasurer
A F L ; Philip Murray, president C IO ; and Walter Reuther, president United
Automobile Workers (C IO ).
In d u s tr y — Marion B. Folsom, treasurer, Eastman Kodak Co.; Otto A.
Seyberth, president U . S. Chamber of Commerce; Claude A . Putnam, former
president National Association of Manufacturers; and Samuel A . Smith,
president, Thomas Strahan Co.
A g r ic u ltu r e — R oy B. Wiser, president California Farm Bureau Federa­
tion [replaced Apr. 10 by Robert B. Taylor, Oregon Farm Bureau Federa­
tion]; D . W . Brooks, president National Council of Farmers Cooperatives;
James G. Patton, president National Farmers Union; and Herschel D . N ew son, master of the National Grange.

Publications
of Labor Interest
E ditor ’ s N ote .— Correspondence regarding publications to which
reference is made in this list should be addressed to the respective pub­
lishing agencies mentioned. Data on prices, if readily available, are
shown with the title series.

Special Review
The Law of Labor Relations.

B y Benjamin W erne^ New
York, Macmillan Co., 1951. 471 pp. $5.75.
Mr. Werne presents an extensively footnoted and sharp­
ly delineated description of the powers and procedures of
the National Labor Relations Board and the courts under
the Labor Management Relations [Taft-Hartley] Act of
1947. Rights and duties of management and unions are
also set forth. The book is “ intended to deal systemat­
ically with what is permitted, what is prohibited, and
what is desirable under the statutes, regulations, rulings,
and awards that both direct and limit the processes of
collective bargaining.”
The author has shown the changes made by the TaftHartley Act in the National Labor Relations [Wagner] Act.
Thus, some of the decisions cited are purely historical
and do not represent present policies. For example,
there is discussion of the Maryland Dry Dock and Packard
cases, which arose during the Wagner Act era of the
Board, with respect to supervisory employees. Under
the Labor Management Relations Act, supervisors are
not employees. In addition, early in the volume there
is a reference to the fact that under a closed-shop contract
(now void by the Taft-Hartley Act) the National Labor
Relations Board, under the Wagner Act, accepted less
than a required 30 percent showing of interest to support
a petition for certification of representatives for collective
bargaining. The Board today requires 30 percent showing
regardless of the type of contract involved— whether
maintenance of membership, union shop, or flat ex­
clusive union recognition. M r. Werne points out that in
the event of a petition by an employer no showing is re­
quired of the labor organizations involved.
It is regrettable that the author does not point out
the effect of the Sidran Sportswear decision of the Fifth
Circuit Court (181 F. 2d 671), which indicates that in
consent election agreements regional directors must grant
hearings on challenges or objections to elections if sub­
stantial and material facts are in controversy. It is
unfortunate, too, that the book apparently was sent to
578


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

press too soon for inclusion of the October 1950 decisional
pronouncements of the Board with respect to establishment
of standards which would govern it in the exercise of
jurisdiction under the Labor Management Relations Act.
It is unfortunate because the author states that the Board
will assert jurisdiction usually “ where a substantial num­
ber of employees is involved.” The Board made public
the guides to assertion of jurisdiction in the following
recent cases: WBSR, Inc., 91 N L R B No. 110; Local
Transit Lines, 91 N L R B No. 96; The Borden Company,
91 N L R B No. 109; Stanislaus Implement and Hardware
Co., Ltd., 91 N L R B No. 116; Hollow Tree Lumber Com­
pany, 91 N L R B No. 113; Federal Dairy, Inc., 91 N L R B
No. 107; Dorn’s House of Miracles, Inc., 91 N L R B No.
82; and The Rutledge Paper Products, Inc., 91 N L R B
No. 115.
However, the book will serve as an excellent readyreference check-list, for the busy executive or the labor
representative, as to what is permissible and what is not
in dealings in the labor-relations field. It will also be a
useful guide to the legal researcher into labor problems,
especially in view of the many (2,136) footnote references
documenting the statements made and the Board rulings
and court decisions cited by the author. All in all, it
represents careful planning and carefully annotated,
succinctly stated, propositions of law. It will prove of
great benefit to those who are not too interested in a
detailing of the law. It is a relief, as well, to find a book
on labor relations in which the author has not attempted
to inject a personal philosophy but is content to objectively
state the law as it stands and for whatever use and benefit
the reader may desire to make of it.— Lou is B. B e c k e r .

Benefit Plans
Company Group Insurance Plans.

By F. Beatrice Brower.
New York, National Industrial Conference Board,
Inc., 1951. 70 pp., charts. (Studies in Personnel
Policy, No. 112.) $2.
In addition to the main part of the study, on company
plans, a separate chapter deals with collectively bargained
plans, showing prevalence, unions involved, and kinds of
benefits. A summarization of major provisions of plans
adopted in the first 9 months of 1950 is included.

Employee Benefit Plans in Operation.

By Jay V. Strong.
Washington, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., 1951.
348 pp.
(Report No. 4, Bureau of Industrial Rela­
tions, University of Michigan.) $5.
Comprehensive report, reflecting primarily the views and
experiences of employers, in which major types of em­
ployee-benefit plans are discussed. Includes a chapter on
collective bargaining on welfare plans, as well as appended
statistical material.

Exclusion of Nonunion Members from Employee Benefit
Plans. By Herman A. Gray. (In Industrial and
Labor Relations Review, Ithaca,
1951, pp. 265-268. $1.25.)

N.

Y .,

January

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Cost of Living
Haynes Foundation Budget for Moderate Income Families—
Prices for Los Angeles, September 1950. B y Gloria S.
Goldberg. Los Angeles, Haynes Foundation, 1951.
42 pp., maps. $1.

Rural Family Living Charts.

Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Human Nutrition and
Home Economics, 1950. 92 pp.

Work Time Required to Buy Food, 1937-50.

By Irving B.
Kravis. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1951. 12 pp. (Serial No.
R. 2019; reprinted from Monthly Labor Review,
February 1951.) Free.

This Cost of Living Business.

London, Labor Party, 1951.
23 pp. 3d.
Describes the various aspects of the cost-of-living prob­
lem in Great Britain and outlines some of the solutions
which are being applied or have been suggested.

Education and Training
A Century of Service, 1850-1950, Spring Garden Institute,
Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Spring Garden Institute,
1950. 269 pp., maps, illus.
The Spring Garden Institute was established a hundred
years ago to train wage-earning youth in the practical
sciences and technologies. A t that time, the only organ­
ized instruction of that nature was given in the mechanics’
institutes, such as the Spring Garden Institute. The
volume surveys the changes during the first century of the
Institute, and defines as its continuing objective a pro­
gram of youth training for competency in industry and
effective living as constructive citizens.

Industrial Training for Industrial Mobilization.

Cleve­
land, Ohio, Public Library, Business Information
Bureau, 1951. 4 pp.
(Business Information Sources,
Yol. 22, No. 1.)
10 cents.

Working Together.

New York, National Association of
Manufacturers, Education Department, [1950]. 44
pp., illus.
A manual to assist employers and educators in organiz­
ing and conducting work-study training courses for youth.

Towards a Better Life through Vocational Education.

San
Juan, Puerto Rico, Department of Education, Insular
Board for Vocational Education, 1950. 73 pp., charts,
illus.
Account of vocational education developments in Puerto
Rico under the Federal Smith-Hughes vocational education
law, provisions of which were extended to Puerto Rico in
1931.

Employment and Unemployment
National and International Measures for Full Employment.
{In International Labor Review, Geneva, January
1951, pp. 4 0 -6 3. 50 cents. Distributed in United
States by Washington Branch of ILO.)


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

579

Summary of main points made at eleventh session of
United Nations Economic and Social Council and of its
recommendations.

[Proceedings of] Fourteenth Annual Meeting, Interstate Con­
ference of Employment Security Agencies, Columbus,
Ohio, October 3-6, 1950. Washington (W . R. Curtis,
Executive Secretary, U. S. Department of Labor
Building), 1951. 170 pp.

Employment and Payrolls of Civilian Employees in Hawaii,
1940-194-9. Honolulu, Hawaii Employers Council,
Research Department, 1950.
Publication No. 15.)

19 pp., charts.

(Special

Seasonal Variations in Employment in Canada.

{In Labor
Gazette, Department of Labor, Ottawa, February
1951, pp. 162-168, charts. 10 cents.)

Die Moderne Beschäftigungstheorie und die Gegenwärtige
Arbeitslosigkeit in Westdeutschland. B y Heinz Quante.
{In Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Zeitschrift des In­
stituts für Weltwirtschaft an der Universität Kiel,
Band 65, Heft 2, 1950, pp. 283-303.)
Discussion of the Keynesian employment theory and
its application to the present unemployment situation in
Western Germany.

Handicapped
Annual Report of Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Fed­
eral Security Agency, [Fiscal Year Ended June SO,
1950]. Washington, 1951. 18 pp., map, charts. 15
cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

A Comparative Study of Personality Factors in Blind, Other
Handicapped, and Non-Handicapped Individuals. By
Mary K . Bauman. Washington, Federal Security
Agency, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1950. 7
pp.; processed. (Rehabilitation Service Series, No.
134.)

Medicolegal and Social Problems in Permanent Disability
Cases. By Ashley St. Clair. {In Industrial Medicine
and Surgery, Chicago, March 1951, pp. 109-112. 75
cents.)
Emphasizes the need for the physical and vocational
rehabilitation of permanently disabled workers, evaluates
provisions of existing workmen’s compensation and reha­
bilitation legislation and programs, and makes recom­
mendations.

Present-Day Problems of Rehabilitation. By H . A. de
Boer. {In Bulletin of International Social Security
Association, Geneva, December 1950, pp. 1-15.)
The ILO medical adviser on rehabilitation discusses
both physical and vocational rehabilitation of the handi­
capped and their placement in suitable employment. He
also includes pertinent recommendations of International
Labor Conferences.

Rehabilitation of the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.

Wash­
ington, Federal Security Agency, Office of Voca­
tional Rehabilitation, 1950. 105 pp. (Rehabilita­
tion Service Series, N o. 117.)

580

M O N TH L Y LABOR

p u b l ic a t io n s o f l a b o r in t e r e s t

Selection of papers presented at the first Institute for
Special Workers for the Aural Disabled, Washington,
November 28-D ecem ber 2, 1949.

Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

Washington, United Mine
Workers of America, Welfare and Retirement Fund,
[1951]. 28 pp., illus.
Account of the pioneering experience of the United
Mine Workers of America, through its Welfare and Re­
tirement Fund, in restoring badly injured coal-miners to
self-support by means of expert medical care and voca­
tional rehabilitation.

The Short-Circuiting Contactor as an Electrical Protective
Device for Coal Mine Service. By L. H . Harrison.
Washington, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Mines, 1951. 11 pp., diagrams, illus.; processed.
(Report of Investigations, No. 4759.)

Woodworking Machinery— A Comparison of State Safety
Codes with A. S. A. [American Standards Association]
Code 01.1. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Standards, 1950.
rate chart.

28 pp. and sepa­

Industrial Hygiene
Housing and Rents
Residential Mortgage and Construction Financing, Hagers­
town, Maryland. College Park, University of Mary­
land, Bureau of Business and Economic Research,
1951. 33 pp., charts.
(Studies in Business and
Economics, Vol. IV , No. 4.)

Rent Control Plan and Proposed Rent and Eviction Regu­
lations [for New York], New York, Temporary State
Housing Rent Commission, 1951. 203 pp., charts.
Contains in addition to the rent-control plan a statistical
summary of the activities of the Commission for the period
M ay 1 to November 30, 1950, and other relevant data.

Survey of Residential Rents and Rental Conditions in the
State of New York. New York, Temporary State
Housing Rent
charts.

Commission,

1950.

365 pp.,

map,

Perspectives Relatives aux Besoins de Logements. By Louis
Henry.
(In Population, Institut National d’Études
Démographiques, Paris, July-September 1950, pp.
493-512.)
Estimates French housing construction needs in the
1950-80 period under various hypotheses of demographic
trends.

Income
Survey of Incomes in the Legal Profession in Canada, 194-6,
1947, and 1948. Ottawa, Dominion Bureau of
Statistics, 1950. 13 pp.
1950, No. 9.) 25 cents.

(D. B. S. Reference Papers,

The Leveling of Incomes [in Great Britain]. By Dudley
Seers.
(In Bulletin of Oxford University Institute of
Statistics, Oxford, England, October 1950, pp. 2 7 1 293. 3s. 6d.)

Industrial Accidents and Accident Prevention
Injuries to Crewmen on Inland Waterways— An Analysis
of Hazards and Injury Rates. Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1951. 25 pp., chart.
(Special Series, No. 5.) 20
cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Estimating Industrial Accident Costs. By Rollin HSimonds.
(In Harvard Business Review, Boston,
January 1951, pp. 107-118.


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

$1.50.)

A Report of Dental Health Studies in 19 Selected Industries.
By Edward R. Aston.
(In Industrial Medicine and
Surgery,
cents.)

Chicago,

February

1951,

pp.

74-7 8.

75

Outlines of Researches on Silicosis in Japan. Program of
Preventive Measures Against Silicosis in Japan.
[Tokyo?], Ministry of Labor, [1950?].
respectively; processed.

7 and 3 pp.,

Industrial Relations
Absenteeism: Methods for Control of Absenteeism and
Analysis of Absenteeism Clauses in Ohio CollectiveBargaining Contracts. By Alton W . Baker. Colum­
bus, Ohio State University, Bureau of Business
Research, 1950. 19 pp., bibliography. (Research
Monograph No. 58.)

Cost of Living Provisions in Union Contracts.

By James J.
Bambrick, Jr., and Harold Stieglitz. New York,
National Industrial Conference Board, Inc., 1951.
64 pp., charts.
(Studies in Personnel Policy, No.
113.) $2.

Discusses key questions faced by management and union
negotiators in formulating cost-of-living provisions for
adjusting wages under collective agreements. Describes
various types of escalator plans, and presents case studies
of 14 companies’ experience with such plans.

Holiday Provisions in Union Agreements, 1950.

By Irving
Rubenstein and Rose Theodore. Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1951. 4 pp., charts.
(Serial No. R. 2021; reprinted
from Monthly Labor Review, January 1951.) Free.

Industry-Wide Collective Bargaining— Promise or Menace?
Edited by Colston E. Warne.
and Co., 1950. 113 pp.

Boston, D . C. Heath

Readings selected by Department of American Studies,
Amherst College.

Labor Relations Work Kit.

Edited by Lawrence Stessin
and others. New London, Conn., National Foremen’s
Institute, Inc., 1950. 224 pp., charts, forms, illus.
$7.50.

Compilation of management methods and techniques
which are said to have proved successful in dealing with

REVIEW, MAY 1951

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

labor-relations problems. Absenteeism, tardiness, safety,
increased productivity, in-plant feeding, etc., are among
the subjects discussed.

Railroad Labor Disputes and the National Railroad Adjust­
ment Board. (In University of Chicago Law Review,
Chicago, Winter 1951, pp. 303-321. $1.75.)
An extensively documented discussion of several recent
decisions of the N R A B .

Strike Strategy.

By John Steuben. New York, Gaer
Associates, Inc., 1950. 320 pp., bibliography. $3.

Industrial Relations and Government Policy. By Stuart
Jamieson. (In Canadian Journal of Economics and
Political Science, Toronto, February 1951, pp.
2 5 -3 8 . $1.)
Comparative study of governmental policy toward
labor-management relations in Canada and the United
States.
Stresses argument that economic aspects have
been overemphasized in both countries, to exclusion of
socio-political motivations.
Indicates importance of
insecurity on the union side as a leading force tending
toward unstable relationships.

Labor-Management Relations, Great Britain, France,
Sweden. Chicago, Research Council for Economic
Security, 1951.
21 pp., bibliographical footnotes.
(Publication No. 79; Studies in Social Security
Abroad.)
Single copies free.

Labor and Social Legislation
Why the Taft-Hartley Lawf

By Irving G. McCann.
New York (205 East 42d Street), Committee for
Constitutional Government, Inc., 1950. 288 pp. $1.

Threat of the Walsh-Healey Act.

By Gerard D . Reilly,
Reuben S. Haslam, Rudolf Modley.
(In Harvard
Business Review, Boston, January 1951, pp. 86-98.
$1.50.)
Discusses the possibility that Walsh-Healey Public
Contracts Act determinations may become an inflationary
factor, and that employers may find themselves compelled
to conform to these standards without having sought
government contracts voluntarily.

1949-1950 Survey of New York Law.

(In New York
University Law Review, New York, December 1950,
pp. 955-1304.)

A 29-page section reviews the action of New York
courts in labor cases in fields which, the author states, have
been “ virtually neglected in other jurisdictions:
the
internal administration of labor unions and the relationship
between the conventional courts and the institution of
labor arbitration.” A 12-page section deals with workmen’s
accident compensation.

Labor Laws and Mining Laws of Virginia.
Department of Labor and Industry, 1950.

[Richmond],
107 pp.

Labor Legislation and Social Service in Iceland. Reykjavik,
Ministry of Social Affairs, 1949.


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

101 pp., maps, illus.

581

La Constitution Italienne de 1948.

Paris, Librairie Armand
Colin, 1950. xvii, 273 pp.
(Cahiers de la Fondation
Nationale des Sciences Politiques, 18.)

Labor Organization
Conventions of the AFL and CIO in 1950.

By Nelson M .
Bortz. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1951. 9 pp.
(Serial No.
R. 2024; reprinted from Monthly Labor Review, N o­
vember 1950, January 1951.) Free.

Proceedings of the Twelfth Constitutional Convention of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations, November 20-24,
1950, Chicago, III. [Washington], Congress of Indus­
trial Organizations, [1951?].

527 pp.

$2.

Unions in the Community.

Minneapolis, University of
Minnesota, Industrial Relations Center, 1950. 57
pp.; processed.
(Mimeographed Release No. 4.)
Proceedings of conference held February 15 and 16, 1950,
at Center for Continuation Study, University of Minne­
sota.

Tenure of Leadership in the American Flint Glass Workers’
Union. B y H . Ellsworth Steele. (In Quarterly
Journal of Economics, Cambridge, Mass., February
1951, pp. 130-137. $1.25.)

Organizagào Sindical, [ Brazil, 1940-48].

Rio de Janeiro,
Ministério do Trabalho, Industria e Comércio, Servigo
de Estatistica da Previdéncia e Trabalho, 1949. 47
pp., charts.

Report of the Proceedings of the Sixty-Fifth Annual Convention
of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, Held at
Montreal, Quebec, September 11-16, 1950. [Ottawa?],
Trades and Labor Congress, [1950?].

468 pp.

Industrial Unionism—A Critical Analysis.

By J. D . M .
Bell. Glasgow, University of Glasgow, Department
of Economic and Social Research, 1949. 28 pp.
(Occasional Papers, II.)
2s.
Discusses the philosophy of industrial unionism in
Britain. Shows that in practice unions of the industrial
type have been less successful than the “ general” unions
(in particular the Transport and General Workers Union
and the General and Municipal Workers Union). Argues
for strengthening the Trades Union Congress, modern
counterpart of the “ one big union” idea.

Medical Care and Sickness Insurance
Benefits and Costs of Individual and Family Health Insurance
Policies. By Benjamin B. Kendrick and A. L.
Kirkpatrick. (In American
Economic Security,
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Washing­
ton, January-February 1951, pp. 17-32.)
Based on a questionnaire inquiry by the Chamber of
Commerce.

Costs of Hospitalized Acute Illness. By Theodore Wiprud
and Isidore Altman.
(In Journal of American

582

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Medical Association, Chicago, November 4, 1950,
pp. 835-839. 35 cents.)
Study on costs of hospitalized illness of 1,796 persons
in Washington, D . C., during late 1949 and early 1950;
relation of costs to family income; division of costs among
hospital, physician, and other services; and degree to
which prepayment service plans and insurance helped
members to meet the costs.

Medical Care Insurance: Lessons from Voluntary and
Compulsory Plans. By Franz Goldmann, M .D . (In
American Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s
Health, New York, January 1951, pp. 20-26. 70
cents.)

A Survey of Accident and Health Coverage in the United
States, as of December 31, 1949. New York (165
Broadway), Health Insurance Council, 1950.
chart.

14 pp.,

Temporary Disability Insurance.

By L. V. Howard.
[Baton Rouge], Louisiana Department of Labor,
Division of Employment Security, 1950. 21 pp.;
processed.
The situation with respect to temporary disability
insurance legislation in the United States is summarized
with reference to applicability of such legislation to the
State of Louisiana.

Trends in Group and Social Insurance. By E. B. W hit­
taker.
(In Insurance Series, No. 88, American

M O N TH L Y LAB O R

are responsible for the selection of new employees, this
book gives minimum essentials of knowledge about the
various phases of employee selection. Sample test forms,
personnel forms, and charts illustrating various aspects of
personnel measurement and administration are included.

Productivity
The Facts about Hours of Work vs. Output.

New York,
McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., Inc., 1951. 6 pp. 25
cents. (Reprinted from Factory Management and
Maintenance, February 1951, pp. 68-73.)
In this article Max D . Kossoris, regional director of the
San Francisco office of the U. S. Department of Labor’s
Bureau of Labor Statistics, answers a series of questions
asked by a representative of McGraw-Hill.
Mr. Kossoris sees little loss in efficiency when working
hours are increased from 40 to 48 a week, but beyond that
limit, he states, production may rise at the cost of hourly
productivity, higher absenteeism, greater fatigue, and
increased accidents.

Methods of Labor Productivity Statistics.

Geneva, Inter­
national Labor Office, 1951. 136 pp., bibliography.
(Studies and Reports, New Series, No. 18.) 75 cents.
Distributed in United States by Washington Branch
of ILO .
Report prepared for Seventh International Conference
of Labor Statisticians, Geneva, September 1949.

Management Association, New York, 1951, pp. 34-44.
$1 to members, $1.25 to nonmembers of Association.)
A life-insurance executive discusses present-day inade­
quacies in group-insurance programs as to hospitalization
and medical benefits and makes recommendations.

Proceedings of a Conference on Productivity, December 6,
1950, Eau Claire, Wis. Madison, University of

Benefits and Contributions under National Compulsory
Health Insurance Programs. (In Social Security Bul­

Productivity, Supervision, and Morale in an Office Situation,
Part I. By Daniel Katz, Nathan Maccoby, Nancy

letin, Federal Security Agency, Social Security Ad­
ministration, Washington, January 1951, pp. 17-21,
29. 20 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Wash­
ington.)

C. Morse. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, In­
stitute for Social Research, 1950. 84 pp.
Summarized in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review
(p. 564).

Wisconsin, Industrial Relations Center, and Eau
Claire School of Vocational and Adult Education,
[1951?]. 42 pp.; processed.

Brief account of programs in 37 foreign countries in
1950, with summary of coverage, medical and cash benefits,
and financing.

Productivity Measurement in British Industry.

Personnel Management

Social Security

Public Personnel Administration.

Toward Worker Security.

By William E. Mosher,
J. Donald Kingsley, O. Glenn Stahl. New York,
Harper & Brothers, 1950. 652 pp., bibliography.
3d ed. $6.50.

Report of the First Seminar on Public Personnel Manage­
ment, United Nations, [January 1951]. [New York?],
United Nations, 1951.

13 pp.; processed.

London
and New York, Anglo-American Council on Pro­
ductivity, 1950. 38 pp., charts. 2s.

Washington, Chamber of Com­
merce of the United States, [1951]. 17 pp. 25 cents.

Outlines a perceptive role for management and the
business community in general with respect to funda­
mental needs of workers and current security programs.
Indicates specific gaps in major fields and outlines steps
that should be taken to bridge the gaps.

Conclusions on various aspects of public personnel
management considered at the seminar.

Your Social Security Benefits, if You Are Engaged in Work
Covered by the Social Security Act. New York, Com­

Selecting and Inducting Employees: A Handbook of Tested
Procedures. By George D . Halsey. New York,

modity Research Bureau, Inc., Industrial Relations
Institute, 1950. 32 pp. 25 cents.

Harper & Brothers,
forms, illus. $4.50.

361 pp., bibliography,

Age and Insurance Status of Railroad Employees, 1948.
(In Monthly Review, U. S. Railroad Retirement

Intended primarily as a handbook for executives who

Board, Chicago, December 1950, pp. 222-228, charts.)


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

1951.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Social Welfare in Egypt. [Cairo?], Ministry of Social
Affairs, 1950. 173 pp., chart, illus.
La Sécurité Sociale en France. Paris, [Ministère du Tra­
vail, Direction Générale de la Sécurité Sociale, 1950?].
47 pp., illus. (La Documentation Française Illustrée
No. 35.)
The Protection of Working Mothers in Italy. (In Industry
and Labor, International Labor Office, Geneva,
March 1, 1951, pp. 191-194. 25 cents. Distributed
in United States by Washington Branch of ILO.)

Unemployment Insurance
Dependents’ Allowances under State Unemployment In­
surance Laws. By Olga S. Halsey. (In Social Security
Bulletin, Federal Security Agency, Social Security
Administration, Washington, February 1951, pp. 3 -9 .
20 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.)
Sickness Beneficiaries in 1949—50. (In Monthly Review,
U. S. Railroad Retirement Board, Chicago, January
1951, pp. 13-17, chart.)
Covers beneficiaries receiving payments under the
Federal railroad unemployment compensation system.
Report of the Governor’s Committee on Unemployment Com­
pensation, M a y 10, 1950. [Hartford?], Conn., 1950.
21 pp.; processed.
Report of the New York State Advisory Council on Placement
and Unemployment Insurance for the Year 1950. New
York (1440 Broadway), 1951. 27 pp. and appendixes;
processed.
Reviews operations in employment placement and un­
employment insurance in New York State for 1950,
discusses aspects of financing unemployment insurance,
and makes legislative recommendations.

Wages and Hours of Labor
General Wage Increases in Manufacturing, 1948-1950.
By Thomas A. Fitzgerald.
New York, National
Industrial Conference Board, Inc., 1951.
20 pp.
(Studies in Labor Statistics, N o. 5.) $1.
Covers both production and clerical workers.

583

of compensation plans, relation between compensation
and job characteristics, labor turn-over, social security,
pensions, and unionization.
Teachers’ Salary Schedules in 107 School Systems in Cities
Over 100,000 in Population, 1950-51. Washington,
National Education Association, American Associa­
tion of School Administrators and Research Division,
1951. 31 p p .; processed.
(Educational Research
Service Circular No. 2.)
Is a Theory of Wages Possible? By Frederic Meyers. (In
Southern Economic Journal, Chapel Hill, N . C.,
January 1951, pp. 318-329. $1.25.)
The author thinks that “ a wage theory as a special case
of a general theory of prices is not possible.” He accepts
the view that unions and businesses are fundamentally
“ political” institutions concerned with survival and ex­
pansion. Collective bargaining between the two types of
institutions is viewed as in essence not the sale of labor
but the joint making of business decisions; and wage
analysis, it is held, should be undertaken in the framework
of the institutional structure of unions and management
and of the purposes of collective bargaining, which are
rarely limited to wage changes.
Postwar Wage Determination in the Basic Steel Industry.
Wage-Price Relations in the Basic Steel Industry in the
Postwar Period. By Albert Rees. Chicago, Univer­
sity of Chicago, Industrial Relations Center, [1950?].
24 and 19 pp., respectively; processed.
Pressures on Wage Decisions— A Case Study in the Shoe
Industry. B y George P. Shultz. Cambridge, M as­
sachusetts Institute of Technology; New York,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1951. 142 pp. $3.
A study of the interaction of “ impersonal market
forces” and “ human decisions” in the determination of
wages in factories making men’s shoes in the Brockton,
Mass., area. The report indicates the importance of
“ human decisions” even in an area in which wage policy
is limited by the competitive nature and geographical
mobility of shoe manufacturing, by the incomplete union­
ization of the industry, and by the somewhat loose organi­
zation of the bargaining agencies of both workers and
management.

South Carolina Wage and Hour Trends in Manufacturing,
January 1949—November 1950.
Columbia, South
Carolina Employment Security Commission, 1951.
8 pp.; processed. (Hours and Earnings Bull. N o. 1.)

Union Wages & Labor’s Earnings. By Sidney C. Sufrin.
Syracuse, N . Y ., Syracuse University Press, 1950.
98 pp., bibliography, charts. $1, paper; $1.50, boards.

Survey of Salesmen’s Compensation. By Harry R. Tosdal
and Waller Carson, Jr. New York, National Sales
Executives, Inc., 1951. 73 pp. and questionnaire.
$2 ($1.25 to members of N SE ).

W age"" Stabilization Problems— Supervisory Development
Techniques. New York, American Management
Association, 1951. 32 pp. (Production Series, No.
196.) $1 to members, $1.25 to nonmembers of
Association.

Summary of questionnaire survey conducted jointly by
Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard
University, and National Sales Executives, Inc., covering
over 92,000 persons employed as outside salesmen. The
report deals with such subjects as levels of earnings, types

Coal and Metal Mining Industry, [Canada]: Wages, Hours
and Working Conditions, October 1949. (In Labor
Gazette, Department of Labor, Ottawa, March 1951,
pp. 384-395, charts. 10 cents.)


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

584

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Leather
Products Industry, [Canada], October 1949. {In Labor
Gazette, Department of Labor,
1951, pp. 93 -9 8. 10 cents.)

Ottawa,

January

Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Labor, [Great Britain],
October 1, I960. London, Ministry of Labor and
National Service, 1950. 199 pp.
Stationery Office, London.

4s. 6d. net, H . M .

Economics of American Industry.

By E. B. Alderfer and
H . E. Michl. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Inc., 1950. 716 pp., bibliography, charts, illus. 2d
ed. $5.50.

The authors emphasize historical development, tech­
nology, locational shifts, and the place of each industry in
the national economy. Somewhat incidental attention
is given to unionism, wages, and other labor questions.

Economics of Labor Relations.

Women in Industry
1950 Handbook of Facts on Women Workers.

Washington,
U. S. Department of Labor, W om en’s Bureau, 1950.
106 pp., bibliography, charts. (Bull. No. 237.) 30
cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Occupational Planning for College Women.

Columbia,
M o., Stephens College, Board on Occupations, 1950.
Variously paged, illus. Rev. ed.
The “ occupational plan sheets” which make up the
major part of this manual were developed for use in the
occupational counseling program of Stephens College.
Each sheet is on a different occupation and gives informa­
tion on such points as nature of the work, opportunities
for employment, salary, institutions providing postgrad­
uate training, and suggested readings. The introduction
contains a detailed description of the college’s occupa­
tional counseling program.

State Laws of Special Value to Women.

Washington,
U . S. Department of Labor, W om en’s Bureau, Jan­
uary 1, 1951. 49 pp.; processed. Free.

Womanpower in Mobilization.

By Roma K . McNickle.
Washington (1205 19th Street N W .), Editorial Re­
search Reports, 1951, 17 pp. (Vol. I, 1951, No. 3.)
$ 1.

Miscellaneous
Business Cycles and National Income.

By Alvin H . Han­
sen. New York, W . W . Norton & Co., Inc., 1951.
639 pp., bibliography, charts. $6.75.
A study of business fluctuations, especially since 1872;
a summary of theories of the business cycle; and a discus­
sion of public policy, with emphasis on questions of income
and employment. A chapter is given to the President’s
economic report to Congress at the beginning of each regu­
lar session, a report described as “ the most important
economic document of our times.”


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

Chicago,
$6.65.

Richard

D.

Irwin,

By Frederic
Inc., 1951.

Meyers.
435 pp.

The author rejects traditional theories of wages such as
marginal productivity and even the bargaining theory,
and attempts “ an orderly analysis of the whole employ­
ment relationship, of which wages are only a part.” The
central theme of the volume is described as “ the making of
decisions in the labor market and by labor institutions.”

Economics of National Security.

Edited by George A.
Lincoln, William S. Stone, Thomas H . Harvey. New
York, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1950. 601 pp., charts.
This book is the joint product of 13 members of the
Department of Social Sciences at the U. S. Military Acade­
my, W est Point. Currently the Academy is giving heavy
emphasis to training for leadership, both for war and for peace­
time service. The authors present 12 chapters on various
aspects of “ security economics” , examining in detail the
economic basis of national security. Significant chapters
are devoted to manpower, industrial mobilization, and
stabilization of the civilian economy. Each chapter is
ended with a series of topics for discussion and a list of
references for further study; there is also a concise sum­
mary of most chapters.

Universal Military Training and the Problem of Military
Manpower. By S. Arthur Devan. Washington*
Library of Congress, Legislative Reference Service,
1951. 70 pp.; processed. (Public Affairs Bull. No.
90.) 55 cents, Library of Congress, Card Division.
Appended to the bulletin is a “ Statistical summary on
whether there is need to draft 18-year olds,” by Ernest
S. Griffith.

El Empleo y la Población Activa de Cuba.

By Hugo Vivó.
Habana, Asociación Nacional de Industriales de Cuba,
1950. 88 pp., charts.

Manual para el Establecimiento de “Institutos de Trabajo.”
Washington, Pan American Union, Division of Labor
and Social Information, 1950. 17 pp., illus.; proc­
essed. (Serie sobre Educación Obrera, N o. 3.)

A

Current Labor Statistics
•>

A .— Employment and Payrolls
587
588
592
594
595
596

597

Table A -l : Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours
worked, and sex
Table A-2 : Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division
and group
Table A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries
Table A -4 : Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in
manufacturing industries
Table A-5 : Federal civilian employment and payrolls, by branch and agency group
Table A-6 : Federal civilian payrolls by branch and agency group 1
Table A-7 : Civilian Government employment and payrolls in Washington, D. C.,
by branch and agency group
Table A-8 : Personnel and pay of the military branch of the Federal Government2
Table A-9 : Employees in nonagricultural establishments for selected States 3
Table A-10: Employees in manufacturing industries, by States 3
Table A -l 1 : Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance pro­
grams, by geographic division and State

B.— Labor Turn-Over
598

Table B -l

599

Table B-2

Monthly labor turn-over rates (per 100 employees) in manufacturing
industries, by class of turn-over
Monthly labor turn-over rates (per 100 employees) in selected groups
and industries

C.— Earnings and Hours
Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees
C -2: Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1939 dollars
C-3 : Gross and net spendable average weekly earnings of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1939 dollars
C -4: Average hourly earnings, gross and exclusive of overtime, of produc­
tion workers in manufacturing industries
C -5: Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas 3

601

Table C -l :

616

Table

617

Table

617

Table
Table

1 Beginning with the January 1951 issue payroll data in table A -6 have been combined with table A -5 .
a Beginning with September 1950 issue, omitted for security reasons.
* This table is included quarterly in the March, June, September, and December issues of the Review.


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

585

CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

586

MONTHLY LABOR

D .— Prices and Cost of Living
618

Table D - l :

619

Table D -2

620

Table D -3 :

621
622
623
624

Table
Table
Table
Table

625

Table D -8 :

D -4 :
D -5 :
D -6 :
D -7 :

Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families in large cities, bygroup of commodities
Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city, for
selected periods
Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city and
group of commodities
Indexes of retail prices of foods, by group, for selected periods
Indexes of retail prices of foods, by city
Average retail prices and indexes of selected foods
Indexes of wholesale prices, by group of commodities, for selected
periods
Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities

E.— Work Stoppages
626

Table E - l :

Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes

F.— Building and Construction
627
628

Table F - l
Table F-2

629

Table F-3

630

Table F-4

631

Table F-5


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

Expenditures for new construction
Value of contracts awarded and force account work started on federally
financed new construction, by type of construction
Urban building authorized, by principal class of construction and by
type of building
New nonresidential building authorized in all urban places, by general
type and by geographic division
Number and construction cost of new permanent nonfarm dwelling
units started, by urban or rural location, and by source of funds

587

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, MAY 1951

A : Employment and Payrolls
T

a b le

A - l : Estimated Total Labor Force Classified by Employment Status, Hours Worked, and Sex
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over 1 (in thousands)
1950

1951

Labor force
M ar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.2

Oct.

Sept.2

M ay

Apr.

M ar.

66,177

64,108

63,513

63,021

64, 866
3,384
1,629
664
181
474
439
61, 482
52,436
43,117
5,153
1,843
2,323
9,046
6,975
1,739
246
88

62, 788
3,057
1,130
634
252
559
481
59, 731
51, 669
43,033
5,149
1,949
1,537
8,062
5,970
1, 613
292
187

62,183
3, 515
1,130
686
521
705
475
58, 668
51, 473
41,143
6, 552
2,183
1,597
7,195
5,125
1,503
313
250

61,675
4,123
1,229
1,143
580
722
449
57, 551
50,877
41,334
5,715
2,102
1,725
6, 675
4, 551
1, 575
255
295

July 2

June

65, 742

64,867
2,500
1,051
679
221
266
285
62, 367
54,207
43, 835
4, 583
1,545
4,246
8,160
6,170
1,475
295
223

64,427
3, 213
1, 514
754
249
334
361
61, 214
52, 774
25,072
19, 201
1, 650
6, 852
8,440
6,348
1,695
238
158

Aug.

Total, both sexes

Total labor force 3. ............................................
Civilian labor force............ .................. ...........
Unem ploym ent................................. —
Unemployed 4 weeks or less-------Unemployed 5-10 weeks-------------Unemployed 11-14 weeks------------Unemployed 15-26 weeks------------Unemployed over 26 weeks........ ..
Em ploym ent________________ ________ _
N onagricultural.................................
Worked 35 hours or more____
Worked 15-34 hours_________
Worked 1-14 hours *-------------W ith a job but not at work 6.
Agricultural........... ........... .............
Worked 35 hours or more____
Worked 15-34 hours_________
Worked 1-14 hours 5_________
W ith a job but not at work 9

(4)
62,325
2,147
' 966
502
215
298
167
60,179
53,785
44, 053
5,476
2,311
1,945
6, 393
4,412
1,418
268
297

(*)
61, 313
2,407
1,039
' 640
276
241
213
58,905
52,976
42,911
5,806
2,236
2 ,022
5, 930
3j 790
i; 4i5
370
353

(*>
61, 514
2, 503
1,184
677
208
251
183
59,010
52, 993
43,505
5,561
2,251
1,676
6,018
3,895
1,467
308
348

64,674
62, 538
2,229
1,153
498
167
217
194
60,308
54,075
44,177
6,002
2,319
1, 577
6,234
3,983
1,505
348
399

65,453
63, 512
2,240
1,240
475
147
175
204
61,271
53, 721
43, 546
6,417
2,331
1, 427
7,551
5,487
1,594
306
163

65,438
63,704
1, 940
955
420
128
183
257
61, 764
53, 273
42, 720
7,023
1, 999
1,531
8,491
6, 547
1,611
245
88

65,020
63, 567
2,341
1,107
464
201
272
299
61, 226
53, 415
28,042
20, 827
1,984
2, 561
7, 811
5,259
2,028
356
170

66, 204

Males

Total labor force3..............................................
Civilian labor force...........................................
U nemploy m ent........................................
E m p lo y m en t......................................... .
N onagricultural---------------------------Worked 35 hours or more____
W orked 15-34 hours_________
Worked 1-14 hours 5_ .............
W ith a job but not at work 6.
Agricultural...... ..................... ............
Worked 35 hours or more-----Worked 15-34 hours..................
Worked 1-14 hours 9_________
W ith a job but not at work 9.

«
43,379
1,277
42j 102
36j 463
3i; 346
2, 877
975
1,265
5,639
4,226
'939
220
255

«
42,894
1, 594
41,300
35', 980
30,284
3,355
984
1,357
5, 320
3, 644
1,077
'300
298

(<)

45,644

45, 934

45, 978

46,155

47,132

47,000

46, 718

45, 614

45, 429

45,204

43,093
1,659
4L 433
36,072
31,054
2,947
961
1,110
5,362
3,724
L 066
'253
319

43, 535
1,459
42,076
36, 585
31, 308
3,217
998
1,062
5,491
3,751
1,134
268
338

44,019
1,309
42, 710
36, 554
31,175
3,447
980
952
6,156
4, 982
842
200
133

44, 268
1,172
43,096
36, 507
30,826
3,823
800
1,058
6,589
5,605
756
146
82

44, 726
1,482
43, 244
36,877
21,103
13, 273
817
1,683
6,367
4,875
1,131
219
143

45,818
1,664
44,154
37,455
31,800
2, 508
654
2,494
6,699
5, 573
764
181
183

45, 708
2,126
43, 582
36, 605
18, 905
12, 762
732
4,207
6, 977
5,789
899
162
126

45, 429
2,200
43,229
36,216
31, 523
2,605
756
1,332
7,013
6,031
743
162
78

44,316
2,130
42,186
35, 597
30,860
2,829
874
1,034
6, 589
5,339
895
186
170

44,120
2, 628
41,492
35, 220
29, 722
3,483
999
1,017
6,272
4,891
925
251
205

43,879
3,002
40,877
34,890
29, 562
3,156
958
1,214
5,987
4,380
1,146
188
274

19,072

18, 742

19, 459

18,494

18,084

17,817

19, 437
1,184
18, 253
16, 220
11, 594
2,548
1,087
991
2,033
944
996
84
10

18,472
927
17, 545
16,072
12,173
2,320
1,075
503
1,473
631
718
106
17

18,063
887
17,176
16, 253
11, 421
3,069
1,184
580
923
234
578
67
45

17,796
1,121
16,674
15, 987
11,772
2, 559
1,144
511
688
171
429
67
21

Females

Total labor force3. ............. ........................
Civilian labor force_____________________
Unemployment_____________________
Employment__________________ ____
N onagricultural.................... ..........
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours..............
Worked 1-14 hours _________
With a job but not at work 6.
Agricultural---- ---------- ---------------Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours.............. .
Worked 1-14 hours ________
With a job but not at work 9.

3

5

0)
18,946
'870
18,077
17,322
12; 707
2,599
i; 336
'680
754
186
479
48
42

(«)
18, 419
813
17,605
16, 996
12, 627
2, 451
1,252
'665
610
146
338
70
55

«
18, 421
844
17, 577
16,921
12,451
2, 614
1,290
' 566
656
171
401
55
29

19,030
19,003
770
18,232
17,490
12,869
2,785
1,321
515
743
232
371
80
61

1 Estimates are subject to sampling variation which m ay be large in cases
where the quantities shown are relatively small. Therefore, the smaller
estimates should be used with caution. A ll data exclude persons in institu­
tions. Because of rounding, the individual figures do not necessarily add
to group totals.
2 Census survey week contains legal holiday.
8 Total labor force consists of the civilian labor force and the Armed Forces.
4 Beginning with January 1951, data on net strength of the Armed Forces
and total labor force are not available.


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

19, 519
19, 493
931
18, 561
17,167
12,371
2, 970
1,351
475
1, 395
505
752
106
30

19,460
19,436
768
18, 668
16, 766
11,894
3,200
1,199
473
1,902
942
855
99
6

18,865
18, 841
859
17,982
16, 538
6,939
7, 554
1,167
878
1,444
384
897
137
27

19,049
836
18, 213
16, 752
12,035
2,075
891
1,752
1,461
597
711
114
40

18, 719
1,087
17, 632
16,169
6,167
6,439
918
2, 645
1,463
559
796
76
32

9 Excludes persons engaged only in incidental unpaid family work (less than
15 hours) ; these persons are classified as not in the labor force.
6 Includes persons who had a job or business, but who did not work during
the census week because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute or
because of temporary lay-off with definite instructions to return to work
within 30 days of lay-off. Does not include unpaid family workers.
Source: U . S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

588

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A -2 : Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1
[In thousands!

1951

Annual
average

1950

Industry group and industry
M ar.

Feb.

Jan.

Total employees...................................................

45, 786

45,39f

Mining--------------------- ------------------------------------M etal---------------------------------- -----------------Iron................................. - ...............................
Copper................... — ................................... .
Lead and zinc.................................................

929
106.0

Anthracite------------------------------------------------Bituminous-coal__________________________

396.0

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

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

45, 244 46, 595 45,873

45,898

45, 684 45,080

Dec.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

M ar.

44,096

43,945

43,311

42,920

42,295 44,124

922
103.3
36.6

946
101.8
36.1
28. (
20.0

94C
99.
35.'
27.9
19.2

939
98.5
33.8
28.0
19.1

1950

1949
43,006

93S
105.3
36. C
29.1
21.5

932
104.6
35.8
29.1
21.2

937
104.4
35.9
29.0
21.0

938
102.5
36.1
28.4
20.3

939
101.5
36.6
28.1
19.9

946
103.0
37.2
28.1
20.5

950
102.5
37.0
28.2
20.0

73.1

73.0

73.0

74.3

74.4

75.0

75.3

73.6

75.3

76.1

75.3

76.9

75.1

77.3

401.9

401.9

404.8

404.3

405.8

407.0

407.8

382.1

410.4

413.1

419.0

422.9

375.6

399.0
259.0

2 8. 4

20.5

938
98.4
33.9
27.8
19.0

904
101.0
35.5
28.1
19.7

932
100.1
33.7
27.3
20.6

257.2

256.3

256.7

254.8

255.5

258.6

261.2

261.9

258.9

253.9

251.4

249.2

255.3

Nonmetallic mining and quarrying...............

98.0

95.8

96.5

98.3

101.9

102.1

102.7

103.4

101.3

100.0

97.3

94.5

90.2

97.4

96.4

Contract construction________________________

2,814

2,228

2,288

2,403

2,571

2, 631

2, 626

2,629

2,532

2,414

2,245

2,076

1,907

2,318

2,156

368
133.2
234.7

382
139.0
243.3

428
164.0
263.8

505
208.6
296.3

534
228. 5
305.8

540
234.3
305.8

548
240.0
307.5

519
228.8
290.4

493
213.5
279.3

442
182.4
260.0

389
150.2
238.4

328
118.3
210.0

447
183.0
264.1

428
178.1
250.3

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

1,860

1,906

1,975

2,066

2,097

2,086

2,081

2,013

1,921

1,803

1,687

1,579

1, 871

General contractors_______________________

767

806

839

892

905

906

905

870

827

766

702

651

797

985
249.3
117.1
120.2
498.7

928 1,074
270.6
242.6
104.5 132. 5
118.6 128.6
461.9
541.7

1,192
1,093
1,174
1,100 1,136
1,180
1,176
1,143
1,094
1,037
280.6
286.6
290.4
294.0
296.6
293.7
285.7
278.7
267.4
257.1
147.4
158.1
157.2
131.2
123.8
158.3
132.8
149.8
140. C 126.7
137.7
138.1
138.7
137.6
140.0
135.8
133.7
131.0
127.6
122. (
543.1
551.1
593.9
600.1
572.4
593.0
597.9
583.5
558.6
530.8

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

15,985

Durable goods *------------ ------------------- 8,927
Nondurable goods * ............................... 7,058
Ordnance and accessories--------------------------

33.9

Food and kindred products---------------------- 1,485
M eat products...............................................
Dairy products--------------------------------------Canning and preserving.............................
Grain-mill products------------------------------Bakery products..---------------------------------S u g a r ...-------------------------------------------------Confectionery and related products____
B everages.......... ........... ................ ...............
Miscellaneous food products-----------------Tobacco m anufactures.................................
Cigarettes....................................................... .
Cigars..................... ............. .............................
Tobacco and snuff______________________
Tobacco stemming and redrying.............

85

Textile-mill products_____ ________________ 1,326
Yarn and thread m ills................................
Broad-woven fabric m ills................ .........
Knitting mills------ ----------- ----------------------Dyeing and finishing textiles----------------Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings____
Other textile-mill products_____________

_____

Apparel and other finished textile prod­
ucts......................... ....................... ............... l, 219
M en ’s and boys’ suits and coats............
M en ’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing........ .................................................
W om en’s outerwear— ..............................
W om en’s, children’s undergarments___
M illin e ry ...................................................... .
Children’s outerwear...................................
Fur goods and miscellaneous apparel . . .
Other fabricated textile products............

_____

Lumber and wood products (except fur­
niture)................ ................... .......................
Logging camps and contractors..............
Sawmills and planing mills______ ______
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products......... .............
Wooden containers_____________________
Miscellaneous wood products......... .........
See footnotes at end of table.


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

r

784

15, 957 15, 766 15, 789 15,765
8,864
7,093
33.5

8, 732
7,034
30.7

8, 717
7,072
29.7

8,664
7,101
29.0

15, 827
8, 618
7,209
27.7

15,685
8,423
7,262
26.6

15,450
8,294
7,156
25.0

14,777
7,978
6,799
23.7

14,666
7,964
6,702
23.7

14,413
7,809
6,604
23.2

14,162
7, 548
6, 614
22.8

14,103
7,418
6,685
22.4

1,727
753
974
245.8
124.4
125.1
479.0

14, 884 14,146
8, 008
6,876
24.7

7,465
6,681
24.8

1,476
1,495
1,576
1,643
1, 534
1,739
1,718
1,617
1, 519 1,461
1,432
1,523
1,420 1,542
298.9 312.0
315.2
305.7
300.8
295.7
296.6
295.8
292.6
286.3
282.7
285. 3 295.6
288.6
136.1
135.0
137.1
139.6
142.8
156.4
149.6
158.7
156.5
148.7
141.4
144.5
136.6
146.2
151. 7 156.5
197.4
168.5
253.2
353.1
329.1
250.4
177.0
152.3
144.9
133.9 202.9
207.1
125.2
128.4
127.1
129.4
126.7
124.6
128.6
125.9
124.3
121.2
120.2
120.1
123.9
120.6
286.5
290.9
292.2
286.1
288.1
290.4
287.7
289.3
283.7
286.7
284.6
285.9
282.4
281.7
27.8
30.8
44.8
51.8
50.7
34.5
33.5
30.6
29.4
28.9
27.0
34.5
27.1
32.7
110.2
98.7
100.1
106.1
114.2
102.1
110.5
90.0
90.4
88.6
90.6
99.5
94.5
96.9
211.4
215.4
212.2
212.1
217.7
230.0
240.1
234.2
224.8
212.8
206.0
205.1
216.3
211.4
137.9
139.8
136.0
137.7
145.4
142.7
144.3
141.8
140.4
135.5
134.1
138.5
135.3
137.6
87
25.8
42.2
12.1
6.7

88
25.8
41.2
12.0
8.5

90
26.1
42.3
12.0
9.4

91
26.3
43.3
12.1
9.3

96
26.2
43.0
12.4
14.0

96
27.1
41.7
12.5
15.2

89
25.6
40.7
12.1
11.4

82
26.1
38.9
11.8
5.4

82
25.4
39.5
12.0
5.1

83
25.5
39.7
12.1
5.7

83
25.5
39.3
12.4
5.5

85
25.4
40.9
12.6
5.9

88
25.9
41.2
12.3
8.8

94
26.6
44.5
13.0
10.1

1,364
1,351
1, 352 1,355
1,357
1,347
1,316
1,250
1,264
1,252
1,261
1,272
1,297
1,224
174.1
172.1
171.5
170.7
171.3
169.5
164.4
156.7
156.4
153.3
154.7 ' 158. 5 162.0 ' 149.3
635.1
633.9
637.5
632.6
637.4
638.7
625.9
601.5
610.4
602.9
602.8
604.2 616.1
581.9
255.5
253.9
251.8
254.0
256.0
253.0
246.9
228.4
230.9
231.6
236.1
239.8
242.8
231.4
94.9
93.5
93.3
93.3
93.6
92.6
89.2
84.9
86.4
86.4
88.3
89.5
89.7
86.4
62.4
62.1
62.4
62.4
61.3
61.7
60.5
58.1
59.8
59.8
60.9
60.5
60.6
58.9
141.7
138.8
137.3
136.7
135.5
133.2
129.2
120.3
119.8
117.9
117.8
119.6 125.7
116.0
1, 236 1,191
1,184
1,175
1,221
1,218
1,208
1,097
1,093
1,091
1,119
1,174
1,159
1,136
155.9
151.2
152.8
151.9
152.4
151.4
152.4
140.6
148.5
143.2
146.0 ' 149.2 148.3 ' 141.5
276.8
350.7
107.0
26.2
70.3
94.7
153.9

268.3
337.8
103.7
24.2
67.7
89.1
147.0

269.5
329.9
106.6
21.4
65.6
92.2
146.5

271.8
308.4
110.9
18.4
65.2
97.4
151.7

273.3
331.9
113.2
22.8
68.9
101.2
157.2

272.3
340.0
111.1
23.4
68.6
99.0
152.5

270.4
340.3
105.9
23.7
68.5
96.2
150.1

249.3
299.1
95.8
20.2
67.2
86.6
137.9

255.1
281.3
98.9
17.8
65.3
88.6
137.8

256.0
285.2
101.3
18.9
62.6
85.4
137.9

258.6
305.2
105.5
20.7
63.6
82.6
136.9

262.2
338.9
107.1
26.5
68.4
83.6
138.4

263.2
320.3
105.4
22.0
66. 5
89.6
143.5

257.8
328.6
98.9
22.3
63.4
88.2
135.8

791
67.1
452.7

797
67.6
455.8

817
72.4
471.1

838
77.5
484.3

849
78.4
492.5

853
78.1
498.7

845
78.8
494.5

812
76.2
474.6

803
73.7
467.3

784
67.4
459.1

753
59.2
439.8

738
59.3
429.8

792
67.9
461.6

736
61.4
431.7

123.8
83.1
64.7

126.6
82.7
64.1

128.0
81.5
63.9

129.9
82.3
63.8

131.0
82.7
64.0

130.4
81.8
63.9

129.5
79.7
62.0

124.9
77.5
59.2

124.4
77.9
59.5

122.0
75.5
59.9

120.2
74.4
59.8

117.2
73.2
58.8

124.3
77. 7
60.8

110.5
73.3
59.0

T

a b l e

589

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, MAY 1951

A -2 : Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1 Con.
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1950

1951
Industry group and industry

Manufacturing— Continued

Printing, publishing, and allied industriesNew spapers____________________________

Industrial inorganic chemicals................
Industrial organic chemicals............. .......
Drugs and medicines___________________
Paints, pigments, and fillers___________
Fertilizers____ ________ __________________
Vegetable and animal oils and fats_____
Other chemicals and allied products___

458
230.6
121.3
105.6

455
230. 2
120. 5
104.7

472
235.8
128.5
107.7

447
226.9
117.1
103.1

736
293.9
51.6
46.0
197.9
40.0
106.2

735
293.5
51. 5
45.3
198.9
39.9
105. 7

734
291.6
52.0
45.2
199. 2
40.1
106.3

743
293.3
52.1
4Ö. 7
200.8
40.7
108.9

727
282.5
53.4
44.6
197.1
41.1
108.0

670
72.9
198.4
94.2
71.5
30.2
48.2
154. 9

671
71.4
195. 7
93.1
69. 7
36. 2
50. 0
154. 4

675
70. 5
194.1
93.4
69.1
41. 6
53. 2
153.4

671
69. 4
191. 9
91.1
68.9
40. 9
55. 3
153.0

686
71.5
200.1
95.8
71.4
34.0
54.5
158.3

664
68. 4
192.1
92.3
67.3
34.3
56.1
153.0

241
189.0
21.1
30.5

239
187.8
21.1
30.1

236
186.2
20.7
28.6

234
185.7
20. 5
27.8

241
194. 8
19. 7
26. 9

245
194.6
20.8
29.5

245
198.7
19.5
27.1

258
112.8
25.7
119.1

249
111.3
24.1
113.6

247
110.8
24.2
112.4

241
108.1
23.9
108.8

238
106.6
24.1
107.4

237
106.3
24.2
106.1

252
110.9
25.6
114.9

234
106.6
26. 4
100.5

411
51.9
259.5
99.6

409
51.1
260.4
97.5

390
49.5
252.8
88.1

382
49.6
247.2
84.9

374
49.5
240.4
83.8

379
49. 5
244.3
85. 4

396
50. 0
257. 4
88.4

394
50.5
252.3
91.1

388
49.7
251.0
87.2

532
133.8
42.4
88.0
58.8
98.1
110.5

532
137.9
43.3
87.2
57.4
98.3
107.4

512
130.8
41.7
85.2
55.3
95.5
103.5

511
134.4
42.6
83.0
56.0
93.9
101.4

501
131.7
42.2
80.2
57.6
90.0
99.4

487
128.8
41. 5
76. 0
57.6
86.4
77.1

478
124.8
40. 6
75. 5
58.0
84.0
94. 7

512
133.5
42.1
82.4
57.9
92.2
103. 5

484
122.6
41.8
79.8
57.5
84.6
97.1

Apr.

378
270.9
107.1

376
269.0
107.1

367
262.1
104.9

350
249.5
100.0

349
249.8
99.5

348
248.5
99.4

347
248.8
98.6

497

496
241.7
139.3
114.8

496
242.1
139.2
114.3

499
244.5
140.9
113.8

500
242.8
141.9
114.9

491
241.7
140.0
109.5

488
241. 5
137.4
109.2

479
238.6
131.7
109.1

465
234.8
123.4
106.4

467
235.2
124.2
107.6

459
231.8
121.3
105.7

757

755
295.0
52.6
48.9
205.2
40.8
112.9

755
293.5
53.1
48.2
206.7
40.6
113.2

765
298.9
53.1
48.6
207.4
42.0
114.5

759
295.9
53.3
48.4
205.3
42.4
113.7

754
292.9
52.8
48.4
204.8
42.1
113.1

746
295.1
51.5
48.4
200.1
41.1
110.0

741
292.7
51.8
47.8
198.8
40.5
108.9

739
295.1
51.7
46.2
198.1
40.0
108.2

739
295.0
51.4
46.3
199.6
40.0
106.8

746

738
79. 5
217.0
103.7
76.6
39.7
55.0
166.7

729
78. 2
215.4
101.1
73.3
37.4
57.6
165.6

724
77. 6
213.9
101.3
73.8
32.9
59.2
164.8

720
77.1
211.3
100.2
73.7
32.1
60.9
164.6

720
76.6
208.8
99.5
74.0
32.9
61.9
166.4

701
69.3
206.4
98.4
74.2
32.7
54.3
165.4

684
68.3
203.6
96.7
73.5
29.6
48.7
164.0

669
70.3
199.8
95.9
72.7
28.3
46.8
155.6

256

254
203.1
21.3
30.0

253
201.7
21.3
30.0

254
201.6
21.2
31.2

254
201.5
21.2
30.8

252
199.3
21.4
31.3

251
198.1
21.5
31.2

254
200.5
21.4
32.5

276

275
114. 9
30.8
129.2

273
115. 2
30.1
128.1

272
116.1
29.1
127.0

272
117.2
28.5
126.6

269
115.7
28.0
125.3

265
115.2
26.9
122.5

411

412
51.7
261.3
99.3

403
51.8
256.2
94.8

398
51.9
251.7
94.0

399
51.8
248.4
98.6

406
51.4
253.4
101.5

552

547
144.5
41.9
86.4
61.0
97.5
115.6

546
144.4
41.9
87.2
60.6
97.4
114.8

548
144.6
42.4
87.2
60.8
98.2
114.3

550
145.6
42.7
88.6
60.9
98.3
113.7

544
144.1
43.1
87.9
58.1
98.5
112.5

1,329

1,326

1,323

Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling

1,318

637.2
274.9

637.3
270.8

638.1
267.5

57.1

57.0

56.6

1,301

Rolling, drawing, and alloying of non-

—

1, 571
Engines and turbines_______ ___________
Agricultural machinery and tractors___

1,256

1, 222

1,216

1,190

1,171
599.2
215.7

1,144
683.3
208.6

1, 220
614.1
231.8

1,101
550.4
217.0

632.5
250.2

630.5
241.2

621.4
229.7

616.4
227.7

606.3
220.8

54.8

55.5

54.8

55.1

54.3

55.2

54.6

54.2

54.4

54.6

52.3

92.4
83.3
121.6

96.9
93.0
129.8

87.0
75.8
118.4

104.1
109. 6
141.8

102.9
106.6
138.9

102.3
104.8
137.6

101.9
100.7
136.2

99.5
96.0
133.9

96.0
92.1
128.7

96.2
91.4
129.2

95.1
87.3
126.1

1,018
1,021
1,013
51.4
47.5
50.0
168.8
168.1
168.3

1,017
50.2
168.0

1, 013
51.9
166.1

996
55.5
163.1

972
55.8
156.7

929
51.3
153.0

923
48.6
156.2

894
45. 5
154.3

876
44.6
152. 5

863
43. 5
151.2

933
48. 4
156.9

859
45.8
142.3

161.2
219.8
186.6
230.3

163.4
219.3
185.6
230.7

164.4
216.7
184.8
229.1

164.1
209.9
182.9
220.6

158.8
210.3
179.3
211.5

147.2
201.3
172.7
203.1

148.1
198.0
170.7
201.2

144.4
192.4
162.6
194.8

143.9
190.3
156.3
188.0

140.4
187. 6
152.9
187.7

150.6
201.4
169.8
206.1

132.0
198.5
147.9
192.4

104.3
109.8
143.9

Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transporta1,026

1,276

633.7
255.4

93.2
84.3
124.1

103.7
109.4
143.7

Tin cans and other tinware____________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware____
Heating apparatus (except electric) and

1,289

M ar.

635.6
262.5

Primary smelting and refining of non-

160. 4
221.5
190.9
232.6

158.3
219.9
186.6
229.6

1,311
1,352
1,283
1,307
1,328
1,341
1,343
1,374
1,368
1,426
1,459
1, 526 1,492
1, 555
72.5
68. 7
72.6
70.9
73.6
73.5
72.8
70.2
74.8
72.9
78.8
81.3
83.2
83.6
181.3
172.4
177.5
180.5
180.7
180.5
180.1
140.5
179.5
163.5
164.4
175.4
186.7
189.0
101.3
100.7
95.2
95.
4
95. 9
98.1
99.1
101.6
105.6
108. Í
112.4
.Í
116.4
113.9
220. 2 208.7
204. 5 201.6
207.2
212.0 212.3
233 5 222.1
251. 5 242.9
259.4
267.5
274.6

110

(except
192.2
220.6
101.9

187.9
216.0
100.1

183.4
212.2
99.2

180.6
207.1
97.9

178.2
203. (
95.9

174.6
197.6
94.4

168.6
191.7
90.8

165.3
185.0
89.5

165.4
182.8
89.3

162.7
181.3
88.4

160.8
178.8
88.0

158.7
175.7
87.0

167.6
188.5
90.9

171.8
186.4
90.6

184.0
192.7

181.2
189.0

182.6
186.1

185.5
182.4

182.0
178.2

180.1
171.4

178.6
166.3

178.8
160.5

181.5
180.8
158. 51 156.2

175.6
152.6

176.2
169.3
I4y. ó \ ioz. /

145.4
153.2

Service-industry and household ma-


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

315
220. 0
94.6

M ay

376
270. 5
105.8

Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products.

See footnotes at end of table.

357
255.5
101.5

June

374
266.5
107.0

Cement, hydrau lic_____________________
Structural'clay products.................. ......... .........

Miscellaneous machinery parts........ .......

344
247.3
97.1

July

369
263.0
106.4

Footwear (except rubber)______________

machinery

1949

Aug.

372
264.9
107.2

Other rubber products_________ ________

Special-industry

1950

Sept.

375

Petroleum refining___ _____ ____________
Coke and byproducts__________________
Other petroleum and coal products........

Fabricated structural metal products..
M etal stamping, coating, and engraving

Oct.

Jan.

Other"printing and publishing_________

Dec.

N ov.

Feb.

M ar.

..................

590

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T

a b le

A -2 :

MONTHLY LABOR

Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1
[In thousands]

1951

Annual
average

1950

Industry group and i n d u s t r y _____
Mar.
Manufacturing— C ontinued
Electrical m achinery......................................
938
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appa­
ratus______ _______ _________ __________ ______
Electrical equipment for vehicles........................
Communication equipment____ _______ ______
Electrical appliances, lamps, and mis­
cellaneous products___________________ ______
Transportation equipment........................... 1,522
Automobiles.............................. ..................... ............
Aircraft and parts.____ ______ ______ ____ ______
Aircraft__________________ ____________ ______
Aircraft engines and parts_____ ______ ______
Aircraft propellers and parts_________
Other aircraft parts and e q u ip m e n t .._____
Ship and boat building and repairing________
Ship building and repairing *________
Boat building and repairing________________
Railroad equipment____________________ ______
Other transportation equipment_______ ______

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

M ar.

1950

1949

932

923

936

929

915

872

853

817

810

800

791

779

836

759

352.6
77.9
349.7

348.9
77.2
345.5

349.5
77.4
355.9

344.7
75.9
354.6

341.5
75.0
345.5

323.5
73.3
326.5

323.9
70.9
318.1

313.8
70. C
297.0

308.2
68.9
296.1

306.7
67. S
289.4

303.3
66.6
287.6

300.0
65.1
283.2

317.3
70.1
309.2

295.2
64.5
271.1

151.5

151.2

153.3

154.1

152.8

149.0

139.6

136.2

136.6

136.5

133.7

130.5

139.8

128.3

1, 394 1,365
1,347
1, 297 1,305
1,498
1,269
1,122
1, 436 1, 404 1,380
1,100
1,212
1,273
887.7 922.7
907.9
913.3
883.7
893.4
931.4 904.5 895.7
862.4
720.3
698.9 839. 4 769.0
323.4
305.1
286.0
272.8
259.3
256.4 253.9
382.0 357. 5 337.4
253.3 252.4
255.6
275.3
217.5
205.0
183.7
195.8
172.8
170.5
258.6 240. 3 226.5
169.0
167.9
166.5 184.0
169.7
63.4
60.1
52.5
54.1
52.1
72.9
52.8
69.6
50.7
50.7
50.6
66.6
51.8
54.5
8.9
8.2
8.5
7.5
9.4
7.7
7.8
7.9
9.3
9.1
7.9
8.0
7.9
8.1
33.6
41.1
31.5
29.5
27.5
26.0
26.0
38.3
26.3
26.8
27.3
35.2
26.2
28.7
88.9
88.6
89.1
91.7
81.2
108.5
80.9
95.9
80.0
79.9
91.9
80.2
100.3
84.4
75.5
78.4
94.4
75.3
75.8
67.4
66.4
82.0
66.2
77.8
66.7
68.3
88.2
71.4
13.4
14.1
13.3
13.3
13.3
13.9
13.8
14.5
14.1
13.8
13.2
11.9
12.1
13.0
65.9
62.9
64.3
63.0
61.8
61.3
63.5
66.1
66.1
61.6
58.4
59.2
76.1
62.2
13.6
13.4
13.2
13.7
12.9
12.2
11.6
13.1
11.1
10.7
10.1
9.6
11.4
10.9

Instruments and related products............ ..
289
Ophthalmic goods______ _______________________
Photographic apparatus_________ _____ ________
Watches and clocks________________ ___________
Professional and scientific instruments_______

285
27.5
56.9
34.1
166.7

280
27.1
55.6
33.4
164.2

280
26.9
55.5
33.9
164.0

277
26.7
55.1
33.7
161.1

272
26.2
54.5
32.8
158.1

265
25.6
53.9
31.5
153.5

252
25.1
52.8
28.0
146.0

242
24.8
51.0
27.8
138.1

243
24.8
50.1
28.1
139.8

238
24.8
49.1
28.0
136.5

238
25.0
48.5
28.5
133.7

234
25.1
48.2
28.9
131.5

250
25. 4
51.3
30.1
143.4

238
26.8
52.6
31.4
127.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are...
Toys and sporting goods_______________
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions____
Other miscellaneous manufacturing
industries ____________ _________________

503
58.5
74.8
65.5

488
57.4
71.0
62.3

500
57.5
75.8
61.5

508
58.2
82.0
64.3

510
58.2
84.5
65.7

493
57.2
81.3
63.7

471
55.4
78.9
61.1

430
51.1
71.5
52.1

439
52.8
72.6
52.4

434
52.7
70.3
51.4

435
52.7
69.5
53.1

433
53.2
67.2
56.5

459
54.8
73.3
58.2

426
55.4
68.7
57.7

303.8

297.7

305.2

303.1

301.7

290.8

276.0

254.8

261.3

260.0

259.8

256.5

272.3

243.8

507

Transportation and public utilities____ _____

4,131
4, 081 4, 071 4, 125 4,123
4,132
4,139
4,120
4,062
4,023
3, 885 3, 928
S, 873 4,010 3,979
Transportation____ ______ _____________ 2,917 2,866 2, 858 2,908 2,911 2, 912 2,913 2,891 2,839 2,813 2,685 2,733 2,682 2, 801 2, 756
Interstate railroads___________________
1,428
1,465
1, 462
1,441
1,426
1,458
1,414
1, 407
1,460
1, 296 1,356
1,315
1,367
1,390
Class I railroads...................... .............
1, 253 1, 253 1, 277
1,292
1.291
1, 283
1, 272 1,246
1, 240
1,135
1,188
1,148
fl,220 1,191
Local railways and bus lines...................
144
145
145
145
146
146
148
147
149
145
150
151
158
148
Trucking and warehousing.....................
626
617
621
619
621
614
622
589
577
562
554
550
548
584
Other transportation and services_____
668
684
684
668
688
690
681
689
682
678
673
666
684
679
Air transportation (common carrier)..
75.6
74.2
74.4
74.7
74.7
74.5
75.7
74.6
74.6
74.6
73.7
74.2
76.7
74.4
Communication.......................................
671
672
664
668
670
671
671
667
662
670
659
657
654
686
663
Telephone......................... ................
622.7
618.5 620.3
614.8
620.9
621.6 622.9
619.5
614.6
610.7
609.2
607.0 614.8 632.2
Telegraph__________________________
47.9
48.3
48.0
47.9
48.0
47.2
48.6
46.7
46.7
46.9
46.9
45.7
52.5
47.2
Other public utilities............ ..................... . 543
543
545
548
550
555
547
558
556
548
541
538
537
537
546
Gas and electric utilities______________
519.1
520.6
525.1
529.5
530.4
522.2 523.5
531.7
522.3
515.8
512.5
511.5
520.6 512.0
Electric light and power utilities____
231.5
231.6
234.0 236.6
232.5 233.2
238.6
238.4 235.2
232.5 231.4
232.0
234.0 233.5
Gas utilities*_______________________
115.7
116.4
117.6
117.2
118.1
118.6
118.0
115.5
117.6
113.1
111.7
110.5
114.9

Electric light and gas utilities com­
bined*___________ _____________ _
Local utilities.................................. ..........

Trade______________________________ _____
Wholesale trade.........................................
Retail trade.......................... ................. ..
General merchandise stores..............
Food and liquor stores........................
Automotive and accessories dealers.
Apparel and accessories stores_____
Other retail trade.............................. ..
See footnotes at end of table.


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

171.9
24.0

172.6
24.1

172.5
24.6

172.7
24.7

173.0
24.8

174.3
25.4

175.1
25.9

174.4
25.7

171.6
25.6

170.2
25.0

169.4
25.3

169.0
25.0

171.6
25.2

24.6

9, 679 9, 575 9, 603
2, 589 2,598
2, 589
7, 090 6, 977 7,014
1 , 508
1,439
1,470
1 , 261
1,257
1,243
733
735
742
566
521
527
3, 022 3,052 3,032

10, 443
2, 616
7,827
2,052
1,264
753
642
3,116

9, 896
2,618
7, 278
1, 654
1,242
746
565
3,071

9,752
2, 625
7,127
1,539
1,219
741
555
3,073

9, 641
2, 605
7,036
1,474
1,210
743
540
3,069

9,474
2, 582
6,892
1,387
1,200
749
491
3,065

9,390
2, 528
6, 862
1,372
1,203
746
501
3,040

9, 411
2, 502
6,909
1,411
1,205
733
536
3,024

9,326
2, 479
6,847
1,412
1,204
714
533
2,984

9,346
2, 477
6, 869
1,466
1,200
706
545
2,952

9,206
2,484
6, 722
1,392
1,192
699
519
2,920

9, 524
2,544
6,980
1,493
1,209
728
536
3,014

9,438
2,522
6,916
1,480
1,198
676
554
3,008

REVIEW, MAY 1951

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

591

T able A - 2 : E m p loyees in N onagricultural E stablish m en ts, b y In d u stry D ivision and G roup

Con.

[In thousands]
A n n u al
average

1950

1951
In d u stry group and in du stry
M a r.

Cleaning and dyein g p lan ts____________
M o t io n pictu res_______ ___________________

Jan.

D ec.

N ov.

O ct.

Sept.

A u g.

J u ly

June

M ay

A p r.

M ar.

1950

1949

1,854

1, 841
447
63.5
657
673

1, 831
441
62.0
653
675

1, 828
439
61.3
655
673

1,820
436
61.1
651
672

1, 821
433
60.8
651
676

1, 827
433
60.9
654
679

1,837
435
61.4
658
683

1,831
432
61.3
652
686

1,827
427
60.0
646
694

1,812
421
59.2
640
692

1,803
420
58.2
639
686

1,791
419
57.7
637
677

1,812
427
59.6
646
680

1, 763
416 M
55.5
619
672

4, 677

4,656
430
351.2
144.6
241

4, 665
428
353.8
145.3
242

4, 694
430
353.3
146.8
242

4, 723
433
353.1
149.2
243

4, 757
441
355.5
151.1
244

4,816
475
357.5
150.0
246

4,827
512
358.6
147.1
244

4,841
515
363.4
151. 6
245

4, 828
482
362.1
155.9
249

4,790
451
353.7
150.1
236

4, 757
441
347.4
146.1
236

4,708
431
345.5
141.3
236

4, 761
456
353.5
147.5
241

4,782
464
352.2
146.9
237

O ther finance agencies and real e s t a t e ...
H otels and lodging places_____ ___________

F eb .

6,004
5, 793
5,741
5,832
5,900
5,915
5,811
6,039
5,769
5,910
6, 088 6. 376 6,037
6, 217 6,122
1,841
1,820
1,851
1,890
1,939
1,948 1,916
1,802
1,900
1,980
1,910
2, 027 2,333
F ed eral___ ____ ________ _________ _____ ____ 2,146
2.085
3,921
3,952
3,981
4,088
4,010
3,976
4,091
3,967
4,000 3,911
4, 061 4,043 4,057
4,037
4,071
i
T h e B ureau of L a b or Statistics’ series o f e m p loym en t in nonagricultural
establishm ents are based u p o n reports su b m itte d b y cooperating establish­
m ents and, therefore, differ from e m p loym en t inform ation o btain ed b y
h o u seh old interview s, such as the M o n th ly R e p o rt on the L a bor F orce
(ta ble A - l ) , in several im p ortan t respects. T h e B ureau of L a bor Statistics’
data cover all full- a nd part-tim e em ployees in private n onagricultural estab­
lishm ents w h o w ork ed during, or received p a y for, the pay period ending
nearest the 15th o f the m on th ; in Federal establishm ents during the p a y
p e riod ending just before the first of the m on th ; and in State a n d local g overn­
m en t during the p a y period ending on or just before the last o f the m on th ,
w h ile the M o n th ly R ep ort on the L a b or F orce data relate to the calendar
w eek w h ich contains the 8th d a y o f the m onth. P roprietors, self-em ployed
persons, dom estic servants, and personnel o f the A rm e d Forces are excluded
from the B L S b u t not the M R L F series. Th ese em p lo ym e n t series have
been adju sted to bench-m ark levels indicated b y social insurance agency
data through 1947. R ev ised data in all except the first f o u r colum ns w ill be
iden tified b y asterisks th e first m on th th ey are published.


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

2 Includes: ordn an ce a n d accessories; lu m ber an d w o o d produ cts (except
furniture); furniture a n d fixtures; stone, clay, an d glass p roducts; p rim a ry
m etal industries; fabricated m etal p roducts (except ordnance, m achinery,
an d transportation e q u ip m e n t); m achinery (except electrical); electrical
m achinery; transportation equ ipm en t; instru m en ts and related p rod u cts;
an d m iscellaneous m anufacturing industries.
3 Includes: fo o d and kindred produets; tobacco m anufactures; textile-m ill
produ cts; apparel an d other finished textile products; paper and allied
p roducts; printing, publishing, an d allied industries; chem icals and allied
p roducts; produ cts o f petroleu m a n d coal; ru bber p roducts; an d leather and
leather products.
* D ata b y region, from January 1940, are available u p o n request to the
Bureau o f L a b o r Statistics.
♦New series; data are available from January 1950.
A ll series m ay be obtain ed u p o n request to th e B u reau of L a b o r Statis­
tics. R eq u ests should sp ecify w h ich in d u stry series are desired.
fP relim in ary.

592

MONTHLY LABOR

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

T able A - 3 : Production W o rk ers in M in in g and M a n u fa ctu rin g Industries 1
[In thousands]
1951

A n n u al
average

1950

In d u stry group an d industry
M ar.
M in ing:
M e t a l .......... ......... ....................................... .......
Iron _________________________ __________

C rud e petroleu m and natural gas prod u ction :
P etroleu m and natural gas p rodu ction
(except contract s e r v i c e s ) . . - ________
N on in eta llic m in ing and quarrying _____
M anufacturing_________ _____________________

13,181

D u ra b le goods 3_ _________ _________ 7,416
N on d u ra b le goods 3________________ 5,765
O rdnance and accessories. ______________

27.1

F o o d and k in dred p r o d u c t s ..____________ 1,101
M ea t p r o d u c t s _________________ _______
D a ir y p rod u cts_________________________
C a n n in g and p re s e r v in g .. ____________
B a k ery p rod u cts_________ ______ ________
C on fection ery and related p ro d u cts____
B ev era ges.. __________ _______________
M iscellaneous food p ro d u cts......... ...........
T o b a c co m anufactures............................ .......
C igarettes. _______ _____ ______ _____ ____

78

T o b a c co and sn u ff______________________
T o b a c c o stem m ing and red ryin g .............
T extile-m ill p ro d u c ts . ...................... ........... 1,229
Y a m and thread m ills................... ...........
B roa d -w ov en fa b ric m ills................. .........
K n ittin g m ills......... ............................... .......
D y ein g and finishing textiles_________ .
C arpets, rugs, other floor coverin gs____
O ther textile-m ill p rod u cts_____________

.........

A p parel and other finished textile p rod u c ts ___________________________________ 1,098
___
M e n ’ s and b o y s ’ suits and coats
M e n ’s and b o y s ’ furnishings and w ork
cloth in g. ___________ __________ _______
W o m e n ’ s outerw ear.....................................
W o m e n ’ s, ch ildren ’ s undergarm ents . .
M illin e ry .......... ............. ..................... ...........
C h ild ren ’ s o u te r w e a r.. ............................
F u r goods and m iscellaneous a p p a r e l...
O ther fabricated textile p ro d u cts............
L u m b er and w o o d p rod u cts (except furn itu re)_________________ ________ ______
L ogg in g cam ps and c o n t r a c t o r s .............
Saw m ills and planing m ills _________
M illw o rk , p ly w o o d , and prefabricated
structural w ood p r o d u c ts . __________
W o o d e n containers____ __________ ______
M iscellaneous w o o d p r o d u c t s ..............
F u rn itu re and fixtures_______ _____ _______
H ou seh old fu rn itu re ____________ ______ _
O ther furniture and fix t u r e s ___________

See footnotes at end of table.


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

720

.........
327

F eb .

Jan.

D e c.

N ov.

O ct.

Sept.

A u g.

July

June

M ay

A p r.

M ar.

93.4
32.6
25.6
18.8

92. 9
32.4
25.6
18.6

92.7
32.4
25. 5
18.4

90.9
32.6
24.9
17.7

89.7
32.8
24.6
17.4

91.1
33.4
24.8
17.9

90.8
33.4
24.8
17.5

91.4
32.9
24.9
18.0

90.0
32.4
24.7
17.4

88.5
31.8
24.8
16.7

87.2
30.3
24. 8
16.6

87 3
30. 5
24. 7
16 6

68.7

68.6

68. 5

69.8

69.9

70.5

70.8

69.2

70.8

71.6

70.7

72 3

376. 2

376.6

380.6

379.6

381.5

381.8

383.0

357.6

385.0

387.9

393.8

398.4

124.5
83.3

124.0
83.8

124.7
86.0

124.1
89.4

126.0
89.6

128.3
90.2

130.3
90.6

129.7
88.8

127.7
87.6

124.2
85.0

123.5
82. 4

123.3
78.3

13,185
7,371
5,814
26.7
1,096
237.6
95.1
125.7
95.2
188.5
23.1
82.6
145.4
102.3
80
23. 3
40. 0
10. 6
5.8

13, 019
7, 257
5,762
24.4

13, 058 13,044
7, 254
5,802
23.6

1,117 1,155
250. 6 253. 7
96. 9
94.8
131 0 142. 7
93 1
95 2
190. 4
188.0
26 0
39 9
83. 8
89.4
146.4
146.1
101.3
102. 6
80
23. 2
39 0
10 6
7.4

83
23 5
40 2
10 5
8.3

7,210
5,834
23.3

13,133
7,186
5, 957
22.3

13,016
7, 013
6,003
21.6

12, 802 12,151
6,900
5, 902
20.1

6,597
5, 554
19.0

12,066
6, 596
5, 470
18.9

11,841
6,456
5,385
18.6

11, 597
6,195
5,402
18.3

1 1 ,5 4 9

6,070
5,479
17.9

1950

89 0
30 4
18 1

351.0

89
23.7
41.0
11.0
13.0

89
24.5
39.5
11.1
14.2

82
23.1
38.6
10.7
10.4

75
23. 4
36 8
10. 4
4.5

75
22. 8
37 3
10 5

76
22. 8
37 6
10 6

76
22 9

4 .2

4 .9

4 .7

78

Al

3 7 3 .4

127 1
12, 264
6.622
5, 642
19.8

1,196
1,260
1,350
1,331
1,231
1,141
1, 090
1,065
1,060
1,168
244.3
240.0
235.7
235.8
234.8
228 3
232.0
227. 4 223.3
100.4
101.9
107.4
113.7
114. 4 108. 2 102. 8
Q9 1
116.1
171.4 226.3
324.2 302.1
222.8
150.6
126. 8 119 9 109 3
93.2
96.8
98.1
97.7
94. 6
92 1
95.9
92. 2
91 4
193.4
192.2
196.3
194.3
193.9
192.6
190 0
190.7
191.0
46.5
45.8
29. 5
28. 8
22 6
24. 7
24 4
26.0
93.5
97.2
85.4
93.2
78 4
73.6
73. 8
72.7
74 6
149.4
148.8
159.4
169.3
139 4
163. 5 156. 5 146. 4 140.9
104.4
106.6
108.5
106.1
104.1
99.4
103.3
98. 4 100 7
84
23.7
41.2
10.5
8.3

1949

81

7.8

1 1 ,5 9 7

6,096
5,501
20.2
1,172

87

9.0

1,262
1,264
1,255
1,269
1, 224 1,160
1,257
1,258
1,174
1,162
1,172
1,183
1, 206 1,136
160. 9 160.7
146 5 146 4 143 0 144 5
161. 6 159 9
159. 2 154.4
163.6
606.3
607.4
606.2
604.0 601.6
594.6
603.5
570.8
5 7 9 .9
5 7 2 .8
572.7
574.0
551.4
585.6
233.9
236.3
233.3
235.8
231.9
233.9
227.1
209.4
2 1 1 .7
212.8
217.9
221.4
213.4
223.6
84. 4
83.4
75 4
76 7
83 2
83 3
83.7
82.8
79.6
54. 5
55.0
54. 5
54.1
51 0
52 7
54. 5
54 9
53.3
122.3
126.7
123.9
121.3
119.3
115.4
122.7
106.6
106.5
104.4
104! 5 106.3
111.9
102.8
1,056
1,115
1,071
1,064
1,100
1,089
1,099
141. 5 138. 4 137.4
137.0
138. 2 137.4
138. 2

981
126.9

976
134.6

976
1,003
1,058
1,042
1,022
129.0
131.7
135.5
134. 3 128.1

24L 9
88 6

253.5
Q1 1

271.6

305.4

286.8

¿Oil. O
294.3

257.9
316.7
96.4
23. 5
64.5
83.1
131.4

250 3
303.0
93. 0
21 6
61. 8
77. 5
125.0

251 2
296.2
96.1
18 9
59.9
80.3
124.4

253.3
274.8
100. 5
15.9
59.6
85.3
130.0

254 2
297.0
102. 5
20.1
63.1
89.0
135.5

253 8
305.3
100. 4
20 7
62. 5
87 5
131.1

252 0
306.6
95.9
20 9
62 6
85.1
128.1

231 Q
265.6
85 8
61 3

5Q 9

116.0

115! 8

iis ! 8

115! 4

116.6

121.7

115.8

728
62.7
421.5

733
63.1
424.8

754
67.9
440.0

773
73.0
452.3

785
73.8
461.5

790
73.6
467.8

783
74.4
464.6

750
71.4
443.9

741
69.4
436.8

723
62.9
429.8

692
54.7
409.9

677
54.8
399.3

730
63. 5
431.1

676
57.6

108.1
77.4
58.3

110. 6
77.1
57.8

112.4
75.8
57.4

113 8
76. 5
57.4

114 8
77 1
57.7

114 4
70 1
57.6

113 7
74 1
55.8

53! 1

53! 5

54.0

54.0

53.5

54.8

53.1

324
236.1
88.2

322
234.6
87.2

326
238.4
87.1

327
241.5
85.7

329
241.9
86.9

327
240.2
86.9

319
234.2
85.2

303
221.8
80.7

303
222.3
80.4

302
221.4
81.2

303
222.0
80.7

301
220.9
79.9

311
227.9
82.6

272
194.8
77.6

593

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, MAY 1951

T able A - 3 : P roduction W o rk ers in M in in g and M an u fa ctu rin g Industries 1— C ontinued
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1950

1951
In d u stry group and industry
M a r.

Manufacturing— C on tin u ed
P a p er and allied p r o d u c t s ,....................
P u lp , paper, and p ap erb oard m ills.
P a p erb oa rd containers and b o x e s ...
O th er paper a n d allied p ro d u cts ___

F eb .

Jan.

D ec.

N ov.

O ct.

Sept.

A u g.

July

June

M ay

A p r.

M a r.

1950

1949

425

423
209.1
119.4
94.6

423
209.0
119.6
94.4

428
212.3
121.3
94.5

427
210.7
122.0
94.3

421
210.3
120.4
90.5

418
209.9
118.2
90.2

410
207.4
113.1
89.9

396
204.1
104.6
87.5

399
204.8
105.7
88.9

392
201.7
103.1
86.9

391
200.7
103.4
86.6

389
200.2
102.6
86.2

404
205.1
109.8

382
197.6
99.6
85.2

P rin tin g, publishing, an d allied industries
N ew sp ap ers________ ____________________
P e r io d ica ls .......................................................
B o o k s .................................................................
C om m ercia l p rin tin g....................................
L ith og ra p h in g ................... .............................
Other p rin tin g and p u b lish in g _________

511

511
149.9
35.2
36.3
169.5
31.8
88.3

511
149.1
34.6
35.9
170.7
31.7
88.9

518
152.4
35.0
36.7
171.1
32.9
89.9

515
150.3
35.0
36.6
170.2
33.3
89.6

514
149.7
35.1
36.6
170.2
33.0
89.2

510
151. >'
35.2
37.2
166.5
32.5
87.0

504
149.6
34.5
36.4
165.0
31.8
86.2

499
149.6
34.1
34.6
164.4
31.2
85.4

500
150.1
33.7
35.3
165.7
31.2
84.1

498
149.3
34.5
35.1
164.1
31.1
83.6

497
147.7
35.0
34.9
164.9
30.9
83.2

496
146.4
35.2
35.2
165.3
31.0
83.3

503
148.6
34.7
35.7
166.6
31.7
85.8

495
141.2
36.0
36.4
164.4
31.9
85.3

C h em icals and allied p r o d u c ts ......... .......
In du strial inorganic ch em icals_______
In du strial organic ch em icals_________
D ru gs an d m ed icin es............ ................. .
P a in ts, pigm ents, an d f i l l e r s . . ............
F e r t iliz e r s ................................ ............... .
V egeta ble an d anim al oil an d fats___
O ther chem icals and allied p ro d u cts .

538

533
58.1
163.2
69.1
49.5
33.3
43.9
115.5

527
57.2
162.8
67.4
47.6
30.9
45.6
115.1

524
57.1
161.9
67.4
48.3
26.5
47.6
114.7

521
56.5
160.2
66.4
48.2
25.7
49.6
114.6

523
55.9
159.1
65.8
48.7
26.6
50.8
115.8

506
49.7
157.7
64.9
48.7
26.4
43.5
115.0

491
48.9
154.8
63.4
48.6
23.3
38.2
113.8

479
51.2
151.5
62.5
47.7
22.1
36.2
108.1

482
54.1
150.0
61.8
46.9
23.9
37.6
108.1

485
53.4
147.8
61.0
45.5
29.9
39.6
107.6

490
52.8
146.0
60.6
45.1
35.6
42.7
106.9

487
52.3
144.9
58.1
44.9
34.9
44.9
106.8

496
52.9
151.8
62.7
46.8
27.8
43.8
110.3

485
52.3
145.8
60.8
43.3
28.6
46.1
108.4

P rod u cts of petroleu m and c o a l_______
P etroleu m r e fin in g ................................
C ok e an d b y p r o d u cts ..........................
O th er petroleu m and coal p rod u cts.

192

191
148.5
18.5
24.3

190
147.2
18.5
24.3

191
147.3
18.4
25.0

191
147.5
18.4
24.6

190
146.5
18.6
25.1

189
144.6
18.7
25.3

193
147.4
18.7
26.4

182
138.5
18.5
24.9

181
137.8
18.5
24.5

177
136.1
18.1
23.2

176
135.6
17.9
22.3

182
142.8
17.0
21.8

185
142.8
18.1
23.9

188
148.8
16.9

R u b b e r p rod u cts................
T ires and inner t u b e s ..
R u b b e r footw ea r______
O ther ru b b er p rod u cts .

223

223
90.5
25.3
107.1

222
91.2
24.9
106.2

222
92.1
23.9
105.7

222
93.4
23.2
105.0

219
92.0
22.8
104.1

215
91.7
21.8
101.0

208
89.6
20.7
98.0

200
88.3
19.2
92.8

199
88.0
19.3
92.0

194
85.9
19.1
88.8

191
84.0
19.3
87.2

189
83.4
19.4
86.2

203
87.8

186
83.6

—

22.0

20.6

21.6

94.3

80.9

Leath er an d leather p r o d u c ts .
L ea th er_________ ____________
F ootw ea r (except r u b b e r ) ...
O ther leather p rod u cts_____

370

373
47.0
238.3
87.7

364
47.2
233.6
83.1

359
47.3
229.1
82.9

360
47.2
225.8
86.9

367
46.7
230.3
89.7

372
47.2
236.7
87.9

370
46.6
237.3
85.8

351
44.9
229.8
76.6

343
45.0
224.3
73.7

335
44.9
217.5
72.8

341
45.0
221.5
74.6

357
45. 5
234. 5
77.3

355
45.9
229.4
79.7

347
45.1
226.2
75.8

Stone, cla y , and glass p ro d u cts ................ ..
G lass an d glass p r o d u c ts _______ _______ _
C em en t, h y d ra u lic__________ _______ ___
Structural cla y p r o d u c ts _______________
P o tte r y an d related p r o d u c ts ......... .........
C on crete, gyp su m , and plaster produ cts
O th er stone, cla y, an d glass p ro d u cts ___

477

472
127.3
35.8
78.3
55.2
82.9
92.2

472
127.8
35.9
79.0
54.7
83.0
91.7

474
127.7
36.3
79.4
55.1
83.5
91.6

477
128.9
36.7
80.5
55.1
84.4
91.1

471
127.0
37.0
79.8
52.2
84.5
90.0

458
117.0
36.5
79.8
53.0
84.1
88.0

459
121.7
37.1
78.9
51.8
84.3
84.9

440
114.4
35.6
77.0
49.8
81.5
81.7

441
118.3
36.5
75.5
50.6
80.2
80.0

432
115.9
36.0
72.8
52. 2
76.4
78.3

419
112.8
35.4
68.6
52.3
73.5
75.9

410
108.9
34.5
68. 5
52. 7
71.3
73.9

441
117.3
36.0
74.8
52.3
78.7
81.8

416
106.8
36.0
72.5
52.2
72.4
75.6

P rim a ry m etal in du stries............... ............... 1,156
B la st furnaces, steel w ork s, an d rolling
m ills.............................................................. .
Ir o n an d steel fou n dries________________
P rim a r y sm elting and refining o f n o n ferrous m etals_________________________
R o llin g , draw in g, an d a lloy in g o f non ferrous m etals_________________________
N onferrou s fou n dries__________________ _
O ther p rim a ry m etal indu stries............. .
F a b rica ted m etal p rod u cts (except o r d ­
nan ce, m ach in ery, an d transporta­
tion e q u ip m e n t)______ _______________
T in cans an d other tin w a re..................... .
C u tlery , h an d tools, and hardw are____
H eatin g apparatu s (except electric)
an d p lu m bers’ s u p p lies . ______ _______
F a bricated structural m etal p r o d u c t s ..
M eta l stam ping, coating, and engraving
O th er fabricated m etal p r o d u c ts _______

856

_________

M a c h in e r y (except electrica l)______ _____ _ 1,230
E n gin es and tu rbin es____________ _____ _
A g ricu ltu ra l m ach in ery an d tr a c to r s ...
C on stru ction and m in in g m a c h in e r y ...
M eta lw ork in g m a ch in ery ______________
S p e cia l-in d u stry m a ch in e ry (e x ce p t
m etalw ork in g m a ch in e ry ).......... ..........
G eneral industrial m a ch in ery ................
O ffice and store m achines and d evices.
S ervice-in du stry an d househ old m a ­
ch in es....................................................... .
_________

See footn otes at en d o f table.


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

1,152

1,149

1,142

1,126

1,117

1,105

1,086

1,054

1,050

1,026

1,007

982

538.1
200.2

529.3
193.5

522. 5
188.1

506.9
182.1

1,053
535.6
204.0

940
476.7
188.9

558.9
244.7

558.3
240.8

556.4
238.0

553.6
232.8

552.6
226.8

552.2
221.9

550.4
213.3

542.5
202.1

47.4

47.2

47.0

45.4

46.3

45.8

45.8

45.1

46.0

45.5

45.2

45.4

45.4

86.7
93.5
120.8

87.1
94.3
120.8

87.2
93.9
119.3

85.9
91.3
116.9

85.8
89.7
115.7

85.3
85.7
114.4

83.1
81.7
111.7

79.5
78.0
106.8

80.1
77.4
108.0

78.9
73.5
105.1

77.1
/u. /
103.3

76.5
69.8
101. 2

80.7
78.
108.4

70.6
63.3
97.1

852
42.1
143.6

846
44.1
143.5

852
45.4
143.7

850
44.2
142.9

850
45.9
141.4

837
49.8
138.3

814
50.2
132.4

773
45.5
129.1

769
43.1
132.6

742
40.1
130.7

722
39.0
129. 2

709
¿8. 0
127. 6

776
42.8
132.7

701
39.9
118.4

132.5
174.8
164.1
194.7

130.3
173. £
161.6
192.8

133.2
173.2
161.6
194.6

135.3
171.7
160. 9
195. 2

137.1
170. £
160.7
194.3

137.1
165.6
159. 1
187.5

131.9
165.1
155.8
178.1

120.4
158.0
149.9
170.0

121.9
154.3
148.1
169.2

118.6
148. 5
140.5
163.6

117.7
145.8
134.4
155.6

114.0
142. 7
131. 2
155. 8

123.9
156. 5
146,
173.0

106.0
152.3
125.8
159.0

1,003
1,022
1,032
1,033
1,050
1,060
1,133
1,104
1,163
1, 217 1,191
53.4
56.0
55.5
54.7
56.6
52.1
60.3
55. C
63.5
61.9
63.7
142. 4
141.
5
141.2
140.5
140.0
102.3
124.8
124.
?
146.0
135
.
4
149.7
68. 3
70.4
68. 4
71. 6
73.7
77.8
82.3
80.6
84.7
83.8
86.9
155.4
158.3
170.6
161. 5 162.6
180.9
197.2
189.7
211.1
204.4
218.0
122.7
128.8
73.5

147.0
160.8
85.3

143.5
157. 1
84.4

140.5
154.5
83.2

137.6
150. 1
81.9

135.8
146.7
80.3

132.2
141.9
79.0

127.4
136.9
75.6

124.3
131.3
74.3

124.6
130. 1
74.2

149.0
156.9

146.9
153.5

147.9
151.1

151.2
148.0

147.6
144.1

146.1
137.9

145.3
133.4

145.5
128.1

148.7
147.9
126. 51 124.11

1,001
1, 040
981
53.9
54.5
51. 1
142.4
133.5
139. 5
72.4
73.0
68.1
157.9
169.0
152.0

120.9
125.9
73. 2

119.0
123.3
72.0

126.6
134.3
75.

131.1
132.3
75.4

143.3

137.8
118. 2

143.2
130.0

115.4
120.4

12U. 4

594

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

monthly

Labor

T able A - 3 : P roduction W orkers in M in in g and M a n u fa ctu rin g Industries 1— C on tin u ed
[In thousands]

1951

A n n u al
average

1950

In d u stry group and Industry
M a r.
Manufacturing— Continued
Electrical machinery.............. _.......................
Electrical generating, transmission, dis­
tribution, and industrial apparatus. . .
Electrical equipment for vehicles............
Communication equipment......................
Electrical appliances, lamps, and mis­
cellaneous products.................................

719

Transportation equipment............................ 1, 259
Automobiles....................................................
Aircraft and parts......................................... —
Aircraft...................... ...................................
Aircraft engines and parts................ ..
Aircraft propellers and parts......... .......
Other aircraft parts and equipm ent.. —
Ship and boat building and repairing.. —
Shipbuilding and repairing.................... —
Boat building and repairing__________
Railroad equipm ent.............. ................. .
Other transportation equipm ent............
Instruments and related products..............
Ophthalmic goods.......... .............................
Photographic apparatus.......................... I
Watches and clocks.......................... ...........
Professional and scientific instruments.
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries. .
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are...
Toys and sporting goods_______________
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions_____
Other miscellaneous manufacturing
industries......................................................

F eb .

Jan.

D e c.

N ov.

O ct.

Sept.

A u g.

J u ly

June

M ay

A p r.

M ar.

1950

1949

715

710

724

721

710

673

655

620

615

606

595

580

636

552

258.1
63. 2
269.3

256.1
62. 8
266.8

257.2
63.0
278.3

254.4
61.8
278.4

251.7
60.9
272.2

237.1
59.5
254.6

236.5
57.2
247.8

226.6
56.0
227.5

221.9
55.1
227.1

221.5
58.7
219.9

217.1
52.5
217.2

213.0
50.9
211.6

229.7
56.0
237.0

210.7
49.0
191.8

124.2

124.0

125.4

126.2

125.0

121.6

113.1

109.8

110.7

110.6

108.1

104.8

113.3

100.8

1,245
1,188
1,160 1,139
1,157
1,134
1,118
1, 070 1, 078 1, 045
801. 4 775.3
767.3
760.4
794.8
787.8
780.9
756.7
764.7
736.3
288.8
268.2
250.7
239.3
224.5
209.4
199.0
188.1
186.6
185.2
196. 5 180.9
168.8
161.4
151.5
144.5
134.8
126.3
125.1
124.4
53.0
50.8
48. 5
46.3
43.6
37.3
38.9
37.4
37.0
36.0
6. 5
6. 2
6.1
5.9
5.7
5.5
4.9
5.1
5.2
5.3
32.8
30.3
27.3
25.7
23.7
22.1
20.4
19.3
19.3
19. 5
94. 5
82.0
78. 7
76.1
75.8
76.3
79.0
67.9
68.3
67.2
82. 0
69.9
66.3
64.4
64.3
64.8
67.5
56.1
55.6
55.2
12. 5
12.1
12.4
11.7
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.8
12.7
12.0
48. 6
52.0
51.9
51.7
50.4
49.3
48.2
47.7
48.8
47.5
11.4
10.4
11.2
11.8
11.9
11.6
11.0
9.8
9.4
9.1

899
595.3
184.9
123.4
36.1
5.3
20.1
66.6
55.4
11.2
43. 5
8.6

879
1, 044
575.6
713. 5
184.0
201.7
122.2
135.6
36.0
39.1
5.4
5.4
20.4
21.5
66.9
71.4
56.9
60. 2
10.0
11. 2
44.2
47.9
8.0
9.7

987
643. 5
188. 5
126.6
37.4
5.3
19. 2
85. 0
75.0
10.0
61.0
9.2

217

214
22. <5
42. 0
28.8
120.4

210
22. 2
41. 0
28. 2
118.9

211
22.0
40.9
28.9
119.2

209
21.8
40.7
28.8
117.8

205
21.3
40.2
28.0
115.3

199
20.8
39.5
27.0
111.6

187
20.2
38.5
23.4
105.3

178
19.9
37.0
23.4
98.1

180
20.0
36.5
23.7
100.2

176
20.1
35.4
23.6
97.0

174
20.2
34.8
24.1
94.8

172
20.2
34.6
24.4
93.2

186
20.6
37.3
25. 5
103.0

177
21. 9
38.4
26.6
90.1

428

425
48.3
65. 7
56. 2

412
47. 0
62.0
53. 2

424
47.2
66.7
52.1

432
47.8
73.0
54. 9

436
48.1
75.3
56.2

418
47.2
72.2
54.4

399
45.5
69.8
52.0

358
41.4
62.5
43.9

367
42.5
63.6
44.1

362
42.1
61.5
43.0

363
42.0
60.6
44.7

361
42.3
58.0
48.0

385
44.5
64.2
49.2

354
45.0
59.8
48.3

254.9

249.5

257. 6

256.4

256.1

244.3

232.0

210.2

217.1

215.2

215.4

212.9

227.2

200.5

—

—
—

. 1 See footn ote 1, table A -2. P ro d u ctio n w orkers refer to all fu ll-a n d parttim e em ployees engaged in prod u ction and related processes, such as fabri­
cating, processing, assem bling, inspecting, storing, packing, shipping, m ain­
tenance and repair, and other activities closely associated w ith produ ction
operations.

* See footn ote 2, table A -2 .
* See footn ote 3, table A -2 .

T able A - 4 : Indexes o f P ro d u ctio n -W o rk er E m p lo y m e n t and W e e k ly P ayrolls in M a n u fa ctu rin g
In d u strie s1
[1939 average=100]

Period
1939: Average_____
1940: Average...,____ .
1941: Average............
1942: Average..... .........
1943: Average______
1944: Average___
1945: Average_____
1946: Average_________
1947: Average________

Employ­ Weekly
ment
payroll
100.0
107.5
132.8
156.9
183.3
178.3
157.0
147.8
156.2

See footn ote 1, tables A -2 and A -3 .


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

100.0
113.6
164.9
241.5
331.1
343.7
293.5
271.7
326.9

Period
1948: Average___
1949: Average............
1950: Average_________
1950: March___
April____ _______
May___________
June....... . .
July_____________

Employ­ Weekly
ment
payroll
155.2
141.6
149.7
141.0
141.6
144.5
147.3
148.3

351.4
325.3
371.7
333.5
337.2
348.0
362.7
367.5

Period
1950: August________
September______
October________
November_____
December________
1951: January.......
February__________
March__ ...

Employ­ Weekly
ment
payroll
156.3
158.9
160.3
159.2
159.4
158.9
160.9
160.9

394.4
403.2
415.8
414.6
426.0
423.7
429.4

REVIEW, MAY 1951

595

A : E M P L O Y M E N T AND P A YR OL LS

T able A - 5 : Federal C ivilian E m p lo y m e n t and P ayrolls, b y Branch and A g en cy Group
[In thousands]
Executive 1
Year and month

Legislative

A ll branches
Total

Defense
agencies2

Post Office
Department

Judicial

All other
agencies

Employment— Total (including areas outside continental United States)

1949: A v era g e ...
1950: A v era g e...

2,100. 5
2 , 080. 5

2,089.2
2,068.6

8S9.2
837.5

511.1
521.4

678.6
709.7

7.7
8.1

3.6
3.8

1950: M arch........
A pril..........
M a y ............
June______
July............
August___
September
O cto b e r...
November.
December.

1,970.6
2 , 110. 9
2Ì061.9
2 , 022.2
1 , 986. 7
2,005.4
2 , 083.2
2| 117. 4
2 , 152.0
2 , 508. 9

1,958.8
2,099.0
2,050.1
2,010.3
1,974. 9
1,993.4
2,071.4
2,105.3
2,139.9
2,496.9

776.3
773.7
775.8
780.6
778.8
806.0
887.3
932.3
970.0
995.9

504.4
503.9
501.9
497.4
491.8
487.1
485.0
483.8
482.2
811.8

678.1
821.4
772.4
732.3
704.3
700.3
699.1
689.2
687.7
689.2

8.0
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.0
8.2
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.1

3.8
3.8
3.8

1951: January...
February..
M arch........

2,204.3
2 , 265.5
2, 332.2

2,192.3
2,253.5
2,320. 2

1,017.3
1,076.8
1,133.4

486.5
487.1
489.0

688.5
689.6
697.8

8.1
8.1
8.2

3.9

3.8
3.8
3.9

Payrolls-—Total (including areas outside continental United States)
$558,273
585', 576

$553,973
580,792

$231,856
235,157

$129,895
135,300

$192,222
210,335

$2,870
3,215

$1,430
1,569

1950: M arch_____
A p ril...........
M a y .............
June_______
July.............
August____
September.
October----Novem ber.
December.,

583,186
539|430
577j 915
573)659
551,510
618' 049
601,454
6I3; 359
6211491
672; 724

578,339
534,757
573,026
568,889
546,806
613,138
596,537
60$; 511
616,609
667,988

225,091
192,199
220,044
221,123
212,778
259,451
261,527
267,622
273,633
275,681

133,461
131,117
130,361
131,202
129,803
130,361
128,764
129,665
129,869
185,732

219,787
211,441
222,621
216,564
204,225
223,326
206,246
211,224
213,107
206,575

3,222
3,232
3,246
3,214
3,206
3,277
3,200
3,250
3,292
3,207

1,625
1,441
1,643
1,556
1,498
1,634
1,717
1,598
1,590
1,529

1951: January..
February.
M arch___

680,926
638; 193
704; 643

676,007
633,514
700,028

319,738
303,042
347,267

132,037
129, 603
129,546

224,232
200,869
223,215

3,249
3,182
3,261

1,670
1,497
1,354

1949: Average.
1950: Average.

Employment— Continental United States

1949: Average1950: Average.

1,921.9
L 930. 5

1,910.7
1,918.7

761.4
732.3

509.1
519.4

640.2
667.0

7.7
8.1

3.5
3.7

1950: M arch........ .
A pril............
M a y ..........
June............ .
J u ly ............
August____
September.
October___
Novem ber.
December..

1,821.5
i; 959.8
h 910.2
I ’, 871. 2
i; 839.4
li 861.0
1¡ 935.9
i; 968.3
2 , 000.3
2 , 352.8

1,809.8
1,948.0
1,898.5
1,859.4
1,827. 7
1,849.1
li 924.1
1,956.3
1,988. 3
2,340.9

670.6
668.2
670.1
674.6
677.2
707.1
785.3
828.3
862.9
885.6

502.6
502.0
500.0
495.5
489.9
485.2
483.1
482.0
480.4
808.9

636.6
777.8
728.4
689.3
660.6
656.8
655.7
646.0
645.0
646.4

8.0
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.0
8.2
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.1

3.7
3.7
3. 7

1951: January..
February.
M arch___

2,047. 4
2 , 105.0
2 , 169. 3

2,035.5
2,093.1
2,157. 3

905.1
961.0
1, 015. 5

484.7
485.3
487.1

645.7
646.8
654.7

8.1
8.1
8. 2

3.8

3.8
3.8
3. 8
3.8

3.8

Payrolls— Continental United States

1949: Average.. .
1950: A v e ra g e ...

$519,529
549,328

$515,269
544, 587

$203, 548
211,508

$129,416
134, 792

$182,305
198,287

$2,870
3,215

$1,390
1,526

1950: M arch........
April..........
M a y ...........
June........ ..
July______
August___
September
O cto b e r...
November.
December.

546,866
506; 707
54l‘, 195
536,052
51OÍ 924
580; 732
563,900
576; 155
583,978
634; 578

542,061
502,074
536,351
531,325
512,261
575,867
559,029
571,357
579,140
629,886

201,071
171, 555
196,249
196, 921
191,109
235,435
237,332
243,233
248,667
250,324

132, 969
130,629
129,841
130, 704
129,316
129,870
128,278
129,178
129,413
185,044

208,021
199,890
210,261
203, 700
191,836
210,562
193,419
198,946
201,060
194,518

3,222
3,232
3,246
3,214
3.206
3,277
3,200
3,250
3,292
3.207

1,583
1,401
1,598
1,513
1,457
1,588
1,671
1,548
1,546
1,485

1951: Jan uary...
February..
M arch____

641,330
601,374
663,508

636,455
596,736
658,931

292,875
277, 870
318,961

131,549
129,123
129,065

212,031
189, 743
210,905

3,249
3,182
3,261

1,626
1,456
1,316

i See footnote 2, table A -7 .


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

2 See footnote 3, table A -7 .

596

A : E M P L O Y M E N T AND P A Y R O L L S

M O N TH LY LABOR

T able A -7 : C ivilian G o v ern m en t E m p lo y m e n t and Payrolls in W a sh in g to n , D. C.,1 b y B ranch and
A g e n c y Group
[In thousands]

Federal
Year and month

District of
Total
Columbia
government
government

Executive ’
Total
All agencies

Defense
agencies ’

Post Office
Department

Legislative
All other
agencies

Judicial

Employment
1949: Average.
1950: Average.

241.8
242.3

19.5
20.1

222.3
222.2

214.0
213.4

70.4
67.5

8.2
8.1

135.4
137.8

7.7
8.1

1950: M arch.........
April______
M a y ...........
June_______
July----------August____
September.
October___
November.
December..

238.9
239.8
240.0
238.7
239.1
240. 7
243. 7
244.8
247.9
256.2

20.1
20.0
20.2
20.0
19.8
19.8
20.0
20.1
20.4
20.3

218.8
219.8
219.8
218.7
219.3
220.9
223.7
224.7
227.5
235.9

210.1
211.0
211.1
209.9
210.6
212.0
215.0
215.8
218.7
227.1

65.5
65.4
65.6
64.8
65.2
66.1
69.3
70.8
72.4
74.1

7.8
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.6
12.7

136.8
137.7
137. 7
137. 4
137. 7
138.2
138.1
137.5
138. 7
140.3

8
8
8
8

253.8
258.4
264.6

20.6
20.4
20.3

233.2
238.4
244.3

224.4
229.6
235.4

74.8
77.4
80.2

7.8
7.7
7.7

141.8
144. 5
147.5

8.2

'.7

1951: January...
February.
M arch___

0. 6
.7

0
1
n
1

8 9
8.2

.*7

8.1

'.7

8 1

Payrolls
1949: A verage...
1950: A verage...

$75, 570
81, 602

$5,050
5,321

$70, 520
76,281

$67, 410
72, 780

$21,119
22,888

$2, 791
2,937

$43, 500
46, 955

$2, 870
3, 215

$240
286

1950: M arch____
April_____
M a y ______
June...........
July______
August___
September
October.. .
November.
December.

83, 331
74,469
84, 018
82, 733
77, 713
85, 472
82, 280
84, 657
85,380
85, 285

5,699
5,029
5, 705
5, 590
4,192
4, 514
5, S47
5,680
5, 796
5,558

77, 632
69, 440
78, 313
77,143
73, 521
80, 958
76, 933
78, 977
79, 584
79, 727

74,132
65,944
74, 785
73, 656
70, 043
77, 372
73,415
75, 424
75, 991
76,228

22, 744
20, 416
22, 607
22,186
21,399
24,459
24, 951
24, 495
24, 545
24, 786

2,926
2,786
2, 872
2,867
2,755
2,918
2,856
2,892
2,888
3,835

48, 462
42,' 742
49' 306
48, 603
45', 889
49| 995
45' 608
48,037
48, 558
47, 607

3 222
3 232
3, 246
3, 214
3 206
3 277
3 200
3, 250
3, 292
3,207

278
264
282
273
272
309
318
303
301
292

1951: January___
February..
M arch____

91,052
84,018
93,438

5,923
5,431
5,466

85,129
78, 587
87,972

81, 564
75,120
84,422

26, 543
25,725
28,987

2,944
2,828
2,916

52, 077
46^ 567
52,519

3, 24 Q
3,132
3, 261

316
285
289

1 D ata for the executive branch of the Federal Government also include
areas m Maryland and Virginia which are within the metropolitan area, as
defined by the Bureau of the Census.
’ Includes Government corporations (including Federal Reserve Banks
and mixed-ownership banks of the Farm Credit Administration) and other
activities performed by Governmental personnel in establishments such as
navy yards, arsenals, hospitals, and force-account construction. Data which
are based mainly on reports to the Civil Service Commission are adjusted to
mamtam continuity of coverage and definition.


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

’ Covers civilian employees of the Department of Defense (Secretary of
.Defense, Arm y, Air Force, and N avy). National Advisory Committee for
Banama Canal, Philippine Alien Property Administration,
Philippine W ar Damage Commission, Selective Service System, National
sion
7 Resourees Board> National Security Council, W ar Claims Com mis.

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

A : E M P L O Y M E N T AND P A YR OLLS

597

T able A - l l : Insured U n em p lo y m en t U n der S tate U n em p lo ym en t Insurance P rogram s,1 b y G eographic
D ivision and S tate
[In thousands]

1951

1950

1949

Geographic division and
State
Feb.
Continental United States_____ _____ 1,025.1

Jan.

Dec.

1,144. 6 1, 045.0

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

April

M ar.

Feb.

Feb,

895.3

782.8

845.7

1,063.2

1, 700.3

1, 908.8

2,112.1

N ew England____ ____________________
M aine______ _____________________
New Hampshire_________________
Verm ont______ _________ . . . . .
Massachusetts___________________
Rhode Island____________________
Connecticut______________________

75.8
7.9
4.6
1.3
41.1
9.2
11.7

91.6
10.2
5.8
1.7
49.8
10.5
13.6

89.0
11.4
6.3
1.7
49.0
9.3
11.3

77.4
10.3
6.8
1.3
41.9
6.9
10.2

65.9
6.8
5.8
1.1
35.6
6.3
10.3

74.5
5.2
6.5
1.4
42.1
8.4
10.9

105.0
7.4
8.8
2.1
55.8
13.7
17.2

155.3
10.1
10.8
3.1
85.3
20.1
25.9

186.5
13.0
12.9
3.4
107.1
26.6
23.5

224.6
19.6
15.6
4.0
124.8
33.6
27.0

225.1
22.7
16.3
4.6
123.6
25.9
32.0

162.5
17.5
13.1
4.5
78.0
15.4
34.0

181.5
19.5
12.3
5.5
89.6
16.3
38.3

180.3
14.4
10.3
3.9
90.1
23.3
38.3

M iddle Atlantic______________________
N ew Y o rk _________ - ___________
New Jersey_______________________
Pennsylvania____________________

281.1
171.8
40.0
69.3

351.4
217.5
51.3
82.6

355.1
238.4
41.1
75.6

354.1
257.8
38.7
57.6

319.0
226.2
35.4
57.4

318.4
221.6
34.3
62.5

369.1
242.2
44.6
82.3

478.4
311.0
60.7
106.7

495.4
307.4
68.1
119.9

481.5
269.2
79.6
132.7

526.0
292.2
84.9
148.9

594.2
319.3
88.3
186.6

622.2
343.1
92.1
187.0

493.5
307.4
71.3
114.8

East North Central__________________
Ohio________________________ ____
Indiana___________________________
Illinois____________________________
Michigan_________________________
W isconsin.____ ___________________

176.4
39.9
14.4
68.1
39.9
14.1

200.7
40.9
14.7
76.5
54.8
13.8

178.0
36.4
13.3
68.2
49.8
10.3

129.0
30.2
8.6
58.6
23.3
8.3

113.1
28.5
9.4
57.5
12.8
4.9

133.6
32.3
7.9
71.3
16.1
6.0

178.4
41.0
8.9
103.6
18.2
6.7

218.4
57.5
13.1
117.5
22.0
8.3

242.4
65.0
14.5
128.6
24.6
9.7

304.0
81.6
19.2
147.6
42.7
12.9

373.4
103.5
26.7
148.1
75.9
19.2

417.6
130.9
34.6
133.2
94.6
24.3

462.3
146.9
38.6
148.4
98.6
29.8

304.4
69.3
35.1
96.7
80.3
23.0

W est North C e n t r a l ...___ _________
Minnesota________________________
Iowa_____________________ _______
Missouri____ _____________________
North Dakota___________ ________
South Dakota___________ ________
Nebraska_________________________
K ansas.______ ____________________

70.3
21.4
7.4
24.2
3.1
2.4
4.8
7.0

65.6
19.3
7.0
24.3
2.4
2.1
4.1
6.4

48.5
12.0
4.3
22.9
1.3
1.1
2.1
4.8

34.7
6.8
2.9
20.0
.3
.5
1.0
3.2

28.4
5.5
2.6
16.2
.2
.3
.8
2.8

29.2
6.3
3.5
15.2
.2
.3
.9
2.8

38.8
8.3
4.5
20.0
.3
.4
1.3
4.0

49.0
10.8
4.8
25.5
.4
.4
1.9
5.2

57.4
13.1
5.1
29.7
.7
.5
2.3
6.0

77.7
23.2
6.2
34.6
2.2
1.0
3.3
7.2

101.7
32.8
8.9
39.3
3.7
1.9
5.4
9.7

124.9
37.8
13.5
44.5
4.6
2.9
8.4
13.2

140.6
40.1
15.8
50.2
4.8
3.5
9.5
16.7

97.2
28.0
11.2
38.4
2.2
2.0
4.9
10.5

South Atlantic____ ___________________
Delaware_____________________
M aryland________________________
District of Columbia____________
Virginia..................... .................. .......
W est Virginia____________________
North Carolina_____ . -------------South Carolina--------- ------------------Georgia-------- ------------------- --------Florida___________________________

83.5
1.6
11.2
3.8
8.0
13.7
17.7
8.2
11.5
7.8

94.3
1.9
13.2
3.3
8.7
14.2
18.0
9.4
14.1
11.5

85.5
1.4
11.2
2.8
7.7
13.0
16.8
8.7
12.9
11.0

70.4
.8
8.5
2.7
5.6
9.4
14.5
8.3
9.7
10.9

69.8
1.0
7.7
2.6
5.3
10.4
12.6
8.8
7.6
13.8

85.3
.9
10.3
3.0
7.2
13.4
15.1
9.6
8.9
16.9

113.0
1.2
16.1
3.4
13.7
16.7
19.0
11.4
12.4
19.1

157.8
1.8
22.1
4.0
22.1
21.8
30.8
15.8
18.9
20.5

165.5
1.9
25.3
4.1
24.1
24.1
33.7
15.4
21.1
15.8

167.7
2.3
29.1
4.6
18.9
23.4
36.7
14.8
23.2
14.7

164.0
2.7
29.3
5.9
15.7
21.8
37.3
14.4
22.8
14.1

172.2
3.5
25.1
6.5
20.9
26.2
34.1
15.5
25.0
15.4

181.1
3.8
29.6
6.6
21.6
27.6
32.5
15.9
26.5
17.0

144.9
2.5
24.3
5.4
16.6
16.3
29.7
12.8
20.5
16.8

East South Central__________________
K entucky________________________
Tennessee...____ _________________
Alabam a_________________________
Mississippi--------------- -------------------

66.0
15.9
25.0
14.3
10.8

65.0
14.3
25.8
15.1
9.8

57.5
13.6
22.2
13.8
7.9

46.6
12.0
16.9
12.3
5.4

42.9
11.5
14.5
12.1
4.8

48.9
12.4
16.5
14.2
5.8

62.1
15.3
22.2
16.9
7.7

78.8
19.4
27.3
22.1
10.0

87.4
22.3
32.6
21.9
10.6

99.5
24.8
36.8
25.4
12.5

105.4
25.2
40.1
25.9
14.2

116.8
29.7
41.9
28.3
16.9

122.9
30.7
45.0
28.6
18.6

100.1
22.1
45.5
20.2
12.3

W est South Central__________________
Arkansas_________________________
Louisiana_________________ _______
Oklahoma________________________
T e x a s ..._________________ _______ _

61.7
12.7
22.4
12.7
13.9

54.0
11.1
18.1
11.1
13.7

43.8
8.4
13.9
9.2
12.3

36.0
6.2
11.7
7.6
10.5

34.8
5.2
12.4
7.0
10.2

41.5
6.9
14.3
8.0
12.3

52.1
7.7
18.1
9.8
16.5

62.8
9.4
21.3
11.4
20.7

69.9
10.4
22.5
12.6
24.4

83.4
14.0
25.8
14.8
28.8

95.0
17.6
29.9
16.9
30.6

107.6
19.9
33.4
19.2
35.1

116.4
23.2
36.4
21.7
35.1

83.1
19.9
23.9
15.6
23.7

M ountain_______ _________________ . . .
M o n ta n a ..._____ ________ ________
Idaho_____________________________
W yom ing_________________________
Colorado__________________________
New Mexico...................... .................
Arizona____________________ ______
U tah............. ......................... ...............
N evada___________________________

30.3
7.3
5.9
1.9
3.1
2.3
3.1
4.7
2.0

28.6
6.2
6.2
1.6
3.1
2.0
3.2
4.4
1.9

19.8
3.7
4.3
.9
2.5
1.7
2.8
2.4
1.5

13.4
1.9
2.0
.4
2.1
1.2
2.6
1.9
1.3

10.2
1.2
.9
.3
1.7
1.0
2.6
1.5
1.0

11.2
1.0
1.0
.3
2.1
1.2
2.9
1.7
1.0

14.6
1.4
1.4
.4
3.2
1.6
3.4
2.1
1.1

18.6
1.9
1.7
.7
4.2
2.0
3.6
3.1
1.4

20.5
2.5
1.5
.9
4.7
2.2
3.6
3.5
1.6

27.8
4.6
3.0
1.4
5.6
2.7
4.2
4.3
2.0

37.9
8.2
5.6
2.0
5.6
3.4
4.7
5.9
2.5

53.9
11.8
9.8
3.2
7.0
4.4
5.8
8.6
3.3

65.7
13.3
12.8
3.9
8.6
5.0
7.1
11.1
3.9

43.3
6.6
7.8
1.9
5.8
3.2
6.6
8.3
3.1

Pacific________________________________
Washington______________________
Oregon.____ ______________ _______
California......... ...................................

179.6
28.8
19.9
130.9

193.2
31.2
22.4
139.6

167.9
26.2
17.9
123.8

133.8
19.0
13.7
101.1

98.8
11.7
7.6
79.5

103.2
11.1
6.4
85.7

129.9
13.2
7.5
109.2

169.4
15.6
9.6
144.2

196.1
16.5
8.3
171.3

234.2
23.9
12.3
198.0

280.4
36.0
20.6
223.8

362.7
54.3
35.0
273.4

432.9
82.6
57.1
293.2

389.1
61.2
40.3
287.6

1 Prior to August 1950, monthly data represent averages of weeks ended in
specified months; for subsequent months, the averages are based on weekly
data adjusted for split weeks in the month and are not strictly comparable
with earlier data. For a technical description of this series, see the April
1950 M onthly Labor Review (p. 382).


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

1, 388. 4 1, 521.1

2,325. 9 1,835.8

Figures m ay not add to exact column totals because of rounding.

Source : U . S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security.

598

MONTHLY LABOR

B : L A B O R TURN -O VER

B : Labor Turn-Oyer
T able B - l : M o n th ly L ab o r T u rn -O v e r R a tes (Per 100 E m p loy ees) in M a n u factu rin g Industries, b y
Class o f T u rn -O v e r 1
Class of turn-over and year

Jan.

Feb.

M ar.

Apr.

M ay

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

N ov.

Dec.

Total separation:
1951_________________________________
1950________________________________
1949________________________________
1948________________________________
1947................................. .........................
1946___________________________ _____
1939___________________________ _____

4.1
3.1
4.6
4.3
4.9
6.8
3.2

* 3 .7
3.0
4.1
4.2
4.5
6.3
2.6

2.9
4.8
4.5
4.9
6.6
3.1

2.8
4.8
4.7
5.2
6.3
3.5

3.1
5.2
4.3
5.4
6.3
3.5

3.0
4.3
4.5
4.7
5.7
3.3

2.9
3.8
4.4
4.6
5.8
3.3

4.2
4.0
5.1
5.3
6.6
3.0

4.9
4.2
5.4
5.9
6.9
2.8

4.3
4.1
4.5
5.0
6.3
2.9

3.8
4.0
4.1
4.0
4.9
3.0

3.6
3.2
4.3
3.7
4.5
3.5

Quit:
1951... _____________ _______________
1950-__________ _____________________
1949.__________ _____________________
1948________________________________
1947________________________________
1946________________________________
1939*_________ ______________ ______

2.1
1.1
1.7
2.6
3.5
4.3
.9

*2.1
1.0
1.4
2.5
3.2
3.9
.6

1.2
1.6
2.8
3.5
4.2
.8

1.3
1.7
3.0
3.7
4.3
.8

1.6
1.6
2.8
3.5
4.2
.7

1.7
1.5
2.9
3.1
4.0
.7

1.8
1.4
2.9
3.1
4.6
.7

2.9
1.8
3.4
4.0
5.3
.8

3.4
2.1
3.9
4.5
5.3
1.1

2.7
1.5
2.8
3.6
4.7
.9

2.1
1.2
2.2
2.7
3.7
.8

1.7
.9
1.7
2.3
3.0
.7

Discharge:
1951________________________________
1950________________________________
1949_____ __________________________
1948________________________________
1947_________________ _______ _______
19 4 6 ...____ ________________________
1939._________________________ ______

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

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

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

.2
.2
.4
.4
.4
.1

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

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

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

.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.1

.4
.2
.4
.4
.4
.1

.4
.2
.4
.4
.4
.2

.3
.2
.4
.4
.4
.2

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

Lay-off:
1951........ ........... ........... ..........................
1950______________________ _________
1949............ ......... ................ .............. .
1 9 4 8 .......................... .............................
1947........ — ............................................
1946........................ ...................................
1939................................. .........................

1.0
1.7
2.5
1.2
.9
1.8
2.2

* .7
1.7
2.3
1.2
.8
1.7
1.9

1.4
2.8
1.2
.9
1.8
2.2

1.2
2.8
1.2
1.0
1.4
2.6

1.1
3.3
1.1
1.4
1.5
2.7

.9
2.5
1.1
1.1
1.2
2.6

.6
2.1
1.0
1.0
.6
2.5

.6
1.8
1.2
.8
.7
2.1

.7
1.8
1.0
.9
1.0
1.6

.8
2.3
1.2
.9
1.0
1.8

1.1
2.5
1.4
.8
.7
2.0

1.3
2.0
2.2
.9
1.0
2.7

Miscellaneous, including military:
1951___________________________ _____
1950___________________ _____________
1949_______________ ______ __________
1948__________________ ____________ _
1947 ............— .......................................
1946____________________ ___________

.7
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

* .6
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.2
.1
.1
.1
.2

.3
.1
.1
.1
.2

.4
.1
.1
.1
.2

.4
.1
.1
.1
.2

.3
.1
.1
.1
.1

.3
.1
.1
.1
.1

Total accession:
1951________________________________
1950________________________________
1949________________________________
1948________________________________
1947...........................................................
1946________________________________
1939________________________________

5.2
3.6
3.2
4.6
6.0
8.5
4.1

* 4 .6
3.2
2.9
3.9
5.0
6.8
3.1

3.6
3.0
4.0
5.1
7.1
3.3

3.5
2.9
4.0
5.1
6.7
2.9

4.4
3.5
4.1
4.8
6.1
3.3

4.8
4.4
5.7
5.5
6.7
3.9

4.7
8.5
4.7
4.9
7.4
4.2

6.6
4.4
5.0
5.3
7.0
5.1

5.7
4.1
5.1
5.9
7.1
6.2

5.2
3.7
4.5
5.5
6.8
5.9

4.0
3.3
3.9
4.8
5.7
4.1

3.0
3.2
2.7
3.6
4.3
2.8

i
Month-to-month changes in total employment in manufacturing indus­
tries as indicated by labor turn-over rates are not comparable with the
changes shown by the Bureau’s employment and payroll reports, for the
following reasons:
(1) Accessions and separations are computed for the entire calendar month;
the employment and payroll reports, for the most part, refer to a 1-week pay
period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
(2) The turn-over sample is not so large as that of the employment
and payroll sample and includes proportionately fewer small plants; certain
industries are not covered. The major industries excluded are: printing,
publishing, and allied industries; canning and preserving fruits, vegetables,
and sea foods; women’s, misses’ and children’s outerwear; and fertilizers.


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

(3)
Plants are not included in the turn-over computations in months when
work stoppages are in progress; the influence of such stoppage is reflected,
however, in the employment and payroll figures. Prior to 1943, rates relate
to production workers only.
* Preliminary figures.
* Prior to 1940, miscellaneous separations were included with quits.
N ote : Information on concepts, methodology, and special studies, etc., is
given in a “ Technical Note on Labor Turn-Over,” October 1949, which is
available upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

REVIEW, MAY 1951

B : L A B O R TURN-OVER

599

T able B - 2 : M o n th ly L ab o r T u rn -O v e r R a tes (Per 100 E m p loyees) in Selected G rou ps and Industries
Separation
Industry group and industry

Total
Feb.
1951

Quit
Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Discharge
Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Total accession

M ise., incl.
military

Lay-off
Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

M a n u f a c t u r in g

Durable goods 3____________________________
Nondurable goods 3.................................... . . . .

3.8
3.2

4.4
3.8

2.3
1.8

2.2
2.0

0.3
.2

0.4
.3

0.6
.8

1.1
.9

0. 6
.4

0. 7
.6

5 1
3.7

5. 7
4.2

Ordnance and accessories________ _________

1.7

3.4

.9

.9

.2

.2

.3

1.7

.3

.6

3.1

2.2

Food and kindred products..........................
M eat products . . . ______________ _____
Grain-mill products. ______ ___________
Bakery products.................. ................... ..
Beverages:
M alt liq u ors........................................

5.2
8.9
3.2
3.4

5.2
6.8
3.4
3.6

2.1
2.1
1.8
2.4

2.2
2.7
2.2
2.3

.4
.5
.5
.3

.4
.6
.5
.3

2.3
5.7
.5
.4

2.0
2. 6
.1
.5

.4
.6
.4
.3

.6
.9
.6
.5

4. 7
4. 2
4. 2
4.2

5.1
7. 4
4. 4
3.4

2.9

4.3

.9

.8

.1

.1

1.6

3.0

.3

.4

4.5

3.2

Tobacco manufactures_____________________
Cigarettes______________________________
Cigars______________ _____ _____ _____ _
Tobacco and snuff____________ ______ _

2.4
2.5
2.0
2.8

4.5
3.0
6. 1
2.1

1.2
.9
1.5
1.0

2.1
1.2
3.0
1.3

.2
.1
.1
.5

.1
.1
.1
.2

.4
.5
.4
.1

1.5
.8
2.3
.1

.6
1.0
(<)
1.2

.8
.9
.7
.5

3.8
2.3
5.0
2.5

3. 4
2.0
4.3
3.6

Textile-mill products____________________ _
Yarn and thread mills_________________
Broad-woven fabric mills_____________
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber_______
Woolen and worsted______________
Knitting m i lls ... _____________________
Full-fashioned hosiery____________
Seamless hosiery__________ _______
K nit underwear___________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles . . . . ____
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___

3.2
3.7
3.2
3.3
3.8
2.6
2.2
3.1
2.5
2.3
2.3

3.5
3.6
4.0
3.7
6.1
3.3
2.4
3.7
3.8
2.5
2.3

1.7
1.7
1.7
1.9
.8
1.8
1.6
1.7
2.0
1.2
1.0

1.8
1.8
1.9
2.0
1.0
2.1
1.7
2.1
2.7
1.1
1.0

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

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

.7
1.1
.5
.4
1.9
.5
.2
1.1
.2
.3
.4

.8
.9
.9
.5
3.8
.7
.2
1.2
.7
.5
.4

.6
.6
.7
.7
.9
.2
.2
.2
.2
.5
.8

.7
.7
.9
.9
1.1
.3
.3
.3
.2
.7
.7

3. 6
4. 0
3.8
3. 7
4. 5
3.1
1.7
3.5
4.4
3.6
2.1

4.2
5.1
4. 4
4.2
5.6
3.2
2.1
2.9
5.1
4.0
2.0

Apparel and other finished textile prod­
ucts_______________________________________
M en ’s and boys’ suits and coats______
M en ’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing............................. .........................

3.7
2.5

4. 1
3.4

2.9
1.8

2.9
2.1

.2
.1

.2
.2

.3
.3

.7
.6

.3
.3

.3
.5

4.8
2.5

5.0
4. 6

3.9

5.0

3.2

3.5

.2

.2

.3

1.0

.2

.3

5.8

6.2

Lumber and wood products (except fur­
niture)-----------------------------------------------------Logging camps and contractors_______
Sawmills and planing mills......... ...........
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products........... .........

4.9
10.7
4.2

6.0
15.6
5.1

2.7
5.6
2.3

2.9
5.8
2.6

.2
.4
.2

.3
.4
.2

1.5
3.3
1.4

2.1
8.8
1.8

.5
1.4
.3

.7
.6
.5

5.1
11.2
4.5

5.3
12.3
4.7

3.6

4.8

2.0

2.4

.2

.4

.6

1.0

.8

1.0

2.9

4.1

Furniture and fixtures ....................................
Household furniture__________ ________
Other furniture and fixtures....................

4.6
4.8
4. 1

6.4
7.0
4.9

3.2
3.3
2.8

3.5
3.5
3.5

.5
.5
.4

.5
.6
.4

.3
.4
.2

1.5
2.0
.2

.6
.6
.7

.9
.9
.8

5.1
5.2
4.9

5.9
5.6
6.5

Paper and allied products...............................
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills___
Paperboard containers and boxes..........

2.7
2.0
3.5

3.5
2.7
4.6

1.5
.9
2.4

1.8
1.2
2.7

.3
.2
.3

.3
.2
.4

.3
.2
.3

.6
.3
.6

.6
.7
.5

.8
1.0
.9

2.6
2.1
3.1

3 .7
2.8
4.9

Chemicals and allied products____________
Industrial inorganic chemicals________
Industrial organic chemicals__________
Synthetic fibers ________ __________
Drugs and medicines__________________
Paints, pigments, and fillers__________

1.7
1.9
1.4
.7
1. 1
2.2

1.9
2.8
1.7
1.2
1.5
2.0

1.0
1.2
.8
.3
.8
1.4

.9
1.5
.7
.4
.8
1.0

.2
.3
.2

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

.2
.1
.1
.2

.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2

.5
.6
.6
.6
.5
.5

2.4
3.2
2.2
.5
1.7
2.5

2.8
4.4
2.3
1.5
2.3
2.5

Products of petroleum and coal___________
Petroleum refining____ ______ _________

.9
.6

1.2
.8

.4
.3

.5
.3

Rubber products___________________________
Tires and inner t u b e s ............................ ..
Rubber footwear_____ _________________
Other rubber products________________

3.4
2.8
4.7
3.5

3.4
2.3
5.2
4.0

1.8
.9
3.1
2.2

2.0
.8
3.5
2.7

Leather and leather products______ _______
Leather.. __________ . _______ ________
Footwear (except rubber)........................

3.5
3.0
4.1

4.0
3.6
4.0

2.3
1.0
2.8

Stone, clay, and glass products____________
Glass and glass products______________
Cement, hydraulic___________ ________ _
Structural clay products______________
Pottery and related products.................

3.1
4.5
1.8
2.6
2.8

3.7
4.7
2.3
3.8
3.2

1.6
1.3
1.1
1.7
2.0

Primary metal industries__________________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills_____________ ___________________
Iron and steel foundries_______________
Gray-iron foundries_______________
Malleable-iron foundries__________
Steel foundries_____________________
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals:
Primary smelting and refining of
copper, lead, and zinc___ _______
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals:
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of
copper____ ___________ . ___
Nonferrous foundries____ . __________
Other primary metal industries:
Iron and steel forgings.............. .......

3.0

3.5

2.1
5.0
4.9
5.4
4.9

2.6
5.3
4.9
5.3
4.4

1.8

1.9

1.8
4.6
3.2

See footnotes at end of tables


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

.2

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

.1

.2
.1

.1
.1

.3
.2

.5
.4

1.6
1.5

1.4
1.1

.2
.1
.3
.3

.2
.1
.2
.4

.9
1.4
.3
.6

.6
.8
.3
.3

.5
.4
1.0
.4

.6
.6
1.2
.6

3.3
1.8
5.2
4.1

4.2
2.1
8.5
5.1

2.6
1.5
2.8

.3
.2
.3

.2
.2
.3

.6
1.3
.5

.6
1.3
.4

.3
.5
.5

.6
.6
.5

4.3
1.9
4.3

6.5
3.6
5.2

1.8
1.7
1.5
2.1
2.0

.2
.2
.3
.3
.3

.3
.3
.2
.3
.3

.8
2.2
m
.2
.2

.8
1.7
.1
.6
.4

.5
.8
.4
.4
.3

.8
1.0
.5
.8
.5

3.4
4.0
1.9
3.3
4.0

4.0
4.1
2.4
4.7
4.1

1.7

1.8

.3

.4

.4

.5

.6

.8

3.2

4.2

1.2
3.0
2.8
3.3
3.2

1.3
3.1
2.7
3.5
3.1

.1
.7
.6
.8
.9

.2
.8
.8
.7
.7

.1
.7
.8
.5
.5

.2
.7
.7
.1
.2

.7
.6
.7
.8
.3

.9
.7
.7
1.0
.4

1.9
6.3
5.4
6.6
7.5

3.0
7.7
6.4
7.3
9.2

.6

.8

.2

.3

.5

.3

.5

.5

.8

2.3

2.4
6.5

.9
2.1

1.1
2.5

.1
.5

.1
.7

.3
1.2

.4
2.0

.5
.8

.8
1.3

1.3
4.6

2.1
5.8

3.4

2.2

2.3

.3

.4

.1

.2

.6

.5

5.9

5.0

«
.1
.4
(4)
«

(4)

(4)

MONTHLY LABOR

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

600

T able B - 2 : M o n th ly L ab or T u rn -O v e r R a tes (Per 100 E m p loy ees) in Selected G rou ps and In du s­
tries l-— C ontinued
Separation

Feb.
1951
M a n u f a c t u r in g —

Discharge

Quit

Total

Industry group and industry

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

M ise., incl.
military

Lay-off

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Continued

Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation
"Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware-----Cutlery and edge tools------------------Hand tools_________________ _______
Hardware--------------------------------- - Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies--------------------Sanitary ware and plumbers’
supplies........ ............................. ..........
Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not
elsewhere classified-------------------Fabricated structural metal products—
Metal stamping, coating, and engraving-----------------------------------------------

4.1
3.3
1.9
2.9
4.0

4.7
4.3
2.8
3.3
5.0

2.3
2.0
1.2
1.6
2.6

2.4
2.5
1.7
1.9
3.1

0.4
.4
.3
.3
.4

0.4
.5
.3
.4
.6

0.9
.3
.2
.3
.4

1.3
.7
.4
.3
.8

0.5
.6
.2
.7
.6

0.6
.6
.4
.7
.5

4.6
4.0
3.5
4.0
4.0

5.4
4.4
3.5
4.0
4.8

4.2

4.8

2.4

2.6

.6

.5

.8

1.0

.4

.7

4.5

5.8

4.9

4.3

2.6

2.9

.8

.6

1.1

.2

.4

.6

4.1

5.5

3.6
3.8

5.5
4.7

2.2
2.1

2.3
2.3

.4
.5

.4
.5

.6
.8

2.0
1.2

.4
.4

.8
.7

4.9
4.0

6.0
5.1

4.5

5.3

3.1

2.4

.3

.3

.5

1.9

.6

.7

6.1

7.1

Machinery (except electrical)--------------------Engines and turbines--------------------------Agricultural machinery and tractors. _
Construction and mining m achinery..
Metalworking machinery--------------------Machine to o ls.. . . . . . ----- . . . .
Metalworking machinery (except
machine tools)----------------------------Machine-tool accessories-------------Special-industry machinery metalworking machinery---------- -----------------General industrial machinery.
..........
Office and store machines and devices..
Service-industry and household machines. ------------------------- -------------------Miscellaneous machinery parts ...........

3.1
3.3
(5)
2.5
3.5
3.4

3.5
3.6
3.4
3.5
4.2
4.4

1.9
1.8

.5
.6

.3
.2
.1
.4
.3

.5
.4
.3
.3
.3

.7
.8
.9
.5
.6
.8

4.8
4.8

.4
.7
.8

.5
.5
.3
.6
.7
.8

.2
.5

1.7
2.3
2.3

2.0
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.6
2.8

4.3
6.3
7.1

5.9
6.7
5.4
6.1
8.3
9.6

3.3
4.1

3.1
4.8

2.0
2.6

2.0
2.5

.5
.7

.4
.8

.5
.5

.1
1.1

.3
.3

.6
.4

4.0
6.7

5.1
7.9

2.9
3.0
2.6

3.3
3.4
2.2

1.8
1.9
1.7

1.8
1.9
1.2

.5
.5
.3

.5
.6
.2

.2
.2

.4
.3
.1

.4
.4
.6

.6
.6
.7

5.0
4.9
3.7

5.3
5.8
3.7

2.9
3.1

3.4
3.3

1.4
1.9

1.4
1.9

.2
.4

.3
.4

.5
.3

.7
.2

.8
.5

1.0
.8

3.7
4.6

4.6
5.4

Electrical machinery----------------------------------Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus---- -------- ----------------- ------------------Communication equipment----------------Radios, phonographs, television
sets, and equipment --------------Telephone and telegraph equipm e n t .. --------------------------------------Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products—
--------------

3.4

4.2

2.0

2.1

.3

.3

.4

1.1

.7

.7

4.9

4.4

2.9
3.4

3.1
5.7

1.7
2.2

1.6
2.7

.3
.3

.2
.5

.3
.2

.8
1.5

.6
.7

.5
1.0

4.4
5.3

3.8
5.5

4.4

7.0

2.2

2.7

.4

.6

2.5

1.3

1.2

6.7

6.5

1.6

1.6

1.1

1.1

.1

.1

.4

.4

2.8

2.3

3.3

4.2

1.8

2.0

.2

.3

.7

1.2

.6

.7

3.6

3.2

Transportation equipment..............................
Automobiles-----------------------------------------Aircraft and parts--------------------------------Aircraft___________ ___ __________
Aircraft engines and parts-------------Aircraft propellers and parts--------Other aircraft parts and equipm e n t .. . . . -------------------------------Ship and boat building and repairing-.
Railroad equipment----------------------------Locomotives and parts____________
Railroad and street cars........ ............
Other transportation equipment...........

5.2
5.5
3.5
3.7
2.6
2.1

5.4
5.2
3.8
4.0
2.4
1.7

3.2
3.7
2.3
2.5
1.8
1.1

2.5
2.5
2.5
2.7
1.5
.9

.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.1

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

.9
.6
.1
.1

1.8
1.6
.1
.1

.8
.9
.8
.8
.5
.9

.8
.9
.8
.8
.5
.7

8.6
7. 7
8.3
9.0
6.2
3.2

9.2
5. 8
10.5
11.2
8.5
5.2

3.1

3.1
14.3
6.0
4.4
9.3
4.1

1.8

1.7
3.6
1.3
1.1
1.7
.9

.6

.5
1.5
.1
.1
.2
.1

.6

.8
.5
.6
.5
1.1
.4

5.6

8.0
39.3
6.0
5.0
7.9
4.1

0
«

6.7
6.7
1.9

0

«

1.7

0
1.5
1.2
1.3

1.3

1.5

1.9

0

«

.3

0
.1
.2

.1

.3
0 1
.1

.2

«

.1
.2

0

«

0

.5
0

0

0
0

0
0
.1

0

0

4.1

0

4.5
.1
.2

.1
8.7
4.0
2.7
6.3
2.7
.5
.2
1. 9

0

.6

0
.6
.4
.5

.5
.4
.7

0

0

5.4

0
5.2
2.9
3.8

4.6
2.3
2.8

2.5

2.6
1.3
4.6

2.1

2.9

1.3

1.5

.2

.5

.1

.3

.5

.6

4.3

6.0

4.3
4.6

5.2
3.6

2.6
3.2

2.8
2.2

.4
.2

.4
.2

.7
.4

1.3
.6

.6
.8

.7
.6

5.3
5.9

6.2
3.3

M etal mining----------------------------------------------Iron________________________ _______ ____
Copper_____________________________ . . .
Lead and zinc. ------------------------------------

3.9
1.5
4.0
3.3

3.8
2.0
4.5
4.0

2.8
.7
3.1
2.4

2.5
.8
3.3
2.6

.4
0

.4
.1
.3
.4

.3
.4

.2
.3
.1
.2

.4
.4
.6
.4

.7
.8
.8
.8

4.0
1.6
3.6
3.4

4.7
2.6
5.4
4.3

Anthracite mining...................... ......................

2.0

2.0

1.1

1.4

0

Bituminous-coal m ining-.................................

3.1

2.3

1.5

1.5

Instruments and related products.................
Photographic apparatus...........................
Watches and clocks-----------------------------Professional and scientific instruments________________________________

2.2
0

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are..

0

(s)

(5)

.6

0

.3

0

2. 2

Nonmanufacturing

Communication:
Telephone....... ......... ................................. ..
Telegraph..................................... ..................

0
0

1.9
1.7

0
0

1 See footnote 1, table B - l . D ata for the current month are subject to
revision without notation; revised figures for earlier months will be indicated by footnotes.


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

1.3
1.1

.3
.3

.1

.1
0
0

0

.2
.7

.3

.2

.3

1.7

2.1

1.2

.3

.3

.4

1.7

2.4

0

.1
0

0
(5)

.1
.2

0
0

3 See footnote 2, table A -2 .
3 See footnote 3, table A -2 . Printing, publishing,
and allied industries are excluded.

.4
.4

0
0

2.0
1.8

4 Less than 0.05.
3 N ot available,

601

C: E A RNIN GS AND HOURS

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

C : Earnings and Hours
T able C - l : H ou rs and Gross E arnings of P roduction W orkers or N on su pervisory E m p loy ees 1
Mining
Meta]
Iron

Total: Metal

Year and month

A vg.
wkly.
earnmgs
$61. 55
65.58

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

40.9 $1.505 $58.91
42.2
1. 554 61.96

39.7
40.9

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earnmgs

Coal
Copper

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

$1.484 $63.96
1. 515 72. 05

Avg.
wkly.
horns

Lead and zinc
Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Anthracite

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Bituminous
Avg.
wkly.
earnings

A vg.
w kly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

42.3 $1.512 $64. 79
45.0
1.601
66.64

41.4 $1. 565 $56. 78
1.602 63.24
41.6

30.2 $1.880 $63. 28
32.1
1.970 70. 35

32.6
35.0

$1.941
2.010

Novem ber____
December_____

62.81
61.81
62.90
63.11
63.40
63.17
64.48
66.38
69.84
69.92
73. 53

41.9
41.1
41.6
41.6
41.6
41.1
41.9
42.2
43.9
43.0
43.9

1.499
1.504
1.512
1.517
1.524
1.537
1.539
1.573
1.591
1.626
1.675

59.62
57. 57
59. 62
59.33
60. 75
61.51
60.97
62.80
66. 53
63. 77
70. 51

40.5
38.9
40.2
39.9
40.8
40.9
40.7
41.1
43.4
41.6
42.3

1.472
1.480
1.483
1.487
1.489
1.504
1.498
1.528
1.533
1.533
1.667

68.49
68.58
68.13
69.42
69. 55
67.95
71.53
72.46
75. 68
78. 78
79.82

44.3
44.3
43.9
44.5
44.3
42.9
44.9
45.2
46.4
46.1
47.2

1.546
1.548
1.552
1.560
1.570
1.584
1.593
1.603
1.631
1.709
1.691

63. 38
63.45
63. 55
63. 71
63.38
62.96
64.73
68.06
71.95
73.01
75. 34

41.7
41.8
41.4
41.4
40.5
39.7
41.1
41.2
42.8
42.3
43.2

1.520
1.518
1.535
1.539
1.565
1.586
1.575
1.652
1.681
1.726
1.744

40.23
80.01
57.25
68.81
64.94
68. 59
65. 77
68.45
75. 59
60.85
65.14

20.6
41.5
29.0
34.7
32.6
34.8
33.2
34.5
37.2
31.0
32.8

1.953
1.928
1.974
1.983
1.992
1.971
1.981
1.984
2.032
1.963
1.986

49. 83
78. 75
72.79
68.37
69.92
69.68
71.04
71.92
72.99
73.27
77. 77

25.4
39.2
36.0
34.1
34.7
34.6
35.5
35.5
36.1
36.4
38.5

1.962
2.009
2.022
2.005
2.015
2.014
2.001
2.026
2.022
2.013
2. 020

February_____

74. 99
72. 96

43.8
43.3

1. 712
1.685

70.98
69. 56

42. 0
41.7

1. 690
1. 668

83.01
78.48

47.3
46.3

1.755
1.695

75.78
73. 61

43.3
42.6

1.750
1.728

71.13
65.43

35.8
29.7

1.987
2. 203

77. 54
76. 56

37.9
34.5

2. 046
2. 219

1950: February

.....

September____

Contract construction

Mining— O ont inued
Crude petroleum and
natural gas production
Petroleum and
natural gas production
(except contract
services)

Nonbuilding construction
Nonmetallic mining
and auarrvine

Total: Non building
construction

1949: Average---------- $71.48
1950: Average.........— 73.69

40.2 $1. 778 $56.38
1.815 59.88
40.6

1951 (¡February--------

71.88
70.88
74.41
70.88
71.08
75.59
71.01
73.47
77.67
76.21
75.58

40.0
39.8
41.2
40.0
40.0
41.6
40.3
40.5
41.4
40.6
40.2

1.797
1.781
1.806
1.772
1.777
1.817
1.762
1.814
1.876
1.877
1.880

54.36
55.37
58.03
59.45
60.39
60.92
61.74
62.51
64.03
63.31
62.12

41.4
41.6
43.6
44.4
44.9
44.6
45.2
45.1
45.8
44.9
43.5

1.313
1.331
1.331
1.339
1.345
1.366
1.366
1.386
1.398
1.410
1.428

77.45
76. 80

40.7
40.4

1.903
1.901

62.52
61.59

43.6
42.3

1.434
1.456

April__________

Septem ber.. .
November . .
December . . .
1951: January_____

Total: Contract construction
Highway and street

37.8 $1.874 $70.44
1.982 73.46
37.2

40.9 $1. 723 $65.65
40.9
1.796 69.17

41.5
41.1

66.89
68.59
70.93
72.74
73.76
74. 06
75.96
75.89
77.92
77. 52
77. 36

34.3
35.1
36.6
37.3
38.0
37.9
38.6
37.7
38.5
38.0
37.3

1.950
1.954
1.938
1.950
1.941
1.954
1.968
2.013
2.024
2.040
2.074

66.94
68.34
71.41
71.71
73.75
73.70
76. 48
75.86
77.65
75.42
75.58

37.8
38.7
40.9
40.7
42.0
41.5
42.7
41.5
42.5
40.9
40.2

1.771
1.766
1.746
1.762
1.756
1.776
1.791
1.828
1.827
1.844
1.880

61.96
63.68
66. 54
68.06
69.86
69.31
73.88
70.84
73.32
70.91
69.49

37.3
38.2
40.7
41.0
42.6
41.5
44.0
41.5
42.8
41.2
39.8

1.661
1.667
1.635
1. 660
1.640
1.670
1.679
1.707
1.713
1.721
1.746

78. 01
75. 47

37.2
35.7

2.097
2.114

75. 41
72. 73

39.5
37.9

1.909
1.919

66.14
65.83

38.1
37.3

1.736
1.765

43.3 $1.302 $70.81
44.0
1.361
73. 73

Other nonbuildmg
construction

$1.583 $73. 66
1.683
76.31

40.5
40.7

$1.820
1.875

69.50
70.76
74.33
74.20
76.84
77.19
78.33
79. 72
80.92
78.59
79. 46

38.0
38.9
41.0
40.5
41.6
41.5
41.6
41.5
42.3
40.7
40.5

1.892
1.819
1.813
1.832
1.847
1.860
1.883
1.921
1.913
1.931
1.962

80.68
76. 75

40.3
38.3

2.002
2. 004

Contract construction— Continued
Building construction
Special-trade contractors
Total:

.B u ild in g c o n -

General contractors
Total: Special-trade
contractors

1950: Average----------

$70.95
73.73

36.7 $1.935 $67.16
2.031
68. 56
36.3

36.2 $1.855 $75. 70
1.915
77. 77
35.8

Plumbing and heating

Painting and
decorating

Electrical work

37.2 $2.034 $78.60
2.119 81.72
36.7

38.6 $2.037 $70. 75
38.4
2.128
71.26

35.7 $1.982 $86. 57
35.4
2. 013 89.16

39.2
38.4

$2.211
2. 322

N ovem ber____
December_____

67.00
68.83
70.70
72.93
73.82
74.02
75.99
75.86
77.87
78.07
77.80

33.7
34.5
35.6
36.5
37.0
36.9
37.6
36.7
37.4
37.3
36.7

1.988
1.995
1.986
1.998
1.995
2.006
2.021
2.067
2.082
2.093
2.120

61.60
63. 80
65.98
67.87
68.33
68.77
70.87
70.73
72.71
72.94
71.69

32.8
33.9
35.3
36.1
36.6
36.6
37.2
36.2
37.0
36.8
35.7

1.878
1.882
1.869
1.880
1.867
1.879
1.905
1.954
1.965
1.982
2.008

71.00
72.59
74. 49
76.95
77.92
78.16
79.72
79.62
81.95
82.00
82.24

34.3
34.9
35.9
36.8
37.3
37.2
37.8
37.0
37.8
37.7
37.4

2.070
2.080
2.075
2.091
2.089
2.101
2.109
2.152
2.168
2.175
2.199

75.65
78.02
78.78
81.14
82.64
80.45
81.56
83.67
84.65
85.08
86. 53

36.9
37.6
37.8
38.4
39.0
38.0
38.6
38.4
38.9
39.1
39.1

2.050
2.075
2.084
2.113
2.119
2.117
2.113
2.179
2.176
2.176
2. 213

67.16
66.30
66.61
69.06
69.15
71.62
73. 33
72.89
76.62
74.93
74.60

33.8
33.5
34.3
35.0
35.3
36.1
36.3
35.8
36.8
36.2
35.9

1.987
1.979
1.942
1.973
1.959
1.984
2.020
2.036
2.082
2.070
2.078

87.58
83.62
84. 85
86.18
87.55
86.60
89.16
92.38
94.04
95.01
96. 44

38.7
37.0
37.1
37.8
38.4
37.9
38.7
38.7
39.2
39.1
39.9

2.263
2.260
2.287
2.280
2. 280
2.285
2.304
2.387
2.399
2.430
2.417

1951: January_______
February______

78. 46
75.86

36.7
35.2

2.138
2.155

71.85
67.87

35.8
33.6

2.007
2.020

83.40
81.65

37.4
36.4

2.230
2.243

87.19
85. 91

39.1
38.3

2.230
2.243

74. 55
75.58

35.3
3. 57

2.112
2.117

99.58
96. 77

40.2
39.1

2. 477
2.475

1950: February.
M arch_______

July_______

.

September____

See footnotes at end of table.
9 4 1 2 9 8 —

5 1 ----------7


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

602

C: E A R N IN OS AND HOURS

M O N TH LY LABOR

T able C - l : H ours and Gross E arnings of Production W o rkers or N on su pervisory E m p loyees

C on .

C on tract construction— C on tin u ed
Building construction— Continued
Special-trade contractors— Continued
Year and month
Other special-trade
contractors
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1949: Average___
1950: Average___

$71. 39
74. 71

36.1
35.8

1950: February...
M arch.........
A p r il...........
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August____
September.
October___
Novem ber.
December..

64.12
67.76
71.44
74. 46
75. 81
76. 75
78. 57
76. 59
79.06
79. 07
78.23

31.6
33.1
35.0
36. 2
36.8
36. 9
37.7
36.3
37.1
37.0
36.2

2. 029
2.047
2. 041
2. 057
2. 060
2. 080
2. 084
2.110
2.131
2.137
2.161

1951: January.
February.

79.21
77.06

36.2
34.9

2.188
2. 208

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Plastering and lath­
ing

Masonry

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1. 979 $68. 72
2.087
70.85

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Roofing and sheetmetal work

Carpentry

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Excavation and foun­
dation work
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

33.8 $2. 033 $80.39
33.9
2.090 86.70

34.9 $2.301 $67.14
35.0
2.477 69.86

36.6 $1. 837 $62.86
37.0
1.888 64.49

35.7 $1. 759 $69. 66
35.3
1.827 74.92

37.8
38.6

$1.844
1.941

54. 29
58.00
67.39
70. 98
74. 27
73. 91
76. 50
71.88
77.36
80. 53
72.06

26.1
28.1
32.2
33.8
35.1
34.7
36.0
33.2
35.6
37.3
33.3

2. 080
2. 064
2. 093
2.100
2.116
2.130
2.125
2.165
2.173
2.159
2.164

75.44
81.09
83. 66
88.86
90. 65
91.73
93.11
92.89
93. 07
87.49
93.14

32.2
33.9
34.7
35.7
36.1
36.2
36.4
36.6
36.2
34.9
35.7

2.343
2. 392
2.411
2. 489
2. 511
2. 534
2. 558
2.538
2. 571
2. 507
2.609

58. 66
63. 49
64. 79
65. 58
67.40
67. 90
70. 50
71.17
71.17
72.80
70.92

32.0
34.3
36.5
36.7
37.3
37.7
38.4
38.2
37.4
37.8
35.8

1.833
1.851
1.775
1.787
1.807
1.801
1.836
1.863
1.903
1.926
1.981

53. 64
57. 99
61.64
65.05
65. 70
65. 77
68. 50
65. 99
68.19
67.64
66.36

30.0
31.9
34.3
35.9
36.6
36.4
37.7
36.2
36.8
36.6
35.6

1.788
1.818
1.797
1.812
1.795
1.807
1.817
1.823
1.853
1.848
1.864

62.62
67. 69
73. 59
74.10
74.74
73. 57
77.26
75. 01
78. 40
79. 97
80.39

33.2
35. 7
39.1
39.0
39.4
38. 7
40. 6
38. 0
38.6
38.3
38.5

1 88fi
1 89fi
1 882
1.900
1. 897
1. 901
1 908
1. 974
2 081
2. 088
2.088

76.32
67.15

34.8
30.9

2.193
2.173

91.72
94.33

35.4
35.8

2. 591
2.635

74.09
70.38

36.0
34.0

2.058
2.070

66. 74
64.58

35.2
33.9

1.896
1.905

79.99
81.02

38.4
37.7

2.083
2.149

Manufacturing

Food and kindred products
Total: Manufacturing

Durable goods 2

1949: Average.. . . . $54. 92
. 59.33
1950: Average___

39.2 $1.401 $58.03
40.5
1.465
63.32

39.5
41.2

1950: February_____
M arch......... .
Ap ril.. _ . . . .
June__________
July---------------August_______
September____
October_______
Novem ber____
December___

56.37
56. 53
56.93
57. 54
58.85
59. 21
60.32
60. 64
61.99
62. 23
63.88

39.7
39.7
39.7
39.9
40. 5
40. 5
41. 2
41.0
41.3
41.1
41.4

1.420
1.424
1.434
1.442
1.453
1.462
1.464
1.479
1. 501
1. 514
1.543

59.47
59. 74
61.01
61.57
62. 86
63.01
64.33
65.14
66.39
66.34
68.32

40.1
40.2
40.7
40.8
41.3
41.1
41.8
41.7
42.1
41.8
42.2

1.483
1.486
1.499
1.509
1. 522
1.533
1.539
1. 562
1.577
1. 587
1.619

1951: January_______
February_____

63.71
63.76

41.0
40.9

1. 554
1.559

67.77
68.10

41.6
41.6

1.629
1.637

M ay_________

Nondurable goods 3

$1. 469 $51.41
1.537 54. 71

Total: Ordnance and
accessories

Total: Food and kin­
dred products

38.8 $1. 325 $58. 76
39.7
1.378 64. 79

40.0 $1. 469 $53. 58
41.8
1.550 56.07

41.5 $1.291
41.5
1.351

53.06
53. 04
52.17
52.83
53. 92
54. 73
55.65
55.30
56. 58
57.19
58.44

39.3
39.2
38.5
38.9
39.5
39.8
40.5
40.1
40.3
40.3
40.5

1.350
1.353
1.355
1.358
1.365
1.375
1.374
1.379
1.404
1.419
1.443

60. 88
61.31
61.43
61.66
61. 90
64.92
66.12
67.41
68.64
70.53
68.34

40.4
40.6
40.6
40.7
40.7
42.6
42.6
43.1
43.2
43.4
42.5

1. 507
1.510
1.513
1.515
1. 521
1.524
1. 552
1.564
1.589
1.625
1.608

54. 05
54.42
54.14
54.90
56. 01
56.94
56.19
56.36
56.83
58.07
59.85

40. 7
40.7
40.4
41.0
41.8
42.3
41.9
42.0
41.6
41.9
42.3

58.68
58.32

40.3
40.0

1.456
1.458

68.85
70.66

41.7
42.8

1.651
1.651

60. 25
59.08

41.9
41.0

M eat products

$1 3S4
1.444

$57.44
60.07

41. 5
41.6

1.328
1.337
1.340
1.339
1. 340
1.346
1.341
1.342
1.366
1.386
1.415

55. 99
56.14
55.64
57.10
58.11
59. 31
57. 92
62. 59
61. 24
65.49
69.92

40. 4
40 3
39. 8
40. 7
41. 3
41.8
40 7
41. 7
40 8
43. 4
45.2

1 509
1.547

1.438
1.441

65. 78
60.64

42 8
40.0

1 537
l! 516

1
1
1
1
1
1

386
.393
398
403
407
419

1 501

M anufacturin g— C on tin u ed
F o o d an d k in d red produ cts— C on tin u ed

M eat packing

1949: Average______
1950: Average_____

$58. 02
60.94

1950: February____
M arch_______
April_________
M a y .......... .
June_________
J u ly ................
August______
September___
October______
November___
December___
1951: January..........
February____

Sausages and casings

Dairy products

Condensed and evap­
orated milk

41.5 $1. 398 $57.44
41.6
1.465 60.80

41.9 $1.371 $54.61
42.4
1.434
56.11

44.8 $1.219 $56.13
44.5
1.261
57.36

45.3
45.6

56. 50
56. 92
56. 22
57. 55
58. 65
60. 01
58.48
63. 77
62. 23
66. 55
71.48

40.3
40. 4
39.7
40. 5
41.1
41.7
40. 5
41.6
40.7
43.3
45. 5

1.402
1.409
1.416
1.421
1.427
1.439
1.444
1. 533
1. 529
1. 537
1.571

56.91
57.31
57.04
60.67
61.39
62. 60
60. 69
62.45
60. 78
65. 58
67.23

41.3
41.2
40.6
43.0
43.6
43.9
42.8
42.8
41.4
43.2
43.8

1.378
1.391
1.405
1.411
1.408
1.426
1.418
1.459
1.468
1. 518
1.535

54.88
54.63
54. 79
55. 02
55.85
57. 21
56.57
56.81
56. 74
56.62
57.68

43.8
43.7
43.9
44.3
45.0
45.3
45.0
44.7
44.5
44.1
44.3

1.253
1.250
1.248
1.242
1.241
1.263
1.257
1.271
1. 275
1.284
1.302

55.37
55. 57
56. 51
56. 61
58.02
58. 86
58.16
58. 59
57.58
57. 91
58.90

44.4
44.6
45.5
45.8
46.9
46.2
46.6
46.1
45.7
45.1
45.2

1.247
1.246
1.242
1.236
1.237
1.274
1.248
1.271
1.260
1.284
1.303

66.95
61.44

43.0
40.0

1.557
1. 536

66. 22
62.83

43.0
41.2

1.540
1.525

59.05
59. 54

44.1
44.1

1.339
1.350

60.84
61.20

45.0
45.0

1.352
1.360

See footnotes at end of table.


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

lee cream and ices

$1.239 $55.00
1.258
57. 29

Canning and preserv­
ing

44.9 $1.225 $43.77
44.1
1.299 46.81

38.8
39.3

$1.128
1.191

56. 50
56.44
56.10
56.20
54.99
57.49
57. 50
58.43
58.74
58. 76
60.79

44.0
44.2
44.0
44.5
43.3
44.6
44.2
44.2
44.1
43.4
44.5

1.284
1.277
1.275
1.263
1.270
1. 289
1.301
1.322
1.332
1.354
1.366

44.94
44. 79
44.32
45. 01
45. 94
47. 73
47.91
47.18
49. 05
48.06
46.82

37. 7
36.8
36.3
37. 2
38.9
41.4
40.6
41.1
40. 5
38.6
37.4

1.192
1. 217
1. 221
1.210
1.181
1.153
1.180
1.148
1.211
1.245
1.252

61.27
61.37

44.4
43.9

1.380
1.398

49.86
49.73

38.5
38.4

1 295
1.295

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

C: E A RNIN GS AND HOURS

603

T able C - l : H ou rs and Gross Earnings of Production W orkers or N on supervisory E m p loy ees 1— C on .
Manufacturing— Continued
Food and kindred products— Continued
Year and month

Grain-mill products

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Flour and other
grain-mill products

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

43.8 $1.300
43.3
1.363

$58.91
60.95

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Prepared feeds

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

44.7 $1.318
44.1
1.382

$54.98
57. 21

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1949: Average.........
1950: Average_____

$56.94
59.02

1950: February____
M a rch .......... .
April.............. .
M a y _________
June............... .
July.................
August...........
September___
October..........
Novem ber___
December___

55.48
56.83
55.82
56.35
58.47
60.60
63.65
61.34
59.97
59.78
63.60

42.0
42.6
42.1
42.4
43.9
44.3
45.4
44.0
43.3
42.7
44.2

1.321
1.334
1.321
1.329
1.332
1.368
1.402
1.394
1.385
1.400
1.439

58.02
58.28
56.16
57.36
58.51
61.86
67.35
64. 66
60.85
61.42
66.55

43.2
43.3
42.1
42.9
43. 5
44.6
46.8
45.5
43.4
43.5
45.8

1.343
1.346
1.334
1.337
1.345
1.387
1.439
1.421
1.402
1.412
1.453

1951: January..
February.

65.33
64.02

44.9
43.7

1.455
1.465

67.82
65.39

46.2
45.0

1. 468
1.453

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Bakery products

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Sugar

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Cane-sugar refining

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

46.2 $1.190 $51.67
45.3
1.263 53.54

41.7 $1.239 $56.01
41.5
1.290 59. 94

42.4 $1.321 $56.62
43.0
1.394 61.83

42.1
43.0

$1.345
1.438

51.37
54.86
56.06
55. 72
57. 63
60.96
57.62
59.14
59.89
59.00
61.10

42.7
44.6
45.5
44.9
46.7
47.7
45.3
45.7
46.0
44.7
45.6

1.203
1.230
1.232
1.241
1.234
1.278
1.272
1.294
1.302
1.320
1.340

52.96
52. 75
52.37
53.12
53.21
53.88
54. 34
53.85
54.19
54. 47
55.04

41.6
41.5
41.2
41.6
41.9
41.7
41.8
41.2
41.4
41.3
41.6

1.273
1.271
1.271
1.277
1.270
1.292
1.300
1.307
1.309
1.319
1.323

55.44
55.92
55.32
57.59
59.23
66.36
64.64
63. 54
56.90
61.10
63.43

39.8
40.2
39.4
41.4
42.4
45.7
45.3
43.7
41.9
45.7
45.7

1.393
1.391
1.404
1.391
1.397
1. 452
1.427
1.454
1.358
1.337
1.388

55.36
56.84
55.00
61.11
62.12
73.01
71.43
69.01
56.83
57.29
67.67

39.8
40.6
39.4
43.4
43.9
49.4
48.2
45.7
39.6
40.4
45.6

1.391
1.400
1.396
1.408
1.415
1.478
1.482
1.510
1.435
1.418
1.484

61.78
59.84

45.8
44.1

1.349
1.357

54.72
55.19

41.3
41.4

1.325
1.333

59. 20
62. 27

40.0
40.7

1.480
1.530

61.72
63.60

42.1
42.4

1.466
1.500

M anufacturing— C ont inued
Food and kindred products— Continued

Beet sugar

Confectionery and
related products

Confectionery

1949: Average_______ $56.09
1950: Average_______ 58.69

42.3 $1.326 $45.12
46.72
42.5
1.381

40.0
39.9

1950: February_____
M arch...............
April__________
M a y ....... ...........
June__________
July___________
August________
September____
October_______
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber.--

56.42
54.68
57. 74
52. 25
54.29
56.37
56.01
58.04
57.35
64.07
62.06

39.4
38.7
39.6
37.7
39.2
38.9
40.5
40.9
42.8
47.6
45.1

1.432
1.413
1.458
1.386
1.385
1.449
1.383
1.419
1.340
1.346
1.376

45. 26
45.19
43. 77
45.36
46.37
45. 98
47.99
49.35
49.00
48.15
47.71

39.7
39.4
37.9
39.1
39.6
38.8
40.5
41.3
41.0
40.5
40.4

1.140
1.147
1.155
1.160
1.171
1.185
1.185
1.195
1.195
1.189
1.181

42.60
42. 92
41.59
43.56
44.36
44.16
45.82
47.13
47.19
47.10
47.30

39.3
39.2
37.6
39.0
39.4
38.6
40.3
41.2
41.0
41.1
41.6

1.084
1.095
1.106
1.117
1.126
1.144
1.137
1.144
1.151
1.146
1.137

1951: J a n u a ry .____
February____

57.06
60.99

38.4
40.1

1.486
1.521

49.86
49.03

40.7
39.7

1.225
1.235

48.56
47.12

41.4
39.9

1.173
1.181

$1.128 $42. 63
1.171
44.81

Beverages

39.8 $1.071 $64. 21
1.123 67.49
39.9

Bottled soft drinks

M alt liquors

41.0 $1.566 $48.40
41.0
1.646 49.12

43.8 $1.105 $69.46
42.9
1.145
72.66

41.1
40.8

$1. 690
1.781

64. 52
65.16
66.38
66.71
68.96
71.11
68.39
67.86
68.14
67.81
68.78

40.0
40.1
40.7
41.1
42.0
42.3
41.3
41.2
41.0
40.9
40.6

1.613
1.625
1.631
1.623
1.642
1.681
1.656
1.647
1.662
1.658
1.694

46.98
46. 72
47.90
48.64
51.29
50.34
49.78
49. 53
49. 92
50.30
50.36

42.4
41.9
42.5
43.2
44.1
43.1
43.1
42.7
43.0
43.1
42.9

1.108
1.115
1.127
1.126
1.163
1.168
1.155
1.160
1.161
1.167
1.174

69.32
70. 42
72.19
72.82
74. 95
77.86
73.25
72. 71
72.48
73.02
74.01

40.0
40.1
40.9
41.4
42.2
42.9
40.9
40.8
40.2
40.5
39.9

1.733
1.756
1.765
1.759
1.776
1.815
1.791
1.782
1.803
1.803
1.855

72.13
71.59

41.5
40.7

1.738
1.759

50.20
50.72

42.8
42.8

1.173
1.185

76.99
77.71

40.8
40.6

1.887
1.914

Manufacturing— Continued
Food and kindred products— Continued
Distilled, rectified,
and blended liquors

Miscellaneous food
products

1949: Average_______ $57.00
1950: Average_______ 61.94

39.2 $1.454 $52.17
1.537 54.99
40.3

1950: February_____
M arch________
April...... ...........
M a y ...................
J u n e .............
J u l y . . . .............
August________
September____
October...........
N ovem ber____
December____

65.18
64. 95
65.31
66.46

38.5
39.2
38.8
38.7
39.7
39.2
41.8
42.0
40.8
41.6
41.8

1.524
1.491
1.486
1.485
1.495
1.518
1. 579
1. 552
1.592
1. 570
1.590

1951: January_______ 73.25
February......... 69.93

43.6
41.6

1.680
1.681

58. 67
58.45
57.66
57.47
59.35
59. 51

66.00

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Tobacco manufactures
Total: Tobacco
manufactures

41.9 $1.245 $37.25
42.2
1.303
41.08

37.1
37.9

52.65
53. 71
53.15
53.16
54.82
56.15
56.50
56.16
56.06
56.44
56.85

41.1
41.6
41.2
41.6
42.2
42.8
43.0
43.0
42.6
42.5
42.3

1.281
1.291
1.290
1.278
1.299
1.312
1.314
1.306
1.316
1.328
1.344

38.48
39.49
38. 59
39.67
41.59
42.12
43.37
42.02
41.21
42.45
43.72

59.05
59.16

42.7
42.2

1.383
1.402

44.04
43.09

Cigarettes

n.004 $46.33

Cigars

1.084

50.19

37.7 $1.229 $32.41
39.0
1.287 35.76

36.2
36.7
35.5
36.7
38.3
38.4
39.5
39.2
38.3
37.8
38.9

1.063
1.076
1.087
1.081
1.086
1.097
1.098
1.072
1.076
1.123
1.124

46.96
48. 65
48.41
47. 99
51.21
52.50
57.94
50.36
45.10
50.07
54.11

37.3
38.7
38.0
37.7
40.1
40.6
43.6
39.5
35.4
37.9
40.2

1.259
1.257
1.274
1.273
1.277
1.293
1.329
1.275
1.274
1.321
1.346

33.87
33. 71
31.38
34.49
35.49
35.11
36.11
37.57
39.35
39.50
38.40

35.8
35.3
33.0
36.3
37.2
36.8
37.5
38.1
39.0
38.5
38.1

38.6
37.7

1.141
1.143

55.28
52.95

40.5
39.4

1.365
1.344

38.04
37.88

37.4
37.1

Tobacco and snuff

36.7 $0.884 $39.10
42.79
36.9

37.2
37.7

.946
.955
.951
.950
.954
.954
.963
.986
1.009
1.026
1.008

40.04
40.92
41.96
40.88
43.31
44.54
45. 77
44.23
44.24
42.97
44.77

36.3
36.8
37.4
35.7
38.5
38.9
39.7
39.0
38.5
36.6
38.1

1.145
1.125
1.145
1.153
1.134
1.149
1.174
1.175

1.017

44.63
44.95

37.5
37.9

1.190
1.186

1.021

$1.051
1.135
1.103

1.112
1.122

604
T

a b le

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

M O N THLY LABOR

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
M anufact uring— Continued
Tobacco manufac­
tures— Con.

Year and month

Tobacco stemming
and redrying

Textile-mill products

Total: Textile-mill
products

Y a m and thread
mills

Broad-woven fabric
mills

Yarn mills

Cotton, silk, syn­
thetic fiber
United States

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings
1949: Average---------- $34. 20
1950: Average_______ 37.59

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

38.3 $0.893 $44.83
39.4
.954 48. 95

1.001

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

37.7 $1.189 $40.51
39.6
1.236 45.01
1.209
1.209
1.204
1.204
1.208

1950: February-------M arch_____
April-------- - - M a y ________
June. ----------July---------------August- --------September____
October___ -November____
December____

35.34
39.58
39.14
37.19
40.11
40.16
35. 24
39.26
37.37
34.53
38. 52

35.3
38.5
38.0
36.5
38.6
39.1
38.1
43.1
41.2
35.6
40.0

1.028
1.030
1.019
1.039
1.027
.925
.911
.907
.970
.963

47.88
47.39
45. 51
45.63
46.75
47. 27
49. 33
49.98
52. 58
53.19
53. 57

39.6
39.2
37.8
37.9
38.7
39.0
40.5
40.7
40.6
40.7
40.8

1.212

1.218
1.228
1.295
1.307
1.313

43.84
42.67
40. 80
41.62
42.68
43.24
44. 96
46.40
49.33
49. 57
49.90

1951: January---------February--------

39. 22
36. 54

40.1
35.2

.978
1.038

53.86
53. 98

40.8
40.8

1.320
1.323

49. 61
49. 90

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

37.2
40.1

$1.153
1.197

36.4 $1.113 $40. 55
38.9
1.157
45.09

36.3 $1.117 $44.48
1.162 49.28
38.8

37.5 $1.186 $42.89
40.1
1.229
48.00

39.0
38.0
36.4
36.9
37.8
38.2
39.4
40.1
40.2
40.3
40.6

1.128
1.129
1.132
1.141
1.157
1.227
1.230
1.229

43.88
42. 60
40.65
41.77
42. 79
43.36
45. 34
46. 56
49.16
49. 61
49. 90

38.9
37.8
36.1
36.8
37.7
38.1
39.6
40.0
40.0
40.2
40.5

1.128
1.127
1.126
1.135
1.135
1.138
1.145
1.164
1.229
1.234
1.232

48.16
47.72
45. 81
45.82
46.92
47. 52
49. 29
49. 90
53.17
53.68
54. 36

40.1
39.8
38.4
38.5
39.2
39.5
40.8
41.1
40.9
41.1
41.4

40.5
40.6

1.225
1.229

49. 82
50.14

40.5
40.6

1.230
1.235

54. 57
54. 30

41.5
41.2

1.124
1.123

1.121

1.201

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1.199
1.193
1.190
1.197
1.203
1.208
1. 214
1.300
1.306
1.313

47.07
46.88
44. 66
44.35
45. 24
45.90
47.86
48.62
52.29
52. 62
53. 33

40.2
40.0
38.4
38.3
38.9
39.3
40.7
41.1
41.3
41.4
41.7

1.171
1.172
1.163
1.158
1.163
1.168
1.176
1.183
1.266
1.271
1.279

1.315
1.318

53. 50
53. 50

41.8
41.6

1.280
1.286

Manufacturing— Continued
Textile-mill products— Continued
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber —Continued

Full-fashioned hosiery
Woolen and worsted

$41.92
47.08

United States

1949: Average---------- $46.36
1950: Average............ 51.23

38.0 $1.220
1.265
40.5

1950: February-------- 50.06
M arch------------ 49.57
April--------------- 47.98
M a y __________ 47. 74
J u n e ... - - - -- 48.27
July---------------- 49.03
August----------- 50.80
September------ 51.58
October____ 55.94
Novem ber____ 56.16
December____ 56. 37

40.6
40.2
39.1
39.0
39.4
39.8
41.0
41.1
41.5
41.6
41.6

1.233
1.233
1.227
1.224
1.225
1.232
1.239
1.255
1.348
1.350
1.355

46.20
46.00
43.70
43.40
44.31
45.08
46.97
47.83
51.25
51.50
52.46

40.1
39.9
38.2
38.1
38.7
39.2
40.6
41.2
41.3
41.3
41.8

1.152
1.153
1.144
1.139
1.145
1.150
1.157
1.161
1.241
1.247
1.255

1951: January----------

41.8

1.359

52.46

41.8

1.255

56.81

Knitting mills

South

North

37.0 $1.133 $51.19
54. 01
40.0
1.177

38.9 $1.316 $41.47
39.8
44.13
1.357

36.8
47.4

52.51
51.00
50.94
51.94
53.36
53. 51
54.21
54.81
56. 30
58.08
58.39

39.6
38.9
38.8
39.5
40.3
40.2
40.7
40.9
39.1
40.0
40.1

1.326
1.311
1.313
1.315
1.324
1.331
1.332
1.340
1.440
1.452
1.456

43.38
43. 55
40.60
40.67
41.85
42.77
45.67
45.63
47.67
47.91
47.24

37.2
37.0
35.0
35.0
36.2
37.0
39.2
38.9
39.2
38.7
38.1

1.166
1.177
1.160
1.162
1.156
1.156
1.165
1.173
1.216
1.238
1.240

53.16
54. 25
49.02
49.76
50.62
52.06
54.94
54.35
57.87
58. 73
57. 41

37.2
38.1
35.6
36.4
37.3
38.0
39.7
39.1
39.5
39.1
38.4

58.76
56. 88

40.3
39.2

1.458
1.451

48. 27
49. 40

38.1
38.9

1.267
1. 270

59. 60
60.92

38.4
39.1

$1.127 $52.09
1.180 53. 63

37.5 $1.389
37.9
1.415

North
$53.98
54. 25

36.9
37.7

$1.463
1.439

1.429
1.424
1.377
1.367
1.357
1.370
1.384
1.390
1.465
1.502
1.495

55. 65
55.80
48.82
49.90
50.42
50.73
55.06
54.12
58.52
60.29
57.87

37.2
37.5
35.4
36.4
37.4
37.3
39.7
39.3
39.3
39.1
37.8

1.496
1.488
1.379
1.371
1.348
1.360
1.387
1.377
1.489
1.542
1.531

1.552
1.558

60. 98

37.5

1.626

M anufacturing— C ontinued
Textile-mill products— Continued
Full-fashioned ho­
siery— Continued
South
38.2
38.2

1950: February_____
M arch________
April_________
M a y __________
J u n e ... ------July__________
August_______
September___
October----- --November____
December____

51.14
53.02
49.09
49.61
50.82
53.19
54.83
54.68
57.18
57.47
57. 28

37.3
38.7
35.7
36.4
37.2
38.6
39.7
39.0
39.6
39.2
39.1

1.371
1.370
1.375
1.363
1.366
1.378
1.381
1.402
1.444
1.466
1.465

1951: January_____

58.59

39.4

1.487


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

Knit outerwear
United States

1949: Average---------- $50.31
1950: Average---------- 53. 33

See footnotes at end of table.

Seamless hosiery

$1.317 $31.45
1.396 34.94

North

35.5 $0.886 $35.06
35.8
38.12
.976

37.7
38.2

34.50
33.29
31.78
31.17
33.13
33.36
37.11
36.98
38.08
38.31
37. 65

36.2
34.5
32.8
32.2
34.3
35.0
38.1
37.5
37.7
37.6
36.8

.953
.965
.969
.968
.966
.953
.974
.986
1.010
1.019
1.023

36.88
36. 47
35.90
36.47
36.83
35.88
39.42
39.62
40.35
41. 59
41.25

38.1
37.4
36.6
37.1
37.5
36.8
39.5
39.0
39.1
39.5
39.1

38. 30
39. 21

37.0
37.7

1.035
1. 040

40. 90

38.4

K nit underwear

South
$0. 930 $30.78
.998 34. 37

35.1
35.4

.968
.975
.981
.983
.982
.975
.998
1.016
1.032
1.053
1.055

34.11
32. 65
31.01
30.11
32.42
32.93
36.63
36.46
37.59
37.65
36.98

35.9
33.9
32.1
31.2
33.7
34.7
37.8
37.2
37.4
37.2
36.4

.950
.963
.966
.965
.962
.949
.969
.980
1.005
1.012
1.016

42.74
43.80
43.05
42.75
43. 42
42.14
43.90
42.75
46.43
46.10
45.42

38.3
38.9
38.2
37.9
38.7
37.9
39.3
38.0
40.2
39.4
38.2

1.116
1.126
1.127
1.128
1.122
1.112
1.117
1.125
1.155
1.170
1.189

1.065

37.62

36.7

1.025

47. 42
48.43

39.0
39.7

1.216
1.220

$0.877 $40.96
.971
43.73

38.1
38.6

$1.075 $36. 34
1.133
39.60

36.2
37.5

$1.004
1.056

38.42
38.40
35. 71
35. 26
36.30
38.31
41.17
42.63
43.43
43.06
43.11

37.3
37.1
34.5
34.0
35.0
36.8
39.4
40.1
39.7
39.0
38.8

1.030
1.035
1.035
1.037
1.037
1.041
1.045
1.063
1.094
1.104
1.111

43. 05
44. 21

38.2
39.4

1.127
1.122

REVIEW, MAY 1951

605

C: E A RNIN GS AND HOURS

T able C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
M anufacturing— C on tinued
A pparel an d other
fin is h e d t e x t ile
products

Textile-m ill p roducts— C on tin u ed
Y ea r and m on th
D y e in g and finishing
textiles

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

1949: A vera ge_____ $51.50
1950: A v era ge______
53.87

40.3
40.9

1950: F eb ru a ry _____
M a r c h _______
A p ril--------------M a y _____
Ju n e______ . .
J u ly ___________
A u g u st_______
S ep tem b er___
O cto b e r___ __
N o v e m b e r ____
D ecem b er____

53.37
52.42
50.89
49.25
51.18
50. 84
56.03
55. 76
56. 26
58.19
58.88

41.5
40.7
39.6
38.3
39.8
39.5
42.9
42.6
41.4
41.8
42.0

1.286
1.288
1.285
1.286
1.286
1.287
1.306
1.309
1.359
1.392
1.402

1951: J a n u a r y .._ . .
F e b ru a ry _____

59.13
60.25

41.7
42.4

1.418
1.421

Avg.
h rly.
earn­
ings

C arpets, rugs, other
floor coverings

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

W o o l carpets, rugs,
and carpet yarn

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
w k ly .
horns

39.5 $1,438 $56.23
41.5
1.502
62. 72

38.7
41.1

60. 80
60. 99
59.15
60. 61
61.17
59. 86
61.44
62.94
66.46
66.82
67.28

41.5
41.6
40.4
41.2
41.5
40.5
41.4
41.6
42.6
42.4
42.1

1.465
1.466
1.464
1.471
1.474
1.478
1.484
1.513
1.560
1.576
1.598

61.62
61.81
60.48
61.68
61.99
60.07
61.46
62.19
66.36
66.63
66.90

41.3
41.4
40.4
41.2
41.3
40.1
40.7
40.7
42.0
41.8
41.4

1.492
1.493
1.497
1.497
1.501
1.498
1.510
1.528
1.580
1.594
1.616

66.84
67.98

41.8
42.3

1.599
1.607

66. 99
67. 85

41.3
41.7

1.622
1.627

$1.278 $56. 80
62.33
1.317

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

O ther textile-m ill
products

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
h rly.
earn­
ings

Fur-felt hats and hat
bodies

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

38.9 $1,231 $49.21
40.6
1.290
51.05

35.3
35.9

50. 91
49. 75
49. 29
49.95
51.44
51.92
53.16
53.37
54. 77
55. 88
56.59

40.6
39.8
39.4
39.8
40.5
40.5
41.4
40.9
40.9
41.3
41.7

1.254
1.250
1.251
1.255
1.270
1.282
1.284
1.305
1.339
1.353
1.357

53.03
44.84
40.02
48. 72
52. 69
52.19
54.44
50.87
50. 48
51.98
56.83

37.4
32.9
29.0
34.6
37.0
36.7
38.1
35.8
35.5
36.1
38.4

1.418
1.363
1.380
1.408
1.424
1.422
1.429
1.421
1.422
1.440
1.480

56.78
56.07

41.6
40.9

1.365
1.371

58.08
59.42

38.8
39.4

1.497
1.508

$1.453 $47.89
1.526 52.37

A vg.
w k ly .
horns

A vg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

T o ta l: A p parel and
other finished tex­
tile products
A vg.
h rly.
earn­
ings

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
ings

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

$1,394 $41.89
1.422
43.68

35.8
36.4

$1.170
1.200

44.48
43.50
40.80
41.27
41.89
43.22
46.06
43.09
45. 51
44. 50
45.88

36.7
36.4
35.2
35.7
35.8
36.2
37.6
35.7
37.3
36.9
36. 5

1.212
1.195
1.159
1.156
1.170
1.194
1.225
1.207
1.220
1.206
1.257

47. 53
48.45

36.9
37.5

1.288
1.292

M anufacturing— C on tinued

Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
M e n ’s and b o y s ’
suits an d coats

M e n ’s and b o y s ’ fu r­
nishings and w ork
clothing

Shirts, collars, and
nightw ear

1949: A v era g e _______ $46.67
1950: A v era g e_______ 50.22

34.7
36.9

1950: F eb ru a ry _____
M a r c h ________
A p r il__________
M a y __________
J u n e __________
J u ly ___________
A u g u s t________
S ep tem b er____
O c t o b e r ... . . .
N ovem ber. _
D e ce m b e r ____

49.88
50.81
47.46
48.92
48.99
49.22
51.08
47.75
51. 77
52. 57
55.57

37.0
37.5
35.5
36.7
36.7
36.9
37.7
35.4
37.9
37.9
37.7

1.348
1.355
1.337
1.333
1.335
1.334
1.355
1.349
1.366
1.387
1.474

35.64
35. 62
35.00
35.29
35. 55
35.34
37.43
37.18
38.38
38.53
38. 59

36.4
36.2
35.5
35.9
36.2
36.1
38.0
37.4
38.3
37.7
37.0

.979
.984
.986
.983
.982
.979
.985
.994
1.002
1.022
1.043

35.19
35.40
35.02
34.81
34. 82
34. 55
36. 71
37. 20
38.02
39.35
39.42

36.2
36.2
35.7
35.7
35.6
35.4
37.5
37.5
38.4
38.2
37.4

.972
.978
.981
.975
.978
.976
.979
.992
.990
1.030
1.054

39.26
39. 77
39.33
39. 81
39.34
s8. 52
40.08
38.45
40. 91
40. 32
40.41

1951: Jan u ary. . .
F e b ru a r y _____

55.09
56.18

37.1
37.5

1.485
1.498

39.14
39. 89

37.1
37.6

1.055
1.061

38. 94
39.66

36.7
37.2

1. 061
1.066

42. 37
43. 91

$1,345 $33.30
1.361
36.43

36.2
36.8

$0. 920 $33.37
.990
36.26

36.0
36.7

$0. 927 $34. 91
39.43
.988

W o m e n ’s outerw ear

W o rk shirts

Separate trousers

35.7 $0. 978 $27. 44
1.043
31.34
37.8

35.5
35.9

37.9
38.2
38.0
38.1
37.9
37.4
38.5
36.9
38.7
38.0
36.8

1.036
1.041
1.035
1.045
1.038
1.030
1.041
1.042
1.057
1.061
1.098

30. 55
30.43
29. 75
31.18
30.66
31.52
33.00
33.03
32. 95
32.18
33.10

35.4
35.3
34.0
35.8
35.4
36.1
37.8
37.2
36.9
35.6
35.9

.863
.862
.875
.871
.866
.873
.873
.888
.893
.904
.922

37.7
39.0

1.124
1.126

33.50
33. 76

36.3
36.9

.923
.915

34.7
34.7

$1,432
1.424

52.63
49. 67
46.06
45. 57
45. 87
49.62
54.01
46.43
50.94
48.37
51.84

35.9
35.4
34.5
34.6
33.8
34.7
36.2
32.2
34.7
34.6
35.1

1.466
1.403
1.335
1.317
1.357
1.430
1.492
1.442
1.468
1.398
1.477

55.31
56.19

36.1
36.8

1.532
1.527

$0. 773 $49. 69
49.41
.873

Manufacturing—Continued
A pparel and other finished textile produ cts— C on tinued

W o m e n ’s dresses

1949: A v era g e____
$47. 20
1950: A v era g e_______ 48.09

34.4
34.8

1950: F e b ru a r y ......... 48.89
M a r c h ________ 49.37
A p r il__________ 49.44
M a y __________ 48. 71
J u n e __________ 45.69
J u ly ___________ 45.53
A u g u s t_______ 50.23
S ep tem b er____ 44.37
O cto b e r ___ __
47. 66
N o v e m b e r ____ 47.37
D e ce m b e r ......... 49.81

35.4
35.8
35.7
35.3
34.1
34.7
35.7
31.9
33.8
34.2
35.2

1951: Jan u ary_______
F e b ru a r y _____

36.2
36.7

52.49
53.14

See footn otes at end of table.


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

H ou seh old apparel

$1,372 $32.23
1.382
34.66

36.5
36.1

1.381
1.379
1.385
1.380
1.340
1.312
1.407
1.391
1.410
1.385
1.415

34.95
35.53
34.99
35.31
32.92
32.27
34. 64
35.28
36.43
36.64
35.58

37.1
37.4
36.6
36.4
33.7
33.2
36.2
36.6
37.4
37.5
35.9

.942
.950
.956
.970
.977
.972
.957
.964
.974
.977
.991

1.450
1.448

36.87
39.82

36.4
38.7

1.013
1.029

W o m e n ’s suits, coats,
and skirts

W o m e n ’s and chil­
d ren ’s undergar­
m ents

U n derw ear and
nightw ear, except
corsets
36.1 $0. 944 $53. 55
36.4
1.004
54.21

35.3
35.2

$1,517
1.540

.987
.991
.994
.988
.990
.989
1.001
1.020
1.035
1.044
1.045

64.36
62.56
44. 91
46.06
49. 72
50. 62
62.08
53.56
53.27
47. 53
51.82

40.2
39.2
30.7
31.7
33.1
33.7
38.8
33.9
35.0
31.6
33.8

1.601
1. 596
1.463
1.453
1.502
1.502
1.600
1. 580
1.522
1.504
1.533

1.058
1.068

60.34
68.23

37.5
41.1

1.609
1.660

33.8 $1. 964 $35. 79
1.898 38.38
33.6

36.6 $0. 978 $34.08
36.9
1.040 36. 55

69.83
60.70
51.19
50.13
58.41
66.46
73.26
57. 91
66.25
60.12
67.07

35.5
32.6
29.1
29.7
33.9
35.5
37.0
30.1
33.8
32.1
34.2

1.967
1.862
1.759
1.688
1.723
1.872
1.980
1.924
1.960
1.873
1.961

37. 52
37.87
36.22
36.15
36.43
37.13
40.04
39.95
41.76
40. 96
39.28

37.0
36.8
35.2
35.2
35.4
36.3
38.5
37.8
39.1
38.1
36.3

1.014
1.029
1.029
1.027
1.029
1.023
1.040
1.057
1.068
1.075
1.082

36.03
35.68
34.09
33.69
34.25
35.60
38.24
38.35
40.16
39.25
37.10

36.5
36.0
34.3
34.1
34.6
36.0
38.2
37.6
38.8
37.6
35.5

72. 37
73.93

35.6
36.1

2.033
2.048

40.48
42.74

36.5
38.3

1.109
1.116

37.24
39.73

35.2
37.2

$0. 883 $66.38
.960
63. 77

M illin e ry

606
T

able

G: E A RN IN GS AND H OU RS

M O N TH LY LABOR

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood
products (except
furniture)

Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
Year and month
Children’s outerwear

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Fur goods and mis­
cellaneous apparel

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

36. 3 $1.021
36.5
1.068

$42. 05
43.45

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Other fabricated
textile products

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

36.0 $1.168
1.184
36.7

$39. 74
42.06

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Curtains and
draperies

A vg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Textile bags

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex­
cept furniture)
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$51 72
' 55.31

40 6
41.0

$1 274
1.349

39.8
40 4
40.7
40 7
41 6
4L 1
42. 0
41.2
41.9
41.0
41.4

1.270
1 293
1.311
1 336
1.353
1.369
1. 388
1.404
1.404
1.391
1.391

40.9
40.8

1.378
1.382

1949: Average........ .
1950: Average

$37. 06
38.98

1950: F e b ru a ry ____
M arch________
April__________
M a y __________
June__________
July___________
August_______
September____
October_______
N ovem ber____
December____

40.28
38.76
35.97
37.46
38. 08
39.13
40.92
38.12
40.48
39. 29
40.26

37.3
36. 5
35.3
36.4
36. 3
36.6
37.2
35.3
37.0
37.0
36.3

1.080
1.062
1.019
1.029
1.049
1.069
1.100
1.080
1.094
1.062
1.109

40. 50
40.76
39.33
41.70
42. 59
43. 86
45. 84
44. 59
47.91
46. 05
45.09

36.1
36.1
34.9
35.7
35.7
36.4
38.2
37.1
38.7
37.5
36.9

1.122
1.129
1.127
1.168
1.193
1.205
1.200
1.202
1.238
1.228
1.222

40. 84
40.32
39. 81
40. 77
42. 21
42. 61
43.43
43.88
43.45
42.86
43. 55

38.1
37.4
37.1
37.4
38.3
38.7
39.3
38.8
39.0
38.1
38.3

1.072
1.078
1.073
1.090
1.102
1.101
1.105
1.131 $37.33
1.114 39.82
1.125 38.31
1.137 39.29

36.6 $1. 02Ô $43.93
38.4
1.037
44.19
36.8
1.041
43.30
37.6
1.045 43.90

39.4 $1.115
39.6
1.116
38.9
1.113
39.2
1.120

50. 55
52. 24
53. 36
54. 38
56. 28
56. 27
58. 30
57. 84
58. 83
57. 03
57.59

1951: Jan u ary ..____
February_____

41.98
42.43

36.7
36.8

1.144
1.153

44.94
45.28

36.1
36.9

1. 245
1.227

44.16
43. 97

38.7
38.6

1.141
1.139

37.7
37.5

39.5
39.2

56.36
56.39

38.1 $1. 043
38.2
1.101

39.70
39.86

1.053
1.063

44.67
44. 57

1.131
1.137

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Manufacturing— Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)— Continued

11

Sawmi s and planing mills, general
Logging camps and
contractors

Sawmills and plan­
ing mills

—
United States

1949: Average___
1950: Average.

$61. 31
66.25

39.1 $1. 568 $52. 37
54.95
38.9
1.703

40.6 $1. 290 $53.06
1.350
55. 53
40.7

40.6
40.5

South

$1.307 $35. 66
1.371
38. 90

42.1
42.1

W est
$0.847 $67.12
.924
70.43

Millwork, plywood,
and prefabricated
s t r u c t u r a l wood
products

38.8 $1. 730 $55. 06
38.7
1.820 60. 52

41.9
43.2

$1.314
1.401

1950: February___
M a rc h .. . . .
April____
M a y ______
June__________
July-------- -------August_______
September___
October_______
Novem ber____
December____

54.86
62.94
65.31
67.37
67.85
68.04
73.98
70.07
70.31
65. 40
66.87

37.6
38.4
39.2
39.7
39.7
39.4
41.1
38.8
38.8
37.2
38.9

1.459
1.639
1.666
1. 697
1.709
1.727
1.800
1.806
1. 812
1. 758
1.719

50. 59
51.85
53.10
54.19
56.08
55.95
57.95
57.69
58. 56
56. 53
56.83

39.4
40.1
40.5
40.5
41.6
40.9
41.9
41.0
41.8
40.7
41.0

1.284
1.293
1.311
1.338
1. 348
1.368
1. 383
1.407
1.401
1.389
1.386

51.17
52. 31
53. 73
54. 86
56.95
56. 67
58.49
58. 49
59.34
57.15
57.49

39.3
39.9
40.4
40.4
41.6
40.8
41.6
40.9
41.7
40. 5
40.8

1.302
1.311
1.330
1.358
1.369
1.389
1.406
1.430
1.423
1. 411
1.409

36.90
37.13
37.97
38.11
39.19
38.98
40.13
39. 63
41.25
40. 34
40.79

40.5
40.8
41.5
41.6
42.5
42.1
43. 2
42.2
43.6
42.6
42.8

.911
.910
.915
.916
.922
.926
.929
.939
.946
.947
.953

64.14
66. 43
67. 82
69. 07
73. 93
72. 74
74. 28
74.33
74.82
72.96
73.68

37.4
38.8
39.0
39.0
40.4
39.3
40.0
39. 1
39.4
38.5
38.7

1.715
1. 712
1.739
1. 771
1.830
1.851
1.857
1.901
1.899
1.895
1.904

57.04
57. 74
59. 00
59. 25
61.27
59. 85
61. 55
62. 06
63.71
63.12
64.84

42. 5
42.9
43.0
43.0
43.7
i 2 .9
43.5
43.4
44.0
43.5
43.9

1.342
1.346
1.372
1.378
1. 402
1.395
1. 415
1.430
1.448
1.451
1.477

1951: January___
February_____

62.54
62.37

37.7
37.3

1.659
1.672

55.83
56.03

40.6
40.6

1.375
1.380

56.40
56. 70

40.4
40.5

1.396
1.400

40.25

42.1

.956

72.62

38.2

1.901

63.41
63.37

42.9
42.5

1.478
1.491

Manufacturing— Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)— Continued

Millwork

1949: Average____
1950: ¿Average____

$54.23
59.05

42.2
43.2

1950: February...
M arch......... .
April_______
M a y _______
June.............
July-----------August_____
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem ber..
Decem ber...

55. 76
56.49
57. 56
57.83
59.69
58. 57
59.39
60. 63
61.81
61.52
61.89

42.4
42.7
42.7
42.9
43.7
43.1
43.1
43.4
43.9
43.6
43.4

1951: January____
February....

60.38
60.58

42.4
42.1

See footnotes at end of table.


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

W ooden containers

Wooden boxes, other
than cigar

$1. 285 $41.90
1.367 46.03

40.6
40.7

$1.032
1.311

$42. 48
46.56

1.315
1.323
1.348
1.348
1.366
1.359
1.378
1.397
1.408
1.411
1.426

42.82
42.85
43.81
44. 47
46. 48
47.68
48.10
47.50
48. 74
48. 50
48.43

39.5
39.6
39.9
40.1
40.7
41.0
41.5
40.7
41.8
41.7
41.5

1.084
1. 082
1.098
1.109
1.142
1. 163
1. 159
1.167
1.166
1.163
1.167

43.05
43. 30
44.87
44.79
47.13
48. 40
48. 57
47.64
49.31
49.16
49.43

39.9
40.2
41.2
40.9
41.6
41.8
42.2
41.5
42.8
42.6
42.8

1.424
1.439

48.20
48.04

41.2
41.2

1.170
1.166

49. 07
49.09

42.3
42.5

Furniture and fixtures

Miscellaneous wood
products
$44.16
47.07

40.7
41.4

1. 079
1.077
1.089
1. 095
1.133
1.158
1.151
1.148
1.152
1.154
1.155

44. 69
44.91
45. 33
44.89
46.16
46.88
48.35
49. 10
49.80
50. 07
50.16

40.3
40.5
40.8
40.3
41. 1
41.3
42.3
42.4
42.6
42.5
42.4

1.109
1.109
1. I ll
1.114
1.123
1.135
1.143
1. 158
1.169
1.178
1.183

1.160
1.155

50. 51
50.18

42.2
42.1

1.197
1.192

41.0 $1.036
1.122
41.5

Total: Furniture
and fixtures

$1.085 $49.48
1.137
53.67

Household furniture

40.1 $1.234 $47. 04
41.9
1.281
51.91

39.8
41.9

$1.182
1.239

52. 29
52.17
51.67
51. 50
52. 50
52. 03
54. 87
55. 42
56. 27
56.87
56.77

41.7
41.7
41.3
41.2
41.8
41.0
42.8
42.6
42.6
42.6
42.3

1. 254
1. 251
1.251
1.250
1.256
1.269
1.282
1.301
1.321
1.335
1.342

50.87
50. 70
49. 85
50.14
50.71
49. 53
52. 91
53.84
54. 57
55. 30
54.78

41.9
41.9
41.2
41.4
41.7
40.6
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.2

1.214
1.210
1.210
1.211
1.216
1.220
1. 239
1.261
1.278
1. 295
1.298

56.94
57. 91

41.9
42.3

1.359
1.369

54.63
55.62

41.8
42.3

1.307
1.315

REVIEW, MAY 1951
T

able

607

G: E A RN IN GS AND HOU RS

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Furniture and fixtures—Continued

Year and month

Wood household
furniture, except
upholstered

Wood householdfur­
niture, upholstered

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly. w
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ hokly.
­ earn­
urs earn
ings
ings ings hours
1949:
1950:
1950:

$43.68
- 48.39
February___
46.70
M a rch ,......... .
47. 21
April________
46.40
M a y ............. .
47.17
June_________
47. 52
July...... ......... .
46.44
August______ _ 49.19
September... _ 49.97
October......... .
51.39
N ovem ber... _ 51.58
December___ - 50.87
1951: January_____ 50.90
February....... - 52.06
Average..........
Average_____

40.0
42.3
42.0
42.3
41.5
42.0
42.2
41.1
43.0
43.0
43.4
43.2
42.5
42.1
42.6

$1.092
1.144
1.112
1.116
1.118
1.123
1.126
1.130
1.144
1.162
1.184
1.194
1.197
1.209
1.222

$50.18
56.35
54.95
54. 60
54. 42
54. 42
54.54
52. 87
56.66
58.61
60.49
60. 65
60.43
56. 91
57.83

Mattresses and
bedsprings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. kly.
earn­ earn­ w
ings ings hours

38.9
41.4
41.5
40.9
40.7
40.7
40.7
39.9
42.0
42.5
42.9
42.5
42.2

$1. 290
1.361
1.324
1.335
1.337
1.337
1.340
1.325
1.349
1.379
1.410
1. 427
1.432
39.8 1.430
40.7 1.421

$51. 69
57.27
57.43
57.03
54.28
53.97
55. 57
54.31
58.42
59.59
57. 69
61.70
60.74
61.74
61.25

Paper and allied products
Other furniture
and fixtures

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. kly.
earn­ earn­ w
ings ings hours

39.7 $1.302 $55.47
41.2 1.390 58.53
41.8 1.374 56.28
41.6 1.371 56.14
40.0 1.357 56. 52
39.8 1.356 55.41
40.8 1.362 57.60
39.7 1.368 58. 86
42.3 1.381 60.24
42.2 1.412 59.71
40.8 1.414 61.24
42.0 1.469 61.25
41.8 1.453 62.34
42.0 1.470 63.02
41.5 1.476 64.15

40.7
41.9
41.2
41.1
41.5
40.8
42.2
42.1
43.0
42.2
42.5
42.3
42.7
42.1
42.4

Total: Paper and
allied products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. kly.
earn­ earn­ w
ings ings hours
$1.363
1.397
1.366
1.366
1.362
1.358
1.365
1.398
1. 401
1.415
1.441
1.448
1.460
1.497
1.513

$55.96
61.14
57.80
58.06
58.20
58. 08
60.03
61.36
62.74
63.10
63. 27
64.92
66.44
65. 79
65. 57

41.7
43.3
42.5
42.6
42.3
42.3
43.0
43.3
44.0
44.0
44.0
44.1
44.5
43.8
43.6

Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
kly.
earn­ earn­ w
ings ings hours
$1.342 $59.83
1.412 65.06
1.360 61.71
1.363 61.89
1.376 62.42
1.373 61.82
1.396 64. 21
1.417 65.74
1.426 66.99
1.434 60. 89
1.438 67.20
1.472 69.00
1.493 70.63
1.502 70.38
1.504 70.38

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.4 $1.411
43.9 1.482
43.4 1.422
43.4 1.426
43.2 1.445
43.2 1.431
43.8 1.466
44.0 1.494
44.6 1.502
44.3 1.510
44.5 1.510
44.4 1. 554
44.9 1.573
44.6 1.578
44.6 1.578

Manufacturing—Continued
Paper and allied products--Continued
Paperboard con­
tainers and boxes
1949: Average_____ $52.45
1950: Average______ 57. 96
1950: February____ 54.17
M arch_______
54.77
April_________
54.03
M a y ..... ...........
54.74
June..... ............
56. 62
Ju ly.................
57. 70
59.75
August______
60.96
September___
October______
61.18
62.16
N ovem ber___
December___
63.70
1951: January______ 62. 55
62.12
February____

41.2
43.0
41.7
42.0
41.4
41.5
42.6
42.9
44.0
44.3
44.4
44.4
44.7
43.5
42.9

$1.273
1.348
1.299
1.304
1.305
1.319
1.329
1.345
1.358
1.376
1.378
1.400
1.425
1.438
1.448

Other paper and
allied products
$51.07
55.48
53.03
53.20
53.27
53.35
54.59
55.36
56. 79
57.06
57.11
59.07
60. 26
60.07
59.02

40.6
42.0
41.4
41.5
41.2
41.2
41.7
42.0
42.7
42.9
42.4
42.9
43.2

$1. 258
1.321
1.281
1.282
1.293
1.295
1.309
1.318
1.330
1.330
1.347
1.377
1.395
42.6 1.410
42.1 1.402

Printing, publishing, and allied industries
Total: Printing,
publishing, and
allied industries
$70. 28
72.98
70. 75
72.14
72.18
72.64
72. 72
72.30
73.17
74. 48
74. 22
74. 52
76.42
73.92
74.07

38.7
38.8
38.2
38.6
38.6
38.7
38.7
38.5
38.9
39.2
39.0
39.2
39.8
38.7
38.3

$1.816
1.881
1.852
1.869
1.870
1.877
1.879
1.878
1.881
1.900
1.903
1.901
1.920
1.910
1. 934

Newspapers
$78. 37
80.00
76. 38
78.42
79.88
81.05
80. 76
79.20
78.84
81.11
81.07
82.29
85. 42
78.90
80. 51

37.3
36.9
36.3
36.8
37.1
37.3
37.2
36.6
36.5
36.9
36.8
37.2
38.1
35.7
36.2

Periodicals

$2.101
2.168
2.104
2.131
2.153
2.173
2.171
2.164
2.160
2.198
2. 203
2. 212
2.242
2. 210
2.224

$70. 21
74.18
72.15
74.12
72.41
71.60
71.92
72.83
75.08
79. 98
77. 33
76. 07
76. 81
78. 27
79.80

38.9
39.5
39.3
39.7
39.1
38.6
39.0
39.2
39.6
41.1
40.4
39.7
39.8
40.2
40.1

$1.805
1.878
1.836
1.867
1.852
1.855
1.844
1.858
1.896
1.946
1.914
1.916
1.930
1.947
1.990

Books
$61. 07
64.08
60. 50
62.79
64. 05
64.33
64.11
63.34
67.31
64. 70
64.16
64. 52
66.33
66.31
66.43

38.6 $1.582
39.1 1.639
37.3 1.622
38.5 1.631
39.2 1.634
39.3 1.637
39.5 1.623
39.0 1.624
40.5 1.662
39.5 1.638
39.1 1.641
39.1 1.650
39.6 1.675
39.4 1.683
39.1 1.699

Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied industries—Continued
Commercial printing
1949: Average______ $69.44
1950: Average______ 72.34
1950: February____ 70.70
M arch........... ..
71. 56
April______ 70.88
M a y ..... ............
71.68
June.................
71. 79
J u ly .................
71.95
August............ . 72.38
73. 61
September___
O ctober..........
73. 78
73.42
Novem ber___
December____ 75.60
1951: January______ 73.98
February_____ 72.61

39.7
39.9
39.3
39.6
39.4
39.8
39.6
39.6
40.1
40.6
39.9
40.1
41.0
40.1
39.1

See footnotes at end of table.


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

$1.749
1.813
1.799
1.807
1.799
1.801
1.813
1.817
1.805
1.813
1.849
1.831
1.844
1.845
1.857

Lithographing
$69.17
73.04
70.07
71.34
71.58
71.74
72.23
73.11
76. 22
75.67
76.09
74.89
74. 95
73.59
74.91

39.3
40.0
38.8
39.2
39.2
39.7
39.6
39.8
41.2
40.9
41.4
40.9
41.0
39.8
40.1

$1.760
1.826
1.806
1.820
1.826
1.807
1.824
1.837
1.850
1.850
1.838
1.831
1.828
1.849
1.868

Other printing and
publishing
$62. 66
65.18
64.77
65.16
64. 54
63.39
64.00
64. 58
65.82
65.90
65.69
66. 59
67.33
67.44
66.81

38.7
39.1
38.9
38.9
38.9
38.3
38.6
39.0
39.2
38.9
39.5
39.9
40.1
40.0
38.8

$1.619
1.667
1.665
1.675
1.659
1.655
1.658
1.656
1.679
1.694
1.663
1.669
1.679
1.686
1.722

Chemicals and allied products
Total: Chemicals
and allied products
$58.63
62.67
59.96
60. 09
60. 56
61.18
62.39
62. 99
63. 48
64.16
64. 55
65. 52
66.43
66.83
67.01

41.0
41.5
41.1
41.1
41.2
41.2
41.4
41.2
41.6
41.8
42.0
42.0
42.1

$1.430
1.510
1.459
1.462
1.470
1.485
1.507
1.529
1. 526
1.535
1.537
1. 560
1.578
41.9 1.595
41.7 1.607

Industrial inorganic
chemicals
$63.90
67.89
65.12
65.48
65. 77
65. 85
65.32
68.85
68.97
68.24
71.13
71.91
72.59
73.17
73.53

40.6
40.9
40.7
40.8
40.9
40.7
39.9
41.2
41.6
40.4
41.4
41.4
41.6
41.2
41.4

$1. 574
1.660
1.600
1.605
1.608
1.618
1.637
1.671
1.658
1.689
1.718
1.737
1.745
1.776
1.776

Industrial organic
chemicals
$60.83
65. 69
62.64
62.56
63.12
63. 91
65.16
66.02
65.85
67. 52
67.98
69.34
69. 75
70.06
70.3Q

39.5 $1.540
40.6 1.618
40.0 1.566
40.0 1.564
40.1 1.574
40.5 1.578
40.8 1.597
40.7 1. 622
40.7 1.618
40.8 1.655
40.9 1.662
41.2 1.683
41.2 1.693
40.9 1.713
40.8 1.723

608

C : E A RN IN GS AND HOURS

T able

M O N THLY LABOR

C - l : Honrs and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing— Continued
Chemicals and allied products— Continued

Year and month

Plastics, except syn­
thetic rubber
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

1949: Average____
1950: Average____

$60.36
65.54

1950: February___
March..........
April...........
M ay_______
June_______
July-----------August_____
September..
October____
November..
December...
1951: January_____
February___

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Synthetic rubber
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Synthetic fibers

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Drugs and medicines

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Paints, pigments,
and fillers
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Fertilizers

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

41.0 $1.458 $44. 72
42.3 1.532 47.00

41.6
41.3

$1.075
1.138

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

40.4 $1. 494 $66. 74
41.8 1.568 71.93

39.8 $1. 677 $55. 20
40.8 1.763 58.40

38.6 $1,430 $56. 60
39.3 1.486 59. 59

40.4 $1,401 $59. 78
40.9 1.457 64.80

61.96
62.36
62. 53
63.37
65.23
66.41
65.07
67.48
67.83
69.20
70.43

40.9
41.0
41.0
41.2
42.0
42.6
41.5
42.6
42.0
42.4
42.3

1.515
1.521
1. 525
1. 538
1. 553
1.559
1. 568
1. 584
1.615
1.632
1.665

68. 22
68.93
70.96
70. 48
70.78
72. 52
71.52
72.58
72.16
76.63
76.03

40.2
40.5
41.4
41.0
40.7
40.4
41.2
40.3
41.0
41.2
41.3

1.697
1.702
1. 714
1.719
1.739
1.795
1.736
1.801
1.760
1.860
1.841

55. 99
55.97
56. 52
57.35
57. 76
57.81
58. 99
59. 94
60. 45
61.10
61.26

39.1
39.0
38.9
39.5
39.4
38.9
39.3
39.2
39.2
39.6
39.7

1.432
1.435
1.453
1.452
1.466
1.486
1.501
1.529
1.542
1.543
1.543

58. 04
58.53
58. 67
58. 75
59. 27
58. 47
59. 68
60.19
61.12
62. 00
62. 75

40.7
40.9
40.8
40.8
41.1
40.1
40.6
41.2
41.3
41. 5
41.5

1.426
1.431
1.438
1.440
1.442
1.458
1.470
1.461
1.480
1.494
1.512

61.98
62.38
62. 89
63. 53
64.91
64.86
66. 99
67.35
67.45
66. 79
66.90

41.4
41.7
41.9
42.3
42.9
42.5
43.5
43.2
42.8
42.3
42.1

1.497
1.496
1.501
1.502
1. 513
1. 526
1.540
1. 559
1. 576
1.579
1. 589

44.40
44.84
46.44
47. 92
49. 52
49.20
47.83
48.18
46.80
47.31
48.72

40.7
41.1
41.8
41.6
42.0
41.8
41.2
41.5
40.8
41.0
41.5

1.091
1.091
1.111
1.152
1.179
1.177
1.161
1.161
1.147
1.154
1.174

72.41
70. 89

43.0
41.8

1.684
1.696

75.54
76.35

40.7
40.7

1.856
1.876

61.66
61.70

39.6
39.3

1. 557
1.570

63.41
63.47

41.5
41.4

1.528
1.533

68.17
68.49

42.5
42.2

1.604
1.623

49. 75
47. 86

42.2
40.7

1.179
1.176

Manufacturing— Continued
Chemicals and allied products— Continued
Vegetable and ani­
mal oils and fats
1949: Average___
1950: Average___

$51.12
53. 46

Other chemicals and
allied products

Products of petroleum and coal

Soap and glycerin

Total: Products of
petroleum and coal

Petroleum refining

Coke and byproducts

47.2 $1.083 $60. 67
45.5 1.175 64.41

40.8 $1. 487 $66. 54
41.5 1.552 71.81

40.9 $1. 627 $72.36
41.7 1.722 75.01

40.4 $1,791 $75.33
40.9 1.834 77.93

40.2 $1. 874 $61.07
40.4 1.929 62.85

39.3
39.7

$1.554
1.583

1950: February...
March____ _____
April___________
M ay______
June______
July..........
August.......
September, ____
October___
November. ____
December.. ---

50. 71
50.82
51. 57
52.82
53.87
55.46
55.11
55.03
54.41
55. 58
56.72

45.2
44.5
44.3
44.2
43.9
43.6
44.3
45.9
47.6
46.9
46.8

1.122
1.142
1.164
1.195
1.227
1.272
1.244
1.199
1.143
1.185
1.212

62. 62
62.87
62. 82
62.28
63.38
63.29
64. 62
66.13
66. 24
66. 89
68. 75

41.2
41.2
41.3
41.0
41.4
41.1
41.8
42.2
41.9
41.7
42.1

1.520
1. 526
1.521
1. 519
1. 531
1.540
1. 546
1.567
1.581
1. 604
1.633

68.51
69.50
68.88
68.74
69. 96
69.99
74.08
74. 99
74. 59
75. 85
77.82

41.1
41.2
40.9
40.7
41.2
41.0
42.7
43.0
42.5
42.4
42.9

1.667
1.687
1.684
1.689
1.698
1.707
1.735
1. 744
1. 755
1. 789
1.814

71.64
71. 54
73.85
73.28
74.37
76. 09
73.73
76. 77
77.71
78.32
78.32

39.8
39.7
40.8
40.6
41.0
41.6
40.6
41.7
41.6
41.2
41.2

1.800
1.802
1.810
1.805
1.814
1.829
1.816
1.841
1.868
1.901
1.901

74.84
74.88
77.11
75. 73
76.82
78.93
75.29
79. 72
80.93
81.64
81.03

39.6
39.6
40.5
39.9
40.2
41.0
39.4
41.2
41.1
40.7
40.7

1.890
1.891
1.904
1.898
1.911
1.925
1.911
1.935
1.969
2.006
1.991

61.17
58. 90
62.60
61.85
62.73
63.36
63.12
63. 91
63.68
63.60
67.54

39.8
38.1
40.0
39.8
39.7
39.6
39.8
39.6
40.2
40.0
40.2

1.537
1.546
1. 565
1.554
1.580
1.600
1.586
1.614
1. 584
1.590
1.680

1951: January___
February...—

56. 78
56.03

45.9
44.5

1. 237
1.259

69.22
69.93

42.0
42.1

1.648
1.661

77. 57
78. 91

42.6
43.0

1.821
1.835

78. 88
77.33

41.0
40.4

1.924
1.914

81.93
79. 96

40.7
40.0

2.013 68.69
1. 999. . 69. 67

40.1
40.2

1.713
1.733

M anufacturing— C ontinue d
Products of petro­
leum and coal— Con.
Other petroleum and
coal products

Total: Rubber
products

1949: Average______ $61.18
1950: Average.,.
66.78

42.9 $1.426 $57. 79
44.7 1.494 64.42

1950: February_____
March_______
April, __ _____
June___ _ . . .
July--------------August_______
September___
October______
November___
December____

58.94
60.00
63.00
67. 44
69.13
70.38
71.82
69.76
69.94
69.15
69.67

41.3
41.9
43.3
45.2
46.3
46.7
47.5
46.2
45.8
44.9
44.6

1.427
1.432
1.455
1.492
1.493
1.507
1.512
1. 510
1.527
1.540
1.562

1951: January______
February___,

67. 65
67.72

43.2
43.3

1.566
1.564

May, ., . ,

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Leather and leather
products

Rubber products

Tires and inner
tubes

Rubber footwear

Other rubber
products

Total: Leather and
leather products

38.3 $1. 509 $63. 26
40.9 1.575 72.48

36.4 $1. 738 $48. 94
39.8 1.821 52. 21

38.6 $1.268 $54.38
40.1 1.302 59. 76

40. 1 $1,356 $41. 61
42.2 1.416 44. 56

36.6
37.6

$1,137
1.185

59.90
59. 70
61. 76
64. 52
65.08
65. 59
66.25
66.58
66.29
66. 52
68. 76

39.2
39.3
40.0
41.2
41.4
41.2
41.8
41.9
41.9
41.5
41.6

1. 528
1. 519
1. 544
1.566
1. 572
1.592
1. 585
1. 589
1. 582
1.603
1. 653

67. 22
65. 26
69.23
74.60
74.05
75. 22
76.01
75. 46
73.12
73.70
76.21

38.3
37.4
39.0
41.1
40.6
40.4
40.8
40.9
40.2
40.1
39.9

1.755
1.745
1. 775
1.815
1.824
1.862
1. 863
1.845
1.819
1.838
1.910

43.06
51.04
50.36
50. 20
52. 07
52.13
53.93
53.95
56. 00
54. 52
59.34

34.2
40.0
39.5
39.4
40.3
39.7
41.9
41.5
42.2
42.0
42.6

1.259
1.276
1.275
1.274
1.292
1.313
1.287
1.300
1.327
1.298
1.393

56.43
56.16
57.13
57. 92
59.23
59.08
60.13
61.30
62. 48
62. 71
64.29

41. 1
40.9
41.1
41.7
42.4
42.2
42.8
42.9
43.3
42.6
42.8

1. 373
1.373
1.390
1.389
1.397
1.400
1.405
1.429
1.443
1.472
1.502

44. 08
44.15
41.96
41.56
43. 60
44.73
46. 49
45.72
46.04
45.94
47. 26

38.1
37.9
35.8
35.4
37.2
38.1
39.2
38.1
37.8
37.5
38.3

1.157
1.165
1.172
1.174
1.172
1.174
1.186
1.200
1.218
1. 225
1.234

66.91
63.05

40.5
38.8

1.652
1.625

73. 96
67.06

38.4
35.5

1.926
1.889

57. 67
56.08

41.7
40.7

1.383
1.378

63.00
61.39

42.0
41.2

1.500
1.490

48.26
49.39

38.7
39.2

1.247
1.260

REVIEW, MAY 1951
T

able

609

G: EARNIN GS AND HOURS

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
M anufacturing— C ontinued
Stone, clay, and glass products

Leather and leather products— Continued

Year and month

Footwear (except
rubber)

Leather

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$54.11
1949: Average1950: Average............ 57. 21

38.9 $1.391
1.441
39.7

$39.35
41.99

35.9
36.9

1950: February_____
M arch________
April—...............
M a y ..... .............
June__________
July............ ........
August________
September____
O ctober............
Novem ber____
December____

55. 29
54. 89
54. 44
55.00
56. 57
56.73
58. 40
58. 64
59.44
59.79
61.17

39.1
38.9
38.5
38.9
39.7
39.7
40.5
40.3
40.3
40.4
40.7

1.414
1.411
1.414
1.414
1. 425
1.429
1.442
1.455
1.475
1.480
1.503

42.22
42.15
39.18
38.48
40.84
42. 53
44.39
43.32
42.76
42.23
44.02

37.8
37.4
34.7
34.2
36.4
37.7
38.8
37.6
36.7
36.0
37.4

1951: January............
February_____

61.66
62. 65

40.7
40.6

1.515
1.543

45. 96
47.03

38.4
38.9

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Other leather
products

Glass and glass
products

Total: Stone, clay,
and glass products

A vg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.454 $.53.80
1. 528 56.36

39.3
39.8

$1.369
1.416

54.93
54.79
55.42
54. 98
55.23
55.40
53.31
54.69
61.19
59.94
60.29

39.6
39.7
40. 1
40.4
40.4
39.6
38.8
37.1
40.9
40.5
40.9

1.387
1.380
1.382
1.361
1.367
1.399
1.374
1.474
1.496
1.480
1.474

61.32
59. 28

40.8
40.0

1.503
1.482

Avg.
wkly.
hours

37.5 $1.096 $54.45
38.5
1.165 59.20

39.8 $1.368 $56. 71
41.2
1.437
61.58

39.0
40.3

1.128
1.144
1.152
1.165
1.173
1.177

42.90
43. 73
42. 75
42. 58
44.39
44.16
45.70
45.00
47.64
47. 96
48.06

38.2
38.7
37.5
36.9
38.3
38.2
39.5
38.1
39. 5
39.7
39.3

1.123
1.130
1.140
1.154
1.159
1.156
1.157
1.181
1.206
1.208
1.223

55. 56
55.70
56. 56
57. 28
58.12
58. 57
59.40
60.88
63.11
63. 66
63.60

40.0
40.1
40.4
40.8
41.1
40.9
41.6
41.5
42.5
42.3
42.2

1.389
1.389
1.400
1.404
1.414
1.432
1.428
1.467
1.485
1.505
1.507

59.36
59.35
59. 58
59. 78
59.74
60.24
59.10
61.31
65. 66
67.03
65. 89

40.0
40.1
40.2
40.5
40.2
39.5
39.8
39.0
41.4
41.3
41.0

1.484
1.480
1.482
1.476
1.486
1.525
1.485
1.572
1.586
1.623
1.607

1.197
1.209

47. 29
48. 01

38.6
39.2

1.225
1.240

63.29
63.02

41.5
41.3

1. 525
1.526

66.14
64. 96

40.7
40.4

1.625
1.608

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.096 $41.10
1.138 44. 85
1.117
1.127
1.129
1.125

1.122

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Glass containers

M anufacturin g— Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products— Continued
Pressed and blown
glass

Cement, hydraulic

Structural clay
products

Brick and hollow
tile

$1.275 $49. 57
1.338 5.375

41.8 $1.186 $48. 61
42.9
52.17
1.253

1949: Average_______ $50.30
1950: Average............ 53. 71

38.6 $1.303 $57.49
39.7
1.353
60.13

41.6 $1.382 $49. 73
1.442
54.19
41.7

39.0
40.5

1950: February_____
M arch________
April__________
M a y __________
June__________
July___________
August________
September____
October_______
Novem ber____
December____

50.90
51.29
49.87
50.96
50. 27
49.93
51.61
56.70
58.24
61.15
58.84

39.0
39.3
38.6
39.2
38.4
38.0
39.7
40.5
41.1
41.4
41.0

1.305
1.305
1 292
1.300
1.309
1.314
1.300
1.400
1.417
1.477
1.435

57.73
57.47
58. 88
59.13
60.27
61.30
61.13
61.66
61.59
62.10
62.43

41.5
41.2
41.7
41.7
42.0
41.7
42.1
41.8
41.9
42.1
41.9

1.391
1.395
1.412
1.418
1.435
1.470
1.452
1.475
1.470
1.475
1.490

49.37
49.90
52.37
53.27
54.09
54.40
55. 27
56.00
57.73
57. 86
58.25

38.6
38.8
40.1
40.2
40.7
40.9
41.4
41.3
41.8
41.3
41.4

1.279
1.286
1.306
1.325
1.329
1.330
1.335
1.356
1.381
1.401
1.407

47.14
48.26
51.27
54.16
54.63
54.89
55. 71
55. 73
57. 77
57. 51
57.16

40.5
41.0
42.3
43.4
43.6
43.6
43.9
43.2
44.2
43.7
43.5

1951: Jan uary...........
February--------

57.32
57. 77

40.0
40.2

1.433
1.437

62. 29
62. 77

41.2
41.6

1.512
1.509

58. 61
57.14

40.9
40.1

1.433
1.425

55. 58
53.68

42.2
41.2

Pottery and related
products

Sewer pipe

39.2 $1.240 $48.85
1.314
52.16
39.7

36.4
37.5

$1.342
1.391

1.248
1.253
1.259
1.269
1.290
1.307
1.316
1.314

46. 78
48.30
50.63
49. 96
54. 85
54.60
53. 85
54.88
55.05
54.14
53.98

38.0
38.0
40.8
38.4
41.3
41.3
40.4
40.5
40.3
39.2
39.2

1.231
1.271
1.241
1.301
1.328
1.322
1.333
1.355
1.366
1.381
1.377

50.00
50.37
50.26
50. 46
48. 71
49.13
52. 59
53.70
55.91
57.47
56.84

36.9
37.2
36.9
37.1
35.3
35.5
38.0
38.3
39.4
39.8
38.8

1.355
1.354
1.362
1.360
1.380
1.384
1.384
1.402
1.419
1.444
1.465

1.317
1.303

55.46
54.21

39.5
39.0

1.404
1.390

56.45
57.17

38.3
38.6

1.474
1.481

1.164
1.177

1.212

M anufacturing— C ontinued
Primary metal industries

Stone, clay, and glass products— Continued

Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster products

Concrete products

Other stone, clay,
and glass products

43.8 $1.354 $54. 72
1.393
60.94
43.9

Total: Primary
metal industries

39.2 $1.396 $60. 78
1.472
67.24
41.4

38.3 $1. 587 $63.04
40.8
1.648 67.47

1949: Average____ . $57.77
1950: Average---------- 62.64

43.8 $1.319 $59.31
1.392
61.15
45.0

1950: February_____
M arch________
April__________
M a y ............. .
June__________
July___________
August_______
September____
O c to b e r_____
Novem ber____
D ecem ber... _

58. 55
59.13
59. 76
60. 75
62.06
63.06
64.44
65.35
66.38
65. 57
66.23

43.6
43.9
44.1
44.7
45.2
45.4
45.7
45.7
46.0
45.6
45.8

1.343
1.347
1.355
1.359
1.373
1.389
1.410
1.430
1.443
1.438
1.466

55. 71
57.48
59.25
60.20
61.07
60.78
62.62
63.59
64.09
63.64
65.19

41.3
42.2
43.5
44.3
45.1
44.2
44.6
44.5
44.6
44.1
44.9

1.349
1.362
1.362
1.359
1.354
1.375
1.404
1.429
1.437
1.443
1.452

55.69
55.75
56.22
58.07
60.09
60.17
62.20
64.52
65.79
66.55
67.03

39.3
39.4
39.4
40.3
41.7
41.3
42.4
42.9
43.2
43.1
43.3

1.417
1.415
1.427
1.441
1.441
1.457
1.467
1.504
1.523
1.544
1.548

63.48
62.40
65.00
65. 57
66.50
.95
67.36
69.10
69.81
70.14
74.36

39.6
38.9
40.4
40.5
40.8
40.7
41.1
41.4
41.9
41.8
42.3

1.603
1.604
1.609
1.619
1.630
1.645
1.639
1. 669

1951: January_______
February--------

64.53
65.06

44.2
44.2

1.460
1.472

63.06
63.32

43.1
42.9

1.463
1.476

66.90

42.8
42.3

1.563
1.581

74.78
72.92

41.8
41.2

See footnotes at end of table.
941298— 51------ 8


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

66.88

66

Blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling
mills

Iron and steel
foundries

38.3 $1. 646 $55.09
65.32
39.9
1.691

37.2
41.9

$1.481
1. 559

39.2
39.9
40.9
41.3
42.0
41.8
42.6
42.9
43.8
43.0
44.1

1.508
1.512
1.525
1.530
1.541
1.540
1.551
1. 575
1. 599
1.610
1. 641

43.5
42.9

1.655
1. 669

39.3
37.5
40.0
39.7
39.8
39.9
40.1
40.2
40.8
40.8
41.1

1.649
1.649
1.652
1.659
1.674
1.700
1.680
1.724

1.678
1.758

64. 81
61.84
66.08
65.86
66.63
67.83
67.37
69.30
. 87
69.03
75.21

1.692
1.830

59.11
60.33
62.37
63.19
64.72
64.37
66.07
67.57
70.04
69.23
72.37

1.789
1.770

77.27
73. 91

41.1
40.3

1.880
1.834

71.99
71.60

1.666 68

1.688

610

C: E A RN IN GS AND HOURS

M O N TH LY LABO R

T able C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1-—Con.
Manufacturing— C ontinued
Primary metal industries— Continued

Year and month

Gray-iron foundries

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Malleable-iron
foundries

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Steel foundries

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

P rim ary sm eltin g
and refining of
nonferrous metals

P rim ary sm eltin g
and refining of
copper, lead, and
zinc

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Primary refining of
aluminum

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

40.4 $1.494 $58. 99
41.0
1. 554 62.37

40.1 $1. 471 $61.95
40.9
1. 525 63. 97

41.3
40.9

$1,500
1.564

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1949: Average-........ - $54. 38
1950: Average_______ 65. 06

37.5 $1. 450 $54.30
42.3
1.538 65. 46

35.7 $1. 521 $56. 73
41.3
1. 585 65.43

37.3
41.1

1950: February____
M arch________
April__________
M a y . - ..............
June__________
J u l y - . . .............
August_______
September____
October_______
November____
December____

58. 91
59.81
62. 03
63.24
64. 08
63.88
66. 36
67. 97
70. 26
69.18
71.97

39.7
40.3
41.3
41.8
42.3
42.0
43.2
43.6
44.3
43.4
44.4

1.484
1.484
1.502
1.513
1.515
1.521
1.536
1.559
1.586
1.594
1.621

59. 25
61.70
63.25
63. 28
65.87
64.80
66. 32
67.69
69.18
69. 28
72.03

38.6
39.6
40.6
40.8
41.9
41.3
42.0
42.2
42.6
42.5
43.6

1.535
1.558
1.558
1.551
1.572
1.569
1. 579
1. 604
1.624
1.630
1. 652

59.83
60. 61
62. 79
63. 30
65. 65
65.31
65.73
66.08
69. 38
69.17
72.31

38.7
39.1
40.3
40.6
41.5
41.6
41. 6
41.3
42.8
42.2
43.3

1.546
1.550
1. 558
1. 559
1.582
1.570
1. 580
1.600
1.621
1.639
1.670

60.24
61.13
61.61
61.98
62. 54
62.83
63.15
64.44
66.40
67.73
69. 47

40.4
40.7
40.8
40.8
40.9
40.3
40.9
41.2
41.5
41.0
41.7

1.491
1.502
1.510
1.519
1.529
1.559
1.544
1.564
1. 600
1.652
1. 666

59.00
59. 79
60. 38
60. 29
61.44
61.37
61.89
63.18
65.01
66. 30
67. 97

40.3
40.7
40.8
40.6
40.8
39.9
40.8
41.0
41.7
40.9
41.6

1.464
1.469
1.480
1.485
1.506
1.538
1. 517
1.541
1. 559
1.621
1.634

61.66
62. 25
62. 03
62. 73
62.44
63.06
62.87
63. 47
67. 23
68. 84
70. 01

41.0
40.9
40.7
41.0
41.0
41.0
40.8
41.0
40.4
41.0
41.7

1.504
1.522
1.524
1.530
1.523
1.538
1.541
1.548
1.664
1.679
1.679

1951: January_______ 70.60
February . . . _ 70.15

43.5
42.8

1. 623
1.639

71.06
71. 01

42.5
42.6

1.672
1. 667

72.89
73.66

42.7
42.7

1. 707
1. 725

70. 75
69.13

41.4
41.1

1.709
1. 682

69. 84
67. 49

41.4
40.9

1.687
1.650

69.75
69. 04

41.1
40.9

1.697
1.688

$1. 521 $60.36
1. 592 63. 71

Manufacturing— Continued
Primary metal industries— Continued
R o llin g , draw ing,
and alloying of
nonferrous metals

R o llin g , draw ing,
and alloying of
copper

R o llin g , draw ing,
and alloying of
aluminum

1949: Average_______ $58.05
1950: Average_______ 66. 75

38.7 $1. 500 $59. 29
41.9
1.593 70.24

38.5 $1. 540 $56. 21
42. 7 1.645 59. 99

38.9
40.1

1950: February..........
M arch____ —
April______ _M a y __________
June _________
July----------------August—..........
September____
October_______
Novem ber____
December____

63.29
64.29
64. 29
66. 63
67.75
67. 76
68.48
65. 21
68.05
69.18
72.46

41.1
41.4
41.4
42.2
42.8
42.4
42.8
41.4
41.8
41.7
43.0

1.540
1. 553
1.553
1.579
1.583
1.598
1.600
1.575
1.628
1.659
1. 685

66.30
66. 96
67. 61
70. 72
72. 26
73.46
73. 67
68.09
70. 22
71.48
76.08

41.7
41.9
42.1
43.2
43.9
44.2
44.3
41.8
42.1
41.8
43.9

1.590
1. 598
1.606
1. 637
1.646
1.662
1.663
1.629
1.668
1.710
1.733

57. 91
59. 54
58. 53
58. 73
58.26
57.02
58. 51
57. 56
63. 59
64. 43
66. 01

39.8
40.5
40.2
40.2
40.4
39.0
39.8
39.4
40.4
40.6
40.9

1.455
1.470
1.456
1.461
1.442
1.462
1.470
1.461
1.574
1.587
1. 614

1951: January __
February...

68.10
68. 50

40.8
40.7

1. 669
1.683

68. 91
69. 50

40.7
40.5

1.693
1. 716

65. 61
65. 89

40.4
40.5

1.624
1.627

.

Nonferrous foundries

$1. 445 $60. 92
1.496 67. 65

Other primary metal
industries

Iron and steel
forgings

39.0 $1. 562 $63.34
41.5
1.630 71.27

39.1 $1. 620 $63.18
41.9
1.701
74.09

38.2
41.6

$1. 654
1.781

62. 29
63.04
64. 03
65. 36
66. 52
64. 27
66. 36
70. 61
72. 29
72.80
75. 47

39.5
40.1
40.5
40.9
41.6
40.5
41.4
42.9
42.8
42.8
43.6

1.577
1.572
1.581
1.598
1. 599
1.587
1.603
1.646
1.689
1.701
1.731

67.28
67. 23
67. 61
69.68
70.39
70.47
71.95
74.13
75.17
76.65
77.60

40.8
40.4
40.8
41.6
41.8
41.6
42.2
42.8
43.3
43.8
43.4

1.649
1. 664
1.657
1.675
1.684
1.694
1.705
1.732
1.736
1.750
1.788

66. 94
68. 75
68.80
72.94
72. 21
73. 08
74. 63
77.83
80.29
82.86
81.11

39.4
39.9
40.0
41.8
41.5
41.5
41.6
42.6
43.4
44.1
43.4

1.699
1.723
1.720
1.745
1.740
1.761
1.794
1.827
1.850
1.879
1.869

71.99
71.90

42.0
41.8

1. 714
1. 720

77. 56
76. 61

42.5
42.0

1.825
1.824

82.72
81.34

43.4
42.7

1.906
1.905

Manufacturing— Continued
Primary metal in­
dustries— Con.

Wire drawing

1949: Average_____
1950: Average____

$63. 66
73. 79

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)
T o ta l: Fabricated
m e ta l p ro d u c ts
(except ordnance,
m a ch in ery , and
tr a n sp o r ta tio n
equipment)

Tin cans and other
tinware

Cutlery, hand tools,
and hardware

Cutlery and edge
tools

Hand tools

39.2 $1,624 $57.82
42.9
1. 720 63. 42

39.6 $1,460 $56. 24
41.4
1.532 60. 90

40.4 $1. 392 $54. 82
41.6
1.464 61.01

39.3 $1. 395 $50.84
41.5
1.470 55. 54

40.0 $1. 271 $54. 54
1.332 61.31
41.7

38.6
41.2

$1. 413
1.488

1950: February_____
M arch________
April______ . .
M a y . . ...............
June__________
July---------------August..............
September____
October_______
November____
December____

71.06
68. 82
69. 89
70. 39
72.93
72.89
74. 25
77.86
77.00
78.80
80.36

42.2
40.7
41.6
41.6
42.4
42.6
43. 5
44.8
44.2
45.0
44.4

1.684
1.691
1.680
1.692
1.720
1. 711
1.707
1.738
1.742
1.751
1. 810

59.68
59. 64
60. 56
60.89
62.87
62. 55
64. 79
65. 72
66. 66
66. 20
68. 26

40.3
40.3
40.7
40.7
41.5
41.1
42.1
42.1
42.3
41.9
42.4

1.481
1.480
1.488
1.496
1.515
1.522
1. 539
1. 561
1. 576
1. 5S0
1. 610

56.80
56.98
58. 77
59. 20
60. 94
64.14
67.46
63.90
60. 56
58.85
63.07

40.2
40.3
40.7
41.0
41.8
42.9
44.5
43.0
41.0
40.2
42.1

1.413
1.414
1.444
1.444
1.458
1.495
1.516
1.486
1.477
1.464
1.498

58.20
58.83
58.79
57.57
60. 61
59. 57
61.03
62.96
64.99
64. 09
67.12

40.7
41.2
41.2
40.6
41.6
40.8
41.6
42.0
42.9
42.0
43.0

1.430
1.428
1.427
1.418
1.457
1.460
1.467
1.499
1.515
1.526
1. 561

51.22
53.07
53. 49
52.16
54. 41
51.34
56.08
57.14
60. 71
60. 56
62.57

40.3
41.2
41.4
40.5
41.6
39.4
42.2
42.2
43.9
43.1
43.6

1.271
1.288
1.292
1.288
1.308
1.303
1.329
1.354
1.383
1.405
1.435

55.87
56. 77
57. 32
58. 20
59.16
59. 38
63.11
64. 63
66.13
67.31
68. 59

39.1
39.7
40.0
40.5
40.8
40.7
42.1
42.3
42.8
42.9
43.3

1.429
1.430
1.433
1.437
1.450
1.459
1.499
1.528
1.545
1.569
1. 584

1951: January_______
February___ .

82.02
80.83

44.0
43.6

1.864
1.854

67.40
68. 06

41.5
41.5

1. 624
1.640

63.81
64. 27

41.3
40.5

1.545
1. 587

65. 49
66.58

41.9
42.3

1. 563
1.574

60.19
61. 29

42.3
42.8

1. 423
1.432

68.43
69. 65

42.9
43.1

1.595
1. 616

See footnotes at end of table.


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

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

G: E A R N IN G S AND HOURS__________________________ ___ _______________ 611

T able C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing— Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)— Continued

jar and month

Heating apparatus
(except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies

Hardware

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

39.3 $1.432 $57.04
63.91
41.6
1.506

Average_______ $56.28
1950: A v era g e______ 62. 65

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Sanitary ware and
plumbers’ supplies

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

38.7 $1.474 $59. 79
41.1
1.555 67. 64

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Oil burners, non­
electric heating and
cooking apparatus,
not elsewhere
classified
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

38.5 $1. 553 $55. 45
61.20
1.626
41.6

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Fabricated struc­
tural metal products

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

38.8 $1.429 $59.90
63.29
40.8
1.500

Structural steel and
ornamental
metalwork

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

40.5 $1.479 $60. 91
41.1
1. 540 63.23

41.1
41.3

$1. 482
1. 531

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Novem ber____
December____

61.04
61.15
60. 71
58. 87
62.93
61.88
61.91
64.23
65.82
63. 97
68.09

41.3
41.6
41.5
40.6
41. 9
41.2
41.3
41.9
42.6
41.3
42.8

1.478
1.470
1.463
1.450
1. 502
1.502
1.499
1.533
1.545
1.549
1.591

59. 59
60.20
60. 76
61.30
62.11
63.28
65. 53
66.83
68.09
67.27
68.88

39.7
40.0
40.0
40.3
40.7
41.2
41.9
42.3
42.4
41.6
42.1

1.501
1.505
1.519
1.521
1.526
1.536
1.564
1.5S0
1.606
1.617
1.636

63. 54
63. 86
63. 91
63. 91
65.27
67.43
67.51
71.18
72. 41
72.85
74.13

40.5
40.6
40.4
40.4
41.1
41.7
41.8
42.8
43.1
42.6
43.1

1.569
1.573
1.582
1.582
1.588
1.617
1.615
1.663
1.680
1. 710
1.720

56. 76
57.62
58.63
59.30
59.90
60.20
64.20
64.13
65.20
63.67
65.49

39.2
39.6
39.8
40.2
40.5
40.9
42.1
42.0
41.9
41.0
41.5

1.448
1.455
1.473
1.475
1.479
1.472
1.525
1.527
1.556
1.553
1.578

59.81
60.38
61.31
61.66
62. 65
61.39
64.22
65.02
65. 93
66.25
67.87

39.9
40.2
40.6
40.7
41.0
40.1
41.7
41.6
42.1
42.2
42.0

1.499
1.502
1.510
1.515
1.528
1.531
1.540
1. 563
1.566
1. 570
1.616

61.01
61.43
62.09
62.25
63.40
60.39
63.63
63.44
64.85
65. 80
67. 55

40.7
40.9
41.2
41.2
41.6
39.6
41.7
41.3
42.0
42.1
41. 7

1.499
1. 502
1.507
1.511
1.524
1. 525
1. 526
1. 536
1. 544
1. 563
1.620

January___ __
February..........

66.34
67.24

41.7
42.0

1.591
1.601

68. 51
68. 72

41.1
41.0

1.667
1.676

73.46
74.35

42.0
42.1

1.749
1.766

65.52
65.85

40.8
40.9

1.606
1.610

68.02
69.14

41.5
41.8

1.639
1.654

68.35
68.43

41.5
41.2

1.647
1.661

February_____
M arch...............
June__________
July___________
August________
September____

Manufacturing— Continued

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)

Boiler-shop products

Sheet-metal work

40.2 $1. 487 $57.60
1. 531 62.14
40.6

M etal stamping,
coating, and
engraving

39.7 $1.451 $58. 54
1.512 64.22
41.1

Stamped and pressed
metal products

39.5 $1.482 $60.30
66.15
1.555
41.3

Machinery (except
(electrical)

Continued

Other fabricated
metal products

39.7 $1. 519 $58.38
1.594 64.76
41.5

Total: Machinery
(except electrical)

39.5 $1.478 $60.44
1. 553 67. 21
41.7

39.5
41.8

$1. 530
1. 608

1.493
1.486
1.499
1. 519
1. 536
1. 537
1. 557
1. 584
1.608
1. 604
1.632

62. 55
63.34
64. 33
65.09
65. 69
66. 35
67. 98
68. 94
71.00
72.03
74.20

40.3
40.6
41.0
41.3
41.5
41.6
42.3
42.4
42. 9
43.0
43.7

1. 552
1. 560
1. 9
1. 576
1. 583
1. 595
1. 607
1. 626
1. 655
1. 675
1. 698

1.635
1.646

74.30
75.04

43.4
43.5

1. 712
1. 725

1949: Average____
1950: Average____

$59. 78
62. 16

1950: February___
M arch...........
April_______
M a y ..... .........
June________
July________
August_____
Septem ber..
October........
N ovem b e r..
Decem ber...

58. 45
58. 79
59. 77
59. 60
61. 22
61. 52
62. 35
64. 38
65. 00
65. 92
68. 15

39.1
39.3
39.9
40.0
40.6
40.5
41.1
41.4
41.4
42.2
42.2

1. 495
1. 496
1. 498
1. 490
1. 508
1. 519
1. 517
1. 555
1. 570
1. 562
1. 615

58. 89
58.39
58. 76
60.40
60.28
61.04
63. 52
63. 90
65.77
64. 96
66.81

40.2
39.8
40.0
40.7
40.4
40.8
41.9
41.6
42.6
41.8
42.1

1.465
1.467
1.469
1.484
1.492
1.496
1.516
1.536
1.544
1.554
1.587

60.67
60.63
61.19
61.55
64.16
63.58
65. 69
66.34
67.05
66. 77
68.71

40.5
40.5
40.9
40.6
41.8
41.1
42.0
41.7
41.8
41.5
42.1

1.498
1.497
1.496
1.516
1.535
1.547
1.564
1.591
1.604
1.609
1.632

62.35
62. 59
62.92
63. 55
66. 31
65.46
67. 86
68.46
68. 60
68.64
70. 64

40.7
40.8
41.1
41.0
42.1
41.3
42.2
41. 9
41.7
41.6
42.2

1.532
1.534
1.531
1. 550
1.575
1.585
1. 608
1.634
1.645
1.650
1.674

60. 47
59.14
61.16
62.43
64.82
63. 94
66.17
67.32
68.66
67.85
70.01

40.5
39.8
40. 8
41.1
42.2
41.6
42.5
42. 5
42.7
42.3
42.9

1951: January____
February___

68. 14
69. 51

41.5
41.8

1. 642
1. 663

66.29
68.46

41.3
41.9

1.605
1.634

67. 53
68. 56

41.3
41.3

1.635
1.660

69. 26
70.18

41.4
41.5

1.673
1.691

68.02
68.31

41.6
41.5

Manufacturing— Continued
Machinery (except electrical)— Continued

Engines and
turbines

Agricultural
machinery
and tractors

38.9 $1.623 $61.11
1.706 64.60
40.7

Agricultural
machinery
(except tractors)

Tractors

39.3 $1.555 $61.86
1.611
66.09
40.1

39.2 $1. 578 $59. 93
62.57
1.640
40.3

Construction and
mining
machinery

39.3 $1.525 $58. 74
1.572
65. 97
39.8

1949: Average___
1950: Average___

$63.13
69.43

1950: February...
M arch_____
April______
M a y _______
June_______
July..............
August........
September.
October___
N ovem ber.
December..

63 69
63. 96
68. 72
68. 79
68. 70
68. 91
70.83
70 81
69. 48
74. 57
78.29

39.0
39.0
41.0
40. 8
40. 7
40.3
41.3
41.0
40.0
42.2
43.4

1.633
1. 640
1. 676
1. 686
1. 688
1. 710
1.715
1. 727
1.737
1.767
1.804

63.24
62. 92
62.96
63.88
63.84
63.88
65.29
64.35
64.82
67. 51
70.79

40.0
39. 6
39. 7
40.1
40.2
40.1
40.3
40.5
39.5
40.4
41.4

1.581
1. 589
1.586
1.593
1.588
1.593
1.620
1. 589
1.641
1.671
1.710

64.28
63.92
64. 68
65.49
65.16
65.08
67.39
65. 97
65.27
69.50
73.68

40.2
39.7
40.1
40.4
40.5
40.3
40.5
40.5
38.9
41.1
42.1

1.599
1.610
1.613
1.621
1.609
1.615
1.664
1.629
1.678
1.691
1.750

61. 93
61.66
60. 68
61.77
62.16
62.25
62. 36
62.37
64.00
64.69
66.78

39.8
39.5
39.1
39.7
39.9
39.8
40.0
40.5
40.2
39.4
40.5

1.556
1.561
1.552
1.556
1.558
1.564
1.559
1.540
1.592
1.642
1.649

61.36
62.36
63.11
63.70
65.20
65.06
66.60
67. 62
69. 96
70.31
71.70

1951: January___
February..

77. 51
77.05

42.8
42.5

1.811
1.813

71.72
71.35

41.1
40.7

1.745
1.753

74. 67
74.11

41.9
41.4

1.782
1.790

67.69
68.35

40.1
40.3

1.688
1.696

72.33
73.66

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Metalworking
machinery

39.8 $1.476 $61.11
42.4
1. 556 71.54

39.5
43.2

$1. 547
1. 656

40.8
41.3
41.6
41.8
42. 7
42.3
42.8
42.8
43.7
43.4
43.8

1.504
1.510
1.517
1.524
1.527
1. 538
1. 556
1. 580
1.601
1.620
1.637

63.86
65.10
67.21
68. 57
69.81
71.16
73.42
73.24
77. 83
78.23
80. 58

40.6
41.1
41.8
42.3
42.8
43.1
44.2
43.7
45.2
45.3
46.1

1. 573
1. 584
1. 608
1. 621
1. 631
1. 651
1. 661
1 . 676
1. 722
1. 727
1. 748

43.6
43.9

1.659
1.678

80.74
82.58

45.9
46.5

1. 759
1. 776

612
T

able

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

M O N THLY LABOR

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued

Year and month

Machine tools

Metalworking
machinery (except
machine tools)

Machine-tool
accessories

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly. w
hrly. wkly. wkly. hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ hokly.
­ earn­
earn­ earn­
urs earn
ings
ings ings hours ings ings hours
1949: Average____
1950: Average____
1950: February___
March... ...
April___ _ ..
May_______
June. ___ _
July_______
August...----September__
October____
November__
December___
1951: January____
February___

$59.15
69.72
61.86
63.00
64.69
65.46
66.58
66.88
71.16
72.24
76.78
77. 51
80.86
81.26
82.30

39.3 $1.505 $61. 85
43.2 1.614 70.54
40.3
40.8
41.6
41.8
42.3
42.3
44.2
44.1
45.7
45.7
46.9
47.0
47.3

1.535
1.544
1.555
1.566
1.574
1.581
1.610
1.638
1.680
1.696
1.724
1.729
1.740

66.17
67.10
68.95
69.69
70.10
71.87
73.01
71.64
73.12
73.69
76. 51
76.87
79. 97

39.8
42.7
41.2
41.6
42.2
42.6
42.9
43.4
44.3
42.9
43.6
43.4
44.2

$1. 554 $64.16
1.652 74.69

1.606
1.613
1.634
1.636
1.634
1.656
1.648
1.670
1.677
1.698
1.731
43.7 1.759
44.8 1.785

65.37
66.95
69. 56
72.25
74.34
76.69
76.16
75. 64
82. 72
81.26
82.30
82. 57
83.66

39.7
43.5
40.6
41.1
41.8
42.8
43.6
44.2
44.0
43.9
45.6
45.6
45.9
45.9
46.4

Special-industry
machinery (except
metalworking
machinery)

General industrial
machinery

Office and store
machinesanddevices

Avg. Avg.
Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly. hrly. wkly. wkly. hrly.
kly. earn
earn­ earn­ w
­ earn­
earn­ earn­
earn­
ings ings hours ings ings hours ings ings hours ings
$1.616 $60. 57
1. 717 65.74
1.610
1.629
1.664
1.688
1. 705
1.735
1.731
1.723
1.814
1.782
1.793
1.799
1.803

61.80
62. 26
62.65
63. 55
53.91
63.92
65. 75
67.44
69.49
70.86
73.25
73.73
74. 50

40.3 $1. 503 $59. 53
41.9 1.569 66. 33
40.5
40.8
41.0
41.4
41.5
41.4
42.2
42.6
43.0
43.1
44.1
44.2
43.9

59.93
60.93
62.01
63.89
64.43
65.99
66. 65
68.91
71.39
72.23
74.49
1.668 74.34
1.697 74.44

1.526
1.526
1.528
1. 535
1. 540
1.544
1.558
1.583
1.616
1.644
1.661

39.5 $1. 507
41.9 1.583
39.4 1.521
39.9 1.527
40.4 1.535
41.3 1.547
41.3 1.560
41.9 1.575
42.4 1.572
42.8 1.610
43.8 1.630
43.8 1.649
44.5 1.674
44.2 1.682
44.1 1.688

$62. 53
66. 95
63.64
63.16
63. 60
63.96
64.52
65.85
67. 63
69.55
70.89
71.11
73.27
71.31
72.12

39.5 $1.583
41.1 1.629
39.9
39.8
40.1
40.1
40.5
40.9
41.8
42.0
42.3
42.2
42.9
41.9
42.3

1.595
1.587
1.586
1.595
1.593
1.610
1.618
1.656
1.676
1.685
1.708
1.702
1.705

Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
Computingmachines
and cashregisters
1949: Average____
1950: Average------1950: February___
March_____
April... ____
May_______
June.. .. . ..
July_______
August .. ...
September__
October____
November__
December___
1951: January____
February___

$67.87
71.70
68.84
68.05
68. 56
69. 20
69.58
71.07
72.19
74.56
76.00
73.89
77.42
74.94
75. 50

Typewriters

39.9 $1.701 $56.04
40.9 1.753 62.08
40.0 1.721 56.41
39.7 1.714 56.47
40.0 1.714 57.41
40.3 1.717 58.19
40.5 1.718 58.33
40.8 1.742 60.63
41.3 1.748 63.90
41.7 1.788 66. 60
42.2 1.801 67.14
41.3 1.789 69. 61
42.4 1.826 69.07
41.2 1.819 67.47
41.6 1.815 68.23

39.0
41.5
39.2
39.3
39.7
40.1
40.2
41.3
42.8
43.5
43.4
44.0
43.8
42.7
43.1

$1.437
1.496
1.439
1.437
1.446
1.451
1.451
1.468
1.493
1.531
1.547
1.582
1.577
1.580
1.583

Service-industry and Refrigerators and airhousehold machines conditioning units
$60.66
67.26
63.87
66.14
65.88
67.20
67. 55
67.17
66.93
67.90
70.60
70.26
69.76
69.28
72.16

39.7
41.7
41.1
42.1
41.8
42.4
42.3
41.9
41.6
41.4
42.3
41.6
41.4
40.8
42.0

$1. 528
1.613
1.554
1.571
1.576
1.585
1. 597
1.603
1.609
1.640
1.669
1.689
1.685
1.698
1.718

$59.98
66.42
63.65
66.12
66. 29
68. 50
68. 02
67.67
66. 22
64. 95
67.73
68.45
66.29
65.57
68. 97

39.0 $1. 538
41.1 1.616
40.7 1.564
41.9 1. 578
41.8 1.586
43.0 1.593
42.3 1.608
41.8 1.619
40.8 1.623
39.7 1.636
40.8 1.660
40.5 1.690
39.6 1.674
39.1 1.677
40.5 1.703

Miscellaneous ma­
chinery parts
$57. 59
66.15
61.18
62.01
63. 05
62.42
63.22
65. 21
67.54
68.68
70.46
71.30
73.78
74. 41
73.69

38.6 $1. 492
42.0 1.575
40.3 1.518
40.5 1.531
41.1 1.534
40.8 1.530
41.0 1.542
41.8 1.560
42.8 1.578
42.9 1.601
43.6 1.616
43.5 1.639
44.1 1.673
43.9 1.695
43.5 1.694

Machine shops (job
and repair)
$58. 70
65.18
60.79
60.42
61.92
62.72
63.86
64.89
66.06
65.79
68. 79
69. 54
72.63
73.50
76.15

39.0 $1.505
41.7 1.563
40.1 1.516
39.8 1.518
40.6 1.525
41.1 1.526
41.6 1.535
41.7 1.556
42.4 1.558
41.8 1.574
43.1 1.596
42.9 1. 621
44.1 1.647
43.7 1.682
44.9 1.696

Manufacturing— Continued

Electrical machinery
Total: Electrical
machinery
1949: Average____ $56.96
1950: Average. ___ 60.83
1950: February___ 58. 26
March.._ ... 58.44
April.. . . . 58. 71
May__ ____ 59. 28
June__ .
58. 62
July----------- 59.44
August_____ 60.15
September__ 61.48
October____ 64.12
November__ 64.33
December...... 65.15
1951: January........ 64.29
February___ 64.80

39.5
41.1
40.4
40.5
40.6
40.8
40.4
40.6
41.0
41.4
42.1
41.8
41.9
41.4
41.3

$1. 442
1.480
1.442
1.443
1.446
1.453
1.451
1.464
1.467
1.485
1.523
1.539
1.555
1.553
1.569

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Electrical generating, Motors, generators,
transmission, dis­
transformers, and
tribution, and indus­ in
dustrial controls
trial apparatus

Electrical equipment
for vehicles

$59.61
63.75
60.04
60.51
60.97
61.85
61.95
62.52
64. 25
64.85
67.35
68. 48
69.03
68.25
68.64

$59.16
66.22
61.38
63.73
64. 78
69.12
66.40
65.78
66.41
67.33
70. 44
67.89
69.85
65.36
66.74

39.5 $1. 509
41.1 1.551
40.0 1.501
40.1 1.509
40.3 1.513
40.8 1.516
40.7 1.522
40.6 1.540
41.4 1.552
41.6 1.559
42.2 1.596
42.3 1.619
42.3 1.632
42.0 1.625
41.8 1.642

$61.30
64. 90
61.16
61.79
62.65
63.19
63.05
63.94
65.30
65.45
68.36
69.13
69.68
69.47
69.51

39.7 $1. 544
41.1 1.579
40.0 1.529
40.1 1.541
40.6 1.543
40.9 1.545
40.6 1.553
40.7 1.571
41.3 1.581
41.4 1.581
42.2 1.620
42.1 1.642
42.1 1.655
41.9 1.658
41.7 1.667

39.1
41.7
40.3
41.3
41.9
43.8
42.0
41.4
41.9
41.9
42.9
41.5
41.9
39.9
40.3

$1. 513
1.588
1.523
1.543
1.546
1.578
1.581
1.589
1.585
1.607
1.642
1.636
1.667
1.638
1.656

Communication
equipment
$53. 56
56.20
55.32
54.82
54.23
53. 77
54.11
54.43
55.11
56. 69
59.02
58.83
59. 76
60.11
60.33

39.5
40.9
40.8
40.7
40.5
40.1
40.2
40.5
40.7
41.2
41.8
41.2
41.5
41.2
40.9

$1.356
1.374
1.356
1.347
1.339
1.341
1.346
1.344
1.354
1.376
1.412
1.428
1.440
1.459
1.475

Radios, phonographs,
television sets, and
equipment
$50. 68
53.85
52.62
52.54
52.21
51.82
51.93
52.37
52.89
54. 44
57.03
56.32
56.96
57. 55
57.53

39.5 $1.283
40.7 1.323
40.6 1.296
40.6 1.294
40.6 1.286
40.2 1.289
40.1 1.295
40.5 1.293
40.5 1.306
40.9 1.331
41.6 1.371
40.9 1.377
41.1 1.386
40. 9 1. 407
40.4 1.424

REVIEW, MAY 1951
T

able

C: E A RNIN GS AND HOURS

613

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees

Con.

Manufacturing— Continued
Electrical machinery— Continued

Year and month

Telephone and tele­
graph equipment

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1949: A v erage...
1950: A v erage...

$61.43
65.84

39.3
40.1

1950: February.
M arch____
A p ril.........
M a y ...........
June...........
July.........
August___
September
October.. .
November.
December-

63.63
62.92
63.75
64.23
64.64
64.03
65.44
67.11
67.61
70.39
71.93

39.5
39.2
39.4
39.6
39.8
39.6
40.0
40.7
40.8
40.9
41.6

1.611
1.605
1.618
1.622
1.624
1.617
1.636
1.649
1.657
1.721
1.729

1951: January___
February..

71.15
73.53

41.2
41.9

1.727
1.755

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Transportation equipment

Electrical appliances,
lamps, and miscel­
laneous products

Total: Transportation
equipment

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.563 $56. 52
1.642
61.58

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Automobiles

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

A vg.
wkly.
hours

A vg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Aircraft and parts

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

A vg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

39.5 $1.431 $64.95
71.18
41.0
1.502

39.2 $1.657 $65. 97
41.0
1.736
73.25

38.9 $1.696 $63.62
41.2
1.778
68.39

40.6
41.6

$1. 567
1.644

58.78
58.68
60.34
60. 60
57. 62
60. 30
59.74
62.43
65. 71
66.18
67.14

40.4
40.3
40.8
41.0
39.6
40.5
40.5
41.4
42.2
42.1
42.2

1.455
1.456
1.479
1.478
1.455
1.489
1.475
1.508
1.557
1. 572
1.591

66. 58
67.46
70. 46
69. 62
72. 53
71. 71
72. 87
72. 39
73.02
71.78
75.18

39.7
40.2
41.3
41.0
42.0
41.5
42.0
40.9
41.0
40.1
41.4

1.677
1.678
1.706
1.698
1.727
1.728
1.735
1. 770
1.781
1.790
1.816

67.64
69. 08
73. 77
71.66
75. 76
74. 35
75. 21
73.81
75. 21
72. 76
76.28

39.6
40.4
42.2
41.4
42.8
42.1
42.3
40.6
41.1
39.5
40.9

1.708
1.710
1.748
1.731
1. 770
1.766
1.778
1.818
1.830
1.842
1.865

65. 69
65. 29
64.96
65. 61
65. 32
66.54
68. 94
71.18
70.18
71.78
75.08

40.7
40.5
40.3
40.8
40.7
41.2
42.4
42.7
41.9
42.4
43.3

1.614
1.612
1.612
1.608
1.605
1.615
1.626
1.667
1.675
1.693
1.734

64.16
65.25

41.1
41.4

1.561
1.576

72.26
73. 71

40.1
40.7

1.802
1.811

71.74
73.63

38.8
39.5

1.849
1.864

76.08
76.12

43.9
44.0

1.733
1.730

Manufacturing— Continued
Transportation equipment— Continued
Aircraft engines and
parts

Aircraft

1949: A v erage...
1950: A v erage...

$62.69
67.15

1950: February.
M arch____
April______
M a y ______
June...........
July............
August____
September.
October___
November.
December.
1951: January___
February..

Aircraft propellers
and parts

Other aircraft parts
and equipment

Ship and boat build­
ing and repairing

40.5 $1.548 $65.24
41.4
1.622 71.40

40.7 $1.603 $66. 83
42.1
1.696 73.90

41.0 $1.630 $65.08
42.4
1.743 70. 81

40.4 $1.611 $61. 67
41.7
1.698 63.28

38.0
38.4

$1.623
1.648

65.00
64.36
64. 24
64.68
64.48
64.99
68.29
70. 50
69.17
68. 72
72.08

40.6
40.3
40.2
40.6
40.5
40.8
42.6
42.7
42.1
41.5
42.6

1.601
1.597
1.598
1. 593
1.592
1.593
1.603
1.651
1.643
1.656
1.692

66.34
66. 99
66.10
68.35
67.85
70.92
70. 94
74.59
69. 48
80. 82
83.01

40.7
41.1
40.7
41.6
41.5
42.7
42.1
43.8
39.7
45.0
44.8

1.630
1.630
1.624
1.643
1.635
1.661
1.685
1. 703
1.750
1.796
1.853

70.18
66. 65
67.06
63. 85
67.25
71.87
78.68
77. 62
81.17
80.67
88.54

41.6
40.2
40.3
39.1
40.2
42.2
44.4
43.9
44.6
43.3
45.9

1.687
1.658
1.664
1. 633
1.673
1.703
1. 772
1.768
1.820
1.863
1.929

67.81
67.97
67. 06
67.73
67.98
69.04
68. 22
67. 53
77.08
75.91
79. 57

41.0
40.8
40.4
40.9
40.9
41.0
40.8
39.7
43.6
43.6
44.6

1.654
1.666
1.660
1.656
1.662
1.684
1.672
1.701
1. 768
1.741
1.784

61.16
62.53
62.08
63.21
62.39
64.20
64.84
62.89
62. 89
64.47
66.67

37.5
38.2
37.9
38.4
38.3
38.1
39.2
38.3
38.3
38.7
39.9

1.631
1.637
1.638
1.646
1.629
1. 685
1.654
1.642
1.642
1.666
1.671

73.48
73.47

43.4
43.5

1.693
1.689

81.69
82.70

44.3
44.8

1.844
1.846

87.07
89. 86

45.3
46.2

1. 922
1.945

79. 56
77.82

44.1
43.5

1.804
1. 789

64.31
68.62

38.6
40.2

1.666
1.707

M anufacturing— C ont inued
Transportation equipment— Continued
Shipbuilding and
repairing
1949: Average_______
1950: Average_______

$61. 88
63.83

1950: February_____
M arch________
A p ril............. ..
M a y ...................
June...................
July...................
August-........ ..
September____
October............
November____
December_____
1951: January............
February_____
See footnotes at end of table.


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

Boat building and
repairing

Railroad equipment

Locomotives and
parts

Railroad and street­
cars

37.8 $1.637 $54.84
38.2
1.671
55.99

40.5 $1.354 $63. 54
40.6
1.379 66.33

39.2 $1.621 $65.47
39.6 1.675
70.00

39.3 $1.666 $61. 70
40.3
1.737 62.47

38.9
38.9

$1.586
1. 606

61.55
63. 30
62. 57
64. 02
62.91
65.04
65. 62
63. 36
63.23
65. 08
67.34

37.3
38.2
37.6
38.2
37.9
37.9
39.2
38.1
38.0
38.6
39.8

1.650
1.657
1.664
1.676
1.660
1.716
1.674
1.663
1.664
1.686
1.692

54. 79
52.83
55.08
55.34
56. 62
56. 24
55. 70
55. 50
57.12
56. 54
58.06

40.2
38.7
40.5
40.9
42.0
40.9
39.9
40.1
41.3
40.1
40.8

1.363
1.365
1.360
1.353
1.348
1.375
1.396
1.384
1.383
1.410
1.423

64.89
64. 21
64. 52
64. 99
64. 56
64.40
65. 29
68. 72
69.04
69. 51
72. 52

39.4
39.2
39.2
39.8
39.2
39.1
39.5
40.4
40.0
40.2
40.9

1.647
1.638
1.646
1.633
1.647
1.647
1.653
1.701
1.726
1.729
1.773

67.48
67.42
67. 46
68. 59
67.86
68.64
68.68
73.05
74. 74
73. 53
76.39

40.0
40.2
40.2
40.9
39.5
40.4
40.0
40.9
41.0
40.4
40.7

1.687
1.677
1.678
1.677
1.718
1.699
1.717
1.786
1.823
1.820
1.877

62.07
60.93
61.19
61.02
61.58
60.14
61.85
64.12
62.86
65. 36
67. 98

38.7
38.2
38.1
38.5
39.0
37.8
39.0
39.8
38.9
40.1
41.0

1.604
1.595
1.606
1.585
1.579
1.591
1.586
1.611
1.616
1.630
1.658

64. 83
69.82

38.5
40.5

1.684
1.724

59.22
58. 52

40.9
40.0

1.448
1.463

73.07
71.74

41.4
41.3

1. 765
1.737

77. 75
77.09

41.6
42.9

1.869
1. 797

67. 86
66.82

41.2
39.7

1.647
1.683

M O N TH LY LABOR

G: E A RN IN GS AND HOURS

614

T able C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Manufacturing— Continued
Transportation
equipment— Con.
Year and month

Instruments and related products

Other transportation
equipment

Total: Instruments
and related products

Photographic
apparatus

Ophthalmic goods

Watches and clocks

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.509 $49.53
1. 592 53.25

39.0
39.8

$1.270
1.338

50.18
50. 57
50.01
49.97
49.72
51. 25
51.98
55.15
58.06
59.47
59.40

38.9
38.9
38.5
38.2
38.1
39.0
39.8
40.7
41.8
42.0
41.6

1.290
1.300
1.299
1.308
1.305
1.314
1.306
1.355
1.389
1.416
1.428

55. 21
58. 57

38.5
40.9

1.434
1.432

Avg
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

39.7 $1.451 $55.28
41.9
1.538 60. 81

39.6 $1.396 $47.04
41.2
1.476 50.88

39.6
40.7

$1.188
1.250

$59.91
65. 59

39.7
41.2

69. 86
70. 73
71.96

40.4
39.2
39.5
40.2
40.9
40.3
39.8
46.0
43.5
44.4
44.5

1.486
1.483
1.483
1. 498
1. 493
1.491
1.515
1.606
1.606
1.593
1.617

56.89
57. 40
57. 52
58. 34
58.93
58.98
61.13
63. 58
64. 77
65.47
66.75

39.9
40.0
40.0
40.4
40.7
40.9
41.7
42.5
42.5
42.4
42.6

1.425
1.435
1.438
1.444
1.448
1. 442
1.466
1.496
1.524
1.544
1.567

47.60
47.15
47.63
49. 74
51.21
51.13
52.17
52.17
54.13
54.50
55.70

39.6
39.0
39.2
40.6
41.2
40.9
41.6
41.6
41.7
41.6
42.1

1.202
1.209
1.215
1.225
1.243
1.250
1. 254
1.254
1.298
1.310
1.323

61.95
62. 23
63.05
63.21
63. 53
63. 32
65. 72
69.15
69. 22
69. 60
70. 85

40.1
40.2
40.6
40.7
40.7
40.8
41.7
42.4
42.0
41.8
42.2

1.545
1.548
1.553
1.553
1.561
1.552
1.576
1.631
1.648
1.665
1.679

66. 72
68. 27

41.7
42.3

1.600
1.614

65.30
66. 57

41.7
42.0

1. 566
1.585

55.60
55.93

41.9
41.8

1.327
1.338

70.10
72.08

41.9
42.1

1.673
1.712

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings
1949: Average________________________________ $57.60
64.44
60. 03
58.13
58. 58
60. 22
61.06
60.09
60.30

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkiy.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Manufacturing— Continued
Instruments and
related products—
Continued

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

Professional and
scientific instruments

$57.01
63.01

November______________________ ______

Total: Miscellaneous
manufacturing
industries

39.7 $1.436 $50. 23
54.04
1.511
41.7

Jewelry, silverware,
and plated ware

Jewelry and findings

Silverware and
plated ware

39.9 $1. 259 $55.06
1.318 59.45
41.0

41.4 $1.330 $51.33
1.389
54.25
42.8

40.8 $1.258 $58.30
1.304
64.08
41.6

42.0
43.8

$1.388
1.463

58.71
59. 55
59.59
60. 42
61.08
60.82
63.11
65.73
66.78
67.57
69.18

40.1
40.4
40.4
40.8
41.3
41.4
42.1
43.1
43.0
42.9
43.1

1.464
1.474
1.475
1.481
1.479
1.469
1.499
1. 525
1.553
1.575
1.605

51.62
51.82
51.94
52. 47
52.69
52. 47
54.87
56.04
56.98
57.01
57.50

40.2
40.2
40.2
40.3
40.5
40.3
41.6
42.1
42.3
42.2
41.7

1.284
1.289
1.292
1.302
1.301
1.302
1.319
1.331
1.347
1.351
1.379

55.93
57.25
56.16
56.40
56.00
56. 25
59.98
63.48
65.06
65.19
63.52

41.4
42.0
41.2
41.5
41.3
41.3
43.4
44.8
44.9
44.9
43.9

1.351
1.363
1.363
1.359
1.356
1.362
1.382
1. 417
1.449
1.452
1.447

51.31
52.09
51.89
52. 50
51.55
50.12
53.68
57.06
59.03
58.37
58.14

40.4
40.6
40.1
40.7
40.4
39.4
42.0
43.0
43.5
43.4
43.0

1.270
1.283
1.294
1.290
1.276
1.272
1.278
1.327
1.357
1.345
1.352

60.21
61.42
59.74
59.57
59.74
61.10
65.42
69. 56
70. 93
71.56
68.48

42.4
43.1
42.1
42.1
42.1
42.7
44.5
46.5
46.3
46.2
44.7

1.420
1.425
1.419
1.415
1.419
1.431
1.470
1.496
1.532
1.549
1.532

67.92
68.49

42.4
42.2

1.602
1.623

57. 49
58.53

41.3
41.6

1.392
1.407

62.48
63.52

43.3
43.3

1.443
1.467

58. 67
60.45

43.3
43.3

1.355
1.396

66.10
67.01

43.2
43.4

1.530
1. 544

Manufacturing— Continued
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries— Continued
Toys and sporting
goods
$47.00
50.98

July

_______________________________

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Costume jewelry,
buttons, notions

39.1 $1. 202 $46.06
40.4
1.262 49.52

Other miscellaneous
manufacturing
industries

39.3 $1.172 $51. 20
1.238 54.91
40.0

40.0
41.1

Class I railroads 4

Local railways and
bus lines 5

$1. 280 $61.73
43.5 $1.419 $64. 61
1.336 **63. 20 **40. 8 **1. 54t 66.96

44.9
45.0

$1.439
1.488

48.47
49.24
49.88
49.84
49.56
49. 27
51.90
52.11
53.42
53.90
53.49

39.6
39.9
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.7
40.9
41.1
41.7
41.4
40.4

1.224
1.234
1.250
1.246
1.242
1.241
1.269
1.268
1.281
1.302
1.324

47.24
47.63
47. 54
47.58
47.34
48.09
50. 55
51.42
51.40
52. 66
53.41

39.3
39.2
38.9
39.0
38.8
39.1
40.7
41.2
40.6
41.3
41.4

1.202
1.215
1.222
1.220
1.220
1.230
1.242
1.248
1.266
1.275
1. 290

52. 59
52.46
52. 55
53.45
53.98
53. 67
55. 62
56.66
57. 75
57.30
58. 25

40.3
40.2
40.3
40.4
40.8
40.6
41.6
42.0
42.4
42.1
41.7

1.305
1.305
1.304
1.323
1.323
1.322
1.337
1.349
1.362
1.361
1.397

62.37
63.73
61.69
61.75
64.19
61.19
65.46
63.18
64. 54
64.63
63.00

39.8
41.6
39.9
40.2
41.9
39.4
42.7
40.5
41.8
41.4
40.0

1.567
1.532
1.546
1.536
1.532
1. 553
1.533
1.560
1.544
1.561
1.575

65. 22
65.53
65.90
66. 56
67.41
67.47
66.84
67. 42
67. 77
68. 26
69. 96

44.4
44.4
44.5
44.8
45.3
45.1
44.8
45.1
45.3
45.6
46.3

1.469
1.476
1.481
1.486
1.488
1.496
1.492
1.495
1.496
1.497
1.511

53.12
54.41

40.0
40.3

1.328
1.350

53.82
54.44

40.9
41.4

1.316
1.315

58.40
59.45

41.3
41.6

1.414
1.429

67. 86

42.2

1.608

70.30
70.62

45.8
45.8

1. 535
1.542

615

C: EARNIN GS AND HOURS

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

T able C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Transportation and public utilities--Continued
Other public utilities

Communication

Year and month

Telephone 8

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings
$51.78
54.38

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Switchboard oper­
ating employees 7

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

38.5 $1.345
38.9
1.398 $46.65

37.5

Line construction, in­
stallation, and main­
tenance employees 8
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.244 $73.30

42.1

$1.741

$62. 85
64.19

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

44.7 $1.406 $63. 99
1.436
66.60
44.7

41.5
41.6

$1. 542
1.601

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

53. 69
52.98
53.44
53.72
54.19
54.96
54.71
55.80
56.18
54.04
56.30

38.6
38.5
38.7
38.9
39.1
39.4
39.3
39.6
39.4
38.0
39.1

1.391
1.376
1.381
1.381
1.386
1.395
1.392
1.409
1.426
1.422
1.440

45.82
45.03
46.19
46.20
46. 61
47.73
47.90
48.00
49.00
44.93
47.37

36.8
36.7
37.4
37.5
37.8
38.4
38.6
38.4
38.4
36.0
37.3

1.245
1. 227
1.235
1.232
1.233
1.243
1.241
1.250
1.276
1.248
1.270

72.33
70. 55
70.76
71.48
72. 28
72. 96
72. 64
76.02
75.91
74.37
77.72

42.2
41.6
41.6
41.8
42.0
42.1
41.7
42.9
42.5
41.5
42.8

1.714
1.696
1.701
1.710
1.721
1.733
1.742
1.772
1.786
1.792
1.816

62.97
62. 93
64.13
65.38
64.21
64.13
63.99
64.49
64. 74
64. 25
65.05

44.1
44.1
44.6
45.4
44.9
45.0
45.0
44.6
44.8
44.4
44.8

1.428
1.427
1.438
1.440
1.430
1.425
1.422
1.446
1.445
1.447
1.452

65.08
64.81
65.17
65.17
65. 99
66. 52
65.65
67.35
67.93
68.68
70.14

41.4
41.2
41.3
41.3
41.5
41.6
41.5
41.6
41.8
41.8
42.0

1.572
1.573
1.578
1.578
1.590
1. 599
1. 582
1.619
1. 625
1.643
1.670

56.22
57.55

38.8
39.2

1.449
1.468

47.78
49.09

37.3
37.7

1.281
1.302

77.13
79.78

42.4
43.1

1.819
1.851

64.57
64.86

44.5
44.7

1.451
1.451

70.10
70.85

41.9
42.0

1.673
1.687

Transportation and
public utilities—
Continued

Trade

Retail trade

Other public
±tetan traae (except
eating and drinking
places)

Electric light and
power utilities
$64.91
67.81
te r n

Gas and electric
utilities

Telegraph 8

41.5 $1. 564 $57. 55
41.6
1.630 60.36

40.7 $1,414 $45.93
1.483 47.63
40.7

General merchan­
dise stores

40.4 $1.137 $34. 87
1.176 35.95
40.5

and general mail­
order houses

36.7 $0.950 $39.31
36.8
.977 41.56

37.8
38.2

$1.040
1.088

65.28
64.85
64.97
65.09
65. 74
68.13
66.39
68. 60
69.18
69.97
71.31

41.5
41.2
41.2
41.3
41.4
41.8
41.6
41.6
41.8
41.6
41.7

1.573
1.574
1.577
1. 576
1.588
1.630
1.603
1.649
1.655
1.682
1.710

58.27
58. 56
58.79
59.11
59.93
61.10
60.90
60.93
61.68
61.98
63.49

40.3
40.3
40.1
40.4
40.6
40.9
40.9
40.7
40.9
40.8
41.2

1.446
1.453
1.466
1.463
1.476
1.494
1.489
1.497
1.508
1.519
1.541

46.26
46.26
46. 47
46.94
48.06
48.99
48.99
48.48
48.32
47. 92
48.31

40.4
40.3
40.2
40.4
40.9
41.2
41.1
40.4
40.3
40.0
40.7

1.145
1.148
1.156
1.162
1.175
1.189
1.192
1.200
1.199
1.198
1.187

35.44
35.04
34.66
35.49
36.60
37.32
37.06
36.11
36.01
35. 24
37.02

36.8
36.5
36.1
36.4
37.2
37.7
37.4
36.4
36.3
36.0
38.2

.963
.960
.960
.975
.984
.990
.991
.992
.992
.979
.969

39.85
39. 57
39.83
40.82
41.86
42. 58
42.33
42.03
42.03
41.24
45.05

37.7
37.4
37.4
37.8
38.3
38.6
38.2
37.8
37.9
37.8
40.7

1.057
1.058
1.065
1.080
1.093
1.103
1.108
1.112
1.109
1.091
1.107

71.57
72.76

42.1
42.4

1.700
1.716

63.48
63.66

40.8
40.6

1.556
1.568

50.22
49.93

40.5
40.2

1.240
1.242

38.60
37.83

36.8
36.1

1.049
1.048

45.39
44. 27

38.4
37.9

1.182
1.168

Trade— Continued
Other retail trade

Retail trade— Continued
Food and liquor
stores
1949: Average......................................................... $49.93
51.79

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Automotive and
accessories dealers

40.2 $1. 242 $58.92
1.282 61.65
40.4

Apparel and
accessories stores

45.6 $1.292 $40.66
1.349 40.70
45.7

Furniture and
appliance stores

36.7 $1.108 $53.30
36.5
1.115 56.12

Lumber and hard­
ware-supply stores

43.4 $1.228 $51.84
54.62
1.290
43.5

43.6
43.8

$1.189
1.247

50.85
50. 76
50.93
50.81
51.82
53.37
53.04
52.12
51.80
52. 40
52.91

40.1
40.0
40.1
40.1
40.8
41.5
41.5
40.4
40.0
40.0
40.3

1.268
1.269
1.270
1.267
1.270
1.286
1.278
1.290
1.295
1.310
1.313

57. 76
59. 22
60.36
60. 50
62. 29
63.71
63.66
63. 52
63.94
63.07
63.53

45.3
45.8
45.8
45.9
45.9
45.7
45.6
45.6
45.9
45.8
46.0

1.275
1.293
1.318
1.318
1.357
1.394
1.396
1.393
1.393
1.377
1.381

40.07
39. 64
40.17
40.37
40.92
40.77
40.70
40.98
40.95
40.65
42.17

36.9
36.5
35.9
36.5
36.8
36.9
37.0
36.2
36.3
36.1
36.7

1.086
1.086
1.109
1.106
1.112
1.105
1.100
1.132
1.128
1.126
1.149

53. 25
53.30
54. 21
54.89
55.67
56.16
57.03
58.07
57.68
57.90
60.18

43.4
43.3
43.4
43.6
43.7
43.5
43.5
43.4
43.5
43.5
43.8

1.227
1.231
1.249
1.259
1.274
1.291
1.311
1.338
1.326
1.331
1.374

51.72
51.89
52.84
54.08
55.06
55. 55
55.91
5b. 36
56.93
55.98
56.97

43.1
43.1
43.6
43.9
44.4
44.3
44.2
44.1
44.1
43.6
44.3

1.200
1.204
1.212
1.232
1.240
1.254
1.265
1.278
1.291
1. 284
1.286

53.20
52.84

40.0
39.7

1.330
1.331

64.49
64.80

45.8
45.7

1.408
1.418

43.30
42.36

36.6
36.3

1.183
1.167

58.67
58.97

43.3
43.2

1.355
1.365

57.94
58.26

44.3
44.1

1.308
1.321

616
T

G: E A RN IN GS AND HOURS

a b le

M O N THLY LABOR

C - l : Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1— Con.
Finance 10

Banks
and
trust
com­
panies

Year and month

Service

Security
Insur­
dealers
ance
and
carriers
ex­
changes

Hotels, year-round 11

Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
wkly.
wkly.
wkly.
wkly.
earnings earnings earnings earnings
1949: Average______________
1950: Average . . . __ __

.
.

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Laundries

Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly.
earnings earnings

A vg.
wkly.
hours

M otionpicture
produc­
tion
and
distri­
bution 10

Cleaning and dyeing
plants

A vg.
A vg.
hrly.
w kly.
earnings earnings

Avg.
w kly.
hours

Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly.
earnings earnings

$43.64
46. 44

$68.32
81.48

$56.47
58.49

$32.84
33.85

44.2
43.9

$0.743
.771

$34.98
35.47

41.5
41.2

$0.843
.861

$40. 71
41.69

41.2
41.2

$0.988
1.012

$92.17
92.79

1950: February________________
M arch_____
. . . ___
April_________________ _ __
M a y ________
....
______
June____________ __________
July------------------------------------August_______
Septem ber... . .
October. _____________ . .
November_______ _ . . .
December_____ . . . ______

45.52
45.37
45.83
45.54
45. 42
46.34
46.36
46.75
47.78
48.18
48.66

77.61
80.08
83.53
82. 70
81.31
79.88
79.09
79.29
84. 94
85.62
87.24

57.68
57.19
58.16
58.02
58.06
59.09
58.81
58.20
58.91
59. 27
60. 60

33.51
33.07
33. 26
33.34
33.33
33.51
33.92
34.30
34. 67
34. 74
35.16

43.8
43.8
44.0
44.1
43.8
43.8
44.0
43.8
44.0
43.7
43.9

.765
.755
.756
.756
.761
.765
.771
.783
.788
.795
.801

34.39
34.56
34.85
35.74
36.33
35.61
34.83
35.93
35.79
35.86
36.38

40.8
41.0
41.0
41.7
42.0
41.5
40. 6
41.3
41.0
40.8
41.2

.843
.843
.850
.857
.865
.858
.858
.870
.873
.879
.883

39.26
40.40
40. 48
43.69
44.03
42.02
40.16
42.56
42.15
42.23
42.29

39.9
40.6
40.4
43.0
43.0
41.4
40.0
41.6
41.0
41.2
41.1

.984
.995
1.002
1.016
1.024
1.015
1.004
1.023
1.028
1.025
1.029

88.94
91.01
91.23
94.09
94.73
91.64
90. 70
93.44
95.08
95.68
98.39

1951: January... ___ . . . ______
February ____________ . .

49.26
49.37

89. 79
91.02

61.44
61.51

34.94
35.00

43.3
43.1

.807
.812

36. 61
36.13

40.9
40.5

.895
.892

43. 24
42.03

41.3
40.3

1.047
1.043

97.72
95.07

1 These figures are based on reports from cooperating establishments
covering both full- and part-time employees who worked during, or received
pay for, the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month. For the mining,
manufacturing, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing plants industries, data
relate to production and related workers only. For the remaining industries,
unless otherwise noted, data relate to nonsupervisory employees and working
supervisors. All series are available upon request to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Such requests should specify which industry series are desired.
Data for the three current months are subject to revision without notation;
revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the first
month they are published.
2 Includes: 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 machin­
ery; transportation equipment; instruments and related products; miscel­
laneous manufacturing industries.
3 Includes: food and kindred products; tobacco manufactures; textile-mill
products; apparel and other finished textile products; paper and allied prod­
ucts; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chemicals and allied prod­
ucts; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products; leather and leather
products.

T

a b l e

C -2: Gross Average Weekly Earnings of Production Workers in Selected Industries, in Current
and 1939 Dollars 1
Manufacturing

Bituminouscoal mining

Laundries

Year and month
1939
dollars

Average....................
Average____________
Average__________ .
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________

$23. 86
29. 58
43.82
54.14
54.92
59.33

$23.86
27.95
31.27
31.43
32.28
34.31

$23.88
30.86
58.03
72.12
63.28
70.35

$23.88
29.16
41.41
41.87
37.20
40.68

$17. 69
19.00
30. 30
34.23
34.98
35.47

$17. 69
17. 95
21.62
19. 87
20. 56
20.51

1950: February___________
M arch_____________
April______________
M a y _______________

56.37
56.53
56.93
57.54

33.37
33. 37
33.58
33.78

49.83
78. 75
72.79
68.37

29. 50
46.48
42.94
40.14

34.39
34. 56
34.85
35.74

20. 36
20.40
20. 56
20.98

1 These series indicate changes in the level of weekly earnings prior to and
after adjustment for changes in purchasing power as determined from the
Bureau’s Consumers’ Price Index, the year 1939 having been selected for the
base period. Estimates of World W ar II and postwar understatement by


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

Manufacturing

Bituminouscoal mining

Laundries

Year and month
Current
1939
1939 Current
Current
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars

1939:
1941:
1946:
1948:
1949:
1950:

4 Data relate to hourly rated employees reported by individual railroads
(exclusive of switching and terminal companies) to the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Annual averages include any retroactive payments made,
which are excluded from monthly averages.
3 Data include privately and municipally operated local railways and bus
lines.
8 Through M a y 1949 the averages relate mainly to the hours and earnings of
employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Beginning with June
1949 the averages relate to the hours and earnings of nonsupervisory employ­
ees. Data for June comparable with the earlier series are $51.47, 38.5 hours,
and $1.337.
7 Data include employees such as switchboard operators, service assistants,
operating-room instructors, and pay-station attendants.
8 Data include employees such as central office craftsmen; installation and
exchange renair craftsmen; line, cable, and conduit craftsmen; and laborers.
8 Data relate mainly to land-line employees, excluding employees com­
pensated on a commission basis, general and divisional headquarters per­
sonnel, trainees in school, and messengers.
10 Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not avail­
able.
11 M oney payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips, not included.
** Preliminary.

Current
1939 Current
1939
Current
1939
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
1950: June________________
July------------------------August_____________
September_________
October____________
November_______ __
December_______ .

$58.85
59.21
60.32
60. 64
61. 99
62.23
63.88

$34.37
34. 22
34.58
34. 52
35.09
35.07
35.51

$69.92
69. 68
71.04
71.92
72.99
73. 27
77. 77

$40.83
40. 27
40.72
40.94
41.32
41.29
43.23

$36. 33
35.61
34. 83
35. 93
35. 79
35.86
36.38

$21.22
20.58
19.97
20.45
20.26
20. 21
20. 22

1951: January 2___________
February 2_________

63.71
63.76

34.89
34.48

77.54
76.56

42.47
41.40

36.61
36.13

20.05
19.54

the Consumers’ Price Index were not included. See the M onthly Labor
Review, March 1947, p. 498. Data from January 1939 are available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
2 Preliminary. See note, table C -3.

617

G: EARNIN GS AND HOURS

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

T able C -3 : Gross and Net Spendable Average Weekly Earnings of Production Workers in Manufactur­

ing Industries, in Current and 1939 Dollars 1
Net spendable average weekly
earnings

N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Gross average
weekly earnings

1941: January___________
1945: January____________
July________________
1946: June________________
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:

Worker with
3 dependents

Worker with
no dependents

Period

Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average___________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average------------------

Index
Amount (1939 =
100)

Cur­
rent
dollars

1939
dollars

Cur­
rent
dollars

1939
dollars

$26. 64
47.50
45.45
43.31

111.7
199.1
190.5
181.5

$25.41
39.40
37.80
37.30

$25.06
30.81
29.04
27.81

$26.37
45.17
43.57
42. 78

$26.00
35.33
33.47
31.90

23.86
25.20
29. 58
36. 65
43.14
46.08
44.39
43.82
49.97
54.14
54.92
59.33

100.0
105.6
124.0
153.6
180.8
193.1
186.0
183.7
209.4
226.9
230.2
248.7

23.58
24.69
28. 05
31.77
36.01
38.29
36.97
37.72
42. 76
47.43
48. 09
51.09

23.58
24. 49
26.51
27.11
28. 97
30.32
28. 61
26.92
26. 70
27.54
28.27
29.54

23.62
24. 95
29. 28
36.28
41.39
44.06
42. 74
43.20
48.24
53.17
53. 83
57. 21

23.62
24.75
27.67
30.96
33.30
34.89
33.08
30.83
30.12
30.87
31.64
33.08

1 N et spendable average weekly earnings are obtained by deducting from
gross average weekly earnings, social security and income taxes for which
the specified type of worker is liable. The amount of income tax liability
depends, of course, on the number of dependents supported by the worker
as well as on the level of his gross income. N et spendable earnings have
therefore, been computed for 2 types of income-receivers: (1) A worker
with no dependents: (2) A worker with 3 dependents.
The computation of net spendable earnings for both factory worker with
no dependents and the factory worker with 3 dependents are based upon the
gross average weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing
industries without direct regard to marital status and family composition.

Gross average
weekly earnings
Worker with
3 dependents

Worker with
no dependents

Period
Index
Amount (1939=
100)

Cur­
rent
dollars

1939
dollars

Cur­
rent
dollars

1950: February___________ $56. 37
56. 53
M arch______________
56.93
April_______________
57.54
M a y _______________
58.85
June________________
59,21
July________________
60.32
August_____________
60.64
Septem ber________
61.99
October____________
62.23
N o v em b e r________
63.88
December---------------

236.3
236.9
238.6
241.2
246.6
248.2
252.8
254.1
259.8
260.8
267.7

$49.00
49.13
49.46
49.95
51.03
51.32
52. 24
52. 50
52.16
52.35
53. 67

$29.01
29. 00
29.18
29.33
29.80
29.66
29.95
29.89
29.53
29. 50
29.84

$54.76
54.90
55.23
55.74
56.86
57.16
58.11
58.38
59.20
59.40
60. 75

$32.42
32.41
32.58
32.73
33.21
33.03
33.31
33.24
33.51
33.47
33.77

63.71
63.76

267.0
267.2

53.45
53.49

29.27
28.92

60. 52
60. 56

33.14
32. 75

1951: January 2-------------February 2_________

1939
dollars

The primary value of the spendable series is that of measuring relative changes
in disposable earnings for 2 types of income-receivers. That series does not,
therefore, reflect actual differences in levels of earnings for workers of varying
age, occupation, skill, family composition, etc. Comparable data from
January 1939 are available upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 Preliminary.

N ote : Data for series based on 1939 dollars revised beginning January
1950 to conform to the Adjusted Series Consumers’ Price Index.
M onthly data for 1950, based on Old Series Consumers’ Price Index, are
available upon request.

T able C -4 : Average Hourly Earnings, Gross and Exclusive of Overtime, of Production Workers in

Manufacturing Industries 1
Durable
goods

Manufacturing

Exclu ding
overt ime

Period
Gross
amount

Gross
Amount

1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:

Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
A v erage.-- _
Average____
Average_____

1950: February___

$0. 729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465

$0. 702
.805
.894
.947
2.963
1. 051
1.198
1.310
1. 367
1.415

1.420

1.382

Index
(1939=
100)

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

110.9 $0.808 $0. 770 $0. 640
.723
.881
127.2
.947
.803
.976
141. 2 1. 059
1.029
.861
1.117
149.6
.904
1.111 21.042
152.1
1.015
1.122
1.156
166.0
1.171
1.292
1.250
189.3
1. 366 1. 278
1.410
207.0
1. 434 1. 325
1.469
216.0
1.378
1.480
1.537
223.5
218.3

1.483

1.442

1.350


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

Exclu ding
overt ime

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Period

$0. 625
.698
.763
.814
3.858
.981
1.133
1. 241
1. 292
1.337

M arch______
April________
M a y ________
June________
J u l y .. .. .........
August______
Septem ber...
October_____
November .
December___

$1.424
1. 434
1. 442
1.453
1.462
1.464
1.479
1.501
1. 514
1.543

$1.385
1.392
1.399
1.404
1. 413
1. 408
1. 424
1.442
1. 456
1.479

1.316

January3 . ..
February 3—.

1.554
1.559

1.496
1.503

i 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 exclusive of
overtime makes no allowance for special rates of pay for work done on holidays. Comparable data from January 1941 are available upon request to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Durable
goods

Manufacturing

Gross
amount

Gross
Amount

2 Eleven-month average.
Period,
3 Preliminary,

Index
(1939 =
100)

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

218.8 $1. 486 $1.443 $1.353
1.355
1. 499 1.449
219.9
1.358
1.459
1.509
221.0
1.365
1. 522 1.465
221.8
1.375
1. 533 1.478
223.2
1. 274
1.539
1.475
222.4
1.379
225. 0 1. 562 1.499
1.577
1. 508 1.404
227.8
1. 521 1.419
1.587
230.0
1. 619 1.545 1.443
233.6

$1.319
1.323
1.324
1.326
1.333
1.328
1.334
1. 358
1.372
1.393

1.456
1.458

1.408
1.414

236.3
237.4

1.629
1.637

1. 564
1.571

August 1945 excluded because of VJ-holiday

618

D : P RIC ES AND COST OF L IV IN G

M O N TH LY LABO R

D : Prices and Cost of Living
T

able

D - l : Consumers’ Price Index 1 for Moderate-Income Families in Large Cities, by Group of
Commodities
[1935-39=100]

Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration a
Year and month

Food

Apparel

Total
1913: Average____
1914: Average........
1915: Average____
1916: Average____
1917: Average____
1918: Average____
1919: Average____
1920: Average____
1921: Average_____
1922: Average_____
1923: Average_____
1924: Average_____
1925: Average_____
1926: Average_____
1927: Average_____
1928: Average_____
1929: Average_____
1930: Average_____
1931: Average_____
1932: Average_____
1933: Average_____
1934: Average_____
1935: Average_____
1936: Average_____
1937: Average_____
1938: Average_____
1939: Average_____
1940: Average_____
1941: Average_____
1942: Average_____
1943: Average_____
1944: Average_____
1945: Average_____
1946: Average_____
1947: Average_____
1948: Average_____
1949: Average_____
1950: Average_____
January 15.._
March 15____
April 15_____
M a y 15______
June 15______
July 15_______
August 15___
September 15
October 15___
November 15.
December 15.
1951: January 1 5 ...

January

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
128.6
139.5
159.6
171.9
170.2
171.9
168.2
168.4
168.5
169.3
170.2
172.0
173.4
174.6
175.6
176.4
178.8
181.5

79.9
81.8
80.9
90.8
116.9
134.4
149.8
168.8
128.3
119.9
124.0
122.8
132.9
137.4
132.3
130.8
132.5
126.0
103.9
86.5
84.1
93.7
100.4
101.3
105.3
97.8
95.2
96.6
105.5
123.9
138.0
136.1
139.1
159.6
193. 8
210.2
201.9
204.4
196.0
196.6
197.3
199.8
203.1
208.2
209.9
210.0
210.6
210.8
216.3
221. 9

Housefurnishings

R e n t2

69.3
69.8
71.4
78.3
94.1
127.5
168.7
201.0
154.8
125.6
125.9
124.9
122.4
120.6
118.3
116.5
115.3
112.7
102.6
90.8
87.9
96.1
96.8
97.6
102.8
102.2
100.5
101.7
106.3
124.2
129.7
138.8
145.9
160.2
185.8
198.0
190.1
187.7
185.0
185.1
184.9
184. 7
184.6
184.5
185.7
189.8
193.0
194.3
195.5
198.5

92.2
92.2
92.9
94.0
93.2
94.9
102.7
120.7
138.6
142.7
146.4
151.6
152.2
150. 7J
148.3
144.8
141.4
137.5
130.3
116.9
100.7
94.4
94.2
96.4
100.9
104.1
104.3
104.6
106.4
108.8
108.7
109.1
109.5
110.1
113.6
121.2
126.4 131.0
129.4
129.8
130.1
130.6
130.9
131.3
131.6
131.8
132.0
132.5
132. 9
133.2

61.9
62.3
62.5
65.0
72.4
84.2
91.1
106.9
114.0
113.1
115.2
113.7
115.4
117.2
115.4
113.4
112.5
111.4
108.9
103.4
100.0
101.4
100.7
100.2
100.2
99.9
99.0
99.7
102.2
105.4
107.7
109.8
110.3
112.4
121.1
133.9
137.5
140.6
140.0
140.3
140.3
138.8
139.1
139.4
140.2
141.2
142.0
142.5
142.8
143.3

Gas and
electricity

(5)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(*)
(8)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(5)
(s)
(5)
(s)
(8)
(5)
<5)
(')
(8)
(5)
(8)
(8)
(5) Hi
102.8
100.8
99.1
99.0
98.9
98.0
97.1
96.7
96.1
95.8
95.0
92.3
92.0
94.3
96. 7
96.8
96.7
96.9
97.0
96.9
96.8
96.9
96.8
96.9
96.8
96.8
96.8
97.2

Other
fuels

Ice

(8)
(8)
(8)
(5)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(5)
(5)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(«)
(8)
(5)
(8)
(8)
(ä)
(8)
(s)
98.4
99.8
101.7
101.0
99.1
101.9
108.3
115.1
120.7
126.0
128.3
136.9
156.1
183.4
187.7
194.1
193.1
193.1
192.8
187.6
189.0
189.9
192.9
196.1
199.2
200.8
201.7
202.3

(8)
(8)
(5)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(8)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(£)
(8)
(5)
(5)
(5)
«
(5)
(*)
(5)
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.2
100.4
104.1
110.0
114.2
115.8
115.9
115.9
125.9
135.2
141.7
147.8
145.5
146.8
146.8
146.8
147.0
147.0
147.6
148.1
149.9
151.3
151.5
152.0

59.1
60.7
63.6
70.9
82.8
106.4
134.1
164.6
138.5
117.5
126.1
124.0
121.5
118.8
115.9
113.1
111. 7
108.9
98.0
85.4
84.2
92.8
94.8
96.3
104.3
103.3
101.3
100.5
107.3
122.2
125.6
136.4
145.8
159.2
184.4
195.8
189.0
190.2
184.7
185.3
185.4
185.0
184.8
186.1
189.1
194.2
198.7
201.1
203.2
207.4

Miseellaneous4

50.9
51.9
53.6
56.3
65.1
77.8
87.6
100.5
104.3
101.2
100.8
101.4
102.2
102.6
103.2
103.8
104.6
105.1
104.1
101.7
98.4
97.9
98.1
98.7
101.0
101.5
100.7
101.1
104.0
110.9
115.8
121.3
124.1
128.8
139.9
149.9
154.6
156.5
155.1
155.0
154.7
155.1
154.6
155.2
156.8
157.8
158.3
159.2
160.6
162.1

15___

1 8 1 .6

February 15..
February 1 5 . . .
March 15____
March 1 5 ____

1 9 9 .7

183.8

1 2 6 .0

226.0

202.0

1 4 4 -5

134.0

2 0 1 .8

m .o

143.9

1 5 2 .9

184. g

2 0 3 .2

97.2

204.5

152.8

203.1

134.7

9 7 .2

163.2

226.2

14 5 . 7

209.7

184.5

1 2 6 .8

2 0 4 .7

2 0 4 .6

127. S

205.0

1 6 4 .8

2 2 5 .4

97.2

2 11. 4

1 8 4 -5

144.2

1 5 5 .5

154.4

14 6 . 3

210.7

9 7 .2

164.3

2 0 5 .7

m .4

2 1 2 .7

1 6 5 .8

m .6

1 The “ Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families in large cities”
formerly known as the “ Cost-of-living index” measures average changes in
retail prices of selected goods, rents, and services purchased by wage earners
and lower-salaried workers in large cities. Until January 1950, time-to-time
changes in retail prices were weighted by 1934-36 average expenditures of
urban families. Weights used beginning January 1950 have been adjusted to
current spending patterns.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin 699, Changes in Cost of Living in Large
Cities in the United States, 1913-41, contains a detailed description of methods
used in constructing this index. Additional information on the Consumers’
Price Index is given in a compilation of reports published by the Office of
Economic Stabilization, Report of the President’s Committee on the Cost of
Living. See also General Note, below.
Mimeographed tables are available upon request showing indexes for each
of the cities regularly surveyed by the Bureau and for each of the major groups
of living essentials. Indexes for all large cities combined are available since
1913. The beginning date for series of indexes for individual cities varies from
city to city but indexes are available for most of the 34 cities since World
W ar I.

9 7 .2

2 0 8 .9

1 6 3 .7

2 The Consumers’ Price Index has been adjusted to incorporate a correction
ffltnenevr unit bias in the rent index beginning with indexes for 1940 and
adjusted population and commodity weights beginning with indexes for
January 1950. These adjustments make a continuous comparable series from
1913 to date.
. 3 The group index formerly entitled “ Fuel, electricity, and ice” is now des­
ignated “ Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration.” Indexes are comparable with
trióse previously published for “ Fuel, electricity, and ice.” The subgroup
Other fuels and ice” has been discontinued; separate indexes are presented
for “ Other fuels” and “ lee.”
4 The Miscellaneous group covers transportation (such as automobiles and
their upkeep and public transportation fares); medical care (including pro­
fessional care and medicines); household operation (covering supplies and
diSerent kinds of paid services); recreation (that is, newspapers, motion
pictures, radio, television, and tobacco products); personal care (barber and
beauty-shop service and toilet articles); etc.
5 Data not available.

G e n e r a l N o t e :— In tables D - l through D -6 , the indexes beginning with January 1950 are the Consumers’
Price Indexes adjusted to incorporate certain improvements, as announced by the Bureau on October 24, 1950.
Technical notes describing the adjustments are published in the April 1951 issue of the Monthly Labor Review
(p. 421). The old series of indexes for 1951 are shown in italics for reference.


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

619

D : PRIC ES AND COST OF L IV ING

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

T able D -2 : Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City,1 for Selected Periods
[1935-39=100]

City

Mar. 15, Feb. 15, Jan. 15, Dec. 15, N ov. 15, Oct. 15, Sept. 15, Aug. 15, July 15, June 15, M a y 15, Apr. 15, M ar. 15, Jan. 15, M ar. 15,
1950
19512
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1951
1951
1951

Average— ...............- ..........—
Atlanta, G a -------------------------Baltimore, M d _ . .....................
Birmingham, A la--------- -------Boston, M ass-----------------------Buffalo, N . Y .......... ............. ..
Chicago, 111--------------------------Cincinnati, Ohio
- - - -Cleveland, Ohio------------------Denver, Colo-----------------------Detroit, M ich______ ______
Houston, T e x ..------- ------------Indianapolis, In d ----------- . . .
Jacksonville, F l a ----- --- . . .
Kansas City, M o --------- -------Los Angeles, Calif---------------Manchester, N . H ---------------Mem phis, T enn____________
Milwaukee, W is ------------------Minneapolis, M in n -------------Mobile, A la _________________
N ew Orleans, L a ------ ----------N ew York, N . Y . _ -----------Norfolk, V a --------------------------Philadelphia, Pa------------ . . .
Pittsburgh, P a --------------------Portland, M aine_______ . . .
Portland, Oreg---------------- . .
Richmond, V a ---------------------St. Louis, M o ----------------- . . .
San Francisco, Calif. --------Savannah, G a . ------------------Scranton, P a------------------------Seattle, W a sh ----------------------Washington, D . C ..................

184.5

183.8

181.5

178.8

176.4

175.6

174.6

173.4

172.0

170.2

169.3

168.5

168.4

168.2

1 8 4 .5

0
188.6
190.6
175.8
(3)
189.1
184.4
(3)
(3)
187.0
192.4

187.5

(3)
(3)
188.2
173.5
180.8
185.4
182.3
(3)
184.9
184.2
190.1

(3)
183.1
183.9
171.2
(3)
183.4
178.4
(3)
(3)
181.3
186.1

4 180.7
(3)
180.8
169. 7
(3)
180.6
176.1
179.6
(3)
179.8
183.0

(3)
(3)

(3)

4 177.9
0
176.8
168.1
0
179.0
173.9
176.5
0
175.9
180.6

0
0
175.4
167.1
171.5
177.3
172.0
0
172.6
175.0
177.5

0
174.7
171.6
165.5
0
175.1
170.5
0
0
173.5
175.8

171.7
0
170.5
163.6
0
174.5
169.7
171.1
0
172.1
175.3

0
0
169.9
163.0
167.4
172.9
168.1
0
169.7
170.7
175.1

0
172.9
170.0
162.9
0
173.0
168.6
0
0
170.1
175.9

0
0
169.0
162.4
166.6
172.8
168.5
0
168.8
169.7
175.5

0

(3)

(3)

184.4
(3)
175.6
181.3
180.6
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
177.8

(3)
185.6
(3)
178.5
(3)
182.7
0
177.7
177.1
0
175.4

0
(3)
(3)
176.2
(3)
(3)
180.3
(3)

(3)

0
0

V3)

180.1
173.2

0
172.4

171.7

174.4
0
166 9
170.1
172.1
0
0
0
0
0
169.8

0
176.3
0
169.3
0
172.7
0
169.1
168.2
0
167.0

0
0
0
169.5
0
0
172.0
0
0
174.4
166.1

171.4
0
163.2
169.5
168.0
0
0
0
0
0
165.9

0
175.6
0
169.1
0
172.8
0
167.4
167.4
0
165.5

171.2
0
162.5
169.4
168.0
0
0
0
0
0
164.8

0

(3)

(3)
181.0
183.4
(3)
190.4
179.8
(3)
(3)
189.2
(3)
(3)
(3)

(3)
178.1
180.2
171.3
(3)

179.3
174.1
178.7
(3)

(3)

(3)

0
170.4
172.9
0
179.3
170.0
0
0
177.7
0
0
0

0
169.1
171.8
164.4
0
0
168.8
172.4
0
0
0
0

173.6
167.4
171.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
166.6
174.4
166.8

0
166.7
169.9
0
175.8
164.7
0
0
173.4
0
0
0

0
166.8
169.5
163.7
0
0
168.0
172.9
0

0
166.4
170.0
0
174.9
164.6
0
0
172.3
0
0
0

0

190.4
(3)
185.6
(3)
186.5
(3)
183.2
181.9

(3)

180.4
(3)
185.6
186.0
175.7
(3)
(3)
185.2
188.7
0
(3)

(3)
(3)

(3)

189.8
175.5

(3)

188.5
183.9
186. 2

(3)

186.2
191.0

(3)
0
184.1

(3)

O)
187.5

(3)
(3)

187.9
180.8
187.1
185.4
185.6

(3)
vs)
O)
(3)
(3)
(3)
180.8
188.3
179.2

0

178.8
181.5
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

(3)

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

173.1
183.1
173.5

179.3
169.5
174.1
180.3
176.1

(3)
178.1
179.1
182.3
178.9

(3)

169.0
174.8
176.6

(3)
(3)
(3)
(»)

(3)

179.5
175.9

(3)
(3)

177.5
182.2
181.7
173.2

(3)

179.2

(3)

172.8
173.9

(2)

(3)

173.1
177.4
168.1

(3)
(3)

174.0
175.3

173.8
178.8
184.3
173.8
183.6

(2)
(3)
(3)

i The indexes are based on time-to-timo changes in the cost of goods and
services purchased by moderate-income families in large cities. They do not
indicate whether it costs more to live in one city than in another.
> See footnote 2, table D - l , p. 618.


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

180.6
179.7
168.2

(3)
(3)

(3)
(2)
(3)
0

172.1
0
0
176.6
0
0
179.6
169.7
178.8
171.8
176.0
0
0

V3)
0
0
0
171.2
177.3
170. 8

0
0
0

1 8 7 .4
1 9 0 .5
1 7 6 .4

0
1 9 0 .0

184.8
0
0
1 8 7 .8
1 9 1 .9

1 9 2 .3

0

184.0
0
184.0
0
1 8 4 .1
1 8 1 .9

0
1 7 9 .8

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

0
0
1 8 6 .8
1 8 9 .7

0
0
0
0

* Through June 1947, consumers’ price indexes were computed monthly for
21 cities and in March, June, September, and December for 13 additional
cities; beginning July 1947 indexes were computed monthly for 10 cities and
once every 3 months for 24 additional cities according to a staggered schedule.
* Corrected.

D : P RIC ES AND COST OF L IV IN G

620
T

able

M O N TH LY LABOR

D -3 : Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City and Group of
Commodities 1
[1935-39=100]
Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration
Food

Apparel

Housefumishings

Rent

Miscellaneous

Gas and electricity

Total
City
M ar. 15,
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15,
1951
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15,
1951
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15,
1951
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15,
1951
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15,
1951
1951

Feb. 15, M ar. 15, Feb. 15,
1951
1951
1951

Average------------------------

226.2

226.0

203.1

202.0

134.7

134.0

144.2

143.9

97.2

97.2

210.7

209.7

164.3

163.2

Atlanta, G a ----------------Baltimore, M d -----------Birmingham, A la -------Boston, M ass__________
Buffalo, N . Y ------------Chicago, 111------------ -Cincinnati, Ohio--------Cleveland, Ohio_______
Denver, C o l o . . ______
Detroit, M ich _________
Houston, T ex---------------

224.1
236.8
220.5
213.3
219.6
231.6
225.8
233.3
230.5
228.8
238.5

224.0
237.1
220.8
213.8
217.9
232.9
226.9
232.7
229.0
228.3
235.6

0
197.6
215.0
187.2
0)
205.2
204.8
0
0
196.1
219.8

211.2
0)
213.3
187.1
0
204.6
203.6
203.2
0
195.5
218.6

0
135.9
(2)
126.3
0
148.4
124. 3
(2)
(2)
(2)
0

146.4
0
192.8
0
0
0
0
143.3
0
0
167.4

156.1
148.8
138.6
161.1
153.8
138.3
151. 2
150.0
113.7
153.9
98.6

155.9
147.6
138.6
160.0
153.8
138.2
150.8
150.0
113.7
154.1
98.6

83.4
115.2
79.6
117.2
110.0
83. 5
101.8
105.6
69. 7
90.2
82.1

83.3
115.3
79.6
117.2
110.0
83.5
101.2
105.6
69.7
90.4
82.1

0
211.7
200.3
199.3
0
197.3
200.5
(0
0
227.8
205.3

210.0
(0
198.4
199.5
0)
195.7
198.4
190.9
0
225.9
202.9

(0
163.8
160.2
159.0
0
166.2
164.0
0
0)
174.8
167.2

168.5
0
158.7
158.3
0
164.1
162.9
158.6
0
173.3
166.5

Indianapolis, In d -------Jacksonville, F la______
Kansas C ity, M o _____
Los Angeles, Calif------Manchester, N . H ____
M em phis, T en n _______
Milwaukee, W is---------Minneapolis, M in n ___
Mobile, A la ___________
New Orleans, L a ______
New York, N . Y ______

222.1
234.8
211.6
229.8
217.6
233.8
226.9
217.7
223.8
242.1
224.7

220.6
231. 5
210. 5
226.9
218.9
230.8
227.4
217. 9
222.5
239.8
227.0

(0
197.8
(0
201.0
(')
217.0
0)
208.0
205.4
0
201.5

0
(0
(0
196.9
0)
0)
203.3
(0
0)
209.1
200.6

(2)
151.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
154.4
(2)
144.4
142.7
0
0

0
0
0
159.4
0
0
158.0
0
0
136.1
0

162.0
143.4
130.4
98.7
162.4
141.5
150.8
142.3
130.6
113.2
142.9

163.9
153.4
128.9
98.7
162.2
141.5
149.7
142.3
130.3
113.2
142.9

84.5
85.3
69.3
93.0
102.0
77.0
99.2
78.1
84.9
75.1
101.8

86.6
102. 7
68.3
93.0
103.3
77.0
99.2
78.1
84. 7
75.1
101.8

0
208.0
0
202.3
0
183.4
0
199.0
177.6
0
201.7

0
0
0
201.6
0
0
210.5
(0
0)
205.6
200.2

(0
170.2
(0
161.5
0
151.3
0
168.9
154.6
0
167.6

0
0)
0
160.7
0
0
157.6
0
(0
150.8
167.0

Norfolk, V a ___________
Philadelphia, P a ______
Pittsburgh, P a ________
Portland, M aine______
Portland, Oreg_______
Richmond, V a ________
St. Louis, M o________
San Francisco, C a lif.. .
Savannah, G a -------------Scranton, P a_________
Seattle, Wash
_______
Washington, D . C ____

233.8
221.4
227.2
210.5
250.3
217.4
239.4
241.7
232.3
222.7
234.3
222.4

231.1
222.2
227.4
211.0
247.4
218.3
240.0
235.3
231. 5
223.7
231. 7
223.3

0
201.3
234.3
207.7
0)
0)
203.6
199.3
0
(>)
0
0

192.5
201.1
232.5
(0
(0
0
0)
0
(0
210. 5
201. 8
222.5

0
0
0
117.7
0
0
128.3
131. 9
0
0
0
0

146.6
126.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
118.7
148.1
118.1

164.6
150.3
150. 0
156.0
134.8
148.3
143.0
92.0
156.6
158.3
132.1
149.1

164.6
149.7
149.9
155.3
135.3
148.3
143.0
86.5
156.6
158.3
132.0
149.1

107.3
104.2
114.2
105.6
93.9
102.2
88.4
81.0
108.6
98.3
92.6
105.5

107.3
104.2
114.2
105.6
93.9
102.2
88.4
76.2
108.6
98.3
92.6
105.5

(>)
221.1
214.9
199.4
0
(0
187.5
179.1
0
0
0
(0

203.0
220.8
214.7
0
0
(0
0
0
0
185.7
213.5
222.4

(0
169.0
160.7
159.2
0
0
156.3
173.5
0
0
0
0)

161.2
168.0
159.9
0
0
0
0
0
0
150.5
168.7
164.3

1 Prices of apparel, housefumishings, and miscellaneous goods and services
are obtained monthly in 10 cities and once every 3 months in 24 additional
cities on a staggered schedule.


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

2 Rents are surveyed every 3 months in 34 large cities on a staggered
schedule,

T

able

621

D : PRIC ES AND COST OF L IV ING

IE V IE W , M A Y 1951

D -4 : Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods,1 by Group, for Selected Periods
[1935-39=100]

Year and month

Cere­
Meats,
als
poul­
and
All
try,
foods bakery
and
prod­
Total
fish
ucts
124 0
137. 4
132. R
86. R
95 2
93. R
96 6

105. 5
115. 7
107. 6
82. 6
94. 5
93.4
96 8

101.2
117. 8
127.1
79.3
96. 6
95. 7
95. 8

105 R
113.1
123. 9
138. 0
136 1
139 1
140.9

97. 9
102.5
105.1
107. 6
108. 4
109.0
109.1

107. 5
111.1
126.0
133. 8
129. 9
131.2
131. 8

106. 5
109.7
122. 5
124.2
117.9
118.0
118.1

159 6
145. 6
187.7

125.0
122.1
140.6

September___
October_____
November___
December____

193. 8
210.2
201 9
204 5
196.0
196. 6
197.3
199. 8
203.1
208. 2
209. 9
210.0
210.6
210.8
216.3

1951: January______
February. _ _
March _____

221.9
226.0
226. 2

December____

Novem ber___
1948: Average______

April_________

Fruits and vegetables

Meats
Beef
and
veal

Chick­
Fish
ens
Pork

Lamb

93.8 101.0
94. 6 99.6
94.8 110.6

88.9
88.0
81.1

99. 5
98.8
99.7

110. 8
114.4
123. 6
124. 7
118. 7
118. 4
118. 5

100.1
103.2
120.4
119.9
112. 2
112.6
112.6

106.6
108.1
124.1
136.9
134. 5
136.0
136.4

102.1
100.5
122.6
146.1
151.0
154.4
157.3

161.3
134.0
203.6

150. 8 150. 5
120.4 121.2
197.9 191.0

148. 2
114.3
207.1

163.9
139.0
205.4

174.0 236.2
162.8 219.7
188.9 265.0

155.4
170.9
169 7
172. 7
169.0
169.1
169.3
169. 8
169. 8
171. 5
175. 5
176.9
177.2
177.6
177.7

217.1
246.5
233.4
243. 6
219.4
229.3
231.1
240.2
246. 5
255. 7
260. 7
261.0
253.3
250.3
253.4

214. 7
243.9
229.3
242.0
217. 9
224 1
224.6
238.4
246. 7
257.4
259. 6
260.2
252.0
249.6
253.8

213.6
258.5
241.3
265.7
242.3
244. 6
246.4
258. 7
268. 6
277.2
282.2
281.7
279.6
279.2
286.3

215.9
222.5
205.9
203.2
177.3
188.3
185.4
202.8
209.1
225.9
225.0
228.3
209.3
201.8
201.0

220.1
246.8
251. 7
257.8
234.3
246.5
251.9
262.1
268.1
269.0
266.9
264.2
259.4
264.1
269.0

183.2
203. 2
191. 5
183.3
158.9
180.6
187.8
184.4
185.1
189.8
202.3
199. 2
187.2
180.1
179.3

185.4
187.1
187.5

263.6
270.1
272.2

265.5 300.9
271.2 307.0
271.9 308.0

210.2
215.2
215.4

273.6
279.7
280.5

184.3 345.3
193.2 347.8
198.9 351.2

96.6 101.1
95.4
99.6
94.4 102. 8

1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics retail food prices are obtained monthly
during the first three days of the week containing the fifteenth of the month,
through voluntary reports from chain and independent retail food dealers.
Articles included are selected to represent food sales to moderate-income
families.
The indexes, based on retail prices of 50 foods through 1949 and 59 foods
from January 1950 to date are computed b y the fixed-base-weighted-aggregate
method, using weights representing (1) relative importance of chain and
independent store sales, in computing city average prices; (2) food purchases


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

124.5
138.9
163.0
206.5
207.6
217.1
217.8

271.4
312.8
314.1
308.5
301.9
301. 8
297.5
293.7
295.9
297.3
302.8
311. 4
328.8
336.6
340.3

Dairy
prod­
ucts

Bever­
ages

Eggs
Total

Fro­ Fresh
zen 1

Can­
ned

Dried

Fats
and
oils

Sugar
and
sweets

129.4 136.1
127.4 141.7
131.0 143.8
82.3
84.9
91.0
95.9
90.7
93.1
101.4
93.8

169.5
210.8
169.0
103. 5
94.5
92.4
96.5

173.6
226.2
173.5
105.9
95.1
92.8
97.3

124.8
122.9
124.3
91.1
92.3
91.6
92.4

175.4
152.4
171.0
91.2
93.3
90.3
100.6

131.5 126.2
170.4 145.0
164.8 127.2
112.6
71.1
95.5
87.7
84.5
94.9
82.2
92.5

175.4
120.0
114.3
89.6
100.6
95.6
96.8

112.2
138.1
136.5
161.9
153.9
164.4
171.4

103.2
110.5
130.8
168.8
168. 2
177.1
183.5

104.2
111.0
132.8
178.0
177.2
188.2
196.2

97.9
106.3
121.6
130.6
129. 5
130.2
130.3

106.7
118.3
136.3
158.9
164.5
168.2
168.6

101.5
114.1
122.1
124.8
124.3
124.7
124.7

94.0
108.5
119. 6
126.1
123.3
124.0
124.0

106.4
114.4
126.5
127.1
126.5
126.5
126. 6

165.1 168.8
147.8 147.1
198.5 201.6

182.4
183.5
184.5

190.7
196.7
182.3

140.8 190.4
127.5 172.5
167.7 251.6

139.6 152.1
125.4 126.4
167.8 244.4

143.9
136.2
170.5

186.2
204.8
186.7
184.7
184.2
182.4
179.6
178.3
177.8
180.7
184.3
186.9
191.9
192.8
194.0

199.4
205.2
208.1
199.2
204.8
195.1
198.9
202.2
209.3
211.5
193.4
186.0
189.8
195.7
203.9 100.0

201.5
212. 4
218.8
206.1
217.2
202.0
208.1
213.6
224.3
227.7
196.9
183.9
187.7
195.9
207.3

166.2
158.0
152.9
146.0
143.3
142.6
142.3
142.0
142.7
142.7
145.7
147.6
151.6
153.2
155.3

197.5
195.5
148.4
144.3
135.2
134.3
135.6
137.7
140.1
141.8
153.9
154.8
152.9
152.9
158. 5

180.0
174.0
176.4
179.9
178.9
177.0
175.1
174.4
174.3
175.7
185.6
185.4
184.8
184.6
184. 9

340.6 171.5
342.7 176.5
342.6 177.3

185.6
186.0
186.0

112.0
120. 5
125.4
134.6
133.6
133.9
133.4

200.8
208.7
201.2
173.6
152.3
149.5
149.8
143.7
148.4
163.3
182.2
192.1
206.2
205.4
249.4

202.6 191.5
204.4 179.8
204.6 195.2

.......

......

___

214.1 100.2 220.0
224.3 100.8 233.4
217.1 101.2 220.7

263.5
246.8
227.4
228.5
223.9
221.5
221.6
222. 9
222.9
222.9
227.6
229.8
236.1
242.2
248.8

160.6 253.4
165.1 256.7
167.0 257.4

186.8
205.0
220.7
312. 5
299.5
308.5
305.5
299.1
296.5
303.0
321.3
327.3
333.4
325. 5
327.5

b y families of wage earners and moderate-income workers, in computing
city indexes; and (3) population weights, in combining city aggregates in
order to derive average prices and indexes for all cities combined.
Indexes of retail food prices in 56 large cities combined, by commodity
groups, for the years 1923 through 1948 (1935-39=100), m ay be found in Bulle­
tin N o. 965, “ Retail Prices of Food, 1948,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U . S.
Department of Labor, table 3, p. 7. Mimeographed tables of the same
data, by months, January 1935 to date, are available upon request.
^December 1950=100.

M O N TH LY L A B O l

D : PRIC ES AND COST OF LIVING-

T

able

D -5 : Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods, by City
[1935-39=100]

City

1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Dec.
1950

United States_________ _____ -

226.2

226.0

221.9

216.3

M ay
1950

Apr.
1950

M ar.
1950

Jan.
1950

Aug.
1950

July
1950

June
1950

210.0

209.9

208.2

203.1

199.8

197.3

196.6

196.0

2 2 5 .4

210.2
221.8
206.4
200.1
206.8

210.1
222.0
201.5
202.9
208.4

202.0
220.4
199.8
202.0
210.0

195.4
215.6
192.2
196.1
204.0

193.8
210.0
191.8
190.6
199.8

194.1
207.1
189.9
186.6
197.4

195.6
207.1
189.2
187.9
196.9

192.5
206.6
186.4
186.6
195.5

m . 4
2 3 6 .7
2 1 9 .4
213. 0
2 2 6 .3

Oct.
1950

Sept.
1950

210.8

210.6
208.6
221.2
202.7
201.9
210.8

N ov.
1950

M a r.
1961

224.1
236.8
220.5
213.3
226.9

224.0
237.1
220.8
213.8
224.1

223.4
231.8
219.8
209.1
220.9

217.0
226.4
212.3
204.1
214.6

208.3
220.5
203.0
201.5
209.1

219. 6
223.9
234.9
214.3
231.6

217.9
222.5
230.6
213.2
232.9

215.5
220.7
229.2
208.9
225.1

207.5
215.8
225.9
203.2
221.6

205.7
212.2
220.2
195.5
214.8

204.0
212.0
220.6
196.7
215.0

202.6
209.4
219.2
198.9
214.7

203.5
209.1
218.8
199.9
217.0

204.9
204.9
211.9
192.8
214.8

199.0
203.0
208.6
188.0
208.4

193.9
198.5
205.5
186.1
206.0

192.3
196.7
201.1
185.6
201.1

191.6
194.5
201.0
186.8
201.1

189.8
194.1
200.3
185.3
199.9

2 2 0 .1
2 2 5 .5
237. 5
2 1 3 .7
2 3 2 .4

Denver, Colo__________ _____

225. 8
233.3
207.1
229.9
230.5

226.9
232.7
206.7
228.7
229.0

223.7
227.4
200.7
225.9
227.8

215.9
220.9
197.4
221.1
223.6

210.7
217.8
191.1
213.1
216.0

212.6
219.1
192. 5
213.5
215.1

214.2
217.5
193.2
215.6
212.2

213.2
218.3
194.0
214.2
214.8

210.2
216.6
189.9
207.2
209.6

205.1
211.2
183.9
201.5
205.9

202.0
205.7
182.1
199.8
203.0

197.7
203.1
179.5
197.1
199.0

198.2
201.8
179.2
197.0
199.0

197.4
202.6
177.2
198.4
196.8

2 2 4 .6
2 3 2 .2
2 0 8 .5
230. 0
2 2 7 .1

Indianapolis, Ind__________
Jackson, M iss.1.........................

228.8
219.2
238.5
222.1
226.3

228.3
220.8
235.6
220.6
226.4

223.7
216.0
236.0
218.6
223.1

217.2
211.4
227.5
214.9
216.0

213.5
206.2
222.1
208.8
211.6

212.5
207.6
222.3
208.6
213.9

209.7
205.6
223.3
210.3
213.9

208.8
207. 7
221.9
208.8
213.2

208.0
207.2
212.8
203.4
206.0

202.9
200.7
208.1
198.1
201.0

198.7
195.6
206.3
196.1
201.2

194.9
193.7
206.6
193.3
199.9

192.8
192.7
209.2
192.7
198.7

191.8
191.9
207.7
192.3
199.9

2 2 8 .4
2 2 0 .1
2Jt0. S
2 2 3 .8
2 2 5 .2

Little Rock, Ark____
Los Angeles, Calif______ __

234.8
211.6
253.4
226.8
229.8

231.5
210.5
253.1
225.2
226.9

229.0
208.5
248.6
222.7
226.3

223.1
203.2
243.6
217.1
218.0

215.3
198.1
235.0
211.7
212.1

215.2
196.2
235.8
210.9
210.9

219.1
195.8
238.5
211.5
207.8

218.1
194.9
238.5
210.7
208.6

211.4
195.0
227.9
204.2
204.4

205.8
189.2
223.1
200.1
201.6

202.8
187.2
220.6
196.8
201.3

201.5
184. 7
219.3
195.6
201.6

202.3
183.5
218.8
196.0
199.5

200.7
183.6
216.7
196.4
201.4

2 3 4 -8
2 1 1 .9
252. 8
227. 4
2 2 6 .7

Louisville, K y_ - ______
Manchester, N . BL ________
Mem phis, T e n n _ ___ ______
Milwaukee, W is . _________
Minneapolis, M in n ___ _____

214.6
217.6
233.8
226.9
217.7

214.5
218.9
230.8
227.4
217.9

210.0
215.1
227.6
219.6
213.8

203.3
210.1
224.0
216.3
206.8

198.0
207.4
218.3
213.0
202.1

198.0
208.8
220.1
212.3
200.7

199.4
206.2
221.5
212.3
199.1

197.8
207.3
219.4
213.7
200.7

197.6
206.3
213.6
212.7
196.8

192.0
200.6
208.3
206.6
194.1

187.8
196.2
205.8
204.2
191.3

183.1
192.6
203.4
198.9
187.1

184.1
193.3
204.8
199.0
187.2

183.7
191.6
203.1
196.3
189.1

2 1 5 .7
2 1 8 .8
2 3 2 .0
2 2 6 .1
2 1 7 .6

Mobile, Ala_________________
Newark, N . J - ____ _____
N ew Haven, Conn_________
New Orleans, La____________
N ew York, N . Y ______ _____

223.8
223.2
219.3
242.1
224.7

222.5
225.5
220.0
239.8
227.0

220.4
220.2
214.0
237.8
221.0

213.2
215.3
208.7
228.2
216.1

208.8
209.1
203.6
220.7
211.3

207.4
208.2
205.4
221.5
210.2

210.2
206.3
203.6
225.2
210.6

212.6
206.3
203.8
227.0
207.2

204.7
206.8
204.5
218.5
209.2

200.1
203.3
199.8
212.9
203.7

199.8
198.3
194.9
210.8
200.3

199.7
195.7
192.3
211.3
198.7

198.7
193. 9
192.3
209.8
197.2

196.4
192.4
190.6
209.6
195.9

224- 3
219. S
218. 8
2 4 2 .2
2 2 2 .6

Norfolk, V a _________________
Omaha, N eb r.-_ _ _________
Peoria, 111_____________
Philadelphia, Pa______ _____
Pittsburgh, Pa.......... ............. -

233.8
216.8
238.1
221.4
227.2

231.1
216.4
236. 5
222.2
227.4

225.2
213. 7
233.4
217.7
222.4

214.8
209.8
226.9
212.9
218.0

210.8
203.6
224.4
206.7
213.8

211.8
202.3
225.0
207.9
215.9

216.3
203.5
224.2
208.8
214.6

217.6
203.9
224.3
208.1
213.3

210.3
199.6
221.2
205.9
211.1

205.9
197.2
216.8
201.4
207.5

202.1
195.5
211.9
195.5
205.1

199.1
190.2
208.3
193.6
201.0

198.7
190.0
207.4
193.4
198.5

194.8
189.8
205.9
191.3
199.7

2 3 4 -0
2 1 7 .9
2 4 1 .0
218. 4
2 2 5 .6

Portland, M aine____________
Portland, Oreg______________
Providence, R. I. _ _
Richmond, V a ______________

210.5
250. 3
228.6
217.4
218.2

211.0
247.4
230.8
218.3
216.2

207.9
243.4
225.1
215.6
212.2

202.9
234.9
219.3
210.3
206.1

198.1
230.7
213.7
201.6
202.6

198.9
228.7
214.4
202.0
204.5

197.7
228.5
213.6
202.9
202.0

198.0
227.5
214.4
202.9
201.7

198.9
224.2
213. 5
200.7
203.4

193.0
219.1
207.9
195.2
196.4

189.2
216.6
203.0
191.1
193.7

188.2
212.9
199.6
189.0
189.6

190.3
211.3
198.8
189.3
191.2

187.3
210.4
198.3
188.3
190.7

2 1 1 .0
2 4 9 .7
2 3 0 .7
2 1 8 .8
2 1 8 .3

239.4
214.1
227.9
241.7
232.3

240.0
212.9
225.6
235.3
231.5

234.0
210.5
222.2
238.0
229.8

229.7
202.8
217.2
229.0
223.0

221.2
198.4
212.4
219.3
214.9

220.2
196.9
211.4
217.0
215.9

220.4
195.3
210.9
214.3
217.9

220.8
195.7
210.1
217.3
219.5

220.1
194.4
202.8
215.9
211.6

210.2
192.5
202.2
211.1
206.3

207.2
189.7
199.2
210.4
203.6

202.6
186.3
196.2
210.8
200.0

204.7
187.0
196.8
210.5
200.0

204.6
186.4
198.7
214.3
197.0

2 2 8 .4
2 4 1 .6
2 3 3 .2

222.7
234.3
237.8
222.4
237.5
223.7

223.7
231.7
238.2
223.3
235.9
221.3

217.7
230.2
233.7
221.2
231.1
217.6

212.1
225.7
231.7
216.7
230.0
214.1

207.1
221.8
223.1
208.9
218.4
205.7

207.2
218.0
222.1
208.9
219.0
207.5

208.9
214.1
218.6
207.0
218.9
207.8

209.8
214.6
219.8
207.4
220.4
207.4

209.5
211.4
218.6
205.8
214.0
200.8

204.2
208.6
211.8
201.9
209.4
197.3

199.6
206.9
207.5
196.9
207.6
193.1

194.0
205.6
202.7
194.4
204.6
192.6

194.7
204.4
201.8
194.7
206.9
193.7

192.4
205.8
200.9
194.4
205.9
191.0

2 2 0 .6
2 3 1 .9
2 3 7 .7
2 2 1 .6
2 3 9 .2
2 2 4 .1

Baltimore, M d ____________
Birmingham, Ala___________
Bridgeport, Conn___________
Buffalo, N . Y _______________
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1______
Chicago, 111_________________
Cincinnati, Ohio____________
Cleveland, Ohio__________
Columbus, O h io..

Jacksonville, Fla____________
Kansas C itv, M o __________

Seattle, W ash ____

_ ____

Winston-Salem, N . C .1____
1 June 1940— 100.


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

2 4 0 .0
2 1 3 .5

T

Commodity

able

D -6 : Average Retail Prices and Indexes of Selected Foods
Aver­
age
price
M ar.
1951

Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
C e n ts
51.9
Flour, w h ea t... _________5 pounds..
20.8
Corn flakes 1___ ________13 ounces..
C om meal_____ ___________ pound..
9.6
_____________
do____
18.3
Rice 2 . . ______
r
Rolled oats 3___ ________20 ounces..
17.3
T
Bakery products:
Bread, w h ite ... ___________ pound..
15.6
50.0
Vanilla cookies. _____________ do____
48 9
Layer cake4 11. ____________ do_____
M eats, poultry, and fish
Meats:
Beef:
Round steak .................... .d o ____ 107.5
84.6
Rib roast............................ d o .. .
73.2
Chuck ro a st.................... . . . d o . . .
fi4 fi
Frankfurters 4. _ .............
do_
H am burger3_........... ......... d o ...
67.0
Veal:
Cutlets.......................
. . . d o . . . 123.7
Pork:
77.9
Chops............ ........................do____
68.0
Bacon, sliced...................... do____
67.6
H am , whole_______________ do__
Salt pork__________________ do__
39.7
Lamb:
L e g ................................. . . . d o —
80.7
Poultry......... ..................................
do_
Frying chickens:
50 2
New York dressed •______ do—
64 1
Dressed and drawn6_____do___
Fish:
Fish (fresh, frozen)7__________ do__
co
62.2
Salmon, p in k ............. 16 ounce can..
D airy products:
81.6
Butter..................... .................. ... .p o u n d ..
60.2
Cheese, American process............ .d o —
M ilk , fresh (delivered)_____ quart..
22.8
21.4
M ilk , fresh (grocery) •_...........do—
31 3
Ice cream 4______
pint..
14.4
M ilk , evaporated..14)4 ounce can..
Eggs: Eggs, fresh.................
.dozen..
68.1
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen fruits:
59 4
Strawberries 4. ......... ....... 16 ounces..
Orange juice 4........ ........... .6 ounces..
Frozen vegetables:
Peas 4_____
12 ounces..
Fresh fruits:
11.0
A p p les.................
pound..
16.6
Bananas.............. ..................... ..d o —
Oranges, size 200....................do zen ..
47.3
Fresh vegetables:
20.8
Beans, green.......................... .pound.
14.5
Cabbage..................................... -d o—
12.0
Carrots____ ______ _________ bunch.
12.3
Lettuce..... ......................
head.
7.3
Onions___________
pound.
65.3
Potatoes............................15 pounds.
9.9
Sweetpotatoes.____________ pound.
32.9
Tomatoes 10________
d o .. .
Canned fruits:
33.4
Peaches______________ N o. 2)4 can.
Pineapple................
d o ...
38.7
Canned vegetables:
20.2
C o m ___________________ N o. 2 can.
19.4
T om atoes...........................
d o .. .
21.9
Peas 11.........................N o . 303 can.
Baby foods 4. ..........4)4-4% ounces.
27\6
Dried fruits, prunes____________pound.
17.4
Dried vegetables, navy beans____ d o ...
Beverages:
86.3
Coffee_________
. d o . ..
Cola drink 4...........................Carton of 6.
Fats and oils:
25.9
Lard____________ ______________ .pound.
41.0
Shortening, h y d ro g e n a ted ...d o ...
39.9
Salad dressing......... .................. .p in t.
Margarine_____ _____
pound.
Uncolored ia. ................. . . . d o . . .
37 4
Colored 13........
d o ...
Sugar and sweets:
50.3
Sugar............................................5 pounds.
Grape jelly 4____________
12ounces. 24.0

Indexes 1935-39=100
M ar.
1951

Feb.
1951

Jan.
1951

Dec.
1950

N ov.
1950

Oct.
1950

Sept.
1950

Aug.
1950

July
1950

June
1950

M ay
1950

Apr.
1950

M ar.
1950

200.9
194.3
203.7
101.9
156.6

199.0
193.9
202.8
101.5
155.2

196.3
192.5
200.5
100.7
154.5

192.5
191.7
197.8
101.0
153.4

191.3
190.9
197.9
98.6
152.5

192.4
187.4
204.0
97.5
150.3

192.9
182.7
205.4
96.8
146.8

192.6
177.2
205.9
95.5
146.1

190.6
177.1
190.9
92.4
145.8

190.5
176.5
181.9
93.1
145.8

190.2
177.0
179.9
93.0
145.9

189.2
176.9
176.6
92.8
145.9

188.1
177.0
176.3
92.4
146.2

187.3
177.8
177.7
92.2
146.4

182.8
213.7
106. 0

183.0
211.6
105.8

182.2
209.8
103.1

172.0
201.7
100 0

171.9
202.8

171.9
201.3

171.5
201.6

171.1
197.0

166.2
193.3

163.9
191.7

164.1
191.6

164.1
189.8

163.9
189.8

163.8
189.9

318.0
292.8
324.1
106 4
218.8

317.6
294.2
323.2
105. 7
217.5

312.3
288.0
315.0
104.4
212.1

297.6
273.3
298.1
100 0
201.0

286.4
266.0
286.9

287.1
265.3
287.4

288.2
270.2
289.7

293.3
271.7
291.3

295.9
272.1
290.1

287.9
264.1
279.2

274.7
255.3
262.6

256.6
241.4
247.4

253.4
239.3
249.2

252.1
238.5
245.1

196.6

196.5

197.4

197.5

189.3

181.8

176.3

167.8

166.3

164.6

308.6

308.0

300.2

286.7

281.1

281.0

280.1

277.8

275.3

271.2

265.1

258.5

262.5

255.8

235.7
178.2
230.1
188.0

235.6
178.0
229.7
187.5

228.1
175.9
224.9
186.7

216.6
171.9
212.7
184.5

221.8
174.8
204.9
183.6

229.9
183.9
210.7
184.8

261.2
184.3
233.6
183.1

253.5
181.7
236.4
179.6

268.6
171.4
229.7
164.8

243.5
161.9
215.8
160.5

238.0
157.4
206.6
152.5

206.6
154.1
193.6
149.3

210.0
155.1
198.0
152.2

186.9
354.7
192.5
153.2

285.0
198.9

284.1
193.2

277.9
184.3

273.3
179.3

268.4
180.1

263.5
187.2

268.4
199.2

271.2
202.3

273.3
189.8

272.4
185.1

266.2
184.4

255.9
187.8

250.5
180.6

238.1
158.9

287.6
502.4

283.7
501.1

283.0
493.7

279.5
484.5

278.5
473.1

277.1
446.9

276.2
381.1

272.8
357.9

270.0
344.8

268.4
344.1

264.9
346.4

269.4
347.4

273.6
351.5

272.2
355.9

224.0
265.7
185.4
187.3
104 9
202.4
195.2

226.1
264.3
184.8
186.7

209.7
232.4
179.0
180.6
100 0
183.7
249.4

205.0
230.3
178.3
181.1

204.1
228.5
177.4
180.3

198.9
229.0
170.6
174.2

197.9
228.2
167.5
170.0

195.6
226.3
164.2
165.7

195.4
226.2
160.4
162.0

196.0
228.0
160.8
162.9

197.6
229.0
162.0
165.1

200.7
230.1
165.3
168.4

201.8
231.1
167.9
170.2

201.0
179.8

228.0
254.9
183.5
185.7
104 2
194.1
191.5

183.0
205.4

182.8
206.2

181.1
192.1

177.8
182.2

173.9
163.3

174.2
148.4

174.3
143.7

174.5
149.8

175.1
149.5

175.1
152.3

101. 3
104 2

101 3
102 4

100 8
102 0

100.0
100 0

105 4

Jan.
1950

100 1

99 9

99.1

100.0

206.0
276.2
166.1

206.4
274.0
173.4

204.4
266.5
153.3

195.3
271.0
166.5

187.0
266.4
176.3

190.3
261.4
191.0

229.5
247.1
175.4

237.5
263.8
174.0

340.6
268.6
182.9

301.1
271.9
172.8

256.3
274.6
168.0

220.1
274.7
173.9

204.9
278.2
177.8

178.6
273.1
156.5

193.3
386.5
220.4
149.2
176.8
179.1
190.3
216.1

244.8
425.2
258.7
189.3
173.2
177.6
189.7
218.7

303.5
239.6
206.0
164.3
144.0
172.3
182.5
254.7

310.6
158.5
203.8
167.6
133.1
163.8
177.5
193.6

228.4
125.6
203.1
173.3
128.9
154.0
161.2
167.9

154.5
126.5
177.0
159. 2
133.8
163.5
159.3
131.6

160.1
134.3
180.2
155.8
148.7
178.8
184.8
86.1

143.7
142.5
181.2
150.7
174.0
202.0
216.0
117.5

165.6
158.7
195.1
138.9
197.4
216.3
198.5
215.4

151.0
174.3
181.7
167.3
187.1
219.3
209.4
208.3

210.0
174.0
178.3
189.6
161.9
207.7
219.0
154.1

199.5
168.6
175.3
159.5
145.2
198.4
211.7
175.8

180.2
178.7
177.3
156. 5
157.4
194.9
210.4
142.3

274.9
173.9
202.6
220.1
216.9
196.5
205.6
165.3

173.8
178.3

172.8
178.5

172.1
177.5

168.2
176.1

166.7
176.0

164.6
175.7

158.3
175.0

151.5
174.8

142.4
172.7

140.1
172.0

138.2
171.9

138.4
173.1

139.1
173.7

141.8
174.2

162.8
215.9
119.6

161.8
209.1
119.7

147.8
169.1
117.3

141.4
164.4
116.0

139.5
163.9
114.8

137.5
161.5
112.9

138.4
161.6
114.3

137.3
161.7
113.5

138.9
160.1
114.6

139.7
159.4
114.8

144.1
158.2
113.1

271A
234.9

154.3
176.3
117.8
100 0
264.6
226.7

150.5
172.0
117.2

272.1
235.4

159.5
191.2
119.5
100 2
268.0
231.8

261.4
218.8

253.4
214.0

242.0
210.7

238.2
209.4

235.7
203.9

237.8
202.7

236.7
203.4

235.3
202.1

233.3
203.1

232.5
206.9

342.9

343.5

340.7

331.4
100 0

332.5

343.2

336.1

328.1

303.6

294.9

298.4

306.9

310.9

298.9

174.4
198.4
165.5
199.1

173.3
197.4
164.2
199.5

166.3
191.2
161.4
193.9

149.5
175.1
152.9
179.9

142.0
169.4
148.9
173.0

142.6
169.0
148.4
173.8

156.1
168.2
148.1
174.5

157.9
166.1
146.9
173.7

118.7
157.2
142.0
164.2

116.0
155.6
142.1
161.1

112.5
151.8
140.2
160.5

109.3
148.4
138.9
160.1

110.3
147.2
137.6
156.4

113.1
148.8
138.3
155.3

187.4
100.8

187.6
100.5

187.3
100.3

186.5
100.0

186.8

187.3

188.5

188.7

177.0

175.3

175.5

176.1

177.8

179.8

i
Specification changed to 13 ounces in December.
4
3 July 1947=100.
' Priced
~ ' ' 'in 28
" cities.
"
7 1938-39=100.
3 February 1943=100.
8 Average price not computed.
4 December 1950=100.
8 Specification revised in November 1950.
4
Priced in 46 cities.
i» October 1949=100.


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

623

D : PRIC ES AND COST OF L IV ING

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

n N o. 303 canned fancy grade peas introduced in April 1950 in place of
N o. 2 can standard.
n Priced in 18 cities beginning January 1951,19 cities July through Decem­
ber 1950. Priced in 56 cities before that date.
is Priced in 37 cities July through December 1950 and in 38 cities beginning
January 1951.

624

D : P RIC ES AND COST OF L IV IN G

T

able

M O N TH LY LABOR

D -7 : Indexes of Wholesale Prices,1 b y Group of Commodities, for Selected Periods
[1926=100]

All
com­
Semi- M anu­
modi­
manufac­
ties ex­
factured
cept
tured
prod­
farm
articles ucts 2
prod­
ucts 2

All
com­
modi­
ties
ex­
cept
farm
prod­
ucts
and
foods 1

All
com­
modi­
ties2

Farm
prod­
ucts

Foods

Hides
and
leather
prod­
ucts

Tex­
tile
prod­
ucts

Fuel
and
light­
ing
mate­
rials

Metals
and
metal
prod­
ucís 2

Build­
ing
mate­
rials

Chem­
icals
and
allied
prod­
ucts

Housefurnishing
goods

M is­
cella­
neous
com­
modi­
ties

Raw
mate­
rials

A v e r a g e -___
J u ly .. ___ __
November___
M a y ______
Average______

69.8
67.3
136.3
167.2
95.3

71.5
71.4
150.3
169.8
104.9

64.2
62.9
128.6
147.3
99.9

68.1
69.7
131.6
193.2
109.1

57.3
55.3
142.6
188.3
90.4

61.3
55.7
114.3
159.8
83.0

90.8
79.1
143.5
155.5
100.5

56.7
52.9
101.8
164.4
95.4

80.2
77.9
178.0
173.7
94.0

56.1
56.7
99.2
143.3
94.3

93.1
88.1
142.3
176.5
82.6

68.8
67.3
138.8
163.4
97.5

74.9
67.8
162.7
253.0
93.9

69.4
66.9
130.4
157.8
94.5

69.0
65.7
131.0
165.4
93.3

70.0
65.7
129.9
170.6
91.6

1932: Average______
1939: Average......... ..
August_______
1940: Average______

64.8
77.1
75.0
78.6

48.2
65.3
61.0
67.7

61.0
70.4
67.2
71.3

72.9
95.6
92.7
100.8

54.9
69.7
67.8
73.8

70.3
73.1
72.6
71.7

80.2
94.4
93.2
95.8

71.4
90.5
89.6
94.8

73.9
76.0
74.2
77.0

75.1
86.3
85.6
88.5

64.4
74.8
73.3
77.3

55.1
70.2
66.5
71.9

59.3
77.0
74.5
79.1

70.3
80.4
79.1
81.6

68.3
79.5
77.9
80.8

70. 2
81.3
80.1
83.0

1941: Average______
December____
1942: Average...........
1943: Average______
1944: Average____

87.3
93.6
98.8
103.1
104.0

82.4
94.7
105.9
122.6
123.3

82.7
90.5
99.6
106.6
104.9

108.3
114.8
117.7
117.5
116.7

84.8
91.8
96.9
97.4
98.4

76.2
78.4
78.5
80.8
83.0

99.4
103.3
103.8
103.8
103.8

103.2
107.8
110.2
111.4
115.5

84.4
90.4
95.5
94.9
95.2

94.3
101.1
102.4
102.7
104.3

82.0
87.6
89.7
92.2
93.6

83.5
92.3
100.6
112.1
113.2

86.9
90.1
92.6
92.9
94.1

89.1
94.6
98.6
100.1
100.8

88.3
93.3
97.0
98.7
99.6

89.0
93.7
95. 5
96. 9
98.5

1945: Average..........
August . . . . .

105.8
105.7

128.2
126.9

106.2
106.4

118.1
118.0

100.1
99.6

84.0
84.8

104.7
104.7

117.8
117.8

95.2
95.3

104.5
104.5

94.7
94.8

116.8
116.3

95.9
95.5

101.8
101.8

100.8
100.9

99.7
99.9

1946: Average______
J u n e . .. ___
November___
1947: Average...........
1948: Average______
1949: Average______
1950: A verage.. .
M arch___ __
A p r il.. . . . .
M a y ................
June________
July--------------August_______
September___
October______
November___
December____

121.1
112.9
139.7
152.1
165.1
155.0
161. 5
152.7
152. 9
155.9
157.3
162.9
186.4
169. 5
169.1
171.7
175.3

148.9
140.1
169.8
181.2
188.3
165.5
170.4
159.4
159.3
164.7
165.9
176.0
177.6
180.4
177.8
183.7
187.4

130.7
112.9
165.4
168.7
179.1
161.4
166.1
155.5
155.3
159.9
162.1
171.4
174.6
177.2
172.5
175.2
179.0

137.2
122.4
172.5
182.4
188.8
180.4
191.9
179.6
179.4
181.0
182.6
187.2
195.6
202.9
208.5
211.6
218.8

116.3
109.2
131.6
141.7
149.8
140.4
148.0
137.3
136.4
136.1
136.8
142.6
149.5
158.3
163.1
166.7
171.2

90.1
87.8
94.5
108.7
134.2
131.7
133.3
131.5
131.2
132.1
132.7
133.4
134.4
135.1
135.4
135.6
135.6

115.5
112.2
130.2
145.0
163.6
170.2
173.6
168.5
168. 7
169.7
171.9
172.4
174.3
176.7
178.6
180.4
184.8

132.6
129.9
145. 5
179.7
199.1
193.4
206.0
194. 2
194.8
198.1
202.1
207.3
213.9
219.6
218.9
217.8
221.4

101.4
96.4
118.9
127.3
135.7
118.6
122.7
116.3
117.1
116.4
114.5
118.1
122.5
128.6
132.2
135.6
139.6

111.6
110.4
118.2
131.1
144.5
145.3
153.2
145.5
145.8
146.6
146.9
148.7
153.9
159.2
163.8
166.9
169.9

100.3
98.5
106.5
115.5
120.5
112.3
120.9
110.7
112.6
114.7
114.7
119.0
124.3
127.4
131.3
137.6
140.5

134.7
126.3
153.4
165.6
178.4
163.9
172.4
162.8
162.5
166.3
167.7
175.8
179.1
181.8
180.2
184.5
187.1

110.8
105.7
129.1
148.5
158.0
150.2
156.0
144.1
143.9
145.6
148.4
152.9
159.2
165.7
169.3
173.0
178.1

116.1
107.3
134.7
146.0
159.4
151.2
156.8
148.9
149.4
152.2
153.5
158.0
161.2
164.0
163.5
165.1
168.9

114.9
106.7
132.9
145.5
159.8
152. 4
159.2
151.0
151.2
153.7
155.2
159.8
163.7
166.9
166.9
168.8
172.3

109.5
105.6
120.7
135.2
151.0
147.3
153.2
146.1
146.4
147.6
148.8
151.5
155.5
159.2
161.5
163.7
166.6

1951: January ___
February____
M a r c h ______

180.1
183.6
184.0

194.2
202.6
203.8

« 182. 2
c 187. 6
186.6

234.8
' 238.1
236.4

«178. 2
«180.8
183.1

136.4
138.1
138.6

« 187. 5
«188.1
188.8

« 226.1
228.1
228.5

« 144. 5
« 147.3
146.4

174.7
175.3
178.7

142.4
142.7
142.5

192.6
«198.9
199.4

185.0
« 187.1
187.5

173.1
«175.4
175.8

«176.7
«179.1
179.3

170.3
171.8
172.4

Year and month

1913:
1914:
1918:
1920:
1929:

1

B L S wholesale price data, for the most part, represent prices in primary
markets. They are prices charged by manufacturers or producers or are
prices prevailing on organized exchanges. The weekly index is calculated
-day-a-week prices; the monthly index from an average of these prices.
M onthly indexes for the last 2 months are preliminary.
The indexes currently are computed by the fixed base aggregate method,
with weights representing quantities produced for sale in 1929-31. (For a
detailed description of the method of calculation see “ Revised M ethod of
Calculation of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Wholesale Price Index,” in
the Journal of the American Statistical Association, December 1937.)
Mimeographed tables are available, upon request to the Bureau, giving
monthly indexes for major groups of commodities since 1890 and for subgroups
and economic groups since 1913. The weekly wholesale price indexes are

1


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

available in summary form since 1947 for all commodities; all commodities
less farm products and foods; farm products; foods; textile products; fuel and
lighting materials; metals and metal products; building materials, and
chemicals and allied products. W eekly indexes are also available for the
subgroups of grains, livestock, and meats.
Includes current motor vehicle prices beginning with October 1946. The
rate of production of motor vehicles in October 1946 exceeded the monthly
average rate of civilian production in 1941, and in accordance with the an­
nouncement made in September 1946, the Bureau introduced current prices
for motor vehicles in the October calculations. During the war, motor
vehicles were not produced for general civilian sale and the Bureau carried
April 1942 prices forward in each computation through September 1946.
Corrected.

2

0

REVIEW, MAY 1951

625

D : PRIC ES AND COST OF L IV IN G

T able D -8 : Indexes of Wholesale Prices,1 by Group and Subgroup of Commodities
[1926=100]
1950

1951

1946

1939

June

Aug.

Group and subgroup
M ar.
184.0

All commodities a_
Farm products.
Grains_____
Livestockr_ ...........
P o u l t r y ....................
Other farm products—
Eggs r~ ...................... .
Foods— .......................
Dairy products.
Cereal products.
M eats, poultry, fish '
Meats r.................
Poultry r..............
Other foods.................

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

183.6

180.1

175.3

N ov.
171.7

Oct.
169.1

Sept.
169.5

Apr.

M ar.

155.9

152.9

152.7

112.9

75.0

159.4
165.4
180.3
199.7
89.7
144.2
94.6

140.1
151.8
137.4
143.4
137.5
97.3

61.0
51.5
66.0
67.7
(3)
60.1
47.5
67.2
67.9
71.9
58.5
73.7
78.1

Aug.

July

June

M ay

166.4

162.9

157.3

203.8
188.0
241.2
270.4
101.1
184.3
124.7

202.6
192.0
238.2
268.0
94.3
182.8
117.0

194.2
186.6
222.2
250.6
84.7
178.2
116.5

187.4
180.9
204.9
231.8
74.5
177.4
149.5

183.7
172.1
197.3
222.6
74.9
177.4
148.2

177.8
165.3
198.7
223.8
77.1
167.4
141.0

180.4
166.5
211.3
237.5
85.3
164.4
128. 8

177.6
167.7
217.3
243.8
90.2
155.3
110.1

176.0
173.5
215.8
242.5
87.6
151.8
103.8

165.9
169.3
197.5
222.4
77.2
145.0
91.3

164.7
172.3
194.6
218.5
79.6
143.7
85.4

159.3
169.6
178.0
197.9
84.0
144.2
90.7

186.6
170.3
164.5
139.9
254.5
273.7
109.0
160.0

« 187.6
173.0
« 166.3
142.4
255.2
274.8
« 107.1
159.0

“ 182.2
171.5
“ 163.0
136.1
242.7
261.5
98.2
157.7

179.0
164.4
157.7
138.0
233.7
251.9
92.3
161.5

175.2
164.1
154.1
140.4
223.4
240.5
90.8
158.9

172.5
160.8
153.8
129.5
223.7
240.8
90.2
156.4

177.2
154.7
155.5
131.0
241.0
259.5
99.0
158.7

174.6
148.0
154.9
132.0
240.2
258.3
103.5
154.1

171.4
141.8
151.2
137.0
240.7
260.1
97.9
145.1

162.1
135.9
145.6
140.5
223.7
241.4
91.5
133.1

159.9
138.0
146.0
139.2
217.1
234.0
90.0
130.9

155.3
141.1
145.9
137.6
200.6
214.7
89.9
129.3

155.5
144.8
145.6
134.9
200.0
213.6
92.7
129.8

112.9
127.3
101.7
136.1
110.1
116.6
98.1

60.3

179.6
184.3
190.4
177.9
143.1

122.4
129.5
121.5
110.7
115.2

92.7
100.8
77.2
84.0
97.1

(3)

(3)

(3)

Hides and leather products.
Shoes____________ ______
Hides and skins..............
Leather________________
Other leather products.

236.4
222.2
313.0
229.7
188.2

« 238.1
“ 224.4
“317.8
229.1
188.0

234.8
“ 219.4
“318.2
224.8
188.0

218.8
209.4
277.5
213.8
173.9

211.6
204.0
269.3
204.9
164.9

208.5
200.3
266.3
201.3
164.9

202.9
194.8
264.7
196.8
151.3

195.6
191.4
238.2
192.3
151.3

187.2
185.8
219.8
185.3
143.1

182.6
184.8
202.1
180.6
143.1

181.0
185.0
194.4
179.3
143.1

179.4
184.3
187.2
179.1
143.1

Textile products.....................
C loth in g...........................
Cotton goods_____ _____

183.1
163.9
239.9
113.8
43.1
90.8
239.7
246.1

« 180.8
163.9
« 240.5
“ 113.8
43.1
“90.8
225.5
243.8

“ 178.2
161.6
“ 239.2
115.2
43.1
“86.1
217.4
“ 238.1

171.2
155.4
236.1
113.7
43.0
75.0
195.3
229.6

166.7
151.4
231.7
111.4
42.7
69.0
192.5
210.4

163.1
147.7
225.7
109.2
42.5
65.3
188.9
207.3

158.3
146.7
221.6
105.3
41.7
64.9
178.7
191.3

149.5
145.2
206.8
101.2
41.3
65.6
157.7
181.5

142.6
144.3
190.7
99.2
40.7
60.3
150.9
168.5

136.8
143.8
173.8
97.7
39.9
49.3
148.3
164.5

136.1
143.8
172.0
97.7
39.9
49.3
146.2
164.6

136.4
144.2
172.8
97.7
39.9
49.1
146.1
165.8

137.3
143.5
176.5
98.0
39.9
49.1
146.3
166.9

109.2
120.3
139.4
75.8
30.2

67.8
81.5
65. 5
61.6
28.5

(3)

44.3

112.7
112.3

75.5
63.7

138.6
156.1
197.3
234.5

138.1
156.5
“ 197.5
234.1
92.2
119.4

136.4
145.8
193.2
232.8
65.7
90.0
119.4

135.6
145.7
193.2
232.7
65.7
90.2
118.0

135.6
144.7
193.3
232.5
65.5
90.5
118.1

135.4
143.9
193.3
231.1
65.2
88.9
118.0

135.1
142.8
193.1
225.6
65.6
89.0
117.8

134.4
142.1
192.5
225.6
65.5
88.1
116.8

133.4
141.0
191.9
225. 6
67.0
88.3
115.5

132.7
140.1
192.1
225.6
67.0
87.3
113.9

132.1
139.2
192.6
225.6
66.6
87.2
112.6

131.2
142.6
193.4
225.6
67.8
86.8
109.5

131.5
141.9
198.5
224.7
67.9
88.3
108.6

87.8
106.1
132.8
133.5
67.2
79.6
64.0

72.6
72.1
96.0
104.2
75.8
86.7
51.7

Rayon and nylon r.
Silk r_............. ............

Fuel and lighting materials.
Anthracite........................
Coke______
Electricity.
Gas............

(3)
“

Metals and metal products2
Agricultural machinery
and equipm entr.........
Iron and steel-------------Steel mill products..
Sem i-finished...
Finished-----------M otor vehicles r______ .
Passenger cars.........
Trucks.......................
Nonferrous metals_____
Plumbing and heating .
Plumbing r....... ...............
Building m aterials...............
Brick and tile------- -------C em entf...... ............... ..
L u m b e r ...........................
Paint, paint materials ’
Prepared p a in tr—
Paint materials r._
Plumbing and heating
Plumbing r-----------------Structural steel----------Other bldg, materials..
ucts________________
Chemicals......................... .
Drug and pharmaceu
tical materials......... .
Fertilizer materials.......
M ixed fertilizers............
Oils and fats...................
Furnishings-............ .
Furniture r......... ........
Miscellaneous-........ .
Tires and tubes '
Cattle feed..........
Paper and pulp.
Paper.......... .............
W ood p u lp ............
Rubber, c r u d e ............
Other miscellaneous...
.

(3)
120.3

(3)

188.8

“ 188.1

“ 187.5

184.8

180.4

178.6

176.7

174.3

172.4

171.9

169.7

168.7

168.5

112.2

93.2

158.9
161.0
185.5
186.2
196.2
184.9
184.1
193.7
143.1
183.5
183.7
139.4

“ 158.9
“ 161.0
“ 185.7
186.2
196.2
184.9
“ 179.0
187.1
“ 143.1
191.1
183.7
139.4

“ 156.2
158.4
“ 185.7
186.1
196.2
184.9
178.8
187.1
142.2
187.9
183.7
139.4

154.6
157.1
182.1
183.2
196.2
181.6
178.4
187.1
140.6
182.5
183.6
139.3

153.2
155.7
174.0
172.8
185.4
171.2
176.9
187.1
133.9
181.7
182.5
137.3

152.0
154.5
173.2
172.7
185.4
171.1
176.8
187.0
133.9
173.3
177.2
132.0

150.3
152.7
172.2
172.5
185.4
170.9
176.5
186.6
133.9
166.1
166.9
125.4

145.5
147.7
171.0
172.3
185.4
170.6
176.1
186.4
133.1
156.3
164.6
123.9

143.9
146. 2
169.8
172.3
185.4
170.6
175.1
185.2
133.0
150.6
156.5
116.9

143.7
146.0
169.4
172.2
185.4
170.4
175.1
185.2
133.0
148.4
156.3
116.7

143.7
146.0
168.5
171.8
184.9
170.1
175.1
185.2
133.0
136.3
156.4
116.6

143.4
145.8
168.9
171.7
184.7
170.1
175.1
185.2
132.7
128.9
154.7

143.1
145.6
169.0
171.7
184.7
170.0
175.1
185.2
132.8
127.2
151.9

104.5
104.9
110.1
112.2
108.9
112.8
135. 5
142.8
104.3
99.2
106.0

93.5

(4)

(4)

228.5
180.8
147.1
361.2
164.4
153.3
179.8
183.7
139.4
204.3
198.2

228.1
“ 180.8
147.1
359.8
164.0
153.3
178.9
183.7
139.4
204.3
198.2

“ 226.1
“ 180.7
147.2
356.8
162.1
152.1
176.2
183.7
139.4
204.3
195.8

221.4
179.9
141.2
348. 4
154.9
147.3
166.2
183.6
139.3
204.3
193.8

217.8
178.5
140.8
347.6
148.2
143.6
156.1
182.5
137.3
191.6
189.4

218.9
178.1
140.2
358.4
145.7
142.4
152.1
177.2
132.0
191.6
186.6

219.6
168.7
136.3
371.5
145.9
142.4
152.4
166.9
125. 4
191.6
182.5

213.9
167.8
135.5
357.6
142.4
141.3
146.2
164.6
123.9
191.6
178.7

207.3
107.4
135.3
338.0
138.6
138.6
141.3
156.5
116.9
191.6
177.4

202.1
164.3
134.9
322.6
137.7
138.5
139.5
156.3
116.7
191.6
175.0

198.1
163.9
134.9
310.8
136.8
138.5
137.6
156.4
116.6
191.6
172.7

194.8
163.4
134.9
299.4
136.7
138.5
137.3
154.7
l4)
191.6
172.0

194.2
163.3
134.9
295.9
138.2
138.5
140.5
151.9
l4)
191.6
172.2

129.9
121.3
102.6
1/6.0
108.6
99.3
120.9
106.0
(4)
120.1
118.4

71.8
79.3
(4)
107.3
89.5

146.4
138.2

“ 147.3
139.0

“ 144.5
138.1

139.6
136.1

135.6
134.3

132.2
131.6

128.6
125.4

122. 5
122.1

118.1
119.3

114.5
117.3

116.4
116.5

117.1
116.4

116.3
115.4

96.4
98.0

74.2
83.8

185.1
118.1
108.9
214.6

“ 185.2
118.1
“ 108.9
217.3

“ 184.4
“ 118.1
“ 108.9
200.4

175.1
115. 6
107.4
180.9

163.8
112.0
104.7
171.5

161.1
111.2
103.1
160.3

153.4
111.4
103.1
163.9

135.0
112.1
103.1
141.5

129.1
110.1
103.0
125.7

122.7
108.4
103.3
111.9

122.3
116.8
103.3
122.2

122.0
117.4
103.5
127.5

121.9
117.3
103.5
125.6

109.4
82.7

77.1
65.5
73.1

178.7
193.4
163.0

175.3
-186.9
163.0

174.7
186.2
162.7

169.9
180.2
159.2

166.9
176.6
156.7

163.8
173.7
153.5

159.2
168.1
149.9

153.9
162.8
144.6

148.7
156.2
141.0

146.9
154.2
139.4

146.6
154.1
138.9

145.8
152.6
138.8

145.5
152.2
138.6

110.4
114. 5
108.5

85.6
90.0
81.1

142.5
82 8
236.5
196.3
221.0
173.8
272.5
145.4
136.8
155.3

142.7
82.8
229.6
196.5
221.0
174.2
272.5
147.3
137.6
162.5

142.4
82.8
226.3
196.5
221.1
174.2
272.1
148.4
137.1
157.8

140.5
82.5
224.4
189.0
214.0
173.3
222.6
146.1
136.6
152.3

137.6
82.3
211.4
178.7
193.0
164.5
222.6
150.5
134.7
144.4

131.3
78.1
199.6
173.4
184.3
159.4
222.6
131.5
130.5
143.2

127.4
77.4
203.8
167.1
171.6
157.3
201.8
114.7
127.8
140.0

124.3
75.0
205.6
163.9
165.5
154.5
201.5
106.1
125.4
130.5

119.0
68.7
240.5
159.9
152.8
152.0
203.1
78.4
121.7
122.0

114.7
67.0
213.2
155.6
146.6
150.3
186.9
63.4
120.7
122.1

114.7
65.8
235.5
155.4
146.5
150.3
184.8
58.4
120. 5
122.8

112. 6
65.0
215.6
155.4
146.5
150.3
185.0
48.7
120.3
122.9

110.7
64.3
193.7
155.5
147.3
150.3
184.3
41.3
120.4
122.9

98.5
65. 7
197.8
115.6
115.6
107.3
154.1

4b. 2i

73.3
59. 5
68. 4
80. 0
66.2
83.9
69.6
34.9

101.0
101.3

78.9

» See footnote 1, table D -7 . 2 See footnote 2, table D -7 . 3 N ot available.
M a y 1950. « Corrected. r Revised.
tRevised indexes for dates prior to August 1949 available upon request.


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

4 Index based on old series not available.

(4)

86. 6

95. 1

77.4
74.6
79.3

(4)
89.6
90. 5
91. 3
90.1
82. 1

102.1

Revised series first used in index in

626

E : W O R K STOPPAGES

M O N TH LY LABOR

E : Work Stoppages
T

able

E - l : Work Stoppages Resulting From Labor-Management Disputes 1
Workers involved in stoppages

Number of stoppages

M an-days idle during month
or year

M onth and year
Beginning
in month or
year

1945 _______________________________________________________
1946
.
1947 ___________________________________________
1948__________________________________________________________
1949__ ________________________________________________
1950__________________________________________________________

In effect dur­
ing month

2,862
4, 750
4,985
693
3, 419
3,606
4,843

Beginning
in month or
year

In effect dur­
ing month

1,130,000
3, 470, 000
4, 600, 000
2 ; 170; 000
1,960, 000
3,030.000
2, 410,000

Number

Percent of
estimated
working time

16, 900, 000
38,000, 000
116,000, 000
34, 600, 000
34,100, 000
50, 500, 000
38,800,000

0.27
.47
1.43
.41
.37
.59
.44

1950: M arch____________________ ________ __ ________________
April___________________________________________________
M a y _____________________________
___________________
June _________________________ . . . ___________ ______
July____________________________________________________
A u g u st... . . . _________ . _______ __
...
September_________ . . . _______________ ________ ._
October____ _______ _____ ____________________ . . . .
Novem ber. _________ . . . . . . ____ ________ . . . .
December_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . ______

298
407
485
483
463
635
521
550
329
218

453
605
723
768
732
918
820
801
605
423

85, 200
159, 000
354, 000
278, 000
224, 000
346, 000
270,000
197, 000
200,000
61,100

566, 000
294, 000
508, 000
373,000
389,000
441, 000
450, 000
330, 000
308,000
114, 000

3,870,000
3, 280, 000
3, 270, 000
2, 630, 000
2, 750,000
2, 660,000
3, 510,000
2, 590,000
2,050, 000
912,000

.51
.49
.44
.34
.39
.32
.48
.32
.27
.12

1951: January 2________ . . . . . . _____________ . __________
February2 _________ ______. . .
______
___ __
March 2

400
3 350
350

550
3 550
550

185, 000
220,000
140,000

215,000
300,000
280,000

1,200,000
1, 700,000
2,300,000

.15
.25
.29

1 All known work stoppages, arising out of labor-management disputes,
involving six or more workers and continuing as long as a full day or shift
are included in reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures on “ workers
involved” and “ man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for one or more
shifts in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not


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

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.
3 Revised.

627

F : BU IL D IN G AND CONSTRUCTION

R E V IE W , M A Y 1951

F : Building and Construction
T

able

Expenditures for New Construction 1

F -l:

[Value of work put in place]

Expenditures (in millions)
1950

1951

Type of construction

Apr.2 M ar.8 Feb.
Total new construction4---------- ---------------Residential building (nonfarm)----------New dwelling units ............ ............Additions and alterations...............Nonresidential building (nonfarm)8—
Com m ercial.- ____________ ______
Warehouses, office and loft
buildings ----------------------------Stores, restaurants, and garages_________________________
Other nonresidential building------Social and recreational________
Hospital and institutional7 -

Telephone and telegraph--------------Other public utilities........ .............. Public construction _______________ ______
Residential building 9. ------- -------------Nonresidential building (other than

Hospital and institutional.
____
Other nonresidential - ___________
Sewer and water. . ------- --------- --Miscellaneous public service enterprises11.
_ --------- --------- -------------Conservation and development----------All other public 12______________________

$2, 353 $2,127

Jan.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

$2, 799 $2, 676 $2,535 $2, 282 $1,988

Total

Total

$27, 715 $22, 594

1,686
980
900
62
18
392
125
138

2, 074
1,310
1, 200
93
17
332
90
114

1,998
1, 253
1,145
93
15
325
84
116

1,883
1,171
1,065
92
14
306
78
110

1,689
1,035
940
82
13
274
73
92

1,482
882
800
70
12
248
70
76

20,648
12, 500
11,425
900
175
3, 767
1,059
1,282

16,204
8,290
7,280
825
185
3, 228
972
1,027

1,571
901
830
54
17
376
123
122

45

44

46

47

80
132
35
26
15
34
22
95
268
25
38
205
6
665
41

82
128
35
26
16
32
19
83
246
20
36
190
5
546
35

75
127
36
27
17
31
16
74
219
15
31
173
5
432
29

75
126
37
28
18
30
13
69
220
22
29
169
5
497
29

262
50
125
41
46
47
160
59

232
42
115
39
36
38
110
53

198
30
108
31
29
29
65
49

214
34
110
37
33
27
105
52

18
70

13
58

8
49
5

10
54
6

1 7

• Joint estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U . S. Department of
Labor, and the Building Materials Division, U . S. Department of Com­
merce. Estimated construction expenditures represent the monetary value
of the volume of work accomplished during the given period of time. These
figures should be differentiated from permit valuation data reported in the
tabulations for building authorized (tables F -3 and F-4) and the data on
value of contract awards reported in table F -2.
2 Preliminary.
3 Revised.
4 Includes major additions and alterations.
3 Includes hotels, dormitories, and tourist courts and cabins.
8 Expenditures by privately owned public utilities for nonresidential
building are included under “ Public utilities.”


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

Oct.

$2,554 $2, 750 $2,816

1,501
820
750
53
17
383
135
121

8

N ov.

1949

$1,933 $2, 068 $2,235

1, 581
851
775
60
16
396
142
126

1,688
'911
825
70
16
408
151
125

Dec.

1950

1,885
1,126
1,035
73
18
401
119
147

2,006
1,237
1,135
84
18
379
111
135

2, 072
1,306
1,195
94
17
352
101
121

47

46

42

39

35

31

28

26

24

398

321

91
129
39
30
20
29
11
66
243
24
34
185
5
549
28

101
135
40
30
22
30
13
74
277
28
40
209
7
669
31

93
133
39
29
23
30
12
88
295
29
40
226
7
744
30

82
130
38
28
23
29
12
106
301
30
43
228
7
744
28

79
128
37
26
24
30
11
116
305
30
45
230
11
725
27

85
125
35
25
23
30
12
113
296
29
45
222
11
678
24

82
118
33
23
21
30
11
108
285
28
42
215
13
652
28

66
109
30
21
19
29
10
100
267
27
41
199
13
593
28

52
102
28
20
17
27
10
88
253
26
40
187
11
506
28

884
1,426
407
298
247
342
132
1,087
3,182
310
470
2, 402
112
7,067
341

706
1, 229
360
269
262
202
136
1, 292
3,316
352
533
2,431
78
6,390
359

209
29
110
37
33
25
155
55

221
30
112
40
39
26
240
59

230
31
114
42
43
28
290
62

214
22
108
40
44
22
310
60

205
19
102
40
44
16
305
58

196
18
98
37
43
10
275
56

191
16
94
39
42
10
250
55

187
17
90
40
40
8
210
54

178
13
87
40
38
9
145
52

2,310
220
1,158
470
462
180
2,425
655

2,056
177
934
477
468
137
2,129
619

11
60
6

17
67
8

20
76
8

20
82
8

21
85
8

18
91
8

17
92
9

15
82
9

13
73
8

185
875
96

203
792

7 Includes Federal contributions toward construction of private nonprofit
hospital facilities under the National Hospital Program.
8 Covers privately owned sewer and water facilities, roads and bridges,
and miscellaneous nonbuilding items such as parks and playgrounds.
9 Includes nonhousekeeping public residential construction as well as
housekeeping units.
w Covers all construction, building as well as nonbuilding (except for pro­
duction facilities, which are included in public industrial building.
n Covers primarily publicly owned airports, electric light and power sys­
tems, and local transit facilities.
13 Covers public construction not elsewhere classified, such as parks, play­
grounds, and memorials.

628

F : BUILD I F G AND CONSTRUCTION

MONTHLY LABOR

T able F -2: Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on Federally Financed

New Construction, by Type of Construction 1
Value (in thousands)

Conservation and
development

Building

Period

Total
new
con­
struc­
tion 2

Nonresidential
Air
ports
Total

Resi­
den­
tial

Total

H ospitals tnd
iiistitutiorîal

Edu­
ca­
tional4

Total
_________
1935
$1,478,073
$442,782
(7)
1936
_________
1, 533,439
561,394
(7)
1937
___________
990,410
344, 567
(7)
1938
__________
1,609,208
676, 542
(7)
1939
________ . 1, 586,604 $4, 753 669,222
1940
___________ 2,316,467 137,112 1, 537,910
1941
_____
5, 931, 536 499,427 4,422,131
1942
____
7,871, 986 579,176 6, 226,878
1943
_________
2,877,044 243,443 2,068,337
1944
________
1, 861, 449 110,872 1,438,849
1945
___________ 1,092,181 41, 219 806,917
1946
_______
1,502, 701 15,068 617,132
1947
________
1, 473, 910 25, 0/5
454, 593
1948
___________ 1, 906, 466 55,577
543,118
1 9 4 9 ...................... 2,172,333 49,317 878,231
1950 »_____________ 2,503, 818 39,847 1,125,259

$7,833
63,465
17, 239
31,809
231,071
244, 671
322, 248
565, 247
405, 537
117, 504
60, 535
452, 204
60, 694
47,198
46.800
14, 508

$434,949
(8)
497,929
(8)
327,328
i8)
644, 733
(8)
438,151
(8)
1,293,239
(8)
4,099,883
(8)
5, 661, 631
(8)
1, 662,800
(8)
1,321,345
(8)
746, 382
(8)
164,928 $14, 664
393,899 47,750
495,920
1,424
831, 431
1,041
1,110, 751
2, 630

Vet­
erans

Other

(8)
(s)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(*)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(«)
(8)
(8)
(*)
(8)
(8)
0
(8)
(8)
(s)
(8)
(8)
(«)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(«)
(8)
$14, 281 $9,032 $5,249
101, 992 96,140
5, 852
263, 296 168, 616 94, 680
353, 671 123, 967 229, 704
307,053 115, 937 191,116

Ad­
minis­
trative
and
gen­
eral 5
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
$9, 713
32, 550
29,926
88,856
56,388

Rec­
lama­
tion

River,
har­
bor,
and
flood
control

High­
ways

Total

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(«)
(8)
(8)
$126, 270
211,607
201,274
387,863
744,680

$438, 725
189, 710
133,010
303,874
225,423
197, 589
199, 684
217, 795
155, 737
112,415
72,150
290,163
307, 695
494,871
497, 557
421,181

$158,027
73, 797
59,051
175, 382
115, 612
69,028
41,880
150, 708
101, 270
66,679
30, 765
149,870
75,483
147, 732
184,803
195, 767

$280,698
115, 913
73, 959
128,492
109,811
128, 561
157,804
67,087
54,467
45. 736
41,385
140 293
232 212
347 139
312 754
225; 414

$381,037
511,685
360, 865
372, 238
355, 701
364,048
446,903
347, 988
161,852
111,805
100,969
5S4 RS3

7 545
20, 949
61, 796
21 121
27 ’ 999
53 927
15 293
39, 929
10 500
11,823
36 509
5,363

Other
nonresidential

All
other 8

$215, 529
270, 650
151,968
256, 554
331,505
79,808
363,391
500,149
247, 675
87, 508
70,926
45, 685
26,902
45, 440
56, 759
832,’ 974 84, 557

1949: January____
February...
March_____
A p ril............
M a y _______
June.......... ..
July________
August_____
September.
October____
Novem ber..
D ecem ber..

97,047 5,520
101,298
242
182, 992 4, 288
133, 535 4, 212
257,834 7, 233
325,997 12, 262
142, 768 4,818
272,671 3,385
171, /14
1,902
103, 6l6
3,413
222, 263
790
160, 598
1, 252

40,410
45,058
45,051
34,148
71,383
143,870
37,979
134, 548
82,101
36, 718
131,881
75,084

101
2,535
4,602
4,498
6, 245
23,017
821
49
446
672
9
3,805

40,309
42, 523
40,449
29, 650
65,138
120,853
37,158
134, 499
81, 655
36,046
131,872
71, 279

148
635
0
18
30
0
10
140
0
0
60
0

8,192
12, 651
26, 663
21,352
23,649
64, 985
22, 756
43, 544
56,125
15,004
16, 600
42,150

428
5, 477
9, 612
1,204
1,045
14,814
202
25,492
26, 500
8,737
7,387
23,069

7,764
7,174
17,051
20,148
22, 604
50,171
22, 554
18,052
29, 625
6, 267
9, 213
19, 081

25, 008
6, 961
22, 719
6,518
1,747
12,039
949
7,331
13,658 27,801
10,564 45,304
2,018
12,374
969 89,846
538 24,992
4,333
16, 709
5,308 109,904
1,045
28,084

15,141
24, 032
84,342
39,899
89, 536
80,530
22j 115
52; 304
20, 679
12, 914
42,186
13,879

7, 596
3,083
22, 546
18, 778
61, 537
26, 603
6, 822

1950: January___
F ebruary...
M arch..........
April_______
M a y _______
June_______
July-----------August.........
Septem ber.
October____
Novem ber..
December I0_

126, 308
112,191
203,476
151,822
209, 410
327,028
145,157
133, 914
171, 590
236, ZZb
140, 268
546,429

4,383
2,899
7,997
5, 556
3, 258
3,066
2,929
2, 709
1, 5ii5
3, 382
1,266
867

46, 513
35,443
26, 727
59, 780
51,413
122,303
46,410
26, 250
76,475
142, 524
22, 558
468,863

109
127
1,036
3, 406
1,493
5,223
634
33
1,284
200
233
730

46,404
35,316
25,691
56,374
49,920
117,080
45, 776
26, 217
75,191
142,324
22,325
468,133

144
138
20
70
0
1,430
616
174
0
19
2
17

27,477
30, 676
19,901
35, 797
27, 558
41, 655
31,177
11, 595
33, 915
18, 734
14,314
14,254

19,328
17,302
14,391
21, 459
13, 299
7,629
8,007
200
12,957
643
676
46

8,149
13, 374
5,530
14,338
14, 259
34,026
23,170
11,395
20, 958
18, 091
13, 638
14, 208

12,805
5,978 25, 578
1,052
3, 450 25, 537
3, 457
2,313 l o i ; 2 6 6
2,364
18,143
19,063
2,474
19, 888 67,473
25,187 48,808
76; 898
2,172
11,811
13, 474
1,732
12, 716 15; 516
1,532 39, 744 16,084
1,226 122; 345
19, 537
1,846
6,163 32,497
541 »453,321
8,258

17,933
7,087
69, 797
2, 763
7, 726
43; 620
10,531
8, 364
9, 762
13,471
1,753
2,960

^ 066
30, 744
5,298

55, 531
81,135
63,432

8,836
5,955
6,460
3,970
6, 648
13, 798
4,475
6,147
5,196
15,251
2,812
5,009

1951: January I0_.
February *3_

414,191
9,412
194, 918 10, 599

105, 651
80,901

846
916

104,805
79, 985

96
41

14,818
12, 780

110
103

14, 708
12, 677

89,163 213,044 *206,077
57, 946 29, 937 10,125

6,967
19, 812

75, 551
59,063

10, 533
14, 418

‘ Excludes projects classified as “ secret” by the military. Data for Federalaid programs cover amounts contributed by both owner and the Federal
Government. Force-account work is done not through a contractor, but
directly b y a government agency, using a separate work force to perform nonmamtenance construction on the agency’s own properties.
1 Includes major additions and alterations.
3 Excludes hangars and other buildings, which are included under “ Other
nonresidential” building construction.
4 Includes educational facilities under the Federal temporary re-use edu­
cational facilities program.
8 Includes post offices, armories, offices, and customhouses. Includes
contract awards for construction at United Nations Headquarters in New
York City, the principal awards having been for the Secretariat Building


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

728
9, 218

12,375

10,179
1,091
5, 677
8; 516

52 ’ OQQ

70’ 020
63 035
63; 629

7 645
18 450
31, 469
16 300
59 747
33,’ 278 11o’ 963
2 943
83 2Q2
7 ,152

6 322

1,511
2,966
7, 665
3,177
5,913
8,987
2,408
3,414
3,997
661
9,306
6,754

(January 1949: $23,810,000), for the Meeting Hall (January 1950: $11,238,000),
and for the General Assembly Building (June 1950: $10,704,000).
«Includes electrification projects, water-supply and sewage-disposal
systems, railroad construction, and other types of projects not elsewhere
classified.
7 Included in “ All other."
8 Unavailable.
« Includes primarily construction projects for the Atomic Energy Com­
mission.
10 Revised.
11 Includes primarily steam-electric generating projects for the Tennes­
see Valley Authority.
12 Preliminary.

629

F : BU IL DIN G AND CONSTRUCTION

REVIEW, MAY 1951

T able F -3: Urban Building Authorized, by Principal Class of Construction and by Type of Building 1
Number of new dwelling units— House­
keeping only

Valuation (in thousands)

Privately financed

New residential building
Housekeeping

Period
Total all
classes3

1-family

$2, 707, 573
4, 743,414
5, 563,348
6, 972, 784
7,396, 274
10,408,292

$598, 570
2,114,833
2,885, 374
3,422, 927
3,724, 924
5,803, 912

$478,658
1,830, 260
2,361, 752
2, 745, 219
2, 845,399
4, 845,104

February - M arch_____
April______
M a y _______
June_______
July_______
August____
September.
October___
Novem ber,
December..

576, 563
855, 825
923, 723
1,056, 835
1,045, 894
1,065,117
1,097,651
848,041
870,325
707,673
781,384

355,115
543,323
577, 702
644,098
613, 915
589,643
606, 346
438, 852
428,078
341,335
345,278

283,452
442,046
481, 674
534, 758
518,444
512, 594
501,489
375,214
363,263
297.465
291, 219

1951: January6. . .
February 7_

758, 917
572,152

379,178
329,456

329,624
294.466

1942,
19461947,
1948194919501950:

2-fam­
ily 3
$42, 629
103,042
151,036
181,493
132,365
179, 214

$77,283 $296, 933 $22, 910 $1, 510, 688 $278,472
771,023
1,458,602
181,531 355, 587 43,369
1, 713,489 892,404
42,249 29,831
372, 586
2,367, 940 1,004, 549
139,334 38,034
496,215
937,493
285, 627 39, 785 2,408,445
747,160
779, 594 301,961 84, 508 3,127,769 1,090,142

184,892
430,195
502, 312
516,179
575,286
796,143

138, 908
358,151
393,606
392, 532
413, 543
623,330

60, 236
85, 749
87,969

115,268
99,346
93, 955
80, 915
74,375

53,141
79,190
81,188
88,814
82, 934
79,473
79,140
58,172
55, 210
44, 588
44, 697

40,234
59,787
63,382
69,377
66,885
64, 586
61, 740
46,498
43, 761
36, 244
34,810

97,236
67,432

48, 786
39, 596

39,346
32, 938

M ulti­
family 4

15, 421
17, 321
17,328
13,308
12, 782
11,192
9,297

59,783
80,090
77,982
89, 340
80,050
59, 728
87, 529
50,330
52,033
32,678
44, 762

1,506
9,197
14,677
28,041
4, 584
41,997
36, 510
37, 237
14, 460
29,261
76,095

2, 972
9,018
4, 725
22,184
5,093
7,935
8, 690
6,599
4, 406
5,546
4, 919

156, 734
208, 538
238, 650
261,512
308,910
313, 522
330,836
266,006
329,426
250,616
280,717

14,109
10, 955

35,445
24, 035

9,066
9,362

3,123
1, 252

270,314
164,650

11,

21,187
18,046

20,000

Addi­
tions,
altera­
tions,
and
repairs

Total

i Building for which building permits were issued and Federal contracts
awarded in all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken
in some smaller urban places that do not issue permits.
The data cover federally and nonfederally financed building construction
combined. Estimates of non-Federal (private and State and local govern­
ment) urban building construction are based primarily on building-permit
reports received from places containing about 85 percent of the urban popula­
tion of the country; estimates of federally financed projects are compiled from
notifications of construction contracts awarded, which are obtained from
other Federal agencies. Data from building permits are not adjusted to allow
for lapsed permits or for lag between permit issuance and the start of construc­
tion. Thus, the estimates do not represent construction actually started
during the month.


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

Nonhousekeeping*

New nonresidential
building

1-family

Privately financed dwelling units

Total

Publicly
financed
dwell­
ing
units

101,001
113, 391

112,020

2-fam­
ily 3

Pub­
licly fi­
M ultinanced
fam­
ily «

15,747 30, 237
24, 326 47, 718
75, 283
33,423
87,341
36,306
26,431 135,312
33,302 139, 511

95,946
98, 310
5,833
15,114
32,194
34, 363

2,375
4.235
3, 237
3, 859
2,828
3,118
2,992
2.236
2,313
2,056
1,747

10, 532
15,168
14, 569
15, 578
13,221
11, 769
14,408
9,438
9,136
6,288
8,140

177
1,135
1,766
3, 271
513
4, 590
4,041
4,154
1, 619
2,940
9,289

2,813
2,103

6,627
4, 555

972
979

Urban, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, covers all incorporated
places of 2,500 population or more in 1940, and, by special rule, a small num ­
ber of unincorporated civil divisions.
3 Covers additions, alterations, and repairs, as well as new residential and
nonresidential building.
3 Includes units in 1-family and 2-family structures with stores.
4 Includes units in multifamily structures with stores.
3 Covers hotels, dormitories, tourist cabins, and other nonhousekeeping
residential buildings.
6 Revised.
7 Preliminary.

630

F : BU IL D I F G AND CONSTRUCTION

M O N TH LY LABO R

T able F -4: New Nonresidential Building Authorized in All Urban Places,1 by General Type and by

Geographic Division 2
Valuation (in thousands)
Geographic division and
type of new nonresi­
dential building

1951
Feb.3

Jan.4

1950
Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

M ar.

Feb.

1950

1949

Total

Total

A ll types________________ $164,65 $270, 3b $280,71 $250, 61 $329,420 $266,00 3$330,83 $313, 52 $308, 91( $261,51 $238, 65(
$208, 53 $156,73 $3,127,76<
New E n gland ..........
12,86
10,47<
16, 46
13, 67
15, 652
12,70
21,08
19,81 i 13,72
17,96
15,52.
11,97
'iQ.V.RR
17, 45
M iddle Atlantic___
20, 43
41, 90<
36,91
47, 55(
68,678
45,95
41,64
50, 6b : 62,54
41,65
30,61
25; 80
20; 65
516’ 58
East North Central.
37,66
63, 55$
42,10
46,3i;
95, 540
62, 55
71,91 : 63,03
65,13(
59, 97
69, 237
47, 32
675’ 55
28, 42
W est N orth Central.
11,64
20, 62'
17, 79
21,06'
25,09$
24, 48
27,80(
24,73
40,84
24,91 (
22,42i
15', 93
10; 67'
262’ 72
South Atlantic_____
17, 67(
37, 52(
37,65(
25, 31 (
26, 447
31, 62$
42,83(
35,38C
35,01(
35,00$
29,36(
27, 53$
22,43'
375
80
East South Central11, 34
6, 08'
10,82(
7 ,90c
16, 44C
8,40'
13, 43(
16,47$
16, 43$
8 ,88(
11,13'
10,63$
10; 50
144 08^
W est South Central23,665
35,96/
60,882
28,010
34, 900 30,80$
43,11,
43,24$
33,13
28,82'
22; 87(
22; 5b
38S’ 20
16,35<
M ountain....................
6, 54c
9, 630
8 ,61C
8, 921
6,955
13,451
15,28f
8,431
10,81$
7 ,31(
7,35$
5; 74(
112’ 2fi
16; 30"
Pacific_____________ _
28,071
39,265
49,460
51,84f
39, 708 36,014
53,731
51, 79c
31,28C 36,97(
30,13$
30; 49(
24,49$
459; 15.
Industrial buildings 8.__
24, 971
36, 675
26,640
27,228
44,892
29,20$
31,37C 29,866
24, 57c
20, 89$
18, 967
15,35$
296 80$
11, 89(
New England...........
1,415
1,678
1,062
1,653
1,755
1,55$
2,173
1,282
92$
1,22c
1,41.
' 32$
431
13 9Q(
M iddle Atlantic____
4,170
11,703
5,70
2,586
7,281
4,30$
4,762
11,235
3,92'
5 ,21i
1 ,40(
2, 734
3 ,00C
East North Central.
9,987
8, 566
8,074
9,619
23, 745 13, 672 11,94$
7,005
9,07'
6,95.
6^21'
, 45"
110 82*
4,
70(
W est North Central2,861
2, 266
1,690
5,149
3,077
1,143
2,906
2,221
1 ,10«
2 ,20C
1, 32:
' 84'
23' 36Ç
98'
South Atlantic_____
677
3,168
1,495
963
1,017
1,033
1,619
1,297
3,29$
77$
1,201
1,031
527
17* OH
East South Central1,832
375
1,972
1,456
1,168
946
1,000
1,888
417
1,70$
1,264
13’ 35.
88.
W est South Central1,172
2,612
903
1, 677
2,388
1,815
2,332
2,025
1,411
69]
1,664
'851
17
80
784
M ou n tain .............. ..
481
440
789
190
278
846
592
161
1 ,42C
28$
33C
341
9C
Pacific______________
3, 570
4,673
4,950
3,936
4,182
3,983
4,042
2, 751
2 ,99C
3,307
2 ,36c
2 ,13f
2
191
Commercial buildings A
53,811 103, 244 119,091
95, 985 117,952
93,691 124,698
96,505
97,177
90,89.
83; 19$
85,687
55^ 617 1,122! 583
New England______
4,945
3, 783
7,244
2,115
5,343
5,700
3, 270
5,170
4, 767
6,32'
6,241
4,33$
53 675
1 38C
M iddle Atlantic____
6, 395 17,727
14,622
28,391
37,017
14,293
18,846
13,096
16,498
12,82E 13,227
11,261
212’ 645
10,059
East North Central7, 277 18,072
15,107
15, 971
17,697
18,152 24, 797 20,37(
20, 683
18,857
15,242
16; 952
201 ’ 314
9,930
W est North Central.
3,239
5,809
6,873
5,045
8,335
10,336
10, 98'
7, 72(
8,81$
10,78C 10,371
8, 20S
94 ’ 104
3,454
South Atlantic_____
7, 255 17,325
17,467
8, 553 11,877
10,280 16,071
12,397
13,016
11,67$
10; 904 Hi 642 10,387
139! 990
East South Central1,644
7,065
4,208
2,226
3,344
4,055
4,720
5,255
5,662
4,060
3, 512
3,395
46 076
2 893
W est South Central9, 609 16,115
35,996
15,383
14, 578 10,613
21,801
16,006
12,645
11, 236 10,431
10; 144
175’ 120
6 290
M ou n tain ...................
1,132
2, 424
3,014
3, 620
3,308
4, 758
6, m
3, 948
3,425
3,662
3,639
4 070
5; 560
Pacific______________
12, 315 14, 924 14, 560 14,682 16,453
15, 505 17,216
12, 543 11,668
11,469
9; 631 14,187
152’ 160
7 ) 154
Community buildings A
94, 835
65,159
98, 545 85,024 118,820 111,346 130,167 136,091 127,388 114, 538 107,971
87; 787 71, 427 1 ,260’ 078
New E n gland ...........
5,773
4, 556
6, 630
9,025
7,238
3, 520 11,839
11,74$
6, 528
9,151
5,632
107 541
6; 487 16 233
M iddle Atlantic____
7,746
10,470
7,959
12,862
20,957
24,137
13, 764
19, 772 18,849
18,825
10, 797
9; 544
7 827
160 ’ 036
East North Central.
15, 792 26, 000
14,077
16,401
37, 411 21, 658 24,964
26, 598 26,119
24, 911 42; 280 20,153
275’ 020
9 967
W est North Central.
3,818
11,277
6, 796
6,673
10,808
8,636
10,417
7,002 26, 763
8,585
7,863
5 ; 101
105 603
4, 458
South Atlantic_____
8, 831
13,753
15,096
13,191
11,327
19,003
17,949
17,873
11, 921 20, 295 14; 214 13,' 469
8, 320
179 635
East South Central3,688
1, 653
3,036
3,860
3,438
2,281
6,803
8,236
9, 439
3,728
4,401
5,155
62 520
6 352
W est South Central8,955
8, 360 1 /, bb'Z
9,257
12, 641 13, 942 14, 980 22,370
14,177
11,632
7,273
8, 798
7,006
146,688
M ountain___________
3, 721
5,895
3,756
4,164
1,709
6, 563
4, 929
2,888
3,280
2,387
1,946
9,787
43 206
1 142
Pacific_________ _____
12,871
6, 835
23,643
9,593
13,291
11,607 24, 522 19,611
10, 311
15,024
13, 567
9,' 293 1 1 1 2 2
170'721
Public buildings 8______
3,243
13, 972
9,226
19,225
11,719
5,087
7,229 15, 506
35,215
5,615
6,093
1, 702
4,159
134,894
New England......... ..
38
809
0
70
30
53
216
481
128
542
96
0
2, 584
M iddle Atlantic____
1,195
662
2,495
247
611
557
688
1,211
20,306
992
734
110
40 178
52
East North Central3,997
138
527
642
329
742
382
1,561
3,411
684
557
234
177
9,;
513
W est North Central48
1,621
219
0
111
30
711
108
1,079
262
425
58
300
4, 896
South Atlantic_____
653
21
826
92
558
372
3,869
952
4,496
176
1,337
132
1,823
15,008
East South Central0
0
366
35
7,966
0
171
0
318
92
331
0
0
9,279
W est South Central6,195
769
303
178
820
2, 566
185
573
1,859
145
966
8 268
477
71
M ountain................
451
69
695
29
494
186
247
0
1,159
235
70
15
56
3,240
Pacific______________
832
1,928
1,584 18,001
759
604
925 10,885
2,106
2,901
1,130
581
1,682
41,928
Public works and utility
buildings 8____________
9,507 17,939
7, 308
7,119
14,235
7,432
9, 954 11,318
6,403
6,681
5,404
5,
558
5,153
106,164
New England______
323
100
119
279
161
941
2,769
491
248
49
569
236
187
6, 478
M iddle Atlantic____
66
313
5,358
1,322
554
759
1,263
2,908
325
1,385
1,333
532
307
16,868
East North Central1, 562
3,260
4, 576
206 10, 279
607
1,830
1,759
1,111
2,348
424
2,287
2,112
26, 585
W est North Central.
1,014
323
750
1,534
266
2,233
606
622
1,207
318
760
319
977
9, 314
South Atlantic_____
842
299
1,766
340
835
105
240
1,281
623
592
540
366
765
7 658
East South Central11
181
647
7
70
370
225
494
221
257
80
308
0
3,316
W est South Central1,896
903
4,310
254
433
543
170
147
799
1,239
812
663
292
13,646
Mountain...................
485
38
0
125
180
338
361
370
474
41
406
2
73
2,702
Pacific______________
1, 458
1,998
3, 211
1,996
1,457
1,536
2,490
3, 246
1,359
488
480
19 597
845
440
All other buildings 10___
12, 081
10,158
9, 270 16,036 21,807
19, 247 27, 416 24, 236 18,152 22, 890 17,023
12,449
8,483
207,’
247
New England______
371
364
439
763
1.085
952
978
917
776
1,086
1,124
385
323
9 109
M iddle Atlantic____
617
1, 280
777
2,148
2,258
1,899
2, 323
2,392
2,636
2,405
1,792
1,360
1,002
22
177
East North Central.
2,913
2,348
1,060
3,474
6,084
7,825
7,993
5, 738
4,729
6,223
4,512
2,245
1,531
52 285
W est North Central491
477
488
2,663
2, 501
2, 111
2,176
7,056
1,870
2,765
1,674
1,408
501
25 451
South Atlantic_____
587
1,785
1,000
2,177
833
835
3,088
1,580
1, 656
1,489
1,164
'910
617
16,493
East South Central.
19«
786
597
321
454
755
511
605
345
554
1,102
9 529
516
375
W est South Central1, ¿65
1,782
1,818
1,267
4,040
1,329
3,647
2,127
2,240
3, 884
1,730
1,580
1, 916
26 670
M ountain............... ..
655
388
356
801
986
762
2,163
1,063
1,055
697
962
' 594
10
077
309
Pacific...................... ..
3,061
2,871
2,735
2,422
3, 566
2,779
4,536
2, 759
2,846
3,786
2,962
3, 451
1,909
35; 456

348;592

6

1 Building for which permits were issued and Federal contracts awarded
in all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken in some
smaller urban places that do not issue permits. Sums of components do not
always equal totals exactly because of rounding.
3 For scope and source of urban estimated, see table F -3, footnote 1.
3 Preliminary.
4 Revised.
. 8 Includes factories, navy yards, army ordnance plants, bakeries, ice plants,
industrial warehouses, and other buildings at the site of these and similar
production plants.
8 Includes amusement and recreation buildings, stores and other mercantile
buildings, commercial garages, gasoline and service stations, etc.


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

752,810

106,037

153!103
4,863

60,’ 313
6,257
Si 436
27, 322
148,375
16,012
27,651
22,302
11,337
7,223
11,944
2, 566
131,’ 821
18’ 330
35

’ 460

13 ’ 634
o ’ 070
o ’ 018

27; 326

,.,7 deludes churches, hospitals, and other institutional buildings, schools,
libraries, etc.
8 Includes Federal, State, county, and municipal buildings, such as post
offices, courthouses, city halls, fire and police stations, jails, prisons, arsenals,
armories, army barracks, etc.
8 Includes railroad, bus and airport buildings, roundhouses, radio stations,
gas and electric plants, public comfort stations, etc.
10 Includes private garages, sheds, stables and barns, and other building
not elsewhere classified.

F : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

R E V I E W , M A Y 1951

T

able

631

F-5: Number and Construction Cost of New Permanent Nonfarm Dwelling Units Started, by
Urban or Rural Location, and by Source of Funds 1
Number of new dwelling units started
Estimated construction cost
(in thousands)2

All units

Privately financed

Publicly financed

Period
Total
non­
farm

Urban

Rural
non­
farm

1925______________ _____ _____________
937,000
1933 3_______________________________
93, 000
19414_______________________________
706,100
1944»_______________________________
141, 800
1946_________________ ______ ________
670, 500
1947________________________________
849,000
1948________________________________
931, 600
1949________________________________ 1, 025,100
1950 8_______________________________ 1, 396, 000

752, 000
45, 000
434,300
96, 200
403, 700
479, 800
524, 900
588, 800
827,800

1949: First quarter . __ _________
January_____________
February___________
M arch______________
Second quarter.. __________
April . . . . _______
M a y _____ _ ______
J u n e . . _____________
Third quarter_______________
July-------------------------August. ___________
September__________
Fourth quarter. ____ ______
October_____ _______
November__________
D ecem ber.. .............

169, 800
50,000
50, 400
69,400
279, 200
88,300
95,400
95, 500
298, 000
96,100
99, 000
102,900
278,100
104,300
95, 500
78,300

94, 200
29, 500
28, 000
36, 700
157, 300
49, 500
53, 900
53, 900
171, 600
53, 300
55, 900
62,400
165, 700
60,000
56, 700
49, 000

1950: First quarter..............................
January.. _________
February___________
M arch______________
Second quarter 8 ..
__ . . .
A p ril.. _____ ____
M ay . .
_ _______
June____
. . . . .
Third quarter 8 . _________
July______ __________
August___
_ ____
September____
Fourth quarter 8 __________
October. _ _________
November ________
December___________

278,900
78, 700
82,900
117,300
426, 800
133, 400
149,100
144,300
406, 900
144,400
141, 900
, 600
283,400
102, 500
87, 300
93, 600

167,800
48, 200
51,000
, 600
247, 000
78,800
85, 500
82, 700
238, 200
84, 200
83, 600
70, 400
174,800
59,400
53,100
62, 300

1951: January. . ______________ . .
February 10________ _______

87, 000
80,000

(9)
(9)

1

120

68

Total
non­
farm

Urban

Rural
non­
farm

185,000
937,000
48, 000
93,000
271, 800
619, 500
45, 600
138, 700
266, 800
662, 500
369, 200
845,600
406, 700
913, 500
436,300
988, 800
568, 200 1,352, 200

752,000
45,000
369, 500
93, 200
395, 700
476, 400
510, 000
556, 600
785, 600

185,000
48,000
250,000
45, 500
266, 800
369, 200
403, 500
432, 200
566, 600

75, 600
20, 500
22, 400
32, 700
121, 900
38, 800
41, 500
41, 600
126, 400
42, 800
43,100
40, 500
112, 400
44,300
38, 800
29,300

159,400
46, 300
47, 800
65,300
267, 200
85, 000
91, 200
91, 000
289, 900
92, 700
96, 600
, 600
272, 300
101, 900
93,400
77,000

84,100
25, 800
25, 500
32, 800
147, 800
46, 700
50, 600
50, 500
164, 500
50,100
54,300
60,100
160, 200
57, 700
54, 700
47, 800

75, 300
20, 500
22, 300
32, 500
119, 400
38,300
40, 600
40, 500
125, 400
42, 600
42, 300
40, 500

276,100
77,800
82,300
116,000
420, 400
131, 300
145, 700
143,400
393, 600
139, 700
137,800
116,100
262,100
, 800
82, 700
78, 600

165, 600
47,300
50, 800
67, 500
241, 200
77, 000
82, 200
82, 000
225, 200
79, 500
79, 600

110, 500
30, 500
31, 500
48, 500
179, 200
54, 300
63, 500
61, 400
168, 400
60, 200
58, 200
50, 000
108, 500
43,100
34, 200
31, 200

111, 100
30, 500
31, 900
48, 700
179,800
54, 600
63, 600
61, 600
168, 700
60, 200
58, 300
50, 200
108, 600
43,100
34, 200
31,300
(9)
(9)

100

100

83, 500
76,100

The estimates shown here do not include temporary units, conversions,
dormitory accommodations, trailers, or military barracks. They do in­
clude prefabricated housing units.
These estimates are based on building-permit records, which, beginning
with 1945, have been adjusted for lapsed permits and for lag between permit
issuance and start of construction. They are based also on reports of
Federal construction contract awards and beginning in 1946 on field surveys
in non-permit-issuing places. The data in this table refer to nonfarm
dwelling units started, and not to urban dwelling units authorized, as shown
in table F -3.
All of these estimates contain some error. For example, if the estimate
of nonfarm starts is 50,000, the chances are about 19 out of 20 that an actual
enumeration would produce a figure between 48,000 and 52,000.


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

66,100

153, 600
57, 700
48, 500
47,400
(9)
(9)

112,100
44, 200
38, 700
29, 200

(9)
(9)

Total
non­
farm

Urban

Rural
non­
farm

Total

Privately
financed

Publicly
financed

0
0
0 $4,475,000
0
0
0 285,446
86, 600 64, 800 21, 800 2, 825, 895
3,100
3, 000
100 495,054
8,000 8, 000
0 3, 769, 767
3, 400
3,400
0 5, 642, 798

18,100
36, 300
43, 800
10, 400
3,700
2,600
4,100

12,000
3, 300
4,200
4,500

8,100

3, 400
2, 400
2,300
5, 800
2,400

14, 900
32, 200
42, 200

10,100
3, 700
2, 500
3, 900
9,500
, 800
3, 300
3, 400
7,100
3,200
, 600
2,300
5,500
2,300
, 000
, 200

2

1

2,100 2
1,300
1
2,800
2,200
900
900
600
200
1,300
1,100
6,400
5,800
2,100 1,800

3,400
900
13, 300
4,700
4,100
4, 500
21, 300
1, 700
4,600
15, 000
3,500
3, 900

3, 300
700
13, 000
4,700
4 ,0C0
4,300
, 200
1, 700
4,600
14, 900

21

(9)
(9)

3,200
4,100
1,600

300
(7)

100
200

2, 500
500
900

1,100
1,000
200
800
(7)
300

100
100
100

600

0
200

400

600
300

100
200
300
(7)

100
200
100

(7)
(7)

100

(9)
(9)

$4, 475,000
285,446
2, 530, 765
483, 231
3, 713, 776
5, 617,425
7, 203,119
7, 028, 980
7, 702, 971 7, 374, 269
11, 797,885 11,418,371

0
0
$295,130
11, 823
55, 991
25i 373
174,139
328, 702
379; 514

1, 287, 228
374,020
382, 778
530, 430
2,120, 637
666,969
733, 967
719, 701
2, 222,103
710, 341
743, 389
768,373
2, 073,003
776,674
723,097
573,232

1,189, 640
340, 973
357, 270
491, 397
2,007, 563
637,170
692,063
678,330
2,153,937
682,863
722, 208
748,866
2,023,129
756, 712
704, 220
562,197

97, 588
33, 047
25, 508
39,033:
113,074
29j 799
41, 904
41,371
68,166
27,478
21,181
19; 507
49,874
19,962
18, 877
11, 035

2,162, 636
589, 997
637, 753
934, 886
3, 565,844
1, 093, 920
1, 233, 672
1, 238, 252
3, 568,109
1, 253,867
1,267, 746
1, 046, 496
2, 501, 296
917, 085
766, 289
817, 922

2,138, 565
581,497
632, 690
924, 379
3, 511, 204
1,075, 644
1, 204, 978
1, 230, 582
3,446, 722
1, 210, 745
1, 230, 238
1, 005, 739
2,321, 880
902,190
724, 876
694,814

24, 071
|500
5,063
10; 508
54, 640
18, 276
28, 694
7,670
121, 387
43,122
37, 508
40, 757
179, 416
14, 895
41,413
123,108

765, 986
707, 924

736,849
675,454

29,137
32,470

2

8

Private construction costs are based on permit valuation, adjusted for
understatement of costs shown on permit applications. Public construc­
tion costs are based on contract values or estimated construction costs for
individual projects.
Depression, low year.
Recovery peak year prior to wartime limitations.
Last full year under wartime control.
Housing peak year.
Less than 50 units.
Revised.
N ot available.
Preliminary.

3
4
8
6
7
8
8
10

11. S . G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G O F F IC E : I9 S 1

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