Full text of Monthly Labor Review : May 1952, Vol. 74, No. 5

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Monthly Labor Review
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

mlamazoo

Lawrence R. K lein , Chief, Office of Publications


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JÜN 5

CONTENTS

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Special Articles
493
499
505
508

1352

The International Typographical Union
Employment Service Program of Worker Utilization
Unemployment Compensation Legislation by Collective Bargaining
Education Through White Collar Workshops

Summaries of Studies and Reports
511
520
522
522
527
531
534
534
545
547
551
555
559
560
561
563

Analysis of Work Stoppages During 1951
City Worker’s Family Budget for October 1951
Employment Trends in the Industrial Chemicals Industry
Organic Chemicals
Inorganic Chemicals
Changes Affecting Labor in Canada During 1951
Defense Mobilizer’s Fifth Quarterly Report
Wage Chronology No. 22: Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 1943-51
Federal Classified Employees’ Salary Changes, 1950-51
Injury Rates in Manufacturing, First 3 Quarters 1951
Earnings in Machinery Manufacture, Autumn 1951
Guaranteed Employment and Wages Under Collective Agreements
National Conference on Equal Pay for Equal Work
Management Responsibility in Manpower Problems
Ceiling Price Regulations Numbers 128-134
Liberalization of Controls in the Construction Industry

Departments
hi

564
568
570
574
582

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)

May 1952 • Voi. 74 • No. 5

This Issue in B rief...

trols to halt the inflationary spiral; and organized
labor continued its anti-Communist drive.
A chieving effective utilization of manpower is

T rade- unionism in the United States predates the
American Revolution; however, the national
union, as it is known today, emerged only after the
middle of the 19th century. The oldest tradeunion in the country is T he I nternational
T ypographical U nion -A F L (see p. 493) which
celebrated the centennial of its birth on May 5,
1952. The ITU has a heritage of liberal protec­
tion for its aged and infirm members but it also has
a record of keeping pace with changing technology
and of providing “ more” in the Gompers’ tradition.
From the shop to the international level, through
its democratic procedures it has provided a com­
prehensive program of fraternal benefits; 96.4 per­
cent of per capita tax and assessments paid by the
ITU membership supports this program which
includes old-age pensions, mortuary benefits, and
the Union Printers Home for the aged and infirm.
The printing, publishing, and allied industries
to which ITU members belong showed a better
record percentage-wise than most other manufac­
turing industry groups in the analysis of W ork
S toppages in 1951 (see p. 511). Man-days idle in
this industry totaled 0.02 percent of estimated
working time during 1951 compared with 0.26 per­
cent for all industries combined. Although only
slightly fewer strikes occurred in 1951 than in 1950
in industry generally, they were somewhat shorter
than in other post-World War II years and idle­
ness dropped to its lowest point since 1944.
Canadian industry also experienced a marked
decrease in time lost due to work stoppages in
1951. C hanges A ffecting L abor in C anada
during 1951 (see p. 531) points out some of the
additional similarities between conditions in Can­
ada and in the United States; an all-time peak in
employment was reached in August 1951 when
5,350,000 Canadians were working; in terms of
labor income, the year was prosperous; labor was
affected by inflationary forces in the form of rising
prices and deflationary governmental policies com­
bined with some shrinkage in consumer demand;
labor groups pressed for price and related con­
n

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primarily the responsibility of management but is
aided by the E mployment S ervice P rogram of
W orker U tilization (see p. 499), according to
the author of this article. A number of tools and
techniques have been developed by the United
States Employment Service. The Service can
provide information on labor supply and demand;
and it can assist employers in adapting these data
to their individual needs and the needs of the com­
munity. The basic tool in the classification of
workers and employer openings is the Dictionary
of Occupational Titles; others include the Job
Families Series, the USES General Aptitude Test
Battery, and interest check lists. Industry’s re­
sponsibility mentioned in the Employment Service
article is defined in an article in this issue. M an ­
agement

R esponsibility

in

M anpower P rob­

(see p. 560) digests the opinions of one
industrialist who sees the problem as one originat­
ing at the local, and even the individual-plant
level. In his opinion, any program devised to
deal with manpower should be voluntary.
lems

T he annual cost of a “modest but adequate”
level of living for a 4-person family ranged from
$3,812 in New Orleans to $4,454 in Washington,
D. C., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
estimates of a C ity W orker ’s F amily B udget
for O ctober 1951 (see p. 520).
Most of the dif­
ferences in costs among the 34 cities studied were
attributable to variations in rental rates.
T he results of employment studies in the two
branches of the chemical industry—organic and
inorganic—are reported in E mployment T rends
in the I ndustrial C hemicals I ndustry (see
p. 522). The types of jobs and the production
processes used in both are much the same; how­
ever, differences in employment trends, location,
and type of product required separate analysis.
For example, the organic branch, employing
169,900 production workers (over 2 % times as many
as the inorganic branch) in 1951, had never re­
gained its peak wartime level (1943-45) when pro­
duction workers totaled over 230,000 annually.
On the other hand, in 1951 the inorganic branch
employed about 60,000 production workers—
approximately 5,000 more than it did at its postwar
peak.

The Labor Month
in Review
E vents growing out of the Wage Stabilization

Board’s steel recommendations and President
Truman’s seizure order dominated labor news dim­
ing the month. The Education and Labor Com­
mittee of the House of Representatives began an
investigation of WSB’s role in the dispute. A brief
shutdown, followed shortly by a brief strike re­
sulted in loss of an estimated 2 million tons of steel.
Work stoppages also occurred in the telephone,
telegraph, and oil-refinery industries.
Steel under Government Seizure

The Nation’s steelworkers returned to work
after a 3-day strike. Their stoppage followed the
decision of Federal Judge David A. Pine invalidat­
ing the Government’s seizure of the steel industry.
The Court of Appeals, by a 5 to 4 vote, suspended
Judge Pine’s nullification of the seizure pending an
appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Upon
the urging of President Truman, CIO Steelwork­
ers’ president Philip Murray terminated his strike
order. Renewed bargaining between the six largest
steel companies and the CIO union produced no
agreement, after the Supreme Court banned any
Government wage adjustment until it had ruled on
Judge Pine’s order.
The Steelworkers had struck for WSB’s recom­
mended settlement. Seizure of the industry on
President Truman’s order early in April raised a
host of interlocking economic, social, legal, and
political issues which kept reports of steel labor
developments on the front pages of the Nation’s
press throughout the month.
Among the questions raised were: Was the idea
of tripartitism valid for the settlement of labormanagement disputes? Who should be public
members of tripartite boards? Had the public in­
terest been served by the requirement that WSB’s
public members reach an agreement with either
labor or industry members to form a majority?
How much compulsion should be applied to secure
acceptance of a nonbinding WSB recommendation?
Constitutional and legal issues raised included:


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The legality of plant seizure to insure continued
production during times of national emergency;
the “inherent powers” of the Presidency and the
possibility of a Federal court enjoining the Presi­
dent from acting; and the jurisdiction of the WSB
over noneconomic issues, under which the Board
had recommended the union shop. Had the steel
companies, in fact, suffered “irreparable damage,”
as Judge Pine had held?
A series of economic problems also arose: Were
the wage recommendations of WSB “catchup” or
pattern-setting, inflationary or not? What are
the limits of the concept of wage stabilization?
What should be the relationship between wage
and price stabilization? Behind the Board’s rec­
ommendation was the still unresolved issue of how
to reward workers for increased productivity.
What were the actual earnings of the steel com­
panies, either before or after taxes? What would
the cost of the wage advances be for the compa­
nies and for the economy as a whole, both imme­
diately and in the long run? What price rise
must be allowed to make an agreement possible?
Organized labor, too, was forced to do some
soul searching on the issue of Government seizure.
Although the message of the President ordering
the steel seizure appeared to espouse the steel­
workers’ cause, was the seizure an unmixed bless­
ing? Railroad workers, approaching their second
year under Government operation, were emphatic
against seizure and protested that no settlement
of their dispute had yet been achieved.
Also asked were: Why did not the President
follow the national emergency provisions of the
Taft-Hartley Act? This the President answered
by pointing to the fact that he had, by voluntary
means secured four strike postponements, amount­
ing to a longer period than the Taft-Hartleyprescribed 80 days. What was the character of
the national emergency? What would be the
effect of a steel stoppage on the economy and
particularly on the defense establishment?
Although much of the month’s action was con­
fined to the Federal administration and courts,
repeated questions arose as to what course Con­
gress should take. Proposals ranged from an
injunction-receivership bill introduced by Repre­
sentative Howard Smith to a Government-seizure
bill formulated by Senator Wayne Morse. The
President asked Congress for help and advice, but
protested that neither was forthcoming.
m

IV

THE LABOR MONTH IN REVIEW

The Wage Stabilization Board

A barrage of criticism surrounded the WSB
during the month. Chairman Nathan Feinsinger
was kept busy refuting allegations that the public
members of the board were beholden to organized
labor and testifying to a variety of Congressional
committees on aspects of the steel labor case.
Articles were published examining the qualifica­
tions of public members of labor-management
boards.
The American Arbitration Association chal­
lenged the process of tripartite arbitration.
Basing its analysis on the steel case, it held that
WSB’s public members were not able to act im­
partially, but had to bargain with labor or indus­
try members of the Board to achieve a majority
decision.
AFL and CIO spokesmen opposed an amend­
ment, proposed by Senator Everett Dirksen, to
the Defense Production Act which, if not renewed,
will expire June 30. The Dirksen amendment
would place the public members of WSB in a
dominant position and limit the Board’s jurisdic­
tion to purely wage issues.
A strong attack on the Board was voiced at the
annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States. Representatives of the oil
industry refused to participate in a series of panels
to establish settlement recommendations for their
disputes with CIO, AFL, and independent oil
workers unions. Scant attention was given to a
WSB wage adjustment of a 5-cent hourly increase
for two West Coast shipyards voted by WSB’s
public and industry members over the opposition
of the labor members.
Work Stoppages

In addition to the widely publicized 3-day steel
strike, the month-long strike of the AFL Commer­
cial Telegraphers against Western Union tested
the skills of the Federal Mediation and Concilia­
tion Service to achieve a settlement. A variety
of wage increases were won by segments of the CIO
Communications Workers as their disputes with
the Bell Telephone System and Western Electric
were settled.
When WSB was forced to discontinue jurisdic­
tion over the oil refinery cases, it urged 2 weeks of
bargaining. At the end of the bargaining period,

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with no settlement reached, a strike began in the
oil industry. A reported 90,000 workers left their
jobs during the first week of May. WSB called
for an end to the strike and for renewed hearings
in Washington.
According to preliminary estimates, approxi­
mately 600 strikes were in effect during March
1952, resulting in about 1,400,000 man-days of
idleness. Strike activity during that month was
relatively greater than in either February 1952 or
March 1951.
Economic Background

Nonfarm employment remained unchanged at
45.9 million workers between February and March
1952. Usual seasonal advances in retail trade,
construction, and durable-goods manufacture did
not occur. Manufacturing employment, at 15.8
million in March 1952—about the same as in
February—was 240,000 lower than a year earlier.
Unemployment in April equaled the lowest level
since World War II.
The average workweek of factory production
workers declined slightly from 40.8 hours in Feb­
ruary to 40.7 in March. Average hourly earnings
rose from $1,643 to $1,651, so that average weekly
earnings advanced from $67.03 to $67.20 during
the 2 months. Average weekly earnings for fac­
tory production workers were $64.57 in March
1951. Layoffs of factory workers declined in
March for the fourth consecutive month.
Construction activity continued strong into
April, with record expenditures of $2.5 billions.
This brought construction dollar volume for the
first 4 months of 1952 to a new high level.
Housing starts were at a rate which, if continued,
indicated that 1 million or more new private
nonfarm homes would be begun during 1952.
Union hourly wage scales of building-trades
workers rose 0.6 percent during the first quarter
of 1952. Their average hourly wage scale on
April 1 was estimated at $2.47, 18 cents above the
July 3, 1950, level, and 26 cents above union rates
for January 3, 1950.
The Consumers’ Price Index increased 0.1 per­
cent from February 15 to March 15, 1952. The
index was 188.0, 1.9 percent above March 1951.
The “old series” CPI also advanced 0.1 percent to
188.4; few escalator wage clauses called for periodic
revision based on this report.

The International Typographical Union
A Century of Activity in the
Establishment of Member Benefits and
Bargaining and Internal Democratic Procedures
W il l ia m P a s c h e l l *

A merica’s oldest trade - union —the Inter­
national Typographical Union (AFL)—has estab­
lished a reputation for broad service to all its
members. On May 5, 1952, the centennial of its
birth, not only did this union have a heritage of
liberal protection for its aged and infirm members,
but it also has a record of keeping pace with
changing technology and of providing “ more” in
the Gompers’ tradition.
Organization among printers prior to 1795 was
based upon “ understandings” reached at local
“ general meetings” of the trade. After achieving
their immediate purpose, these early organizations
were dissolved. Signs of permanency began with
the establishment of the Typographical Society
of New York in 1795, although it existed only
until 1797. The year 1807 marked the develop­
ment, by the Typographical Society of Phila­
delphia, of demands having some counterpart in
modern-day unionism, such as exclusive employ­
ment of union men, the monthly “ working card,”
and adoption of a placement system suggestive of
a union employment bureau. Columbia Typo­
graphical Union No. 101, in the District of
Columbia, formed in 1815, is probably the oldest
existing local union in the United States.
An early attempt to found a national union
resulted in the launching of the National Typo­
graphical Society in 1836; but this organization


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was short-lived. At midcentury, the National
Convention of Journeymen Printers of the United
States was formed in New York City. In 1852,
the name of this organization was changed to
National Typographical Union; when Canadian
organizations of printers were admitted in 1869,
the present name, International Typographical
Union, was adopted. At that time, ITU had 120
local or subordinate organizations, with 7,563
members. By 1951, the international had 90,886
dues-paying journeymen members in 804 locals in
every State of the Union, the District of Columbia,
Alaska, Canada, and Hawaii.
ITU participated in the formation of the Ameri­
can Federation of Labor. It once embraced all
crafts in the printing industry, but between the
early 1890’s and 1904, successive agreements with
the printing pressmen, bookbinders, stereotypers,
and photoengravers led to the organization of
separate autonomous international craft unions.
ITU retained jurisdiction over compositors and
mailers in newspaper and commercial printing
establishments. Ties with other AFL printing
craft unions are maintained through the Inter­
national Allied Printing Trades Association, which
governs the use of the Allied Printing Trades
Label.
•Of the Bureau’s DivisionofWagesandIndustrial Relations.
493

494

THE ITU CENTENNIAL

Internal Union Structure

The rise of a two-party “political” system in the
ITU was described by Philip Taft, who said: “At
no time has one group or individual so dominated
the Union that his actions could go unchallenged.”
He also noted that the two-party system developed
early in ITU history because rank-and-file mem­
bers feared secret groups might seek to dominate
union policy.
Today, the “ Progressives” and the “ Inde­
pendents” nominate their own slates of officers
and campaign vigorously before the deciding
rank-and-file referendum vote is cast. When
members from both factions have won places on
the union’s executive council, internal harmony
has sometimes been sacrificed. This was particu­
larly marked from 1938 until 1944, when an
executive council deadlock was broken with the
election of an all “ Progressive Party” slate.
Membership referenda to elect officers have
been used since May 1898. Woodruff Randolph,
ITU president, was re-elected to his fourth term
in 1950 over C. J. Sparkman by a vote of 39,255
to 31,663. All top national union offices are
being contested this year. The office of third
vice president is filled only from among members
of a mailer’s subordinate union.
These officers serve 2-year terms and constitute
the union’s executive council. This council exer­
cises general supervision over the business of the
international union and its subordinate bodies.
To be eligible for office, candidates must have
been ITU members for at least a year prior to
announcing their candidacy and must subscribe
to a union oath that they are not members of
the Communist Party or any other such group, i
Relationships between the international union
and its locals with regard to collective bargaining
are significant in ITU’s internal structure. Both
before local negotiations begin and before con­
tracts are signed, approval must be obtained from
the international union. Local members then
vote to accept or reject the final contract. If
disputes with employers arise, local strike action
must be authorized by ITU’s executive council
before money is expended from the international’s
strike fund. Following such international ap­


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MONTHLY LABOR

proval, authorization for a strike must be decided
by a majority vote of the local’s membership by
secret ballot.
At annual conventions, delegates, elected by
their locals and apportioned according to number
of members, set union policy. They may initiate,
by majority vote, amendments to the union’s
constitution which are subject to referendum
approval. The ITU Book of Laws includes clauses
relating to contracts and price scales as well as
conditions of employment and the relations of
subordinate unions and members to their
employers.
Under the ITU laws, conventions also act
upon appeals made by “ any aggrieved member,
members, chapel or employer having a contract
with . . . subordinate union, or any applicant
for admission whose applicat ion has been rejected.”
Appeals from local-union as well as executivecouncil actions are heard by the annual convention.
The international secretary-treasurer is custo­
dian of the union’s funds and a 3-man elective
board of auditors is responsible for financial
audits. Comprehensive financial reports are pub­
lished regularly in the Typographical Journal
which is received monthly by ITU members.
Democratic elective and administrative proce­
dures are also found at the local level. For
example, the 10,000-member ITU local in New
York operates with a president, vice president,
secretary-treasurer, 11-member executive commit­
tee, trustees, and auditors elected biennially by
secret ballot. Between monthly meetings, the
executive committee functions on the member­
ship’s behalf. Other official activities are carried
on by a board of trustees who supervise union
property and finances; a benefit board to ad­
minister pensions; a membership committee; a
discipline committee to adjust complaints of mis­
behavior; and an apprentice committee to super­
vise educational and technical progress of appren­
tices. The membership exercises sole legislative
authority at monthly meetings where proposed
local legislation must originate. Itemized and
audited financial reports are published monthly in
the local’s official Monthly Bulletin.
At the shop level, “ chapels” are formed where
three or more ITU members are employed. The

REVIEW, MAY 1952

THE ITU CENTENNIAL

495

chapel elects its own chairman who is the recog­
nized representative for union members in the
shop. He presides at chapel meetings held to
discuss mutual problems, keeps the priority list
up to date, adjusts grievances, and watches the
progress of apprentice-training programs.

Payments in 1951 to some 8,000 pensioners on
ITU rolls were met primarily by a monthly mem­
bership assessment of 2 percent of earnings, ninetenths of which is earmarked for a pension fund.
The average pension payment by each member
was $6.22 per month.

Union-Financed Benefits

Union Printers' Home. In 1892, the Union
Printers’ Home in Colorado Springs, Colo., was
built on land donated by the local Board of Trade.
The principal reason for founding the home for
aged and infirm ITU members was to aid mem­
bers afflicted by tuberculosis, which once took a
heavy toll of composing-room workers. Eligi­
bility for residence after 18 months of membership
has also been extended to members having other
serious diseases. Ten years’ membership is re­
quired to become eligible, if members suffer from
less serious diseases not requiring emergency care.
Currently, an average of some 300 residents are
treated in a sanitarium and hospital serviced by
resident physicians. Social and cultural aspects
of community life include library facilities, a rec­
reation room, musical and motion-picture enter­
tainment, and parties for special occasions.
Monthly “ chapel” gatherings, patterned on meet­
ings traditional in all printing offices, are also
held.
Beginning with an endowment of $10,000, union
funds have since maintained and developed the
home which today represents a total investment
of some $13 million. Nearly $152 was spent
monthly in 1951 to maintain each resident. The
50 cents allocated from each member’s monthly
per capita tax payment for the upkeep of the home,
if paid by a member for 30 years, would be ex­
pended in his behalf shortly after a 1-month stay.

The Typographical Union has developed a
comprehensive program of fraternal benefits.
The nature and scope of the program is evident
in the following tabulation on disbursements for
benefits during the fiscal year ended May 20, 1951.
This ITU program accounts for an expenditure of
96.4 percent of per capita tax and assessments,
probably a record among trade-unions today.
Total direct and potential benefits 1___ 2 $10, 597, 723. 06
Direct benefits: Total paid___________
Old-age pension_________________
Mortuary benefits_______________
Lock-out benefits and special assist­
ance_________________________
Union Printers’ Home___________
Potential benefits—increase in reserve
fund balances_____________________

10, 154, 544. 64
6, 575, 660. 00
750, 573. 82
2, 251, 352. 85
576, 957. 97
443, 178. 42

1 Source: Based on data in the Typographical Journal, July 1951 (p. 5).
2 Exclusive of benefits paid by locals of $1,647,805.05. Ibid (p. 56).

Old-Age Pensions. More than 1 in 11 members
currently receive pensions under a memberfinanced, old-age pension plan inaugurated by the
ITU in 1908. Since its establishment, benefits have
totaled approximately $80 million. The amount
of benefit has increased steadily from $4 to $20
weekly. If union benefits are combined with
payments effective under the Federal Social
Security law, ITU pensioners receive a combined
total which compares favorably with the $100 to
$125 monthly pensions (including Social Security
benefits) negotiated in collective agreements in
the past 2 or 3 years by many unions, with at
least some employer-financing. Although the
qualifying age for ITU pensions is 60 after 25
years of continuous membership, the average age
of those approved for old-age benefits in 1951 was
67.5 years. ITU members totally incapacitated
for work are eligible for such pensions after 20
years of membership, if disqualified for admission
to the Union Printers’ Home.

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Death Benefits. Since 1892 survivors of deceased
Typographical Union members have received
payments from ITU’s mortuary benefit fund.
Benefits were originally set at $50 but now range
from $50 for members with a continuous member­
ship of 1 year or less to $500 for a continuous
membership of 15 years or over. Nearly $20
million has been disbursed under this program of
sliding benefits to 43,461 beneficiaries. In 1951,
1,610 benefits aggregating $750,573.82 or an aver­
age of $466.19 were paid. The union’s benefit
fund is maintained by assessments of 2 percent on

496

THE ITU CENTENNIAL

total earnings, a tenth of which is allocated for
mortuary-fund purposes and the remainder for
pensions as mentioned above.
This record of financial provision is comple­
mented by ITU’s efforts to lengthen the average
life span of its membership. When the union
was founded, printers died on the average at age
28. In 1892, when mortuary benefits were begun
the average age at death of ITU members was 41,
with respiratory diseases accounting for more
than 50 percent of deaths. By 1951, average age
at death was 66.37 years, with respiratory diseases
ranking fourth among death-dealing diseases
which afflicted ITU members.
These advances reflect progress made in medical
science, the cooperation of employers in institut­
ing a safe and healthful working environment, and
ITU ’s program to improve working conditions
and standards of living. Collective-bargaining
agreements generally incorporate clauses which
provide for “ a clean, healthful, sufficiently ven­
tilated, properly heated and lighted place for the
performance of all work.”
Technological Change

At first, Typographical Union members were
opposed to the introduction of the linotype
machine. Near the turn of the century, however,
ITU met the challenge of technological innovations
by adopting a policy of acceptance and coopera­
tion. Basic to this policy was a program stress­
ing the education and training of members for new
composing-room work in order to establish union
jurisdiction over new types of machinery.
An ITU convention report in 1891 recom­
mended that none but union operators be employed
on various typesetting machines. However, by
1894, the union estimated that more than 10 per­
cent of its approximately 30,000 members were un­
employed because of mechanization. This rein­
forced the union’s determination to pursue its
policy for job security. The same year, in con­
vention, ITU observed an encouraging note when
in a majority of instances employers were re­
ported as favoring retention of their skilled union
employees as operators.
As an outgrowth of this kind of cooperation,
clauses in ITU collective agreements relate to


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MONTHLY LABOR

union jurisdiction over new processes, machinery,
or equipment. In addition, arrangements are in­
cluded for the instruction of apprentices, during
their final year of apprenticeship, on typesetting
and typecasting devices.
While the change from hand to machine com­
position originally raised difficult problems, ex­
panded job opportunities resulted from the union’s
policy. Today, rank-and-file members are ad­
vised by Typographical Union policy makers on
the relative ease with which new machine pro­
cesses can be learned. These spokesmen point
out that if members learn to operate new machines
and to exercise jurisdiction over their use, then
technological improvements in the long run will
not result in displacement of union men.
Collective Bargaining

The Typographical Union maintains a Bureau
of Contracts and Statistics which aids typo­
graphical locals in their collective-bargaining ac­
tivity. Legal advice, statistical data, and informa­
tion on pertinent Government regulations are
given to ITU local officers and wage-scale com­
mittees.
Employers who are members of trade associa­
tions also receive specialized assistance with their
bargaining problems. In the newspaper industry
the American Newspaper Publishers Association,
and, in commercial printing establishments, the
Printing Industry of America, Inc., support units
dealing with industrial relations problems. They
serve the local member associations and individ­
ual employer members, but do not actually en­
gage in collective bargaining as such.
The services rendered by the union employers
section of PI A include: (1) development of co­
hesion among employers; (2) compilation and
dissemination of a contract scale manual, and
preparation of basic economic data; (3) contract
analysis and tabulations of union wages and
working conditions; and (4) advice on personnel
practices and problems and analysis of interna­
tional-union laws. Similar services are offered
by the special standing committee of ANPA for
newspaper publishers.
Printing and publishing is predominantly a
small-business industry. In 1949, reports from

REVIEW, MAY 1952

THE ITU CENTENNIAL

31,370 employer units employing 726,197 workers
showed that 30,182 units had fewer than 100
employees each. One group of 12,007 employer
units had not more than 3 employees per unit.
(Data are from the U. S. Department of Commerce
and the Federal Security Agency.)
Bargaining Activity. Action was taken early in
ITU’s history to emphasize the crucial need for
membership in order to strengthen the union’s
bargaining position. Since “ beneficiary” purposes
were primary objectives of early typographical
societies and of many local ITU unions, many
printers who desired membership only for trade
protection were excluded. Accordingly, at its
1853 convention a resolution was adopted requir­
ing “ such of its subordinates as yet retain the ‘ben­
eficiary system’ to alter their rules so as to admit to
their fellowship such members of the craft who
wish to be admitted for trade protection merely.”
As ITU membership rolls increased, union
negotiators bargained successfully for higher pay
and a shorter workweek for members. In the
early 1900’s, average earnings per member were
about $900 annually. By 1951, the union reported
that members averaged $4,732.88 yearly.
Union drives for a shorter workweek have been
linked to efforts to lengthen the life span of union
members and to cushion economic pressures arising
from technological change in the printing industry.
A History of the Typographical Unions, by
George A. Tracy, refers to a resolution, which was
considered at the 1865 Philadelphia convention,
stipulating that on and after May 1, 1866, a day’s
work should constitute 8 hours. Reductions from
the 12-hour day which prevailed early in the
union’s history were not achieved until the early
1890’s. An 8-hour day and 48-hour week were ob­
tained only after long and costly strikes. The
struggle began in 1905; at one time or another
more than 10,000 members were involved in a pro­
tracted strike. The next year, the ITU secretarytreasurer reported: “ The defense fund expenditures
for 1906 exceeded all the previous expenses from
that fund.” Total union defense expenses up to
1908, when the 8-hour objective was finally won,
amounted to $4,163,970. Even more prolonged
and costly were Typographical Union efforts to


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497

institute a Saturday half-day holiday, shortening
hours to 44 weekly, effective in 1921 in commercial
establishments. A strike which involved approxi­
mately 9,000 ITU members at its inception cost
the union more than $16 million before it was
finally terminated in 1925.
During the depression of the 1930’s the ITU
successfully moved to establish a 40-hour, 5-day
workweek as a “ spread-the-work” measure. To­
day, the straight-time weekly working hours for
most ITU members in book-and-job establish­
ments is about 37Kand is slightly less in newspaper
establishments.
Effect of Taft-Hartley Act. Shortly after the TaftHartley Act became effective, ITU union-security
arrangements were a major issue in a strike called
by Chicago ITU Local 16, on November 24, 1947,
against Chicago newspapers. The newspapers
represented by the Chicago Newspaper Publishers
Association maintained before the National Labor
Relations Board that the ITU and its Chicago local
sought continuance of closed-shop conditions in
violation of Taft-Hartley Act standards. A Fed­
eral Court injunction was obtained by the NLRB
General Counsel in March 1948 enjoining the ITU
from such activity.
The Chicago strike was settled on September 18,
1949, when ITU local members voted 1,287 to 279
to incorporate in a signed agreement, terms which
included a $10 weekly wage increase plus “the
maximum security possible under the Taft-Hartley
Law.” A month later the NLRB ordered the
Chicago ITU local to cease all attempts to cause
employers to discriminate against nonunion work­
ers, an issue since settled by the Chicago contract.
In 1947, the ITU also adopted the following
collective-bargaining policy at its convention: “It
will be our policy to refrain from signing contracts
in order that we avoid agreeing, or seeming to
agree, or voluntarily accepting the conditions cre­
ated by . . . the Labor Management Relations
Act of 1947.” This policy provided for the use of
generally uniform “Conditions of Employment”
forms. However, the policy was changed after
the Federal Court injunction was issued in the
Chicago case in 1948 and the ITU subsequently
advised local unions not to insist upon “Conditions

498

THE ITU CENTENNIAL

of Employment” forms but to “enter into term
contracts where employers were willing to accept
provisions which safeguard our legal prerogatives
and rights.”
Procedure in Disputes

In a resolution adopted at its second convention
in 1853, the Typographical Union resolved that
strikes should only be resorted to after all peace­
able avenues of settlement had been explored.
Under ITU constitutional laws, disputes between
subordinate unions and employers may, through
mutual agreement, be settled by arbitration.
However, disputes not subject to arbitration are
those over ITU laws to the extent to which they
are incorporated in collective agreements.
In disagreements between locals and employers
which may result in strikes, local unions must
notify the International president who attempts an


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adjustment. If his efforts are unsuccessful, the
ITU executive council may authorize a strike;
without such sanction, strikes are declared illegal.
Following executive council authorization, local
members must approve strike action by a majority
vote. The Typographical Union assists strikers
through a defense fund.
In addition, the Typographical Union has estab­
lished “Unitypo”—the “modern defense arm of
the ITU”—which operates daily newspapers in
areas where locals are on strike. These news­
papers receive daily news summaries by wire from
a small-scale ITU news network known as “New
Newspaper Service.” This union strategy creates
competition with the regular press. At the begin­
ning of this year, for instance, the union reported
ITU dailies were functioning in Allentown, Pa.,
Charleston, W. Va., Meriden, Conn., Texarkana,
Ark., Springfield, Mo., and Monroe, La.

Employment Service
Program of
Worker Utilization
R ic h a r d D . F l e t c h e r *

A chieving effective utilization of manpower, pri­
marily the responsibility of management, is aided
by a number of tools and technical programs de­
veloped by the Employment Service and empha­
sized in its current operations. This Service is
dedicated to the principle that production goals
will be most effectively met by encouraging all
measures to improve the utilization of individual
workers as well as by taking necessary steps to
expand our working force. It believes that good
utilization depends upon knowing more, rather
than less, about each available worker and has
therefore resisted pressures to “streamline” local
office operations. I t possesses tools and tech­
niques which have proved their value and utility
in achieving more satisfactory placement and
counseling operations, and it is intensifying its
program for expanding and refining such tech­
nical aids.

Objectives

Public employment offices can render important
assistance to employers in placing workers where
they can contribute most to production and in
achieving good use of women, older workers, the
physically handicapped, and minority groups.
What, specifically, can an employment service
do in addition to competent placement and coun­
seling? It should be expected to assist employers
•Assistant Chief, U. S. Employment Service, U. S. Department of Labor.


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in measuring their manpower requirements and
problems in relation to available labor supply.
Manpower requirements in any establishment are
qualitative (kinds of workers) as well as quantita­
tive (total work force needed). An employment
office can assist the employer in evaluating and,
if necessary, adjusting his stated requirements.
This may be accomplished in part by providing
information on labor supply and demand in the
local community, together with information on
alternate sources of supply (inexperienced workers
who may be trained, part-time workers, and the
like), and the apparent availability of qualified
workers in other geographic areas.
Second, a public employment service must be
fully competent in the development and use of
methods for identifying, evaluating, recording, and
classifying the skills and aptitudes of workers in
the labor force. This involves appraisal of pre­
vious work experience and such related factors as
education, professional affiliation, and industrial
attachment. It involves also the identification
and measurement of aptitudes, interests, and other
vocational assets not yet objectified by actual ex­
perience. I t involves appraisal of such aptitudes
both in terms of the immediately available work
opportunities and in terms of longer-range utiliza­
tion of capacities if further training is pursued.
Competence in each of these technical fields is
essential to good counseling and placement.
Third, a public employment service should be
expert in matching the skills and aptitudes of
available workers with the personnel needs of the
employers it serves. Good selection must bring
about the ultimate satisfaction of both the worker
and the employer. It must, in addition, take full
account of prevailing labor-market conditions in
the community, so that the placement of workers
in individual jobs will contribute also to the best
utilization of the community’s labor force as a
whole.
Stich are the operating demands placed upon the
public placement agency. In addition, the em­
ployment service can and should render a variety
of consultative services to workers and employers
individually and to the community as a whole
through civic groups and associations concerned
with general employment problems. At the very
least, these services should promote community
acceptance and understanding of good employ499

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USES AND WORKER UTILIZATION

ment practices. If wisely applied and realistically
related to the surrounding economic climate, such
labor-force consultation can assist the community
in expanding its productive and economic machin­
ery. In a number of areas, such give-and-take
between the employment office and the commun­
ity has suggested numerous courses of community
action directed toward local economic expansion.
At the same time a reasonable appraisal of
public Employment Service operations identifies
immediately a number of problems with which the
Service cannot realistically be expected to cope.
It cannot be expected to cure unemployment, be­
cause it cannot create jobs. This is not to say
that an effective public employment service can­
not contribute materially to maximizing employ­
ment through the skillfull and prompt utilization
of all workers but, rather, that the total extent
of its contribution is limited by economic condi­
tions. An employment service cannot equip work­
ers with skills they do not possess though it does
provide them with knowledge of job requirements
and training opportunities; it cannot help em­
ployers solve production or engineering problems
unrelated to manpower considerations; it should
not reasonably be expected to solve in-plant man­
power problems resulting from labor-management
frictions or from unsatisfactory wage conditions.
Again, however, an employment office may assist
in clarifying the problems and in suggesting to the
employer certain proven measures—based fre­
quently upon other employers’ experiences—
which will clarify the problem and lead toward
solution.
Aids in Measuring Requirements

Assistance to an employer in appraising his man­
power needs and in pointing out available resources
depends upon a substantial store of information
concerning the size, nature, and composition of
the local labor force. A systematic body of
knowledge designed to measure the principal em­
ployment characteristics and availability of work­
ers in the community is maintained in the local
employment offices. Certain statistical measure­
ments are available (the number and occupational
classification of workers registered for employment
and, where needed, specific breakdown by age, sex,
veteran’s status, and the like). However, the

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MONTHLY LABOR

statistical knowledge is substantially supplemented
and objectified by the numerous daily employment
transactions of the office which give placement
interviewers ample basis for interpreting and
evaluating the recorded data.
Helping an employer to appraise his manpower
needs involves more than the interpretation of
labor-force information. As local office personnel
become familiar with the job requirements and
hiring patterns of given establishments, numerous
clues for the revision of job specifications become
apparent. They are utilized in order to facilitate
the use of less skilled workers as well as for greater
emphasis upon improving the skills of inexpe­
rienced workers through appropriate in-plant
training, and for many related matters. They
also provide a factual basis for reviewing with the
employer his stated needs. Through regular visits
to and through continued placement transactions
with a given firm as well as through information
given by applicants, the local office quickly ac­
quires information or clues which identify such
problems as unusual rates of turn-over; in-plant
personnel problems suggesting the inadequacy or
inflated nature of hiring specifications or the ab­
sence of needed training programs; or such related
factors as unpleasant working conditions and poor
morale. When possibilities for suggesting im­
proved utilization are indicated by the placement
staff, employer relations representatives may uti­
lize a wide variety of diagnostic aids to assist them­
selves, the employer, and the placement worker in
isolating the underlying problems and in working
toward remedial recommendations.
One of the most useful tools available to the local
office for suggesting occupational substitutions for
scarce skills is the Job Families Series. These list
groups of occupations which are related to selected
base occupations or to key occupations in selected
industries. Job relationships are established on
the basis of similarity in the work done; in the
tools, equipment, materials, and work aids uti­
lized ; in the knowledge required ; and in the mentaland physical-worker characteristics required for
successful job performance. They may be used
in personnel recruitment, selection, counseling,
training, or transfer. They identify the kinds of
workers who may fill specific jobs efficiently and
with a minimum of retraining, the kinds of jobs
in which workers can be most efficiently employed

REVIEW, MAY 1952

USES AND WORKER UTILIZATION

when work in which they have had experience and
training is not available, as well as fields of work
in which transferability among specific jobs is
possible.
A wealth of other occupational information
exists in a series of occupational guides, occupa­
tional composition patterns, Manning Tables, and
in the basic occupational reference tool of all em­
ployment offices, the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles, which, after 10 years of proved assistance
both to Government and to industry, was revised
and republished in 1949.
Perhaps the most important contribution which
local offices can make is to provide the employer
with the techniques of Employment Service job
analysis, once he has the standardized occupa­
tional information. By showing an employer how
to collect and evaluate better information on the
requirements of his own jobs, the local office gives
him the best possible method for achieving im­
proved selection, training, transfer, and promotion.
Armed with such information, the employer can
determine his manpower requirements on the most
realistic basis possible.
Methods of Classification

The Dictionary of Occupational Titles consti­
tutes the basic technical tool used in the classifi­
cation of workers and employer openings. It
identifies approximately 22,000 jobs, with their
code numbers, and approximately 40,000 different
job titles, listed alphabetically. Volume I defines
occupations and furnishes uniform names for basic
jobs in agriculture, trades and services, industry,
professions, and crafts. Volume II presents the
structure of the United States Employment Service
occupational classification system and lists in
numerical order and according to the assigned
code numbers the titles defined in Volume I.
These titles are arranged into defined major
groups, divisions, and subdivisions, which bring
together jobs related in such matters as the
similarity of skills, knowledge, and abilities
required.
Volume III served a temporary usefulness for
converting a previous system into the new struc­
ture. It was then abandoned.
Another volume (Part IV) of the Dictionary
(Entry Occupational Classifications) offers tech­


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501

niques and a structure for the classification of job
applicants who must find employment on some
basis other than prior work experience or fully
qualifying training. Such applicants include
school-leavers, veterans without prior work ex­
perience, and some of the physically handicapped.
The classifications are assigned according to the
applicant’s interests, aptitudes, leisure-time acti­
vities, casual work experience, or vocational train­
ing. Another advantage of the structure is that
it defines fields of work and lists occupations in
these fields which are open to beginning workers.
For related reference use of employment inter­
viewers, counselors, and industrial personnel
officers, volumes of job descriptions covering 17
major industries are available. These contain
occupational information describing the work
performed, the equipment used, and the customary
upgrading and transfer job relationships. Occu­
pations in more than half of the normal industrial
activities of this country are covered. The job
descriptions are composites and are based upon
analyses of each job in a number of establishments,
and they show important variations in the indi­
vidual jobs. The description for each major job
includes what the worker does on that job; how
he does it; why he does it; and the skills required.
These descriptions are used to assist in the selec­
tion and training of workers, in upgrading them,
and in determining the physical requirements of
jobs. They provide vocational counselors and
interviewers with information on industrial proc­
esses and key jobs for each industry i covered,
and indicate the working conditions, the usual
mode of entry, and typical promotional lines.
The industries covered in this series include such
basic segments of the economy and of the current
defense program as grain and feed milling; hos­
pitals; job foundries; job machine shops; lumber
and lumber products; office occupations; and
retail trade.
In its continuing work of improving classifi­
cation, the United States Employment Service is
currently developing a “ functional” system of
occupational classification into which numerous
employment factors other than work experience
can be translated. Although Part IV of the
Dictionary is currently used to classify inexperi­
enced workers, the entry occupational-classifica­
tion structure does not provide for full appraisal,

502

USES AND WORKER UTILIZATION

measurement, and evaluation of nonexperiential
factors, such as interest, temperament, and apti­
tudes, which are factors in sound occupational
classification.
The new system will attempt to group like jobs
together (not necessarily based on industry attach­
ment); enable the conversion of work experience,
training, and aptitudes into a more workable
occupational schematic; suggest transfer possibi­
lities both within groups and among groups;
offer a better foundation for promotion and up­
grading; and present a more comprehensive
structure for collecting and analyzing labormarket information in terms of groups of like
jobs.
Eight classification components (or criteria)
have been agreed upon during a period of in­
tensive work and study in consultation with the
prime users of occupational classification methods:
work done, knowledges and abilities, aptitudes,
physical demands, temperament demands, work­
ing conditions, industry, and training time.
Work is well under way in the application and
weighting of these factors to a carefully selected
sample of representative jobs, some 4,000 in
number. From this “ pilot” group of occupations
so studied there should emerge the major clusters
of like components to establish the initial sub­
divisions (first digits) in the developing structure.
This research is being carried on in consultation
with the Bureau of the Budget, the Air Forces,
the National Security Resources Board, and
several university consultants who are recognized
experts in matters of occupational classification.
Techniques and Materials

Different techniques and materials must be
used in appraising the work potentialities of ex­
perienced individuals and those possessing little
or no occupational experience. Singly or in
combination, they can be used by employment
office staff in assisting employers to identify and
resolve certain in-plant employment problems.
On a broader scale, the same materials, especially
those labor-market data which describe the avail­
ability of jobs in a given community and the
characteristics of the local work force, have sub­
stantial value to agencies or civic groups con­
cerned with employment problems and to those

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MONTHLY LABOR

planning agencies now devoting extensive study
to the development of “ full employment” pro­
grams for some of our larger urban areas.
The counseling program of the Employment
Service attempts to measure work potentialities
through the consideration and evaluation of
measurable employment qualifications other than
previous experience. It is available not only to
individuals first entering the labor market, but
also to experienced workers who because of age,
physical condition, or like reasons must select
a new occupational field. The counseling function
involves the evaluation of aptitudes, interests,
hobbies, and related nonexperiential factors.
T e sts. An essential tool in vocational
counseling is a series of reliable aptitude tests
which do not measure acquired skills but, rather,
measure the capacity to acquire such skill with
appropriate training. The tests included in the
USES General Aptitude Test Battery were devel­
oped on the principle that individual differences
exist in people’s capacity to learn given types of
work (just as in height and weight) and that they
are measurable. Measurement of these differences
provides a basis for predicting success in learning
types of work requiring such aptitudes.
In educational guidance, the measurement of
aptitudes is concerned primarily with academic
prediction. In contrast, employment counseling
is concerned with vocational prediction; therefore
the USES aptitude tests are used with occupational
rather than academic norms. The tests in use in
local offices of the State Employment Services
were developed by a staff of industrial psycholo­
gists in the national office of the United States
Employment Service. The materials developed
were subjected to extensive validation (trial)
before they were published in final form. The
occupational norms for the tests are developed by
means of cooperative test research with State
agencies and employers on samples of employed
people in various occupations.
A p t itu d e

A wide variety of supporting
tools are used in the counseling process. They
consist of interest check lists, used to explore the
applicant’s major fields of occupational interest,
and extensive labor-market materials which de­
scribe employment opportunities by occupation,

S u p p le m e n ta l T o o ls.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

USES AND WORKER UTILIZATION

by industry, and, where appropriate, by geographic
area.
In order to assure fullest coordination and coop­
eration with other community agencies perform­
ing counseling functions (schools, rehabilitation
agencies, etc.), agreements have been developed
and publicized; they spell out specific cooperative
measures and relationships between these agencies
and the public employment service. These agree­
ments invariably provide that the employment
office will make available to the cooperating agency
all occupational and labor-market materials which
indicate the requirements of jobs and their avail­
ability in the labor market.
The occupational classification structure con­
stitutes the principal tool utilized by the place­
ment interviewer in selecting workers for referral
on individual jobs. It provides for the grouping
of related jobs in adjacent sections of the occu­
pational field. Numerous mechanical aids, in
addition to the Job Families already described,
have been developed for guiding placement inter­
viewers from one section to another of our appli­
cation files as given occupational segments become
exhausted. For example, when the panel of
turret-lathe operators becomes exhausted, what
other occupational group is most likely to possess
the required skills and abilities? The several
reference materials, described in the preceding
section, which are used principally in taking a
worker’s initial application may again be utilized
in order to supplement recorded information
before final referral decisions are made.
Additional aids are available for use in place­
ment decisions involving special applicant groups.
Specifically, a series of physical demands and
capacities studies have been developed for the use
of job analysts in analyzing and recording physical
demands of jobs, and for the use of employment
interviewers and counselors in advising and plac­
ing the physically handicapped. A series of forms
have been developed with accompanying instruc­
tions for the use of employment office staff in
measuring the extent to which given physical
capacities or requirements are present in jobs.
Use of Materials

The effectiveness of the technical tools and
measures here discussed is, of course, limited by


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503

the regularity and skill with which they are used
in daily local office operations and the extent to
which employers and workers make voluntary use
of local office services.
After the employer has been pro­
vided with extensive information on the current
state of the local labor market, the employment
office may suggest to the employer a series of steps
designed to clarify the extent and nature of his
needs. It is possible that adjustments may be
effected through the transfer of workers to other
jobs requiring approximately the same level and
kind of experience or through the upgrading of
workers who have experience or apparent ability
to perform well in higher level jobs. Such pro­
grams, of course, are successful only to the extent
that the employer accepts and uses them. If
skillfully employed, they should quickly demon­
strate their value in reducing high turn-over, ab­
senteeism, poor morale, and numerous other fac­
tors which affect individual productivity and aid
in meeting needs for skills in short supply. As a
result of such technical assistance through local
employment offices, many employers have engaged
their own staff of occupational analysts to carry
these programs forward. The Employment Ser­
vice has cooperated by conducting job-analysis
clinics in many urban areas for employers inter­
ested in the installation of these techniques.
M e th o d o lo g y .

R e c e n t E x p e r ie n c e . A singular and encouraging
contrast is evident between employment-office
operations during this current period of partial
mobilization and those of the employment service
system under the War Manpower Commission in
World War II. During that earlier period, the
manpower requirements of both the military forces
and the war-supporting civilian economy mounted
swiftly to such a high level that relatively early in
the war the Employment Service became a ration­
ing rather than a manpower selection agency. It
was essential to get the needed workers quickly
into the critical war plants and essential civilian
services. Employers were so worker-hungry that
they, like the Employment Service, speedily aban­
doned refined selection criteria, and became care­
less in their utilization of workers.
The employment offices soon “ streamlined”
their daily operations. Detailed work applica-

504

USES AND WORKER UTILIZATION

tions, setting forth the applicant’s training, skills,
and experience, were abandoned. Only the physi­
cally handicapped, including physically disabled
veterans, were given desk interviews in order to
appraise their work capacities. Other workers
were simply referred from a counter to jobs in those
establishments which had been rated by manpower
priority committees as most essential. Counsel­
ing services also were abandoned except to the
extent that workers could be counseled into de­
fense jobs. The analysis of employers’ manpower
requirements became predominantly a practice of
statistical measurement, with little reference to the
manpower methods which would most effectively
meet the staffing needs. Opportunities for work­
ers to move into different jobs which would more
effectively utilize their highest skills and capacities
were discouraged by the area “ stabilization” pro­
grams. These froze workers into their jobs unless
the employer or the public employment office
would grant a certificate of availability.
Happily, none of these conditions prevails today.
The public employment service, the Nation’s
civilian manpower agency, recognizes that the
current civilian labor force can be expanded only
to a limited degree. Manpower requirements
of our defense program must be met primarily
through more effective labor utilization. As a
necessary support to the encouragement of better
utilization, the Employment Service today is
carefully safeguarding all measures which steer
workers into those jobs or occupations in which
they can contribute most significantly to our
national security. These, of course, include
careful appraisal of each worker’s skills, abilities,
training, and experience; appraisal of work


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potentialities through counseling and testing proc­
esses for those lacking significant work experience;
the use of all selection tools and occupational and
labor-market information in assisting workers to
select fields of work or to accept available jobs; and
constant skilled advice to employers on improved
means of selecting, training, and upgrading
workers.
There is a natural tendency for employers in a
tight labor market to compete for skills which
are in short supply. That competition is now
under way. Some employers are endeavoring to
stockpile these needed skills. In efforts to over­
come these tendencies, the Employment Service
Program of Industrial Services is active. For
example, the employment office brings to the
employer’s attention information and devices,
which, if properly utilized, assist him in simpli­
fying, appraising, and resolving his manpower
problems and in reducing his needs for shortage
skills to absolute minima. If we are to meet our
production goals, scarce skills must be distributed
with reasonable equity, granting the overriding
priority for preferential consideration which defense
industries and defense plants must enjoy. By
demonstrating to employers how workers of lesser
skill can perform single processes which, in com­
bination, comprise a “craft,” greater numbers of
less skilled people can be utilized with a lesser
number of craftsmen when necessary; thus, a
satisfactory production program can be achieved.
The plant utilization survey of World War II
has been replaced by today’s Industrial Services
Program which uses analysis, persuasion, and
demonstration, based on examples of other em­
ployers’ experience.

Unemployment Compensation
Legislation by
Collective Bargaining
G il b e r t Y . S t e i n e r *

U nem ploym ent
c o m p e n s a t io n
is one of the
several fields in which representatives of labor
and management in Illinois have often agreed on
the terms of legislation prior to formal enactment.
Both parties have found the “ agreed bill” a
workable and satisfactory method of achieving
limited goals. The major worker and employer
organizations are devoted to its use. The State
General Assembly gives every indication of being
willing to continue to accept and enact agreed
legislation. Administrative officials in the Divi­
sion of Unemployment Compensation find this
technique ideal for insuring stability and admin­
istrative workability.

Procedures and Participants

The agreed-bill technique has been utilized in
various fields of labor law in the State since 1911.
Although there is some evidence of discontent on
the part of elements in both groups, the process
has become institutionalized in the fields of work­
men’s compensation and occupational-disease leg­
islation, as well as unemployment compensation.
In the area of mine-safety legislation, statutory
authorization exists for the appointment of a
tripartite commission by the Governor. In prac­
tice, all mine-safety law clears through this com­
mission which regularly receives a legislative
appropriation.
Agreed-bill procedures are informal except in
♦Research Assistant Professor, University of Illinois.


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the mine-safety field, but they are firmly en­
trenched because both management and labor lead­
ers consider that individually they lack sufficient
power to enact a labor program. Thus, Illinois
State Federation of Labor (AFL) officials argue
that they could not hope to enact an occupationaldisease program over the opposition of the Il­
linois Manufacturers’ Association. Similarly, the
Manufacturers’ Association and the Federation
of Retail Associations are convinced that approval
of unemployment-compensation legislation by the
General Assembly is contingent upon Federation
of Labor support.
Five major employer associations and four
labor organizations participate in framing labor
legislation by collective bargaining.1 In ad­
dition, the Commissioner of Unemployment Com­
pensation participates in the discussions in that
field, and a representative of the Industrial
Commission works with the workmen’s compen­
sation and occupational disease committees. By
statute, the Mining Investigation Commission has
one public member, two mine-owner members,
and two employee members. Under the Il­
linois Constitution “ no bill shall become a lav
without the concurrence of a majority of the
members elected to each house.” Legislative
strength in the labor field is so balanced that
neither side can be certain of 77 affirmative rotes
in the House and 26 affirmative votes in the Senate.
Therefore, labor and employer groups frequently
find that positive action from both branches can
only be attained with active support from what
is normally the opposition.
Successful use of the agreed-bill device depends
largely on the ability of the various elements
comprising the employer interest and the labor
interest to reach agreements among themselves.
Neither is a monolithic force, and interassociation
agreement must necessarily precede agreement
between labor and management. By and large,
interassociation agreement has been maximized
when a single association has been able to take
clear leadership. Thus, legislation by collective
i The so-called “Industry Big Five” include the Illinois Manufacturers*
Association, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Federation of
Retail Associations, Associated Employers of Illinois, and the Chicago
Association of Commerce and Industry.
Participants for labor are representatives of the Illinois State Federation
of Labor (A FL), Illinois State Industrial Union Council (CIO), Progressive
Mine Workers (Ind.), and United Mine Workers (Ind.).

505

506

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

bargaining had its golden age in Illinois when
the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association was un­
challenged for leadership (and membership) by
the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and the
Illinois State Federation of Labor (AFL) was
similarly unchallenged by the Illinois Congress
of Industrial Organizations.
In the field of unemployment-compensation
legislation, the agreement process was also simpli­
fied for a long time by the fact that one particular
individual on the employer and another on the
labor side were charged with primary responsibil­
ity for negotiations. Through the years until the
deaths, the two men developed a close personal
relationship which contributed significantly to
labor-management agreement on the terms of
legislation. In addition, both men developed
special competence in the unemployment-compen­
sation field, and thereby won the respect and
support of State administrative officials and of
those members of the legislature who were espe­
cially interested in this type of legislation. Their
deaths, coupled with the fact that the Illinois
State Chamber of Commerce has started to chal­
lenge the Manufacturers’ Association in developing
an unemployment-compensation program, have
made it infinitely more difficult to attain agreed
bills.
Added to these factors, strong elements have
developed in the State CIO which will not counte­
nance the agreed-bill technique. Moreover, the
Illinois unemployment-compensation law has de­
veloped, through a succession of agreed bills, to
the point where all the open questions are basic
issues. (This situation is almost perfectly analo­
gous to the problems of collective bargaining.)
The easy issues have been considered and cleared
away; the parties have formed their impressions of
each other’s intensity of feeling on particular
issues. Either the major questions will be settled
within a reasonable period, or one party or the
other will lose patience and break off negotiations,
appeal to the General Assembly directly, and then
to the voters.
Unemployment Compensation Bills

Use of the agreed bill in the unemploymentcompensation field in Illinois has been accom­
panied by a steady development of the law. With

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MONTHLY LABOR

acceptance of the compensation principle by the
employer interest, the question of the maximum of
weekly benefit to be paid a qualified claimant has
nearly always been resolved with relative ease.
No general agreement has been endangered or even
delayed because of differences on benefit amounts
even though labor and employer participants have
often differed at certain stages of negotiation.
Moreover, the prognosis seems good because up to
the legislative session of 1951 both sides have been
willing to tie unemployment benefits to the cost of
living and to the experiences of other States. This
has meant that labor’s lower limit and the em­
ployer’s upper limit have never been too far apart.
Settlement of the question of duration of benefits
has been of much the same order. However, some
employer and labor leader^ appear to consider
that the maximum 26-week period represents a
fair limitation for some time to come. Again, the
waiting period before payment of benefits has
never been a basic point of disagreement. Labor
has pushed, fairly successfully, for a gradual
lessening of this period, and employers have given
a minimum of opposition. The present 1-week
period, reached through agreement, appears satis­
factory to both sides.
Coverage and disqualification questions have
had no such tranquil histories. As early as 1941,
an agreement dealing with extension of coverage
to employers of one or more employees was
apparently reached. However, employer spokes­
men were concluding an agreement on behalf of a
group that was not represented at the agreed-bill
conference, and the 116,000 smaller employers had
not authorized anyone to agree for them. When
these smaller employers appealed to the Illinois
General Assembly to refuse to enact the “ agree­
ment,” the employer representatives who had
negotiated with labor maintained a hands-off
attitude. (An essential element of success in the
agreed-bill technique is active support from both
sides.) Extended coverage was eliminated in the
State House of Representatives, even though a
particular point was made of the fact that none of
the employer representatives who had been party
to the agreement favored discarding it. Indeed,
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association spokesmen
subsequently issued a statement in which they
indicated they had simply misjudged the temper
of the General Assembly on this question.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

Organized employers agreed not to oppose ex­
tended coverage in 1945, but again the extension
was lost in the legislature. Subsequent labor
efforts to extend coverage through amendment of
the State law seem to have slackened, and one
labor leader sees little hope of achieving extension
except through Federal coverage of smaller em­
ployers (currently limited to employers of eight
or more employees). Extended coverage is the
sole nonadministrative point in the history of the
Illinois law on which a formal agreement had
seemingly been reached only to be rejected by the
legislature. In 1951 no agreement was arrived at
on extended coverage.
In the related field of disqualifications, agree­
ment has been even further from achievement.
The employer group has fought particularly hard
in recent years for tighter disqualification provi­
sions. Labor has opposed change with equal
vigor. Labor opposition to insistent employer
demands regarding disqualification probably ac­
counts for the failure to reach an agreed bill in
1947 or in 1949. In 1947, no substantive changes
whatever were enacted; in 1949, the agreed bill of
past years was replaced by a compromise bill.
Passage of the compromise bill was a consequence
of more independent legislative interest in this
subject than had existed for many years. Al­
though agreement on disqualification was reached
again in 1951, the bill by and large retained the
status quo. The benefit and disqualification
changes effected were not of major import.
A development of major interest in 1951 was
the introduction of a series of bills seemingly de­
signed to formalize the agreement process in a
manner akin to the utilization of the Mining In­
vestigation Commission. Although the chairman
of the House Judiciary Committee sponsored the
measures, they did not reach floor consideration
in either chamber. This seems to suggest a


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507

general reticence to extend the process formally
in the unemployment-compensation field.
Disability benefits and experience rating are two
other controversial issues that have eluded agree­
ment. Disability benefits have not even reached
the point of discussion in agreed-bill conferences
because employer spokesmen have made it plain,
informally, that agreement would be hopeless.
Experience rating has not been a subject of
labor-employer agreement since the first negotia­
tions of 1937, and the revision of 1939. Labor,
from time to time, has suggested elimination of
this feature of the law, but some evidence suggests
that this may have been a bargaining tactic de­
signed to compel concessions on other points.
Employer leaders insist that this is a point on
which agreement is impossible because the only
practical change would be elimination, to which
members of their group would refuse to subscribe.
Thus, experience rating, without being a sub­
ject of open labor-employer disagreement, is
plainly a consideration that both hold to be funda­
mental, and that is always available as an excuse
for breaking off agreed-bill discussions.
As already suggested, the issues that tend to the
nonagreement end of the scale are those that are
becoming increasingly urgent in the unemploy­
ment-compensation field: disability and coverage.
The issues that confront the negotiators tend more
and more to have a base of social and economic
theory. Ultimately, it is possible for labor and
management to agree on whether total unemploy­
ment shall be compensated with $23 or $30, if only
by compromising on $27. No such easy com­
promise is available, however, on the social and
economic desirability of benefit payments to dis­
abled employees, or the justice of affording the
same protection to an employee of a small em­
ployer as that given the employees of a large em­
ployer.

Education Through
White Collar
Workshops
T h er esa W o lfso n *

T h e chief purpose of the White Collar Workshops
sponsored by the American Labor Education
Service is to help make the white-collar worker
aware of his position in the labor force and of the
economic and social problems which he faces and
their possible solutions. Under the direction of
Eleanor G. Coit, Director of the American Labor
Education Service, White Collar Workshops con­
ducts each year (in addition to several local whitecollar conferences) a 2-week resident summer ses­
sion attended by from 30 to 40 men and women
white-collar workers from various sections of the
country.1
Many of the students who at some time partici­
pated in the resident session of the Workshops
have become local leaders in their own tradeunions or active in local organizations which stress
the importance of community action and plan the
dissemination of economic and political informa­
tion. Former students have participated in es­
tablishing the educational work of a number of
white-collar unions.
Changing economic problems during two World
Wars and the ensuing periods, as well as the in­
creasing mechanization of industry, resulted in an
ever-rising percentage of white-collar workers in
•Chairman, Board of Directors, White Collar Workshops, and Professor

fEconomics, Brooklyn College.
1 This is the fourth in a series of articles on worker education; the earlier
contributions appeared in the M onthly Labor Review for November 1951
(p. 529), February 1952 (p. 140), and April 1952 (p. 395).

508

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the labor force. White-collar workers, although
they are frequently characterized as semiskilled,
include an increasingly large number of highschool and college graduates. This group con­
sciously separates itself from the organized labor
movement because of psychological and educa­
tional factors. Its members are generally in the
lower-income brackets, and, by and large, are
relatively inarticulate economically and politically.
An occasional evaluation of the strong and weak
features of the summer school is obtained by
sending out questionnaires to former students.
Answers to the 1950 questionnaire indicated
almost unanimous agreement that the best thing
about the school was the informal and easy manner
in which the classes were conducted, the team
work of the instructors, and the “ bull sessions”
that lasted long after classes. Men and women,
who later became active in union educational
programs for white-collar workers, were quick to
subscribe to the value of “ bull sessions.” The
exchange of attitudes and points of view between
students coming from all over the United States
and even from foreign countries was a most
stimulating experience to many students. It is
astonishing how much can be accomplished within
the short period of 2 weeks.
From its beginning, of course, the school has
included students of all creeds and colors. Work­
ers from different sections of the country learned
to study, play, and live together for a period of 2
weeks in the summer. A continuing attempt has
been made to discuss as frankly as possible the
origin of prejudices. Undoubtedly a more positive
change of attitude on this subject has arisen from
the fact that the students lived together, studied
together, and discussed their problems together
long after classroom hours.
History of the Program

The first school, held on the campus of Oberlin
College in Ohio, was attended by 33 women from
15 cities. Of these women, only three belonged
to a trade-union. In spite of the depression,
suspicion existed on the part of many of the
students that unemployment could be attributed
to the individual, and that it was a mark of his
personal inadequacy. Therefore, the school pro­
vided an experience in working with students who

WHITE COLLAR WORKSHOPS

were prejudiced against collective economic action
and who felt a rather strong opposition to union
organization.
Each summer the membership of the Summer
School for Office Workers (the original title of the
White Collar Workshops) changed as the student
body reflected the growth of the union movement.
When the National Labor Relations (Wagner)
Act gave encouragement to unionism, more whitecollar workers joined unions and the conflict be­
tween the middle-class aspirations of white-collar
workers and the school’s purpose of awakening
a trade-union consciousness was lessened. The
scope of the Workshop program gradually wid­
ened to cover white-collar groups other than office
workers, such as teachers, social workers, tele­
phone workers, and others. As the Congress of
Industrial Organizations unions emerged, the
school strove to maintain a balance of workers
from the American Federation of Labor and CIO
unions in its student body. It was also opened
to men, and is interested in having an equal num­
ber of men and women students.
In addition to students from AFL and CIO
white-collar unions, the school has included in
recent years white-collar workers organized in
separate locals within industrial unions. Indus­
trial unions believe that white-collar workers of
the automobile, steel, and rubber industries are
workers, like their own production workers, and
should be a part of the industrial unions. The
white-collar workers, partly because of their edu­
cational training and partly because of the general
social climate, have not always accepted the
thesis that their interests are similar to those of
the worker on the belt line or in the production
plant. Frequently, these white-collar workers are
inactive, dues-paying members, who take little
part in union activities. Such students con­
stitute a real challenge to the school’s educational
program.
The Student Body

Effective workers’ education implies a continu­
ous interest and curiosity on the part of students
in community problems. One of the standards
which the recruiting committee of White Collar
Workshops applies is that the student be con­


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

509

sciously interested in his own economic and social
problems, and that he be willing to assume some
leadership responsibility in his own local com­
munity, whether in a club, union, or political
organization. In effect, therefore, the staff has
had the problem of recruiting students who would
be willing to use the information which they
acquired at the summer session.
Students are recommended by the organization
to which they belong or by a local recruiting com­
mittee; all applications are passed upon by a
National Admissions Committee, which attempts
to see that the student body each year has a good
balance in regard to geographic regions, organi­
zations, and types of jobs represented.
The budget is meager, and the support of the
program depends upon a number of groups. The
students are financed through scholarships raised
partly by the volunteer committees, partly by
the organizations from which the students come,
and partly by the national office of the school.
White-collar unions send students either on partial
or full scholarships. Recently, White Collar
Workshops has had among its students a number
from various foreign countries who have come to
study the American labor movement and par­
ticularly its educational work. Some of these
visitors were non-Caucasians. Their contribu­
tion to the richness of the curriculum has been
invaluable.
The Workshop Program

White Collar Workshops has adopted a funda­
mental curriculum which stresses the interrela­
tionship of economics, psychology, and sociology.
The fact that so many white-collar students are
politically apathetic and live in a world of
“dreams” is evident in the discussions. Lack
of realism seems to be much more characteristic
of the white-collar workers than of industrial
workers. The latter have accepted themselves
as a part of the labor force and have long since
abandoned the hope of becoming entrepreneurs.
Probably one of the most interesting discus­
sions in the Workshops sessions is that which has
to do with probing the peculiar psychology of the
white-collar workers—the snobbishness and the
tendency to look down upon the dirty overalls of

510

WHITE COLLAR WORKSHOPS

the production worker. It seems to be a mark of
progress for factory workers to be able to say that
their children have received an '‘education” and
are performing white-collar jobs. One of the
characteristics of this class distinction, brought
out in these sessions, is that it is not reflected in
wages and salaries. It is fundamentally "psychic”
in its reward.
In addition to the morning discussions attended
by the whole student body, an important part of
the school program has come to be the afternoon
"how-to-do” workshops. At these sessions, small
groups of white-collar union members work to­
gether, under experienced leaders, in developing
skills for carrying on union activities more effec­
tively. Workshops are held, for example, in
grievance procedure, public relations, legislation,
and union education.
Teaching techniques found effective in workers’
education among industrial workers were adapted
to the white-collar group. Essentially the philos­
ophy behind these techniques is based upon the
need for intelligent and democratic participation
in the economic, political, and social life; the
method used has emphasized informal group dis­
cussions, based on the actual experience of the
adult worker-student and oriented toward the
problems they face in their unions and in their
communities.
The faculty has experimented with material and
with methods of teaching which would induce the
participants of the Workshops to talk freely about
themselves, their gripes, their work situations,
and their aspirations. To obtain a faculty which
is familiar with this sort of approach is by no
means easy. The most effective instructors are
those men and women who are oriented to the
labor movement, who have had training in human
relations or social psychology, who recognize the
value of the discussion method, and who are es­
sentially democratic. They must be able to
forego "prima donna” methods and accept the
group discussion process.


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Operating Problems

The problem of securing a school site, which is
located where people are sympathetic to the labor
movement, which is sufficiently inexpensive to
permit workers to spend their 2-week vacation,
and which, at the same time, provides facilities
for study and recreation, has been very difficult.
There must be access to a library and to a com­
munity which makes possible close contact with
the labor movement. Sometimes, in spite of
careful planning, local custom is a challenge to the
school’s principles. For example, the Workshop
was once held in a suburban community having a
large beach frontage on a lake, but the existing
color prejudice made it difficult for the school to
function according to its democratic philosophy.
In this instance, the students voluntarily refused
to use the beach until it was established that they
could do so without discrimination.
The problem, too, of securing the cooperation
of national and local unions to provide scholar­
ships or special help for special students is real.
Workers’ education in the United States has had
a long history in unions of industrial workers, but
it is a more difficult matter with white-collar
unions. White-collar workers are white-collar
workers because they have had "an education.”
Consequently it is difficult for some white-collar
union leaders and leaders of other white-collar
organizations to sense the need of workers’ ed­
ucation and to understand that the classroom
education of the ordinary secondary school, or
even college, is not always pertinent to the special
problems which the white-collar workers must
face on the job. On the other hand, various whitecollar unions cooperate with the Workshops and
in some cases have called upon the American
Labor Education Service to cooperate in develop­
ing their own educational programs.
White Collar Workshops is looking forward to
its twentieth session, to be held at Pendle Hill, out­
side Philadelphia, from July 27 to August 11, 1952.

Summaries of Studies and Reports

Analysis of
Work Stoppages During 1951
No long Nation-wide or industry-wide strikes oc­
curred during 1951 and, in general, stoppages in
1951 were somewhat shorter than in earlier post­
war years. Consequently, total idleness caused
by such stoppages dropped to 22,900,000 mandays—the lowest point since 1944. Average
strike duration during the year was 17.4 days,
compared with 21.8 to 25.6 days during the years
1946-1949 and 19.2 days in 1950. The 4,737 1
work stoppages beginning in 1951 were only
slightly fewer than the 4,843 recorded in 1950.
The number of strikes recorded in 1951 has been
exceeded in only 5 years (1937, 1944-46, and
1950) since 1916. (See table 1.) Total workers
involved in 1951 stoppages—2,220,000—was lower
than in most other years since World War II.2
Nineteen stoppages in which 10,000 or more
workers took part began in 1951 (table 2). The
corresponding number in earlier postwar years
varied from 15 to 31. These stoppages in 1951
directly idled approximately half a million workers
and accounted for almost 6 million man-days of
idleness—a fifth of the total number of workers
and a fourth of man-days of idleness involved in
strikes of all sizes. These proportions were well
below comparable figures for any earlier postwar
year when the large stoppages accounted for at
least half of the man-days of idleness in all strikes
and lock-outs.
Organized labor’s demands for increased wages
and related benefits were the predominant causes
of strikes in 1951, as in 1950. However, the
restraints established by Federal wage stabilization
policies, as in World War II, caused a shift from
demands for higher wage rates to demands for
“fringe” adjustments (e. g. vacation and holiday
pay, shift differentials, and overtime pay). In


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1950, 462 stoppages (9.5 percent of all strikes)
occurred over these issues; in 1951, 647 stoppages
(13.7 percent of the total) were in this group. The
number of workers involved also increased from
245,000 to 383,000. Pensions and/or socialinsurance proposals, which were important strike
issues during 1949 and the first 6 months of 1950,
caused only a minor proportion of total strike
activity in 1951.
WSB-Certified Disputes

The Wage Stabilization Board was given
limited jurisdiction in labor disputes by Executive
Order 10233 issued by the President on April 21,
1951. The Board was authorized to investigate
and recommend settlement in any dispute which
was not resolved by collective bargaining or by
the prior full use of mediation and conciliation
facilities, and which threatened to interrupt work
affecting the national defense where (1) the parties
jointly agreed to submit the dispute to the Board;
or (2) the President was of the opinion that the
dispute substantially threatened the progress of
national defense and referred it to the Board.
Binding decisions were authorized only if agreed
upon by the parties in advance.
During 1951, the President certified to the
Board five important labor disputes in which there
had been work stoppages: American Smelting and
Refining Co. and the United Steelworkers (CIO) ;
copper and other nonferrous metals companies
and the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (Ind.);
and Borg-Warner Corp., Douglas Aircraft Co.,
1 All known work stoppages arising out of labor-management disputes,
involving six or more workers and continuing a full day or shift or longer
are included in this report. Figures on “workers involved” and “man-days
idle” cover all workers made idle for one shift or longer in establishments
directly involved in these stoppages. They do not measure the indirect or
secondary effects on other establishments or industries whose employees are
made idle as a result of material or service shortages.
» A forthcoming bulletin will contain more complete data on stoppages
during 1951.

511

512

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951
T able
Work stop­
pages

Year
N um ­
ber

1 .— Work stoppages in the United States, 1916-51

Workers in­
volved 1

W o r k s to p ­
p a g es

Man-days idle

Aver­
Percent
age
um ­ of esti­
Per
dura­ N um ­ Percent Nber
mated worker
ber
of
total
tion
total
em­
(thou­
in­
(thou­
(calen­ sands)*
ployed 4 sands) work­
volved
dar
ing
d a y s)7
time 8

1916__________
1917__________
1918...................1919__________
1920__________
1921__________

3,789
4,450
3,353
3,630
3,411
2,385

(6)
«
(«)
(8)
(«)
(«)

1,600
1,230
1,240
4,160
1,460
1,100

8.4
6.3
6.2
20.8
7.2
6.4

(')
(8)
(«)
(0)
(8)
(8)

1922.....................
1923__________
1924__________
1925_____ ____
1926__________
1927...................

1,112
1,553
1,249
1,301
1,035
707

(9)
(8)
e>)
(»)
(«)
26.5

1,610
757
655
428
330
330

8.7
3.5
3.1
2.0
1.5
1.4

1928__________
1929__________
1930__________
1931_____ ____
1932.....................
1933........... .........

604
921
637
810
841
1,695

27.6
22.6
22.3
18. 8
19.6
16.9

314
289
183
342
324
1,170

1.3
1.2
.8
1.6
1 .8

6.3

MONTHLY LABOR

Y ear
N um ­
b er

W o rk er s in ­
v o lv e d 1

M a n -d a y s id le

A ver­
age
N u m ­ Percent N u m ­
dura­
b er
of to ta l
b er
tio n
( th o u ­
( th o u ­
em ­
(c a le n ­
sa n d s) 8 p lo y e d 4 s a n d s)
dar
d a y s ,8

P ercen t
of e s ti­
Per
m a te d
w o rk er
to ta l
in ­
w ork­
v o lv e d
in g
t im e 8

(8)
(8)
(8)
(»)
(8)
(8)

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)

1934____________
1935_____ _____ _
1936.........................
1937____________
1938____________
1939_____ _____ _

1,856
2,014
2,172
4, 740
2,7 7 2
2,6 1 3

1 9 .5
2 3 .8
2 3 .3
2 0 .3
2 3 .6
2 3 .4

1,470
1,120
789
1,860
688
1,170

7 .2
5 .2
3 .1
7 .2
2 .8
4 .7

19,600
15,500
13,900
28,400
9,1 5 0
17,800

.3 8
.2 9
.2 1
.4 3
.1 5
.2 8

13.4
13.8
17.6
15.3
13.3
1 5 .2

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
26,200

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
0.37

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
79.5

1940.........................
1941____________
1942........................
1 9 4 3 . . . . ................
1944____________
1945____________

2,508
4,2 8 8
2,968
3, 752
4,9 5 6
4,7 5 0

2 0 .9
1 8 .3
1 1 .7
5 .0
5 .6
9 .9

577
2,360
840
1,980
2,120
3,4 7 0

2 .3
8 .4
2 .8
6 .9
7 .0
12 .2

6,7 0 0
23,000
4,180
13,500
8, 720
38,000

.1 0
.3 2
.0 5
.1 5
.0 9
.4 7

11.6
9 .8
5 .0
6 .8
4.1

12,600
5,350
3,320
6,890
10,500
16,900

.17
.07
.05

40.2
18.5
18.1
20. 2
32.4
14.4

1946____________
1947______ _____
1948____________
1949____________
1950 ' __________
1951 7_ ...................

4,985
3,6 9 3
3,4 1 9
3,6 0 6
4,8 4 3
4, 737

2 4 .2
2 5 .6
2 1 .8
22.5
19 .2
1 7 .4

4,6 0 0
2,170
1,960
3,0 3 0
2.410
2,220

1 4 .5
6 .5
5 .5
9 .0
6 .9
5 .5

116,000
34,600
34.100
50, 500
38,800
22,900

1 .4 3
.41
.3 7
.5 9
.4 4
.2 3

2 5 .2
15.9
17.4
16.7
16.1
10.3

.

11

.23
.36

11.0

1 Information on number of workers involved in some strikes occurring
between 1916 and 1926 is not available. However, the missing information
is for the smaller disputes, and it is believed that the totals given here are
fairly accurate.
8 Figures are simple averages; each strike is given equal weight regardless
of its size.
8 Figures include duplicate counting where workers were involved in more
than one stoppage during the year. This is particularly significant for 1949
when 365.000 to 400,000 miners were out on 3 distinct occasions, thus account­
ing for 1,150.000 of a total of 3,030,000 workers.
4 “Total employed workers” :
F or 1927-60 refers to all workers (based on nonagricultural employment
reported by the Bureau) except those in occupations 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 unlikely. It excludes all self-employed, domestic workers, workers
on farms employing fewer than 6 persons, all Federal and State government
employees, and the officials, both elected and appointed, in local govern­
ments.

In 1951 the concept of “total employed workers” was changed to coincide
with the Bureau’s figures of nonagricultural employment (excluding Govemment) but not excluding workers in certain occupational groups as in
earlier years. Tests show that the percentage of total idleness computed
on the basis of these new figures usually differs by less than one-tenth of a
point while the percent age of workers idle differs by about 0.5 or 0.6 of a point.
For example, the percentage of workers idle during 1950 computed on the
same base as the figures for earlier years is 6.9 and the percent of idleness is
0.44 compared with 6.3 and 0.40 respectively computed on the new base.
8 For each year, “estimated working time” was computed for purposes of
this table by multiplying the average number of employed workers (see
footnote 4) by the number of days worked by most employees. This num­
ber excludes Saturdays when customarily not worked, Sundays, and
established holidays.
8 N ot available.
7 Beginning in mid-1950, a new source of strike "leads" was added. It is
estimated that this increased the number of strikes reported in 1950 by per­
haps 5 percent and in 1951 by approximately 10 percent. However, since
most of the added stoppages were small, they increased the number of work­
ers involved and man-days of idleness by less than 2 percent in 1950 and by
less than 3 percent in 1951.

and Wright Aeronautical Corp. each with the
United Automobile Workers (CIO).3

ment of the dispute were accepted by the parties
in September. The Board recommended an 8-cent
hourly wage increase and suggested that the other
issues be resolved through collective bargaining.
Subsequently all issues were settled through nego­
tiation except the amount of increment between
19 labor grades established by the parties. In
accordance with the parties’ joint request that it
resolve the remaining issue, the Board, on October
19, recommended an increment of 3 / cents an hour.
The total estimated average increase amounted to
10 cents an hour.

American Smelting and Refining Co. A strike
called on July 2 by the United Steelworkers of
America (CIO) at the American Smelting and
Refining Company’s Garfield, Utah, plant idled
about 1,300 workers engaged in refining copper
and producing sulphuric acid, both important
for defense production. It involved union pro­
posals for a new contract providing a general
wage increase, a job evaluation program, a union
shop, and other benefits.
Workers returned to their jobs after the Presi­
dent certified the dispute to the WSB on July 26.
Initial recommendations by the Board for settle8 Three threatened strikes were averted or postponed after the President
certified the disputes to the Board. These involved copper and brass fab­
ricators and l TAW (CIO) (cert. Sept. 24,1951); basic steel industry and Steel­
workers (CIO) (cert. Dec. 22, 1951); and Boeing Airplane Co. and Inter­
national Association of M achinists (AFL) (cert. D ec. 28,1951).


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Copper and Other Nonferrous-Metals Companies.
Mining, milling, smelting, and refining of copper
and other nonferrous metals were seriously affected
by an industry-wide strike by the International
Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (Ind.)
beginning on August 27. Workers affiliated with
several AFL unions and two independent railroad

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

brotherhoods were also concerned with the dis­
puted issues but did not directly participate in the
strike. Approximately 40,000 workers were made
idle as a result of the dispute over the unions’
proposals involving wages, pensions, and other
benefits.
The dispute was certified to the WSB on the
first day of the walk-out. When union leaders
rejected the Board’s request for a return to work,
the President invoked the national emergency
strike procedures of the Labor Management Rela­
tions (Taft-Hartley) Act and appointed a board
of inquiry to report on the issues.
The dispute was partly settled the next day
(August 31) when the Kennecott Copper Corp.,
largest producer in the industry, reached a 1-year
agreement, retroactive to July 1, 1951. The con­
tract provided an across-the-board wage increase
of 8 cents an hour, an average increase of 7 cents
an hour for job-rate reclassifications, and a com­
pany-paid pension plan estimated to cost 4 % cents
an hour. The settlement was rejected by the
three other major firms in the industry—Phelps
Dodge Corp., American Smelting & Refining Co.,
and Anaconda Copper Mining Co.
The board of inquiry reported on September 4
that, notwithstanding the Kennecott resumption
of work, the continuation of the strike was causing
or aggravating critical shortages of materials vital
to both the defense program and the civilian
economy. Accordingly, the President directed the
Attorney General to seek a court injunction to
halt the strike. A temporary court restraining
order was issued on September 5 ordering an
immediate resumption of work and directing the
companies involved in the dispute to begin imme­
diate collective bargaining with their employees.
Most of the workers returned to their jobs by
September 7.
Agreements that were closely similar to the
Kennecott settlement were subsequently reached
with the Phelps Dodge Corp. and the American
Smelting & Refining Co. several weeks after the
strike ended. By early November, contracts had
also been negotiated with the Anaconda Copper
Mining Co. and virtually all of the smaller firms
involved in the dispute.4
A 4-week strike at the BorgWarner Corp., beginning on October 9, idled
approximately 6,500 workers in plants in 5 States.
B o r g -W a r n e r .


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518

T able 2.— Work stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers,

in selected periods

Stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers
Workers involved
Period

1935-39 aver­
a g e .............
1941..................
1946............... .
1947............
1948.................
1949_________
1950................ .
1951..................

N um ­
ber

Percent
of total
for
period

11
29
31
15
20
18
22
19

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

N um ­
ber «

365,000
1,070,000
2,920,000
1,030,000
870,000
1,920,000
738,000
457,000

Percent
of total
for
period

32.4
45.3
63.6
47.5
44.5
63.2
30.7
20.6

Man-days idle

N um ­
ber

5,290,000
9,340.000
66, 400,000
17, 700,000
18.900,000
34,900,000
21,700,000
5,680,000

Percent
of total
for
period

31.2
40.5
57.2
51.2
65.3
69.0
56.0
24.8

1 Number of workers includes duplicate counting where workers were
involved in more than 1 stoppage during tho year. This is particularly
significant for 1949 when 36.1,000 to 400,000 miners were out on 3 separate
occasions; they comprised 1,150,000 of the total of 3,030,000 workers for the
country as a whole (table 1).

The principal issue was a proposal by the United
Automobile Workers (CIO) for the negotiation of
a corporation-wide agreement providing wage
increases, insurance, hospitalization, pension, and
other benefits to replace existing individual plant
contracts. In his certification of the dispute to
the WSB on October 10, the President declared
the strike to be a substantial threat to defense pro­
duction. However, the union urged the President
to reconsider the certification; it rejected the
Board’s request for termination of the strike,
claiming that only a minor portion of the com­
pany’s output involved military items. The
President rejected the union’s appeal. Following
a second request by the Board for a resumption
of production, workers approved a recommenda­
tion of the union’s policy committee for a “recess”
of the strike, pending consideration of the issues
by the Board. By November 5, most of the
workers had returned to their jobs.
A strike called by the United
Automobile Workers (CIO) at the Long Beach,
Calif., plant of the Douglas Aircraft Co.,5 manu­
facturer of military transport planes, caused idle-

A i r c r a f t C o m p a n ie s .

< General wage increases and job-rate revisions provided in the Kennecott,
Phelps Dodge, and Anaconda agreements were approved by the W SB in
December 1951, thus setting the pattern for approval of agreements submitted
by the smaller firms. The same general wage increase provided in the
American Smelting and Refining Co. agreement was approved, but consid­
eration of job-rate adjustments and other fringe-benefit provisions was post­
poned for further study. Action was deferred on pension-plan provisions
agreed upon by some of the companies, pending W SB policy developments.
* The company’s three plants at Long Beach, Santa Monica, and El Segundo were also affected by strike idleness of some 300 members of the United
Aircraft Welders’ Union (Ind.).

514

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

ness of approximately 10,000 production and
maintenance workers beginning September 5.
The union’s new contract proposals included a
general wage increase, part of which was to be
retroactive, a union shop, a company-financed
pension plan, and other benefits.
Starting September 26, about 10,000 UAW pro­
duction workers also walked out at the Wood
Ridge and Garfield, N. J., jet engine plants of the
Wright Aeronautical Corp. Major issues in­
cluded a general wage increase, a pension plan,
an improved social-insurance “package,” and
increased vacation pay. An additional several
thousand UAW white-collar members observed
picket lines.
The disputes were certified by the President to
the WSB on October 12. Workers voted on
October 18 to return to their jobs following a
recommendation by the union that the strikes be
“recessed” pending the Board’s consideration of
the disputes.
In the Douglas dispute, the Board in February
1952, recommended wage adjustments averaging
25 cents an hour and retroactive in part, a cost-ofliving escalator clause agreed upon by the parties,
and other benefits. Action on the question of a
union shop, one of the principal issues in the dis­
pute, was postponed for later consideration.
Terms for settlement of the Wright dispute were
recommended by the Board in March 1952. On
the question of hourly wages, it recommended a
general increase of 12 cents and, in addition, ad­
justments in the top four labor grades averaging
2.4 cents for all employees.
“ National Emergency” Disputes 6

The national emergency strike provisions of
the Labor Management Relations Act were in­
voked only once during 1951 7 in connection with
the Nation-wide strike affecting copper and other
nonferrous metals companies (described under
WSB-certified disputes, above).
In the railroad industry, a strike by the Brother• Labor-management disputes, designated as “national emergency” dis­
putes are: (1) those specified in the Labor Management Relations Act as
imperiling the “national health-and safety” and (2) those designated under
the Railway Labor Act “which threaten substantially to interrupt inter­
state commerce to a degree such as to deprive any section of the country of
essential transportation service.”
1 1n 1950, the emergency provisions were utilized in the prolonged 1949-50
bituminous-coal dispute. There was no resort to this machinery in 1949; in
1948, it was invoked on seven occasions, four of which involved strikes.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR

hood of Railroad Trainmen (Ind.) idled approxi­
mately 70,000 workers early in 1951. In the
background of the controversy were negotiations
that began in 1949 8 and involved proposals by the
Trainmen and other unions of operating employees
for the establishment of a 40-hour workweek at
48-hours’ pay for yardmen as well as changes in
work rules. The protracted negotiations had
been accompanied by the unions’ rejection of
emergency board recommendations for settlement
of the dispute and by the seizure of the railroads
by the Government on August 27, 1950, to avert
a country-wide strike threatened by the Trainmen
and Conductors. Unrest over the long-deferred
settlement led to scattered brief walk-outs by the
Trainmen in mid-December 1950. Renewed me­
diation efforts resulted in a tentative agreement
on December 21 with representatives of the
Trainmen, Conductors, Engineers, and Firemen
and Enginemen but it was rejected by the unions’
general chairmen.
The dispute flared again in 1951 when several
thousand yard members of the Trainmen’s Union
reported sick and did not report for duty in
several eastern and midwestern cities on January
30. The unauthorized strike spread to other key
railroad centers and by February 3 it had reached
Nation-wide proportions. As the strike con­
tinued, the Federal Government obtained court
orders requiring the union to show cause why it
should not be ruled in contempt of court-restrain­
ing orders issued during the December 1950
strike.9 Appeals for an end to the strike by
President Truman, the union’s president, and the
Director of Defense Mobilization were followed
on February 6 by the start of a back-to-work
movement in several eastern cities. However, the
walk-out continued elsewhere and spread to addi­
tional cities.
On February 8, the Army issued an order,
authorized by President Truman, directing all
striking railroad workers to return to their jobs
by 4 p. m. on February 10 under penalty of dis­
missal, with consequent loss of all seniority rights.
The action was taken on the grounds that “ inter­
ference with essential military and civilian railroad
transportation . . . is intolerable in an emer8 See Work Stoppages in 1950, M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1951 (p. 514).
» Fines totaling $101,000 were imposed by Federal District Courts in Chi­
cago, Washington, D . C., and Cleveland after the union pleaded guilty to
the Government’s contempt charges.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

gency.” Pending the negotiation of a final
settlement, the directive also provided interim
hourly wage increases of \2 % cents for yardmen
and yardmasters and 5 cents for road-service
employees represented by the four operating
unions, retroactive to October 1, 1950. The
workers complied with the order and negotiations
were resumed.10

515

Work Stoppages, by Percent of Y ear’s Stoppages
Beginning Each Month

Monthly Trend— Leading Stoppages

The year began with 151 stoppages continuing
from earlier years. Since these were generally
small, and localized, they accounted for a very
small percentage of the total man-days of idleness
in 1951.
The 1,144 new strikes beginning in the first 3
months is the highest number ever recorded for
comparable quarters in previous years. However,
man-days of idleness in the first quarter were
only a third as numerous as in the first 3 months of
1950 when an industry-wide coal strike and the
protracted Chrysler strike were in progress.
Strike activity in the second quarter of 1951
increased slightly in terms of number of new
strikes and man-days of idleness, compared with
the first quarter totals. Only three large strikes
occurred in the second quarter, of which the pro­
tracted cotton and rayon textile stoppage in the
South accounted for almost a fourth of all strike
idleness during this period.
Strike incidence and idleness rose to the highest
levels in the third quarter of the year, when almost
a third of the year’s totals occurred. Six stop­
pages involving 10,000 or more workers began in
this period. Following the usual seasonal pat­
tern, the number of new strikes dropped to the
year’s lowest level in the last quarter of the year.
Idleness in this quarter was the second lowest of
the year despite the comparatively large number
of strikes in October. (See chart and table 3.)
i* A settlement reached on M ay 25, 1951, provided over-all hourly wage
Increases of 33 cents for yardmen and 18H cents for road-service employees,
including the interim hourly wage adjustments ordered by the Army’s
directive of February 8. Agreement v as reached, in principle, on a 40-hour
workweek for yardmen, but its inauguration was deferred until after January
1, 1952, because of manpower shortages. The parties further agreed to subm it two controversial w ork rules to arbitration, to place a 3-year moratorium,
effective October 1, 1950, on proposals for other wage and rule changes, and
to discuss the question of annual improvement wage increases after July 1,
1952. The Wage Stabilization Board approved the general wage increases
on June 12, under its base-date abnormality policy, “ in the light of the lengthy
and complex negotiation procedures provided by law for the railroad in­
dustry.”


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The only major strike that began in January
involved 70,000 railroad workers across the
Nation (see p. 514). It involved more workers
than any other stoppage during the year.
The leading stoppage beginning in February
involved 48,000 employees of woolen and worsted
mills in 11 Eastern States. It began February 16
after wage negotiations between the American
Woolen Co. and the Textile Workers Union
(CIO) became deadlocked. A partial settlement
was reached on March 13 when the union and the
company agreed on a 1-year contract providing
for a 12-cent hourly wage increase, an escalator
clause, severance pay, and increased insurance
benefits. Other companies involved in the stop­
page generally accepted this pattern of settlement.
A majority of the struck mills reopened March
19, but some did not reopen until late March or
April.
Two other large stoppages that began in Febru­
ary brought idleness to 28,000 coal miners in
Bluefield and Northern West Virginia and 18,000
employees of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad

516

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

T able 3.— Monthly trends in work stoppages, 1950 and 1951
Workers involved in
stoppages
Number of
stoppages
In effect
during month
Month

Man-days idle
during
month

Begin­
ning in
Percent
Per­
month
esti­
um ­ cent of N um ­ of
Begin­
In
(thou­ Nber
mated
total
ning
effect sands)
ber working
during
em ­
(thou­
in
(thou­ time of
sands) ployed 1 sands) all
month month
work­
ers *

I960

January.............
February..........
March________
April..................
M ay_________
June_________
Ju ly.......... .........
August______
September____
October---------Novem ber........
December.........

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
291.0
508.0
373.0
389.0
441.0
450.0
330.0
308.0
114.0

0.93
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

0.40
1.39
.51
.49
.44
.34
.39
.32
.48
.32
.27
.12

442
347
355
367
440
396
4,50
505
457
487
305
186

593
548
537
540
621
615
644
727
693
728
521
357

237.0
186.0
120.0
163. 0
166.0
194.0
284.0
213.0
215. 0
248.0
84.0
81.5

260.0
322.0
230.0
222.0
249.0
261.0
345.0
314.0
340.0
365.0
191.0
130.0

.66
.82
.58
.56
.62
.65
.86
.78
.84
.90
.47
.32

1. 270
1,940
1,710
1,890
1, 820
1,800
1,880
2,640
2.540
2.790
1.610
1,020

.15
.26
.20
.23
.21
.21
.22
.28
.33
.30
.19
.13

1951

January______
February_____
March______
A pril_____ _
M ay...................
June_________
Ju ly.............. —
A ugust_______
September____
October______
November____
December____

* Pee footnote 4, table 1.
* See footnote 5, table 1.

Co. in Alabama. The 7-day miners' strike in
West Virginia was called to protest a bill in the
State Legislature legalizing safety inspections by
mine-section foremen. The 13-day Alabama stop­
page ended with an agreement by the parties to
resolve job classification and seniority issues after
the resumption of work.
Brief strikes involving 10,500 workers at tex­
tile mills in Fall River, Mass., and vicinity, and
14,000 Westinghouse Electric Corp. employees at
East Pittsburgh, Pa., were the largest beginning
in March. A wage dispute led to the 2-day
textile strike. The suspension of a union steward
for alleged insubordination caused the 5-day
Westinghouse stoppage.
The strike involving 40,000 workers represented
by the Textile Workers Union (CIO) began on
April 1 at cotton and rayon mills in 7 Southeastern
States as the result of a wage dispute. The policy
committee of the union, on May 5, recommended
termination of the stoppage, in complying with a
request from the director of the Federal Mediation
and Conciliation Service. By mid-May, a major­

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MONTHLY LABOR

ity of the workers had returned to their jobs;
others resumed work during late May, June, and
July.
About 21,000 garment workers, members of the
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union
(AFL) in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
and eastern Pennsylvania stopped work for 2 days
in June. Work was resumed on June 14, after an
agreement was reached on “equitable distribu­
tion” of work among contract shops in New York
and nearby areas; conversion from weekly wages
to piece rates in some “section-work” shops; in­
creased minimum wage scales to reflect actual
rates being paid; and increased health and vacation
benefits.
An 11-day strike in June idled approximately
15.000 maritime workers on the East, West, and
Gulf coasts. Three CIO maritime unions—the
National Maritime Union, Marine Engineers'
Beneficial Association, and American Radio Asso­
ciation—called this strike to enforce their demands
for wage increases and a shorter basic workweek.
Only dry cargo vessels carrying nondefense mate­
rials were affected.
In late July, 24,000 Caterpillar Tractor Co. em­
ployees at East Peoria, 111., began a strike to sup­
port their wage demands. This stoppage contin­
ued until the end of September, when members
of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) ratified
an agreement providing a general wage increase
and a cost-of-living escalator clause. The other
large strikes that occurred in July were relatively
brief: 27,000 employees of Chrysler Corp. in
Detroit, Mich, stopped work because of alleged
production line speed-ups; and 12,000 Jones and
Laughlin Steel Corp. employees in Aliquippa, Pa.,
were idled following the dismissal of a worker for
alleged sleeping on the job.
The only major strike beginning in August in­
volved about 40,000 employees of copper and other
nonferrous metal mines, mills, and smelters. (See
WSB-certified disputes, p. 512.)
The two largest September strikes involved
10.000 Douglas Aircraft Co. employees in California
and 13,000 workers in the Garfield and WoodRidge, N. J., plants of Wright Aeronautical Corp.
(See WSB-certified disputes, p. 512.)
The largest of the four major stoppages in Octo­
ber lasted 21 days and involved 25,000 employees
of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co.
in the Birmingham, Ala., area. In this wildcat

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

strike members of the United Steelworkers (CIO)
protested against the lay-off of “extra men.” In
another October strike, steel production was also
affected by an 8-day stoppage of 14,500 employees
of the Inland Steel Co. at East Chicago, Ind. It
ended with an agreement to submit an incentivepay dispute to arbitration.
A longshoremen’s strike that started in October
in the New York-New Jersey and Boston ports
disrupted shipping on the East Coast. It was
called by several insurgent locals after they had
refused to ratify a 2-year contract reached early
in the month by the International Longshoremen’s
Union (AFL) and shipping and stevedoring firms.
On November 9, a majority of the 17,000 striking
longshoremen returned to their jobs at the request
of a Board of Inquiry appointed by the New York
State Industrial Commissioner.
The shortest large strike of the year was a
1-day stoppage in October by 14,000 employees of
milk dealers in New York City, New Jersey, and
Connecticut. It was settled when the Inter­
national Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs
and Warehousemen (AFL) and the employers
agreed on a $10-a-week wage increase and a 2-cent
hourly increase in the employers’ contribution to
a welfare trust fund.
None of the strikes that began in November or
December involved as many as 10,000 workers,
and none of the large strikes that began in prior
months continued into December.
Major Issues Involved

Monetary issues (wages, hours, pensions, social
insurance, and other fringe benefits) accounted
for the largest proportion of strikes, of total
workers involved, and of man-days of idleness in
1951 as in, other recent years. These were the
principal issues in more than 40 percent of all
strikes; they accounted for over half of all workers
involved and more than 60 percent of the total
strike idleness. (See table 4.)
The number of *stoppages in which pensions
and/or insurance matters (either alone or com­
bined with important wage demands) were pri­
mary issues dropped from 365 in 1950 to 104 in
1951. Although these issues accounted for only a
minor proportion of the total number of workers
involved and total man-days idle, they were
important in the stoppage affecting some 40,000

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517

T able 4.—Major issues involved in work stoppages in 1951
Work stoppages beginning
in 1951

Major issues

All issues_________________

Workers
involved
PerN um ­ cent
of
ber
total

N um ­
ber

44.4 1,180.000
27.2 586,000
.3
3, 990

N um ­
ber

Percent
of
total

53.2 14, 300, 000
26.4 10,100, 000
.2
43,800

2.9
(>)

82,300

3.7 1,190, 000

5.2

5,790
383,000

.3
96, 700
17.3 2,240, 000

.4
9.8

4.3

53,000

2.4 1,840,000

8.0

2.9

13,100

424,000

1.9

19, 500

.9 1,010, 000

4.4

19, 700

.9

1.7

116,000
1, 970

1.8
.4
13.7

206
140
25

.5

36

.8

3
2

.1

640
100

682
483

14.4
10.2

82,600
34,800

60
56
49
34

1.3
1.2
1.0
.7

12. 500
11,000
6, 030
18, 100

Other working conditions___ 1,342
675
Job security_____ ____ _
Shop conditions and
547
policies..................... .......
87
Work load...........................
33
Other...................................

28.3
14.3

Inter- or intra-union matters
Sym pathy_____ _____ _
Union rivalry or faction­
alism_________ ____ _
Jurisdiction_____ ______
Union regulations.............
Other....... ...........................
N ot reported............................

(')

5.2
.1

62.5
44.0
.2

674. 000
4,590

.9
.1

Union organization..................
Recognition.......................
Strengthening bargain­
ing position......... ...........
Closed or union shop____
Discrimination..................
Other______________ -

Per­
cent
of
total

4, 737 100.0 2, 220, 000 100.0 22, 900,000 100.0

Wages, hours, and fringe
benefits8 . ............................ 2,102
Wage increase____ ____ _ 1, 291
13
Wage decrease_________
Wage increase, hour de­
42
crease __...........................
5
Hour increase....................
Wage increase, pension
and/or social insurance
85
benefits..... ................ .
Pension and/or social in­
19
surance benefits.............
647
Other.................................Union organization, wages,
hours, and fringe benefits 8._
Recognition, wages and/
or hours______ ______ _
Strengthening bargain­
ing position, wages
and/or h o u r s ________
Closed or union shop,
wages and/or hours___
Discrimination, wages
and/or hours.......... .........
Other................................. -

Man-days idle
during 1951
(all stoppages)

.6

(')
(')

395, 000
2,640
2.860

3.7 1,620.000
1.5
659, 000
.6
.5
.3
.8

(')
(*)
7.1
2.9

355,000
274. 000
93. 400
237. 000

1.6
1.2
.4
1.0

761, 000
354. 000

34.3 4,180,000
15.9 2, 000,000

18.2
8.6

11.5
1.8
.7

245,000
111,000
51,100

11.1 1,170,000
820, 000
5.0
2.3
201,000

5.1
3.6
.9

326
78

6.9
1.6

132.000
32,900

5.9
1.5

894. 000
167,000

3.9
.7

64
176
3
5

1.4
3.7
.1
.1

28,900
63. 300
120
6,590

1.3
2.8
(')
.3

426,000
289,000
380
12, 400

1.8
1.3

79

1.7

10,900

.5

63,200

(0

.1

.3

• Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
* Fringe benefits has been added to the title only for purposes of clarifica­
tion. There has been no change from previous years in definition or content
of these groups.

workers in the nonferrous metals industry in
August and in the brief stoppage of some 10,500
textile workers in March. All other strikes in
which pension and/or social insurance plans were
of major importance involved fewer than 5,000
workers.
Disputes over such working conditions as job
security, shop conditions and policies, and work
load caused about 28 percent of all strikes, the
highest proportion in the past 6 years. They

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

518

T able 5.— Work stoppages beginning in 1951, by industry

group

Stoppages be­
ginning in 1951

Man-days idle
during 1951

Industry group

Workers
N um ­ involved N um ber
(thou­
ber
(thou­
sands)
sands)

All industries________________________

4, 737 32, 220.0 22. 900.0

M a n u fa c tu r in g ....................................... 32, 548

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 equipment____________
Lumber and wood products except furn­
iture_________________ ___________ Furniture and fixtures__________ ____ _
Stone, clay, and glass products............
Textile mill products_________________
Apparel and other finished products
made from fabrics and similar mate­
rials__________________________ ____
Leather and leather products.................. .
Food and kindred products................... .
Tobacco manufactures________________
Paper and allied products_____________
Printing, publishing, and allied indus­
tries_______________________________
Chemicals and allied products.............. .
Products of petroleum and c o a l..............
Rubber products_____________________
Professional, scientific, and controlling
instruments; photographic and optical
goods; watches and clocks.___________
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

308

1,370.0 17, 500.0
214.0 1,630.0

Percent
of esti­
mated
working
time 1
0.26
.43
.48

242
6

84.2
2.0

1,300.0
15.5

.51
.13

136
268
194

104.0
158.0
230.0

1, 040.0
3, 370.0
2, 600.0

.44
.83
.68

118
99
132
121

22.8
22.7
19.0
153.0

251.0
309.0
231.0
3, 490.0

.12
.35
. 16
1.07

210
78
197
5
54

54.0
22.6
77.5
1.6
20.6

354.0
221.0
819.0
14.1
494.0

.12
.23
.21
.06
.39

27
67
19
156

1.2
20.0
5.2
137.0

29.5
201.0
55.5
700.0

.02
.11
.08
1.01

26
92

10.2
12.7

127.0
195.0

.17
.16

N o n m a n u fa c tu rin g ______________ _ 32,189
21
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing_______
M ining_____________________________
622
Construction___ ___________ ____ ____
651
Trade__________ ____ ________________
277
Finance, insurance, and real estate____
21
Transportation, communication, and
other public utilities________________
387
Services-personal, business, and o th er ...
179
Government-administration, protection,
and sanitation 8_____ ____ __________
36

844.0
17.2
284.0
232.0
40.0
14.3

5,470.0
348.0
1.290.0
1.190.0
289.0
208.0

.11
(4)
.55
.18
.01
(4)

231.0
21.3

1, 790.0
329.0

.17
(4)

4.9

28.8

(4)

1 See table 1 footnotes 4 and 5.
3 The figure on number of workers involved includes some duplicate count­
ing where the same workers were involved in more than one stoppage in the
year.
8 This figure is less than the sum of the figures below because a few stop­
pages extending into two or more industry groups have been counted in this
column in each industry group affected; workers involved, and man-days
idle were divided among the respective groups.
4 N ot available.
8 Stoppages involving municipally operated utilities are included under
“ Transportation, communication, and other public utilities.”

accounted for about a third of all workers involved
and a fifth of total strike idleness. Among the
largest of these strikes were brief stoppages involv­
ing West Virginia coal miners in February; West­
inghouse Electric Corp. workers in March; and
Jones & Laughlin Corp. and Chrysler Corp.
employees in July.
Union recognition and other union-security
questions were primary issues in approximately
15 percent of the stoppages and were important,
along with wage issues, in another 4 percent. No
large stoppages involved these issues.
As in most years of the preceding 2 decades,
jurisdictional, union-rivalry, and sympathy strikes

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MONTHLY LABOR

accounted for a comparatively small proportion
of strike activity in 1951—about 7 percent of
strikes, 6 percent of workers involved, and 4
percent of idleness.
Duration of stoppages according to the issues
varied distinctly. Stoppages over combined issues
of wages and union-organization matters tended
to be longest; they averaged 30.2 calendar days
compared with 26 in 1950, and 44 in 1949. Those
over union-organization matters alone had an
average duration of 22.1 days, a slight increase
over the 20 days in 1950, but considerably less
than the 29 days in 1949. Work stoppages overwages and related issues lasted 15.7 calendar days
compared with 18.5 in 1950 and 26 in 1949. They
were slightly longer than work stoppages in which
inter- or intra-union matters were the major cause.
The latter averaged 14.8 days—a slight drop from
the 16 days in 1949 and 1950. Disputes over
other working conditions were shortest, averag­
ing 7.8 days in 1951 compared with 8.5 in 1950
and 12 in 1949.
Industries Affected

Textiles had the most idleness of any industry
group in 1951 (table 5). As already stated, the
year’s two longest large strikes were in textiles;
they accounted for about 70 percent of the total
of 3,490,000 man-days of idleness in this industry
group.
Machinery, except electrical, had a total of
3.370.000 man-days of idleness. More than a
third of this idleness was caused by the prolonged
stoppages at the Caterpillar Tractor Co., and the
Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. The Sep­
tember stoppages at the Douglas Aircraft Co.,
and the Wright Aeronautical Corp., and the pro­
longed stoppage of 2,500 workers at the Mobile
yard of the Alabama Dry dock & Shipbuilding Co.,
caused more than a quarter of the total idleness of
2.600.000 man-days, recorded in the transporta­
tion-equipment group.
Six other industry groups had more than 1,000,000 man-days idle: primary metal industries;
fabricated metal products; electrical machinery,
equipment, and supplies; mining; construction; and
transportation, communications, and other public
utilities. At least one major stoppage, involving
10.000 workers or more, occurred in each of these

T a b l e 6 .— Work

stoppages in 1951, by State
Work stoppages begin­
ning in 1951

States Involved

Man-days idle
during 1951
(all stoppages)

Workers involved

State

N um ­
Number
ber
(thou­
sands)
All States.......... ..................—

519

WORK STOPPAGES DURING 1951

REVIEW, MAY 1952

1

Alabama------ ------- -----Arizona---------------------------Arkansas--------------------------California------------------------Colorado--------------------- ----C onnecticut... - - --- - Delaware_________________

Per­ Number
(thou­
cent of
sands)
total

Per­
cent of
total

4, 737

2 2, 2 2 0 .0

1 0 0 .0

22,900. 0

1 0 0 .0

163
24
25
217
25
84
17

109.0

4.9
.5
.3
4.4

1, 270.0
103.0
52.2
1, 2 1 0 .0
71.5
400.0
59.5

5.5
.5

26.6
156.0
179.0
29.0
2,090. 0
763.0
108.0

.1

1 0 .6
6 .0

98.5
4.3
25.2
4.9

11

4.6

44
45

1 1 .0
1 0 .8

.2
1 .1
.2

District of Columbia---------Florida___________________
Georgia___________________
Idaho____________________
m in ois.- -----------------------Indiana------ --------- -----------Iowa........ .............. ....................

283
204
47

Kansas___________________
Kentucky----------------- -------Louisiana-------------------------M aine____________________
Maryland------------------ -----Massachusetts------------------M ichigan.------------------------

22

8 .6

165
40
14
39
151
315

97. 2
13.3
i. 9
60.0
215.0

M innesota________________
M ississippi-----------------------M issouri__________________
M ontana........... .................. —
Nebraska-------------------------N ev a d a .. -----------------------N ew Hampshire. -------------

53
35
113

20.3
17.8
41.3

12

1 0 .1

1.9
.5

15

3.2
1.9
5.1

.1
.1
.2

N ew Jersey----------------------N ew M exico______________
N ew York - ------------------North Carolina---------------North Dakota------------------Ohio. _ ---------------------------Oklahoma________________

200

87.6
9.9
196.0
24.3
.3
197.0
3.2

4.0
.4
9.0

Oregon______________ _____
Rhode Island. ----------------South Carolina-----------------South Dakota-------------------Tennessee
------ —- Texas---------- -------------------U tah_____________________
Vermont_____
___ -Virginia__________________
W ashington. . . . ------- -West V irgin ia -----. . .
Wisconsin_____
___ —
W yom ing_________________

11

11

23
26
570
38
3
402
28
67
630
25
18
7
146
86

24
5
139
71
231
87
7

3.2
148.0
105.0
15.7

1 2 .2

15.5
275.0
22.3
8 .8

.4
47.8
28.9
1 1 .6

2.4
46.4
41.4
83.2
43.0
.6

.2

.5
.5
.1
6.7
4.7
.7
.4
4.4
.6

.3
.5
2.7
9.7
.9
.8

1 .1

(3)
8.9
.1
.7
12.5
1 .0

.4
(3)
2 .2

1.3
.5

.1
2 .1
1.9
3.8
1.9
(3)

58.4
324.0
341.0
73.9
179.0
1,030.0
1 , 600.0

.2

5.3
.3
1.7
.3
.7
.8
.1

9. 1
3.3
.5
.3
1.4
1.5
.3

1,190. 0
91.7
2, 530. 0
508.0
1.3
1, 690. 0
38.1

5.2
.4

251.0
294.0
94.4
43.4
411.0
326.0
462.0
704.0
3.5

Stoppages beginning in 1951
Workers in­
volved
Affiliation of union

.2
.1

PerN um ­ cent
of
ber
total

1 1 .0
2 .2

(3)
7.4
.2
1 .1

8.3
3.4
1 .2

(s)
1 .1

Total----------

------------- -- 4,737

American Federation of
2,117
Labor-------------- -----Congress of Industrial Or-- -. 1,387
ganizations___
Unaffiliated unions_____ _ 1,037
20
Single firm unions_______
Different affiliations:
59
Rival unions_________
Cooperating unions___
6
105
N o union involved______
6
N ot reported--------------------

1 0 0 .0

Man-days
idle during
1951 (all
stoppages)

Number

Per­
cent
of
total

Number

Per­
cent
of
total

i 2 ,2 2 0 , 0 0 0

1 0 0 .0

22,900. 0 0 0

1 0 0 .0

.3

654,000

29.5 6,570,000

28. 7

29.3 1, 030, 000
497,000
21.9
.4
6,990

46.4 12, 700, 000
22.4 3,040,000
.3
53,000

55.4
13.3

44.8

1 .2
.1
2 .2
.1

1 1 ,2 0 0

.5

12,600
7,390
70

.6

.3
(J)

159,000
351,000
35,400
370

.2

.7
1.5
.2

(s)

1.3
.4
.2
1 .8

1.4

1 The figure on number of workers includes some duplicate counting where
the same workers were involved in more than one stoppage in the year.
3 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.

2 .0

3.1
(3)

1 The sum of this column exceeds 4,737 because the stoppages extending
across State lines have been counted in each State affected, but the workers
involved and man-days idle were divided among the States.
2 The figure on number of workers includes some duplicate counting where
the same workers were involved in more than one stoppage in the year.
3 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.

groups except construction. In the construction
and public-utility groups, strike idleness accounted
for less than two-tenths of 1 percent of total work­
ing time.
The construction industry led all other groups
in number of stoppages—651—and thus exceeded
the previous peak of 615 recorded in 1949. There
were 622 strikes in the mining industry in 1951,
compared with 508 recorded in 1950, and 476
in 1949.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

involved

.8

.9
.9
1. 4
.3

2 .8

T able 7.— Work stoppages in 1951, by affiliation of unions

4. 5
7.0

214.0
214.0
314.0
72.7
39.9
14.4
73.5

248.0
1,910.0
784.0
270.0

More than a million man-days of strike idleness
occurred in each of nine States. Most of these
were the leading industrialized States of the
country. The two large stoppages of Tennessee
Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. workers were respon­
sible for almost a fourth of the total idleness in
Alabama. New York (2,530,000) and Illinois
(2,090,000) experienced the greatest number of
man-days idle because of stoppages (table 6).
Pennsylvania with 630, and New York with
570, had the largest number of stoppages. Ohio
ranked third, with 402 stoppages. Only 6 other
States had as many as 200 stoppages.

Unions Involved

Unions affiliated with the AFL accounted for
almost half of the strikes (table 7) in 1951 and
between a fourth and a third of the workers and
man-days of idleness. CIO affiliates were in­
volved in stoppages accounting for about half of
all the workers and man-days of idleness but less
than a third of the number of stoppages. Un­
affiliated unions took part in about a fifth of the
stoppages and workers, but only an eighth of the
total idleness resulted -from these stoppages.
— A nn J. H erlihy , B ernard Y abroff , and
D aniel P. W illis , Jr.
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

520

CITY WORKER'S FAMILY BUDGET

City Worker’s Family Budget
For October 1951
of a “modest but adequate”
level of living for a 4-person urban family at Oc­
tober 1951 prices ranged from $3,812 in New Or­
leans to $4,454 in Washington, D. C., according
to latest Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of
the City Worker’s Family Budget in 34 large cities.
Cost of goods and services alone (exclusive of
personal taxes, Social Security deductions, life in­
surance, and occupational expenses) ranged from
$3,441 in New Orleans to $3,965 in Washington.
Estimates of dollar costs of the total budget and
major components and relative differences among
cities .are given in the accompanying table.
The goods and services included in this budget
describe a pattern of living characteristic of urban
areas in the pre-World War II period. For nearly
all of the 34 cities, the 1951 estimates represent
an increase in the cost of these goods and services
of between 40 and 50 percent since the first pric­
ing of the budget in March 1946.
The City Worker's Family Budget was designed
to determine how much it costs a 4-person urban
family to obtain the goods and services it requires
to maintain a level of adequate living according to
prewar standards prevailing in the large cities of
the United States.1 The list of items included in
the budget was developed for a family of four com­
posed of a father, a housewife not gainfully em­
ployed, and two children under 15 years of age.2
Although this is generally larger than the averagesize family in large cities at any one time, about
half of urban families reach this size during the
family existence.
The budget does not show how an “average
family” actually spends its money. Neither does
it show how families should spend their money.
Rather, it is the total cost of a representative list
T h e annual cost

i For a full explanation of the budget concepts and development see BLS
Bulletin N o. 927, Workers’ Budgets in the United States and Bulletin N o.
1021, Family Budget of City Worker, October 1950, which contain all previ­
ous estimates of the budget costs and are reprinted from articles in the M onth­
ly Labor Review, February 1948 (p. 333) and February 1951 (p. 152), respec­
tively.
* Budgets for city worker families of other sizes have not been calculated.
It is estimated that, to attain the same level of living, a 2-person family would
need to spend for goods and services about 65 percent of the amount spent by
a 4-person family, a 3-person family, about 84 percent; a 5-person family,
about 114 percent; and a 6 -person family, about 128 percent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR

of goods and services considered necessary by
urban families to provide for health, efficiency,
the nurture of children, and participation in social
and community activities. Information on how
the average family actually spends its money is
obtained in surveys of spending and savings which
are made at intervals by the Bureau.
Budget Components

Variations in housing costs in the budget, which
are based on rental units only, accounted for most
of the cost differences between cities. Housing
costs ranged from $581 in New Orleans to $1,034
in Washington, D. C. Rental rates for 5-room
dwellings which meet the standard specified for
the budget were obtained from comprehensive
surveys of housing characteristics and rents made
by the Bureau between November 1949 and Feb­
ruary 1950. Estimates of the average rent in the
1951 City Worker’s Family Budget were made by
applying to these rental rates the change in the
Bureau’s rent index from the survey date to
October 1951 for each city.
For most cities, housing costs increased from 2
to 7 percent between October 1950 and October
1951. The greatest increases were found in Mil­
waukee (10 percent), San Francisco and Los
Angeles (about 9 percent), and Portland, Oreg.
(7 percent).3
The cost of gas, electricity, heating fuel, water,
refrigerators, and stoves was included in the
housing estimates. When any of these items was
not included in the reported contract rent of a
dwelling unit, the annual cost of each facility was
added, so that the estimated average housing
costs are comparable between cities. The heating
fuel included was a kind commonly used in the
locality—the amount allowed depending on the
climate.
While cities with warmer climates require less
fuel generally, housing costs in Houston, one of
the warmest cities, were equal to those in Milwau­
kee, one of the coldest cities, and were exceeded
only in Washington and Richmond. However,
» Rent controls were lifted in December 1950 in Los Angeles and Portland
and at the end of September 1951 in Oakland, Calif., which is included in the
San Francisco area rent sample. Rent controls had previously been lifted as
follows: Birmingham, M ay 1950; Houston, October 1949; Jacksonville, A u ­
gust 1949; Milwaukee, M ay 1950; M obile, M ay 1950; Norfolk, March 1950
(recontrolled, October 1951); Richmond, June 1950; Los Angeles suburbs
November 1949 to June 1950; Virginia suburbs of Washington, D . C., June
1950.

REVIEW, MAY 1952
T able

CITY WORKER’S FAMILY BUDGET

521

1.—Estimated annual costs and relative intercity differences in city worker’s family budget for four persons, 34 large

cities, October 1951

Estimated annual costs

Relative differences (Washington, D . C.=100)

Goods, rents, and services

City
Total
budget
Total

H ousing 1

Food2

Goods, rents, and services

Other
goods and
services

Other
costs 5

Personal
taxes 4

Total
budget
Total

H ousing 1

Food

2

Atlanta, Ga........ ................ .......
Baltimore, M d_____________
Birmingham, A la____ ______
Boston, M ass________ _____
Buffalo, N . Y ______________

$4,315
4,217
4,252
4, 217
4,127

$3,844
3,761
3,766
3,753
3,674

$934
875
805
801
775

$1,381
1,354
1,371
1,356
1,324

$1,529
1,532
1,590
1,596
1,575

$161
161
191
161
177

$310
295
295
303
276

97
95
95
95
93

97
95
95
95
93

90
85
78
77
75

102
100
101
100

Chicago, 111.. . ............... .........
Cincinnati, Ohio________ .
Cleveland, Ohio____________
Denver, Colo______________
Detroit, M ich_____ _____ _

4,185
4,208
4,103
4,199
4,195

3,745
3,764
3,678
3,748
3,753

825
901
715
857
758

1,353
1,316
1,330
1,331
1,360

1,567
1,547
1,633
1,560
1,635

161
161
161
161
161

279
283
264
290
281

94
94
92
94
94

94
95
93
95
95

80
87
69
83
73

100

Houston, T ex.......... ..................
Indianapolis, Ind___________
Jacksonville, F l a ......................
Kansas City, M o___________
Los Angeles, Calif__________

4,304
4,044
4,202
3,960
4,311

3,839
3,590
3,759
3,558
3,818

964
689

1,513
1,575
1,534
1,570
1,629

161
161
161
161
191

304
293
282
241
302

97
91
94
89
97

97
91
95
90
96

93
67
84

101

683
854

1,362
1,326
1,359
1,305
1,335

66

83

97
99

Manchester, N . H __________
Memphis, T enn______ ____ _
Milwaukee, W is_____ _____ _
Minneapolis, M inn_________
Mobile, Ala__________ ____ _

4,090
4,190
4,387
4,161
3,969

3,654
3,748
3,878
3,687
3,536

765
865
964
797
611

1,327
1,348
1,296
1,298
1,401

1,562
1,535
1,618
1,592
1,524

161
161
161
161
191

275
281
348
313
242

92
94
98
93
89

92
95
98
93
89

74
84
93
77
59

N ew Orleans, La.....................
N ew York, N . Y ___________
Norfolk, V a........ ................ .......
Philadelphia, Pa______ ____
Pittsburgh, P a _______________

3,812
4,083
4,146
4,078
4,203

3,441
3,639
3,686
3,607
3,750

581
723
815
784
758

1,363
1,367
1,335
1,370
1,363

1,497
1,549
1,536
1,453
1,629

161
177
161
161
161

210

86

267
299
310
292

92
93
92
94

87
92
93
91
95

56
70
79
76
73

Portland, M ain e._____ _____
Portland, Oreg_________ ___
Richmond, Va_____________
St. Louis, M o______________
San Francisco, Calif________

4,021
4,153
4,338
4,112
4,263

3,608
3,681
3,840
3,681
3,779

716
764
997
751
798

1,321
1,311
1,328
1,350
1,353

1,571
1,606
1,515
1,580
1,628

161
161
161
161
191

252
311
337
270
293

90
93
97
92
96

91
93
97
93
95

69
74
96
73
77

Savannah, Ga............. ..............
Scranton, Pa_______________
Seattle, Wash _. . . . _ . . . . .
Washington, D . C . .......... .......

4,067
4,002
4,280
4,454

3,644
3,556
3,823
3,965

746
707
804
1,034

1,409
1,314
1,373
1,352

1,489
1,535
1,646
1,579

161
161
161
161

262
285
296
328

91
90
96

92
90
96

68

100

100

100

866

72
78

98
97
98
98
101

Other
goods and
services
97
97
101
101
100

99
98
103
99
104
96

98

100

101

97
99
103

98
100

99
97

96
96
104

102
101

101
101

95
98
97
92
103

99
101
101

98
97
98
100
100

104
97
102
100

97

99
102

96
100

103
94
97
104
100

Estimated average rent, including cost of heat and utilities, of 5-room dwelling units meeting standards specified for budget.
Includes allowance for 189 meals away from home, and alcoholic beverages, snacks, etc.
Includes allowances for life insurance, $85; occupational expenses, $22; Federal old-age and survivors’ insurance, $54; and, as required by State law in Alabama,
California, and N ew York, eniployee contributions to unemployment or disability insurance.
4 Includes Federal and Stjate or local income taxes at 1951 calender year rates and per capita taxes as required by State or local law.
1
2
2

New Orleans and Mobile—two other cities with
warm climates—did have the lowest housing costs.
In contrast to the wide variation in housing
costs, relatively little difference was found in food
costs between cities. Except for local taxes, the
factors which affect food prices tend to make
them uniform from city to city in contrast to the
more local character of the factors affecting hous­
ing. The total cost of the food budget ranged from
$1,296 in Milwaukee to $1,409 in Savannah, a
difference of 8.7 percent. Cities having the high­
est food costs—-Savannah, Mobile, Atlanta, Seattle,
and Birmingham—were among those in which a
3-percent State sales tax on foods was in effect.
Of the 12 cities with lowest total food costs, only
Kansas City had a sales tax on groceries.
The cost of all other goods and services (ex­
cluding housing and food) ranged from $1,453 in
998444— 52------ 3


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Philadelphia to $1,646 in Seattle. This component
of the City Worker’s Family Budget includes cost
of clothing, housefurnishings, transportation, med­
ical care, personal care, household operation, read­
ing, recreation, tobacco, education, gifts and con­
tributions, and miscellaneous expenses.
In determining the specific list of items consid­
ered necessary for a modest but adequate level
of living, scientific standards were used, when
available, as a starting point. The largest expend­
iture group—food—was based on nutritional re­
quirements recommended by the National Kesearch Council combined with preferences of
consumers, as observed in studies of family ex­
penditures. The standards for housing were those
established by the Federal Public Housing Admin­
istration and the American Public Health Asso­
ciation.

MONTHLY LABOE

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

522

Quantities of goods and services other than food
and housing which were included in the budget
were based on an analysis of family expenditure
data obtained in surveys made between 1934 and
1941.4 Study of these data shows that at the
lower end of the income scale differences in pur­
chases by families at successive income levels are
primarily in the quantities of items bought; in
the higher-income brackets these differences are
due to the choice of higher quality and more ex­
pensive items. The quantities included in the
budget were determined at the point on the
income scale where the amounts bought increase
proportionately less than the increases in family
income.
i in the spring of 1951, the Bureau collected comprehensive reports of
urban consumer incomes, expenditures, and savings in 91 cities throughout
the United States. The new data w ill permit the redetermination of the
budget quantities which will make the budget more representative of current
living standards; the development of budgets for different size families; and
the study of possible differences in quantity budgets between cities of varying
size and character.

Employment Trends in the
Industrial Chemicals Industry

The estimated budget costs for October 1951
for clothing, housefurnishings, medical care, per­
sonal care, household operation, and other groups
combined were based on prices of a relatively
small sample list of items. Therefore, only the
total cost could be estimated within a satisfactory
degree of accuracy and separate costs are not avail­
able for these groups. The October 1951 estimates
of the food and housing budgets were based on
price or rent samples sufficiently large so that
separate cost figures could be prepared.
Individual preferences play a large part in the
way families spend their money, so that even
among families at the same economic level, such
as the one represented by the budget, some
variation occurs in what is considered necessary
for clothing, transportation, recreation, etc.
•— E u n ic e M. K n a p p
D ivision of Prices and Cost of Living

is expected to continue in this fast-growing
industry.
Production Trends and Uses of Products

N ote.—The following two articles describe

trends and factors affecting employment in
the inorganic and organic branches of the
industrial chemicals industry. The two
branches are discussed separately because
of major differences in employment trends,
location, and types of products. However,
the types of jobs are much the same as both
use similar production processes.

Organic Chemicals
T h e industrial organic chemicals industry which
less than 40 years ago consisted of only 7 manu­
facturers with annual sales of $3.5 million employs
about 230,000 workers in 570 plants, with products
valued at nearly $4 billion a year. Employment
in the industrial organic chemicals industry was
229,200 in January 1952, a rise of 16 percent since
hostilities began in Korea, and 24 percent since
January 1946. The upward employment trend

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Industrial organic chemicals are compounded
from coal, the principal raw material used;
petroleum and natural gas, which are becoming
increasingly important; and agricultural products.
Wood and cotton also are basic raw materials in
rayon manufacture and in making cellulose
plastics materials. Some organic compounds are
well known, for example, synthetic fibers, such as
rayon, nylon, or orlon; synthetic rubber; and plas­
tics materials. Other important products less
well known include industrial explosives, the wide
variety of dyes and other color pigments, industrial
alcohol, formaldehyde, benzene, and glycerin.
Among the principal users of organic chemicals
are the textile industry, plastics products manu­
facturers, and the mining industry. Much of the
output is used within the industry in manu­
facturing other organic chemical products.
Before 1914, the dye
manufacturers, representing almost the entire

D e v e lo p m e n t o f th e I n d u s t r y .

REVIEW, MAY 1952

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

organic chemical manufacturing industry, made
less than 10 percent of the dyes and intermediates
needed for American industry. Germany supplied
most of the remainder. When these imports
ceased at the outbreak of World War I, an intensive
effort was made to build an organic chemicals
industry from the meager facilities available.
By the end of the war, over 90 percent of our
requirements were being produced in this country.
Congress in 1916 and 1921 erected tariff barriers
to protect the organic chemicals industry from
foreign competition, and as a result of protection
and growing demand for organic chemicals, the
industry grew steadily. Synthetic fibers made
particularly large gains in production as did
plastics. Production of many other organic
chemicals rose several fold, and a host of new
products were developed.
World War II brought about a tremendous ex­
pansion of the organic chemicals industry. Pro­
duction and employment rose sharply in response

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

523

to military needs, especially in explosives. Syn­
thetic rubber output rose from a few thousand
pounds annually to 820 thousand tons in 1945, to
make up for the loss of natural rubber imports
from the Far East which the Japanese had in­
vaded. By the end of the war, the synthetic rub­
ber industry was producing more synthetic rubber
annually than the United States’ annual total
consumption of rubber in the years before 1941.
The need for clothing and equipment, particularly
parachutes made of nylon, stimulated the ex­
pansion of the synthetic fibers industry. As
metals became scarce there was a heavy demand
for plastics materials.
In the postwar period, demand declined for
such products as military explosives, synthetic
rubber, and other items which are used primarily
for war purposes. This decline was partially off­
set, however, by continued expansion in the pro­
duction of other chemicals, including synthetic
fibers and plastics materials. There was also a

524

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

large demand for nylon, increased acceptance of
new plastics products, renewed construction ac­
tivity with its demands for industrial explosives
and paints, demand for textile dyes, and many
other products of this industry.
Production Methods and Uses of Products

The various manufacturing processes used in
changing raw materials into finished products in­
volve four major steps. First, tars are extracted
from coal, oil-gas, or water gas. Coal tar is pro­
duced chiefly by the steel industry as a byproduct
of coke. Water-gas and oil-gas tars are byproducts
of the petroleum and natural gas industry. Second,
“ crudes”—principally benzene, toluene, xylene,
and naphthalene—are produced from tars and from
petroleum and natural gas. Third, crudes are
used principally in manufacturing “ intermediates”
although some are sold as end-products without
further processing (such as, refined naphthalene
which may be packaged and sold as a moth re­
pellent or as a deodorant). Originally, intermedi­
ates were used only in the manufacture of dyes,
but they are now used for products such as ex­
plosives, perfumes, medicinals, flavors, and plas­
tics. Some of the principal intermediates are
alcohol, phenol, nitro-benzene, aniline oil, re­
fined naphthalene, chlorobenzene, and styrene.
Fourth, more complex synthetic organic chemicals
and finished products are made from the inter­
mediate compounds.
Some of the principal industrial organic chemi­
cals shipped as finished products are dyes (soluble
colors, used mainly in textile manufacturing),
lakes and toners (color pigments not soluble in
water or oil, used in manufacturing paints and
inks), plastics and resin materials (sheets, rods,
tubes, and powder, furnished to manufacturers of
finished plastics products), synthetic fibers (used
in textile, apparel, and tire-cord manufacture),
and synthetic rubber (used for tires and tubes).
Synthetic fibers are used in greater volume than
wool and rank second only to cotton among the
textile fibers. Production has increased almost
continuously since quantity production of rayon
began just after World War I. Raw material for
rayon is wood pulp or cotton linters, the short
fibers left on the seeds after they have been sepa­
rated from cotton. Coal is the principal raw
material used for such fibers as nylon, orlon, etc.

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MONTHLY LABOR

These fibers have made heavy inroads in all the
major textile fields and accounted for 73 percent
of the increase in fiber consumption between 1937
and 1949. The principal use of synthetic fibers
is for clothing, but industrial uses (such as for tire
cord and belting) have increased and currently
consume almost a third of production.
During the past decade, plastics, once con­
sidered merely substitute materials with limited
application, have become of major importance in
our industrial economy. About 125 companies
produced approximately 1.8 billion pounds of
plastics materials in 1951, roughly twice the vol­
ume produced in 1946. In order of volume pro­
duced, the leading plastics materials are vinyl
resins, phenolics, alkyd resins, and polystyrenes.
The largest outlet for vinyl is film and sheeting
for such items as drapes, shower curtains, uphol­
stery, raincoats, phonograph records, and garden
hose. Phenolics materials are used for radio and
television cabinets, table tops, cameras, and tele­
phone parts. The alkyd resins are used in making
paints, varnishes, and enamels, especially for auto­
mobile bodies and refrigerators. Polystyrene,
made from styrene (also one of the main ingredi­
ents of synthetic rubber), has shown the greatest
gain in recent years. It is low in cost and takes
colors well. It is used in the manufacture of
molded products such as dishware, toys, refriger­
ator dishes, and novelties.
Synthetic rubber is produced mainly in Govern­
ment-owned, but privately operated plants which
were built during World War II. GR-S synthetic
rubber, which accounts for 85 percent of produc­
tion, is a general purpose type made from buta­
diene and styrene. Butadiene is made from a
combination of petroleum or natural gas and
ethyl alcohol, and styrene from benzol, a derivative
of petroleum or coal tar. Currently, over 80 per­
cent of the rubber used in passenger tires is GR-S.
Over 90 percent of tire tubes are made of the
butyl (GR-I), a special purpose synthetic rubber.
Neoprene, is used extensively in life-saving equip­
ment, wire and cable coverings, solid airplane
tires, hose, and aircraft equipment.
Industrial alcohol is essential in both peace and
wartime. Its peacetime use is primarily as a sol­
vent or raw material in production of other chem­
icals; in war or in periods of defense preparation,
it is utilized in the manufacture of such products
as synthetic rubber and military explosives.

T able

525

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

REVIEW, MAY 1952

1.—Average employment in industrial organic

chemicals, 1989-51
Year

All em­
ployees

Produc­
tion
workers

Year

All em­
ployees

1939
_____
____
1940
1941 .
____
1942
_____
1943
_____
1944
___
1945____ _____

110. 500
124,900
168,200
247, 200
290.400
283, 500
289,000

83. 700
97,400
133, 500
199, 800
238. 500
233,100
232,300

1946__________
1947__________
1948__________
1949 _________
1950 ........ ...........
1951__________
1952: January..

200, 500
205, 500
210,300
192.100
2 0 0 .1 0 0

227.100
229, 200

Produc
tion
workers
158,900
162,600
164,400
145.800
151.800
169, 900
169, 600

Employment Trends

Between 1939 and 1943, employment in the
organic chemicals industry rose 160 percent to an
all-time peak of 290,400 workers, and remained
at about that level for the next 2 years. (See
table 1.) After the war there was a sharp drop
in employment due principally to reduced produc­
tion of military explosives, synthetic rubber, and
other items used principally for war purposes.
Employment climbed slowly in 1947 and 1948,
declined in early 1949, and then rose steadily
until September 1951, when a post-World War II
high of 234,500 was reached. In January 1952,
employment totaled 229,200—22 percent higher
than in January 1950, some months before hos­
tilities started in Korea—but still well below the
World War II peak. Of the 169,600 production
workers in organic chemicals in January 1952,
50,200 were employed in the output of rayon,
nylon, orlon, and other synthetic fibers; 21,800 in
the manufacture of plastics; 7,600 in syntheticrubber; and the remainder in miscellaneous
chemical production.
Each geographic region in which organic chemi­
cals were produced showed increases in employ­
ment from 1939 to 1951, but the most rapid rate
of growth occurred in the East South Central
and the West South Central States. These two
regions accounted for only 13 percent of 1939
employment but for 28 percent of the 1951 total.
The greatest numerical employment increases
from 1939 to 1951 were in the Middle Atlantic,
East South Central, and West South Central
regions, in that order. (See table 2.)
The Middle Atlantic States employed the great­
est number of workers—30 percent of total em­
ployment—in 1951. Only two other regions the
South Atlantic and the East South Central States
had more than 10 percent of total employment.
(See map.)

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Plants manufacturing synthetic fibers are con­
centrated in the eastern part of the United States,
the South Atlantic States accounting for threefourths of total employment in this branch of
the industry. The main centers of employment
in the manufacture of synthetic rubber are Texas,
Louisiana, and Los Angeles; and a few plants are
located in the Louisville and Akron areas. Pro­
duction of plastics materials is concentrated in
two regions, the Middle and South Atlantic
States, which account for almont 70 percent of
total employment in this branch.
Types of Occupations

The majority of workers in both branches of
the industrial chemicals industry operate or
maintain processing equipment. Chemical oper­
ators, the largest group, determine proper pro­
portions of material according to formulas or
specifications; make necessary standard calcula­
tions; set and regulate controls for temperature,
pressure, or flow of material; and also use measur­
ing and testing instruments to check quality of
operations. Important processing workers, to­
gether with the equipment they operate, are
stillmen (distillation equipment), filterers (equip­
ment which separates suspended solids from a
liquid), autoclave operators (high-pressure ves­
sels), compressors (equipment which compresses
commercial gases into liquid form), driers (equip­
ment which separates water from solids), electricT able 2.—Estimated average employment in industrial

organic chemicals, 1939 and 1951, by region1
1951

1939

Region

All regions-------

------------------

N ew England------- ---------------Middle A t l a n t i c . __ _ __ . . .
East North Central.
West North C entral.. . ------- . .
... ...
South Atlantic___
East South Central___
... . .
West South Central__ .
----Mountain____ _ . . . . . ------Pacific...........................- . ---------

All em­
ployees

Percent
of total

All em­
ployees

110, 500

1 0 0 .0

2 2 7 ,1 0 0

1 0 0 .0

4 ,4 0 0
40, 800
9 ,0 0 0
1 ,4 0 0
3 8 ,3 0 0
1 3 ,7 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
400
1 ,5 0 0

4 .0
3 6 .9

9 ,3 0 0
6 8 ,3 0 0
1 9 ,1 0 0
5 ,2 0 0
5 8 ,1 0 0
4 0 ,3 0 0
2 2 ,3 0 0
900
3 ,6 0 0

4.1
30.1

8 .1

1 .3
3 4 .6
1 2 .4
.9
.4
1 .4

Percent
of total

8 .4
2 .3
2 5 .6
1 7 .7
9 .8
.4
1 .6

¡The regions referred to in this study include: N ew England— Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut;
Middle Atlantic—New Jersey, N ew York, Pennsylvania; East North Central—
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin; West North Central—Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota;
South Atlantic—Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Mary­
land, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia; East South
Central—Alabama, Kentucky, Missippi, Tennessee; West South Central—
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas; M ountain—Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, N ew Mexico, Utah, Wyoming; Pacific—Cali­
fornia, Oregon, Washington.

MONTHLY LABOR

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

526

cell men (electric cells that break down liquids
into their component parts), millers (pulverizing
equipment), mixers (machines which blend or
mix liquids or solids in controlled amounts),
and pumpmen (power-driven pumps). Helpers
on processing equipment make up a small propor­
tion of the work force; and, after gaining experi­
ence, usually become skilled operators.
The relatively high ratio of equipment to work­
ers in these industries requires a large proportion
of highly skilled maintenance workers, such as
carpenters, pipefitters, electricians, and machinists.
In addition, materials handlers are employed, such
as truck drivers, hand and power truckers, and
loaders and unloaders; custodial workers, such as
guards, janitors, and watchmen; and apprentices,
learners, and trainees; and handymen, stock
clerks, roustabouts, utility men, and general
laborers.
Professional and research personnel represent
an unusually high proportion of the work force,
and chemists and chemical engineers are the
largest group. Chemists perform analytical and
research work, develop process-control methods,
supervise routine testing of material during proc­
essing, and prepare technical reports. Chemical
engineers apply their knowledge to the designing,
constructing, and improving of equipment. Many
specialize in consulting, testing, technical sales
and service, or technical writing.
Other types of engineers are also well repre­
sented. Mechanical engineers design tools, en­
gines, machines, or other industrial equipment; or
plan and operate the central distribution for heat,
gas, water, or steam. Electrical engineers plan
and supervise the construction, installation, and
operation of electric-power generating plants and
transmission lines. Some large plants employ
T able 3.—Average hours and gross earnings of -production

workers in industrial organic chemicals and all-manufac­
turing industries, 1947-52
Industrial organic chemicals
Year

1947____________
1948____________
1949_______ _____
1950____________
1951____________
1952: January » ...

All-manufacturing

Average Average earnings Average Average earnings
weekly
weekly
hours
Hourly Weekly
Hourly Weekly hours
40.3
40.4
39.5
40.6
41.0
40.2

• Preliminary.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$1,310
1.428
1.540
1.618
1.752
1.783

$52.79
57.69
60. 83
65.69
71.83
71.68

40.4
40.1
39.2
40.5
40.8
40.9

$1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465
1.594
1.640

$49.97
54.14
54.92
59.33
64.92
67.08

T able 4.— Work injury rates, industrial organic chemicals

and all-manufacturing, 1945-1950
1945
Frequency rate : 1
All-manufacturing. .
Plastics materials...
Synthetic rubber.. .
Synthetic fibers___
Explosives________
Severity rate : 2
All-manufacturing..
Plastics materials...
Synthetic rubb er...
Synthetic fibers____
Explosives________

18.6
9.5
6 .6

1946

19.9
9.9
1.9

1947

1948

1950

19.8
7.2
1.9
5.8
5.3

17.2
6.4
1.7
5.4
4.3

14.5
4.8
2.3
3.0

14.7
7.0
3.4

1 .8

3.8

1.5

1.4
.9
.4
.5
.9

1 .2

8.9
3.6

6 .8

1 .6

1 .6

6.5

9.9

1.4
1.7

.2

1.3

.0 1
1 .0

.8
.8

2 .6
.1
1 .2

2 .1

3.0

4.6

3.7

5.7

1949

2 .1

1.9
(3)
(3)
(3)

1 The injury-frequency rate is the average number of disabling work injuries
for each million employee-hours worked.
»The severity rate is the average number of days lost because of disabling
work injuries, per 1 ,0 0 0 employee-hours worked.
3 Information not available.

industrial, civil, construction, metallurgical, and
safety engineers.
Among the technicians, draftsmen prepare
working plans and detailed drawings from the
rough sketches or notes of the chemists or engi­
neers and laboratory assistants perform standard
laboratory tests for specific gravity, viscosity, or
routine tests on volume or color to determine
various properties. They work either in the
research laboratories or in the various processing
departments.
Men comprise over 86 percent of the workers
in the organic chemicals industry. Branches of
the industry, however, differ in the number of
women employed. Synthetic fibers plants employ
60 percent of the total number of women in the
industry, and these women make up 25 percent
of the production workers in such plants. In
industrial explosives plants 15 percent of the
production workers are women. However, the
majority of women in the organic chemicals indus­
try work in office jobs or in the laboratory or
packaging departments.
Earnings and Working Conditions

Average earnings, both hourly and weekly, are
higher in organic chemicals than the general
average for manufacturing industries. (See table
3.) However, in synthetic fiber manufacturing,
wages are slightly lower than the all-manufactur­
ing average. Variations are considerable among
the industries classified as making industrial
organic chemicals, e. g., hourly earnings in syn­
thetic fibers manufacture were lower, but in the
manufacture of synthetic rubber were higher,
than the average in industrial organic chemicals.

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

REVIEW, MAY 1952

The workweek in this industry is about the
same as in all-manufacturing, averaging 41.0
hours during 1951 compared with 40.8 in all­
manufacturing.
The nature of the products made working con­
ditions relatively hazardous in the early stages of
the industry’s development. In recent years,
however, many of the hazards of industrial chemi­
cals manufacturing have been eliminated and in­
jury rates are generally lower than the average for
all-manufacturing industries. (See table 4).
Employment is relatively steady in this industry.
Turn-over rates, both separations and accessions,
have been consistently lower than the rates in all­
manufacturing. (See table 5).
T able 5.—Labor turn-over rates, industrial organic chemicals

and all-manufacturing, 1950-52 1
Industrial organic
chemicals

All-manufacturing

Year
Separation
rate
1950: January_____ ____
April_____________
July_____________
October__________
1951: January__________
April_____________
July_____________
October__________
1952: January 8 ------------

1 .2
1 .0
1 .0

1.9
1.7
1.7
1 .6

2.7
2.7

Accession
rate

Separation
rate

1.7

3.1

1 .8

2 .8

2.3
2.5
2.7
2.3
2 .2
1 .6

1.7

2.9
4.3
4.1
4.6
4.4
4.7
4.0

Accession
rate
3.6
3.5
4.7
5.2
5.2
4.5
4.2
4.4
4.5

1 Rates per 100 employees.
8 Preliminary.

Industry Outlook

High levels of employment and production
probably will continue in 1952. Defense needs
have been added to the growing civilian demand
for the industry’s products. Military prepared­
ness calls for increased production of many organic
chemicals, including explosives, industrial alcohol,
synthetic rubber, plastics materials, and synthetic
fibers. These materials are needed to produce
military items, including camouflage material,
raincoats, helmets, parachutes, tire cording, and
clothing for the Armed Forces.
Even if defense requirements decline, the
industry is expected to continue its long-term
growth. All branches of the chemical industry
have invested about $6 billion in plant and equip­
ment since World War II and plan to invest $1.2
billion more in the next 2 years.


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527

Inorganic Chemicals
in industrial activity from
1939 to 1952 has created a heavy demand for the
products of the industrial inorganic chemicals in­
dustry. Employment increased by 77 percent
during this period and gains in production were
even greater. The December 1951 employment
of 84,100 was about 15 percent higher than in June
1950 when hostilities began in Korea. Manage­
ment plans for expansion of production facilities
indicate a continuation of the upward trend in
both employment and production.
T h e great expansion

Nature and Use of Products

Inorganic chemicals are those derived from non­
living matter, such as salt, sulfur, mineral ores,
limestone, and water. Among the principal prod­
ucts are sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric, and phos­
phoric acids; soda ash; caustic soda; chlorine; and
ammonia. Inorganic chemicals are used in almost
every kind of manufacturing as raw materials and
processing agents. They are basic ingredients in
the manufacture of steel, glass, paper, plastics,
and thousands of products in everyday use. They
are essential materials in the manufacture of arma­
ments and munitions.
Sulfuric acid is the most widely used industrial
chemical. The fertilizer industry usually con­
sumes about a third of sulfuric acid production,
petroleum refining a tenth, and chemicals a fifth.
The remaining production is distributed through­
out such a large range of industries that the con­
sumption of sulfuric acid is sometimes regarded as
a rough barometer of industrial activity.
Nitric acid is second only to sulfuric in value
and diversity of uses. Formerly produced by the
action of sulfuric acid on Chilean nitrates, it is
now made principally from synthetic ammonia.
Nitric acid is a basic raw material in manufacturing
military explosives. Other important uses are in
the making of industrial explosives, fertilizers,
plastics, paints, and solvents.
Phosphoric acid ranks second only to sulfuric
acid in volume produced. It has an essential role
in the rustproofing of steel and the manufacture
of high-grade fertilizer phosphates, cleansing
agents, phosphates for the food industry, synthetic
detergents, and ammoniated dentifrices.

528

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

Hydrochloric acid, although the tonnage pro­
duced is only a twentieth that of sulfuric acid,
has numerous special uses, such as pickling steel
for tinning; making chlorine compounds; activat­
ing oil wells; and manufacturing dyes, plastics,
and other chemicals.
Soda ash is the principal alkali in volume pro­
duced. It is used primarily in the manufacture
of glass (40 percent), chemicals and drugs (30 per­
cent), and soap and cleanser manufacture (10 per­
cent). The remaining production is used in the
nonferrous metals industries, paper and pulp man­
ufacture, the manufacture of textiles, and in water
softening and petroleum refining.
Caustic soda, second alkali in terms of volume,
is consumed chiefly in the manufacture of rayon
(20 percent), chemicals (16 percent), soap (13 per­
cent), and in petroleum refining (12 percent).
Sodium sulfate is used in the manufacture of
kraft paper, window glass, in textile dyeing, nickel
smelting, and medicine.
Sodium silicate is made by fusing sand and soda
ash. Its uses are numerous: impregnating wood,
fixing dyes, rendering cement and brick nonporous,
and as a detergent and adhesive.
Calcium carbide is important mainly because,
with water, it forms acetylene, which in turn is
used in manufacturing many organic chemicals.
Most nitrogen compounds are made from syn­
thetic ammonia which is derived from nitrogen in
the air. The fertilizer industry is the principal
user of nitrogen compounds. Other uses are in
the manufacture of explosives, plastics, and fibers,
and in the dye industry.
Chlorine is used primarily in the manufacture
of such chemical products as antifreeze solutions,
carbon tetrachloride, synthetic rubber, dry clean­
ing fluids, and ethyl gasoline (77 percent). The
paper and pulp industry consumes about 11 per­
cent, and sewage and sanitation, 4 percent.
Production and Employment Trends

The manufacture of chemicals on a small scale
was started in this country before the American
Revolution, and began to develop into a major
industry toward the end of the nineteenth cen­
tury, when continuous processing was introduced
to replace the old, small-quantity, batch methods.
Technical “know-how” helped to produce more
uniform products, and large-scale production came

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MONTHLY LABOR

into being. Until the beginning of World War I,
the industrial chemicals industry was devoted al­
most entirely to the production of inorganic
chemicals. Currently, these products constitute
about 75 percent of the tonnage and 23 percent of
the value added by manufacture of industrial
chemical production; organic chemical manufac­
ture accounts for the remainder.
Production of the major inorganic chemicals
has increased greatly since 1939. The output of
hydrochloric acid, chlorine, and ammonia by 1950
had increased by more than 4 times, and sulfuric
acid and caustic soda output had doubled. Nitric
acid, however, has shown the greatest increase,
jumping from 168,000 tons produced in 1939 to
1,336,000 tons in 1950, nearly 8 times as much.
(See table 1.)
T able

1.—Production of selected industrial inorganic chem­

icals, specified years, 1939-50 1

Production (thousands of short tons)
Chemical

Sulfuric acid____________________
Nitric a c id _____________________
Phosphoric acid_________________
Hydrochloric acid....... .......................
Soda ash.. _____________________
Caustic soda, __________________
Sodium sulfate., ______________
Sodium silicate______ ___ ___ ____
Chlorine. . .
_________________
Calcium carbide. ______ _______
Ammonia (synthetic anhydrous)...

1939

1941

4, 795
168
(2)
124
2,900
1,045
(2)
(2)
514
(2)
311

6,770
347
663
228
3,724
1,429
752
386
800
370
501

World War
II peak year
9,522
483
731
408
4.718
1,871
866

428
1,262
789
548

(1945)
(1943)
(1945)
(1945)
(1944)
(1944)
(1944)
(1944)
(1944)
(1944)
(1945)

1950
13,029
1, 336
1, 641
619
4,329
2,510
931
486
2,084
671
1,566

i Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census, Pacts for Industry.
1 N ot available.

This country consumes most of the chemicals
it produces, but foreign markets also are important.
The United States is now the world’s largest ex­
porter of chemicals, having taken over leadership
from Germany after World War II. The principal
inorganic chemical exports in terms of dollar value
are anhydrous ammonia, calcium carbide, potas­
sium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, sodium bicar­
bonate, and sodium silicate. Imports of inorganic
chemicals, on the other hand, are small by compari­
son.
Employment in inorganic chemicals has ex­
panded less rapidly than production. This indus­
try is noted for its ability to produce a huge
volume of material with relatively few workers.
Development of highly mechanized, continuous
processes enables the plants to operate with a
minimum of manual handling.

529

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

REVIEW, MAY 1952

Employment in Industrial Inorganic Chemicals, 1951

'/

Pres
egOQ • /

°at¿¿
</ / / , .
1/A//// / / / / / / / / /
1/ / XS/ / / / / / / / / / /
? $ / / /J y / / / / / / / / / /

/

f / / / / / / / / / y / / K / / / / / / / / / / / / y

r/' // // // // // // // // AZ / / y

/ / / / / / / / / /
9/\/
/ / //v
\// / / / / / / / A / / / / / /
y/ /
/ 1 / / / / / / / ']’ // // // // // // // // y,
] / / y . 3/y y y - ^ c / ' / / / / / / / / '
I / / / / / / / / Utah ' / / / / / / / / s
''///////A//// ■ ////////y

/ / / / / / / A/ / / / y y y\

/ / / / / / / / \ / / / / / / A
/ / / / / / / / A

Minn.' /

/ / / / ¿W isco n sin

/////////. //// \/ /////
/ //
/////////. ///
/ / / / / / / / / . / / / / / /J/ / / /
¿
y
/
/
/
/
/
.
___________ . , i o w a / / / \ / / / /
N e b ra s k a ' / A fn 4 / / / / / / /

/ / / / / / / / / /

V/ / / / / / /

/ / / / / / / / / / V

' / / / / / / / A / / / / / / / \ y ° l °™<ÌOr 7

/ / / / / /

/ / / / / / / A / / / / / / _ ..... ......
/ / / / / / / / \ 7 7 y> / / / ü i i n o i s ï

'//////A//////A//// / ////
• / / / / / I / / / / / / A / / / / / / / s / Kansas A . *

'/ / / .
'W //'

c//

/ / y / / / / / / A / / / / / / / / /
: / / / { ¿ ¿ ¿ / / / / / \ / / / / / / / / /
'/ A A t
/ / / / / / / / /

- -00

i

// / /

^ / / / / / \ / / / / / / A / / / / / / / / /

*////////*"' I////////
’/ / / / / / /
X/ / / / / / / /
$////, / / /

^

__
/ / / / / / / / /y/ / / / \/
////I//AT/
South Dakota

^Otdah^maj

'//////.

\///////
\ / / / / / / / /\
i/ / / / / / \

/ y / / / / \

',////

Percent of Industrial^ 77
Inorganic Chemical
Employment
M M

L E S S THAN 1 %
I AND U NDER 5
5 AND U N D E R 10
10 TO 1 3 .5 %

An all-time employment high of 84,100 was
reached in December 1951, a rise of 77 percent
over 1939. (See table 2.) Employment rose
sharply with the outbreak of World War II; it
reached a peak of 71,200 workers in June 1942 and
then declined gradually. Production of major
products, however, was maintained or increased
throughout the war years. The postwar low point
in employment occurred in November 1945 with
58,700 workers. By mid-1946, the manufacturing
industries had converted to production of peace­
time goods and were again using large quantities
of chemicals. Employment then began to rise
again and has increased continuously except for a
slight decline in 1949. Since the outbreak of
hostilities in Korea, employment has increased
by about 13 percent.
Most of the more than 400 plants making indus­
trial inorganic chemicals are located near the source
of raw material in order to minimize transporta9 9 8 4 4 4 — 52------- 4


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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

tion costs. There has been a gradual shift in the
location of plants since 1939, but the East North
Central region continues to employ the greatest
number of workers (29 percent). This region,
combined with the Northeast (20 percent), the
South Atlantic (16 percent), and the Pacific (17
percent) accounts for 82 percent of total employ­
ment in the industry. Employment in all regions
increased between 1939 and 1951, with the Pacific
Coast States registering the greatest gain and re­
placing the South Atlantic as the third-ranking
region in this industry. (See map.)
Employment is concentrated in large plants. Of
the 412 establishments classified in the industry by
the 1947 Census of Manufactures, 33 employed
over 500 workers each and together accounted for
more than 60 percent of the total employment.
Almost 300 establishments had fewer than 100 em­
ployees each, representing less than 12 percent of
total employment. The remaining 28 percent of

530

MONTHLY LABOR

EMPLOYMENT—CHEMICALS INDUSTRY

the workers were employed in 83 plants having
100-499 workers each. Because of the large in­
vestment in plant and equipment, the industry
was able to record $742 million in value added by
manufacture in 1950, while employing only 71,500
workers. It ranks second only to the petroleum­
refining industry in average value added by manu­
facture per production worker.
Types of Occupations

In a chemical plant, the types of jobs depend
more on how the products are made than on what
the products are. Generally, mass production
takes the form, not of assembly lines, but of con­
tinuous or “ automatic process” production. Op­
erators of a wide variety of specialized equipment
are required at various stages as the raw materials
pass through both chemical and physical changes.
Some of the chemical changes are oxidation, elec­
trolysis, combustion, and neutralization. Among
the physical changes called “ unit operations” are
evaporation, drying, filtration, mixing, and crystal­
lization.
Among the production workers, chemical opera­
tors comprise the largest occupational group.
Their jobs usually consist of work with high pres­
sure or vacuum equipment with which they con­
trol reaction time, temperature, and pressure.
Other important processing occupations are those
of stillmen, who operate distillation equipment;
driers, who operate equipment which separates
water from solids; batchmakers, who operate mix­
ing machines; and millers, who operate pulverizing
equipment. To keep the vast amount of equip­
ment in working condition, the industry also em­
ploys many maintenance workers, such as machin­
ists, carpenters, pipe fitters, and electricians.
Less than 10 percent of the workers in the
industry are women. Three-fourths of these
work in office jobs. The women who work in the
T able 2.—Average employment in industrial inorganic

chemicals, 1939-51

Y ear

1039___________
1940.............. ..
1941___________
1942___________
1943___________
1944___________
1 9 4 5 ...

A ll e m ­
p lo y e e s

P roduc­
tio n
w o rk ers

47.600
53,000
63, 500
69.600
69.400
65.400
61,900

33.800
38.300
47,500
53.800
55.300
52,600
49,000


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Y ea r

1 9 4 6 ..
1 9 4 7 ...
1 9 4 8 ...
1949 .
1950
1 9 5 1 ..
D ecem ber.

A ll e m ­
p lo y e e s

60, 600
66,600
70,900
68,400
71,500
82,200
84,100

P rodu c­
tio n
w o rk ers
4 7 ,600
51.900
54, 700
52,300
52.900
60, 000
61,400

T able 3. —Average hours and gross earnings of production

workers in industrial inorganic chemicals and nondurablegoods industries, 1947-52
I n d u s tr ia l in o r g a n ic c h e m i­
ca ls

A l l -m a n u f a ctu rin g

Y e a r a n d m o n th
A verage
w e e k ly
hours

1947_______________
1948______________
1949_______________
1950. ____________
1951______________
1952: J a n u a r y .........

4 0 .3
4 0 .9
4 0 .6
4 0 .9
4 1 .7
4 1 .0

A v e r a g e ea r n in g s
H o u r ly

W e e k ly

A v era g e
w e e k ly
hours

$1.381
1. 519
1. 574
1.660
1.807
1.844

$55.65
62.1 3
63.9 0
67.8 9
75.19
75.6 0

4 0 .4
40 .1
3 9 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .8
4 1 .2

A v e r a g e ea r n in g s
H o u r ly

W e e k ly

$1.237
1.350
1.401
1.4 6 5
1.594
1.6 4 0

$49. 97
54.14
54. 92
59. 33
64. 92
67. 40

plants are employed mainly in the packaging and
laboratory departments.
Research is especially important in the chemical
industry. New products and new methods of
production are constantly being sought and de­
veloped. Each year the leading companies allo­
cate large amounts of money and man-hours to
research and development work. The industry
employs an unusually large number of professional
and research persons. The National Academy of
Science reports that in 1950 the inorganic and
organic chemicals industries together employed
7,488 professional persons, representing more than
10 percent of the total professional personnel em­
ployed in all branches of industrial research. In
addition, these industries employ about 9 percent
of the total technical personnel engaged in sup­
porting research activities. The principal occupa­
tional groups in research are: chemists; chemical,
mechanical, electrical, and other types of engi­
neers; and research and laboratory technicians.
Professional, administrative, and office personnel
constitute about a fourth of the total employ­
ment in the industry.
Trends in Earnings and Working Conditions

Earnings, both hourly and weekly, are higher
than the average for all-manufacturing (table 3).
In January 1952, average hourly rates were over a
fifth higher than those in nondurable-goods indus­
tries and an eighth higher than the average for
all-manufacturing.
Straight-time hourly earnings vary considerably
among regions. In a survey of the industry made
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1949, the
Southwest reported the highest median straighttime hourly earnings and the Southeastern region
the lowest, as shown by the following figures:

REVIEW, MAY 1952

LABOR IN CANADA
M e d ia n
rate 1

United States___________________________$1.
Middle Atlantic_______________________
1.
1.
Border States_________________________
Southeast_____________________________ 1.
Great Lakes___________________________ 1.
Middle West__________________________ 1.
Southwest_____________________________ 1.
Pacific________________________
1.

53
45
46
09
55
31
62
56

1 S ource: U . S. B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , W a g e S tr u c tu r e , C h e m ic a ls,
1949.

Most plants work around the clock and differ­
ential pay is given to those on the second or third
shift. Paid holidays, 2-week paid vacations, and
time and a half for overtime are common pro­
visions in most union contracts.
Injury-frequency rates in the industrial chemi­
cals industry have been consistently lower than
the average for manufacturing as a whole; and in
recent years, the severity rates have dropped to
less than the average for all-manufacturing.
(See table 4.)

531

production probably will increase at a faster rate
than employment.
Workers in this industry have relatively steady
jobs. There is little seasonal fluctuation and the
rates of accessions and separations have been
consistently lower than in most other manufactur­
ing industries. The level of employment is not
closely related to variations in output. Operators
and maintenance workers must be on hand to tend
the equipment whether or not the plant is produc­
ing at full capacity.
—Janeece F ord and William J. Shickler
Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics

Changes Affecting Labor in
Canada During 1951

T able 4.— Worker injury rates in industrial chemicals,

and all-manufacturing, 1945-50
I n d u s tr ia l c h e m ic a ls

A ll-m a n u fa c tu r in g

Y ear
F requency1
1945_______________________
1946______________________
1947_______________________
1948______________ ______
1949_______________________
19503______________________

1 6 .0
15.6
13.1
10.9
8 .4
9 .5

S e v e r it y 2 F r e q u e n c y 1
2 .3
1 .9
2 .0
2 .2
1 .0
1 .0

18 .6
19.9
18.8
17 .2
14.5
14 .7

S e v e r it y 2
1 .6
1 .6
1 .4
1 .5
1 .4
1 .2

• T h e in ju r y -fr e q u e n c y r a te is th e a v er a g e n u m b e r o f d is a b lin g w o r k in ju rie s
for eac h m illio n e m p lo y e e -h o u r s w o r k e d .
2 T h e s e v e r ity r a te is th e a v er a g e n u m b e r o f d a y s lo s t, b e c a u s e o f d is a b lin g
w ork in ju rie s, p er 1,000 e m p lo y e e -h o u r s w o rk ed .
8 D a t a for 1950 is for in d u str ia l in o r g a n ic c h e m ic a ls. T h is sep a r a tio n is
n o t a v a ila b le for p r e v io u s y ea r s.

Employment Outlook

The industrial inorganic chemicals industry
supplies the basic chemicals for large segments
of industry and agriculture. Expanding indus­
trial activity has created shortages of such chemi­
cals as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, ammonia, and
chlorine. To overcome these shortages, the
industry is expanding its facilities and increasing
production. Chlorine capacity, for example, is
expected to be increased 50 percent by the end of
1953, sulfur output is scheduled to be increased 8
percent by 1953, and the goal for nitrogen produc­
tion is an 80-percent increase by 1955. This
expansion of production facilities indicates a
continued long-term upward trend of both pro­
duction and employment, although, as in the past,

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Progressive industrialization raised the num­
ber of Canadians at work to an all-time peak of
5,350,000 in August 1951, before rearmament had
hit its stride.1 In terms of total labor income the
year 1951 was prosperous. However, labor was
affected by inflationary forces in the form of
rising prices and deflationary policies which caused
some rise in unemployment. The rapid climb in
the cost of living which wiped out a large part of
labor’s wage gains attained through collectively
bargained escalator clauses and interim rate
increases, led the major labor groups to unite in
pressing for price and related controls. Organized
labor’s anti-Communist drive, which the two
major federations of labor had started at their
1950 conventions, continued unabated.
Defense and the Labor Force

Expansion in the Canadian labor force kept
even pace with the increase in population during
1951. More immigrants entered Canada than
in any year since 1913—almost 200,000—and the
1952 target is almost as large. A substantial
number of immigrant workers are channeled into
agricultural employment. In addition to immi­
grants and the normal increase in the labor force,
1 B a s e d o n A n n u a l L a b o r R e p o r t fo r C a n a d a , 1951, b y J o s e p h G o d s o n ,
L a b o r A tta c h é , U . S . E m b a s s y , O tta w a .

532

LABOR IN CANADA

Canada still has untapped reserves of older and
younger workers.
Agriculture now accounts for only 20 percent of
the civilian labor force. Manufacturing, con­
struction, logging, distribution, and service indus­
tries are expanding and a considerable shift in
the employable population is taking place from
farms to cities and towns and also to remote areas
where resource development projects are under
way.
World-wide needs for the products of Canada’s
basic extractive and manufacturing industries
(food, lumber, newsprint, and minerals) provide
firm support for the expanding economy. Large
construction projects for resource development
and defense plants as well as defense manu­
facturing contracts, and the demands created by
heavy immigration, all point to a continued high
level of employment and a strong bargaining
position for labor in 1952.
Present rearmament plans call for 8 to 10 per­
cent of the labor force compared with the peak
of 40 percent during the World War II effort.
While serious manpower shortages have not de­
veloped, the current defense program has created
shortages in certain skills. For example, Canada
is planning to produce both engines and frames for
jet and piston type planes, instead of airframes
only. To find the necessary skilled workers, inplant training and upgrading programs are being
encouraged, and skills are being sought abroad.
Seventy skilled immigrants are being flown in
from England each week; vocational training
enrollment increased 30 percent over 1949-50;
and national registration of technical and pro­
fessional personnel (needed for defense) is under­
way. A National Advisory Council on Manpower,
appointed in February 1951, suggested some of
these measures and remains alert for further
developments.
Severe seasonal unemployment normally char­
acterizes the Canadian economy even when
employment levels reach new heights. Cut­
backs in consumer-goods industries, high inven­
tories, and reduced consumer buying because of
high prices were complicating factors in the winter
of 1951-52. Automobile and electric-appliance
plants in Ontario and Quebec were the first to be
affected, followed by iron and steel, primary
textiles, furniture, and garment trades.

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MONTHLY LABOR

Applications for employment in December 1951
and January 1952 were respectively 18.5 percent
and 21 percent above the corresponding months
a year earlier. This extra-seasonal growth in
unemployment was ascribed in part to the Govern­
ment anti-inflation measures taken earlier in 1951.
Wage and Price Levels

Wages, salaries, and supplementary wage pay­
ments in the aggregate rose 13 percent from
December 1950 to December 1951. Nonagricultural employment rose about 3 percent. Per­
sonal savings also increased. Both average
weekly earnings of industrial wage earners and
the cost of living rose 11 percent in 1951. The
Canadian Congress of Labor (CCL) reported that,
in order to purchase the same amount of food as
could be bought in 1946 with an hour’s earnings,
Canadian workers had to work 6 minutes longer
in 1951.
Unions and Collective Bargaining

Owing to the sharp rise in the cost of living,
over a fifth of the collective agreements concluded
in 1951, covering 130,000 workers, contained
escalator clauses for wage adjustment. The up­
ward trend in living costs also led the Canadian
Congress of Labor (CCL), the Trades and Labor
Congress (TLC),2 the Canadian and Catholic
Federation of Labor, and the Railroad Brother­
hoods to unite in demanding price controls, sub­
sidies, and the reimposition of rent controls; there
was some discussion, but no implementation, of
a proposed national wage-coordinating committee.
Instead of acting on labor’s demand for direct
controls, the Government relied upon indirect
methods, namely, financial and credit measures,
taxation, and a budget surplus, in order to control
incipient inflation. These measures were success­
ful, but accompanied as they were by shrinking
consumer demand, may have been more defla­
tionary than intended.
TLC and CCL were also united on foreign
policy. They wholeheartedly supported the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United Nations
» T h e C C L a n d T L C in c lu d e m e m b e r o r g a n iz a tio n s a ffilia te d w it h th e
C I O a n d A F L , r e s p e c tiv e ly . F o r a d is c u ss io n o f t h e 1951 c o n v e n tio n s of
th e s e F e d e r a tio n s , see t h e M o n t h ly L a b o r R e v ie w for D e c e m b e r 1951 (p . 692).

REVIEW, MAY 1952

LABOR IN CANADA

in Korea, and other measures to resist Soviet
aggression. Both belong to and support the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
The Canadian sections of the Automobile
Workers and Steelworkers Unions (CCL) were
pressing for an extension of “master contracts”
covering workers in firms operating on both sides
of the border, and for equal pay with United
States workers on similar jobs.
The numerical strength of the Canadian unions
has been steadily increasing. Moreover, the
number of workers covered by collective agree­
ments was 1,282,000 in 1950, exceeding total
union membership by more than 250,000. This
difference was possible because union contracts
generally apply to all employees in the bargaining
unit—nonunion as well as union. Of the total
number of Canadian nonagricultural wage and
salary workers almost 35 percent were covered
and 30 percent were union members. Regarding
organization and collective bargaining rights, a
public opinion poll taken among Canadians in
1951 showed that 85 percent accepted these
rights; however, only 65 percent acquiesced in
the right to strike.
Union organization is weak among salaried
employees. During 1951, the CCL had a costly
set-back in its efforts to win collective-bargaining
rights in a large Toronto department store and
mail-order house. In this .instance, the union
lost an election conducted by the Ontario Labor
Relations Board.
A marked decrease in time lost due to work
stoppages in 1951—continuing a trend started in
1948—reflected the considerable progress made in
peaceful collective bargaining since the early
postwar years. Man-days lost in 1951 totaled
872,300 compared with 1,389,039 in 1950. How­
ever, collective agreements, involving large num­
bers of workers in basic industries, expire in the
spring of 1952 and may result in an increase in
stoppages.
In one Province, Quebec, the Catholic syndi­
cates are making organizational headway, as a
result of a more militant attitude than in the past.
Organized labor had some set-backs during
1951. Labor organizations did not obtain repre­
sentation in the Government’s defense agencies.
The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation


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533

(CCF), which CCL and some local segments of
TLC have considered their political arm, declined
in influence. In November, CCF was badly
defeated in the Ontario elections.
The first Canadian Labor Attaché, former
secretary-general of CCL, was appointed in 1951,
to service in Washington.
Legislation

Federal laws of interest to labor which were
passed during 1951 included an amendment of the
income-tax legislation to permit deduction of
annual trade-union dues from taxable income.
This exemption does not include initiation fees,
special-purpose levies, or contributions to pension
and similar funds. The old-age pension system
was liberalized by a unanimous vote. The means
test was removed for those with 20 years’ residence
in Canada who are 70 years of age. (The pension
is $40 a month.) Another 1951 law prohibited
manufacturers from imposing maximum or fixed
retail prices. But the anticipated competition
from price cuts failed to materialize.
Communists in Unions

A number of Communist-dominated unions at
the local and regional level were expelled or
reorganized to eliminate Communist control.
Two provincial labor relations boards decertified,
or refused to certify, certain unions as bargaining
agents, on grounds of Communist domination.
TLC approved these decisions because they were
in line with 1950 decertification of the Canadian
Seamen’s Union by the Federal Board—action
which it had endorsed. However, these two de­
cisions were not backed by CCL leaders who
oppose the precedent of Government action and
some of the smaller organizations (e. g., the
Catholic Syndicates) fear this precedent.
In spite of the success of the national federations
in depriving the Communists of a national sound­
ing board, they are still entrenched in the basic
metal-mining industry and in a number of im­
portant electric and electronics plants. Some
Communist-dominated unions gained membership
during 1951, and certain employers continued to
bargain with them.

534

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

The Defense Mobilizer’s
Fifth Quarterly Report
C ontinued expansion of defense production dur­
ing the remainder of 1952 followed by a levelingoff of production for the next 2 years is foreseen
in the fifth quarterly report 1 of Director of De­
fense Mobilization Charles E. Wilson which was
issued just before his resignation. This defense
expansion will be aided by the current recordbreaking rate at which industry—defense and
civilian—is expanding in an effort to provide pro­
ductive capacity to support the defense program
and to satisfy consumer needs. To the nearly 6
million workers now employed in the defense pro­
gram almost 2 million will have to be added dur­
ing the remainder of the year. Although previous
reports indicate shortages of all major industrial
metals through 1952, the report states that the
outlook is now brighter but, in the case of steel, is
contingent on the outcome of that industry’s labor
dispute.

Military Production

Deliveries of defense “hard goods”—tanks,
planes, and other weapons—in the first quarter of
1952 have climbed to $5.1 billion, a gain of 38 per­
cent over the previous quarter. Construction and
deliveries of all military goods totaled $6.9 billion
for the same period. At present an estimated
$23 billion of the $94 billion available for procure­
ment and construction remains unobligated. The
climb in deliveries, Mr. Wilson states, will con­
tinue through 1952 to nearly double current totals
“so that our forces in Korea get the equipment
they need, when they need it, and the build-up of
our forces and those of our allies in Europe and
elsewhere will proceed as rapidly as necessary to
deter aggression.” Deliveries will then level off
for the next 2 years.
A prime objective, according to the Defense
Mobilizer, is to build the mobilization base—
“that is, the facilities and production lines beyond
those needed for the current program which would
enable us, if we should be forced into all-out war,
to move quickly to the scale of military produci
Source: F ifth Q u a r te r ly R e p o r t to t h e P r e s id e n t, S tr e n g th for th e L o n g
R u n , tr a n s m itte d b y t h e D ir e c to r o f D e fe n s e M o b iliz a tio n , A p r il 1, 1952.


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MONTHLY LABOR

tion that would be necessary.” Necessary capac­
ity for the current program is “in place or in sight,”
Mr. Wilson continues, “and a large part of the
efforts of the mobilization agencies can be shifted
to completing the mobilization base.”
Manpower and Materials

Most of the additional 2 million workers required
for the defense program will be supplied by shifts
from nondefense to defense employment. In
addition, the report states, some of the required
defense manpower will be met by the expansion
of the labor force which adds 800,000 workers
annually. In line with training defense workers,
the Defense Mobilizer reported that he approved
a new manpower policy which places upon manage­
ment the responsibility for defense training.
Although employment in the United States is
currently at a high level, 21 major areas have
unemployment of over 6 percent of the labor force,
and 101 areas have moderate labor surpluses, the
report states. Labor shortages, however, exist
in 5 major areas and a balanced labor market in
47 others.
Two factors were outlined in the report that may
affect the brighter outlook anticipated in supplies
of critical materials. “The supply estimates for
steel could be revised drastically if an extended
strike should occur, and the same is true for other
materials,” the Defense Mobilizer warned. In
addition, the report pointed out that although the
outlook is favorable for flat-rolled steel products,
aluminum, and lead, other steel products, copper,
tin, and nickel were still in tight supply.

Wage Chronology No. 22:
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 1943-51
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. generates and sells
electricity and purchases and sells gas, water, and
steam in an area covering 89,000 square miles
across California’s Central Valley. With its 75
hydro-electric and steam generating plants, in
addition to power from Shasta and Keswick Dams,
the company has a gross normal operating capacT he

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

ity of 3,049,400 kilowatts. Its 2 million customers
are served by 17,000 workers. Changes in the
w#ge rates and working conditions of the majority
of these employees, namely those who are repre­
sented by the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers-AFL (IBEW), are covered in
this chronology.1
Prior to 1945 natural wells in California were
the main source of the company’s gas supply.
Then growing requirements for natural gas made
it necessary to lay 2,100 miles of pipeline (500
miles of it within California) to bring in fuel from
western Texas, New Mexico, and southwestern
Colorado. Today, this line carries in 400 million
cubic feet of gas per day for use in the Central
California area. It is supplemented by more than
13,000 miles of gas transmission and distribution
lines across the Central Valley.
The company’s operating, maintenance and con­
struction employees are currently represented by
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Work­
ers-AFL (IBEW). Organization of the employees
began during 1937, when the Utility Workers Union
of America-CIO (UWUA)—then known as the
United Electrical and Radio Workers of AmericaCIO and later known as the Utility Workers
Organizing Committee-CIO—-lost an election to
the California Gas and Electric Employee’s Union
(Ind.) to represent the company’s entire force of
outside employees. On the original ballot the
IBEW was also listed, but it withdrew before the
election was held and did not appear again in the
bargaining history until 1943. In June 1942 the
UWUA was certified by the National Labor Rela­
tions Board as agent for all employees in one of the
company’s geographic divisions. Between July
1942 and January 1943 the UWUA was certified
to represent the same group of employees in three
other divisions and in the Central Supply Depart­
ment. The first UWUA agreement was signed in
December 1942, with five interim agreements
leading up to the basic agreement of August 15,
1944. Annual agreements were negotiated each
year thereafter until 1950, when the IBEW won
the right to negotiate for these employees.
In June 1943, the company and the IBEW
signed the first agreement covering the operating,
maintenance, and construction workers in nine
divisions not represented by the UWUA. In May


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535

1944 they signed an agreement covering clerical
workers in 5 divisions. A series of elections was
held between that time and 1950, when the IBEW
became the sole bargaining agent for 11,700 of the
company’s 17,000 workers in the 13 geographic
divisions.
In recent years wage provisions have been
embodied in separate agreements from those deal­
ing with supplementary benefits. The agreement
dealing with related wage provisions was made
effective September 1,1950, but was superseded by
the wage agreement effective April 1, 1951, which
was to remain in force until March 31, 1952.
In the wage agreements, progression from the
minimum or starting to maximum rates is gov­
erned by well-defined schedules. These schedules
specifically set forth the length of time required
to move from one step to another as well as the
salary rate applicable to each upward step. The
length of time necessary to reach the maximum
varies with the occupation, resulting in 12 pro­
gression schedules. (See table B, footnote 3.)
The wage schedule in the most recent agreement
is divided into three groups: (1) operations, main­
tenance, and construction employees in all divi­
sions and Building Department employees, (2)
production employees in the Gas Supply and
Control Department, and (3) production employ­
ees in the Central Supply Department.
For the purpose of applying related wage
practices, employees are classified, not only into
these three categories but by types of working
schedule, the continuity of these schedules, the
type of service rendered, and place of performance
of work.
In this chronology the changes in wages and
related practices for operating, maintenance and
construction workers (other than the General
Construction Department) are those included in
the IBEW agreements from 1943 to 1952. The
changes resulting from UWUA-CIO negotiations
are not reported since that organization does not
at present represent any of these employees.
Provisions of the IBEW agreement reported for
1943 do not necessarily indicate changes in
previous conditions of employment.
i
F o r t h e p u r p o se a n d sc o p e o f t h e w a g e c h r o n o lo g y series se e M o n t h ly
L a b o r R e v ie w , D e c e m b e r 1948. R e p r in ts o f t h is c h r o n o lo g y are a v a ila b le o n
r e q u e s t.

536

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

MONTHLY LABOR

A—General Wage Changes 1
Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and othe*
related matters

Provision

June 15, 1943-_ _____
July 16, 1945, Oct. 1, 1945 (negotiations
completed Dec. 17, 1945).
Nov. 1, 1945 (negotiations completed
Jan. 14, 1946).
Feb. 1, 1946 (by agreement of April 26,
1946)
.
Dec. 1,1946 (by agreement of same date)__

No general wage change ______
10 percent increase, averaging 11
cents an hour.
5 percent increase, averaging 6 cents
an hour.
percent increase, averaging 3
cents an hour.
6 percent increase plus $2.50 a week,
averaging 14 cents an hour.
$2 a week increase________ ______

Dec. 1, 1947 (by agreement of Nov. 25,
1947)
.
Mar. 1, 1948 (by agreement of same date) _ $2.80 a week increase. ________ _
Mar. 1, 1949 (by agreement of Jan. 11, 9 cents an hour increase_____
1949)
.
Sept. 1, 1950 (by agreement of same date) _ 3 percent increase, averaging approx­
imately 5 cents an hour.

To offset the reduction of workweek
from 48 to 40 hours.

The 5 cents includes the cost of an
interarea adjustment amounting to
3 mills an hour.2

Jan. 1, 1951 (by agreement of Sept. 1, 1 percent increase, averaging approx­
imately 2 cents an hour.
1950)
.
Apr. 1, 1951 (by agreement of same d ate)._ 5.8 percent increase, averaging 10
cents an hour.

1

i G e n e ra l w a g e ch a n g es are c o n stru ed as u p w a r d or d o w n w a r d a d ju stm en ts
t h a t a ffe c t a n e n tir e e s ta b lis h m e n t, b a r g a in in g u n it , or s u b s ta n tia l g ro u p o f
e m p lo y e e s a t o n e tim e . N o t in c lu d e d w it h in t h e te r m are a d ju s tm e n ts in
in d iv id u a l ra tes (p r o m o tio n s, m e r it in c r e a se s, e tc .) a n d m in o r a d ju s tm e n ts
in w a g e str u c tu r e (su c h as c h a n g e s in c la ssific a tio n ra tes) th a t d o n o t h a v e
a n im m e d ia te e ffe c t on th e gen er a l w a g e le v e l.
T h e c h a n g e s lis te d a b o v e w ere t h e m a jo r a d ju s tm e n ts in w a g e ra te s m a d e
d u r in g th e p eriod co v e r e d . B e c a u s e o f flu c tu a tio n s in ea r n in g s o cc a sio n e d
b y n o n g e n e r a l ch a n g e s, p a y m e n t o f p r e m iu m a n d s p e c ia l ra tes a n d o th e r
factors, t h e to ta l o f t h e g en era l ch a n g es liste d w ill n o t n e c e ssa r ily c o in c id e
w it h t h e ch a n g e in a v er a g e h o u r ly ea r n in g s o v e r t h e p erio d .

T h e 3 m ills r e su lte d from e q u a liz in g ra tes b e tw e e n areas fo rm er ly repre­
se n te d b y th e U W U A - C I O a n d th o se re p r ese n te d b y th e I B E W - A F L . T h e
d iffer en ces b e tw e e n t h e 2 ty p e s o f areas h a d d e v e lo p e d from a c e n ts-p er-h o u r
increase p rev io u sly granted in th e territory form erly rep r ese n te d b y th e U W U A ,
a s o p p o se d to th e p e rc en ta g e in cr ea se g ra n ted th e I B E W areas. T h e a d ju s t­
m e n t w a s m a d e b y r a isin g ra tes b e lo w $66.75 a w e e k in th e I B E W area to th e
fo rm er U W U A rates; a n d a ll ra tes a b o v e $66.75 a w e e k in fo rm er U W U A
terr ito ries to th e I B E W ra te.

B—Weekly and Daily Rates for Selected Occupations at Specified Dates 1944-1951
Effective date, minimumand maximumrates and progression schedules
D e p a r tm e n t a n d jo b t itle 1

J a n . 11, 1944 2
M in im um

M a x im um

D e c . 1, 1946
M in im um

M a x im um

S e p t. 1, 1950
M in im um

M a x im um

J a n . 1 ,1 9 5 1
M in im um

M a x im um

A p r . 1 ,1951
M in im um

M a x im um

O p era tio n , m a in ten a n c e, a n d co n structio n

Cable splicers.......................................................... .
Cable splicers, apprentice.................................... .
Carpenters, finish_________________________
Clerks, field (water collection)........... ............. .
Collectors; collector and meter readers........... .
Communication men A ___________ ____ ____
Communication men B ____________________
Communication men C ........ ............. ............... .
Combination station-attendant-servicemen....
Electricians_______________________ ______
Electricians, apprentice; linemen, apprentice.
Fitters_____________________ ______________
Fitters, apprentice________________________ _
Fitters, pipe..............................................................
Firemen; gas makers______________________ _
Groundmen, helper____________ __________ _
Instrument m en..................................................... .
L aborers............................................... ............... .
Linemen; metermen, senior........ ....................... .
Machinists............... .................. ................ ..........
Maintenance men (street light)_____________
Mechanics (electric maintenance department)
Machinists, apprentice..........................................
Mechanics (gas street department)__________
Mechanics, service (gas service departm ent)...
Metermen (electric department)................ ........
Metermen, apprentice; engineers, building 12
Meter readers_____________________________

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$52.80
37.2 0
37.8 0

49.20
39.20
44.80
40.20
36.2 0
41.20
» 5. 84
1« 5 .8 4
49.20
47.20
39. 20
43. 20
39 .2 0
47.20
48.20
41.20
5.8 4

2 *$56.60
3 * 49. 20
« 49. 20
(«)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(«)
(7)
3 * 52. 60
3 à 47. 20
3 • 46.00
3 * 43. 20
3 1 39. 20
3 / 4 5 .2 0
3 3 37. 20
(6)
3 « 35. 20
3 * 52. 60
3 / 51. 20
3 / 43. 20
3 / 47. 20
3 « 45. 20
3 * 49. 20
3 * 49. 20
3 * 46. 40
3 * 39. 20

(8)

$51.80
4 9 .0 0
57.7 0
64.40
56.8 0
46.8 0
60. 55
51.80
53.10
48.00
(» )

54.3 0
51.80
63.10
51.80
46.15

4 $73. 65
3 * 68.90
4 52. 75
« 65.15
«63. 45
« 6 8 .6 0
« 61. 85
« 54. 30
e 72. 50
4 68.60
3 ) 64. 40
4 60.30
3 / 57.80
4 60.30
4 59.35
« / 51.80
4 64. 40
4 46. 80
4 68.60
4 66. 85
3 •' 56. 80
4 61.85
3 / 64. 40
4 64. 40
3 « 64. 40
4 60. 80
3 » 59.35
« 57. 70

$62.44
57.0 8
68. 62
74. 98
67.28
57. 55
71.02
62.44
63. 67
58.73

64. 86
62.44
73.65
62.44
57. 86

4 $84. 51
3 * 79. 62
4 74. 98
« 75. 76
« / 74.01
« 79.31
» 72.36
« 64. 86
« 8 3 .33
4 79.31
3 i 74.98
4 70. 76
« / 68. 26
4 70. 76
4 69. 78
s / 62.44
4 74. 98
4 57. 55
4 79.31
4 77. 51
3 4 67. 28
4 73. 26
3 > 74. 98
4 74.98
3 * 74. 98
4 71. 28
3 * 69. 78
3 i 68.16

$63.06
57.65
69.31
75.73
67. 95
58.13
71.73
63 .0 6
64.31
59.32

65.51
63.06
74. 39
63.0 6
58.44

4 $85.36
» * 80. 42
4 75. 73
« 76. 52
3 / 74. 75
« 80.1 0
« 73.08
« 65. 51
» 84.1 6
4 80.10
» < 75. 73
4 71.47
3 / 6 8.94
4 71. 47
4 70.84
» / 63.06
4 75. 73
4 58.13
4 80.10
4 78. 29
« •' 67.95
4 73.08
3 i 75. 73
4 75. 73
3 * 75. 73
4 71.99
3 e 70.48
3 i 68.84

$66. 72
6 0 .9 9
73.33
8 0 .1 2
71.89
61.50
75.89
66. 72
68.04
62. 76

69. 31
66.72
78. 70
66.72
61.83

4 $90.31
» * 8 5 .08
4 80. 12
« 80. 96
« / 79.09
« 84. 75
» 77.32
« 69.31
« 89.04
4 84. 75
3 ) 80 .1 2
4 75.62
* / 72.94
4 75.62
4 74. 57
« / 66. 72
4 80.1 2
4 61. 50
4 84. 75
4 82.83
3 < 71.89
4 77.32
3 / 80.1 2
4 80.1 2
3 • 80.1 2
4 76.12
3 » 74. 75
3 * 72.8 3

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

537

B—Weekly and Daily Rates for Selected Occupations at Specified Dates 1944-1951—Continued
Effective date, minimumand maximumrates and progression schedules
D e p a r tm e n t a n d jo b t it le 1

J a n . 11 , 1944 2
M i n i­
m um

O p erators, first (th r e e sh ift h y d r o p la n ts a n d th r e e
s h ift s u b s t a t io n s ) : 13
S c h e d u le I .....................................................................................
S c h e d u le I I ..................... ........ ....................................... .............
S c h e d u le I I I ............................ ....................................................
S c h e d u le I V ........................ ..................................... ...................
O p erators, first (s te a m p la n ts):
S a c r a m e n to — S ta tio n B _ _________________________
H u m b o ld t — D o n b a s s I I I _________________________
H u m b o ld t — S ta tio n B
__________ ________ __ _
O p erators, first (E a s t B a y D iv is io n ) :
S ta tio n s C a n d N e w a r k ___________________________
S ta tio n G _ _ ________________________________________
C o n tr a C o sta a n d o th e r s t a t i o n s ... . . ___________
O p erators, fir st (S a n F r a n c isc o D iv is io n ) :
S ta tio n A ............ ................................ ................. ..................... _
O th er sta tio n s:
G r o u p 1___________ . . ________________________
G r o u p 2 ____ ____________________ _____ _________
G r o u p 3 __________________________ ___________
G r o u p 4 _________________________ ________ ______
O p er ators, first (S a n J o se D iv is io n )
S ta tio n B _____________ _____________________________
S ta tio n A . . . ______________ _________ ________ ____
D a v e n p o r t _______________ ______ ___________________
O p er ators, first (N o r th B a y D iv is io n )
C o r d e lia __________________ ________________________
P e t a lu m a , S a n ta R o s a ________ _____ __ ___________
O p er ators, fir st, A s s is ta n t ( E a s t B a y a n d S a n F r a n cisc o D iv is io n s ) _____________ ____________________
O p er ators, a u x ilia r y
..
. _ ................ ......................
O p er ators, e le v a to r , gen eral offic e___________________
P a tr o lm e n (ele c tr ic d e p t .) ___________ ___________ ____
R e p a ir m e n , a p p lia n c e ________________________________

Repairmen, boiler______________________________
Repairmen, meter___ ______ __________________
Servicemen (water department)_______________ ..
Servicemen (gas department)............................... .........
Servicemen (electric department)_______________
Testers, pump, junior___________________________
T ro u b le m e n ...___ ______ ____ _ ______ ______
Tenders, turbine 16_________ _____ . . . . ________
W eldersl. ___ _ ____________________ . . . _____
Welders, certified_______________________ _____ _

M a x i­
m um

D e c . L, 1946
M in i­
m um

M a x i­
m um

M in i­
m um

4 65. 85
4 64. 40
4 60. 80
4 58.30

(«)
(e)
(®)
<*>
(*)
(«)
66.85

3 7 .3 0
3 9 .2 0
41.2 0
41.2 0
41.2 0

S e p t. 1, 1950

4 66. 85
4 66. 85
3 4 69. 85

M a x i­
m um

4 76.
4 74.
4 71.
4 68.
77.51
80. 60

J a n . 1 ,1 9 5 1
M in i­
m um

48
98
28
72

4 77. 51
3 4 80. 60
3 4 85. 28

M a x i­
m um

4 77
4 75
4 71
4 69.
78 29
81.41

A p r . 1, 1951
M i n i­
m um

M a x i­
m um

24
78
99
41

4 78 29
3 • 81 41
3 4 86". 13

4 Q1
4 en
4 7fi
4 73.

10

17
44

4 CO C2
86.1 3

0 * y i. 10
4 gg 1 3

4 81 41
4 78 29
4 77.2 4

4 80. 60
4 77. 51
4 76.48

70

(®)
(8)
«

(s)
(8)
(8)

(«)

(8)

4 80. 60

4 81. 41

4 86.13

(8)
(8)
(8)
(•)

(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)

4 77. 51
4 76. 48
4 74.98
4 71.28

4 78 29
4 77 24
4 75 78
4 71.99

4 82 83
4 81 72
4 go 12
4 76.17

(s)
(e)
(«)

(8)
(8)
(0)

4 76.48
4 74.98
4 68.75

4 77 24
4 75 73
4 69.44

4 «1 7 2
4 go 12

(8)
«

(8)
(8)

4 74.98
4 68. 75

4 75. 73
4 69.44

4 80 12
‘ 73.47

(«)
(#)
(«)
3 52.00
™ 45.20
34 43. 20
3«45. 20
»«45.20
(8)
(8)
(8)
4 54.40
(8)
(8)

(«)
(8)
(8)
44 67.85
3* 61.85
3/ 66.85
3* 6 0.30
3« 5 9 .35
4 61.8 5
4 70.95
3 57.70
4 70.85
(8)
»/ 65.85

52.75
54.30
61.85
58.60
54.30
50.5 0
61.85

(«)

68.6 7
53.37
63 .3 7
6 4 .8 6
70. 76
69.08
64.86
61.15
73.85
72.3 6

(»)

4 78.0 2
3< 71.28
i t 58. 27
73 78. 54
3* 72.36
34 73.85
» •7 0 .7 6
3« 69.78
4 72.3 6
4 81.73
« 68.1 6
4 81. 63
34 76.48
»/ 76.48
4 77.51

6 9 .3 6
53 90
64.00
65. 51
73 .4 7
6 9 .7 2
65. 51
61.7 6
74. 59
73.0 8

4 78.80
3» 71 99
3 /5 8 85
73 79. 33
3* 73.08
34 74. 59
3«71.47
3« 7 0 .48
4 73.08
4 82. 55
« 68 84
4 82' 45

4 81.7 2

4 7 3 .4 7

78 3 8
67.71
69.31
75. 62
73.76
69.31
65.34

3» 77 24

3 /7 7 24
4 78.2 9

4 8.3 3 7
St 76 17
3/ fiO Oft
73 83. 93
3* 7 7 .3 2
34 78. 92
3*75.62
3«74. 57
4 77 22
4 87 3 2
5 72 83
4 87 23
g l 72
‘ 82 .8 3

7L 32

if

78.70
76.9 9
66.11
62. 76

3*85! 57

G as S u p p l y an d C on trol D e p a r tm e n t

Electricians.. __________________ ______________
Engineers, compressor_________________ _______
Inspectors, meter_______________________________
Inspectors, apprentice___________________________
Janitors_______________________________________
M echanic-welders______________________________
Maintenance m e n ___________ _________________
Repairmen, line________________________________
Repairmen, plant A _____ ___________________ . . .

1
2
3

49 .2 0
48 .2 0
47 .0 0
37 .8 0
73 5 .9 6
48 .4 0
43 .2 0
4 0 .2 0
44 .8 0

3 52.60
3* 53. 20
3'5 0 .4 0
m

46.00

33 37 .2 0
3‘ 50.40
3 /4 7 .2 0
3«43. 20
3 /4 8 .2 0

All job titles and department assignments are as of the Sept. 1, 1950, and
Jan. 1, 1951, wage schedules.
Rates were effective as of Jan. 11, 1944, retroactive to Oct. 16, 1942, unless
otherwise noted.
Progression from the minimum to the maximum follows the schedule
below.
a — 4 months, 8 months, 1 year.
6— 4 months, 8 months, 1 year, 18 months.
c— 1 year, 2 years.
d— 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years.
e— end of 1 year.
months, 1 year.
g— 6 months, 1 year, 18 months.
ft— 4 months, 8 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years.
i — end of 6 months.
j — 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months.
k— 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, 3 years.
I— 1 year, 2 years, 3 years.
Single rate established, nonprogression.
• Range, nonprogression schedule.
* Rates that were unavailable for Jan. 11, 1944, and Dec. 1,1946 were those
in the UW U A divisions.
Rates based on various types of work performed.
Spread, nonprogression. Workers received the designated station rate
plus a percentage of the difference between the rate of the station and the max­
imum of the spread. When 50 percent or more of time during the previous
year was spent on service work, employees received maximum of spread.

/—6

4

7
3


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

64.40
63.10
61.55
50.00
40.20
63.30
56.80
53.10
58.80

3 68.60
3* 69.35
3« 6 5 .85
»<* 60.30
33 49.2 5

73. 65
72.05
61.87
58.73

3* 6 5 .8 5
3/ 6 1.85
3« 5 6 .80
3« 63.10

67.28
6 3 .7 6
63. 76

4 79.31
3* 80.0 8
»/ 76.48
3* 70.7 6
34 59. 97
4 76. 48
3/ 72.3 6
3/ 67.28
3/ 67. 28

74 .3 9
72.77
62 .4 9
59.3 2
67 .9 5
64.31
64.31

4 8 0 .1 0
3* 8 0 .8 8
3/ 77. 24
3*71.47
34 60. 57
4 77.24
3/ 73.08
3/ 67. 95
3/ 67.9 5

4

71.8 9
68.04
68.04

84- 75

3/ 8 1 .7 2
3« 75. 62
34 64. 08
4 81 72
3/ 77.3 2
3/ 71.89
3/ 71.89

9 F o o tn o te 8 a p p lie s , e x c e p t t h a t n o m in im u m p a y w a s s tip u la te d .
10 D a ily r a te p a id from s ta r tin g r a te t o s e c o n d s te p in p ro g re ssio n s c h e d u le .
11 E ffe c tiv e d a te J a n . 1, 1947.
12 D a ily r a te p a id u p to fo u rth p ro g re ssio n s te p for a p p r e n tic e m e te r m a n ;
n o r a te g iv e n for b u ild in g en g in e e r in 1944 w a g e s c h e d u le .
13 S c h e d u le s are a p p lic a b le to v a r io u s lo c a litie s a s fo llo w s:
S chedule 1— B ig B e n , D r u m , E le c tr a , P i t N o . 1, 3, 5, S ta n isla u s, T ig e r
C reek , B a k e r sfie ld , B r ig h to n , H e r n d o n , M id w a y , S a lin a s , S a n ta M a r ia ,
S h a s ta , S to c k to n -S ta tio n A , V o c a -D ix o n .
Schedule I I — B a lc h , B u c k s C reek , C a rib o u , C o le m a n , C resta , D e S a h l a ,
E l D o r a d o , K e rek h o ff, R o c k C reek , S p a u ld in g , A . G . W is h o n , W is e ,
B a lla ta , C a lifo r n ia A v e n u e , C h ic o , D a v is , M a r y s v ille , W ils o n .
Schedule I I I — A m e r ic a n R iv e r , C e n te r v ille , F o lso m , K e r n C a n y o n ,
S a n J o a q u in a n d C ra n e V a lle y , V o lta , A s h lo n A v e n u e , K e r n O il, M a n te c a ,
P a n o c h e , P ie d r a , S anger.
Schedule I V — A lta , A n g e ls , I n s k ip , K ila r e , L im e S a d d le , M a lo n e s, M u r ­
p h y s , S a lt S p r in g , C o co ra n , F r e s n o , M e r c e d , S a n L u is O b isp o , W e e d p a tc h .
14 S p r ea d ra te, n o n p r o g r e ssio n . W o rk er s r e c e iv e d t h e d e s ig n a te d r a te p lu s
a p e r c e n ta g e for t im e s p e n t in v a r io u s sp e c ifie d w o r k in g c o n d itio n s . F o r
p erfo rm in g h ig h e r s k ills (i. e. c lim b in g , c h a n g in g in s u la to r s , e tc .) for m o re
t h a n 50 p e r c e n t of t im e p a tr o lm e n w e r e p a id t h e m a x im u m of sp r ea d .
15 S prea d ra te p a id a t p a r tic u la r lo c a tio n b a se d o n p erc e n ta g e of tim e o n w ork
in v a r io u s sp e c ifie d c o n d itio n s b u t n o t le ss t h a n $2.50 a w e e k a b o v e m in im u m
a fter 1 y ea r . T h e m a x im u m r a te w a s p a id if 50 p e r c e n t o f tim e w a s s p e n t o n
h ig h er c la ss ific a tio n w o r k .
16 S ta tio n s A C .a n d O le u m .

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

538

MONTHLY LABOR

C—Related Wage Practices 1
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision

Effective date

Shift 'premium pay
June 15, 1943 2 ______
Dec. 2, 1944 ____ __

No provision for shift premium p a y _____ __ _
4 cents an hour for second shift, 6 cents an Shifts were defined as: First shift, 4 a. m. but
hour for third shift.
before 12 noon; second shift, 12 noon but
before 8 p. m.; and third shift, 8 p. m. but
before 4 a. m. In accordance with Directive
Order of National War Labor Board, Dec. 19,
1945.
Shift premiums included in computing over­
time pay.

Night premium pay
Resident employees:3 Time and one-half paid up

May 1, 1944

to 4 days for actual hours worked between
12 a. m. and 6 a. m.
Provision deleted.

Jan. 1, 1947

Overtime pay
June 15, 1943 2 ___ __

May 26, 1944_. __

Time and one-half paid for (1) work in excess
of 40 hours a week, (2) work in excess of
regular hours, (3) work on scheduled non­
workdays.

Changed to : Time and one-half paid for work in
excess of 8 hours a day.

Jan. 1, 1947__________

Resident employees: Time and one-half for
work on scheduled nonworkdays.

Rotating shift employees: Time and one-half
paid employees required to work more than
8 consecutive hours or not given 8 hours of
rest between shifts.
Dual classifications:4 Overtime compensation
based on rate for job on which overtime work
was performed.
Resident employees: 8 hours straight-time pay
for any work between 6 a. m. and 12 mid­
night.
Emergency relief shift employees: Time and onehalf paid only if required to report to work
without 12 hours rest between shifts.
Resident employees: Daily and weekly over­
time provisions extended to these employees.
Dual classifications: Overtime compensation
based on rate for job on which overtime was
worked or on the employee's average hourly
rate for the week, whichever was higher.

Premium pay for Sunday work
June 15, 1943 2_______
Jan. 1, 1947
Sept. 1, 1950

No provision for Saturday or Sunday work
as such.
Time and one-half plus travel time, paid for
prearranged work on Sunday. No provision
for Saturday.
Provision deleted___ __
___

Holiday pay
June 15, 1943 2_______

8 paid holidays on which employees not re­
quired to work received their regular rate,
provided holiday fell on regular workday.
Time and one-half paid for all holiday work

S e e f o o t n o t e s a t e n d o f t a b le .


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

Holidays were: New Year’s Day, Washington’s
Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Admission Day (or Armis­
tice Day), Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WAGE

C H R O N O L O G Y N O . 22

539

C—Related Wage Practices1— Continued
Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision

H o l i d a y p a y — C o n tin u e d

outside of regular tour of duty. Double
time paid for all regular hours worked
on holidays falling on scheduled workday.

May 26, 1944

Jan. 1, 1947________

Added: 1 day’s pay or 1 day off with pay for
every holiday worked in excess of 2 a year,
on employee’s nonworkday.

:5 Time and one-half for all
hours worked on holidays. No pay for
holidays not worked.
S h i f t , se rv ic e a n d r e s id e n t e m p lo y e e s :6 One day
added to vacation for each holiday worked
on scheduled workday.
S h i f t a n d se rv ic e e m p lo y e e s : Full holiday pay
provisions extended to these employees.
R e s id e n t e m p lo y e e s : Time and one-half paid for
actual hours worked after midnight; double
time for a full schedule paid when on duty 4
or more hours between 6 a. m. and midnight.
R e s id e n t e m p lo y e e s : Full holiday pay provisions
extended to these employees.
D a i l y e m p lo y e e s

P a i d v a c a tio n s

June 15, 1943 2__ __ _

5 days’ vacation with pay after 1 year’s con­
tinuous service; 10 days thereafter.

Jan. 1, 1947__ - _____

Added: 15 days’ vacation with pay after 15
years of service.

Sept. 1, 1950____

S everan ce p a y

June 15, 1943

___

Jan. 1, 1947__________

Sept. 1, 1950. _______

Pay based on normal 5-day week, at rate of pay
at time of vacation. Vacation could be
accumulated up to 20 workdays over a
2-year period. Employees absent more than
30 days could take normal vacation in follow­
ing year with deduction in vacation pay at
rate of 1 day for every 30 days absent or
could take only number of days earned.
Employee’s vacation reduced by one-tenth for
each 30 days’ absence on leave with or without
pay or absence because of industrial disability.
Vacation days reduced by one-twelfth for each
30 days’ absence.

7

Employees terminated for any reason except
for cause, to receive: 1 day’s pay for each 30
days of service beyond qualifying date.8
Changed to: Employees terminated for any
reason to receive: One-tenth of vacation pay
for each 30 days’ service beyond qualifying
date.
Changed to: One-twelfth of vacation pay for
each 30 days’ service beyond qualifying
date.

Maximum allowance not to exceed 10 days
plus unused vacation permitted under
accumulation system.
Unused vacation permitted under accumula­
tion system added to severance pay.

P a i d s ic k lea ve

10 days’ sick leave with pay for employees
with 1 and less than 5 years’ service; 10
days, plus one-half of unused sick leave
from preceding 5 years for employees with
5 or more years’ service.
P h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i t y : Employee leaving service
because of disability before reaching age of
55 received an allowance equal to unused
sick leave.
See footnotes at end of table.

June 15, 1943 2____ __


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

Pay for sick leave began with first scheduled
workday off. Holidays falling on workday
within sick leave period, except for first or
last day, counted as a day of leave.

540

W AGE

C H R O N O L O G Y N O . 22

MONTHLY LABOR

C— Related Wage Practices 1— Continued
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision

Effective date

P a i d s i c k le a v e — C o n tin u e d

Age limitation for physical
disability allowance removed.

May 26, 1944_______

P h y s ic a l d is a b ility :

Jan. 1, 1947__________

Added: Total unused leave for preceding 5
years, provided after 10 years’ service in addi­
tion to annual sick leave allowance.

Employees working in the San Joaquin Power
Division entitled to elect participation in
either Division sick leave plan or the company
plan. Participation not permitted in either
plan if employee was member of Mutual
Benefit Association.
Benefits paid during waiting period required to
collect workmen’s compensation.
Added: If such workmen’s compensation bene­
fits were paid retroactively for the waiting
period, employee to repay company sick
leave up to the amount of such retroactive
benefit.

R e p o r tin g tim e p a y

June 15, 1943 2_______

Jan. 1, 1947_________

Employees reporting but not required to work
because of weather or similar causes on w o r k ­
d a y s : weekly employees, full day’s pay;
daily employees, minimum of 1 hour’s pay
at straight time. On n o n w o r k d a y s : mini­
mum of 2 hours’ pay, including travel time
at time and one-half for reporting on a pre­
arranged schedule.
Added: On w o r k d a y s : daily probationary em­
ployees received minimum of 2 hours at
straight-time pay.

Weekly employees could be held pending emer­
gency calls, instructions or other work.

Other daily employees received 1 hour.

C a ll- in p a y

June 15, 1943 2_______

Minimum of 2 hours’ pay, including travel
time, at time and one-half guaranteed em­
ployees called in on (1) emergency schedule
on nonworkdays, holidays or workdays out­
side of regularly scheduled hours; or (2) pre­
arranged schedule on any day outside of
regularly scheduled hours.

Time and one-half paid for actual hours and
one way travel when work continued into or
beyond regularly scheduled hours on: (a)
workdays, either on a prearranged or emer­
gency schedule; (b) nonworkdays, on a pre­
arranged schedule only.
Time and one-half paid for
actual hours worked and travel time from
home on emergency calls on nonworkdays or
holidays.
S e r v ic e e m p lo y e e s : Minimum call-in pay and
travel allowance paid only for the first
emergency call; call-in and travel pay for
only actual hours worked on all subsequent
calls made in a 24-hour period.
R e s id e n t e m p lo y e e s : Minimum call-in pay and
travel paid for emergency schedule on non­
workdays and holidays. Overtime paid for
actual hours worked outside of regularly
scheduled hours on workdays.
R e s id e n t e m p lo y e e s :

Jan. 1. 1947- ________

S u b s is te n c e p a y

June 15, 1943 2__

Actual expenses for board and lodging allowed
employees on temporary assignments away
from home or headquarters when company
facilities were not available.

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Facilities provided also on nonworkdays if
employee remained at designated locality.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WAGE

CHRONOLOGY

_______________________ 541

N O . 22

C— Related Wage Practices1— Continued
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision

Effective date

T ra vel p a y

Time and one-half paid for travel on non­
workdays, on holidays and for work outside
of regularly scheduled hours. Time and
one-half paid for travel from home only on
workdays when work continued into regular
schedule.
May 26, 1944_________ Added: Straight time paid crews traveling
to and from regular or temporary head­
quarters to job site. Employees returning
to home or headquarters from temporary
assignments away from home on non­
workdays (1) allowed equivalent of any
saving in room and board to the company,
(2) reimbursed for round trip transportation
on public carrier, or (3) provided round
trip transportation by company vehicle.
Jan. 1, 1947
June 15, 1943 2_______

Sept. 1, 1950

Pay provided for time spent on travel to and
from temporary assignments.

e m p lo y e e s : Time and one-half
paid for time spent in travel from station to
station and between any station and head­
quarters on nonworkdays; straight time
paid on workdays.

R e li e f r e s id e n t

Time and one-half paid for travel on Sundays
and holidays as such.
Provision for payment of travel time on
Sundays and holidays as such deleted.

M e a ls a n d m e a ltim e p a y

June 15, 1943 2_______

May 26, 1944________

olan. 1, 1947

Meals and/or time for meals provided (1)
employees called from home to work out­
side of regular hours, (2) employees working
2 hours or more beyond regular hours, (3)
employees required to perform prearranged
work on nonworkdays outside of regular
hours.
Changed to: Meal and time for meals provided
employees required to work 1^ hours be­
yond regular hours for the duration of the
assignment and every 4 to 5 hours thereafter.
Added: Time for first meal and time and cost
for all subsequent meals provided for em­
ployees reporting 2 hours or more before
regular hours and continuing work into
regular schedule.

Paid $1 a meal when it was
not practical for the Company to provide
such meals.

S h i f t e m p lo y e e s :

Time and one-half paid for actual time worked
during lunch period on emergency calls.

M o v in g e x p e n s e s

May 26, 1944__ _

Expenses paid by company for moving house­
hold goods when employees were required
to change residence from one locality to
another.
V e h ic le m ile a g e a llo w a n c e

June 15, 1943 2_

Vehicle mileage allowance paid relief resident
employees required to use own car.

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Employees required to pay moving expenses of
move resulting from a successful job bid or
from own request.

542

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

MONTHLY LABOR

C—Related Wage Practices 1—Continued
Effective date

Provision

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Shifted tour pay
June 15, 1943 2______

Sept. 1, 1950________

Time and one-half paid employees transferred
from one schedule to another when (1) given
less than 24 hours’ notice of new starting
time, (2) given less than 8 hours off between
end of old schedule and starting time of new
schedule, or (3) required to work more than
2 short changes a week.9
Added: Time and one-half paid for schedule
changes resulting in less than 16 hours off
between changes.

Time and one-half paid for any time worked
in the 16-hour interval following the end of
the last regular shift. Not applicable if
tour established by union-company agree­
ment.

Pay for emergency work
June 15, 1943 2 _____

Time and one-half paid for work outside of
regularly scheduled hours on an emergency
schedule of less than 5 days; straight time
if scheduled 5 or more days.

May 26, 1944 _____

Changed to: Time and one-half paid for all
hours worked outside of regular schedule on
the first 4 days of an emergency schedule;
straight time on fifth day and thereafter for
work during regular scheduled hours.

Sept. 1, 1950_________

Time and one-half paid employees (except
shift employees) for first 8 hours of an emer­
gency schedule even though 5 or more days,
when (1) less than 16 hours elapsed between
ending regular schedule and starting emer­
gency schedule, or (2) notification was less
than 16 hours in advance of transfer.
Applicable only to employees whose regularly
scheduled hours were between 7 a. m. and 6
p. m. No overtime paid for changing back
to regular schedule, even though less than 16
hours elapsed.
Time and one-half paid for all hours on first
8-hour shift for employees, other than shift
employees, transferred from regular schedule
to regular shift schedule during an emergency.

Telephone installation and maintenance
June 15, 1943 2_______

Expenses provided employee required to in­
stall and maintain telephone service in
home.

•

Voluntary wage-benefit plan
Jan. 1, 1949.

Jan. 1, 1950.

Plan available as follows: For employees with
less than 5 years’ service, 66% percent of
basic daily wage rate to start on 3d day of
disability if employee was not eligible for
sick leave pay, or if eligible for such pay
after sick leave payment was terminated.
For employees with 5 and less than 10
years’ service, 70 percent of basic daily
wage rate to start after sick leave pay was
terminated. For employees with 10 or more
years’ service, 75 percent of basic daily
wage to start after sick leave pay termi­
nated (see Sick Leave, p. 539).
Industrial accident benefits: Regular benefits of
Plan, less amount paid as industrial com­
pensation under State Law.
Added: Hospital benefits, $8 a day paid up to
12 days beginning on the first day of hos­
pitalization.

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Employees could elect to join the Plan and re­
ceive stated benefits in lieu of State Disability
Insurance benefits. Employees contributed
up to 1 percent of first $3,000 of annual
salary in lieu of contribution of 1 percent
State Payroll Tax.

$8 for the first 12 days paid from Voluntary
Wage Benefit Plan, and an additional $2 paid
from Hospitalization Plan (see Sickness,
Accident Benefits, Nov. 1, 1950, p. 543).

REVIEW, MAY 1952

WAGE

CH RONOLOGY

N O . 22

543

C—-Related Wage Practices 1— Continued
Provision

Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Sickness, accident, hospitalization, anc death benefits
Dec. 1, 1944

Jan. 2, 1948

Contributory plan available to women under
45 and men under 55.
Sickness and accident benefit: $17.50 to $25 a
week for first week of disability, $15 to $20
for next 14 weeks, $10 to $25 for next 20
weeks and $12.50 for next 15 weeks, depend­
ing on length of membership in plan. Pay­
ments start on tenth day of disability;
Hospitalization: members, up to $6 a day;
dependents, up to $5 a day;
Special hospital services: members, up to $100;
dependents, up to $25;
Surgical benefits: members, up to $225; de­
pendents, up to $157.50;
Accident expense benefits: members, all ex­
penses; dependents, up to $25;
Ambulance charges: members and depend­
ents up to $25;
X-Ray and laboratory examination: members
only, up to $25;
Medical care: members only, up to $150;
Death benefits: $300 to $500 depending on
length of service.
Changed to:
Hospitalization: members and dependents, $8
a day, up to 180 days;
Special hospital services: members, up to
$1,000; dependents, up to $500;
Surgical benefits: members and dependents up
to $500;
Additional accident expense benefits: members,
$300; dependents, $150;

Employees contributed $3 a year for dues to
plan (including death benefits); $1 a month
for sick and accident benefits; and $1 to $3.70
for hospital, surgical, and medical benefits,
depending on size of family. Plan not in­
cluded in union agreement.

Employee contribution increased $2.70 to $7.50
a month depending on size of family.

Paid in addition to regular benefits for nonoccupational injuries when the medical ex­
penses were in excess of regular benefits and
payment of such expenses was required
within 90 days of injury.

Ambulance charges: members and dependents,
up to $50;

X-Ray and laboratory examinations: members
only, up to $25;

Medical care: members only, home calls up to
Jan. 1, 1949

Nov. 1, 1950

$4.50 a call; office or hospital calls, up to $3
a call.
Added: Group life insurance available as fol­
lows:
Death benefits: $2,000 to $15,000 depending
on monthly earnings;
Disability: face value of all insurance minus
$500, payable to employees disabled before
age of 60;
Dependent’s benefits: on death of disabled
member, dependent received $500 plus all
unpaid insurance installments.
Increased to:
Hospitalization: members up to $10 a day;
dependents, up to $8 a day, both, up to 180
days.

See footnotes at end of table.


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Employee could secure this additional life insur­
ance by contributions of $1 to $7.50 monthly
depending on earnings. Retired employees
made no contributions; company maintained
insurance in amount of $500 on all retired
employees. The amount of the company
contribution was the difference in the cost of
the insurance stipulated by the commercial
insurance company and the employee’s con­
tribution.
Employee contribution increased $3.65 to $8.45
a month, depending on size of family.
For employees with membership in the Wage
Benefit Plan (see Voluntary Wage Benefit
Plan, p. 542) : $2 of the $10 hospital benefit
was paid from this Hospitalization Plan and
$8 was paid from the Voluntary Wage Plan
for the first 12 days of hospitalization; the
entire $10 was paid from the Hospitalization
Plan for the remaining 168 days.

544

W AGE

C—Related Wage Practices
Effective date

M O N TH LY LA BO R

C H R O N O L O G Y N O . 22

-Continued
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision

R e tir e m e n t p la n

1951 (plan established
1937).

Contributory plan made available to perma­
nent employees with one year of continuous
service at age 65 for men and 60 for women,
providing annuities equal to 1 percent annu­
ally of total earnings on which employee
contributed 2 percent; plus 2 percent annu­
ally of total earnings on which 4 percent
contribution was made;
credits based on salary of Decem­
ber 1936, and age as of Jan. 1, 1937, pro­
viding the following percentages for each
year of service: (1) 2 percent, women 55-59
years of age and men 60-64; (2) 1% percent,
women 50-54 and men 55-59; (3)
per­
cent, women 45-49 and men 50-54; (4) 1)4
percent, women 40-44 and men 45-49; (5)
1 percent, women 39 and under and men 44
and under;
E a r l y r e tir e m e n t: Reduced annuity paid em­
ployees retiring 10 or fewer years before nor­
mal retirement date;
D e a th b e n e f its : Designated beneficiary to re­
ceive an amount equal to total employee
contribution if death occurred before retire­
ment. If death occurred after retirement,
beneficiary paid the difference in amount
contributed by employee and amount paid
to employee;
T e r m in a tio n b e n e fits: Employees could (1) with­
draw own contributions; (2) after 10 or more
years of service at age of 50 years (45 for
women) leave contributions in fund and at
normal retirement date receive life annuity
based on employee and company contribu­
tions; (3) with less than 10 years’ service at
age of 50 or more years (45 or more for wo­
men) leave contributions, if at least $100,
and at normal retirement date receive life
annuity based on own contribution.

P a s t s e r v ic e

1 The last entry under each item represents the most recent change.
1 Temporary agreement covering all operating, maintenance, and con­
struction employees of Coast Valley, Colgate, DeSabla, Drum, Humboldt,
Sacramento, Shasta, and Stockton Divisions.
3 Resident employees are required to live at or near the work site. Such
employees include station attendants, patrolmen, and lake tenders.
4 Dual classification employees are those regularly assigned to two or more
classifications.
, 5 Daily employees are probationary and are hired at a daily rate for a posi­
tion regularly established and of indeterminate duration. After 6 months,
probationary employees are classified as regular employees or laid off.
* Shift employees are assigned to duty on one or more 8-hour watches.
Such employees include watch engineers, operators, and guards. Service


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Employee contributed 2 percent of salary below
$3,000 and 4 percent of salary above $3,000.
Contributions of company equaled difference
between employee’s contribution and net cost
of retirement income. Employee could, 5
years prior to retirement date, designate a
dependent to receive retirement income and
receive a reduced rate of retirement income
for himself. Plan not part of union agree­
ment.
Prior to 1937 plan was noncontributory.
Past service benefits were reduced by 2 percent
for service after Jan. 1, 1937, where the an­
nual retirement income for service plus so­
cial security exceeded 2 percent.

Consent of company must be obtained for
early retirement.

Applicable when service terminated because
of disability or for any other reason at any
time.
Termination of membership in plan can only
occur when employment terminates.

employees provide utility service to customers. Such employees include
servicemen, appliance repairmen, troublemen, etc.
7 The company considers this provision as a part of the vacation plan.
8 The qualifying date is defined as the date on which an employee completes
his first year of continuous service and becomes eligible for vacation.
4
• A short change is defined as a transfer from one shift schedule to another
with 8 hours or less off between shifts.

—D eborah T. B ond
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

REVIEW, MAY 1952

FEDERAL

Federal Classified Employees’
Salary Changes, 1950-51
G eneral salary increases legislated by the
Eighty-second Congress raised the basic salary
scales for Federal classified workers by 10 per­
cent between July 1950 and July 1951. Because
of an expansion in Federal employment during
the period, two other measures of salary change
for these employees—average salary rates and
average salaries—showed smaller increases, 8.8
and 7.8 percent, respectively. (The indexes re­
flecting these percentage changes are shown in
table 1.) The effect of the rise in basic pay scales
on average salary rates was offset in part by a re­
duction in the proportion of workers receiving
more than the minimum scale for their jobs. Av­
erage salaries were affected by these two factors
and by an increase in the proportion of workers
at some of the lower grades or occupations within
the classified service.
The pay raise voted by Congress on October 24,
1951, was retroactive to the first pay period in
the 1952 fiscal year—in the majority of cases, to
July 8, 1951. Under the act the salary for each
pay step within a grade was raised by 10 percent
of the minimum for the grade. A flat $300 in­
crease was given in grades for which the minimum
was below $3,000; where the minimum was above
$8,000, the increase was $800.
If this pay scale increase had not been effective
during the year ending in July 1951, both average
salary rates and average salaries would have de­
creased because of the expansion in the number
of classified employees. Between July 1950, the
termination date of the previous report on salary
trends for Federal workers,1 and July 1951, the
number of full-time workers subject to the Class­
ification Acts increased by about 200,000 to a
total of more than a million. Nearly 185,000 of
the new employees were hired for positions cov­
ered by the “general schedule,” which includes
clerical, administrative, and professional work.
More than three-fifths of these (about 114,000)
were placed in three of the lowest pay grades (GS2, 3, and 4). The consequence was an expansion
i The basic study was published in the M onthly Labor Review, M ay
1951 (p. 537) and as Wage M ovements Bulletin, Series 3, Federal Classified
Employees, 1939-50, N o. 6, U . S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.


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545

E M P L O Y E E S' S A L A R IE S

in the proportion of workers employed at these
job levels from 43.7 percent to 46.2 percent of all
classified workers. The greater number of work­
ers in these pay grades near the bottom of the
Federal scale, therefore, tended to reduce average
salaries for all classified workers considered as a
group. Moreover, new employees in the Federal
service and those who are promoted to more re­
sponsible positions are, as a rule, started at the
minimum pay rate of the grade in which they are
placed. Consequently, during periods of expan­
sion, the percentage of employees at the lower
steps within a pay grade grows and the average
salary for the grade is likely to decrease.
A 20-percent expansion (20,000 employees) oc­
curred in the “crafts, protective, and custodial
schedule” during the year ending in July 1951.
Not only was the proportionate employment ex­
pansion somewhat smaller for these employees
than for clerical, administrative, and professional
workers, but the change in the distribution of these
T a b l e 1.— I n d e x e s o f b a s ic p a y s c a le s , a v e r a g e s a l a r y r a te s ,
a n d a v e r a g e s a la r ie s o f e m p lo y e e s c o v e re d b y F e d e r a l C la s ­
s if ic a tio n A c ts , 1 9 3 9 - 5 1
Average salary
rates 1

Basic pay scales >
Period

All
em­
ploy­
ees

GS

All
em­
CPC ploy­
ees

GS

Average salaries 1

All
em­
CPC ploy­
ees

GS

CPC

August 1939“ 100
August 1939June 30, 1945__
July 1, 1946____
July 1, 1947____
July 15, 1948___
July 1, 1949____
July 1, 1950____
July 8, 1951____

100.0 100.0 100.0 100 100 100 100 100 100
101.1 100.2 110.1 3 101 3 100 s 110 (<) (B (<)154

133.8
133.8
148.5
148.5
154.6
170.1

131.9
131.9
145.7
145.7
151.5
166.5

146.9
146.9
168.3
168.3
176.0
195.0

133
135
151
152
160
174

131
133
149
150
158
172

149
152
176
177
189
209

143
150
168
170
183
198

136
144
160
163
175
188

154
178
ISO
192
214

61

64
(<)
87
92
103
104

58
(4)
90
90
104
105

Average 1947-49=100
August 1939___
June 30, 1945__
July 1, 1946____
July 1, 1947_----July 15, 1948----July 1, 1949____
July 1, 1950____
July 8, 1951____

69.6
70.4
93.2
93.2
103. 4
103.4
107.7
118.5

70.9 62.0
71.0 68.3
93.5 91.1
93.5 91.1
103.3 104.4
103.3 104.4
107.4 109.2
118.0

121.0

68

3 69
91
92
103
104

69
3 69
91
92
103
104

119

119

110 110

60
3 65
89
90
105
105
113
124

0)88
92
103
104

112 112 112
121 121 125

1 Merit increases in pay within the same grade, which affect the average sal­
ary 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
employees among grades.
8 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 employees among grades.
8 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 except for grades 1 through 8 in the CPC schedule and the
first grade of the present general schedule there was little or no increase in
average rates between 1939 and 1945.
< N ot available.

546

FEDERAL

T able 2.— P e r c e n ta g e in c r e a s e i n b a s ic p a y s c a le s a n d i n
a v e r a g e s a l a r y r a te s f o r F e d e r a l
b y sc h e d u le a n d g ra d e , 1 9 5 0 - 5 1

c la s s if ie d

P e r c e n ta g e in crea se
S c h e d u le an d
grade

B a s ic p a y
sca le s 1

A verage
sa la ry
ra tes 2

General
schedule
All g r a d e s____
1 __________
2 __________
3 _________
4 __________
5 __________
6 __________
7__________
8 __________
9 __________
10 ________
11 _________
12_________
13 _________
14_________
15 _________
16 _________
17 _________
18_________

e m p lo y e e s ,

P e r c e n ta g e in crea se
S c h e d u le a n d
gra d e

B a s ic p a y
s c a le s 1

A v era g e
sa la ry
ra tes 2

Crafts, protective, custodial
9 .9
13.1
1 1 .7
10. 6
9 .7
9. 2
9. 2
9 .2
9 .3
9 .4
9 .5
9 .5
9 .5
9 .6
8. 8
7 .7
7.1
6 .5
5 .7

8 .7
1 0 .2
8 .4
8. 8
9. 5
8 .1
8 .8
8 .2
8. 5
8 .6
8 .8
8 .7
8 .9
9 .1
8 .0
6 .3
7 .2
6 .2
5 .7

A ll g r a d e s____
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

1 0 .8
19 l
12 9
12 1
n. 1
10. 5
9. 6
8 9
8 9
9 .0
9 .1

MONTHLY LABOR

E M P L O Y E E S ' S A L A R IE S

10 .3
13. 5
13. 5
12 3
11. 0
7. 2
8. 4
9 1
8. 7
9 .6
10.1

1Basic pay scales are unaffected by merit increases or employment changes.
2For individual grades, the average salary rates and average salaries are

the same. The two concepts differ only when applied to averages for all
classified employees or for all grades within one schedule (GS or CPC) since
they differ only in the weight assigned to the various grades in computing
these group averages. Both measures are affected by changes in pay scales
and merit increases in pay.

1951 than in July 1950. Their basic salary scales
and average salary rates increased 10.8 and 10.3
percent, respectively.
The minimum and maximum dollar limits to
the increase in pay scales provided in the 1951
legislation resulted in proportionately greater
and smaller pay increases for workers at the bot­
tom and the top of the salary scale, respectively,
than for the bulk of the classified workers. More­
over, since the increase in pay for most grades
was 10 percent of the minimum pay for the grade,
the percentage increase in basic pay scales for most
grades was somewhat less'—between 9 and 10 per­
cent; the precise increase varied from grade to
grade, primarily because of differing proportions
of workers at various pay steps within the grade.
T able 3.— C h a n g e s i n m i n i m u m a n d a v e r a g e s a l a r y r a te s 1
f o r se le c te d
1 9 3 9 -5 1
Service, grade,
and type of
salary rate

g ra d es

Au­
gust
1939

June
1945

under

F ederal

c la s s if ic a tio n

a c ts ,

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

8, 1951

July

Indexes (August 1939= 100)

workers among steps within pay grades also dif­
fered: the proportion of employees at higher pay
steps rose in half of the 10 “CPC” grades; in the
other half the proportion at lower steps increased
during the year. The greatest employment gain
was recorded in the CPC-5 grade which increased
by almost three-fifths.
The salary trend for all classified workers closely
parallels that for the general schedule, which in­
cludes almost nine-tenths of all Federal classified
workers. Basic salary scales for this general sched­
ule rose 9.9 percent; average salary rates, 8.7 per­
cent; and average salaries, 7.3 percent over the
year. In each except two of the highest pay
grades (GS-16 and GS-18), an increase in the
number of new workers with a relatively short
period of service (resulting in a decline in the aver­
age length of service in the grade) caused average
salary rates to rise less than basic pay scales. Be­
cause average length of service increased in grade
GS-16, the rise in salary rates was slightly higher
than the increase in basic pay scales. Since grade
GS-18 has only one rate, there can be no difference
in the two measures. In the case of grade GS-2
average salary rates rose 3.3 percentage points, or
about a fourth, less than basic pay scales (table 2).
Average salaries for crafts, protective, and cus­
todial workers were 11.1 percent higher in July

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CPC-2:
M inim um.
Average.—
GS-3:
M inim um.
Average.—
GS-9:
M inimum.
Average—
GS-13:
M inimum.
Average.—

100 111
100 (2)
100 100
100 (?)
100 100
100 (*)
100 100
100 0

156
151

156
153

187
183

187
183

196
198

224
225

134
133

134
136

154
157

154
158

164
170

182
185

130
130

130
131

140
143

140
144

144
149

158
162

127
126

127
127

133
133

133
134

136
137

149
149

Indexes (average 1947-49= 100)
CPC-2:
Minimum.
Average.—
GS-3:
M inim um.
Average.—
GS-9:
M inimum.
Average.—
GS-13:
M inim um.
Average—

0
68 68
67
0

87

88

88
88

106
106

106
106

91
89

91
91

105
105

105
105

73
72

0

95
94

95
94

103

102

76
76

0

97
96

97
97

102
102

56
58

63

73

76

111
114

112

127
130

113

124
123

102
104

105
107

115
117

102
102

104
105

114
114

Dollars
CPC-2:
M inimum.
Average—
GS-3:
M inim um.
Average—
GS-9:
M inimum.
Average._ .
GS-13:
M inimum.
Average.—

1

1,080
1,166
1,620
1, 683

1,200
0
1, 620
0

1,690
1, 756

1,690
1,783

2,020 2,020 2,120
2,129

2,139

2,307

2,420
2,618

2,168
2,238

2,168
2,287

2,498
2,638

2,498
2,659

2,866

2, 650

2,950
3,119

3,200
3, 298

3,200

0

4,150
4,279

4,150
4,334

4,480
4, 723

4,480
4,754

4,600
4,923

5,060
5,346

5,600
5,793

5,600

7,102
7,300

7,102
7,345

7,432
7, 727

7,432
7,752

7,600
7,931

8,360
8,652

0

Average salary rates were obtained by weighting each salary step within
the grade by the number of employees at that step. In other words, they
reflect the effect of increases in basic salary scales and of merit increases in
pay within the grade for each period. As indicated in footnote 2, table 2,
average salaries and average salary rates are identical.
s Average salary rate data for individual, grades not available.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

IN J U R Y

RATES

IN

The greater rise in basic salary scales than in
other measures of salaries during 1950-51 con­
trasted sharply with the trend reported during
previous years.2 Over the entire period from 1939
to July 1951, basic salary scales rose 70 percent
while average salary rates (table 3) advanced 74
percent and over-all salaries increased 98 percent
(table 1).
Average salaries of classified employees and the
Consumers' Price Index for moderate-income
families in large cities increased by the same ratio
between July 1950 and July 1951. Basic pay
scales and average salary rates showed a slight
gain over prices during the same period. For the
entire span from 1939 to July 1951, however,
average salaries rose slightly more than living
costs but average salary rates and basic pay
scales did not keep pace as shown in the following
indexes. From July to December 1951, prices
showed a further rise of nearly 2 percent or about
3.5 index points.
1
Actual____________________
Deflated by CPI,2 July 1951.
B a s i c p a y s c a le s

=100)
In d e x es (A u g u s t 19S9 ■
A U F ederal
CPC
G eneral
classified
schedule
schedule
e m p lo yee s

170. 1
91. 2

166. 5
89. 2

195. 0
104. 5

A v e r a g e s a l a r y r a te s 3
A ctu a l.. ______ ___________
Deflated by CPI,2 July 1951.

174
93

172
92

209
112

A v e ra g e s a la r ie s 4
Actual_______ _______ _____
Deflated by CPI,2 July 1951.

198
106

188
101

214
115

>Indexes show the effect of changes in pay scales only. The effects of
merit increases in pay within the same grade and of changes in the distribu­
tion of employees among grades were eliminated by applying identical weights
to each pay step within a grade in successive periods.
2 The Consumers’ Price Index was 186.6 in July 1951. Average 1939 was
used as the base.
3 Indexes are affected by changes in salary scales and merit increases. The
effect of changes in the proportion of employees at various grades was nulli­
fied by applying the same employment weights to average salaries in a grade
in successive years.
4 In addition to showing the effect of increases in pay scales and of merit
increases in pay within the same grade, indexes are influenced by shifts in
the proportions of employees among grades.

No changes in method were introduced in this
supplement to the basic study of salary trends for
Federal classified employees. Two series of
indexes are presented, however, for each of the
salary measures. One is computed on a 1939 base
for comparison with the indexes previously
published, and the other uses an average 1947-49
* It is possible that there was a similar development during the early World
War II period when Federal employment expanded sharply; at that time
average salary rates may have actually declined, but detailed salary infor­
mation is not available for those years.


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M A N U F A C T U R IN G

547

base in accordance with the current Governmental
policy of changing indexes to this new base
wherever possible.
— R uth W. B enny
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

Injury Rates in Manufacturing,
First 3 Quarters 1951
rates 1 in manufacturing for
the first 9 months of 1951 averaged about 8 per­
cent higher than for the same period in 1950,
according to preliminary reports received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were some
indications, however, that the upward trend in
injury rates observed in 1950 was leveling off
during 1951.
The average of all reports received for the third
quarter of 1951 was only 3 percent above that for
the same period in 1950, compared with increases
for the first and second quarters in 1951 of 13 per­
cent and 8 percent, respectively, over the corre­
sponding periods in the previous year. Although
the average for July 1951 was the highest recorded
for any month during the past 3 years, that for
August was the same as for 1950 and only a frac­
tion above 1949. The September 1951 average
was 3 percent below September 1950 but 6 percent
above the comparable 1949 rate.
Of the 137 industry classifications for which
comparable data were available, 76 showed in­
creases of 1 or more frequency rate points for the
first 9 months of 1951 compared with the same
period in 1950, only 13 reported significant de­
creases, while 48 remained practically constant.
Increases of 5 or more points were recorded by 21

I njury - frequency

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 any injury occurring in the course of and arising
out of employment, which (a) results in death or any degree of permanent
physical impairment, or (6) makes the injured worker unable to perform the
duties of any regularly established job, which is open and available to him,
throughout the hours corresponding to his regular shift on any one or more
days after the day of injury (including Sundays, days off, or plant shut­
downs) .
These data were compiled according to the American Standard Method
of Compiling Industrial Injury Rates, approved by the American Standards
Association, 1945.

548

IN J U R Y

RATES

IN

MONTHLY LABOR

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

industries, but only 2 reported decreases of this
amount.
In many instances, however, the greater part
of the increase in the 9-month cumulative injury
rates took place in periods prior to the third

quarter of 1951. A comparison of third-quarter
rates alone, indicated significant decreases between
1950 and 1951 for 30 of 125 industries for which
such data were available. Changes of less than
1 frequency-rate point were recorded by 41 classi-

I n j u r y - f r e q u e n c y r a te s f o r s e le c te d m a n u f a c tu r in g i n d u s t r i e s : 1 R e v is e d 1 9 5 0 a n d f i r s t S q u a r te r s o f 1 9 5 1
First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Nine months

Industry
1950
Food and kindred products:
Meat products...................... .....................................
Dairy products................ .............................................................
Canning and preserving___________________
Grain-mill products......... .........................
Bakery products.............................. .............. .
Cane sugar______________ ____ _
.
Beet sugar___________________ __________
Confectionery and related products______________
Bottled soft drinks...................... . .
M alt and malt liquors________. . . . . . ________________
W ines.............. .....................................................
Distilled liquors_________________ . . .
Miscellaneous food products......................... ...................
Textile-mill products:
Cotton yam and textiles__________________
_.
Rayon, "other synthetic, and silk textiles___________ ____
Woolen and worsted te x tiles.......................................
Knit goods_____________________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles.......................... ..............
Miscellaneous textile goods_____ . . . . . .
Apparel and other finished textile products:
Clothing, men’s and boys’___________________
Clothing, women’s and children’s . . . .....................................
Miscellaneous fabricated textile products__________ .
Lumber and wood products (except furniture):
Logging________________ _____ ______ _________________
Planing mills_____________ ________ . . .
Sawmills__ _. ______
Sawmills and planing mills, integrated.......................... .........
Veneer m ills_____________ . . . .
Millwork and structural wood products.. .
Plywood mills__________ _____________
W ooden containers__________________
Miscellaneous wood products.. . . .
Furniture and fixtures:
Household furniture, nonmetal_____
Metal household furniture_______ ____ ____
Mattresses and bedsprings_______________ .
Office furniture____________ .
Public-building and professional furniture........... ................
Partitions and fixtures..............................
Screens, shades, and blinds........................................
Paper and allied products:
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills........ .............
Paperboard containers and boxes.....................
Miscellaneous paper and allied products__ _
Printing, publishing, and allied industries:
Newspapers and periodicals........................ . .
Bookbinding and related products_______ _
Miscellaneous printing and publishing____
Chemicals and allied products:
Industrial inorganic chem icals.........................
Plastics, except synthetic rubber.......................... ..........
Synthetic rubber...............................................

Synthetic fibers__________ .
Explosives____ _________
Miscellaneous industrial organic chemicals.
Drugs and medicines....... ................
Soap and related products______ ___
Paints, pigments, and related products______
Fertilizers_______________ . .
Compressed and liquefied gases_______ ____
Miscellaneous chemicals aridallied products____
Rubber products:
Tires and inner tubes______ _____
Rubber footwear_________ _____
Miscellaneous rubber products__ ___
Leather and leather products:
Leather tanning and finishing_____________
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings
Footwear (except rubber)_______ ___
Miscellaneous leather products...................
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Glass and glass products____________ .
Structural clav products..........................
Pottery and related products________ ___
Concrete, gypsum, and mineral wool_____________
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral products................
See footnotes at end of table.

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

21.1

17.9
13.8
18.4
15.2
21.5
(2)
13.9
22.3
26.4
(2)
7.1
14.6

9.3
9.6
13.0
5 6

21.1
17.8
7.5
4.3

12.8
94.0
«
61.3
47.1
(2)
24.1
36.0
29.2
29.5

20.8

1951

23.3
18.9

20.2

15.3
15.2
18.6
(2)
14.8
22.7
25.9
(2)
9.9
14.6

10.6

1950

21.1
17.0
17.6
12.7
13.0

20.2
(2)
12.5
23.8
26.4
(2)
7.1
15.6

1951

21.4
17.3
18.0
16.5
15.5
17.0
(2)
17.5
43.0
25.0
(2)
8.7
13.9

1950

21.8

19.5
32.6
19.1
13.5
24.3
(2)
13.1
32.2
25.6
(2)
9.6
14.8

8.2

15.0

21.7
17.8

22.8

17.2
13.9
22.3
34.2
13.8
26.7
25.3
19.8
8.3
14.9

11.4
9.6
14.9
5.8
18.8
19.7

7.5
17.8
5.9
19.8
16.8

9.2
14.0
5.3
19.5
17.2

10.3
9.1
17.3
6.4
23.1
16.9

10.0

18.1

8.1
6.1

5.8
4.7
10.4

7.4
5.6
18.8

6.1
5.4
12.8

7.9
5.0
19.4

12.0

6.5
4.8

7.7
5.6
18.9

6.4
4.9
12.5

113.9
(2)
54.6
47.1
(2)
29.1
33.0
40.0
33.6

89.0
(2)
54.6
40.0
(2)
27.1
30.2
36.9
24.0

94.7
(2)
56.9
55.8
(2)
31.5
34.5
38.1
34.2

101.5
(2)
64.7
46.1
(2)
30.7
33.8
37.4
27.4

114.4
(2)
59.1
53.4
(2)
27.9
34.8
38.2
43.0

95.6
44.5
60.3
44 3
34.5
27.4
33.3
34. 7
27.0

108.0
50.4
55.8
52.4
46.8
29. 7
34.4
38.9
36.6

96.5
43.5
61.4
45.6
34.6
28.2
32.9
34.6
27.5

24.2
29.5
18.9
29.3

22.7
26.7
22.7
24.3
16.2
26.3
(2)

21. 7
21.5
18.3
19.5
25.2
19.8
(2)

31.5
27.1
19.2
23.2
24.5
27.4
(2)

21.4
21.9
18.1
18.6
24.0
16.0

26.0
27.8
20.3
25.2
20.3
27.8
15.8

23.5
18.1
18.5
24.1
18.8
17.1

16.1

13.9

16.5
19.3
13.0

15.5
17.6
14.3

16.1
19.7
12.9

15.7
17. 9
14.8

(2)
9.3

8.0

7. 9
7.3

9. 7
14.6
9.6

8.0
8.2

9.1
5.9
3. 5

10.6
7.3
1.8

9.5
7.0
3.4

6.8
22.1
15.7

15.9
16.4
13.7

16.2
19.5
14.0

14.3
16.3
15.5

15.3
19.7
11.7

7.4
(2)
7.6

10.4
(2)

7.3
(2)
7.7

10.5
(2)

9.1
(2)
8.9

9.5
7.1

9.3
6.4
5. 6
3.3

20.2

8.2

9.7
7.3
2.7
1.5
3.2
8.4

8.0

10.6

20.0

18.3

7.1
14.2
24.6
9.8
22.9

4.9
1.4
1.4
5.7
5.9
7.4
7.1
13.9
27.9
7.2
15.6

9. 6
14.4
0
15.4
23.4

6.0
20.8

5.7
4.3
15.0

5.8
5.8
14.9

5.4
5.6
14.9

5.9
5.5
15.2

5.9
4.8
16.2

14.5
(2)
7.8
(2)

24.2
(2)
8.9
(2)

28.2
(2)
6.9
(2)

(2)
9.2
(2)

12.1

22.1

36.4
13.2
26.4
26.2
19.7

23.6
18.7
26.4
17.2
16.5
16.7
47.2
16. 9
36.4
25.3
24.0
8.7
15.3

9 2
19.2
6.3
27.0
17.9

29.7
(2)

(2)

21.4
18.1
23.7
16.7
13.9

1951

10.2

8.5
14.0
4.7
18.1
14.1

21.7
15.4
17.0
17.6
27.6
19.6
(2)

3.1
1.9
1.9
7.5
7.6
7.3
12.4
21. 7

23.8
20.3
34.6
18.9
19.0
14.7
(2)
15.2
45.2
25.2
(2)
7.2
18.0

1950

10.1

10.3
14.8

29.4
18.9
18.9
19.6
21.3
(2)

10.1
6.2

1951

1950:
for year

10.1

11.6

31.6
12.4
26.3

42.0
18.0
24.9

11.3
43.1
18.6
24.5

19 .5

2 5 .3

16 .4 1

1.2
1.5
2.8
7.0
12.0

21

22.2
12.6

2.1
6.8

7.8
9.5
13.1
25.2

10.0

8.2
11.6
7.3
1.7

2.1
6.8

4.1

8.9
8.3

10.2

20.2

2.2
6

3.3
.7
7.6
7.9
13.1
24.9

1.7
3.3
7.4
10.4
8.3
13.6
22.5
13.3

9.7
13.8
5.4
18.3
16.3

21.8

8.3

2.1

3.8
6.4

8.2

18.3

21.8

7.9
13.0
23.8
11.4
17.6

6.1

5.7
14.8

5.7
5. 0
15.4

5.9
5. 7
15.0

5.6
5.3
15.3

12.1

20.7
14.5
19.1

10.1

22.8

(2)
10. 5
(2)

22.6

8.1

19.5
7.6
10.9

23.2
24. 6
9. 5
17.0

22.5
18.4
7.5
11.7

25.1
(2)
(2)

39.7
19.7
28.1

13.9
36.7
17.5
25.2

14.9
40.3

21.8

12.4
37.3
16.1

13.0
40. 8
19. 7

28.6

12.5
35.9
16.9

19 .8 1

2 0 .9 1

2 1 .4

25 .3
19.0

26. 7
2 2 .2

25. 5
19.1

REVIEW, MAY 1952

IN J U R Y

RATES

IN

549

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

I n j u r y - f r e q u e n c y r a te s f o r s e le c te d m a n u f a c tu r in g i n d u s t r i e s : 1 R e v is e d 1 9 5 0 a n d f i r s t 3 q u a r te r s o f 1 9 5 1 —Continued
F ir st q u a r te r

S e c o n d q u a r te r

T h ir d q u a r te r

N in e m o n th s

1950:

In d u stry
1950

P r im a r y m e t a l in d u s tr ie s :
B l a s t f u r n a c e s a n d s t e e l m i l l s . ______ _________________ _______G r a y - i r o n a n d m a l l e a b l e f o u n d r i e s ____________________________
S t e e l f o u n d r i e s ___________________________________________________
N o n f e r r o u s r o ll i n g , d r a w i n g , a n d a l l o y i n g ___________________
N o n f e r r o u s f o u n d r i e s ................................................................ .......................
I r o n a n d s t e e l f o r g i n g s ______________________________________ - - W i r e d r a w i n g ______________________________________________ _____
W e l d e d a n d h e a v y - r i v e t e d p i p e _______________________________
C o l d - f i n i s h e d s t e e l ________________ ______________________________
F a b r ic a te d m e t a l p r o d u c ts :
T i n c a n s a n d o t h e r t i n w a r e _________ _____ _____________________
C u t l e r y a n d e d g e t o o l s ------------------ ------------ -------------------------------H a n d t o o ls , f il e s , a n d s a w s . . . _____ ____________________________
H a r d w a r e _________________________________________________________
S a n i t a r y w a r e a n d p l u m b e r s ’ s u p p l i e s . _______ _______________
O il b u r n e r s , h e a t i n g a n d c o o k i n g a p p a r a t u s _________________
S t r u c t u r a l s t e e l a n d o r n a m e n t a l m e t a l w o r k _________________
M e t a l d o o r s , s a s h , f r a m e , a n d t r i m ____________________________
B o i le r - s h o p p r o d u c t s ____________________________________________
S h e e t - m e t a l w o r k _________ _____________ _____ ________ ________ _
S t a m p e d a n d p r e s s e d m e t a l p r o d u c t s _________________________
M e t a l c o a t i n g a n d e n g r a v i n g . . . _______ _________ _____ ________
F a b r i c a t e d w i r e p r o d u c t s ......................... ............................ ......... ..............
M e t a l b a r r e ls , d r u m s , k e g s , a n d p a i l s ________________________
S t e e l s p r i n g s _______________________________ _________ ____ ________
B o l t s , n u t s , w a s h e r s , a n d r i v e t s _______ _______________________
S c r e w - m a c h i n e p r o d u c t s ____ _____ ______ ______________________
F a b r i c a t e d m e t a l p r o d u c t s , n o t e ls e w h e r e c la s s i f i e d ________
M a c h i n e r y ( e x c e p t e le c t r i c a l) :
E n g i n e s a n d t u r b i n e s ______________ ______________ ________ ____
A g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y a n d t r a c t o r s _________________________
C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d m i n i n g m a c h i n e r y ______ ___________________
M e t a l w o r k i n g m a c h i n e r y _______ ______________________________
F o o d - p r o d u c t s m a c h i n e r y ______________________________________
T e x t i l e m a c h i n e r y __________ _______________________ _____________
M i s c e l l a n e o u s s p e c i a l - i n d u s t r y m a c h i n e r y ......................................
P u m p s a n d c o m p r e s s o r s __________________ _____ _______________
E l e v a t o r s , e s c a l a t o r s , a n d c o n v e y o r s ______________________ ._
M e c h a n ic a l p o w e r -tr a n sm iss io n e q u ip m e n t (e x c e p t b a ll
a n d r o lle r b e a r i n g s ) _______________________________ _____ _____
M i s c e l l a n e o u s g e n e r a l i n d u s t r i a l m a c h i n e r y _________________
C o m m e r c i a l a n d h o u s e h o l d m a c h i n e r y _______________________
V a l v e s a n d f i t t i n g s ....... ........................................ ..................... ........... ...........
B a l l a n d r o lle r b e a r in g s _________________________________________
M a c h i n e s h o p s , g e n e r a l _________________________________________
E l e c t r i c a l m a c h in e r y :
E l e c t r i c a l i n d u s t r i a l a p p a r a t u s . ______ __________ _____ ________
E l e c t r i c a l a p p l i a n c e s . ................. ......... ........... ...............................................
I n s u l a t e d w ir e a n d c a b l e _______________________________________
E l e c t r i c a l e q u i p m e n t fo r v e h i c l e s ______________________________
E l e c t r i c l a m p s ( b u l b s ) __________ ________________ _______________
R a d i o s a n d r e la t e d p r o d u c t s ____ _________ _____________________
R a d i o t u b e s . ______ _______________________ ______________________
M is c e l l a n e o u s c o m m u n i c a t i o n e q u i p m e n t ___________________
B a t t e r i e s ______________ _____________ ___________ _______________
E l e c t r i c a l p r o d u c t s , n o t e l s e w h e r e c l a s s i f i e d ______ __________
T r a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t:
M o t o r v e h i c l e s , b o d i e s , a n d t r a i l e r s ______ ______________ _____
M o t o r - v e h i c l e p a r t s a n d a c c e s s o r ie s _______________ _____ _____
A i r c r a f t ___________________________________________________________
A ir c r a f t p a r t s ____ _____ __________________________ _____ _________ _
S h i p b u i l d i n g a n d r e p a ir i n g ________________________ ___________
B o a t b u i l d i n g a n d r e p a ir i n g ___________________ ________ ________
R a i l r o a d e q u i p m e n t ____________________________________________
i n s t r u m e n t s a n d r e la t e d p r o d u c t s :
S c i e n t i f i c i n s t r u m e n t s ___ _____________________________ ________
M e c h a n i c a l m e a s u r i n g a n d c o n t r o l l in g i n s t r u m e n t s ________
O p t i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s a n d l e n s e s . . ............... .................. .......................
M e d i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s a n d s u p p l i e s ________ __________________
O p t h a l m i c g o o d s _________________________________________________
P h o t o g r a p h i c e q u i p m e n t a n d s u p p l i e s _______________________
W a tc h e s a n d c lo c k s .
_________________________________________
M is c e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u s tr ie s :
J e w e l r y , s il v e r w a r e , a n d p l a t e d w a r e _________________________
F a b r i c a t e d p l a s t i c s p r o d u c t s ___________________________________
M i s c e l l a n e o u s m a n u f a c t u r i n g ____________ __________________
O r d n a n c e : O r d n a n c e a n d a c c e s s o r ie s ____ _____ ______________ _____

1950

1951

1950

1951

1950

1951

5 .2
3 0 .7
1 8 .8
1 5 .0
2 3 .1
1 7 .4
8 .1
1 2 .9
1 8 .5

5 .8
3 6 .0
3 2 .4
1 2 .7
3 0 .4
2 3 .9
1 0 .3
1 3 .4
1 8 .3

5 .7
3 0 .8
2 2 .6
1 4 .4
2 3 .8
1 9 .8
1 0 .7
1 2 .3
1 8 .6

5 .4
3 6 .2
2 8 .8
1 5 .0
2 6 .4
2 4 .5
1 0 .6
1 1 .0
2 3 .1

6 .1
3 7 .0
2 6 .2
1 4 .3
2 5 .0
2 6 .3
9 .5
1 5 .3
2 2 .4

5 .8
3 6 .7
3 4 .1
1 3 .0
2 6 .7
2 8 .0
1 1 .9
1 3 .6
2 1 .0

5 .7
3 2 .9
2 2 .9
1 4 .6
2 4 .0
2 1 .3
9 .5
1 3 .6
1 9 .9

5 .7
3 6 .4
3 1 .7
1 3 .8
2 8 .7
2 5 .9
1 0 .9
1 2 .6
2 0 .9

5 .7
3 3 .7
2 5 .0
1 5 .3
2 4 .8
2 1 .2
1 0 .2
1 4 .5
1 9 .4

9 .4
1 7 .8
1 6 .1
1 0 .8
1 5 .5
1 7 .9
2 1 .7
(?)
2 3 .7
2 2 .2
1 4 .8
2 5 .3
1 8 .5
(2)
1 3 .8
1 3 .5
1 5 .4
1 1 .6

1 0 .5
2 1 .2
1 9 .9
1 2 .1
2 1 .8
2 1 .4
2 4 .8
(2)
2 7 .9
2 7 .0
1 8 .7
2 2 .1
1 9 .4
9 .5
2 4 .4
1 2 .9
1 4 .0
1 2 .2

1 0 .6
1 8 .0
1 6 .1
1 2 .1
1 7 .4
2 2 .9
2 3 .0
(2)
2 3 .2
2 7 .2
1 8 .2
2 6 .9
1 6 .2
(2)
1 3 .6
1 5 .2
1 2 .7
1 4 .2

9 .7
2 2 .5
2 1 .3
1 0 .3
2 0 .1
2 3 .8
2 4 .1
(2)
3 0 .7
3 1 .6
1 6 .2
2 4 .1
1 7 .3
1 4 .0
2 3 .9
1 5 .6
1 4 .5
1 3 .4

1 4 .7
1 9 .9
1 8 .8
1 0 .3
2 1 .3
2 5 .9
2 4 .6
(2)
2 9 .2
2 9 .9
1 7 .8
3 7 .5
2 0 .7
1 4 .5
1 9 .8
1 8 .6
1 7 .8
1 3 .1

1 1 .5
1 9 .3
2 1 .7
1 2 .3
2 2 .5
2 0 .9
2 5 .7
(?)
2 7 .0
4 0 .5
1 6 .6
2 4 .1
2 0 .4
1 4 .9
2 5 .5
1 7 .4
1 8 .4
1 5 .2

1 1 .8
1 8 .6
1 7 .0
1 1 .1
1 8 .3
2 2 .5
2 3 .1
2 7 .9
2 5 .3
2 6 .7
1 7 .0
3 0 .0
1 8 .5
1 3 .8
1 6 .0
1 5 .8
1 5 .3
1 3 .0

1 0 .6
2 1 .1
2 0 .8
1 1 .7
2 1 .4
2 2 .2
2 5 .2
3 0 .3
2 9 .3
3 2 .0
1 7 .3
2 3 .3
1 9 .3
1 2 .9
2 3 .9
1 5 .0
1 5 .6
1 3 .2

1 2 .2
1 8 .6
1 7 .7
1 1 .6
1 9 .2
2 2 .5
2 3 .2
2 9 .9
2 4 .5
2 6 .8
1 7 .3
2 9 .3
1 8 .3
1 3 .7
1 7 .8
1 6 .1
1 4 .9
1 2 .8

1 0 .9
1 5 .3
1 9 .5
1 0 .0
1 6 .9
1 3.1
1 5 .4
1 3 .6
1 4 .2

1 2 .3
1 4 .7
2 5 .3
1 4 .4
1 6 .6
1 2 .3
2 2 .2
1 7 .9
2 0 .7

1 1 .4
1 6 .6
2 2 .1
1 0 .9
1 4 .1
1 2 .0
1 6 .2
1 4 .8
1 7 .1

1 2 .6
1 6 .0
2 8 .1
1 4 .6
2 0 .0
1 1 .3
2 2 .6
1 8 .6
1 8 .4

1 1 .3
1 6 .5
2 1 .8
1 2 .6
1 6 .9
1 0 .9
1 7 .4
1 4 .8
1 5 .8

1 2 .7
15. 7
2 7 .4
1 4 .8
2 0 .9
1 0 .4
2 2 .3
1 7 .9
2 2 .9

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

1 2 .6
1 5 .5
2 6 .9
1 4 .6
1 9 .0
1 1 .4
2 2 .4
1 8 .4
2 1 .1

1 1 .0
1 5 .8
2 1 .6
1 1 .5
1 6 .3
1 1 .9
1 7 .2
1 5 .4
1 6 .1

1 0 .6
1 4 .0
8 .9
1 4 .7
1 0 .3
1 3 .5

1 5 .1
1 8 .6
9 .6
2 2 .0
1 0 .5
1 8 .4

1 3 .7
1 6 .7
9 .0
1 6 .8
1 1 .7
1 3 .2

1 5 .6
2 2 .3
1 0 .4
2 0 .7
1 4 .2
1 8 .3

1 2 .7
1 6 .9
9 .4
1 9 .6
1 4 .1
1 7 .3

1 5 .4
2 1 .8
9 .5
2 4 .2
1 4 .1
1 7 .4

1 2 .4
1 5 .9
9 .1
1 7 .0
1 2 .1
1 4 .7

1 5 .4
2 0 .8
9 .8
2 1 .9
1 3 .0
1 8 .1

1 3 .8
1 5 .9
9 .1
1 7 .7
1 2 .0
1 5 .1

7 .8
7 .2
1 3 .5
4 .7
4 .9
6 .2

7 .6
7 .5
1 2 .9
5 .4
1 .5
7 .3

4 .6
1 5 .7
(2)

8 .3
6 .0
1 8 .7
6 .9
5 .7
6 .2
5 .0
4 .1
1 0 .9
( 2)

7 .8
7 .6
15 .1
5 .9
3 .2
6 .8

5 .2
1 6 .5
(2)

9 .1
5 .8
1 7 .4
7 .5
5 .2
6 .3
4 .5
4 .8
1 7 .5
(J)

8 .0
7 .9
1 8 .9
7 .4
3 .1
6 .9

5 .7
1 3 .7
(2)

8 .4
5 .7
1 5 .1
6 .1
3 .7
8 .0
4 .5
4 .2
1 4 .5
(2)

5 .2
1 5 .4
7 .1

8 .5
5 .9
1 7 .0
6 .8
4 .8
6 .9
4 .6
4 .3
1 4 .5
6 .3

7 .9
7 .4
1 5 .6
5 .8
4 .0
6 .9
3 .9
5 .1
1 5 .0
8 .1

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

5 .9
9 .1
4 .4
6 .7
2 2 .6

5 .7
9 .7
4 .2
6 .5
2 4 .1

5 .8
9 .3
4 .5
6 .7
2 2 .8

6 .6
1 0 .1
3 .7
5 .1
2 8 .0

6 .6
9 .1
4 .4
7 .9
2 2 .8

5 .9
9 .7
3 .8
5 .9

6 .3
9 .3
4 .4
7 .2

5 .9
9 .6
4 .0
5 .9

( 2)
10.1

( 2)
12.0

( 2)
1 1.6

( 2)
1 3.0

( 2)
12.1

( 2)
1 5.3

2 5.5
3 9.5
1 1.3

2 2 .8
60.0
1 3.5

2 5.4
3 8.9
1 1.4

7 .7
7 .4
6 .1
1 5.4
3 .3
4 .8
4.6

6.3
8.8
6 .9
9 .2
7 .3
5 .7
5.0

4 .8
7 .9
4 .3
1 0.4
2 .5
6 .5
5 .4

8 .2
8 .5
8 .1
1 0.8
10.1
5 .0
5 .2

2 .8
8 .4
3 .2
1 4.5
6 .6
5 .4
7 .2

5.8
8.8
12.0
11.4
( 2)
6 .1
7.1

5 .2
7 .9
4 .5
1 3.3
4 .0
5 .5
5 .7

6 .8
8 .6
8 .9
1 0 .4
6 .3
5 .6
6 .0

5 .2
8 .5
5 .2
13.1
4.8
5 .5
5 .8

9 .2
1 6.3
12.4
5 .4

4.9
16.6
13.9
8 .4

7 .5
18.2
1 1.0
7.1

6 .3
1 9.6
1 2.9

8 .9
1 4.6
1 3.4
5 .2

7.0
18.9
1 3.4
5 .1

8 .6
1 6.3
1 2.3
6 .0

5 .9
1 8.8
13 .8

8 .0
1 6.2
1 2 .7

6 .6

6 .2

( 2)

1 Data in this table represent a major revision in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
quarterly series on injury rates in manufacturing. Rates shown are com­
parable with annual averages for 1949 and 1950 presented in the press release
dated Dec. 23, 1951, and in the January 1952 issue of the M onthly Labor
Review. They are not strictly comparable, however, with either quarterly
or annual rates published prior to these dates. A tabulation showing
monthly rates for the entire year 1950 and the first 9 months of 1951 is available
upon request.
M onthly and quarterly injury rates compiled by the Bureau are based
upon voluntary reports submitted by approximately 1 2 ,0 0 0 establishments,
employing about a third of all workers in manufacturing. Annual averages
presented in the final summary for each year are based upon reports from a
considerably larger sample of establishments. The two sets of rates, there­


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

1951

fo r y e a r

( 2)

5 .1

( 2)

( 2)

fore, differ somewhat for the same industries. The annual rates are consid­
ered to be the best measure of the level of injury frequency; the monthly
and quarterly rates are intended to show the current trend. In order to
avoid confusion and to facilitate comparisons between the annual and quar­
terly figures, the rates presented in this table have been adjusted to the level
of the latest available annual averages.
The industry classifications used conform with the definitions of the 1945
edition of the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, Vol. I, Manufac­
turing Industries, prepared by the Division of Statistical Standards, IT. S.
Bureau of the Budget. Injury-rate reports issued prior to December 1951
were based on the 1942 edition of this manual.
2 Insufficient data to warrant presentation of separate averages.

550

IN J U R Y

RATES

IN

Percent of Change in Injury-Frequency Rates
in Manufacturing

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

M ONTHLY LA BO R

usual upswing from the low point reached in the
second quarter. The third-quarter rate was only
slightly above the first quarter.
Other industries showing large frequency-rate
increases, both in the third-quarter and the 9month rates, between 1950 and 1951 were the
following:
Points increase from
1950 to 1951
Third
quarter
9-months

Bottled soft drinks_________________
Miscellaneous wood products.............
Steel foundries_____________________
Saw and planing mills, integrated____
Steel springs_______________________
Partitions and fixtures______________
Miscellaneous fabricated textile prod­
ucts_____________________________
Metal household furniture___________
Construction and mining machinery. _
Elevators, escalators, andconveyors..
Sheet-metalwork___________________

fications; 54—or only 43 percent—showed appre­
ciable increases.
Increases in injury rates between the second and
third quarters of each year have been fairly com­
mon'—the third quarter normally showing the
highest rate for the year in most industries. In
1951, however, only 41 industry classifications—
less than a third—showed significant increases
over the previous quarter, 25 reported decreases,
and 60 recorded changes of less than 1 frequencyrate point.
The boat-building and repairing industry showed
the greatest increase (20.5 points) in the 9-month
rate, between 1950 and 1951. Data for this in­
dustry were insufficient, however, to permit
quarterly comparisons. In the logging industry,
increases between 1950 and 1951 were 12.4 points
in the 9-month average and 12.9 points in the
third-quarter rate. The latter rate was 19.7
points above that for the second quarter of 1951.
A part of this increase, however, represented the


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

+ 1 3 .0
+ 1 5 .6
+7. 9
+7. 3
+5. 7
+7. 6

+ 1 0 .0
+9.6
+ 8 .8
+ 8 .1
+ 7 .9
+ 7 .6

+6. 6
+5. 6
+5.6
+7. 1
+10.6

+6. 9
+5. 9
+5.7
+ 5 .4
+5.3

The metal-coating and engraving industry
showed improvement in each quarter of 1951
compared with the previous year, resulting in a
drop of nearly 7 points in its 9-month cumulative
rate. Cane sugar reported a 9.6-point decrease in
the third-quarter rate and a drop of 5.4 points in
the 9-month average. Sawmills operated sepa­
rately from planing mills, ship building and re­
pair, and heating and cooking apparatus (in­
cluding oil burners) showed decreases of 5
frequency-rate points or more in the third-quarter
rates, compared with the previous year, but
slightly smaller declines in the 9-month cumula­
tive rates.
In the dyeing and finishing industry, a decrease
of 7.2 points in the third quarter of 1951 followed
an increase of 4.9 points in the second quarter.
The 9-month cumulative rate for 1951, however,
was still 3.6 points above 1950. The batteries
industry showed a drop of 6.6 points in the third
quarter, compared with the second quarter of
1951, to reach the lowest point in the present
series.
Outstandingly low injury-frequency rates for the
first 9 months of 1951 were reported as follows:
1.7 for synthetic fibers; 1.8, synthetic rubber; 3.3,
explosives; 4.3, miscellaneous communication
equipment; 4.4, aircraft manufacturing; 4.6, radio
tubes; and 4.8, electric lamps (bulbs).

REVIEW, MAY 1952

E ARN IN 08—MA CHINERY MAN ü FAC TURE

Earnings in Machinery
Manufacture, Autumn 1951

mentary wage benefits included at least 6 paid
holidays annually, a week’s paid vacation after
1 year of service, and insurance and pension
benefits paid at least in part by the employer.
Similar Bureau studies of wages and related
benefits in the machinery industries conducted in
January 1951 covered 28 of the 31 areas included

Straight-time earnings of tool and die makers
in machinery manufacture averaged $2 an hour
or more in 16 of 31 major labor markets studied
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the autumn
of 1951.1 Although similar averages were also
reported for a few other skilled jobs in some
cities, tool and die makers were generally the
highest-paid group among those surveyed.
Plant employees were typically scheduled to
work 40 hours a week, in most cities; supple­
T able

1.

551

i D a t a w ere c o lle c te d b y fie ld r e p r e se n ta tiv e s u n d e r t h e d ir e c tio n o f th e
B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s ’ re g io n a l w a g e a n a ly s ts . M o r e d e ta ile d in fo rm a tio n o n w a g e s a n d r e la te d p ra ctices in e a c h o f t h e s e le c te d areas is a v a ila b le
o n r e q u e st.

The study included machine-tool accessory establishments with 8 or more
workers and other machinery establishments with 2 1 or more workers.
Approximately 725,000 workers were employed in the industry in the areas
studied.

S tr a ig h t- tim e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s 1 f o r m e n i n se le c te d o c c u p a tio n s i n m a c h in e r y m a n u f a c tu r in g p l a n t s i n S I
c itie s , O c to b e r -D e c e m b e r 1 9 5 1

Occupation and grade

Al­
bany- AllenSche- townnec- Bethtady- lehem
Troy

Assemblers, class A__ ____________
0
Assemblers, class B ________________ $1.46
Assemblers, class 0 ________________
0
Electricians, maintenance__________
0
Inspectors, class A _________________
(3)
Inspectors, class B _________________
(3)
Inspectors, class C ...................................
(3)
Janitors __________________________
(3)
Machine-tool operators, production,
class A: T o ta l4__________ _______ 1.62
Drill-press operators, radial, class
A __________________________
1. 57
Drill-press operators, single- and
multiple-spindle, class A . .
(3)
Engine-lathê operators, class A .. . 1.69
Grinding - machine operators,
class A ______________________
(3)
Milling-machine operators, class
A ___________________________
(3)
Screw-machine operators, automatic, class A ______ _____
(3)
Turret-lathe operators, hand (ineluding hand screw machine),
class A ______________________
1.62
Machine-tool operators, production,
class B: T o ta l4___________ . . . . .
1.53
Drill-press operators, radial, class
B ___________________________
(3)
Drill-press operators, single- and
multiple-spindle, class B ______
(3)
Engine-lathe operators, class B __
(3)
Grinding-machine o p e r a t o r s ,
class B ________ ____________
(3)
Milling-machine operators, class
B ___________________________
(3)
Turret-lathe operators, hand (ineluding hand screw machine),
class B _____________ _ __ . . .
(3)
Machine-tool operators, production,
class C: T o ta l 4 ___________ _ __ __ 1. 46
Drill-press operators, single- and
multiple-spindle, class C .............
(3)
Engine-lathe operators, class 0 . . .
(3)
Grinding - machine operators,
class O__________________
__ (3)
Milling-machine operators, class
C ------ ------- --------------- -----(3)
Turret-lathe operators, hand (ineluding hand screw machine),
class C ______________________
(3)
Machine-tool operators, tool r o o m ___
(3)
Machinists, production____ _______
(3)
Tool-and-die’ makers (tool-and-die
jobbing shops)_____________ . . . .
(3)
Tool-and-die makers (other shops)___
1.78
Truckers, hand____________________
(3)
Welders, hand, class A _____________
(3)
Welders, hand, class B . ......................... 1.62

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Buf­ Chat­
ta­
falo nooga

At­
lanta

Baiti
more

$1. 67
1.55
(3)
1.64
1.73
(3)
(3)
1.17

$1. 51
1. 25
1.01
1.60
0
0
0
.97

$1.66 $1.79 $1.74
1.43 1.57 1.59
1.21 1.43 1. 49
1.67 1.71 1.80
1.62 1.79 1.81
1.58
0
0
1.32
0
0
1.14 1.18 1.28

1.70

Bos­
ton

Chi­
cago

Cin­ Cleve­
cin­
Dallas Den­
ver
n a ti5 land

$1.69
1.69
1.11
1.69
1.68
1.55
0
1.11

$1.93
1.77
1.48
2.02
1.91
1.74
1.53
1.33

$1.61
1.45
1.24
1.60
1.64
1.49
1.29
1.16

$2.03
1.81
1.53
1.97
1.92
1.82
1.58
1.40

$1.54
1.35
1.11
1.64
1.59
1.50
1.33
.96

D e­
troit

$2.15
0
$1. 52 1.85
1.78
0
1.70 2.18
2.20
0
1.86
0
1.71
0
1. 60
0

Hart­ Hous­ Indian
ford
ton
apolis

$1.87
1. 58
1.34
1. 72
1.70
1. 50
1.29
1 21

$1. 79
1 63
1 36
0
1. 91
0
0
1 23

$1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

09
54
67
85
79
61
41
24

1.58

1.68

1.79

1.81

1. 69

2.00

1.68

2.03

1. 64

1.89

2.35

1 87

1 85

1 89

1.64

0

1.66

1.82

1. 79

0

1.99

1.66

2.02

0

0

2.14

1. 79

1. 64

1 71

(3)
1.67

0
0

0
1.68

1. 75
1. 77

0
1.81

0
0

1.94
1.98

1. 54
1.64

2.04
2.01

0
1.72

0
1. 76

1 89
2. 32

1 92
1 87

2 01

1 75

1 66
1 81

(3)

0

1.77

1.79

1.84

0

2.08

1.72

2.04

1.68

0

2. 41

1. 93

1 81

1 89

1.77

0

1.72

1.85

1.72

0

2.01

1.67

2.05

1.69

1.86

2.31

1.87

1 87

1 88

(3)

0

0

1.85

0

0

2.10

1.80

2.07

1. 56

0

2.11

1.85

0

;.96

0

1.98

1.65

2. 02

1.62

0

2.14

1 90

1 85

1 9f>

1.51

1.80

1.54

1.87

1.38

1. 57

1.89

1. 64

1 76

1 68

1.70

0

1.62

1.75

0

1. 54

1.34

1.42

1. 52

1. 65

1.43

0

1.47

1. 55

1.63

0

1.79

1.43

1. 61

1.27

1.52

1.82

1. 65

1 55

1 49

(3)
1.55

1.24

0
0
0

1.38

0

1.50
1.52

1.61
1.64

1.47
1. 54

1.74
1.77

1.40
1.49

1.91
1.95

1.21

1.88
1.88

1 54
1. 70

(*)

1 78
L 60

1. 52

1.51

1.53

1.55

1.87

1.73

2.04

0
0

1.50
1. 55

1. 93

1 70

1.38

1.58

1.80

0

1.82

1. 49

1.81

1. 40

0
0

1.86

1.55

0

(3)
(3)

1.76

1 65
1 .6 6

(3)

0

1.47

1.55

0

0

1.80

1. 54

1.80

1.40

0

1.89

1 64

1 63

1 72

1.45

1.15

1.18

1.34

1. 51

1.32

1. 53

1.27

1.46

1 .2 2

1.36

1. 69

1. 45

1. 48

1 38

(3)
(3)

1.17

0
0

1.36
1.35

1.48

1.26

0

1.51
1.56

1.19
1.30

1. 43
1. 54

1.14

1. 70
1.74

1. 45
1.37

1 33

1.15

1.40

1.54

1.38

1. 56

1.27

1. 44

1 . 68

1. 54

0

0
0

1.40

0

0

1.56

1.29

1.53

0
0
0
0

1. 72

1.50

1.72

1.84

1. 56

1.25
1.57
1.67

1.50
1.96
1.91

1.26

0
0

1. 40
1. 70
1. 76

1. 38

2.04

2 .1 0

2.13
1.52
1.95

1.91

1 .8 8
1 .2 1

2.62
2.27

1.89
1.94
1.25
1.92
1.64

(3)
(3)

0
0
0

0
0

(3)

1.65

1.73

0
0

1. 39
1.64
1. 79

(3)
1. 71
1.28
1.80
(3)

1.83
.98
1. 59
1.36

0

0

1.89
1.82
1.30
1.69
1. 56

(3)
1 .6 8

0
0

1.73
1. 53

0

0

0

2 .0 2

1.96
1.33
1.93
1. 67

0
0

2 .0 2

1.71

1.87

0
0

2.34
2.18
1. 47
1.98
1.78

1.14
1.85
1. 55

1.59
1.38

1 .6 6

0
0
0
0
0
0

1.07
1.53
1.36

0
0

1. 69

0
0
0
0

1.37

2 . 26

1 .6 6
2 .1 0

1.94

1 34
0

1 39
0

1. 95

0

1. 44
1 87
1 74

0
0
1.97
0

2.09
2. 05
1.30
1 75
1.60

2 .1 2

552
T able

M ONTHLY LA B O R

E A R N IN G S — M A CH IN E R Y M A N ü F A C T Ü R E

1 .— S tr a ig h t- tim e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s 1 f o r m e n i n se le c te d o c c u p a tio n s i n m a c h in e r y m a n u f a c tu r in g p l a n t s i n S I
c itie s , O cto b er—D e c e m b e r 1 9 5 1 — Continued

Occupation and grade

M il­
Los
Kansas
wau­
City Angeles kee

0
Assemblers, class A .
- ---------------Assemblers, class B _________________ $1.55
Assemblers, class C _________________
(3)
Electricians, maintenance.. ----------0
Inspectors, class A ---------------- . -----0
1.61
Inspectors, class B ------- -----------------Inspectors, class C ...... .............................
0
1 .2 1
Janitors---- ---------- -------- --------- ------Machine-tool operators, production,
1.79
class A: T o ta l 4 _____________ . . . .
Drill-press operators, radial, class A .
0
Drill-press operators, single- and
multiple-spindle, class A ---------0
Engine-lathe operators, class A __
0
G r in d in g -m a c h in e operators,
class A .. ________ . ------ . .
0
Milling-machine operators, class A.
0
Screw-machine operators, auto­
matic, class A ________________
0
Turret-lathe operators, hand (in­
cluding hand screw machine),
class A ---------0
Machine-tool operators, production,
1.55
class B: T o ta l 4__ . . ------ . . . .
Drill-press operators, radial, class B .
0
Drill-press operators, single- and
1.49
multiple-spindle, class B ---------Engine-lathe operators, class B __
0
G r in d in g -m a c h in e operators,
class B . . . .
.. —
..
0
Milling-machine operators, class B .
0
Turret-lathe operators, hand (in­
cluding hand screw machine),
1.56
. ------ class B ---- ---------Machine-tool operators, production,
1.39
class C: T o ta l 4 ------------------- ------Drill-press operators, single- and
1.41
multiple-spindle, class C ---------Engine-lathe operators, class C —
0
G r in d in g -m a ch in e
operators
class C __
______
____
0
Milling-machine operators, class C _
0
Turret-lathe operators, hand (in­
cluding hand screw machine),
(3)
class C --------------- ----------------Machine-tool operators, tool room----0
1.81
Machinists, production-------------------Tool-and-die makers (tool-and-die job­
bing shops)---------------------------------0
Tool-and-die makers (other than job­
1.97
bing shops)______________________
Truckers, hand---------- ---------------- 0
1.62
Welders, hand, class A . . ------- -- . . .
1.56
Welders, hand, class B ---------------------

N ew ­ New
Minne­ arkPhila­ P itts­
apolis- Jersey York delphia burgh
City
St. Paul City
$1.77
1.76
1.80
1.82
1.97

1.35

1.90
1.63
1.62
1.32

$1.95
1 70
1.38
1.94
1.99
1.64
1.35
1.23

1.98
1.82

1.85
1.84

1.98
1.91

1.69
1.90

1.99
1.94

1.73
1.79

1.94
1.89

2.07
1.94

0

$1.83
1.59
1.31
2.06
1.89

$1.99
1.95
1.84
1.96

$1.75
1.71
1.36
1.87

$1.99
1.65
1.54

1 .8 8

1 .6 6

1 .8 6
1 .6 8

1.43
1.35

1.77
1.58
1.39

1.91
1.85

Port­ Provi­ St.
land,
Oreg.5 dence Louis

$1.97
1.87
(3)

$1.97
1.72
1.52

$1.56
1.42
1.35
1.61
1.62
1.50
1.25

San
Fran­ Seattle Tulsa
cisco

Wor­
cester

1.82
(3)
1.54

$1.99
1.77
(3)
(3)
1.99
(3)
(3)
1.52

$1.64
1.35
(3)
1.62
1.62
(3)
(3)
1.05

$1.83
1.87
1.43
1.84
1.69
1.55

1.91
1.78

1.98
1.89

1.99
1.97

1.64
(3)

1.80
1.69

2 .0 0

1.99

1.47
1.75

1.67
1.75

(3)
1.99

1.67
1.63

1 .8 6

1.91

$1.80
1.50
1.38
1.97

$1.96
1.70
1.65
2.14

1 .8 8

2 .0 1

1 .1 0

1.55
1.34
1.24

1 .8 8

2 .0 0

1.49
1.25

2.07
1.84
(3)
1.39

1.91
(3)
(3)
1.53

1.90
1.91

1.92
1.85

1.92
1.78

1 .8 8

1.81

1.63
(3)

1.83
1.91

1.79
1.91

1.70
1.96

1.92
1.93

1.82
1.97

1.49
1.65

1.77
1.92

1.97
1.85

2 .0 1

1.96
1.90

(3)
1.96

1.97
1.87

(3)
1.97

1 .6 6

1.67

1.89
1.96

2 .0 1

1.97

2 .2 0

1 .8 6

2 .0 0

1.92

1.91

(*)

(3)

(3)

2 .0 2

(3)

(3)

1.91

1.97

1.83

2 .0 2

1.89

1.94

1.82

(3)

1.64

1.87

(3)

1.98

1.61

1.82

1.65

1.87
1.85

1.61
1.76

1.76
1.73

1.60
1.65

1.71
1.65

1.72
1.70

1.71
(3)

1.52
1.43

1 .6 6

1.60

1.77
1.73

1.80
1.79

1.40
(3)

1.63
1.55

1 .8 6

1.56

1.54
1.67

1.58
1.64

1.54
1.59

1.69
1.80

(3)

(3)
1.52

1.64
1.73

1.69
(3)

1.81
(3)

1.38
(3)

1.67
1.53

(3)
1.71

1.67

1 .6 8

1.72

1 . 61

1.91

1.79
1.70

(3)
1.74

1.56
1.50

1.73
1.70

1.80
1.76

(3)
(3)

1.36
1.44

1.62
1.69

0

0

1 .8 8

1 .6 6

0

1.85

1.93

0

0

1.26

1.82

1.57
1.69

1.85

0

1.71

2.03
1.90

0

1 .6 8

1 .6 6

1.80

1.71

1.70

1.64

1.95

1 .6 8

(»)

1.49

1.63

1.82

(3)

1.45

1.65

1.36

1.70

1.26

1.57

1.35

1.44

1 .6 6

1.56

1.39

1.56

1 .6 6

(3)

1.16

1.39

0

1.71
1.60

1.26

(3)
1.39

1.28
1.38

1.43
1.38

1.64
(3)

0

1 .6 8

(3)

1.31
(3)

1.31

1.57

1 .6 6

(3)

(3)
(3)

1.09
(3)

1.36
1.41

1/42
1.45

1.70
1.74

0

1.56
(3)

1.26
1.44

(3)
1.49

(3)
1.64

(3)
(3)

1.34
1.49

1.59
1.54

(3)
1.64

(3)
(3)

1.26
(3)

1.38
1.38

1.69
1.95
1.89

0

1.41
1.63

1.62
1.81
1.93

(3)
(3)
1.95

(3)
1.55
1.61

0
2 .2 0

1.32

2 .0 2

2 .0 2

(3)
2.03
1.72

(3)

1.83
1.74

1.51
1.99
1.84

1.40

1.97
1.98

L 95

1.98

0
2 .0 2

1.71

1.43
1.76
(3)

2.28

2.13

2.07

2.09

2.09

2.25

(3)

(3)

1.83

2.26

2.43

2 .1 2

2.04
1.43
1.96
1.80

2.04
(3)
1.75

2 .1 1

2.13
1.32
(3)
(3)

2.04
1.32
1.96
1.77

2.04
(3)
1.85
1.63

2.07
(3)
1.94
(3)

1.78
1.19
1.60
(3)

2 .2 1

1.30

2.38
1.73

1 .8 8

2 .0 0

1.56

(3)

0

1.39
1.91
1.71

0

(3)

1 .6 6

1.33
1.93
1.73

0

0

2.28
1.63
(3)
(3)

0

(3)

1.89

1 .8 8

(3)
1.
l.r :
1.77

1.23
(3)
(3)

1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
Data relate to
September 1951 in Seattle; to October 1951 in Cleveland, Hartford, Kansas
City, and Philadelphia; to November 1951 in Buffalo, Chicago, Denver,
Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Newark-Jersey City, Pittsburgh, St.
Louis and San Francisco; and to December 1951 in the remaining areas.

Data exclude one large establishment manufacturing machine tools.
Insufficient data to warrant presentation of an average.
Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition to those
shown separately.
s Based on June 1951 data adjusted to N ovember 1951, on the basis of general
wage changes.

in the present survey.2 A comparison of total
establishments and over-all employment between
the two periods indicated substantial increases
in both categories. Occupational averages in each
city permitting comparison were generally from
5 to 10 percent higher in the latter study. In­
creases were greatest in Portland, Oreg., and
Seattle, and were least in Tulsa and Pittsburgh.
Production workers in Detroit machinery es­
tablishments had the highest pay levels in half
of the 36 jobs selected for study (table 1). Mil-

waukee, with highest average hourly rates in 10
job categories, accounted for most of the other
top averages. Job averages in Chicago, which
had a seventh of the total machinery-industry
employment in the cities studied, were usually
only slightly below those in Detroit, or Milwaukee.
Each job average in these cities as well as in San
Francisco and Seattle ranked above the corre­
sponding median city rate for the job. (This
median city rate is the average above and below
which an equal number of averages in the occu­
pation was recorded.) Other cities having at least
three-fourths of the job averages at or above the
median were Cleveland, Newark-Jersey City,

1 See Machinery Manufacture: Earnings in January 1951, in M onthly
Labor Review. July 1951 (p. 43).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2
2
4

REVIEW, MAY 1952

Portland, Oreg., Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.
The lowest averages were generally found in the
South and in some cities of the Northeast.
Percentage-wise, wage differences between
skilled and unskilled jobs were generally greatest
in the South and least in the Far West. For
example, earnings of tool and die makers in At­
lanta and Houston exceeded those of janitors by
approximately 90 and 70 percent, respectively;
on the other hand, the wage advantage of tool and
die makers over janitors in the Far Western cities
ranged from 35 percent in Portland, Oreg., to
less than 60 percent in Los Angeles. These
differentials in the important machinery centers
of Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland ranged
between 40 and 50 percent, and in Chicago,
another large center, the average earnings level
of tool and die makers was nearly 65 percent
above that reported for janitors. Such skill
differentials varied among cities primarily because
of the relatively wide range in the averages re­
ported for the lower-skilled occupation. Tool and
die makers in Atlanta averaged $1.83 an hour, or
24 cents less than similar workers in Portland,
Oreg., who earned $2.07; on the other hand, jan­
itors in Atlanta averaged 97 cents—56 cents less
T able 2.— S t r a ig h t- tim e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s 1 o f m e n
i n s e le c te d o c c u p a tio n s i n
„ s e le c te d c itie s , b y m e th o d
D ecem ber 1951

m a c h in e r y in d u s t r i e s , i n 8
o f w a g e p a y m e n t , O c to b e r-

r‘

-¿¿-s----------------------------------E’s

Occupation and grade

Assemblers, class A: Total___
Tim e_______
Incentive.
- --Assemblers, class B; T otal__
Tim e -- - __________
Incentive . . --- -- - -Assemblers, class C: Total—
Time
-- - - ________
In cen tiv e__
_ _ _
Machine-tool operators, production, class A: T otal____
T im e_________________
Incentive. - ______ Machine-tool operators, production, class B: T otal___
T im e_____ -In cen tive... .
_ ... .
Machine-tool operators, production, class C: Total__
T im e_________________
Incentive . . . .
Welders, class A: Total______
T im e---- -------------------In c e n tiv e .____
- -

Chicago

Cleveland

Milwaukee

N um ­ Aver­ N um ­ Aver­ N um ­ Aver­
age
age
age
ber of hourly
ber of
ber of hourly
work­ earn­ work­ hourly
earn­ work­ earn­
ers
ers
ers
ings
ings
ings
1,732
1,373
359
2 , 821
1,313
1,508
2, 510
1. 724
786

$1. 93
1. 91
2 .0 1

1.77
1. 64
1 .8 8

1.48
1.39
1. 66

1,114
562
552
1, 536
980
556
439

$2.03
1.90
2.17
1 . 81
1. 6 6
2 . 08
2 1.53

477
256
221

1,787
565

1, 2 2 2

$1.99
1.80
2 . 21
1.95
1 .6 8

1,327
415
912

2.08
1.84
1. 57
1.95

3,564
2,436

2. 00
1.99
2.03

4, 690
2,612
2,078

1 .8 8
2 . 22

2,499
976
1, 523

1.98
1.81
2. 09

3, 524
1,915
1,609

1.80
1.72
1.90

2, 585
1,400
1,185

1.87
1. 69
2.09

2,187
616
1, 571

1.87
1.64
1.96

3,038
1, 732
1,306
817
483
334

1.53
1.44
1. 65
1. 98

832
730

1.46
1.44
1.65
1.95
1.81
2.35

639
234
405
675
407
268

1.70
1.54
1.80
1.96
1.84
2.15

6 ,0 0 0

1 .8 8
2 .1 2

102

411
303
108

2.03

1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
2 Insufficient data to warrant presentation of averages by method of wage
payment; predominantly time workers.

998444— 52------ 5


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553

E A R N IN G S — M A C H IN E R Y M A N U F A C T U R E

T able 3.— S tr a ig h t- tim e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s 1 f o r m e n
i n se le c te d o c c u p a tio n s i n m a c h in e -to o l e s ta b lis h m e n ts i n
3 c itie s , O c to b e r -D e c e m b e r 1 9 5 1

O c c u p a tio n a n d g rade

A sse m b le r s, cla ss A _______________ 1 ____________
A sse m b le r s, cla ss B ___ .. . . .
.....
A ss e m b le r s , cla ss C __________________
_
E le c tr ic ia n s , m a i n t e n a n c e ________ ___
J a n it o r s .. . .
....
. ___
M a c h in e -to o l o p era to rs, p r o d u c tio n , cla ss A 3__
D r ill-p r e ss o p era to rs, r a d ia l, cla ss A _______
E n g in e -la th e o p era to rs, cla ss A . .
_______
G r in d in g -m a c h in e op era to rs, cla ss A _______
M illin g -m a c h in e o p era to rs, cla ss A „ _
T u r r e t-la th e o p era to rs, h a n d (in c lu d in g
h a n d sc r e w m a c h in e ), cla ss A ________
M a c h in e -to o l o p era to rs, p r o d u c tio n , cla ss B A
D r ill-p r e s s o p era to rs, r a d ia l, cla ss B _______
G r in d in g -m a c h in e o p era to rs, cla ss B _______
M illin g -m a c h in e o p era to rs, cla ss B ________
T u r r e t-la th e o p era to rs, h a n d (in c lu d in g
h a n d sc r e w m a c h in e ), cla ss B ___ __ . . .
M a c h in e -to o l o p era to rs, p r o d u c tio n , cla ss C ___
T ru c k e r s, h a n d ___ . ___________ _________
T o o l-a n d -d ie m a k e r s _____________ ____________

C le v e ­
la n d

H a r t­
ford

W o r­
ce ster

$2.1 4
2.01
1.58
1.91
1.4 8
2 .0 9
1.97
2. 04
2 .0 6
2 .0 8

$1.9 2
1.7 0
(2)
1.7 8
(2)
1.8 6
1.7 2
1.8 2
1.9 4
1.8 6

$1.8 9
1.7 0
1.4 5
(2)
1 .3 0
1 .8 8
1.75
1 .8 2
1.8 9
1.9 4

2 .1 2
1 .9 7
1 .6 8
(2)
1 .8 4

1.91
1 .7 0
1 .6 6
1 .7 4
1.57

1 .8 8
1.5 6
1.5 3
1.63
1.6 2

1.7 6
1.47
1 .5 2
2 .1 5

(2)
1.23
(2)
1.9 9

1.59
1.3 9
1 .5 2
(2)

1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
2 Insufficient data to warrant presentation of an average.
3 Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition

to those

shown separately.

than reported for this occupation in Portland
($1.53).
Women constituted less than 10 percent of the
combined production work force in the 31 cities
and were usually employed in the less skilled
occupations. The proportion of women workers
varied somewhat among the different areas but
did not exceed 20 percent in any city studied.
Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Indian­
apolis, Milwaukee, and San Francisco employed
the largest proportion of women production
workers. The range in these cities was from 10
percent in Milwaukee to nearly 20 percent in
Hartford.
Earnings of women who were employed in
comparable jobs usually averaged less than men
in all cities where comparisons were possible.
Women employed in assembly and inspection
occupations received from 2 to 53 cents an hour
less than men in the 14 cities permitting com­
parisons. Women employed as operators of ma­
chine tools averaged more than similarly employed
men in a few instances; but they generally earned
from 2 to 24 cents an hour less.
Incentive methods of wage payment affected
straight-time average earnings to a varying degree
in different cities (table 2) and were applicable to
about a fourth of the total production workers in
cities studied; such systems were used little on
the West Coast. At the other extreme, more than
40 percent of the workers in Allentown-Bethlehem,

554

M O N TH LY LA B O R

EA R N IN 0 8 — M A C H IN E R Y M A N U F A C T U R E

Cleveland, Hartford, and Worces­
ter are among the leading areas in manufacture
of machine tools. Among these three cities, occu­
pational averages were highest in Cleveland in all
job categories permitting comparisons (table 3).
In general, occupational averages in each of these
cities were somewhat higher in the machine-tool
branch than those reported for the entire industry.

Hartford, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh, and more
than 30 percent of those in Boston, Worcester,
Buffalo, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, and
Denver, were paid on an incentive basis.

M a c h in e T o o ls.

Branches of the Industry

A few of the 31 cities had a concentration of
machinery establishments engaged in the produc­
tion of machine tools or machine-tool accessories.
Tables 3 and 4 present data for some of the more
important areas for which separate presentation
could be made for these branches of the industry.

A c c e sso rie s. Data for represent­
ative occupations in the machine-tool-accessories
branch are presented for five leading areas (table
4). The relationship in wage levels between pro-

M a c h in e -T o o l

T able 4.— S tr a ig h t- tim e a v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s 1 f o r m e n i n s e le c te d o c c u p a tio n s i n m a c h in e -to o l- a c c e s s o r y e s ta b lis h m e n ts i n
5 c i t i e s , O c to b e r -N o v e m b e r 1 9 5 1
Chicago
Occupation and grade

Jftnjtnrs
_ _ ______ ____
_____________________
Machine-ton! operators production class A t
_ ____
Engine-lathe operators, class A
_ __ __ _
_ ___
____________
Grinding-machine operators, class A
Milling-machine operators, class A
__
_
_ _ _
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw machine),
class A
_
_
- ___
___
_____ ___ _____
Machine-tool operators, production, class B 2 _
Engine-lathe operators, class B
_ _ _____ _ _ _ _
Grinding-machine operators, class B _ _ _______ _______ ___
Milling-machine operators, class B _________ _
Machine-tool operators, production, class C______________ _ _ __
Tool-and-die makers
__
___
_ _ _
Truckers, hand _ _ - _____ _____ _______ _______________ ______

Cleveland

Detroit

Hartford

Los Angeles

Produc­ Jobbing Produc­ Jobbing Produc­ Jobbing Produc­ Jobbing Produc­ Jobbing
tion
tion
tion
tion
tion
shops shops
shops
shops shops
shops shops
shops shops shops
1.33
2.06
1.98
2.09
2.06

1. 22
2.17
2.19
2.23
2.03

1.95
1.80
1.82
1.79
1.84
1. 51
(3)
1.41

2 .0 1

1.78
(3)
1.89
1.75
1.48
2.34
1.42

1.31
1. 96

1.15
1.89

1 .8 8

1 .8 8

1.91
2.04

1.98

1.96
1.80
2.04
1.73
1.79
1.48
2.16
1.39

1 .8 8

1.82
1.69
1.71
1.73
1 .6 6

2.17
2 . 21
2.19

1.53

1.63
2.56
2.46
2.62
2.49

1.19
2.04
1.95
2.05
(3)

2.14

2.45

2 .0 1

1 .8 6

2 .1 2

1.91
1.87
1.82

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
2.62

1.70
1.82
1.71
1. 67
1.45
1.89
1.29

2 .2 0

1.42

1 .6 6

2 .1 0

2.28
1.56

(3)

(3)

1.32
1.84
1. 91
1.94
1.71

2 .1 0

1.89

(3)
1.50
1.58
1.51
1.47
1.28
1.98

(3)
1.63
1.79
1.77
1.90
1.43
2.28

(3)

(3)

(3)

1 .1 0

1.77
1.81
1.87
(3)
1.77
1.47
1.53
1.60
(3)
1 .2 1

1.25
2 .0 0

2.05
2.04

1Excludes premiumpay for overtime and night work.
i Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition to those shown separately,
s Insufficient data to warrant presentation of an average.

duction and jobbing shops did not follow a definite
pattern. In Detroit, average earnings for all occu­
pations permitting comparisons were higher in
jobbing shops than in production shops; the oppo­
site relationship was true in Hartford. A major­
ity of the occupational averages were higher in
jobbing shops in Los Angeles and Chicago. Dif­
ferences in Detroit were larger than those in other
areas; in 7 of the 8 occupations for which compar­
isons could be made, the earnings advantage in
jobbing shops ranged from 26 to 41 cents an hour.
For most of the occupations in Detroit and Los
Angeles jobbing shops, in Hartford production
shops, and in both types of shops in Chicago, aver­
age hourly earnings were higher than those for the
machinery industry as a whole. In all other in­
stances, wage levels were usually higher in the
over-all machinery industry.
Average rates for machine-tool-accessory work­
ers were highest in Detroit, followed by Chicago,

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Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Hartford, in that
order.
Related Wage Practices

A 40-hour workweek was typical for production
workers in machinery establishments in most of
the cities studied. In a third of the areas a major­
ity of the men were scheduled to work more than
40 hours a week; schedules longer than 40 hours
were unusual for women workers.
Extra shift operations were reported in each city.
Only a few cities had less than 10 percent of their
production work forces in extra shifts; between a
fourth and a third of the plant workers in Balti­
more, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Phil­
adelphia, and Pittsburgh were employed on late
shifts. Nearly all workers employed on extra
shifts received premium pay for shift work, usually
expressed in terms of a cents-per-hour addition to

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

GUARANTEED EMPLOYMENT

day rates. Differentials of 5 cents to 10 cents an
hour were most commonly reported for both sec­
ond- and third-shift work; in some cases thirdshift workers received larger differentials than
second-shift workers.
Production workers were given six or more paid
holidays in nearly all instances. The majority of
the workers in Hartford, Newark-Jersey City,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle received
seven holidays; most of those in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, Boston, New York, and Providence
received at least eight paid holidays.
Paid vacations of 1 week after a year’s service
and 2 weeks after 5 years were commonly reported
for workers in nearly all cities.
The great majority of the workers in each city
were employed in establishments which provided
some form of insurance or pension benefits, paid at
least in part by the employer. Life-insurance
benefits were nearly universal in all cities. Hos­
pitalization and other health-insurance benefits
covered a majority of the workers in all but a few
cities. Retirement pension plans were effective for
a majority of the workers in a third of the cities
studied.
— Otto H ollberg
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

Guaranteed Employment and Wages
Under Collective Agreements
D efinite guarantees of employment or wages
have not been incorporated in collective agree­
ments to a significant extent.1 A recently com­
pleted Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis of a
sample of nearly 2,600 agreements showed that
only 184, or 7 percent of the total, provided for a
guarantee of any type. Moreover, these guaran­
tees were generally very limited, and most of them
provided much less than a full year’s pay or re­
stricted the guarantee to particular groups of
workers. (See table.)

1Little real distinctionexists betweenguaranteedemployment and guaran­
teedwage plans, forif the employer cannot furnishsufficient worktofulfill an
employment guarantee, wages must be paid for the remainder of the time
guaranteed.


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555

Since the guarantees were effective only for the
term of the agreement, usually a year, they provide
relatively little protection against prolonged peri­
ods of unemployment. Some agreements, too,
permit the employer to cancel the guarantee during
the term of the agreement, under certain circum­
stances. However, the high priority which sev­
eral leading unions have recently given to employ­
ment guarantees in their bargaining demands
increases interest in existing contract terms on this
subject.
Contractual guarantees of employment are, of
course, only one of several possible devices in the
effort to stabilize workers’ incomes or lessen the
effect of unemployment. Unions have pushed
various legislative measures such as unemploy­
ment compensation and have attempted to embody
employment safeguards of some kind into agree­
ments. Employers, even though unwilling to
commit themselves to a contractual guarantee,
have nevertheless attempted to reduce seasonal
fluctuations by such methods as manufacturing
for stock.
Many agreements provide for employment sta­
bilization of a sort by requiring work sharing
during slack seasons. Such plans are advanta­
geous to employees with relatively little seniority
because they do not carry the entire burden of
unemployment, as in the case of lay-off according
to seniority. Dismissal pay and seniority rules
are also designed to afford a measure of protection
against unemployment. They are of limited ben­
efit, however, since dismissal pay only softens the
blow from loss of job, and seniority rules merely
determine which employees are to be laid off.
Unemployment insurance is particularly impor­
tant because it provides partial protection against
income loss for limited periods of time. Since
unemployment compensation may not be supple­
mented by guaranteed wage payments, existing
legislation does not encourage guarantees in
collective agreements.
From the employee’s viewpoint, the desirability
of a guaranteed income is obvious, since his expend­
itures for food, rent (or payments on his house),
and other necessities continue the year round.
Employers, too, may benefit because of increased
efficiency resulting from lower labor turn-over,
improved morale, and greater employee coopera­
tion in making technological improvements.

556

GUARANTEED EM PLOYM ENT

Cyclical movements in business activity are con­
sidered to be the greatest obstacle to successful
operation of a guaranteed wage program (especi­
ally in the durable-goods industries). Thus far,
wage guarantees have been confined largely to the
service, distributive, and nondurable consumergoods industries which are less affected by cyclical
fluctuations in employment than are the durablegoods industries. Seasonal fluctuations in em­
ployment, too, are often due to weather, buying
habits of customers, and other factors which are
beyond the control of employers. Also, guaran­
tees may make labor costs an irreducible fixed
charge in situations where a company’s competi­
tive situation may make it necessary to reduce
costs.
Historical Development

The first collectively-bargained employment
guarantees were instituted in the 1890’s, notably
in the wall-paper industry. Many of the early
plans were initiated unilaterally by management,
although some were later incorporated in collective
agreements.
Widespread unemployment during the depress­
ion of the 1930’s intensified the demand for greater
security of income. New guarantees were intro­
duced at the rate of 19 to 23 a year during the
period 1938-42 compared with a maximum of 2
to 6 a year in the 1920’s and early 1930’s.2 Some
of this increase may have been caused by passage
of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 which
exempts an employer from paying overtime for
weekly hours of work in excess of 40 under col­
lective agreements which guarantee annual em­
ployment. The act, as amended in 1949, provides
that annual employment guarantees may be for
1,840 up to 2,080 hours in a year, or for not less
than 46 workweeks of at least 30 hours a week.
All hours worked beyond 2,080 in the contract
year or in excess of 12 a day or 56 a week must
be paid for at time and a half. The employees
may not work more than a maximum of 2,240
hours in the year.
A number of major unions have shown great
interest in guaranteed employment or wage plans
in recent years. The United Automobile Workers
(CIO) urged management to participate in a joint
2 Guaranteed Wage Plans in the United States, Bulletin N o . 925, U . S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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M ONTHLY LA B O R

study of the problem. The United Packinghouse
Workers (CIO), in 1951 negotiations with major
meat-packing companies, demanded a guaranteed
annual wage of at least $3,000. The Brotherhood
of Maintenance of Way Employees (AFL) pro­
posed a plan to minimize seasonal fluctuations in
employment and to guarantee annual wages to
certain employees.
Government agencies have twice considered an­
nual guarantees in cases involving the United
Steelworkers of America (CIO) and the basic steel
companies. In December 1943, the union asked
that workers be guaranteed 40 hours’ straight-time
pay each week for the term of the agreement then
being negotiated. When the companies refused
this request, the case was taken to the National
War Labor Board. The Board declined to order
a wage guarantee, but recommended that the
President appoint a committee to make a thorough
study of the subject. The Advisory Board of the
Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion con­
ducted the study and issued its report in January
1947. Some of the conclusions were: The prob­
lem of encouraging guaranteed wages is largely
one of permitting them to supplement rather than
supplant unemployment insurance; the long exist­
ence of some well-planned guaranteed-wage ar­
rangements and their survival during depressions
indicate that such plans could be an effective factor
in mitigating unemployment; and guarantees are
only one of a number of devices necessary to
stabilize employment.
Late in 1951, when the Steelworkers, in contract
negotiations with the steel industry, again asked
for an annual guarantee as one of their bargaining
demands, the case was submitted to the Wage
Stabilization Board for recommendations. The
Board declined to recommend a guaranteed wage.
The union plan called for payment of benefits
for a maximum of 52 consecutive weeks in any
period of unemployment. The weekly benefit
requested was 30 times the standard hourly wage
rate for the job class in which the employee worked
the most hours during the 13 weeks preceding lay­
off. Benefits were to be paid from a trust fund
financed by employer contributions. To the ex­
tent possible under State laws, unemployment
compensation received by the employee was to be
counted as part of the benefits payable under the
guarantee. Employees were to be eligible for
benefits after 3 years’ service.

GUARANTEED EMPLOYMENT

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

W a g e o r w o r k g u a r a n te e s i n c o lle c tiv e - b a r g a in in g a g r e e m e n ts

Number of
Type of guarantee

Agreements with
employment data

analyzed
Number

Total agreements analyzed --------- __
Agreements w ith guarantee provision.
Annual basis (or for substantial
part of y e a r )... _ __ _________
Weekly, semimonthly, or month­
ly basis covering—
All or most employees_______
P a r ticu la r o c c u p a tio n a l
groups_____ _______ ______

Workers
covered

2,590

2,428

5,750,000

184

166

‘ 246,000

20

18

1 2 ,0 0 0

115

102

169,000

49

46

65,000

1 T o t a l n u m b e r of w o r k e r s in b a r g a in in g u n it s c o v e r e d b y c o n tr a c ts p r o v id ­
in g a g u a r a n te e of s o m e t y p e . T h e n u m b e r o f w o r k e r s in th e s e b a rg a in in g
u n it s w h o are a c tu a lly c o v e r e d b y th e g u a r a n te e p r o v is io n is n o t k n o w n ,
s in c e so m e o f th e g u a r a n te e s are r e str ic te d to p a r tic u la r o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s,
lo n g -s e r v ic e e m p lo y e e s , e tc .

Some of the union claims were that State un­
employment compensation was inadequate both
in amount and duration ; volume of unemployment
in the industry was substantial even in prosperous
years; and “operation of the unemployment trust
fund is counter-cyclical. That is to say, it curtails
inflationary tendencies in periods of high employ­
ment and prices and adds to the volume of demand
at periods of declining employment and falling
prices.” 3
Company spokesmen, on the other hand, argued,
in part, that unemployment compensation was a
subject for legislation, not collective bargaining,
and that the union would use the unemploymentcompensation offset feature of its guarantee plan
as a means of obtaining increased unemplojunentcompensation benefits from State legislatures.
They maintained that some unemployment was
inevitable, especially in industries like steel which
are particularly susceptible to cyclical fluctuations,
and that it was unfair to impose on the industry
the burden of paying employees while not working.
They also questioned, in economic statements of
different company representatives, the counter­
cyclical effects of the guarantee.
Data on the extent of annual guarantees in the
past are not strictly comparable with current
counts, because of difference in samples, defini­
tions, methodology, etc. However, a Bureau of
Labor Statistics survey of over 6,500 agreements
current as of January 1, 1945, and covering about
8 million workers showed that only 42,500 workers
were covered by annual guarantees.4
In Januaiy 1946, approximately 61,000 workers
were covered by the 196 guaranteed wage or

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557

employment plans known by the Bureau to be in
operation (based on replies to a questionnaire sent
to about 90,000 employers). In 130 of these plans,
the employees affected were covered by collective­
bargaining agreements, but some of these plans
were introduced prior to unionization and were
not included in the agreements.
Current Agreement Provisions
Guarantees of some kind appeared in 184 of the
2,590 agreements examined. These agreements
which covered establishments in almost all manu­
facturing and nonmanufacturing industry groups
were in effect during all or some part of 1951, and
most of them remained in effect in 1952. How­
ever, only 20 of the agreements guaranteed wages
or employment throughout the year or for a sub­
stantial part of the year. The remaining 164
agreements merely guaranteed a minimum num­
ber of hours or amount of pay for each week (or in
a few agreements, for each monthly or semi­
monthly period) that the employee was called to
work and did not guarantee a minimum number
of weeks’ work or pay per year.
The 20 annual guarantees were scattered among
the contracts of 15 different national or inter­
national unions. Weekly guarantees appeared in
the contracts of 26 unions; nearly three-fourths of
these guarantees were accounted for by the
Teamsters (AFL), Street Electric Railway and
Motor Coach Employees (AFL), Meat Cutters
(AFL), and Packinghouse Workers (CIO).
Guaranteed employment or
wages on an annual basis were provided by 20
agreements, covering some 12,000 workers. Two
other agreements stated that “ assured work plans”
would continue in effect during the term of the
contract, but did not describe the plans; another
provided that the guaranteed wage plan would
be incorporated in the agreement after the parties
agree on modifications. Some of the 20 agree­
ments fall short of guaranteeing a full year’s
work, usually considered to be 2,080 hours (52
A n n u a l G u a ra n te es.

Union Exhibit No. 11 (p. 52) Wage Stabilization Board Case No. D-18-C.
Guaranteed-Employment and Annual-Wage Provisions in Union Agree­
ments, Bulletin N o. 828, U . S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The exact number of agreements and companies which had
guarantees could not be estimated since many of the agreements were uniform
and were separately signed by an unknown number of individual employers,
and some were negotiated through employers’ associations whose mem­
bership was not available.
3
4

558

GUARANTEED EMPLOYMENT

weeks times 40 hours per week), as indicated by
the following tabulation:

M O NTHLY L A B O R

2,080 hours during each of the guaranteed-work years,
less vacation and holidays.

6

Annual-wage plans, by contrast, guarantee em­
ployees a specified income for the year:

2,080_______________________________________
1,920_________________________, _____________
1,900_______________________________________
1,704_______________________________________
1,440_______________________________________

2
1
1
1
1

All members of the union are hired on an annual
basis and shall receive an annual salary payable in
equal weekly installments as set forth in section 1 of
this agreement and any member employed after the
effective date of this contract shall be hired on a pro
rata basis for the balance of the contract year.

D ays’ work or pay guaranteed____________________

2

N u m ber of
agreem en ts

Hours’ work or pay guaranteed_________

240-299 (varies for different employees)________
230_________________________________________

1
1

Weeks’ work or pay guaranteed___________________

9

52 (40 hours per week)_______________________
52 (40 hours per week for 5 months of year; 48
hours for 7 months)________________________
52 (40-44 hours per week; varies for different
employees)________________________________
52 ($25 per week for males; $20 for females)___
50__________________________________________

5

Months’ work or pay guaranteed__________________

1
1
1
1
3

12____________________________________________

1

10^-11 (varies for different employees)________

1

10____________________________________________

1

The majority of the agreements made the annual
guarantee applicable to “ all regular employees” or
to employees who have completed the probationary
period (usually only 1 to 3 months). However,
some specified service requirements which probably
exclude a considerable proportion of the workers
in the bargaining units involved. In two agree­
ments, the guarantee was limited to employees
with 5 years’ service, and in two others, to em­
ployees with service of 3 and 10 years, respectively.
Another agreement restricted the guarantee to a
specified number of employees.
Most of the 20 agreements guaranteed employ­
ment rather than wages. The former assures a
minimum number of hours, days, weeks, or months
of work, but does not specify the amount of pay to
be received. One guaranteed-work plan, for ex­
ample, reads:
The company agrees to provide work at wage rates
agreed upon by the company and the union, for a
period of 2 years from the effective date of this agree­
ment . . . Those employees who are guaranteed work
under this article will be given an opportunity to work


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A wage guarantee is often less flexible than an
employment guarantee. For example, if employ­
ees are paid on an incentive basis or if they are
transferred to different jobs at different rates of
pay, it is difficult to determine in advance their
annual earnings and, therefore, to guarantee them.
Also, under an employment guarantee, the em­
ployer is usually not committed to paying a fixed
weekly wage.
W e e k ly G u a ra n te e s. A minimum workweek or a
minimum weekly wage for all regular employees
was provided by 115 agreements, chiefly in the
meat-packing, service, and distributive industries.
These agreements guaranteed a minimum amount
of work or a specified minimum weekly wage,
regardless of the number of hours actually worked,
to those employees called to work during any work­
week, without guaranteeing employees an oppor­
tunity to work every week or any minimum
number of weeks during the year. In meat pack­
ing, the typical weekly guarantee was 36 hours.
In other industries it ranged from 32 to 48 hours,
but was most commonly 40 hours.
Guarantees on a weekly semimonthly, or
monthly basis were made in 49 agreements but
guarantees were restricted to particular occu­
pational groups. Three-fourths of these agree­
ments were with local transit or intercity bus
companies and guaranteed a minimum workweek
or a minimum weekly, semimonthly, or monthly
wage to “extra operators.” The remainder
assured wage payments or employment for 40
to 48 hours to designated classifications of workers,
such as delivery men, bottling-department em­
ployees (in a distillery agreement), laundry
workers (in a hotel association agreement), etc.
O th er P r o v is io n s . About a fourth of the agree­
ments provided for termination or modification
of the employment guarantee during the term of

REVIEW, MAY 1952

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK

559

the agreement, under certain conditions. The
conditions most frequently specified were fire,
accident, acts of God, and strikes. One agree­
ment made continuation of the guarantee contin­
gent on maintenance of sales of the employer’s
product at a specified level. Another provided
for arbitration of the employer’s request for relief
from the guarantee.
About half of the agreements specified that em­
ployees covered by an employment guarantee
must be willing and able to perform work which
is made available to them. Although the remain­
ing agreements contained no such provision, the

implication is that similar requirements are in
effect. The most typical clause provided for re­
duction of the guarantee by the number of hours
lost because of absence or tardiness.
If available work on their regular jobs is in­
sufficient to provide the minimum guaranteed
time, the employer is authorized by a few agree­
ments to transfer employees to other work. These
agreements usually provided for forfeiture or
reduction of the guarantee if the employee refused
to accept the transfer.
—Morton Levine and James N ix

National Conference on
Equal Pay for Equal Work

Office of Defense Mobilization, asserted in a key­
note speech to the conference members that if
women are to be effectively utilized in the defense
program, equal pay and equal job opportunities
are “ musts,” and that Federal and State govern­
ments can and should exercise leadership “ to lift
the levels of performance” in those areas.
The spread between median earnings of women
and those of men in 1950 was approximately from
$1,200 to $2,700, according to Dorothy S. Brady,
Bureau of Labor Statistics consultant on costs and
standards of living, who spoke to the conference
on the subject of “ Where Are We Today on Equal
Pay?” In 1950, the median earnings of women
were about 45 percent of those of men. Excluding
domestic service, in which so few men are employed
that comparison is not practical, women’s median
earnings were 53 percent of men’s.
Mrs. Brady pointed out that in addition to the
fact that the principle of equal pay for equal work
had not been applied generally, these wide differ­
ences can be attributed partly to factors such as
location, length of employment, and variations
between occupations.
In public administration, transportation, and
public utilities, the major industries in which some
application of the equal-pay principle had the
longest history, the ratios of women’s median
earnings to men’s—74 percent in public adminis­
tration and 67 percent in transportation and

A policy of “ equal pay for equal work” and
equality of job opportunity for men and women
was supported by speakers and in the panel dis­
cussions of the National Conference on Equal Pay
for Equal Work. Called by Frieda S. Miller,
Director of the Women’s Bureau of the Depart­
ment of Labor, the conference met in Washington,
D. C., on March 31 and April 1, 1952, for the
avowed purpose of bringing together persons asso­
ciated with public and private agencies and organ­
izations that have an active concern with equal
pay, as individuals and not as representatives of
their organizations. The hundred or more par­
ticipants included officials from Federal agencies
and administrators of State laws, union officials
concerned in negotiations of collective contracts,
and representatives of the International Labor
Organization, workers’, employers’, civic, religious,
and professional organizations interested in the
welfare of women workers.
Welcoming the conference, Secretary of Labor
Maurice J. Tobin expressed a hope that it would
“ blast away the fog of unrealistic, even romantic
thinking about equal pay for women that still
remains among various groups.” Arthur S.
Flemming, Assistant to the Director (Manpower),


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Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

560

MANPOWER PROBLEMS

M ONTHLY LA BO R

public utilities in 1950—were much higher than in
industry as a whole, exclusive of domestic service.
In retail trade and personal services, on the other
hand, the equal-pay principle had only recently
become effective to any degree. In these two
industries the ratios of median earnings of women
to those of men in 1950 were respectively 48
percent and 33 percent.
According to the speaker, the differential in
earnings between men and women is established
early in their working life, the earnings of women in
the age group 20 to 24 years usually ranging from
70 percent to 80 percent of the men’s earnings.
This may be attributed, she stated, to “the chan­
neling of women into certain occupations.” In
addition, “The occupational distribution of young
men and women in the labor force today must be
explained to a large extent by their educational
training. Practically the same numbers of men
and women finish high school and finish college.
We all know that opportunities exist for women
in many fields that were closed to them in the
past—but where are the women equipped to take

advantage of these opportunities? It seems to
me that the secret of the maximum utilization of
women in productive services lies deep down in
the educational process. Equal pay as a principle
may have its chief force as a challenge to prepare
women to perform equal work where there are
opportunities.”
A panel discussion on “Day to Day Experience
with Equal Pay” was held in connection with the
conference. It was followed by questions and
comments from the floor, and centered mainly
upon methods by which equal-pay objectives can
be achieved. The chief means advocated, as
reported on the second day by a findings com­
mittee, were Federal and State legislation, col­
lective bargaining, and education of employers,
workers, and the general public to bring about
acceptance of the principle of equal pay. Al­
though some members expressed the opinion that
an educational approach alone could be sufficiently
effective, a continuation of persistent work to
promote enactment of legislation was supported
by the majority of those in attendance.

Management Responsibility in
Manpower Problems

should be a voluntary one, administered locally.
Therefore, the first line of its attack upon man­
power problems lies in the individual plant.
According to the speaker, each plant must be
operated with the greatest manpower efficiency
consistent with healthful practice. Management
can achieve this goal only by building upon good
employer-employee relations, to which good will
and man-to-man understanding are vital. The
first means to this end, from the speaker’s point
of view, is wise selection and continuing training
of supervisors. Shifts in production may call for
retraining present personnel; new workers also
must be trained to do their jobs and to give them
a sense of the relationship of their jobs to the
organization as a whole.
Some program of quality control also is essen­
tial to efficient use of manpower and materials;
it should be devised to create a sense of pride of
performance in the individual worker.

Manpower Problems created by a “guns-andbutter-too” economy challenge all groups con­
cerned-government, labor, and management—to
accept a share of responsibility for their solution.
Management itself has primary responsibility for
filling its own manpower needs, an industrialist
stated at a recent conference.1 In order to do so,
he said, necessary action must be taken at the
national level, as well as locally and in individual
plants.
Whatever program is devised to deal with manpower problems, management believes that it
1 An address on Management Responsibility in Manpower Problems, by
J. E. Trainer, vice president in charge of production, Firestone Tire & Rubber
Co., before the National Industrial Relations Conference, under the sponsor­
ship of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce and the Pittsburgh Chamber of
Commerce, held at Pittsburgh, Pa., February 12, 1952.


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REVIEW, MAY 1952

P R IC E R E G U LA TIO N S

Further, some jobs can be adapted to perform­
ance by women, youths, the physically handi­
capped, and the older worker—important reser­
voirs of manpower. Job methods must also be
constantly reviewed to insure the most efficient
performance. Plant managements expanding to
new fields should take advantage of opportunities
for the development of new ideas, new methods,
and new equipment to increase output per man­
hour.
Plant management must intensify efforts, both
direct and indirect, to reduce absenteeism and
employee turn-over, and to promote safety, and
it must not hoard labor. The speaker pointed
out that temptations to hoard labor lie in the fact
that much of its cost would otherwise be taken
by high taxes on profits, and in the natural desire
to have a margin of safety against uncertain man­
power requirements for making new products.
Beyond these essentials within the individual
plant are local manpower problems which require
cooperation with other groups in the community
for their solution. According to the speaker, local
action should include the forecasting of labor re­
quirements for the area; agreement on measures
to avoid pirating and hoarding of labor; joint
planning and establishment of training programs;
and pooling information to promote efficient use
of manpower. Locally also, management should
sit down with representatives of other industries
and of labor, the speaker said, in an effort to work
out a mutually satisfactory program for promoting
the needed mobility of workers.
The National Labor-Management Manpower
Policy Committee is the foundation of manage­
ment’s participation in the national mobilization
program. Management serves on the regional
committees as well as local committees which
carry out national policies in areas having man­
power shortages. It must continue, the speaker
stressed, to contribute substantial time to service
on these committees and to support activities of
national business organizations in this field.
Some industrial leaders maintain that manage­
ment should broaden its interests in national man­
power problems and proposals and its participation
in their solution. For example, they believe that
management shares with every American citizen

998444— 52—

6


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561

the responsibility for insistence upon reasonably
efficient use of manpower by the Government.
Further, according to the speaker, management
can assist in bringing about better manpower plan­
ning by presenting an honest picture of its needs
for workers with particular skills and of the time
and difficulties involved in training workers in
those skills. The speaker said industry should
support some plan of universal military training
that could assist industry—and the country
itself—to stay “at the ready” with a smaller drain
upon manpower resources.
Labor mobility is another phase of the national
manpower problem in which management has a
deep concern. Its representatives have taken the
stand that rights of workers moving from peace­
time to war production jobs can be preserved by
voluntary action. Therefore, in the speaker’s
opinion, management spokesmen should oppose
recommendations for legislation to promote labor
mobility.
Management also believes, according to this one
management spokesman, that America can fulfill
current production demands and prepare for ex­
panded production only through teamwork, with
each member of the team discharging his own
responsibilities. But management sees oppor­
tunity, as well as responsibility, in cooperation
with labor and Government—opportunity to guard
against moves in which management sees encroach­
ments upon its rights by the other participants.

Ceiling Price Regulations
Numbers 128-134
The Office of Price Stabilization adopted seven
ceiling regulations during March 1952,1 presented
below in tabular form.
i Sourees: Federal Registers, vol. 17, No. 53, Mar. 15, 1952, pp. 2248 and
2275; vol. 17, No. 57, Mar.
21, 1952, p. 2420;vol.
17,
No. 58, Mar.
2492; vol. 17, No. 59, Mar.
25, 1952, p. 2552;vol.
17,
No. 61, Mar.
2651; vol. 17, No. 63, Mar.
29, 1952, p. 2750.

562

M O N TH LY LA B O R

P R IC E R E G U LA TIO N S

Major Provisions of CPR’s Adopted in March 1952
OPR
No.

Date issued

128

Mar.

13

Mar.

129

Mar.

14

Mar.

130

Mar.

19

Mar. 24

Waxed papers

131

Mar. 21

132

Scope of provision

Commodity covered

Distribution level

18

P a c ific N o r th w e st
Douglas Fir and
West Coast Hem­
lock lumber.

Manufacturers___

Establishes dollars-and-cents ceilings for
Douglas Fir, West Coast Hemlock, and
other fir lumber produced in Calif., and
the portions of Oregon and Washington
that extend eastward from the Pacific
Ocean to, and including, the Cascade
Mountains.

19

Horsemeat products. _ Wholesale and re­
tail.

Establishes specific ceilings for wholesale sales
of certain fresh, frozen, and cured horsemeat products; certain fresh and frozen
horsemeat products at retail; and sales of
canned horsemeat by processors at whole­
sale and retail.

Manufacturers___

Provides dollars-and-cents ceilings for printed
bread wrappers and carton sealers, opaque
or regular; printed super-transparent amber
bread wrappers; printed frozen food carton
sealers; standard grades of unprinted waxed
papers; cutterbox (household) rolls; and
interfolded waxed or greaseproof papers.
Formula is also provided for determining
ceilings for plain waxed papers or waxed
paperboards.

Mar. 26

Groundwood printing ____ do___________
an d c o n v e r t in g
papers.

Establishes dollars-and-cents ceilings for sales
by manufacturers of 23 grades of groundwood printing and converting paper. Pro­
vides that ceiling prices of 45-pound coated
enamel paper and related grades shall be
determined under CPR 106. Also pro­
vides methods for establishing ceilings for
sale of other grades of these papers.

Mar. 24

Mar. 29

Southern hardwood
and yellow cypress
lumber.

do

Establishes specific ceilings for hardwood and
yellow cypress lumber produced in the
Southern Hardwood Region, consisting of
the States of Arkansas, Alabama, Florida,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas,
and parts of Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

133

Mar. 26

Mar. 31

Certain caps, clo­
sures, and paper and
paperboard cups
and containers for
moist, liquid, oily,
and frozen foods.

do

Specific ceilings are prescribed for milk car­
tons, bulk ice cream cans, nested cups and
containers, paperboard plates and dishes,
and for liners for metal or plastic bottle
caps. Prices for paraffin cartons, and for
food and carry-out pails, are frozen at levels
prevailing Jan. 25-Feb. 24, 1951. Also
provides adjustment factors to be used in
pricing liquid-tight cylindrical containers
and milk-bottle caps and closures.

134

Mar. 28

Apr.

Meals, food items,
and beverages.

Effective date


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7

_

Eating and drink­
in g e s ta b lis h ­
ments.

Establishes ceilings for the sale of meals, food
items, and beverages served by eating and
drinking establishments. Almost all menu
prices in effect during the week Feb. 3
through Feb. 9, 1952, are frozen and a
large majority of eating and drinking es­
tablishments are required to post ceiling
prices for principal food and beverage
items.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

CO N TRO LS IN

Liberalization of Controls in
The Construction Industry1
Wage stabilization policy was liberalized, and
materials and credit controls were eased in the con­
struction industry during March 1952.
Wage Stabilization

A resolution which covers wage stabilization
policy for mechanics and laborers in the building
and construction industry was issued by the Con­
struction Industry Stabilization Commission of the
Wage Stabilization Board on March 20, 1952, to
remain effective throughout 1952. It provides
that, in addition to approving increases in area
rates of not more than 10 percent above those pre­
vailing for each job classification on June 24, 1950,
the CISC will approve additional increases in
wages and certain fringe benefits totaling up to 15
cents an hour. However, no area rate may be in­
creased without prior approval of the Commission.
The Commission may also approve employer
contributions of not more than 7% cents to health
and welfare funds. (The “Contributions” criteria
differ from the standard established for other
industries under GWR 19, which specifies benefits
yielded by a plan rather than contributions.)
These contributions apply only to the payment
of temporary-disability benefits, hospital-expense
benefits, surgical-expense benefits, medical bene­
fits, term-life insurance, and accidental-death and
dismemberment benefits. Further, payments may
also be approved toward pension funds, annuities,
vacation plans, and paid holidays, but if made,
i Sources: Federal Register, vol. 17, No. 47, March 7,1952, pp. 2002 and 2012;
C I S C release, March 20, 1952; and March 24, 1952, release by the Board of

Governors of the Federal Reserve System, concerning Amendment No. 7 to
Regulation W.


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CO N ST R U C TIO N

563

they must be charged against the 10 percent plus
15 cents authorized in pay increases.
Any increases under the 10-percent formula will
be granted retroactively by the Commission to any
date which did not precede the expiration or re­
opening of the last collective-bargaining agree­
ment. The retroactive date for the “15-cent for­
mula” may be any specified date after February
1, 1952. It may not apply to any date earlier than
the expiration or reopening of the last collective­
bargaining agreement.
Materials and Credit

In general, the National Production Authority
on March 6, 1952, authorized nonindustrial
builders (i. e., commercial projects, office buildings,
schools) and road and highway builders to use
certain increased amounts of steel and aluminum
under self-authorization procedures whereby con­
tractors may obtain certain additional controlled
materials without prior NPA-authorization. For
residential housing the amount of steel that may
be used for 1- to 4-family houses was increased;
permission was granted to self-authorize aluminum
for wiring in a ratio of 2 pounds of aluminum to 1
of copper; and authority was given to use up to 50
percent more than the allotted materials for the
alteration or the enlargement of existing dwellings,
but not permitting self-authorization unless the
house is at least a year old. These three groups of
builders may use foreign or used steel, in addition
to the domestic steel allocated by NPA, provided
that this would not result in raising the amount of
copper and aluminum previously allotted.
Credit terms were eased by the Federal Reserve
Board and the Federal Housing Administration,
effective March 24, 1952. The order cancelled the
10-percent down payment requirement for home
repair and modernization work.

Recent Decisions
of Interest to Labor

Wages and Hours 2
Constitutionality of Voting-Pay Law. The United States
Supreme Court held 3 that a State statute providing for
voting pay does not violate the Federal Constitution.
A Missouri statute provides that an employee may be
absent from his employment for 4 hours between the
opening and closing of the polls, without penalty, and any
employer who deducts wages for that absence is guilty of
a misdemeanor.
On the day of a general election in Missouri, the polls
were open from 6 a. m. to 7 p. m. One Grotemeyer
worked for a company from 8 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. each day,
with 30 minutes for lunch. His request that he be granted
4 hours’ leave from the scheduled workday to vote was
refused, but he and all other employees were permitted
to leave at 3 p. m. which left them 4 consecutive hours in
which they could vote before the polls closed. Grotemeyer
was not paid for the hour and a half between 3 p. m. and
4:30 p. m., and, accordingly, the company was found guilty
by a State court and fined for penalizing the employee in
violation of the statute. The State supreme court affirmed
this judgment over the company’s objection that the
due process and equal protection clauses of the fourteenth
amendment and the contract clause of article 1, section 10,
of the Constitution had been violated.
On the liberty of contract argument, the U. S. Supreme
Court stated: “. . . we do not sit as a superlegislature to
weigh the wisdom of legislation nor to decide whether the
policy which it expresses offends the public welfare.”
Although the legislative power has its limits, the Court
asserted, the States are entitled to set their own standard
of public welfare so long as there is no conflict with the
Constitution or Federal statutes.
The decision pointed out that the Missouri statute “con­
tains, in form, a minimum-wage requirement,” and noted
that in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish 4 the Court had held
constitutional a State law fixing minimum wages for
women. Although the Missouri voting-time statute was
enacted for a different basic purpose, “the police power is
not confined to a narrow category,” but extends to “all
the great public needs.” 5 “Protection of the right of
suffrage” was considered to be “basic and fundamental.”
Also, the Court found that the need for this legislation is
a matter for legislative judgment and that the provision
does not amount to a denial of equal protection under the
laws.
564


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The Court rejected the company’s objection, that it
was required to pay wages for a period when the employees
performed no services, and pointed out that the law did
not require the employer to pay wages for a period “that
has no relation to the legitimate end.” Instead, the law
was designed “to eliminate any penalty for exercising the
right of suffrage and to remove a practical obstacle to
getting out the vote.” The Court felt that the “political
well-being” of a community is a part of “the broad and
inclusive concept” of public welfare, and that the police
power is “adequate to fix the financial burden” attendant
thereto.
Mr. Justice Jackson dissented, stating that although a
State may require payment of a minimum wrage for hours
that are worked, it does not follow that it may compel
payment for time not worked. He added that “there
must be some limit to the power to shift the whole voting
burden from the voter to someone else who happens to
stand in some economic relationship to him.” Since it
is obvious that not everyone, particularly the self-em­
ployed, will be paid for voting, the statute was discrimi­
natory, in Mr. Justice Jackson’s opinion. It was un­
doubtedly the right of every union or individual employee
to bargain for voting time without loss of pay, he stated,
but “a constitutional philosophy which sanctions inter­
vention by the State to fix terms of pay without work may
* * * give constitutional sanction to State-imposed
terms of employment less benevolent.”

Injunction Against Enforcement of FLSA Denied.

A
United States District Court denied 6 an injunction sought
by an employer to restrain Government officials who were
making investigations authorized by the Fair Labor
Standards Act. The employer claimed that the inves­
tigations disturbed the conduct of his business.
The employer’s action was brought against a regional
director of the Department of Labor in charge of FLSA
enforcement and two other Labor Department officials
in the regional office, one of whom, Lakeman, proceeding
under the FLSA, examined the employer’s books and
records and interviewed some of the employees. Lakeman
advised the employer that in his opinion the wages paid
the employees should be raised in compliance with the
act and also advised some of the employees that they were
entitled to more pay under the act. He furnished the

1

Prepared in the TJ. S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor.
The cases covered in this article represent a selection of the significant
decisions believed to he of special interest. 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 may be reached, based upon local statutory provisions,
the existence of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts to the
issue presented.
2 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.
3 Day-Brite Lighting, Inc. v. Missouri (U. S. Sup. Ct., N o. 317, Mar. 3,1952)
< 300 IT. S. 379.
3 See Noble State Bank v. Haskell, 219 U . S. 104, 111.
e Interstate Reclamation Bureau v. Boyers (S. D . Tex., Feb. 18, 1952).

D E C ISIO N S

OF L A B O R

employer with a written summary of the unpaid wages
which he thought to be due to certain employees, and
shortly afterward the employees were paid in accordance
with that summary. In requesting an injunction, the
employer alleged that these interviews and inspections
were disturbing, resulted in loss of time and money, and
had caused dissatisfaction and strained relations between
himself and his employees.
The court held there was no evidence that the defendants
at any time exceeded the authority given by the FLSA
and that the disturbance in the conduct of the employer’s
business was no more than would normally arise in any
business subject to investigation pursuant to the FLSA.

Labor Relations
Failure to File Non-Communist Affidavits.

The National
Labor Relations Board, in the first action of its kind,
revoked7 certification of a parent national union as
bargaining representative, because a local union of the
organization had not filed non-Communist affidavits for
all of its officers when the certification was issued. The
unions involved were the United Electrical, Radio and
Machine Workers of America and its Local 1150.
When the UE was certified as majority representative
of production employees at the plant in April 1950, after
an election requested by the company, the NLRB was of
the opinion that Local 1150 was in compliance with the
non-Communist affidavit and other filing requirements of
the Labor Management Relations Act. In April 1951,
the Board decided, on the basis of charges filed by UE,
that the company had illegally refused to bargain with
the union and ordered the company to bargain. However,
in October 1951, the Board reconsidered the compliance
status of Local 1150 and found that the local had never
been in compliance, because its three trustees and its
sergeant at arms had not filed non-Communist affidavits.
These officers had not been mentioned in the union’s
affidavit which, under Board rules, should have listed all
its officers.
The Board’s decision then revoked the certification and
vacated the bargaining order previously issued. Since
neither the UE nor its local would have been placed on the
election ballot and subsequently certified had the Board
known of the local’s failure to meet the filing requirements,
the decision declared, it would not hold that a certification
defective at the outset could confer on the union the right
of later recourse to the Board. Conversely, the union did
not have the right to expose the company to an unfairlabor-practice finding for refusing to honor the defective
certification.

Union-Security Contract. The NLRB held8 a unionsecurity contract to be invalid because it did not, as
required by the LMRA, afford employees 30 days after
execution of the contract in which to join the union. The
employer and an independent union signed a contract on
August 18, 1950, which provided, as a condition of employ­
ment, that not later than 2 weeks after the signing, all
nonmember workers within the bargaining unit would join
the union. Both the employer and the union contended


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that this apparent defect with respect to allowable time
was cured, because the contract was retroactive to June
10, 1950, thus actually giving nonunion employees a grace
period of 83 days.
The Board rejected this argument, pointing out that
Congress, in writing the 30-day grace period into section
8 (a) (3) of the LMRA, clearly intended to assure that all
nonmembers of a union who were employed when a unionsecurity contract was executed and all nonmembers em­
ployed thereafter should have 30 days in which to join the
union. It is fundamental, the Board held, that the
statutory 30 days must be counted from the date of
execution of the contract. A contrary holding would, in
the opinion of the Board, allow unions and employers to
defeat the Congressional purpose by predating unionsecurity agreements 30 days.

Interference With Elections. The NLRB set aside9 a
representation election, on the ground that it did not take
place in an atmosphere conducive to the free expression of
choice.
During the morning when the voting was taking place,
two employees stood inside the rear door of the employer’s
store with payroll lists in their hands, and checked the
names of the employees as they went out of the door to the
polling place. During this time also, the employer’s
manager walked back and forth in the space which the
workers were required to pass in order to get to the polls,
and engaged in conversation with them. Other super­
visors were, at various times, in the immediate vicinity of
these employees.
The two employees who checked the voters as they went
to the polls were not supervisors. However, under Board
policy, everyone is prohibited from keeping any list of
those who have voted, except persons who use the official
eligibility list to check off the voters as they receive their
ballots. Moreover, the Board noted, these two employees
carried on their activities in the presence of supervisors
who raised no objection to their conduct. The Board also
maintained that although the manager and the super­
visors said nothing calculated to be coercive, their presence
tended to interfere with freedom of choice.
Union Contract Relating to Limitation of Work Areas.
A United States District Court refused 10 to assume juris­
diction in an action whichNegro cab drivers brought against
a cab company and a union for making working agreements
restricting Negro drivers to Negro sections of the city.
The drivers’ complaint alleged that the defendants entered
into a conspiracy to discriminate against them and to seg­
regate them because of their race, and asked for a declara­
tory judgment, injunctive relief, and damages. The
drivers argued that the union’s right to bargain collectively
for all the employees of the company was derived from
the amended National Labor Relations Act, and that if

7S u n b e a m C o rp . (98 N . L. R . B. N o. 98, Mar. 11, 1952).
8K r e s s D a ir y , In c . (98 N . L. R . B. N o. 63, Feb. 28, 1952).
* B e lk ’s D e p a r tm e n t S to re (98 N . L. R. B. N o. 46, Feb. 25, 1952).
lp W illia m s v. Y e llo w C ab Co. (D . C., W . D . Pa. Mar. 3, 1952).

566

D E C ISIO N S

OF LABO R

the court should find this act inapplicable, then the bar­
gaining right was derived from the Pennsylvania labor
relations act. Since the right to act as exclusive collective­
bargaining agent was derived from one or the other of these
two acts, the drivers contended, the union was bound to
bargain in good faith and without discrimination. In
support of this contention they cited Steele v. Louisville
& Nashville R. R. Co.11 and Tunstall v. Brotherhood of Lo­

comotive Firemen and Enginemen.12
In the Steele case, the Supreme Court had held that the
union which did not admit Negroes as members, derived
its power to bargain for nonmembers from the Railway
Labor Act, and that the corollary duty arose to bargain
in good faith and without discrimination. The district
court in the present case, however, stated that the union’s
activities were not governed by the rule applied in the
Steele case, as in this instance, the drivers not only were
admitted by the union to membership, but were required,
under the collective-bargaining agreement, to become
members. The court indicated that because the union
acted solely as a private contracting party rather than
as a statutory representative, the court had no jurisdiction.
To hold that the union was acting under authority of
the amended NLRA or the State labor relations act would
be to hold, the court stated, that the common law right
of contract between employer and employee had been
completely eliminated by the passage of those acts. It
was emphasized by the court that when the collective­
bargaining agreement requires each employee to join the
union, thus appointing the union as his exclusive bargain­
ing agent, no foundation exists for concluding that the
union is acting under the authority or rights granted by
either labor act. The employees were not deprived of
their right to bargain in their own behalf by these statutes,
the court said, but they voluntarily gave that right to
the union as a condition of employment.
Even if the court had jurisdiction, the facts, in the
opinion of the court, would not justify a conclusion that
assignment of Negro drivers to this area of the city con­
stituted an unlawful discrimination. It was shown that
they were hired for the purpose of serving the Negro
section of the city in order to compete with a rival cab
company, and that the working regulations were adopted
by company and union to implement this purpose. It
was also shown that the average earnings of Negro drivers
were equivalent to, or in excess of those of white drivers.
To hold that the company must provide the Negro drivers
with the same opportunities and privileges afforded to
drivers hired to serve the city generally would amount to
legislating a “fair employment practice act” by judicial
decree.

Veterans’ Reemployment Rights
Preferential Seniority for New Veteran Employees Invalid
as to Effect on Reemployed Veterans. The Court of Appeals
for the Sixth Circuit reversed13 a district court decision,
and held certain provisions in a collective-bargaining agree­
ment invalid because they constituted unlawful discrimina­


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IN TE R E ST

M ONTHLY LA BO R

tion under the [amended] National Labor Relations Act
against veterans with rights under reemployment statutes.
According to collective-bargaining agreements effective
between the union and Ford Motor Co. prior to July 30,
1946, seniority counted from the hiring date, and employees
who, after May 1, 1940, had left positions with Ford to
enter the Armed Forces were entitled, under statutory re­
employment provisions, to reinstatement by the employer,
with additional seniority accumulated during military serv­
ice. A collective-bargaining agreement adopted on July
30, 1946, however, allowed seniority credit for military serv­
ice after June 21, 1941, to veterans in the company’s employ
on date of the contract, who had entered military service
from positions with other employers or who had no employ­
ment before their military service.
A declaratory judgment in the district court was sought
by veterans who were employed by Ford when they
entered military service and who had returned to their
positions. The facts were not disputed by the employer,
and both parties moved for summary judgment. The
District Court ruled for the employer, on the grounds that
the agreement expressed an honest desire to protect all
members of the union; that it was not a device of hostil­
ity to veterans; and that the seniority system so estab­
lished was not arbitrary, discriminatory, nor unlawful.
In appealing, the complaining veterans pointed out
that this agreement placed them lower on the seniority
roster on or after restoration than they would have been
if the benefited groups had received seniority according
to their true hiring dates, and that the practical result was
discrimination against the reemployed veterans in lay-offs.
They argued that this violated the reemployment statutes
constituting a “discharge without cause” during the
statutory year. The court of appeals did not sustain
this claim of statutory violation, holding that a person
who is laid off but put on a waiting list for reassignment
has not been discharged.
A second charge of violation of law was that the seniority
system set up by the collective-bargaining agreement con­
stituted unjustifiable discrimination. As restated by the
court, the issue was whether union and management could,
by agreement, create preferential seniority for men who
were not employed by Ford Motor Co. when they entered
the Armed Forces, as against men, also veterans, who left
Ford’s employ when they entered military service.
The court of appeals answered this question in the nega­
tive, stating that past interpretations of reemployment
statutes 14 do not validate contracts made without regard
to the interests of all members of the union. When such
an agreement results in widespread discrimination, it is not
justified by lack of definite malice or hostility.
Under the [amended] National Labor Relations Act, the
court stated, the bargaining representative must “exercise
fairly the power conferred upon it . . . without discrim­
ination.” 15 In this case, the discrimination against the
» 323 U . S. 192.
323 U . S. 210.
12 H u ffm a n v. F o rd M o to r Co. (C. A. 6, Mar. 3, 1952).
ii See A e r o n a u tic a l L odge v. C a m p b e ll (337 U. S. 521).
» See S teele v . L . & N . R . R . Co. (323 U. S. 192).
12

REVIEW, MAY 1952

D E C ISIO N S

OF L A B O R

reemployed veterans was not in favor of nonveterans of the
same class. It was between veterans who left the Ford
Motor Co. for war service and veterans not employed by
that employer prior to war service. The preferential sen­
iority given to veterans who served a longer time in the
armed forces but were not Ford employees before military
service had no relevance to terms or conditions of work or
the normal and usual subjects of collective-bargaining
agreements.

Unemployment Compensation
Availability. (1) The Illinois Supreme Court held16 un­
available for work, four former coal miners who were re­
ceiving pensions or retirement pay from their unions.
Each of the claimants stated he was looking for lighter
work at factories and lumberyards; the court said that
the meaning of “available for work” depends on the facts
and circumstances in each case, and that the board of re­
view in the State department of labor should consider the
interest of the witness and the probability of his assertions
in the light of admitted facts, so that the act will be real­
istically administered. Further, the court stated, “the
acceptance and retention of a pension, conditioned on the
fact of retirement from active employment, cannot be
reconciled with a genuine desire to go to work, and is suffi­
cient in itself to bar a claimant from receiving unemploy­
ment compensation.” The lower court order affirming the
Board’s decision that the claimants were not entitled to
benefits was upheld.
(2) An Ohio court of common pleas held 17 that a claimant
who was physically unable to do heavy lifting was not
unavailable for work, as the evidence showed that he was
able to perform many other kinds of work. The evidence
also showed that he was subject to infrequent seizures
which were controlled by medication, and that he should
not do climbing, heavy lifting, driving, or work with
dangerous machinery, but could do ordinary work free
of such risks.
Good Cause for Voluntary Quit.

An Ohio common pleas
court held 18 that a woman who was physically unable to
work more than 8 hours a day had good cause for quitting
her job when her employer demanded that she work over­
time each day. The employer made it clear that if she
did not work overtime he would have to replace her. The
evidence was clear as to her physical inability to work
long hours, as she weighed less than 100 pounds, was
deformed, and had been under the care of a doctor since
her separation from work.

Labor-Dispute Disqualification. (1) The Illinois Superior
Court held 19 that coal miners who, prior to a labor dispute,
were working part time only, were nevertheless unemployed
“due to a stoppage of work which exists because of a labor


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dispute” during the entire period of the dispute. Prior
to the dispute the employer did not have full-time work
for all his employees and permitted the union to designate
which men should work and when. The union adopted
a plan whereby a man would work several weeks and then
“lay off” for a week. [Although the facts given by the
court do not so state, presumably such a man would be
entitled to unemployment compensation for the weeks of
lay-off.] After the labor dispute, the same plan of stag­
gered lay-offs was resumed. The labor dispute continued
6 weeks, and included 2 weeks during which claimants
would not have been working even in the absence of a
dispute.
(2) An Ohio common pleas court held 20 that the statutory
disqualification for “the duration of any period of unem­
ployment with respect to which” claimant left his employ­
ment “by reason of a labor dispute at the factory . . . at
which he was employed, as long as such labor dispute
continues” should not be applied if the claimant had
obtained subsequent employment which he believed would
be permanent.
Claimant had quit his job several days before the date
set for a strike and had obtained other employment.
After working nearly a month, for 9 hours a day, 7 days a
week, he was released because he was unable, due to trans­
portation difficulties, to work on an even longer shift.
The court did not decide that the claimant had quit his
job by reason of a labor dispute, but stated that even if he
had, the unemployment for which he was claiming benefits
was not “unemployment with respect to which” he left
his employment “by reason of a labor dispute.” The
second job was intended to sever the claimant’s relation­
ship with the employer involved in the dispute, the court
found, because claimant had turned in his badge at the
first place and had not picketed. He earned much more
on the second job, and did not lose it because of any fault
on his part.

Suitability of Work. An Ohio court of common pleas
held 21 that a 20-year-old girl who refused work for a
beverage company with hours from 3 p. m. to 11 p. m.
was not disqualified for unemployment compensation,
since the work was unsuitable for her. An Ohio statute
forbids the employment of females under the age of 21
between the hours of 10 p. m. and 6 a. m.
Fleiszig v. Board of Review (111. Sup. C t.( Mar. 20, 1952).
n State of Ohio v. Blevins (Ct. Com. Pleas, Franklin Co., Ohio, Mar. 6,
1952).
is Malloy v . Board of Review (Ct. Com. Pleas, Licking Co., Ohio, September
Term, 1951).
1» Franklin County Coal Corp. v. A n nunzio (HI. Super. Ct., Feb. 13,1952).
so Burch v. Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation (Ct. Com. Pleas,
Butler Co., Ohio, Mar. 3,1952).
i Banks v. Board of Review (Ct. Com. Pleas, Summit Co., Ohio, Mar. 6,
1952).

2

March 20

Chronology of
Recent Labor Events

March 13
T h e W a g e S t a b i l i z a t i o n B o a r d approved recommenda­
tions of its Construction Industry Stabilization Commis­
sion for a liberalized wage policy in the construction
industry through December 31, 1952. The Commission
may approve wage increases, including increases in fringe
benefits, up to 15 cents an hour over the 10-percent in­
crease allowable under the old formula (see Chron. item
for Aug. 31, 1951, MLR Oct. 1951) and employer contri­
butions of 7 Yi cents an hour to health and welfare funds.
(Source: WSB releases 195 and 196, Mar. 13, 1952; for
discussion see p. 563 of this issue.)

March 15
A 6- m an board appointed by the Executive Board of the
United Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement
Workers of America (CIO) took over administration of
Local 600 (Ford’s River Rouge plant), whose officers were
charged with subservience to the Communist Party.
(Source: New York Times, Mar. 16, 1952; and The
United Automobile Worker, Mar. 1952.)
T h e WSB recommended a 12-cent hourly general wage
increase, effective October 15, 1951, and other changes in
wages and working conditions in the dispute between the
United Automobile Workers (CIO) and the Wright Aero­
nautical Division of Curtiss-Wright Corp. (see Chron.
item for Oct. 12, 1951, MLR Dec. 1951). (Source: WSB
release 199, Mar. 17, 1952.)

March 19
T he WSB adopted a resolution which extends to agricul­
tural labor the cost-of-living policy of General Wage
Regulation 8 (see Chron. item for Feb. 13, 1952, MLR
Apr. 1952) and permits specified increases in wage rates
without Board approval. (Source: WSB release 201,
Mar. 19, 1952.)
568


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T he WSB recommended a general hourly wage increase of
12.5 cents and an additional 5 cents within the next year,
the union shop, and other changes in working conditions
in the dispute (see Chron. item for Feb. 21, 1952, MLR
Apr. 1952) between steel producers and the United Steel­
workers of America (CIO). (Source: WSB release 202,
Mar. 20, 1952; for discussion, see p. 570 of this issue.)
On March 21, the Steelworkers Wage Policy Committee
voted to accept the WSB recommendations, to resume
negotiations with the steel companies, and to give a
96-hour notice of intention to strike if no agreement was
reached by April 4. (Source: CIO News, Mar. 24, 1952.)
On April 4, WSB Chairman Nathan P. Feinsinger
attempted mediation, after (1) industry leaders stated
they could not accept WSB recommendations unless they
were granted a substantial price increase in excess of that
allowable under the Capehart Amendment; (2) a series of
union-management negotiations collapsed; and (3) the
Steelworkers president, Philip Murray, notified the com­
panies and union locals that the union would strike on
April 9. (Source: New York Times, Apr. 5, 1952; Office
of Defense Mobilization release, Apr. 4, 1952; and CIO
News, Apr. 7, 1952.)
On April 8, the President issued Executive Order No.
10340, directing the Secretary of Commerce to seize the
steel industry’s properties in order to avert a strike. He
also directed the Acting Defense Mobilizer to meet with
industry and union officials in an effort to settle the dis­
pute. (Source: Federal Register, vol. 17, No. 71, Apr. 10,
1952, p. 3139; and New York Times, Apr. 10, 1952.)
On April 9, the United States District Court in Wash­
ington denied the request of three major steel companies
for a restraining order on the grounds that “it would be
an injunction against the President of the United States,
because it would have the effect of nullifying” his seizure
order. (Source: New York Times, Apr. 10, 1952.)
On the same day, the President, in a special message to
Congress, suggested that it might wish to act on Govern­
ment operation of the steel industry. (Source: Congres­
sional Record, Apr. 9, 1952, p. 3962.)
T h e AFL-CIO unity committee for New York City (see

Chron. item for Jan. 21, 1951, MLR Mar. 1951) collapsed
following a dispute between the AFL Teamsters and the
CIO Brewery Workers over representation of 5,500 New
Jersey brewery workers. (Source: AFL News-Reporter,
Mar. 26, 1952; CIO News, Mar. 31, 1952; and New York
Times, Mar. 21, 1952.)

March 24
T h e N a tio na l L a bor R e l a t io n s B oard , in the case of

American Seating Co. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Pattern
Makers of North America, Grand Rapids Association {AFL),
ruled that a union-security clause obligating employees

CH RONOLOGY

OF LA B O R

who refuse to become members because of religious scruples
to pay the union “support money” equivalent to dues was
permissible under the Labor Management Relations Act.
(Source: Labor Relations Reporter, vol. 29, No. 45, Apr.
7, 1952, LRRM p. 1424.)

March 25
T h e S ec reta r y of L a bo r , under provisions of the WalshHealey Public Contracts Act, ordered increases, effective
April 20, 1952, in the existing 75-cent minimum hourly
wage rate for the small arms ammunition, explosives,
and related products industry for the following branches:
$1.05, in the small arms ammunition; $1.20, in the explo­
sives; and $1.12, in the blasting and detonating caps.
(Source: Federal Register, vol. 17, No. 59, Mar. 25, 1952,
p. 2573; U. S. Dept, of Labor release, Mar. 25, 1952.)

March 30
T h e P r e s id e n t accepted the resignation of Charles E •

Wilson as Director of Defense Mobilization, effective
March 31. Mr. Wilson resigned over the wage-price
issue in the steel dispute (see Chron. item for Mar. 20,
1952, of this issue). (Source: White House release,
Mar. 30, 1952.)
On the same day, the President appointed John R.
Steelman as Acting Director of Defense Mobilization,
effective April 1, 1952. (Source: New York Times,
Mar. 31, 1952.)

March 31
T h e U. S. D epa r t m e n t of L a bo r ’s W om en ’s B u r e a u
opened a 2-day conference to promote equal pay for
equal work. (Source: Dept, of Labor release, Mar. 28,
1952; for discussion see p. 559 of this issue.)
T h e O ff ic e of D e f e n s e M obilizatio n established
Defense Manpower Policy 5 defining Federal policy and
assigning responsibilities for a defense training program
to meet manpower shortages in certain skilled occupations
and in scientific, technical, and engineering personnel.
(Source: Federal Register, vol. 17, No. 65, Apr. 2, 1952,
p. 2837.)


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EVENTS

569

April 3
31,000 members o f the Commercial
Telegraphers’ Union (AFL) went on strike against Western
Union, following a 2-day strike postponement and the
failure of Federal mediation efforts. The union demands
include a 16-cent hourly wage increase, a shorter workweek
with no reduction in pay, and other benefits. (Source:
New York Times, Apr. 5, 1952; and AFL News-Reporter,
Apr. 2 and 9, 1952.)
A ppr o x im a t e l y

April 7
A str ik e o f a b o u t
W ork ers
dem ands

of

77,000

A m e r ic a

r a n g in g

fr o m

61,500 a r e e m p l o y e d
4 S t a t e s a n d 15,500

m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n ic a tio n s

(C IO )

by
by

19

b egan
to

23

in

c o m p a n ie s in
W e ste r n

su p p ort

ce n ts

an

th e

E le c tr ic

of

hour.

w age
Som e

B e ll S y ste m
in

43

in

S ta tes.

C W A - C I O r e l e a s e , A p r . 9, 1952.)
On April 9, the union extended picketing to 43 States
and the District of Columbia. (Source: CWA-CIO
release, Apr. 9, 1952; and New York Times, Apr. 10, 1952.)
(S o u r ce:

April 8
T he S ec reta r y of L a b o r , under provisions of the Fair
Labor Standards Act, announced Hazardous Occupations
Order No. 10, effective May 8, 1952, prohibiting employ­
ment of minors under age 18 in specified occupations in
or about slaughtering and meat-packing establishments
and rendering plants. (Source: Federal Register, vol. 17,
No. 69, Apr. 8, 1952, p. 3034.)

April 10
T he M in n e s o t a S u pr e m e C o urt , in the case of Inter­
national Union, United Automobile, Aircraft, and Agri­
cultural Implement Workers of America, UAW-CIO, Local
1174, et al. v. Finkelnburg and Crenlo, Inc., held uncon­

stitutional, on grounds of conflict with the LMRA, the
provision of the Minnesota Labor Relations Act making
a strike an unfair labor practice unless approved by a
majority of the employees in the bargaining unit. (Source:
Labor Relations Reporter, vol. 29, No. 49, Apr. 21, 1952,
LRRM p. 2684.)

Developments in
Industrial Relations1
C ontroversy over the Wage Stabilization Board’s
recommended settlement in the basic steel dispute
was marked by the resignation of Charles E.
Wilson as Director of Defense Mobilization in
March 1952. Other major industrial-relations
problems during the month involved railroads,
rubber, communications, shipbuilding, oil, elec­
trical products, and a vital atomic energy con­
struction project.

Basic Steel

Disagreement among Federal officials over the
repercussions on wages and prices of the Wage
Stabilization Board’s recommended settlement in
the basic steel dispute led to the resignation of
Charles E. Wilson, Director of Defense Mobiliza­
tion, and to the postponement of negotiations
based on the Board’s proposals.
The recommendations announced by a WSB
public-labor majority on March 20 included: (1)
general wage increases totaling 17K cents an hour,
to be paid in three installments over an 18-month
contract period (12 ^ cents, retroactive to January
1, 1952, for most of the steel companies; 2% cents
effective June 30, 1952; and 2% cents additional
on January 1, 1953); and (2) fringe benefits
estimated to cost between 8% and 12 K cents an
hour, including straight-time pay for six holidays
not worked and double time for holidays worked;
3 weeks’ vacation with pay after 15 years’ service;
time-and-one-quarter pay for all Sunday work as
such, effective January 1, 1953; hourly increases
in second- and third-shift differentials from 4 and
6 cents to 6 and 9 cents, respectively; and a
reduction from 10 to 5 cents an hour in the wage
differential existing between northern and south­
ern plants. The inclusion of a union-shop pro570

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vision in steel contracts was also recommended,
with the exact form and conditions to be deter­
mined by the parties. Other issues, referred back
to the parties by the Board, included guaranteed
pay, severance pay, reporting allowances, in­
centives, and seniority.
The United Steelworkers (CIO) immediately
accepted the recommendations and agreed to the
Board’s request to postpone a strike set for March
23 until April 8.2 Industry leaders criticized the
report as “unstabilizing,” contending that it would
disrupt the economy, and claiming that substantial
increases in steel prices would be required to cover
the cost of the wage recommendations.
In resigning, the Defense Mobilization Director
claimed that the President had withdrawn his
earlier approval of a plan providing for steel price
increases in excess of the amounts deemed per­
missible by price stabilization officials. The Presi­
dent stated that his initial support had been based
on Mr. Wilson’s characterization of the Board’s
wage recommendations as “very unstabilizing.”
Upon further study, however, the President had
concluded that the proposals were “by no means
unreasonable and do not, in fact, constitute any
real breach in our wage stabilization policies.”
He added that “if the eventual settlement of the
wage negotiations is such that a price ceiling
increase is required on grounds of fairness and
equity or otherwise in the interest of the defense
effort, it will be granted; otherwise, it will not.”
The immediate result of these uncertainties
regarding increased steel prices was the announce­
ment by six major steel companies that negotia­
tions scheduled to start on March 31 had been
“postponed temporarily pending further develop­
ments.”
Other Negotiations and Strike Activity

Major strikes during the month were brief.
Several threatened stoppages in important indus­
tries were postponed.
R a ilr o a d s .
The protracted wage-rules dispute
involving the Nation’s railroads and the inde­
pendent Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,2
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engine1 Prepared in the Bureau’s D ivision of Wages and Industrial Relations.

2See April 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 435).

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

men, and Order of Railway Conductors flared
again when about 5,000 of the unions’ members
struck the Western Division of the New York
Central Railroad and the St. Louis Terminal
Railroad Association on March 9. About 20,000
nonstriking employees of the New York Central
were laid off temporarily because of curtailed
schedules. Virtually all of the strikers returned
to work on March 11 in compliance with a Federal
Court temporary restraining order, issued in
Cleveland, Ohio, which directed an immediate
termination of the strike and enjoined the unions
from striking against other roads.
Court hearings on the Government’s petition
for a permanent strike injunction began on March
27. Concurrently, the unions filed countersuits
requesting the Court to declare illegal the Govern­
ment’s seizure of the railroads in August 1950 or,
as an alternative, to impound all profits earned
since the roads were seized.
R u b b e r. A strike by several hundred white-collar
employees, beginning February 27 at B. F.
Goodrich Co. plants in Akron, Ohio, idled about
14,000 production workers. The employees struck
when the company withdrew its recognition of
Local 5 of the United Rubber Workers (CIO) as
bargaining agent for office workers and petitioned
the NLRB for a representation election. The
stoppage continued intermittently through March,
with varying numbers of workers idle. Most of
the production employees had returned to work
early in the month. Subsequent picketing by
white-collar workers resulted in increasing lay-offs
of production workers, despite a court order pro­
hibiting interference with movement of trains and
trucks. On March 28, upwards of 10,000 workers
were reported idle in a protest against the court’s
conviction of local union leaders charged with
contempt of its injunction which was issued to
prevent mass picketing.
About 4,000 workers at the Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio, also stopped work on
March 28. Some struck in sympathy with Good­
rich employees, but a majority walked out as a
result of a separate piece-work dispute.
The international policy committee of the
United Rubber Workers (CIO) announced that a


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571

wage increase based on rising living costs, increased
productivity, and high profits in the industry will
be sought in the union’s 1952 contract negotia­
tions. The first major contract scheduled for
negotiation will involve the B. F. Goodrich Co.,
whose URW contract covering some 17,000
workers expires June 30. Other key union objec­
tives include a complete union shop at Goodrich
and at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., increased
pension and insurance benefits, and improvements
in premium and vacation pay.
P e tr o le u m . A Nation-wide strike in the oil and
gas industry scheduled for March 10 was post­
poned following Presidential certification of the
dispute to the Wage Stabilization Board on
March 6.2

The Marine and Shipbuilding
Workers’ Union (CIO) extended a March 30
strike deadline for 30 days in a final effort to
reach an agreement affecting some 30,000
employees at Bethlehem Steel Company’s East
Coast shipyards.2 Negotiations have been ham­
pered by uncertainties regarding the final terms
of settlement in the basic steel dispute (seep. 570).
S h ip b u ild in g .

A to m ic E n e r g y . A 1-day strike by members of the
Sheet Metal Workers (AFL) on March 3 idled
about 14,000 workers at the Paducah, Ky.,
Atomic Energy Commission construction project.
It reportedly was caused by the union’s protest
against the assignment of certain construction
work to maintenance employees rather than to its
members. A 7-day strike that began on March 10
was caused by a dispute over shift schedules.

On March 6, General Electric
offered a wage increase of 1.36 percent to approxi­
mately 200,000 of its employees. According to
the company’s estimate, the adjustment would
compensate for advances in the Bureau’s Old
Series Consumers’ Price Index from September 15,
1951, the date of the last wage adjustment, to
March 15, 1952. The proposal for the 1.36-per­
cent increase was advanced during negotiations
under wage-reopening clauses in existing contracts.2
E le c tr ic a l P r o d u c ts .

2

See April 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 435).

572

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

It was immediately rejected as inadequate by the
International Union of Electrical, Radio and
Machine Workers (CIO) and the United Electrical,
Radio and Machine Workers (Ind.).
In addition to the cost-of-living increase offered
by GE, the IUE requested a wage increase of 25
cents an hour for skilled workers, a revision in the
incentive-wage system, equal pay for equal work,
and other benefits. The UE sought a “sub­
stantial” but unspecified wage increase and other
benefits similar to those proposed by the IUE.
Its proposal for a united drive in current wage
negotiations was rejected by the IUE.
Coinciding with these national wage-review
negotiations, about 200 crane operators, repre­
sented by the International Union of Electrical,
Radio, and Machine Workers, staged a 2-day
walkout which resulted in the idling of approxi­
mately 10,000 General Electric employees in Pitts­
field, Mass. The stoppage was caused by the
operators' demand for a wage increase of 25 cents
an hour and ended March 21.
An average cost-of-living wage increase of 1.08
percent, or about 2 cents an hour, retroactive to
September 15, 1951, for GE employees was
recently approved by the WSB.2 On March 6,
the Board had also approved a general wage in­
crease of 2.5 percent, or about 4 cents an hour,
negotiated late in 1951 for about 340,000 workers
in the electrical manufacturing industry. Earlier,
IUE members had participated in brief, sporadic
demonstrations at General Electric and Westinghouse Corp. plants in several cities in order to
dramatize their impatience with the Board’s
delays in acting on their wage petitions.2
C o m m u n ic a tio n s . The New Jersey Bell Telephone
Co. and the Telephone Workers Union (Ind.)
reached an agreement ending a 1-day strike on
March 26 by some 7,000 plant and accounting
employees. About 10,000 telephone operators,
members of the Communications Workers of
America (CIO), refused to cross picket lines.
Settlement terms provide for weekly increases
ranging from $3.50 to $6.50 for plant workers and
$3.50 to $5 for accounting employees.
A stalemate in new contract negotiations affect­
ing about 57,000 employees of the Western Electric


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MONTHLY LABOR

Co., Michigan Bell Telephone Co., Ohio Bell
Telephone Co., and Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
Co. resulted in the scheduling of strike action for
April 7 by the CWA (CIO). The dispute centers
in the union’s demand for a “substantial” wage
increase.
A threatened Nation-wide strike by some 30,000
Western Union Telegraph Co. workers was post­
poned by the Commercial Telegraphers Union
(AFL) until April 3 in order to give Federal
mediators additional time to settle the dispute.
Union demands for a contract to supersede the
one expiring March 31 included a wage increase
averaging 16 cents an hour for messengers,
telegraphers, and clerks and a reduction in the
workweek.
T e x tile s.
Reporting “substantial progress” in
negotiations, the American Woolen Co. and the
Textile Workers Union (CIO) agreed on March
13 to a 1-month extension of their agreement
which was scheduled to expire on March 15. A
threatened strike of about 18,000 workers was
thereby averted. The company withdrew its
previous demands for individual mill contracts,
suspension of contractual cost-of-living clauses,
and elimination of pay for six holidays.2 The
United Textile Workers (AFL) and the company
reported 1-year agreements covering some 3,500
employees.
The TWU announced 1-year renewals of exist­
ing contracts with 12 companies employing about
10,000 workers. These firms, as well as other
woolen and worsted firms employing about 25,000
workers, had filed contract cancellation notices
with the TWU following the American Woolen
Co.’s announcement in January 1952 that it would
terminate its contract on the expiration date.3
In the carpet and rug industry, 3 major com­
panies employing approximately 12,000 workers—
Bigelow-Sanford, Alexander Smith, and A. M.
Karagheusian—sent contract termination notices,
effective June 2, to the TWU.

The Northwest Regional Negotiating
Committee of the International Woodworkers of
L u m b e r.

2See April 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 435).
> See March 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 315).

REVIEW, MAY 1952

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

America (CIO), representing some 60,000 workers,
served demands for higher wages and other con­
tract changes on lumber companies in 5 northwest
States. The contract to be replaced was sched­
uled to expire April 1.
A settlement, subject to worker ratifi­
cation, was reached on March 12 in the prolonged
dispute between the Transport Workers’ Union
(CIO) and Pan American World Airways. The
agreement which will affect about 6,000 groundand flight-service personnel was based on the
recommendations of an emergency board appointed
by the President in December 1951.24
A i r lin e s .

WSB and Other Actions

A recommended settlement of the prolonged
dispute involving the United Automobile Work­
ers (CIO) and the Wright Aeronautical Division
of Curtiss-Wright Corp. was announced by the
Wage Stabilization Board on March 17. A 3-week
strike involving about 10,000 workers at the
firm’s New Jersey plants had been followed by
Presidential certification of the dispute to the
Board in October 1951.5 On the key wage issue,
the Board (industry members dissenting) recom­
mended a general wage increase of 12 cents an
hour effective October 15, 1951, and, effective
January 31, 1952, adjustments in four top labor
grades averaging 2.4 cents an hour for all em­
ployees. Nine cents of the general increase was
recommended under the Board’s self-administer­
ing 10-percent “catch-up” (GWR 6) and cost-ofliving (GWR 8) policies. The remaining 3 cents
was intended to correct interplant inequities and
to take account of “several significant contract
changes which should have the effect of enhancing
plant efficiency and reducing unit labor costs.”
The Board approved agreements providing wage
increases and/or fringe benefits for maritime and
trucking employees in addition to those author­
ized for the electrical workers (p. 571). A com­
pany-financed pension plan negotiated in 1951 by
the International Longshoremen’s and Ware­


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573

housemen’s Union (Ind.) and the Pacific Mari­
time Association received approval on March 4.
The plan, effective July 1, 1952, and covering ap­
proximately 18,000 workers, provides for pension
payments of $100 a month, exclusive of social
security payments, for those who retire at age 65
with 25 years’ service. Approval was also given
to an agreement reached between the Central
States Area Employers Association and the Team­
sters’ Union (AFL), covering some 36,000 em­
ployees in the over-the-road trucking industry.
The contract provided for a wage increase of 19
cents an hour, six paid holidays, and improve­
ments in other fringe benefits.
Administrative actions by the Board included
the unanimous approval of new policies pertain­
ing to wages and health and welfare benefits,
recommended by the Construction Industry Sta­
bilization Commission for some 3 million building
and construction workers. (For further details,
see p. 568.)
The Railroad and Airline Wage Board approved
basic pay increases ranging from about 11 to 13.6
percent for nearly 5,000 pilots represented by the
Air Line Pilots Association (AFL). The adjust­
ments were included in contracts negotiated with
eight major domestic airlines. The action was
taken under provisions similar to WSB General
Wage Regulations 6 and 8, which were adopted
by the RAWB in General Railroad and Airline
Stabilization Regulation l.6
The New York City joint committee of top
CIO and AFL leaders, established early in 1952
to end interunion rivalry,3 dissolved in March
when presented with its first major test. The
committee had settled a few interunion disputes
during its brief existence. The issue that precip­
itated the dissolution of the committee was a dis­
pute between the Teamsters Union (AFL) and
the Brewery Workers (CIO) over representation
rights involving about 5,500 New Jersey brewery
employees.
< See February 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 193).
* See November 1951 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 591).
• See January 1952 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 68).

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

Special Reviews
W hat H appens

D u r in g B u s i n e s s

C y c le s : A

P rogress

R e­

By Wesley C. Mitchell. New York, National
Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1951. 386 pp.,
charts. (Studies in Business Cycles, 5.) $5.
Wesley C. Mitchell’s final work, “What Happens During
Business Cycles—A Progress Report,” published post­
humously, is his fourth volume in the field of business
cycles. The first one (1913) was entitled “Business
Cycles” ; the second (1927), “Business Cycles: The
Problem and Its Setting” ; and the third (1946), published
jointly with Arthur F. Burns, “ Measuring Business
Cycles.”
One finds a common thread running through these four
major studies in economic fluctuations. Business cycles
are self-generative phenomena reflecting an intricate inter­
dependence of a complicated economic society. Behind
the measures of aggregate economic activity are a multi­
tude of forces acting and rebounding on one another. As
Arthur F. Burns suggests in the introduction to the book,
if Mitchell had lived to finish the book, “he would have
inscribed on its title page Marshall’s motto: ‘The many
in the one, the one in the many’.”
Essentially the same definition of business cycles was
given in the second and third volumes as that used in the
final volume: “Business cycles are a type of fluctuation
found in the aggregate economic activity of nations that
organize their work mainly in business enterprises: a cycle
consists of expansions occurring at about the same time
in many economic activities, followed by similarly general
recessions, contractions, and revivals which merge into
the expansion phase of the next cycle; this sequence of
changes is recurrent but not periodic; in duration business
cycles vary from more than one year to ten or twelve
years; they are not divisible into shorter cycles of similar
character with amplitudes approximating their own.”
Part I of “What Happens During Business Cycles” is
a short summary of the previous work on the measuring
p o r t.

574


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of cyclical behavior. Familiarity with the concepts in
Part I is necessary for full understanding of this final
volume on business cycles.
Part II, entitled “Varieties of Cyclical Behavior,” and
Part III, entitled “The Consensus of Cyclical Behavior,”
represent Mitchell’s new contribution. These parts con­
tain the results of the various investigations into the nature
of business cycles which were conducted by the National
Bureau of Economic Research under his guidance. As
indicated in the title of the book, it is in fact a progress
report covering the Bureau’s work in the field of business
cycles. About 800 series on various economic activities
have been collected and analyzed by the National Bureau.
These data are analyzed with respect to the difference in
cyclical timing, the degree of conformity to business
cycles, and varieties of reference— cyclical amplitude and
cycle by cycle variabilities.
With respect to cyclical timing, the book states: “89
percent of our series should be thought of as typically
swayed by the cyclical tides throughout reference cycles.
Only in the 11 percent of irregular series do cyclical
influences fail to dominate the short-run movements.”
For readers of the Monthly Labor Review, it is interest­
ing to note the following statement on the question of
conformity to business cycles: “In only one group does
every series conform perfectly to every expansion, every
contraction, and every full cycle. That group is composed
of 9 series on hours of labor per week . . .”
The entire book is a model of the scientific approach
which is so highly revered and seldom achieved. It is a
beautiful illustration of the inductive method at work.
No facts were taken for granted. Every bit of informa­
tion was carefully examined before any conclusions were
drawn. This is best illustrated by a remark in the first
chapter: “After years of continuous effort, we have just
reached a stage at which we venture to report some of our
findings regarding the broad characteristics of business
cycles. Even now what we can say is ill proportioned,
tentative, and subject to change as the investigation
proceeds.”
At times the weight of facts almost seems to conceal
the subtle theoretical framework upon which most of the
study rests—the interrelationship of economic phenomena.
Dr. Burns has done an admirable task in the introduction
by giving an insight into this theoretical framework.
This is highlighted by the following quotation: “Business
cycles consist not only of roughly synchronous expansions
in many activities, followed by roughly synchronous con­
tractions in a slightly smaller number; they consist also of
numerous contractions while expansion is dominant, and
numerous expansions while contraction is dominant.”
This book will prove extremely valuable not only to
persons interested in the study of business cycles and
scientific method in the social sciences, but also to eco­
nomic specialists in the numerous segments of our economy.
Finally, the economic theorist will find many vexing
theoretical problems raised in Chapter 6. One reading
hardly reveals the depth of Mitchell’s thinking.
— S a m u el W e is s .

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LA B O R

T h e D a n i s h S y s t e m o f L a b o r R e la tio n s — A S t u d y i n I n d u s ­

By Walter Galenson. Cambridge, Mass.,
Harvard University Press, 1952. 321 pp., bibliog­
raphy, charts. $4.50.
Mr. Galenson has made a thorough study not only of the
development of collective bargaining and mediation in
Denmark since the end of the last century, but of the trend
of real earnings (both hourly and annual), changes in wage
structure and differentials, and the impact on labor of the
vicissitudes of the Danish economy. Particularly impor­
tant to labor have been the changes in terms of inter­
national trade and the prices of farm products, which are a
mainstay of that economy, but over which labor has no
control.
He makes comparisons with Norway and Sweden in
regard to time lost due to industrial disputes, and concludes
that the Danish system of maintaining peace is the most
effective of the three, in part because of its longer history.
For this reason, a study of the Danish system is particu­
larly rewarding. Denmark, whose population is one
thirty-fifth as great as that of the United States, has a per
capita income about one-half as great as ours, and greater
than most of the nations of Europe. It has achieved this
relatively high per capita income by making intensive use of
its human and natural resources. The Danish system of
adjusting wages and settling labor-management disputes
has made an important economic contribution. Of
especial interest are the mediation services of the Danish
Government and the intervention of the legislature to end
a particular dispute. The Government has succeeded in
the difficult role of intervenor in the public interest, without
obliterating genuine collective bargaining between strongly
organized employers and trade-unions.
The procedures developed in Denmark over five decades
have much to commend them from the standpoint of pre­
serving industrial peace (in most years), and maintaining
real labor income, which, it is clear, might have suffered
more drastic cuts during periods of unfavorable terms of
international trade than actually occurred. Mr. Galenson’s international comparisons raise some interesting
points: He believes that during most of the period covered
Danish workers enjoyed higher living standards than the
workers in Sweden and Norway, but that since 1932 the
trend in their real earnings has lagged behind those in the
other two countries. This he attributes to a greater increase
in living costs, a lag in year-to-year improvement in pro­
ductivity, and less favorable terms of trade, rather than to
failure of the Danish unions to strike a good bargain for
labor. However, some tentative figures on labor’s share in
the Danish national income suggest that this share re­
mained static over a considerable period of time, whereas in
the other countries the share of labor was increasing.
While the unfavorable prices of agricultural products on
world markets lie beyond the influence of trade-union
strategy, the productivity lag suggests that greater
flexibility and imagination are called for, if the Danish
workers are to draw future benefits from their elaborate
labor-management set-up. However, the system has
already shown capacity for change—at one time toward
tr ia l P ea ce.


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IN T E R E S T

575

greater centralization, again toward decentralization and
more bargaining by the separate trades and industries, and
at another time toward greater freedom for the mediator
to formulate his own suggestions and proposals. Probably
it will show the necessary capacity for adaptation and
change. Moreover, the labor-management production
committees (to which this volume pays slight heed) might
become the forum for developing significant advances
which the Danish system of centralized negotiation could
quickly spread.
Mr. Galenson has included in his account of the institu­
tional developments a great deal of statistical analysis and
numerous comparisons which seem to give about as com­
plete a picture of the situation in Denmark as is possible.
His book is a valuable contribution to the method of assess­
ing labor-management relations within a country, over a
long period of time.
— J e a n A. F l e x n e r .

Agriculture
M a r k e t P r ic e s .
By Warren C. Waite and
Harry G. Trelogan. New York, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., 1951. 440 pp., bibliographies, charts, maps.
2d ed. $5.25.
Attention is focused on variation in prices of farm pro­
ducts and the relation of price variation to entrepre­
neurial decisions. Includes a chapter on efforts to control
agricultural prices during World War II.
A g r ic u ltu r a l

By Walter W. Wilcox
and Willard W. Cochrane. New York, PrenticeHall, Inc., 1951. xiii, 594 pp., bibliographies, charts,
maps. $7.35.
A college-level text. Includes a chapter on Hired Labor
and Mechanization.
E c o n o m ic s o f A m e r i c a n A g r i c u ltu r e .

The N ew F arm

W o r k e r , U . S . A . : R e p o r t o f th e N a t i o n a l

E x e c u tiv e B o a r d to th e 1 7 th C o n v e n tio n , N a t i o n a l F a r m
L a b o r U n io n , M e m p h i s , T e n n ., D e c e m b e r 8 , 9 , 1 9 5 1 .

Memphis, National Farm Labor Union, 1951. 19 pp.;
processed.
Discusses the problems of the “new type of farm work­
ers,” who are defined as “the men who operate the machines
in the fields and maintain them in the plantation or ranch
shops.”
P r o c e e d in g s o f th e A n n u a l M e e tin g s o f th e A m e r i c a n F a r m
E c o n o m ic A s s o c i a t i o n M e e tin g J o i n t l y W ith th e C a n a ­
d i a n A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m ic s S o c ie ty , J u l y 2 4 ~ 2 7 , 1 9 5 1 ,
Canada.
( I n Journal of Farm Economics,
Menasha, Wis., November 1951, Part 2, pp. 601-1067.)
Includes papers on farm manpower problems, increasing
the efficiency of agricultural labor, and agricultural
cooperatives.
G u e lp h ,

N a tu r e o f th e N o n a g r i c u l t u r a l L a b o r S u p p l y i n

A r iz o n a .

[Phoenix?], Employment Security Commission of
Arizona, State Employment Service, 1951. 31 pp.,
chart; processed.
Analyzes employment trends and the need for labor,
the nature of the available nonagricultural labor force, and
the active file of job-seekers.

576

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LABO R

Cost and Standards of Living
By Mary Evans. Phila­
delphia and New York, J. B. Lippincott Co., 1952.
224 pp., diagrams. $2.95.

(In

Industrial Bulletin, New York State Department of
Labor, New York, March 1952, pp. 9-13, 32, illus.)
Data on a $45 minimum weekly budget designed by the
New York State Department of Labor for use as a guide
in setting minimum wages.

Rural Levels of Living in Lee and Jones Counties, Missis­
sippi, 1945, and a Comparison of Two Methods of
Data Collection. By Barbara B. Reagan and Evelyn
Grossman. Washington, U. S. Department of Agri­
culture, Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Eco­
nomics, 1951. 164 pp., chart, forms. (Agriculture
Information Bull. 41.) 40 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.

Cost-of-Living Escalator Clauses in Collective Bargaining
Agreements, [Canada]. (In Labor Gazette, Depart­
ment of Labor, Ottawa, December 1951, pp. 16331638, chart. Collective Agreement Study 18.)

The Urban Working-Class Household Diet, 1940 to 1949.
London, Ministry of Food, 1951. 114 pp. 3s.6d.
net, H. M. Stationery Office, London.
First report of the National Food Survey Committee,
showing general changes in working-class food consump­
tion in Great Britain, “set against the background of the
food situation and food policy during the war and postwar
years.”

Working-Class Food Consumption [in Great Britain] from
1949 to 1949. By T. Schulz. (In Bulletin of the
Oxford University Institute of Statistics, Oxford,
February 1952, pp. 33-44. 3s.6d.)
Compares results of surveys by the Oxford University
Institute of Statistics with those reported for the same
period by the British National Food Survey Committee
(see report noted in preceding entry).

The Soviet Economy During the Plan Era.

By Naum
Jasny. Stanford, Calif., Stanford University Press,
Food Research Institute, 1951. 116 pp. (Misc.
Pub. 11 A.) $2.
Living costs of wage earners are shown in an appendix.

Education and Training
Principles of Guidance and Pupil Personnel Work.

By
Arthur J. Jones. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Inc., 1951. 630 pp., bibliographies, charts. 4th ed.
$4.75.

Proceedings of the 7th Annual Conference, American Society
of Training Directors, March 15-17, 1951, Phila­
delphia, Pa. [Madison, University of Wisconsin],
American Society of Training Directors, [1951?].
204 pp., charts. $3.

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MONTHLY LABOR

Training of Operatives, (United States].

Better Clothes for Your Money.

Living Costs for Working Girl [in New York State],

IN T E R E S T

London and New
York, Anglo-American Council on Productivity, 1951.
52 pp., chart, map, forms.
Report of one of four “specialist team s” sent to United
States by United Kingdom Section of Anglo-American
Council on Productivity to study problems of training
for industry.
The reports of the other teams also have been published
by the Council: Education for Management, Training of
Supervisors, and Universities and Industry.

Vocational Education in the Netherlands.

By William F.
Holtrop. Berkeley and Los Angeles, University of
California Press, 1951. 128 pp., bibliography, charts.
(University of California Publications in Education,
Vol. 11, No. 2.) $1.25.

Vocational Education in Paraguay.

By Fernando Romero
and others. Washington, Pan American Union,
Department of Cultural Affairs, Division of Educa­
tion, 1951. 169 pp., forms; processed. (Vocational
Education, Series N, 13.) $1.
Other reports recently issued in this series deal with
vocational education in the Dominican Republic and El
Salvador, respectively.

Handicapped
Disabled Citizens.

By Joan Simeon Clarke. London»
George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1951. 237 pp.,
bibliography. 16s. ($3.50, Macmillan, New York).
Discusses various types of physical handicaps and the
measures taken to deal with them in different countries.
One chapter is on employable adults.

Diversification of Employment for Deaf College Graduates.
Washington, Gallaudet College, 1951. 37 pp. (Bul­
letin, Vol. 1, No. 4.) Free.
Contains papers presented at third annual alumni day
at Gallaudet College, Washington, May 13, 1951.

Solving Office Staffing Problems: Some Current Approaches.
New York, American Management Association, 1952.
44 pp., charts. (Office Management Series, 129.)
$1.25.
Utilization of the handicapped is discussed in two
papers in this pamphlet, under “Hidden Sources of
Manpower.”

The Rehabilitation of Disabled Adult Persons in Great
Britain. By C. W. Wright. Pretoria, Union of
South Africa, National Council for Social Research,
1951. 128 pp.; processed. (Overseas Travel Grants,
Report 1.)
Report on a study tour in Great Britain in 1950 under
auspices of South African National Council for Social
Research.

Income
National Income Behavior—An Introduction to Algebraic
Analysis. By Thomas C. Schelling. New York,
McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1951.
nomics Handbook Series.) $4.50.

291 pp.

(Eco­

REVIEW, MAY 1952

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LABO R

The Leveling of Incomes [in Great Britain] Since 1938.
By Dudley Seers. Oxford, Basil Blackwell, [1951].
74 pp., charts.
The four “essays” in this pamphlet were originally
published, in substantially the same form, in the Bulletin
of the Oxford University Institute of Statistics.

Personal Incomes in Oxford.

By H. F. Lydall. (In
Bulletin of the Oxford University Institute of Sta­
tistics, Oxford, England, November-December 1951,
pp. 379-400.)
Second article on results of a survey made in April—
May 1951. The first article, published in the September
1951 issue of the Bulletin, described the purpose, methods,
and genera] findings.

IN T E R E S T

577

He cites the literature and records personal experience in
handling cases.

Collection of Reprints on Radium Poisoning. By Harrison
S. Martland, M.D. Oak Ridge, Tenn., U. S. Atomic
Energy Commission, Technical Information Service,
1951. 193 pp., bibliographies, illus.
Among the papers are pioneer medical diagnoses, pub­
lished from 1925 to 1931, of poisoning among workers in
radium dial painting operations, particularly on watches
and clocks.

Handling Radioactive Wastes in the Atomic Energy Pro­
gram (Revised August 1951). Washington, U. S.
Atomic Energy Commission, [1951]. 28 pp. 15
cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Industrial Accident Prevention

Industrial Uses of Radioactive Fission Products. Stanford’

The President's Conference on Industrial Safety—Meeting
of Conference Committees, Washington, D. C., May
8-9, 1951. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,

Calif., [Stanford University], Stanford Research
Institute, 1951. 102 pp., bibliography, charts, illus.
Includes discussion of the safety problems in the ship­
ment and use of radioactive materials, with suggested
safety principles.

Bureau of Labor Standards, 1952.
(Bull. 153.)

58 pp., charts.

Improving Industry’s Safety Record— The Scientific Ap­
proach. By William J. Dietz, Jr. (In Personnel,
New York, January 1952, pp. 353-360, bibliography.
$

1.)

Analysis of unsafe personal acts and their underlying
causes is considered by the author the crux of plant acci­
dent prevention. The foreman or supervisor, out of his
knowledge of the workers, should make the initial accident
investigation to provide the clue for corrective action.

Minimizing Fire Hazards in Coal Mines by Proper CircuitBreaker Protection of 2501275-Volt Direct-Current
Systems. By F. J. Gallagher. Washington, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1951.
11 pp., illus.; processed. (Information Circular 7624.)
Limited free distribution.

Safety in the Handling and Use of Explosives. New York,
Institute of Makers of Explosives, 1951.
diagrams, illus. (Pamphlet 17.)

64 pp.,

Sweden’s Joint Safety Board.

By Gunnar Hultman. (In
National Safety News, Chicago, February 1952,
pp. 22-23, 94-97. 75 cents.)
Describes the background, organization, and work of the
Board, which is composed of representatives of worker
and employer organizations.

Industrial Health

Methods of Testing and Protecting Eyesight in Industry.
New York, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 1951.
72 pp., diagrams, forms, illus. (Industrial Health
Series, 4.)

Transactions of the 13th Annual Meeting of the American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists,
Atlantic City, N. J., April 21—25, 1951. [Washington,
Federal Security Building, Room 3700], American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists,
1951. 80 pp.; processed.

The United States Public Health Service, 1798-1950.

By
Ralph Chester Williams, M.D. Bethesda, Md.
(P. O. Box 5874), Commissioned Officers Association
of the United States Public Health Service, 1951.
890 pp., bibliography, illus. $7.50.
Comprehensive history of the U. S. Public Health
Service since its establishment in 1798. It traces the
development of the manifold public-health programs and
activities of the Service at various stages, and the parts
played by pioneering personnel (often with photographs).
The role of the Service in World Wars I and II, and in the
newest medical and technical fields, is given special treat­
ment. Interspersed throughout is material dealing with
industrial hygiene activities.

Industrial Relations

Cancer of Skin and Occupational Trauma. By John God­
win Downing, M.D. (In Journal of the American

The Conflict of Jurisdiction Between the National and
State Labor Relations Boards. By Keith Lorenz. (In

Medical Assn., Chicago, January 26, 1952, pp. 245252, illus. 45 cents.)
The writer maintains that the reported incidence of
occupational skin cancer underestimates its true status.

Federal Regulation of Secondary Strikes and Boycotts—
A New Chapter. By Robert F. Koretz. (In Cornell


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Industrial Bulletin, State Department of Labor, New
York, January 1952, pp. 23-27, illus.)

578

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LABO R

Law Quarterly, Ithaca, N. Y., Winter 1952, pp.
235-255. $1.25.)

Multi-Employer

Bargaining. By Jules Backman. New
York, New York University, Institute of Labor Rela­
tions and Social Security, 1951. 69 pp. $1.75.
Discusses the nature and extent of multi-employer bar­
gaining, and the economic characteristics of industries
involved in it.
Association-Wide Collective Bargaining in the Flint Glass
Industry. By H. Ellsworth Steele. {In Southern
Economic Journal, Chapel Hill, N. C., January 1952,
pp. 322-337. $1.25.)
Traces history and describes present usages and prob­
lems of collective bargaining in the flint glass industry.

Table of Maritime

Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Washington, U. S. Department of Commerce, Mari­
time Administration, 1951. 16 pp.; processed.
Alphabetical listing of U. S. flagship operators, with
a tabulation of the unions of licensed and unlicensed per­
sonnel with which each firm has collective bargaining
agreements.

Labor Disputes in the Nonferrous Metal Industry.

Wash­
ington, U. S. Congress, House of Representatives,
1952. 40 pp. (Doc. 354, 82d Cong., 2d sess.)

Railway Labor Act— The Record of a Decade. By David
Levinson. {In CCH Labor Law Journal, Chicago,
January 1952, pp. 13-29.

50 cents.)

Labor Co-determination in Germany. By Paul Fisher.
{In Social Research, New York, December 1951, pp.
449-485. $1.)
An article on this subject was published in the Monthly
Labor Review for December 1951 (p. 649) and reprinted
in BLS Serial R. 2068.

Labor Organizations
By John Dewey.
New York, Inter-Allied Publications, 1951. 95 pp.
Shows by text and picture the rise of the International
Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and its leader during the
past 20 years.

Union Rivalries.

By A. L. Gitlow. {In Southern Eco­
nomic Journal, Chapel Hill, N. C., January 1952, pp.
338-349. $1.25.)

What To Do About Communism in Unions.

By L. R. Boulware. New York, General Electric Co., Employee
and Plant Community Relations Services Division,
1952. 22 pp.

An Historical Review [o/] the Trades and Labor Congress of
Canada, 1873-1950. Ottawa, Trades and Labor
24 pp.

Montée Triomphante de la C.T.C.C.; Historique de la Con­
fédération des Travailleurs Catholiques du Canada, Inc.,


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de 1921 á 1951.

By Alfred Charpentier. Montreal,
[Confédération des Travailleurs Catholiques du
Canada?], 1951. 123 pp.

Manpower
Defense Manpower Requirements in Electronics Production
Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 1952. 36 pp., charts; processed.
(Manpower Report 12.) Free.

Human Resources— The Needs and the Supply.

By Dael
L. Wolfle and others. Pittsburgh, University of
Pittsburgh Press, 1951. 64 pp., charts. $3.
Five lectures presented at a conference, sponsored by
the University of Pittsburgh, dealing with the need for
scientific and specialized personnel and the supply of
human resources.

Manpower Needs and the Labor Supply.

By Clarence D.
Long. New York, American Enterprise Assn., Inc.,
1951. 32 pp., chart. (National Economic Problems
Series, 442.)
Projects various statistical aspects of manpower supply
and utilization to 1955.

Migration
Emigration from Europe.

By Elizabeth M. Thompson.
Washington (1205 19th Street NW .), Editorial Re­
search Reports, 1951. 18 pp. (Vol. II, 1951, No.
21.)

$ 1.

A study of problems, prospects, and arrangements with
respect to migration of persons from Europe.

The I. L. 0. and Migration Problems.

{In International
Labor Review, Geneva, February 1952, pp. 163-183.
60 cents. Distributed in United States by Wash­
ington Branch of ILO.)

Migration, Vol. 1, No. 1, January-February 1952.

David Dubinsky—A Pictorial Biography.

Congress of Canada, [1951?].

M O N TH LY LA B O R

IN T E R E S T

Geneva,
International Labor Office. 85 pp., and supplement,
40 pp.; processed.
According to a letter from the editors, Migration is
scheduled to appear bimonthly in English, French, and
Spanish. It is designed to provide information on emigra­
tion and immigration as reflected in national law and ad­
ministrative practice, international activity, and technical
procedure.

The Uprooted: The Epic Story of the Great Migrations That
Made the American People. By Oscar Handlin.
Boston, Little, Brown and Co., 1951. 310 pp. $4.
Immigration is used as a central theme for explaining
American history.

Minority Groups
Duty of Union to Minority Groups in the Bargaining Unit.
{In Harvard Law Review, Cambridge, Mass., January
1952, pp. 490-502.

$1.)

REVIEW, MAY 1952

Fair Employment Works.

By Julius A. Thomas. New
York, Oceana Publications, 1951. 33 pp., illus. 25
cents.

The Negro Boy Worker in Washington, D. C.

By Paul
Mundy. Washington, Catholic University of America,
1951. 30 pp.; processed. (Studies in Sociology, Ab­
stract Series, Vol. 2.) 50 cents.

Occupations
By Walter
J. Greenleaf. Washington, Federal Security Agency,
Office of Education, 1951. 193 pp., bibliographies,
illus. (Vocational Division Bull. 247; Occupational
Information and Guidance Series, 16.) 45 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Prepared for workers in the guidance field who wish to
obtain a more comprehensive grasp of occupational back­
ground and to develop standard practices for systematic
instruction in occupations.

Definitions of Occupational Specialties in Engineering. New
York, American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
112 pp.

Job Descriptions and Organizational Analysis for Hospitals
and Related Health Services. Washington, U. S. De­
partment of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security,
U. S. Employment Service, 1952. 532 pp. $2,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Compiled by U. S. Employment Service in cooperation
with American Hospital Association.

The Job of the Physical Therapist.
Physical Therapy Assn., 1951.

Selected Bibliography on Employment of the Older Worker.
Compiled by Charles C. Gibbons. Kalamazoo,
Mich., W. E. Upjohn Institute for Community
Research, August 1951. 7 pp.; processed.

The Employment of Older Men and Women [in Great
Britain], (In Ministry of Labor Gazette, London,
February 1952, pp. 41-43.
Office, London.)

Is. net, H. M. Stationery

Prices and Price Control

Occupations—A Basic Course for Counselors.

1951.

579

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

New York, American
14 pp. 50 cents.

Careers in Publishing and Printing.

By Juvenal L. Angel.
Chicago and New York, Modern Vocational Trends,
1951. 15 pp., bibliography; processed. 50 cents.

Technical Occupations in Radio and Electronics.

Ottawa,
Department of Labor, Economics and Research
Branch, 1951. 53 pp., bibliography, illus. (Canadian
Occupations, Monograph 16.)

Older Workers and the Aged
Preparing Employees for Retirement . . . .

New York,
American Management Association, 1951. 27 pp.
(Personnel Series, 142.) $1.25.

Timing Retirement.

Princeton, N. J., Princeton Univer­
sity, Industrial Relations Section, January 1952.
4 pp. (Selected References, 43.) 20 cents.

The Citizen’s Stake in Price Control.

By Robert A. Brady.
Paterson, N. J., Littlefield, Adams & Co., 1952.
161 pp., charts. $1.50, paper.
A “ short study of the issues behind, and the policies
pursued through, OPS price regulation.”

Food Prices and Food Price Policies in Europe. By W.
Klatt. (In Economia Internazionale, Rivista dell’
Istituto di Economia Internazionale, Genoa, August
1951, pp. 723-742; November 1951, pp. 972-991.)
The article is in English.

The Soviet Price System.

By Naum Jasny. Stanford,
Calif., Stanford University Press, Food Research
Institute, 1951. 179 pp., charts. (Misc. Pub. 11B.)
$ 2.
Discusses role and history of prices in the Soviet
economy.

Productivity
Case Study Data on Productivity and Factory Performance:
Dome Reflectors. Washington, U. S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1952.
forms, illus.; processed. Free.

36 pp.,

Measuring Productivity in Coal Mining: A Case Study of
Multiple Input Measurement at the County Level in
Pennsylvania, 1919-1948.
By Charles M. James.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton
School of Finance and Commerce, Industrial Research
Department, 1952. 96 pp., charts. (Research Report
13.) $2.

Productivity Trends in the Malt Liquors Industry, 1989 to
1950; Productivity Trends in the Tobacco Products
Industries, 1989 to 1950. Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1952.
2 separate reports, 6 and 9 pp., respectively; processed.
Free.

Unemployment Insurance

Retirement and Disability in the United States—An Eco­
nomic Challenge to Arizona. By John Shirer. Tucson,

Legislation by Collective Bargaining— The Agreed Bill in
Illinois Unemployment Compensation Legislation. By

University of Arizona, College of Business and
Public Administration, Bureau of Business Research,
1951. 10 pp. (Special Studies, 3.)

Gilbert Y. Steiner. Urbana, University of Illinois,
Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, [1951].
62 pp. $1.50, cloth; $1, paper.


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580

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LA B O R

Dr. Steiner discusses some phases of this subject in an
article in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review (p. 505).
R e p o r t o f th e N e w Y o r k S ta te A d v i s o r y C o u n c il o n P la c e m e n t

New
York (1440 Broadway), 1952. 52 pp.; processed.
Includes legislative recommendations; analyses of the
significance of recent amendments to the State unemploy­
ment insurance legislation as they affect employees, em­
ployers, administration, and solvency of the insurance
fund; and suggestions of major points for further study.
a n d U n e m p lo y m e n t I n s u r a n c e f o r th e Y e a r 1 9 5 1 .

Wages and Hours of Labor
C r ite r io n f o r W a g e A p p r a i s a l . By Harry
Henig. { I n Journal of Political Economy, Chicago,
February 1952, pp. 44-59. $1.50.)
In an effort to establish a basis for judging the propriety
of wage rates, the author suggests that “ rates are proper . . .
when they operate toward clearing the labor market;
excessive, when responsible for labor surpluses; and insuf­
ficient, when responsible for labor shortages.”
A

F u n c tio n a l

By
Walter Lord. New York and Washington, Business
Reports, Inc., 1951. 137 pp., plus inserts. 2d ed.
$12.50.

H o w to O p e r a te U n d e r W a g e a n d S a l a r y S t a b i l iz a t i o n .

W a g e a n d S a l a r y S t a b i l i z a t i o n H a n d b o o k - —F o r m s , O r d e r s ,
R e g u la tio n s , A d m i n i s t r a t i v e I n te r p r e ta tio n s , D ir e c to r ie s
of P erso n n el

and

O ffices— i n

E ffe c t

M arch

1,

1952.

Compiled from Labor Relations Reporter. Wash­
ington, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., 1952. 294
pp. $2.45.
Washington,
Congress of Industrial Organizations, [1952]. 60
pp., charts. 50 cents.
Presented to U. S. Wage Stabilization Board as support­
ing evidence in the United Steelworkers’ presentation of
their wage case involving various steel and iron ore com­
panies.
W a g e P o lic y in O u r E x p a n d in g E c o n o m y .

U n io n

W ages

and

H o u rs: L ocal

T r a n s it

O p e r a tin g

Em­

Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1952. 12 pp.
(Bull. 1061.) 15 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
p lo y e e s , O c to b e r 1, 1 9 5 1 .

W a g e S tr u c tu r e , S e r ie s 2 , N o . 8 2 : N o n f e r r o u s F o u n d r ie s ,
1951.
Washington, U. S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1952. 26 pp.;
processed. Free.
A u gu st

E a r n i n g s i n S h i p b u i l d i n g , [G re a t B r i t a i n ].

By K. G. J. C.
Knowles and D. J. Robertson. { I n Bulletin of the
Oxford University Institute of Statistics, Oxford,
November-December 1951, pp. 357-365. 3s.6d.)
Statistics are given for January 1950 and selected dates
back to 1940 in comparison with figures for the year 1906.


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M ONTHLY LA BO R

IN T E R E S T

Women in Industry
J o b T r a i n i n g f o r W o m e n a n d G ir ls O ffe r e d b y L o c a l T r a d e
a n d H ig h S c h o o ls .
Washington, U. S. Department of
Labor, Women’s Bureau, 1951. 11 pp. (Leaflet 7.)
10 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
O p p o r tu n itie s

fo r

W om en

in

th e

F ed era l

C iv il

S e r v ic e .

Washington, U. S. Civil Service Commission, 1951.
26 pp., illus. (Pamphlet 35.)
T h e O u tlo o k f o r W o m e n i n S o c ia l W o r k — G e n e r a l S u m m a r y .

Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Women’s
Bureau, 1952. 93 pp., bibliography, illus. (Bull.
235-8; Social Work Series.) 30 cents, Superintend­
ent of Documents, Washington.
Eighth and final bulletin in a series on the need for
women in the social services.

Miscellaneous
By Wilbert E.
Moore. New York, Macmillan Co., 1951. 660 pp.,
bibliographies, charts. Rev. ed. $5.
The author has revised his pioneering compilation (1946)
on industrial sociology to take into account subsequent
advances. He has rewritten his chapter on the nature of
industrial sociology, and has presented an entirely new
treatment of union organization, of management and
union organization as related to bargaining, of types of
collective bargaining relations, and of the scope and im­
plication of collective bargaining. His chapters on the
aged in industrial societies and on the stability of the in­
dustrial system are likewise new in this edition, as is also
much that is presented on disputes and their settlement.
I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s a n d th e S o c ia l O r d e r .

M a n p o w e r , W a g e s , a n d L a b o r R e la tio n s i n W o r ld W a r I I —
A n n o ta te d B i b l io g r a p h y .
Compiled by Donald
Ghent, Gladys Waltcher, Edwin Beal. Ithaca, N. Y.,
Cornell University, New York State School of In­
dustrial and Labor Relations, November 1951. 93
pp. (Bull. 19.) Free to residents of New York
State, 25 cents to others.
An

By L. P. Alford;
revised and rewritten by H. Russell Beatty. New
York, Ronald Press Co., 1951. 779 pp., bibliogra­
phies, charts, forms, illus. Rev. ed. $6.
The original volume (1940) by the late Professor Alford
has been “completely rewritten and thoroughly modern­
ized,” in recognition of the economic developments of the
past decade and the “change in philosophy regarding
human relations in industry.”
P r i n c i p l e s o f I n d u s t r i a l M a n a g e m e n t.

P r o c e e d in g s , 6 th A n n u a l T im e S t u d y a n d M e th o d s C o n fe r ­
e n ce S p o n s o r e d
a g e m e n t,
E n g in e e r s ,

and

b y S o c ie ty f o r A d v a n c e m e n t o f M a n ­
th e

A m e r ic a n

M anagem ent

S o c ie ty

D i v i s io n ,

of

N ew

M e c h a n ic a l
Y o rk

C ity ,

REVIEW, MAY 1952

P U B L IC A T IO N S

OF LABO R

April 19-20, 1951.

New York, Society for Advance­
ment of Management, 1951. 110 pp., charts.

Social Problems.

By W. Wallace Weaver. New York,
William Sloane Associates, 1951. 791 pp., bibliog­
raphies. $5.
A college-level text. Among the problems treated are
those of the immigrant, Negro, aged, and physically
handicapped; urban congestion and housing; poverty; and
unemployment. Public policy and the solution of social
problems are discussed in the final chapter.

Report on Cuba.

Washington, International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, 1951. xxiv, 1052
pp., charts, maps. $7.50.
Findings and recommendations of an economic and
technical mission to Cuba organized by the International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development in collabora­
tion with the Cuban Government. Labor-management
relations, port labor, and social-security funds are among
subjects treated.

Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of Waterfront
Industry Commission, New Zealand, for the Year
Ended March 81, 1951. Wellington, 1951. 76 pp.
Data on average hours worked per week by union water­
side workers, average weekly wages, annual holidays, and
other labor matters are included.

Second Report on Wages and Conditions of Employment in
the Glass Industry of Some Countries. Amsterdam,
International Federation of Industrial Organizations
and General Workers’ Unions, 1951. 30 pp.;
processed.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

IN T E R E S T

581

La Condition Ouvrière en U. R. S. S.—Les Pénalités Sociales.
Paris, Editions du Pavois (for Commission Interna­
tionale Contre le Régime Concentrationnaire), 1951.
127 pp.
Discusses, with pertinent quotations from Soviet laws,
the strict control and discipline of workers in the Soviet
Union.

Livre Blanc sur les Camps de Concentration Soviétiques.
Paris, Éditions du Pavois (for Commission Internation­
ale Contre le Régime Concentrationnaire), 1951. 256
pp.
This “White Book” contains the proceedings of the
public session of the International Commission Against
the Concentration Camp Regime, Brussels, May 21-26,
1951. Includes the testimony of selected witnesses famil­
iar through personal experience with the various aspects
of Soviet forced labor camps, opinions of the Commission
and the report of its investigating committee, and various
other reports and statements bearing on the Soviet forced
labor system.

La Philosophie du Communisme: Rapport de la Semaine
d’Études Tenue par l’Académie de Saint-Thomas du
19 au 24 Avril 1949 ( Traduit de l’Italien). Montreal,
Université de Montréal, Section des Relations In­
dustrielles, 1951. 466 pp.
The papers reproduced constitute a critical analysis,
designed particularly for students of labor and industrial
questions, of the ideological foundations and the practices
of communism. Topics include communism as an eco­
nomic system, Marxist trade-unions, and labor conditions
and the situation of women under the Soviet regime.

Current Labor Statistics
A.—Employment and Payrolls
584 Table A -l:
585 Table A-2:
589 Table A-3:
591 Table A-4:
592 Table A-5:
593 Table A-6:
Table A-7:
Table A-8:
594 Table A-9:

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

B.— Labor Turn-Over
595 Table B -l:
596 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
598 Table C -l:
613 Table C-2:
614 Table C-3:
614 Table C-4:
Table C-5:

Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees
Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1939 dollars
Gross and net spendable average weekly earnings of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1939 dollars
Average hourly earnings, gross and exclusive of overtime, of produc­
tion workers in manufacturing industries
Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas 1

1 This table is included quarterly in the March, June, September, and December issues of the Review.
N ote.— Beginning with Volume 74, tables in the A section have been renumbered consecutively,
to take into account the elimination of two tables.
582


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CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

583

D.—Prices and Cost of Living
615 Table D—1: Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families in large cities,
by group of commodities
616 Table D-2: Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city, for
selected periods
617 Table D-3: Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city and
group of commodities
618 Table D-4: Indexes of retail prices of foods, by group, for selected periods
619 Table D-5: Indexes of retail prices of foods, by city
620 Table D-6: Average retail prices and indexes of selected foods
621 Table D-7: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group of commodities (1947-49 = 100)
621 Table D-7a: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group of commodities, for selected
periods (1926=100)
622 Table D-8: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities

E. —Work Stoppages
623 Table E -l:

Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes

F. —Building and Construction
624 Table F -l:
625 Table F-2:
626 Table F-3:
627 Table F-4:
628 Table F-5:

Expenditures for new construction
Value of contracts awarded and force-account work started on fed­
erally 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

Note.— Earlier figures in many of the series appearing in the following tables are shown in the Handbook of Labor
Statistics, 1950 Edition (BLS Bulletin 1016). For convenience in referring to the historical statistics,
the tables in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review are keyed to the appropriate tables in the Handbook.

MLR
table

Handbook
table

A - l______
A -2

A -3______
A -4______

—

A-13
IrA -l
A-3
A-4
1[a -8
[A-3
A-4
[a -7
A-6


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MLR
table
A -5_______
A -6_______
A -7_______
A -8_______
A -9_______
B - l _______
B -2 _______
C - l_______
C -2_______

Handbook
table
______ A-9
None
______ A-2
______ A-2
______ A-14
______ B - l
______ B -2
______ C -l
_ _ _ _ None

MLR
table
C -3______
C -4______
C -5______
D - l ______
D -2 ______
D -3 ______
D -4 ______

Handbook
table

_______ 'C-4
_______ C-3
_______ C-2
_______ D - l
_______ D -2
____ None
_______ D -4
ÌD -2
D -5 ______ ------------[D -3

MLR
table

Handbook
table

D -6 ______
None
D -7 a _____ ________D -5
D -8 ______
__ None
E - l ______ ________E-2
F - l ______ _______ H - l
F -2 ______ ________H -4
F -3 ______ ________H -6
F -4 ______ _______ H -6
F -5 ______ ________ 1-1

584

A : EM PLOYM ENT

AND

MONTHLY LABOR

PAYROLLS

A: Employment and Payrolls
T able

A -l: Estimated Civilian Labor Force Classified by Employment Status, Hours Worked, and Sex
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over 1 (in thousands)
1951

1952

Labor force 2
Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec,

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.»

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

64,382
1,856

63,783
1,980
1,216
358
141
150
116
61,803
53,768
44,088
5,061
2,082
2, 537
8,035
5,960
1,699
280
97

62,803
1,609
862
342
91
163
153
61,193
53, 753
45,055
4,931
2,071
1,697
7,440
5,799
1,335
215
91

61,789
1,744
825
366
173
237
145
60,044
53,400
43, 996
5,651
2,185
1,567
6 , 645
4, 809
1,351
239
246

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

44,316
1.167
43,149
36,862
32,021
2, 578
815
1,448
6,287
5,301
724
175
87

43,508
950
42, 558
36, 596
32.184
2,457
893
1,062
5,962
5,107
619
156
80

43,182
1,028
42.154
36,349
31,420
3,029
897
1,003
5,805
4, 583
859
165
198

43,379
1,277
42,102
36,463
31, 346
2,877
975
1,265
5,639
4,226
939

19, 294
659
18.635
17,157
12,871
2, 474
1,178
635
1,478
692
716
59

18,607
716
17,890
17,051
12. 576
2, 622
1,288
564
840
226
492

18, 946
870
18,077
17,322
12,707
2. 599
1,336
680
754
186

84

19,467
813
18,654
16,906
12,067
2,483
1,267
1,089
1,748
659
975
105

2

10

11

48

Total, both sexes
C i v i l i a n l a b o r f o r c e ..........................................................
U n e m p l o y m e n t ..........- ................. .............. ...........
U n e m p l o y e d 4 w e e k s o r l e s s ..................
U n e m p l o y e d 5 -1 0 w e e k s ..........................
U n e m p l o y e d 1 1 -1 4 w e e k s ........................
U n e m p l o y e d 1 5 -2 6 w e e k s ........................
U n e m p l o y e d o v e r 26 w e e k s ...................
E m p l o y m e n t ................... ..........................................
N o n a g r i c u l t u r a l ............................. - ..............
W o r k e d 3 5 h o u r s o r m o r e ...............
W o r k e d 1 5 -3 4 h o u r s .................... ..
W o r k e d 1 -1 4 h o u r s 4...........................
W i t h a j o b b u t n o t a t w o r k »___
A g r i c u l t u r a l ________ ________ - ...................
W o r k e d 3 5 h o u r s o r m o r e . ..............
W o r k e d 1 5 -3 4 h o u r s ........................... .
W o r k e d 1 -1 4 h o u r s 4--------- ----------W i t h a j o b b u t n o t a t w o r k »—

61,518
1,804
880
418
202

208
96
59, 714
53,702
43,954
5,810
2 ,0 1 2

1,926
6 ,0 1 2

4,152
1,378
202

280

61,838
2,086
982
638
174
198
94
59,752
53, 6 8 8
44,134
5,652
2,078
1,824
6,064
4,390
1,194
194
286

61,780
2,054
1,068
570
136
172
108
59, 726
53, 540
44,046
5, 6 8 6
2 ,0 0 2

1,806
6,186
4,116
1,378
316
376

62,688
1,674
920
374
152
136
92
61,014
54,636
45,116
5,926
2,080
1,514
6,378
4,392
1,538
250
198

63,164
1,828
1,072
390
130
114
122

61,336
54,314
43, 708
6,832
2 ,1 0 2

1,672
7,022
4,660
1,840
332
190

63,452
1,616
944
330
126
126
90
61,836
54,168
43,040
7, 488
1,922
1,718
7,668
6,090
1,270
228
80

63,186
1,606
1,004
280
128
78
116
61,580
54,054
29,204
20,070
1,818
2,962
7, 526
5, 724
1,436
224
142

64,208
1,578
870
390
102

1 ,1 2 2

408
92

104

100

112

134
62, 526
54, 618
42,312
4,898
1,570
5,838
7,908

62,630
54,942
43,656
5,080
1,558
4, 648
7,688
5,658
1,592
238
200

6 ,1 1 0

1,468
206
124

Males
Civilian labor force—....................................
U nem ploym ent.......................................
Employm ent________ ____ - .............. .
Nonagricultural...............................
Worked 35 hours or more----Worked 15-34 hours...... ..........
Worked 1-14 h o u r s ------With a job but not at work *
Agricultural— ................................
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours...............
Worked 1-14 hours 4 ................
With a job but not at work *

42,810
1,224
41,586
36,246
31,038
3,060
838
1,310
5,340
3,966
964
148
262

42,858
1,376
41,482
36,116
31,346
2,724
852
1,194
5,366
4,210
768
154
234

42,864
1,384
41,480
36,132
31,296
2,852
828
1,156
5,348
3,910
888

232
318

43,114
1,008
42,106
36,728
31, 974
2,906
852
996
5,378
4,110
936
158
174

43,346
1 ,0 0 2

42,344
36, 616
31,102
3,540
834
1,140
5,728
4,280
1,074
216
158

43, 522
890
42, 632
36, 756
31, 206
3,654
780
1,116
5,876
5,110
554
142
70

43, 672
842
42.830
37,050
22,174
12,240
760
1,876
5,780
4,810
690
154
126

44,720
956
43, 764
37,604
31,554
2,726
656
2 ,6 6 8

6,160
5,128
724
132
176

44,602
1,098
43, 504
37, 234
30, 492
2,614
608
3,520
6 , 270
5,346
680
122
122

220

255

Females
Civilian labor force-----------------------------------Unem ploym en t_______________________
Employm ent...................................... ............
Nonagricultural------------ ---------------Worked 35 hours or more...............
Worked 15-34 h ou rs..--------------Worked 1-14 hours 4 ..... ..............
With a job but not at work 5 -----Agricultural______________________
Worked 35 hours or more_______
Worked 15-34 hours____________
Worked 1-14 hours 4 _______ ____
W ith a job but not at work *------

18,708
580
18,128
17,456

12,916
2,750
1,174

616
672
186

414
54

18

18,980
710
18,270
17,572
12,788
2,928
1,226
630
698
180
426
40
52

18,916
670
18, 246
17,408
12,750
2,834
1,174
650
838
206
490
84
58

19, 574
666
18,908
17, 908
13,142
3,0 2 0
1, 228
518
1,000
282
602
92
24

i Estimates are subject to sampling variation which may be large in cases where
the quantities shown are relatively small. Therefore, the smaller estimates
should be used with caution. All data exclude persons in institutions.
Because of rounding, the individual figures do not necessarily add to group
totals.
i Beginning with January 1951, total labor force is not shown because of
the security classification of the Armed Forces component.
*Census survey week contains legal holiday.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

19,818
826
18,992
17,698
12,606
3,2 9 2
1,268
532
1,294
380
766
116
32

19,930
726
19,204
17,412
11,834
3,834
1,142
602
1,792
980
716
86
10

19, 514
764
18, 750
17,004
7,030
7,830
1,058
1,086
1,746
914
746
70

16

19,488
622
18,866
17,338
12,102
2,354
902
1,980
1,528
530
868

106
24

19,780
758
19,022
17,384
11,820
2,284
962
2,318
1,638
764
788

74

479
48
42

4 Excludes persons engaged only in incidental unpaid family work (less than
15 hours); these persons are classified as not in the labor force.
• 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.

REVIEW, MAY 1952
T able A -2 :

A : EM PLOYM ENT

AND

PAYROLLS

585

Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1
[In thousands]
1952

Annual
average

1951

Industry group and industry
Mar.
Total employees.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar

1951

1950

45,873 [ 45,877 45,911 47,663 46,852 46,902 46,956 46,724 46,432 46,567 46,226 45,998 45,850 46,401 44,124

M in in g . _......................

915
103.3
3 7 .6
28.5
19.9

911
103.
36.
28.
20.

924
105.3
3 6 .4
2 9 .2
21.6

920
104.9
37.6
28.7

7 0 .3

67.

7 2 .2

69.1

75.1

3 7 7 .2

381.

396 .3

378.2

375 .6

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

258.4

254.

250 .2

262.2

255.3

Nonmetallic mining and quarrying.

105.9

103.

99 .6

105.1

9 7 .4

2, 598

2,471

2, 326

2, 569

2,318

508
213.5
2 9 4 .2

460
181.3
278 .6

394
149.5
244.0

486
200.4
285.1

447
183.0
264.1

M etal_________
Iron ................. .
Copper______
Lead and zinc.
Anthracite_____ ____________ _________
B ituminous-coal______________________

C o n tr a c t c o n s t r u c t io n .

Nonbuilding construction.
Highway and street___________
Other nonbuilding construction.

20.8

904

101.0
3 5 .5
28.1
19.7

Building construction.

2,090

2,011

1, 932

2,084

1,871

General contractors...

892

848

807

880

797

Special-trade contractors.
Plumbing and heating...
Painting and decorating.
Electrical work______________
Other special-trade contractors.
M a n u fa c tu r in g .

Durable goods *...........
Nondurable goods !. . .
Ordnance and accessories.
Food and kindred products____ ____ _
Meat produ cts.................... .............
Dairy products........ ............... ............
Canning and preserving.....................
Grain-mill products............................
Bakery products.................................
Sugar................................ ......................
Confectionery and related products.
Beverages________________ _______
Miscellaneous food products.............
Tobacco manufactures.................... .
Cigarettes..........................................
Cigars................... .............................
Tobacco and snuff...........................
Tobacco stemming and redrying.
Textile-mill products— ................... .
Yarn and thread m ills................. .
Broad-woven fabric m ills................
Knitting m ills___________ _______
Dyeing and finishing textiles_____
Carpets, rugs, other floor covering.
Other textile-mill products_______

1,221
297.3
175.0
145.6
602.7
15,784

8,958
6,826
74.6
1, 445

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le.

998444— 52------ 7


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

71.5

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69.2

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201.6 203.5 214.3 216.2 221.5 225.7 232.0 232.2 224.1
210.0
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213.4
218.8 216.3
128.9 128.3 132.9 136.1 140.3 137.5 136 .2 135.4 139.0 134.5 134.5 138.1 136.5 138.5

86

Apparel and other finished textile
products___________________ ______ 1,159
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats______
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing................ .............. .....................
Women’s outerwear....... ..........................
Women’s, children’s undergarments.. .
Millinery................................ .....................
Children’s outerw ear..........................
Fur goods and miscellaneous apparel...
Other fabricated textile products..........
Lumber and wood products (except
furniture).................................................
Logging camps and contractors.............
Sawmills and planing mills__________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products.....................
Wooden contain ers..................................
Miscellaneous wood products.................

15,838

8,990
6,846

1,198
1,163
1,125
1,204 1,074
289.3
291.3
284.7
298.5 270.6
155.9
167.6
146.7
165.5 132.5
142.1
139.1
138.3
147.5 128.6
578.4
596 .6
555.5
591.9 541.7

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26.9
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26.6
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231.0 229.0 228.4 225.1 230.9 230.1 235.5 241.4 250.1
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139.8 139.9
252.2
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136.4 131.0 144.2 151.5 152.8 142.9

120
149.5

253
331.5
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263.4
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247.9
334.4
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62.4
427.5

722
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105.1
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106.9 i 109.3! HO.
76.3i 77.9! 76.7
59.8 ! 59.8
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101.1

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761
68.8

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63.6

257.0
320.2
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256.2
329.8
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21.6
65.3

102.2

102.2

101.4

251.6
314.1
100.3
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256. 2
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143.0

783
74.9
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78.1
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79 .8
475.0

818
76.8
481.8

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77.3
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488.7

115.2
115.6
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118.4
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122.6

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118
148.

1,168
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301.5
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8.9

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1,282 1,297
172.5
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596.6
600.4 616.1
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586

A: EM PLOYM ENT AND

T able

MONTHLY LABOR

PAYROLLS

A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1—Con.
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1951

1952
Industry group and industry
Mar.
Manufacturing—Continued
Furniture and fixtures_________________
Household furniture__
_______
Other furniture and fixtures__________

Feb.

Jan.

N ov.

Dec.

Oct.

Sept.

July

Aug.

June

May

Apr.

Mar.

1951

1950

345

344
236.5
107.8

344
237.0
107.1

344
236.3
108.1

342
235.1
106.8

337
229.8
107.3

334
225.0
108.5

333
223.9
108.8

331
223.7
106.9

334
226.0
108.1

349
240.5
108.6

366
256.0
109.5

374
265.0
109.1

349
240.8
108.0

357
255.5
101.5

Paper and allied products______ _____ 481
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills
Paperboard containers and boxes__ _
Other paper and allied products______ —

480
244.4
127.1
108.5

481
245.5
126.6
108.4

484
245.9
129.2
109.3

486
488
246.1 246.3
130.5 ' 131.4
109.4 110.4

490
247.7
131.1

494
248.1
132.5
113.0

493
247.1
133.0
113.1

500
248.8
136.5
114.7

497
246.0
137.4
114.0

500
245.5
139.1
115.7

498
242.2
139.3
116.0

494
245.7
134.9
113.0

472
235.8
128.5
107.7

773
302.5
55.4
51.2
207.1
41.9
115.2

769
300.7
54.5
50.9
206.3
42.1
114.6

764
299.6
53.8
51.0
203.7
41.5
114.1

759
298.5
53.5
50.3

762
299.7
52.4
49.1
206.3
41.1
113.6

759
299.7
52.6
48.9
204.8
41.1

757
297.1
52.8
49.1
204.8
41.3

760
297.1
52.8
49.3
206.9
41.1

763
299.2
53.5
49.8
205.6
41.2
113.5

743
293.3
52.1
46.7

40. S
113.9

758
299.1
52.2
49.0
204.2
40.4
112.9
744
84.0
230.9
107.3
76.9
29.9
47.5
167. S

742
742
81.4
82.6
229. C 225.6
106. C 105.5
76.5
76.5
36.4
31.4
49.1
47.9
168.6 167.7

749
81.0
224.2
105.3
76.3
40.1
51.7
170.6

748
80.1
221.7
104.8
76.0
42.4
53.4
169.3

749
82.3
227.2
106.2
75.6
34.8
55.1
168.2

686
71.5
200.1

267
266
214. C 213.7

263
260
210.4 207.7
22. C
30.4
30.9

258
205.7
21.5
30.7

257
204.7
21.4
30.5

263

245

111.2

Printing, publishing, and allied industries
770
Newspapers______________ ___ . _
Periodicals- _
____- __________ __
Books__
Commercial printing... ____________
Lithographing..
Other“printing and publishing________ —

769
303.8
55.1
51.7
204.3
40.9
113.5

769
300.5
55.1
51.4
207.7
40.8
113.2

775
304.4
56.1
51.3
207.9
41.5
114.2

Chemicals and allied p ro d u cts...
._ . .
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 ..

761

758
83.1
227.9
108.4
74.4
38.9
57.3
167.5

756
83.2
229.2
107.8
74.5
35.1
59.8
166.5

759
84.2
230.9
108.3
74.3
32.5
61.9
166.6

762
84.0
233.0
108.3
74.4
31.8
63.3
167.6

763
83.7
231.3
107.9
75.1
32.7
64.5
168.2

753
764
84. C 84.1
234.5 233.3
108.1 108.3
76.9
75.9
30.6
32.7
49.9
59.8
168.6 169.4

Products of petroleum and coal___ . . . .
Petroleum refining___
Coke and byproducts.
___
Other petroleum and coal produets___

267

267
216.9

265
216.2

269
218.3

269
217.0
21.3
30.4

269
215.4

267

Rubber products______________________
Tires and inner t u b e s _______________
Rubber footwear
. . _. __
Other rubber products _______ ____

268

Leather and leather products ...... ..........
Leather.
.. _
. ____________
Footwear (except rubber)____________
Other leather products_______________
Stone, clay, and glass products...................
Glass and glass products_____________
Cement, hydraulic.. . . ____________
Structural clay products_____________
Pottery and related products . .
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products.
Other stone, clay, and glass products...

22.1 22.0 22.2
27.6


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

30.5

21.6

200.8

40.7
108.9

95.8
71.4
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54.5
158.3

210.6 194.6
21.8 20.8
30.4
29.5

27.2

28.5

31.1

30.7

120.1
30.3
120.1

273
120.5
31.1
121.7

273
120.4
31.2

272
117.7
30.9
123.6

272
116.5
30.9
124.5

271
115.0
30.4
125.7

273
114.3
31.2
127.7

272

30.8
128.3

270
111.7
30.3
128.4

271
112.5
30.6
128.3

272^
115.5
30.8
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252

121.8

269
115.0
31.1
122.9

385

383
44.5
245.2
92.8

370
44.4
236.0
89.4

362
43.7
228.2
90.5

356
43.3
220.7
92.3

359
42.6
224.0
92.5

365
42.2
230.4
92.7

382
44.8
244.0
92.8

374
46.0
237.0
90.7

382
47.3
244.6
90.5

369
47.6
232.7
88.9

392
49.1
247.4
95.9

410
50.6
259.6
99.3

381
46.7
240.6
93.3

394
50.5
252.3
91 1

528

528
138.7
42.5

532
138.3
43.0
87.7
54.5
97.1

545
141.8
43.0
92.0
55.3
100.3
112.7

552
143.2
43.2
93.0
56.2

559
146.7
43.3
93.2
56.8
103.1
115.4

561
147.9
43.6
93.4
57.2
103.0
116.2

564
148.5
44.0
93.4
57.7
103.8
116.1

557
141.8
43.8
93.2
57.4
104.1
116.7

562
147.2
43.4
92.9
59.2
102.5
116.7

560
148.3
42.7
91.1
60.4

559
148.8
42.4
89.7
61.0
100.5
116.1

554
146.9
42.3
88.5
61.1
99.3
116.0

556
145.7
43.0
91.3
58.6

512
133.5
42 1
82.4
57.9
92.2
103 5

271

86.1

54.7
96.7
108.9

987

Machinery (except electrical)__________ 1,642
Engines and turbines_____ ___ ___
Agricultural machinery and tractors__
Construction and mining m achinery...
Metalworking machinery______
_.
Special-industry machinery (except
metalwprking machinery)___
General industrial machinery
...........
Office and store machines and devices..
Service-industry and household machinos
. . . . . ..
______
Miscellaneous machinery parts..... ........
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f ta b le.

213. £
22.2 22.2
22.1 22.1 30.4

112.1 112.2 112.8

273
120.5
31.0
121.9

Primary metal industries___________ . . 1,345
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills________ ___________________
Iron and steel foundries_______ ______
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals_______ .
_________
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals
_________________
Non ferrous foundries
. . _______
Other primary metal industries______
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transporta­
tion equipment)____________ ____ _
Tin cans and other tinware____ ______
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware____
Heating apparatus (except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies________________
Fabricated structural metal products..
Metal stamping, coating, andengraving.
Other fabricated metal products . . .

202.2

1, 352

111.6

1, 354

1,355

102.1

113.8
1,339

1,349

1,351

1,352

1,341
656.5
277.9

657.9
275.3

657.9
278.3

658.9
279.9

643.6
281.9

655.6
280.4

659.0
280.6

659.8
280.7

57.3

56.4

56.4

56.2

56.3

55.9

56.8

55.5

55.4

644.8
282.6

1,341
643.4
279.9

1,345
650.5
279.9

1,220
614.1
231.8

56.3

54.6

100.3
109.6
147.7

96. 9
93 0
129.8

996
50.9
158.0

991 1,019 1,026 1, 033 1,031 1,007
49.4
49.0
49.4
49.7
48.9
49.0
156.6 161.6 163.4 165.0 167.1 159.7

933
48.4
156.9

151.0
233.0
169.0
234.0

152.2
227.9
174.7
229.7

150.6
201.4
169.8
206 1

111.8 111.2
151.3

150.5

97.8
108.4
148.3

988
44.3
150.3

987
44. 7
151.0

988
46.1
149.9

984
45.9
150.5

988
48.9
152.7

989
51.0
154.3

143.5
241. S
172.1
236.0

144.1
240.6
171.4
235.0

148.1
240.5
168.4
235.2

148.7
235.6
169.1
234.3

148.6
234.2
170.1
233.2

149.2
232.3
168.4
233.6

190.9
131.2
312.2

56.8

1,344

56.6

96.3
109.0
149.8

100.1

648.7
284.1

104.0
110.7
146.0

98.5
108.3
149.7

1, 655

1,347

655.0
285.3

101.2

115.6

56.4

98.6
108.7
149.8

99.9

101.0

116.4

110.9

25 6
114.9

103.1
110.9
146.5

97.9
110.4
151.0

98.0
106.8
146.6

98.3

1,357

112.8

101.2 100.0
109.9 111.1
148.8

157.9
227.3
185.7
236.6

147.5

159.1
229.8
188.2
236.0

161.6
228.1
192.6
236.4

162.7
225.9
192.3
234.5

154.8
229.8
179.7
233.8

1,647 1,640 1,625 1,611 1,585 1,573 1,597 1,611 1,598 1,592 1,579 1, 591 1,352
90.2
94.6
91.8
92.1
93.5
95.1
85.7
99.6
99.0
97.9
91.3
72.6
189.6 188.0 186.3 187.8 170.0 169.7 194.7 195.8 193.1 193.1 192.1 187.3 172.4
120.7 118.2 117.0 117.0 120.7 100.7
129.9 128.1 126.2 124.8 124.1
309.5 307.9 303.5 294.3 293.1 286.1 293.5 294.3 289.6 287.0 282. 6 289.8

88.8

122.1 121.1

220.2

192. 7
241.2
107.2

193.4
241.2
107.1

194.8
239.8
107.8

196.6
238.6
108.0

196.7
236.9
107.2

196.4
235.3
106.3

197.3
233.0
105.3

196.8
230.1
102.5

197.9
228.7
105.0

197.7
227.6
104.4

197.1
226.8
103.3

194.8
224.1
102.3

195.6
229.7
104.5

167.6
188.5
90.9

169. 8
209.7

166. 7
209.7

164.7
209.6

159.4
208.8

161.0
207.4

162.0
204.4

162.7
202.4

164.5
201.9

173.2
203.0

176.9
200.3

179.7
199.2

184.1
195.9

201.2

171.2

176.2
162.7

REVIEW, MAY 1952
T able

A : EM PLOYM ENT AND

587

PAYROLLS

A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group

Con.

[In thousands]

1952

M an u factu rin g— C o n t in u e d
E le c tr ic a l m a c h in e r y .................... . ......................
E le c tr ic a l g e n e r a tin g , tr a n s m is sio n ,
d is tr ib u tio n , a n d in d u s tr ia l a p p a ­
r a tu s _____________________ _____________
E le c tr ic a l e q u ip m e n t for v e h ic le s ______
C o m m u n ic a tio n e q u ip m e n t _____ ______
E le c tr ic a l a p p lia n c e s , la m p s , a n d m is ­
c e lla n e o u s p r o d u c t s .................................... ..

Mar. Feb. Jan. Dec. Nov. Oct. Sept. Aug. July June May Apr. Mar.

1951 1950

962

937

967

963

965

955

944

942

927

914

932

930

941

944

836

380.7 378.2 376.2 370.8 369.1 376.3 374.1 372.9 376.3 369.9 365.0 359.0 367.6 317.3
81.7 82.1 83.0 82.7 82.3 82.5 81.2 80.6 81.5 81.7 80.8 79.4 81.0 70.1
365.3 361.7 362.2 357.3 346.0 334.2 323.2 313.6 324.6
327.5 343.6 353.4 339.8 309.2
139.4 141.1 143.9 144.4 146.9 148.7 148.6 146.4 150.0 150.9 151.9 152.3 149.0 139.8
T r a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t _______________ 1, 568 1, 574 1, 562 1, 558 1, 551 1,511 1,514 1,497 1,490 1,525 1, 513 1,520 1,527 1,511 1,273
A u t o m o b il e s ........................................................
765.9 775.3 786.0 794.5 807.1 816.7 812.4 819.1 875.6 891.4 913.9 935.6 '856.3 '839.4
A irc ra ft a n d p a r ts ............................ .......... ..
580.8 567.2 556.0 539.0 496.2 493.4 486.3 471.3 451.7
428.5 415.9 400.0 456.3 275.4
A ir c r a ft._________ _____________________
387.1 378.8 373.2 364.0 339.8 330.8 330.6 319.7 304.9 289.1
271.4 308.3 184.2
120.2 116.1 112.6 106.5 90.3 99.8 95.4 92.9 89.6 84.5 281.7
A ircraft e n g in e s a n d p a r t s . . . ...................
77.2 89.6 54. 5
A irc ra ft p r o p ellers a n d p a r t s . ............
12.7 12.7 12.4 12.1 11.8 11.5 10.5 10.4 10.5 10.5 81.1
10.2
9.5 10.7 8.1
60.8 59.6 57.8 56.4 54.3 51.3 49.8 48.3 46.7 44.4 42.9 41.9
O th e r aircraft p a r ts a n d e q u i p m e n t ..
47.7 28.7
S h ip a n d b o a t b u ild in g a n d r e p a ir in g ..
141.7 132.4 126.5 127. C 118.9 117.2 114.4 115.4 112.4 109.1 108.6 109.5 113.7
S h ip b u ild in g a n d re p a ir in g * ________
126.7 118.3 112.6 113.6 106.2 104.3 101.2 101.1 97.7 94.3 93.8 95.0 99.7 84.4
B o a t b u ild in g a n d r e p a ir in g _________
15.0 14.1 13.9 13.4 12.7 12.9 13.2 14.3 14.7 14.8 14.8 14.5 14.0 71.4
13.0
R a ilr o a d e q u ip m e n t ................... ......................
74.5 75.9 77.6 78.3 77.4 75.1 72.4 72.9
73.2 70.1 68.6 72.4 62.2
O th er tra n sp o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t _______
11.2 11.1 11.7 11.7 11.5 11.4 11.1 10.8 74.4
10.8 11.2 11.9 13.2 11.7 11.4
I n s tr u m e n ts a n d r e la te d p r o d u c ts ________
317 317 316 315 313 310 307 302 298 299 297 295 290 299 250
O p h th a lm ic g o o d s ..................................... ..
27.6 27.5 27.9 27.7 27.4 27.2 27.3 27.5 27.8 27. £ 28.0 27.8 27.6 25.4
P h o to g r a p h ic a p p a r a tu s ........... ................... ..
64.1 63.8 63.5 62.7 62.3 62.6 62.3 59.3
59.1 58.6 57.8 60.1 51.3
W a tc h e s a n d c lo c k s_____________ _______
35.5 35.5 35.3 35.5 35.0 34.2 33. E 33.2 60.6
34.1 34.0 34.5 34.2 34.3 30.1
P r o fe ssio n a l a n d s c ie n tific in s t r u m e n t s ..
189.7 189.4 188.6 186.9 185.6 183.2 178.3 178.4 176.5 175.5
173.4 170.0 177.3 143.4
M isc e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u s t r ie s ..
464 461 454 463 469 471 467 465 460 479 487 500 508 480 459
J e w e lr y , silv e r w a r e , a n d p la te d w a r e . . .
46.1 45.6 46.8 47.2 47.6 48.1 48.5 48.5 50.5 52.8 54.9 56.8 51.4 54.8
T o y s a n d s p o r tin g g o o d s .______________
66.2 63.7 65.9 70.5 72.1 72.2 73.2 70.8 75.1 77.2 78.9 78.0 73.5 73.3
C o s tu m e je w e lr y , b u tto n s , n o t io n s _____
54.2 52.2 52.9 53.7 53.4 51.9 53.4 52.3 54.3 56.1
60.8 64.5 56.7 58.2
O th e r m is c e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g
in d u s tr ie s .............................................................
294.7 292.7 297.0 297.9 297.8 294.9 290.3 288.4 298.9 300.4 305.6 308.6 298.6 272.3
T ran sportation a n d p u b lic u t ili t ie s ____ _____
4,108 4, 110 4,107 4,161 4, 165 4,166 4,178 4,190 4,176 4,161 4,137 4,132 4,112 4,144 4,010
T r a n s p o r ta tio n .......... .............................................. 2,849 2,853 2,856 2,908 2,912 2,915 2, 925 2, 929 2,918 2,921 2,911 2,909 2,893 2,905 2,801
I n te r s ta te r a ilr o a d s_________________ ____
1, 390 1, 394 1,426 1,428 1,440 1,457 1,468 1,468 1,468 1,463 1,463 1,451 1,449 1,390
C la ss I ra ilr o a d s..............................................
1, 218 1,222 1,247 1,258 1,271 1, 287 1,297 1,296 1,296 1,290 1,287 1,274 1,276 1,220
L o ca l r a ilw a y s a n d b u s lin e s ........ ...............
141 141 141 141 141 141 142 141 143 144 144 144 143 148
T r u c k in g a n d w a r e h o u sin g _____________
642 640 651 649 641 631
O th er tr a n s p o r ta tio n a n d s e r v ic e s ______
680 681 690 694 693 696 698 695 691 684 678 672 686 679
A ir tr a n s p o r ta tio n (c o m m o n c a r r ie r ).
87.1 85.8 85.3 84.7 84.1 83.7 83.7 81.5 81.4 79.4
76.9 80.9 74.4
C o m m u n ic a tio n ___________________ _______
710 708 701 702 701 697 696 700 698 687 680 6778.5
8 675 688 663
T e le p h o n e ............................ ...................................
659.6 652.8 654.1 652.8 648.5 647.8 651.5 648.2 637.3 630.4 629.0
625.9
638.9 614.8
T e le g r a p h _______ _______ _____ _______ _
47.1 47.2 47.3 46.8 47.5 47.4
48.5 48.3 48.8 48.4 47.8 47.9 47.2
O th er p u b lic u t ili t ie s _____________________
549 549 550 551 552 554 557 5647.7
1
5
6
0
5
5
3
5
4
6
5
4
5
5
4
4
5
51 546
G as a n d e le c tr ic u t ilit ie s ________________
525.1 525.2 527.0 527.6 528.7 531.7 534.7 533.7 527.2 521.0 519.8 519.1 526.0
520.6
E le c tr ic lig h t a n d p o w e r u t ili t ie s ____
233.4 233.9 234.3 234.9 236.2 236.2 237.1 237.5 234.9 232.4
231.9
231.5
234.3
G a s u t ilit ie s ____ _____ ________ ______ _
117.7 117.5 118.5 118.6 118.4 118.8 120.3 119.8 118.3 116.1 115.6 115.6 117.7 234.0
114.9
E le c tr ic lig h t a n d gas u tilitie s c o m ­
b in e d .................................... ............................
174.0 173.8 174.2 174.1 174.1 176.7 177.3 176.4 174.0 172.5 172.3 172.0 174.0 171.6
L o c a l u t ilit ie s .......................................................
24.2 24.4 24.4 24. 5 25.0 25.4 26.2 25.9 25.5 24.9 25.4 24.6 25.1 25.2
T r a d e .......................... ..................................................
9,647 9, 643 9, 719 10, 660 10,109 9, 893 9, 781 9, 641 9,667 9, 732 9,683 9,627 9,713 9, 804 9,524
W h o le s a le t r a d e ....................................................... 2,618 2,631 2,627 2, 657 2,657 2,622 2,594 2,596 2, 594 2,581 2,568 2,579 2,590 2,602 2,544
R e t a il tr a d e .............................................. ................. 7,029 7,012 7,092 8,003 7,452 7,271 7,187 7,045 7,073 7,151 7,115 7,048 7,123 7,203 6,980
G e n e ra l m e r c h a n d is e s to r e s ........ ................. 1, 427 1,417 1,475 2,092 1,701 1,550 1, 487 1,399 1,407 1,458 1,475 1,453 1,512 1,535 1,493
F o o d a n d liq u o r s to r e s .................................... 1, 273 1, 274 1, 270 1,316 1,295 1,281 1, 274 1,260 1,268 1,270 1,271 1,264 1,264 1,272 1,209
A u t o m o t iv e a n d acc essories d e a le r s .........
740 745 751 768 759 748 754 757 756 750
A p p a r e l a n d a ccessories s to r e s ......... ..........
531 517 533 651 580 561 544 500 512 548 575402 574329 577346 575409 573268
O th er r e ta il tr a d e ________ ______ ________ I 3, 058 3,059 3,063 3,176 3,117 3,131 3,128 3,129 3,130 3,125 3,077 3,050 3,037 3,097 3,014
_________

r

Annual
average

1951

Industry group and industry

—

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f ta b le.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

588

A : EM PLOYM ENT

T able

AND

MONTHLY LABOR

PAYROLLS

A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group 1—Con.
[In th o u sa n d s]

1952

A nnual
a v er a g e

1951

I n d u s tr y gro u p a n d in d u s tr y
M ar.

Feb.

Jan.

D ec.

N ov.

O ct.

S e p t.

A ug.

J u ly

June

M ay

A pr.

M ar.

1951

1950

Finance...................... ...................................

1,930

1,919
477
63 .9
690
688

1,908
472
6 3 .8
683
689

1,912
472
64.1
690
686

1.907
470
64.1
689
684

1, 898
467
6 3 .7
682
685

1,898
466
6 3 .4
684
685

1,914
471
64 .3
690
689

1,908
471
6 4 .3
682
691

1, 893
460
6 3 .8
671
698

1, 874
452
63 .8
663
695

1,865
451
6 3 .9
662
688

1,854
449
63 .9
662
679

1,883
460
63 .7
674
686

1,812
427
5 9 .6
646
680

Service...........................................................

4, 680

4, 667
428
354 .8
153.4
242

4, 673
424
35 6 .9
154.0
242

4,702
426
356 .2
154.3
241

4, 734
430
356.6
157.4
242

4, 770
437
3 6 0 .0
159.3
244

4,831
473
362.1
157.4
247

4, 839
507
364.5
153.3
245

4,852
510
368.9
157.6
245

4, 835
478
364.8
161.3
248

4,789
452
359.5
158.7
249

4,745
445
354.4
153.0
249

4,682
435
351 .3
150.4
243

4,759
455
358 .6
154.5
245

4, 761
456
353.5
147.5
241

Banks and trust companies______
Security dealers and exchanges____
Insurance carriers and agents_____
Other finance agencies and real estate.

Hotels and lodging places..... .........
Laundries....... ....... .............. .
Cleaning and dyeing plants.........
Motion pictures....................... .

Government...... .............................................

Federal *...................... .............
State and local ................. ......

6, 528
6,490
6, 509
6, 881
6, 497
6, 532
6, 544
6, 401
6, 356
6,377
6,377
6,292
6,217
6,390
5,910
2, 354
2,344
2,331
2,727
2, 325 2,3 2 2
2,330
2,336
2,313
2,271
2,244
2,146
2,201
2,277
1,910
4,1 7 4
4,1 4 6
4 ,1 7 8
4,154
4,071
4,1 7 2
4,208
4,043
4,106
ijo o o
4,210
4,133
4,091
4,071
4,1 1 3

i T h e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s ’ series o f e m p lo y m e n t in n o n a g r ic u ltu r a l
e s ta b lis h m e n ts are b a se d u p o n re p o r ts s u b m it t e d b y co o p e r a tin g e s ta b lis h ­
m e n t s a n d th erefor e, d iffer fro m e m p lo y m e n t in fo r m a tio n o b ta in e d b y
h o u s e h o ld in te r v ie w s , s u c h as t h e M o n t h ly R e p o r t o n t h e L a b o r F o r ce
(ta b le A - l ) , in se v e r a l im p o r ta n t r e sp e c ts. T h e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s ’
d a ta c o v e r all fu ll- a n d p a r t-tim e e m p lo y e e s in p r iv a te n o n a g r ic u ltu r a l e s ta b ­
lis h m e n ts w h o w o r k e d d u r in g , or r e c e iv e d p a y for, t h e p a y p e r io d e n d in g
n e a r e st t h e 15th o f th e m o n th ; in F e d e r a l e s ta b lis h m e n ts d u r in g th e p a y
p e r io d e n d in g ju s t before th e fir st o f t h e m o n th ; a n d in S ta te a n d lo c a l g o v e r n ­
m e n t d u r in g t h e p a y p e r io d e n d in g o n or ju s t b efo re th e la s t o f th e m o n th ,
w h ile t h e M o n t h ly R e p o r t o n th e L a b o r F o r c e d a ta r e la te t o th e c a le n d a r
w e e k w h ic h c o n ta in s t h e 8 th d a y of th e m o n t h . P r o p r ie to r s, se lf-e m p lo y e d
p e r so n s, d o m e s tic s e r v a n ts , a n d p e r so n n e l o f t h e A r m e d F o r c e s are e x c lu d e d
from th e B L S b u t n o t th e M R L F series. T h e s e e m p lo y m e n t series h a v e
b e e n a d ju s te d t o b e n c h -m a r k le v e ls in d ic a te d b y s o c ia l in su r a n c e a g e n c y
d a ta th r o u g h 1947. R e v is e d d a ta in a ll e x c e p t t h e fir st f o u r c o lu m n s w ill be
id e n tifie d b y a ste r isk s th e first m o n th t h e y a re p u b lis h e d .
* I n c lu d e s: o r d n a n c e a n d a ccesso ries; lu m b e r a n d w o o d p r o d u c ts (e x c e p t


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

fu r n itu r e ); fu r n itu r e a n d fix tu res; s to n e , c la y , a n d g la ss p r o d u c ts; p r im a r y
m e ta l in d u str ie s; fa b r ic a te d m e ta l p r o d u c ts (e x c e p t o rd n a n c e , m a c h in e r y ,
a n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t); m a c h in e r y (e x c e p t e le c tr ic a l); e lectrica l
m a c h in e r y ; tr a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t; in s tr u m e n ts a n d r e la te d p ro d u c ts;
a n d m isc e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u str ie s .
3 In c lu d e s: fo o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts; to b a c c o m a n u fa c tu r e s; te x tile -m ill
p r o d u c ts; a p p a r e l a n d o th e r fin is h e d te x tile p r o d u c ts; p a p e r a n d a llie d p r o d ­
u cts; p r in tin g , p u b lis h in g , a n d a llie d in d u str ie s; c h e m ic a ls a n d a llie d p r o d ­
u cts; p r o d u c ts o f p e tr o le u m a n d coal; r u b b e r p r o d u c ts; a n d le a th e r a n d
le a th e r p r o d u c ts.
4 D a t a b y re g io n , from J a n u a r y 1940, a re a v a ila b le u p o n r e q u e st to th e
B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s .
3 F o u r th cla ss p o s tm a s te r s (w h o a re co n sid e r e d t o b e n o m in a l e m p lo y e e s )
are e x c lu d e d h ere b u t a re in c lu d e d in ta b le A -5 .
1 E x c lu d e s as n o m in a l e m p lo y e e s p a id v o lu n te e r fir e m e n , e m p lo y e e s h ire d
t o c o n d u c t e le c tio n s , a n d e le c te d o ffic ia ls of s m a ll lo c a l g o v e r n m e n ts .
A ll series m a y b e o b ta in e d u p o n r e q u e s t to th e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s .
R e q u e s t s s h o u ld s p e c ify w h ic h in d u s t r y series are d e sir e d .

589

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, MAY 1952

T able A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries 1
[I n th o u s a n d s ]

1952

A nnual
a v er a g e

1951

I n d u s tr y grou p a n d In d u str y
M ar.
M in in g :
M e ta l_______ __________ ____________ ______
Iron ____ ____________________ _______
C opp er
_
_ _ _ __
L e a d a n d z i n c _________________________

Feb.

9 3 .8
3 2 .8
25.1
1 9 .6

Jan.

94.1
33.1
25 .2
19.4

D ec.

9 3 .8
3 3 .6
25.1
1 9 .2

N ov.

92. £
3 3 .8
.2 4 .8
18.7

O ct.

91.8
3 4 .2
24.3
1 8 .2

S e p t.

91.0
3 4 .7
24 2
17.1

A ug.

9 2 .6
3 5 .0
2 5 .0
17.3

J u ly

9 2 .5
34 .3
25.3
17.6

June

9 2 .6
3 4 .6
25.1
17.6

M ay

91.3
3 3 .8
2 4 .9
17.4

A pr.

91 .7
3 3 .1
25.3
17.6

M ar.

9 3 .2
3 2 .6
25.6
19.0

1951

9 2 .5
3 3 .8
25.1
18.1

1950

8 9 .4
3 1 .9
2 4 .8
17.2

63 .4

6 3 .0

63.1

63.1

6 3 .2

6 3 .8

6 4 .2

6 1 .6

6 6 .0

6 6 .1

6 3 .6

6 7 .9

6 5 .0

70.6

B itu m in o u s -c o a l_________________________

341.8

343 .9

344.9

344.7

343.0

341 .9

345.2

33 4 .6

353.4

353.1

357.4

3 7 2 .2

353.7

351.0

C r u d e p e tr o le u m a n d n a tu r a l gas p ro ­
d u c tio n :
P e tr o le u m an d n a tu r a l gas p r o d u c tio n
(e x c e p t c o n tr a c t s e r v ic e s )__________
N o n m e ta llic m in in g a n d q u a r r y i n g . . . . .

126.3
8 6 .5

126.1
8 6 .5

126.9
9 1 .6

127.8
9 3 .9

127.7
95.5

129.4
9 6 .1

132.9
96 .5

131.9
94 .6

129.9
9 4 .8

126.0
9 3 .0

124.9
9 0 .2

124.0
8 6 .8

127.3
91 .9

125.7
8 5 .2

12, 807

12, 771

12, 911

12,904

A n th r a c ite ___ ______

_________

-

. -

M an u fa ctu rin g ________ ______ ________________
D u r a b le good s >____ ___________
N o n d u r a b le good s

12,754

. . 7,259
5,495

O r d n a n c e an d a c c e s s o r i e s _______________

56.7

P o o d an d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts ____ ________ 1,060
M e a t p r o d u c ts _______________________ _ .
D a ir y p r o d u c t s ____.
_____ ___________
C a n n in g an d p r e s e r v in g _________ ______
G r a in -m ill p r o d u c ts _______________ _____
B a k e r y p r o d u c ts ________________________
S u ga r______ _____
.
_______________
C o n fe c tio n e r y a n d r e la ted p r o d u c t s ____
B everages
_
__ __ __ __________
________
M isc e lla n e o u s food p r o d u c ts
T o b a c c o m a n u fa c tu r e s____________________
C ig a r e tte s ____________________ ________
C ig a r s _____________ _____________________
T o b a c c o a n d s n u f f ............
..............
T o b a c c o s te m m in g a n d r e d r y in g _______

79

T e x tile -m ill p r o d u c t s ____________________ 1,109
Y a m an d th r e a d m il ls _________________
B r o a d -w o v e n fab ric m il ls ______ ________
_
____________
K n it t i n g m il ls _____
D y e in g a n d fin is h in g t e x t i l e s ... ______
C a r p e ts , r u g s, o th e r floor c o v e r in g s ___
O th er te x tile -m ill p r o d u c ts .................. ........
A p p a r e l a n d o th e r fin is h e d te x tile p rod u c t s ........... .............................. ............... ............... 1,041
M e n ’s a n d b o y s ’ s u its a n d c o a ts _______
M e n ’s a n d b o y s ’ fu r n is h in g s a n d w o r k
c lo th in g _______________________________
W o m e n ’s o u te r w e a r ____________________
W o m e n ’s, c h ild r e n ’s u n d e r g a r m e n ts ___
M i l l i n e r y .. ....... ..................................................
C h ild r e n ’s o u te r w e a r ___________________
F u r g o o d s a n d m isc e lla n e o u s a p p a r e l...
O th er fa b r ic a te d te x tile p r o d u c ts _______
L u m b e r a n d w o o d p r o d u c ts (e x c e p t furn it u r e ) ......... ............ . . ................. ...................
L o g g in g c a m p s a n d c o n tr a c to r s_______
S a w m ills a n d p la n in g m il ls ____ . . .
M illw o r k , p ly w o o d , a n d p refa b rica ted
s tr u c tu r a l w o o d p r o d u c ts ______ ______
W o o d e n c o n ta in e r s ____
. . _________
M isc e lla n e o u s w o o d p r o d u c ts __________
F u r n itu r e a n d fix tu r e s ____________________
H o u s e h o ld fu r n itu r e ___
......
O th er fu r n itu r e an d fix tu r e s ____________

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f ta b le.


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

661

297

7,292
5,515
54.8

7,267
5,504
53 .6

7,322
5,589
5 1 .7

7,314
5,590
50.1

12, 997
7,296
5,701
46 .9

13,087
7,279
5,808
4 3 .6

13,089
7,261
5,808
41.3

12, 885
7, 226
5,659
3 8 .0

13,064
7,409
5,6 5 5
3 3 .9

12,983
7,406
5,587
3 2 .2

13,108
7,445
5,663
3 0 .3

13,189
7,428
5,761
2 8 .7

13,034
7,334
5,700
3 7 .4

12,264
6 ,6 2 2
5,642
19 .8

1,254
1,146
1,099
1,085
1,096
1,170
1,168
1,330
1,307
1,225
1,122
1,067
1,160
1,060
236.3
229.2
229.2
235.9
233.2
233.3
237.6
233.1
235.5
251.6
234.5
243.6
245.8
246.3
109.5
104.4
104.4
102.8
115.6
9 9 .0
108.1
114.2
116.2
103.1
94 .0
9 3 .2
96 .3
9 8 .5
124.6
136.9
128.0
180.5
176.9
238.1
304.5
226.1
153.9
120.3
32 9 .5
105.6
145.2
106.0
97 .9
9 6 .4
9 6 .9
91.1
93 .8
9 5 .2
9 9 .2
98 .7
9 4 .2
9 8 .5
97.1
97.3
9 7 .2
96 .6
190.0
191.0
195.1
192.2
192.0
189.5
189.7
191.5
192.3
190.3
193.0
186.7
187.0
192.2
4 0 .2
24.4
24 .9
2 4 .8
23 .5
2 3 .8
28 .8
29 .9
2 4 .7
25.3
22 .2
2 3 .9
3 6 .7
4 5 .6
8 9 .2
8 0 .4
73 .6
75.3
80.3
83.1
78.2
7 1 .2
73.1
85.1
8 4 .7
82 .9
8 4 .3
87. 5
143.4
146.6
150.2
149.1
150.0
160.9
155.1
145.3
160.5
145.9
155.5
133.9
135.7
146.8
99.1
9 9 .2
102.8
100.9
102.6
104.8
99 .9
99 .4
98.1
101.2
101.7
94 .7
9 4 .0
101.1
80
24.1
3 9 .3
10.3
6 .2

82
24.1
3 8 .8
10.3
8 .9

85
24.4
3 9 .7
10.2
10.5

85
2 4 .4
40.1
10.3
10.5

89
24 .0
3 9 .8
10 .2
14.8

89
23 .7
38 .8
10.3
15.9

84
2 3 .6
3 7 .7
10 .2
1 2 .2

75
2 3 .7
3 6 .9
1 0 .2
3 .7

76
23 .3
3 8 .4
10 .3
3 .6

74
2 2 .9
3 7 .2
10.4
3 .6

76
23.1
3 8 .6
10 .5
4 .0

78
2 3 .3
3 9 .9
10.7
4 .2

81
23 .6
3 8 .9
10.4
8 .0

81
2 3 .3
39 .1
10 .8
7 .8

1,2 0 5
1 ,2 0 6
1,214
1,223
1,186
1,2 0 6
1,141
1,133
1,136
1,1 5 2
1,132
1,1 6 7
1,122
1,132
160 .2
160.1
161.8
156.3
151 .8
150.5
153.2
154.0
157.8
153 .6
149.6
149.8
149.7
149.4
585 .6
574.3
567.3
564.4
568.7
5
4
6
.2
551.4
5
6
1
.2
573.7
587.7
547.5
525.8
540.5
544.2
230.3
236.4
219.0
223.6
215. 7 2 2 1 .6
208.5
2 1 1 .5
210 .3
210.7
205.3
209.4
208.3
209.1
77.6
83 .9
78.1
7 3 .4
78.1
7 9 .2
80.1
7 4 .9
73 .4
7 4 .3
78.0
7 7 .8
79 .2
7 6 .5
53 .2
47.1
4 1 .6
5 4 .3
53 .3
4 1 .2
43.1
4 7 .7
5 0 .7
4 2 .6
40 .6
4 3 .2
44.6
41 .6
117
.9
120.4
125.0
12
2
.6
117.0
111.9
11
0
.5
111.8
112.3
110.8
111.6
112.3
113.0
111.3
1,035
1,019
1,047
1,027
1,037
1,050
1,008
130.6
139.2
138.0
126.2
126.8
117.1
122.5

1,0 0 0
990
135.4
129 .3

1,039
1,042
998
1,047
1,106
138.2
133.8
141.0
134.3
135.0

233.0
307.8
90 .9
22 .9
63 .6
78 .0
126.7

228.8
299.9
88.1
2 0 .9
59.6
79 .0
124.4

235.4
295.7
9 0 .2
18.7
58.3
8 7 .6
126.5

232.7
278.6
90 .3
16.7
5 9 .2
90 .3
123.3

237.5
270.1
89 .8
18.7
58.1
9 1 .0
123.3

238.8
284.4
8 7 .6
19.1
57.1
90 .9
120.7

238.0
294.5
8 7 .0
1 9 .0
5 9 .7
8 9 .5
11 9 .7

233.1
271.0
8 4 .2
17.1
59 .4
80.1
116.0

245. 2
255.4
8 6 .6
14 .3
5 9 .2
85. 8
117 .6

252.9
249.1
8 8 .9
1 4 .6
5 6 .3
8 2 .7
118 .6

261.1
267.4
9 4 .9
1 7 .5
59.5
83.1
125.4

262.7
305.1
9 7 .2
2 2 .8
62.1
8 4 .2
131.3

245.6
282.7
90 .6
18.7
59.6
85 .4
123.1

245 .3
286 .8
9 5 .2
1 9 .4
6 0 .7
78 .4
121.7

669
58.7
3 9 5 .0

658
52.2
3 8 9 .9

696
6 4 .2
412.2

719
70.7
428.0

740
74.2
439.3

745
75 .5
442.7

754
7 2 .9
449.0

748
7 3 .3
443 .2

773
76 .7
455 .9

764
7 4 .2
449 .2

752
6 6 .5
442.5

722
52.1
426.0

741
69 .2
437.1

730
63 .5
431.1

8 9 .6
70 .8
54 .9

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

93 .9
72.1
53 .7

95.3
7 0 .9
54.0

100.0
71.1
5 4 .9

100.4
7 1 .2
54 .8

103.0
7 2 .3
5 6 .7

100.7
7 4 .4
5 5 .9

107.3
7 6 .6
56 .8

107.2
7 6 .2
5 7 .3

107.7
76.3
58 .5

107.4
77.4
58.7

103.4
74 .4
56 .5

108.5
7 2 .2
54 .8

296
208.2
8 8 .2

296
208.3
8 7 .3

296
207.7
88 .4

294
206.4
8 7 .3

289
201.2
87 .9

285
196.0
89 .3

285
195.2
8 9 .4

284
195.9
87 .8

286
197.3
8 9 .0

301
211.4
8 9 .7

317
226 .8
9 0 .5

326
236.1
9 0 .0

301
211.9
8 8 .8

311
227.9
82 .6

M O N TH LY LA BO R

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

590

T able A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1952

Annual
average

1951

Industry group and industry
Mar.
Manufacturing—Continued
Paper and allied products______________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills___
Paperboard containers and boxes. _ .
Other paper and allied products_____

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

May

Apr.

Mar.

1951

1950

404
205.1
109.8

426
214.9
116.4
94.3

424
213.0
117.0
94.3

427
212.4
118.7
95.4

424
209.1
119.0
95.6

420

88.2

404
210.9
105.5
87.7

88.8

411
211.9
109.9
89.0

92.3

418
213.5
112.4
92.5

Printing, publishing, and allied industries.
Newspapers
. . . _______________
Periodicals
Books
_____ ______________
Commercial printing
...
Lithographing
.
__
Other printing and publishing

512

511
151.9
35.8
36.5
167.5
31.3
88.3

514
151.2
35.2
36.6
170.7
31.3
89.0

520
154.9
35.6
36.3
170.5
32.1
90.2

519
153.7
35.1
36.5
169.6
32.6
91.0

517
152.8
35.5
36.7
168.9
32.9
90.5

515
152.5
35.4
37.0
167.4
32.4
89.9

509
150.5
35.2
36.4
165.8
31.8
89.6

507
151.0
34.0
35.3
166.8
31.4
88.5

512
152.2
33.7
35.9
168.8
31.9
89.4

510
151.9
34.6
35.7
167.8
32.1
87.7

510
150.6
35.4
36.0
167.9
32.2
87.5

512
150.0
35.6
36.3
169.7
32.2
87.7

512
151. 6
35.0
36.2
168.6
32.1
89.1

503
148.6
34.7
35.7
166.6
31.7
85.8

Chemicals and allied products_________
Industrial inorganic chemicals

539

537
60.5
168.4
70.2
47.9
31.7
44.3
113.9

536
60.7
169.6
69.8
48.0
28.0
46.6
112.9

538
61.8
171.1
70.5
47.9
25.4
48.8
112.4

542
61.7
172.9
70.4
47.9
24.8
50.5
113.5

544
61.2
172.1
69.9
48.1
25.8
52.0
114.4

543
61.4
174.9
70.0
48.6
25.8
47.6
114.6

531
61.1
173.8
70.2
49.7
23.8
37.9
114.5

526
61.0
172.3
70.3
50.2
22.9
35.6
114.0

528
60.4
171.5
70.1
50.0
24.7
36.3
115.2

531
59.4
169. 5
70.1
49.8
29.6
37.6
115.1

538
59.2
168.4
69.7
49.8
33.4
40.3
117.0

539
58.6
166.7
69.3
49.6
35.6
42.1
116.8

535
60.1
169.9
69.7
49.1
28.0
43.2
114.8

496
52.9
151.8
62.7
46.8
27.8
43.8
110.3

Products of petroleum and coal________
Petroleum refining
Ooke and byproducts
Other petroleum and coal products

194

193
152.5
18.8

193
152.7
18.8

21.6

21.2

196
154.5
19.0
22.4

197
154.1
18.2
24.2

197
153.6
19.0
24.8

197
153.6
19.2
24.4

198
154.0
19.4
24.2

198
154.3
19.3
24.3

198
153.8
19.1
24.8

194
150.8
18.7
24.4

194
150.2
18.6
24.8

192
149.0
18.5
24.5

195
151.9
18.8
24.3

185
142.8
18.1
23.9

Rubber products_____ ________________
Tires and inner tubes
Rubber footwear
Other rubber products

213

216
95.1
24.7
96.0

219
95.4
25.4
97.8

219
95.4
25.5
97.9

219
94.8
25.6
98.2

215
89.8
25.5
99.4

218
92.4
25.3

218
91. 5
25.2

217
90.0
24.8

220

220

101.2

102.2

88.3
25.0
106.3

219
90.8
25.3
102.9

203
87.8

100.2

88.3
25.4
106.0

219
87.4
24.8
106.3

220

89.9
25.7
104.7

Leather and leather p ro d u cts... _______
Tleather
Footwear (except rubber)
Other leather products

345

342
40.0
221.4
81.0

330
39.7
213.4
77.2

323
39.0
205.4
78.4

317
38.7
197.7
80.3

320
38.1
201.4
80.8

327
37.6
208.0
81.2

343
40. 0
221. 3
81.2

336
41.5
215.0
79.3

344
42.7
79.3

331
42.8
210.4
77.4

353
44.4
224.9
84.1

371
45.9
237.0
87.6

342
42.1
218.0
81.7

355
45.9
229. 4
79.7

Stone, clay, and glass products_________
Glass and glass products
(lament, hydraulic
Structural clay products
Potterv and related products
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products.
Other stone, clay and glass products

448

447

451
119.6
36.6
78.7
48.9
80.5
86. 7

465
123.4
36.8
83.2
49.9
83.7

472
124.7
37.0
84.4
50.6
85.6
89.4

479
128.2
37.1
84.7
51.1
87.0
91.0

482
129.6
37.4
85.2
51.5
86.9
91. 7

484
130.1
37. 7
85. 0
51.9
87.8
91. 4

478
124. 3
37. 5
84. 8
51. 6
87.8
91.8

485
129. 8
37. 3
84. 8
53.3
87.0
92.8

484
131.1
36. 5
83.0
54. 6
85.8
92.8

483
132.0
36.3
81.7
55.2
85.4
92.8

479
130.1
36.2
80.3
55.3
84.3
92. 9

478
128. 2
36.8
83.0
52.9
85.6
91.6

441
117. 3
36.0
74. 8
52.3
78.7
81. 8

403

Drugs and mp.dininp.s
Paints, pigmp/nts, and fillers
Fertilizers
Vegetables and animal oil and fats
Other eheminals and allied products

120.2

36.1
77.0
49.1
79.7
84. 6

Primary metal industries___ ___________ 1,154
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills
Tron and steel foundries
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals
Nonferrous foundries
Other primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment). . _________ ______
T in cans and other tinware
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies
Fabricated structural metal products
Metal stamping, coating, and engraving
Other fabricated metal products

803

Machinery (except electrical)__________ 1,268
Engines and turbines______
Agricultural machinery and tractors
Construction and mining machinery ..
Metalworking m a c h in er y .___ _ _
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)__________
General industrial m ach in ery_______
Office and store machines and devices
Service-industry and household machines___________________________
Miscellaneous machinery parts_______

See footnotes at end of table.


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

404
209.7
106.0

1,160

1,163

410
212.2

108.7

88.2

1,164

571. C 571.4 572.7
242.8 246. C 248.6

1,149

413
212.3
110.7
90.2

416
214.3
110.9
91.0

419
214 6

1,160

1,162

112.1

1,165

1,155

221.8

1,172

1,162

1,161

1,159

212.2

114.5
92.7

1,159

557.7
250.3

569.7
248.7

572.7
249.4

574. 7
249. 6

571. 6
247.1

571.8
253. 7

565.0
252.5

561.6
251.5

561.1
249.4

566.4
248.9

47.1

88.8

20.6

94.3

1,053
535.6
204.0

47.8

47.2

47.1

47.2

46. 8

47.7

46.8

47.8

46. 4

47.2

47.4

47.2

45.4

80.5
92.9
124.9

81.7
92.4
124.2

79.3
91.8
124.3

80. C 80.1
90.2
90.8
123.3 123.4

78.4
90.8
123.7

79.3
90.5
122.9

79.8
88.2
121.6

83.1
91.5
124.1

81. S
93.2
123.2

84.9
93.3
122.5

85.9
93.4
122.0

82. 2
91.9
122.7

80. 7
78.8
108.4

805
38.4
124.5

804
38.7
125.2

806
40.2
123.9

805
40.0
124.5

809
42.9
126.6

810
44.5
128.5

817
44.8
132.3

813
43.2
130.9

843
43.5
136.6

850
42.9
138.1

859
43. 1
140.3

858
42.7
141.7

831
42.9
134.3

776
42.8
132.7

113.8
188.0
144.1
196. '

114.7
186.7
143.6
195.5

118.9
186.1
141.2
195.7

120.(
183.1
142.2
195.2

120.2

120.7
180.0
141.5
194.8

121.8

122.8

181.7
142.9
194.5

180.8
142.1
195. 2

177.1
147.3
191.Î

128.4
176.9
158.8
198.3

130. 1
178.5
161.9
198. (

132.8
177.7
166.4
198.;

133.9
176.4
166.1
197. C

126. C
178.8
153.0
195.6

123.9
156.5
146.9
173.0

1,280 1, 275 1,269 1,255 1,242 1, 219 1,209 1, 235 1,252 1,242 1,239 1,231 1,233 1,040
68.6
69.'
74.7
74.;
73. S
70.2
67.9
65.7
54.5
73.0
69.3
67.0
70.9
68.6
149.9 148.6 147.2 145.8 145.6 129. C 127.4 151.5 153.1 151.6 151.8 151.0 145.9 133.5
90.8
97.4
93.8
88.9
87.8
87.3
99.7
98.7
95.5
94.3
90.8
90.7
73.0
91.8
247.6 245.8 244.8 240.7 231.9 230. Ï 224.5 232.
232.8 227.9 226.7 222.9 228.7 169.0
145.5
173.6
89.4

146. i
173.7
89.6

147.5
173.1
90.6

148. '
172.5
90. S

148.5
171.3
90.4

148.9
169.4
89.5

150. (
168.0
88.3

149.'
166.8
86.

150.2
166.8
88.5

149.;
165.7

150. (
164.7
86.9

149. (
162.7

88.0

86.0

148.6
166.5
87.9

126.6
134.3
75.6

132.]
167.1

129.7
167.4

127. (
167. S

121. '

123.5
165.7

124.:
163.5

125.0
162.7

128.'
161.5

137.;
163.2

141.5
161.1

144.:
160.1

148.'
157.7

134.7
161.

143.2
130.0

166.6

REVIEW, MAY 1952

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

591

T able A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1952

Annual
average

1951

Industry group and industry
Jan.

Feb.
Manufacturing—C ontinued
Electrical machinery___________ ______ _
Electrical generating, transmission, dis­
tribution, and industrial apparatus—
Electrical equipment for vehicles_____
Communication equipment__________
Electrical appliances, lamps, and mis­
cellaneous products________________

►

719

Instruments and related products______
Ophthalmic goods___________________
Photographic apparatus_____________
Watches and clocks._____ ___________
Professional and scientific Instruments..

231

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w a r e..
Toys and sporting goods_____________
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions____
Other miscellaneous manufacturing in­
dustries___________ _______________

382

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

1951

1950

726

724

726

718

707

707

696

684

704

707

718

724

710

636

274.5

270.8
67.2
272.0

266.2
67.4
268.4

265.0
67.2
257.5

272.8
67.5
247.3

271.6

275.0
67.0
241.2

270.0
67.1
247.2

261.5

262.1
64.6
273.2

267.1

238.5

271.1
65.6
229.5

266.4

272.5

272.7
66.4
270.5

256.1

229.7
56.0
237.0

112.5

114.1

115.7

115.9

117.7

119.7

119.4

117.7

121.2

122.2

123.6

123.9

120.5

113.3

66.0

Transportation equipment— ................... 1,239
A utom obiles,.____ _______ __________
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 equipment______

Dec.

,243 1,237 1,235 1,234 1,205
625.7 635.0 645. 3 654.6 667.4
423.9 415.4 406.7 395.3 362.1
284.1 279.6 274.7 267.8 248.7
81.0
83.8
78.4
74.8
62.4
9.0
9.0
8.7
8.5
8.3
47.0
44.9
45.8
44.2
42.7
124.0 116.4 110.5 1 1 1 . 1 103.7
110.6
103.9
98.2
99.3
92.5
12.5
13.4
12.3
11.8
11.2
60.1
61.3
62.8
63.1
62.2
9.3
9.2
9.8
9.8
9.7

66.1

1,198 1,187 1,237 1, 233 1,243 1,253
678.6 675.1 684.0 738.1 752.4 774.1 793.4
360.3 357.1 346.6 332.7 317.9 309.3 298.9
241.9 243.7 236.6 225.6 216.2 211.3 204.1
69.5
66.6
64 6
57.1
62.8
59.4
55.1
8.0
7.4
7.3
7.5
7.5
7.4
6.7
39.4
40.9
38.1
36.8
34.8
33.5
33.0
101.9
99.3 100.5
97.9
94.7
95.6
94.3
90.6
87.6
87.7
84.7
81.5
81.1
82.7
11.3
11.7
12.8
13.2
13.2
13.2
12.9
60,0
57.4
47.2
59.2
58.3
55.5
54.1
9.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
9.3
10.0
11.3

1,211

231
22.4
44.8
30.0
133.7

232
22.4
44.8
30.0
134.3

232
22.7
44.9
30.0
134.1

230
22.5
44.4
30.0
133.2

228
22.3
44.2
29.5
132.3

221

223

22.1

22.2

222
22.8

44.9
28.6
128.0

22.5
42.2
28.1
128.5

22.6

44.7
28.9
130.2

44.0
28.9
127.6

380
37.4
56.6
45.2

373
36.7
54.0
43.2

381
37.7
56.2
43.7

388
38.3
60.8
44.5

390
38.6
62.4
44.4

388
39.0
62.6
43.1

388
39.4
64.1
44.3

383
39.4
61.8
44.3

240.8

239.4

243.8

244.6

244.8

243.6

240.6

237.4

1 See footnote 1, table A-2. Production workers refer to all full- and parttime employees engaged in production and related processes, such as fabrieating, processing, assembling, inspecting, storing, packing, shipping, main­
tenance and repair, and other activities closely associated with production
operations.

66.1

226

224

66.1

1,044
718.4 713.5
336.6 2 0 1 . 8
228.6 135.7
63.0
39.1
7.5
5.4
37.5
21.5
98.9
71.4
86.5
60.2
12.4
11.2
56.7
47.9
9.9
9.7

1,221

43.0
28.6
127.6

23.1
42.8
29.2
125.7

218
22.9
42.5
28.9
123.4

223
22.5
43.4
29.0
127.7

37.3
25.5
103.0

400
41.1
65.5
45.7

409
43.3
67.6
47.5

422
45.3
69.4
51.9

429
47.2
68.9
55.1

402
42.0
64.1
47.8

385
44.5
64.2
49.2

247.8

251.0

255.7

258.0

247.8

227.2

221

186
20.6

» See footnote 2, table A-2.
1 See footnote 3, table A-2.

T able A-4: Indexes of Production-Worker Employment and Weekly Payrolls in Manufacturing

Industries 1
[1947-49 average=100]
P e r io d

1939: A v e r a g e — ______ ________
1940: A v e r a g e . . _____ __________
1941: A v e r a g e ........................ ...........
1942: A v e r a g e . . . _____ _________
1943: A v e r a g e _____________ . . .
1944: A v e r a g e __________________
1945: A v e r a g e . _____ ___________
1946: A v e r a g e __________________
1947: A v e r a g e __________________
1

E m p lo y ­
m en t

66.2

71.2
87.9
103.9
121.4
118.1
104.0
97.9
103.4

W e e k ly
p a y r o ll

29.9
34.0
49.3
72.2
99.0
102.8

87.8
81.2
97.7

P e r io d

W e e k ly
p a y r o ll

1948: A v e r a g e __________________
1949: A v e r a g e __________________
1950: A v e r a g e . _____ ___________
1951: A v e r a g e _________________

102.8

93.8
99.2
105.4

129.2

1951:

106.6
106.0
105.0
105.6

130.0
129.5
128.1
129.8

M a r c h _________________ .
A p r i l _____________________
M a y _________________ . . .
J u n e ______________________

See footnote 1, tables A-2 and A-3.

N ote : Indexes have been revised to 1947-49 base.


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

E m p lo y ­
m en t

/

105.1
97.2

P e r io d

1951: J u l y . _______ ______________
A u g u s t ___________________
S e p t e m b e r _______________
O c t o b e r __________________
N o v e m b e r ..............................
D e c e m b e r _______________

111.2

1952:

January_________
F e b r u a r y ______ _________
M arch . .

E m p lo y ­
m en t

104.2
105.7
105.8
105.1
104.3
104.4
103.3
103.5
103.1

W e e k ly

payroll

126.4
128.4
130.9
129.8
129.8
132.9
130.7
131.1

592

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

M O NTH LY

LA BO R

T able A-5: Federal Civilian Employment and Payrolls, by Branch and Agency Group
[In thousands]
Execu tive
Year and month

1

All branches

Legislative
Defense
agencies 2

Total

Post Office
Department *

Judicial

All other
agencies

Employment—Total (including areas outside continental United States)
1950: Average_________________________
1951: Average..................................................

2, OSO. 5
2,465. 9

2, 068. 6
2,453. 7

837 .5
1,210. 7

521.4
525.4

709 .7
717 .6

8 .1
8 .3

3 .8
3 .9

1951: March______________________ ____

2, 332.3
2, 385.5
2,432. 6
2, 462. 3
2, 503. 4
2, 521. 3
2, 528.7
2, 514. 9
2,517. 5
2,921. 6

2,320. 2
2, 373.5
2, 420.5
2 ,4 5 0 .1
2,491. 0
2, 509.3
2 ,5 1 6 .7
2, 502.8
2 ,5 0 5 .4
2,909. 2

1,133. 4
1 ,1 8 0 .0
1, 212.1
1, 237. 5
1, 265.3
1, 267.7
1, 277. 2
1, 279. 4
1, 288.5
1 ,2 9 3 .0

4 8 9 .0
488 .4
492.1
491 .2
489.4
495.5
4 9 6 .0
495.7
49 6 .2
898 .1

6 9 7 .8
705.1
716.3
721.4
7 3 6 .3
746.1
743.5
727.7
720.7
718.1

8 .2
8 .1
8 .2
8 .3
8 .5
8 .1
8 .1
8 .2
8 .2
8 .4

3 .8
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
3 .9
4 .0

2,524. 3
2, 537. 5
2, 551.1

2 ,5 1 2 .1
2, 525. 2
2, 538. 7

1 ,2 9 6 .9
1, 308.8
1, 314. 5

502.4
503.6
508.8

712.8
712.8
715.4

8 .3
8 .3
8 .4

3 .9
4 .0
4 .0

A p r il..__________________________
M ay___________________________
June____________________________
July------------------------------------ -----A ugust._________________________
September__________ _______ _____
October ________________________
November_______________________
December............................... ..............
1952: January __

. . ________________ .
February________________________
March__________________________

Payrolls--T o ta l (including areas outside continental United States)
1950: Average_____________________ . . .
1951: Average_________________________

585, 576
749, 563

580,792
744, 560

235,157
361,825

135,300
147, 408

210,335
235,327

3, 215
3, 320

1,569
1,683

1951: March__________________________

706,184
687,876
742, 529
721,693
735, 991
769,173
707, 508
857, 429
891,129
856,123

701, 569
683, 273
737,428
716,681
731,168
764,167
702,576
851, 725
885,714
850,904

345, 685
337,876
370, 700
360,686
364, 256
385,852
347, 046
402,013
423,827
381,184

133, 342
129, 796
131, 353
131,156
133, 044
130,860
134, 916
169,963
187,003
225,820

222, 542
215,601
235, 375
224,839
233,868
247, 455
220,614
279, 749
274,884
243,900

3, 261
3,197
3, 338
3, 379
3,195
3,257
3, 213
3, 445
3,589
3,5 2 9

1, 354
1,406
1,763
1,633
1,628
1,749
1,719
2, 259
1,826
1,690

846,065
801,375
803,718

840,578
796,100
789, 509

413,322
391,062
392,345

158,767
158,481
158,871

268, 489
246, 557
247,293

3, 661
3, 546
3 ,6 0 0

1,826
1, 729
1 ,609

April____________________________
M a y .. ____________ . . . _______
June____________________________
July____________________________
August__________________________
September___________________ . . .
October. _______________________
November_______________________
December_______________________
1952: January........................................ .........

February________________________
March____ ____________________

Employment—Continental United States
1950: Average_________________________
1951: Average..................... ............................

1 ,9 3 0 .5
2 ,2 9 6 .9

1 ,9 1 8 .7
2, 284.8

732.3
1 ,0 9 3 .7

519.4
52 3 .4

667 .0
66 7 .7

8 .1
8 .3

3 .7
3 .8

1951: March___ __________________ ____

2 ,1 6 9 .3
2 ,2 1 9 .9
2, 263.9
2 ,2 9 0 .5
2 ,3 2 9 .8
2 ,3 4 9 .0
2 ,3 5 5 .3
2 ,3 4 1 .5
2 ,3 4 4 .0
2, 746. 2

2 ,1 5 7 .3
2, 208.0
2 ,2 5 1 .9
2, 278.4
2 ,3 1 7 .5
2 ,3 3 7 .1
2, 343.4
2 ,3 2 9 .4
2 ,3 3 2 .0
2, 73 3 .9

1 ,0 1 5 .5
1 ,0 5 9 .7
1 ,0 8 9 .8
1 ,1 1 3 .3
1 ,1 4 1 .2
1 ,1 5 6 .1
1 ,1 6 4 .4
1 ,1 6 6 .1
1 ,1 7 4 .0
1 ,1 7 7 .8

487.1
486.6
490.3
489.3
487.5
493.4
494.0
493.6
494.1
89 4 .4

654 .7
661 .7
671.8
675.8
688 .8
687.6
685 .0
669.7
663 .9
661 .7

8 .2
8 .1
8 .2
8 .3
8 .5
8 .1
8 .1
8 .2
8 .2
8 .4

3 .8
3 .8
3 .8
3 .8
3 .8
3 .8
3 .8
3 .9
3 .8
3 .9

2 ,3 5 0 .0
2, 362. 9
2, 373. 5

2 ,3 3 7 .8
2, 350. 7
2, 361. 2

1 ,1 8 1 .1
1,192. 2
1 ,1 9 5 .3

500.3
501.5
506 .6

656 .4
657 .0
659 .3

8 .3
8 .3
8 .4

3 .9
3 .9
3 .9

April-----------------------------------------M ay____________________________
June____________________________
July------------------------------------------August__________________________
September_______________________
October_________________________
N ovem ber.._____________________
December______________________
1952: January__________________ _____

February________________________
March_____ ______ ____ ____ ___

Payrolls—Continental United States
1950: Average.............. ....................................
1951: Average__________________ .

549,328
706,838

544,587
701,880

211,508
334,015

134,792
146,819

198,287
221,046

3, 215
3, 320

1,526
1, 638

1951: March_________________________

664,389
648,017
698, 694
677, 493
693, 405
724,164
665, 042
818, 307
840,879
808,960

659,812
643,454
693, 638
672,525
688,626
719, 202
660,153
812, 658
835,515
803,786

317,140
310,605
340,465
330,332
337,591
357,459
320. 781
379,746
391,089
352,230

132,847
129,310
130,850
130,613
132,500
130,329
134, 356
169, 257
186, 221
224,878

209,825
203,539
222,323
211,580
218,535
231, 414
205,016
263, 655
258,205
226,678

3,261
3,197
3,338
3,379
3,195
3,257
3, 213
3,445
3,589
3 ,5 2 9

1,316
1,366
1,718
1,589
1,584
1, 705
1,676
2,204
1,775
1,645

1952: January____________________

797,797
755,244
757,446

792, 357
750,014
752,278

382, 580
361, 775
362,761

158,110
157,824
158,210

251,667
230,415
231,307

3,661
3, 546
3 ,6 0 0

1,779
1,684
1,568

April. . . _____ _ _ _____ ____
M ay____________________________
June_________________________
July____________________________
A u gu st.. _____________________
September______________________
October
______________________
November_________________
December. . . . ______ ____

.
February________________________
March____ _______ __________ .

1

See footnote 2 , table A - 6 .


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

2

See footnote 3, table A -6 .

* Includes fourth class postmasters, excluded from table A-2.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

593

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

T able A-6: Government Civilian Employment and Payrolls in Washington, D. C.,1 by Branch and

Agency Group
[In thousands]
Federal
District of
Total
Columbia
government government

Year and month

Executive *
Total
All agencies

Defense
agencies 1

Post Office
Department

All other
agencies

Legislative

Judicial

Employment
1950: Average____________ _____
1951: Average.-____ _____________

242.3
271.4

1951: March____________________
April_________________ ____
M ay___ ____ ______________
June____________________ .
July_______________________
August____________________
September____ ____________
October___________________
November_________________
December______ _____ . .

264.6
268.5
271.4
272.9
280.3
281.1
278.0
274.0
273.5
279.2

1952: January...................................
February__________________
March_____________________

272.0
273.0
272.8

20.1

222.2

20.3

251.1

213.4
242.1

67.5
83.8

20.3
20.3

244.3
248.2
251.3
252.4
260.4
261.3
258.0
253.7
252.8
258.7

235.4
239.4
242.4
243.4
251.2
252.5
249.2
244.8
243.9
249.6

80.2
82.2
83.6
83.9
87.7
88.7
87.4
86.7
86.5

251.5
252.4
252.3

242.5
243.4
243.2

86.5
87.1
87.1

20.1

20.5
19.9
19.8
20.0

20.3
20.7
20.5
20.5
20.6

20.5

86.6

137.8
150.0

8.1

8.3
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.7
7.9
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.9
14.2

147.5
149.4
151.0
151.8
155.6
155.9
154.0
150.5
149.3
148.9

8.2
8.1
8.2

8.4

.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7

7.9
8.0
8.0

148.1
148.3
148.1

8.3
8.3
8.4

.7
.7
.7

8.1

8.3

8.3
8.5
8.1
8.1
8.2
8.2

0.7
.7

Payrolls
1950: Average....................
. _
1951: Average_________________

81,602
98,369

5.321
5,629

76. 281
92,740

72, 780
89,106

22,888

31, 018

2,937
3,201

46,955
54,887

3,215
3, 320

286
314

1951: March_______________
April____ ___________
M ay____________________
June_____ ______________
July_______________________
A ugust..___________ ______ _
September___________ _____
October______________
November ____ _ .
December__________

93,837
91,887
104, 400
94,102
96,344
102,943
89, 8 6 8
119,319
111,480
101,184

5,578
5,618
5,883
5,623
4, 474
4, 591
5,435
6,264
6,491
6,241

88,259
269
98, 517
8 8 ,479
91,870
98,352
84, 433
113,055
104, 989
94,943

84,709
82, 781
94,863
84,798
8 8 , 374
94, 766
80, 905
109,252
101,045
91,102

29,403
28,739
31,082
29,480
30,893
35,357
28, 258
37,085
37,729
31,920

2,949
2,855
2,946
2,839
2, 937
2,975
2,860
4,096
3,649
4,533

52,357
51,187
60,835
52,479
54,544
56,434
49,787
68,071
59,667
54,649

3,261
3,197
3,338
3,379
3,195
3,257
3, 213
3,445
3,589
3,529

289
291
316
302
301
329
315
358
355
312

1952: January__________
February_________________
M arch____________________

109, 745
101,213
101,430

6,635
6,266
6,242

103,110
94,947
95,188

99, 111
91,084
91,286

34, 683
32,354
32,458

3,450
3,364
3,389

60,978
55,366
55,439

3, 661
3,546
3,600

338
317
302

_

86,

1 Data for the executive branch of the Federal Government also include
areas in Maryland and Virginia which are within the metropolitan area, as
defined by the Bureau of the Census.
1 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

9 9 8 4 4 4 — 52------- 8


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

are based mainly on reports to the Civil Service Commission are adjusted to
maintain continuity of coverage and definition.
s Covers civilian employees of the Department of Defense (Secretary of
Defense, Army, Air Force, and N avy), National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics, Canal Zone Government, Selective Service System, National
Security Resources Board, National Security Council, War Claims Com­
mission.

594

A:

EMPLOYMENT

AND

PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A-9: Insured Unemployment Under State Unemployment Insurance Programs,1 by Geographic

Division and State
[In th o u s a n d s ]

1952

Geographic division and
State
Feb.

1951
Jan.

Continental United States------------- 1,284.1 1,384.1

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1, 101.6

939.9

853.0

859.8

939.2

107.4
9.8
7.9
2.3
56.5
18.4
12.5

102.2
8.6

105.8
7.4

106.4
7.5

8.9
1.9
52.1
17.7
13.0

8.0

8.2

1.9
52.1
22.4
14.0

1.7
52.7
14.5

110.5
7.4
7.3
1.5
54.1
22.5
17.7

16.3

352.2
219.3
42.8
90.1

316.2
196.0
41.6
78.6

304.2
183.9
46.2
74.1

298.6
178.2
42.9
77.5

315.1
189.0
42.9
83.2

344.8
215.5
46.5
82.8

182.2
38.0
19.1
55.8
57.5

158.0
30.4
15.1
62.1
44.5
5.9

184.3
31.8

191.0
33.4
22.9
76.8
51.1

11.8

158.7
32.7
13.3
54.6
50.6
7.5

40.6

34.4

8.1
2.6

6.0

30.8
6.3
2.4
18.3

31.5
6.7
.2
.2
.6

3.2

.5
2.7

.1
.2
.6

2.9

83.2

94.7

July

June

May

April

Mar.

1, 0 0 1 . 6

934.7

949.9

932.1

904.2 1,025.1 2,325.9

111.7
8.5
7.0
1.5
56.2

112.6

122.2

9.2
7.6
1.4
59.4

64.0

11.2

6.2

7.6

4.2

22.2

22.1

12.9

12.5
9.9
1.5
65.5
19.9
12.9

99.8

327.2
204.7
46.7
75.8

311.7
190.4
48.8
72.5

299.7
183.9
43.1
72.7

268.1
163.2
36.1

6.8

158.6
28.4
17.6
74.3
32.5
5.8

158.8
27.0
17.0
78.3
30.6
5.9

150.9
27.7
14.9
72.9
27.8
7.6

35.2
7.2
3.2
18.2

31.9
7.0
3.1
18.2

39.0

52.2
18.4
4.8
20.3
1.9

20.6
6.2
20.2

N ew England_____ _______________
M aine. ___
_________ _____
N ew Hampshire____ ______
Vermont_____________________
Massachusetts________________
Rhode Island____ ___________
Connecticut__________________

113.1
9.2
7.0
2.3
61.0
18.6
15.0

123.3

M iddle A tla n tic..------- -----------------New York____________________
N ew Jersey------------------------- -.
Pennsylvania_________________

373.2
209.6
54.7
108.9

415.8
232.6
63.1

East North Central----------------------Ohio__________________ ______ Indiana----------------------- --------Illinois_________ ____________
M ichigan--. _________________
Wisconsin____________________

226.1
47.8
23.8
63.3
73.7
17.5

259.3
49.7
25.6
73.8
89.3
20.9

213.4
41.8

West North Central-------- . _____
Minnesota____________________
Iowa-------------------- ------------- Missouri______________________
North Dakota_____ __________
South Dakota_________________
Nebraska_____________________
Kansas_______________________

76.1
26.7
8.9
24.3
3.7
1.9
5.1
5.5

76.5
24.0
8.4
28.2
3.1

51.3
13.9
4.4
24.2
1.8

.6

1.8

4.7
6.3

.9
1.9
4.2

.3

South A tlan tic......................................
Delaware--------------------------- Maryland____________________
District of C olum bia__________
Virginia______ ______ _________
West Virginia_______ _________
North Carolina_______________
South Carolina-----------------------Georgia___________ ___________
F lo rid a ..------ -------------------------

106.8
1.7

116.9
1.9
13.5
2.7

90.6
1.4

84.6
1.1

1.0

1.1

1.2

10.0
1.8

7.7
1.4
7.5
9.0
25.2
9.3
12.9
10.5

6.7

6.5
1.4

8.5
1.5
10.5
10.4
31.0
10.5
15.4
18.0

10.7
1.5
12.7
11.7
30.6

East South Central.......................... .
K en tu ck y ____________________
Tennessee.........................................
Alabama_____ _______ ________
M ississippi----------- -----------------

58.3
14.9
22.7
13.2
7.5

63.5
16.4
25.5
13.9
7.7
37.8
5.4
15.9

11.6

3.0
9.3
15.7
28.4

10.2

7.6
3.0
65.3
21.0

16.2

120.1

10.6

22.0

57.4
77.2
15.0

7.3
11.3
24.7

112.7

98.0

1.2

1.2
11.0

6.3

42.7
10.5
13.9
7.9
10.4

34.5
7.7
11.5
6.5

29.1
4.9

30.2
4.5

11.1

12.1

5.3
7.8

8.1

35.8
5.3
14.4
6.5
9.6

18.8
3.2
4.7
.7
1.4

10.3
1.4

6.7

6.7

8.0

.6

.6

2.0

.9

.7

.7
.9

63.3
15.5
21.5
15.1

58.7
15.1
19.5
10.7
13.4

M ountain_______ ________________
M ontana_____________________
Idaho. _________________ ____
W yom in g.. ____________ _____
Colorado______________ _______
New Mexico____ _______ ____
Arizona_________________ _____
U tah________ _____ __________
Nevada__ ____ _______________

31.9

30.7

6.8

6.1

7.3
1.5
2.7

7.3
1.4

2.0

Pacific.......................................................
W ashington__________________
Oregon_______ __________

214.0
38.4
27.6
148.0

66.1

8.8

5.5

11.0

16.1
17.2

1.5
12.5
10.3
25.5
9.1
15.5
11.4

1.6
11.2

1.7
9.1
10.6

24.8
8.0

2.1

.6

.5

.6

.7

.7

159.0
31.1
21.5

106.5
18.1
12.3

78.9

88.7
10.3
6.4

96.0
9.3
5.9

101.1

7.6

79.9
9.6
6.3

1 4 2 .0

1 0 6 .4

7 6 .1

6 0 .5

6 4 .0

7 2 .0

8 0 .8

9 0 .5

2.0
1.8

6.7
3.9

17.5
7.2
10.5
7.5
59.7
15.8

47.1

25.3
6.9
4.4
1. 5
2. 3

2.0

.3
1.5

6.6
11.2

60.7
17.7
22.4
13.4
7.2

1.1
.8

1.1
1.8
1.6

7.1

2.1

12.2

.8
1.0

.3
1.4

5.4
11.0
20.1

3.2

14.2
9.3

11.3

221.5
46.3
33.2

10.8

83.5

1.1

8.3
2.7

8.9

1.7
.9

1.5

72.6

9.7

l.l

181.1
3.8
29 6
6.6

78.0

9.1

3.2
1.4

2.0
1.2

.2
1.1
1.0
2.0

140 6
40.1
15. 8
50 2
4 8
3 5
9. 5
16.7

1.0
11.6
2.1

42.7
7.1
17.6
7.5
10.5

.1

61.0

68.1

1.1
12.1

38.0
5.5
15.6
7.2
9.7

.7
.9

39.9
14.1

462 3
146.9
38. 6
148 4
98. 6
29.8

90.9

12.9

.2

176.4
39.9
14.4

68.8

3.8
4.9

13.4
6.7

.7
.7
1.7
1.3

133.7
30.0
11.4
52.6
29.8
9.9

3.6

60.0
17.9

.3

622 2
343 1
92 1
187.0

1.0

33.5
9.6
9.5

2.4

22.6

1.0
1.0
2.0

2.5
3.0
5.7

281.1
171.8
40.0
69.3

1.2

1.1
2.1

58.5
16.4

6.8

181.5
19 5
12 3
5 5
89 6
16 3
38.3

1.1

3.5
19.9
.5
.4

6.6

.9
.4
1.8
1.2
2.1

7.5

8 6

18.4
8.9
11.2

16.6
3.9
1.9
.8
2.1
1.6

Feb.

75.8
7.9
4.6
1.3
41.1
9.2
11.7

55.1
13.1
11.6

Feb.

70.3
21.4
7.4
24.2
3.1
2.4
4.8
7.0

11.2

22.0

1.6
2.6

2.6

1 P r io r t o A u g u s t 1950, m o n t h l y d a t a r e p r e s e n t a v e r a g e s o f w e e k s e n d e d i n
s p e c i f i e d m o n t h s ; fo r s u b s e q u e n t m o n t h s , t h e a v e r a g e s a r e b a s e d o n w e e k l y
d a t a a d j u s t e d for s p l i t w e e k s i n t h e m o n t h a n d a r e n o t s t r i c t l y c o m p a r a b le
w i t h e a r lie r d a t a . F o r a t e c h n i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n of t h i s s e r i e s , s e e t h e A p r i l
1950 M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w ( p . 3 8 2 ).


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

107.0

12.2

West South Central_______________
Arkansas...........................................
Louisiana__ _______ __________
Oklahoma________ ____ _______
Texas_______________________

C a l i f o r n i a __________________________

4.3

5.2

8.8

13.9

.2

.3
.7
2.4

11.6

12.0

10.0

8.2

.2
.2

.7
5.5

54.7
13.5
22.7

15.5
28.4
13.4

3.2
5.8

16.7

51.8
13.5
21.5

81.4
18.8
35.0
15.6

2.6

1.2

2.8

63.1
14.9
26.0
15.3
6.9

79.1
19.7
31.4
15.1
12.9

11.2

.8

70.6
55.1
6.7

8.5
28.5
9.6
13.8
17.1

10.2

12.2

.1
.2

20.1

7.4
8.5
24.2
9.0
11.4
13.8

16.3
30.2
12.9
17.9
10.9

15.3
9.6

25.0

2.5
22.4

21.8

1950

3.8
8.0

21.6

13.7
17. 7

27. 6
32. 5
15.9
26.5
17.0

8.2

11.5
7.8

13.9

66. 0
15.9
25.0
14.3

8.2

10.8

122.9
30.7
45.0
28.6
18.6

52.3
9. 5
19. 6
10.7
12.5

61. 7
12.7
22.4
12.7
13.9

116.4
23.2
36.4
21.7
35.1

30.3
7.3
5. 9
1 9
3 1
2. 3
3.1
4. 7

65.7
13.3
12. 8
3 9

21.8

8 6

5.0
7.1

2.3

2.1
2.6

1.0

2.8
1.2

3.8
1.7

2.0

3.9

113.5
8.7

127.2
14.2

167.3
25.4

179.6
28.8

5 .0
9 9 .8

8 .2
1 0 4 .8

1 8 .3
1 2 3 .6

1 9 .9
1 3 0 .9

432.9
82.6
57.1

1.9

11.1

2 9 3 .2

F ig u r e s m a y n o t a d d to e x a c t c o lu m n t o t a ls b e c a u s e o f r o u n d in g ,

S ource : U.

S . D e p a r tm en t

of L a b o r ,

B u reau

of E m p l o y m e n t

S e c u r it y ,

595

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

B: Labor Turn-Over
T able B -l: Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per 100 Employees) in Manufacturing Industries, by

Class of Turn-Over 1
Class of turn-over and year
Total separation:
1952........... ................................. ..........
1951_____ ______________________
1950___________________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947___________________________
1946___________________________
1939____________________________
Quit:
1952............................ ..........................
1951____ _______ _______________
1950___________________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947___________________________
1946___________________________
1939»__________________________
Discharge:
1952.....................................................
1951___________________________
1950___________________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947________________ ___________
1946___ _______________________
1939___________________________
Lay-off:
1952___ ______________________
1951___________________________
1950___________________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947___________________________
1946.__________________________
1939__________________ ____ ____
Miscellaneous, including military:
1952___________________________
1951___________________________
1950.__________ ________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947___________________________
1946___________________________
Total accession:
1952___________________________
1951___________________________
1950___________________________
1949___________________________
1948___________________________
1947___________________________
1946___________________________
1939___________________________

Jan.

4.0
4.1
3.1
4.6
4.3
4.9
6.8

3.2
1.9

Feb.

Mar.

s 3. 9
3.8
3.0
4.1
4.2
4.5
6.3

4.1
2.9
4.8
4.5
4.9

2.6

3.1

3

Apr.

4.6
2.8

4.8
4.7
5.2
6.3
3.5

6.6

June

July

4.8
3.1
5.2
4.3
5.4
6.3
3.5

4.3
3.0
4.3
4.5
4.7
5.7
3.3

4.4
2.9
3.8
4.4
4.6
5.8
3.3

2.8
1.6
1.6
2.8

2.5
1.7
1.5
2.9
3.1
4.0
.7

2.4
1.4
2.9
3.1
4.6
.7

Aug.

5.3
4.2
4.0
5.1
5.3
6.6

3.0

2.8

3.1
2.9

3.1
3.4

1.8

2.1

2.5

3.4
4.0
5.3

3.9
4.5
5.3

.8

1.7

1.4
2.5
3.2
3.9

3.5
4.2

2.7
1.3
1.7
3.0
3.7
4.3

.6

.8

.8

.3
.3

8 .3
.3

.3

.4

.2

.2

.2

.4
.3

.3
.3

.3
.4
.4
.5

.3
.4
.4
.4

.2
.2

.4
.3

.3
.4
.4
.5

.2

.2

.2

.4
.4
.4

.3
.4
.4

.4
.4
.3

.4
.4
.4

.4
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

1.0
1.2
2.8
1.2
1.0

1.0

1.3

1.4

3.3

.9
2.5
1.1
1.1
1.2

.6
2.1
1.0
1.0
.6

.6
1.8
1.2
.8

2.5

2.5

2.6

1.4

8

1.2
1.6
2.8

.8

.8

1.7
2.5

1.7
2.3
1.7

2.8
1.2

1.4

.9

.8

.9

1.8
2.2

1.7
1.9

1.8
2.2

.4
.7

8 .4
.6
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

4.4
5.2
3.6
3.2
4.6
6.0

8.5
4.1

8

4.7
4.3
4.1
4.5
5.0
6.3
2.9

3.5
4.2
.7

1.8

2.5
2.7
1.5
2.8

N ov.

Dec.

4.3
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.0
4.9
3.0

3.5
3.6
3.2
4.3
3.7
4.5
3.5

1.9

1.4
1.7
.9
1.7
2.3
3.0
.7

2.1
1.2
2.2

2.7
3.7

1.1

3.6
4.7
.9

.3
.4

.4
.4

.3
.3

.3
.3

.2

.2

.2

.2

.4
.4
.4

.4
.4
.4

.4
.4
.4

.3
.4
.4

.1

.2

.2

.1

.8

1.3

1.0

1.2

Oct.

1.9
2.1
1.0

3.5
4.3
.9

Sept.

5.1
4.9
4.2
5.4
5.9
6.9

2.1
1.1

3. 9
4.4
3.2
2.9
3.9
5.0
6.8

3.1

1.4
2.6

1.2
1.1
1.1

1.4
1.5
2.7

.5

.4

.4

.4

.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.2
„1
.1
.1
.2

4.6
3.6
3.0
4.0
5.1
7.1
3.3

4.5
3.5
2.9
4.0
5.1
6.7
2.9

4.5
4.4
3.5
4.1
4.8

4.9
4.8
4.4
5.7
5.5
6.7
3.9

4.2
4.7
3.5
4.7
4.9
7.4
4.2

.5
.1

.1

-

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.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M ay

6.1

3.3

1.3
.7

1.4
.8

1.1

1.8
1.0

2.3

2.5
1.4

1.2

1.7

1.5
1.3
2.0
2.2

.9

.9

.8

1.0
1.8

.7

1.0

2.1

1.0
1.6

2.0

2.7

.4
.3

.4
.4

.4
.4

.4
.3

.3
.3

.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.2

.1
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1
.1

4.5

4.3
5.7
4.1
5.1
5.9
7.1

4.4
5.2
3.7
4.5
5.5

3.9
4.0
3.3
3.9
4.8
5.7
4.1

3.0
3.0
3.2
2.7
3.6
4.3

.7

6.6

4.4
5.0
5.3
7.0
5.1

6.2

6.8

5.9

.9

2.8

(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.
8 Preliminary figures.
* Prior to 1940, miscellaneous separations were included with quits.
N o t e : Information on concepts, methodology, and
special studies, etc., is given in a “Technical Note on Labor
Turn-Over,” October 1949, which is available upon re­
quest to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

596
T able B -2 :

Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per

MONTHLY LABOR

Employees) in Selected Groups and Industries 1

100

Separation
Industry group and industry

Total
Feb.
1952

Quit
Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

Discharge
Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

Total accession

M ise., inch
military

Lay-ofi
Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

M a n u fa c tu r in g

3.8
3.9

3.8
4.0

O r d n a n c e a n d a c c e s s o r ie s ........................................

2.6

F o o d a n d k i n d r e d p r o d u c t s ..................................
M e a t p r o d u c t s . ......................................................
G r a i n - m i l l p r o d u c t s ...........................................
B a k e r y p r o d u c t s ..................................................
B ev era g es:
M a l t l i q u o r s ...................................................

5.1
7.1
3.2
3.8

2.5
5.5
4.6
4.8
4.8

4.6
2.7
1.7
3.3
2.4
4.2
4.8
4.2
3.9
7.0
4.7
3.4
3.4
8.3
2.3
3.9

4.0
3.5
1.9
4.7
3.1
4.1
4.2
3.9
3.6
6.5
4.8
4.2
3.3
7.0
3.2
2.3

5.0
3.7

5.8
4.1

D u r a b l e g o o d s 1..............................................................
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s >......................................................

T o b a c c o m a n u f a c t u r e s ..............................................
C i g a r e t t e s . ................................................................
C i g a r s ....................... ...................................................
T o b a c c o a n d s n u f t ...............................................
T e x t i l e - m i l l p r o d u c t s .................................................
Y a r n a n d t h r e a d m i l l s __________________
B r o a d - w o v e n f a b r ic m i l l s _________ _____
C o t t o n , s i l k , s y n t h e t i c f i b e r _______
W o o l e n a n d w o r s t e d ................................
K n i t t i n g m i l l s ................................ ............. .........
F u l l - f a s h i o n e d h o s i e r y ............................
S e a m le s s h o s i e r y . .......................................
K n i t u n d e r w e a r - .........................................
D y e i n g a n d f i n i s h i n g t e x t i l e s . . . ...............
C a r p e t s , r u g s , o t h e r flo o r c o v e r i n g s ___
A p p a r e l a n d o t h e r f in i s h e d t e x t i l e p r o d ­
u c t s _____________________ _____________________
M e n ’s a n d b o y s ’ s u i t s a n d c o a t s ..............
M e n ’s a n d b o y s ’ f u r n i s h i n g s a n d w o r k
c l o t h i n g ....... ..........................................................
L u m b e r a n d w o o d p r o d u c ts (e x c e p t fu r ­
n i t u r e ) . . ........................... ...............................................
L o g g i n g c a m p s a n d c o n t r a c t o r s ................
S a w m i l l s a n d p l a n i n g m i l l s ____________
M illw o r k , p ly w o o d , a n d p r e fa b r ic a te d
s t r u c t u r a l w o o d p r o d u c t s ____________
F u r n i t u r e a n d f i x t u r e s . .......... ...............................
H o u s e h o l d f u r n i t u r e .........................................
O t h e r f u r n it u r e a n d f ix t u r e s ........................
P a p e r a n d a l l i e d p r o d u c t s . ....................................
P u l p , p a p e r , a n d p a p e r b o a r d m i l l s ____
P a p e r b o a r d c o n t a in e r s a n d b o x e s ............
C h e m i c a l s a n d a l l i e d p r o d u c t s .................... ..
I n d u s t r i a l i n o r g a n ic c h e m i c a l s ..................
I n d u s t r i a l o r g a n ic c h e m i c a l s .......................
S y n t h e t i c f i b e r s . . ........................... ...........
D r u g s a n d m e d i c i n e s ____ _____ _________
P a i n t s , p i g m e n t s , a n d f i l l e r s ...... .................
P r o d u c t s o f p e t r o l e u m a n d c o a l .........................
P e t r o l e u m r e f i n i n g ................. ............................
R u b b e r p r o d u c t s . . ....................................................
T i r e s a n d i n n e r t u b e s . .....................................
R u b b e r f o o t w e a r ...................................... ...........
O t h e r r u b b e r p r o d u c t s .....................................
L e a t h e r a n d l e a t h e r p r o d u c t s ..............................
L e a t h e r . ......................................................................
F o o t w e a r ( e x c e p t r u b b e r ) _______________
S t o n e , c l a y , a n d g l a s s p r o d u c t s . . ......................
G la s s a n d g l a s s p r o d u c t s . . ...........................
C e m e n t , h y d r a u l i c ....... ......................................
S t r u c t u r a l c l a y p r o d u c t s ................................
P o t t e r y a n d r e l a t e d p r o d u c t s . ...................
P r i m a r y m e t a l i n d u s t r i e s . . . ................................
B l a s t f u r n a c e s , s t e e l w o r k s , a n d r o ll i n g
m i l l s ______ __________________________ _
I r o n a n d s t e e l f o u n d r i e s . ............... ............. ..
G r a y - i r o n f o u n d r i e s _______ _____ _
M a ll e a b l e - i r o n f o u n d r i e s . ................. ..
S
t e e l f o u n d r i e s ................................ ..
P r im a r y s m e ltin g a n d r e fin in g o f n o n ferro u s m e ta ls:
P r im a r y s m e ltin g a n d r e fin in g o f
c o p p e r , l e a d , a n d z i n c ____________
R o llin g , d r a w in g , a n d a llo y in g o f n o n fer r o u s m e ta ls :
R o llin g , d r a w in g , a n d a llo y in g o f
c o p p e r .............................................................
N o n f e r r o u s f o u n d r i e s .......................... ..............
O th e r p r im a r y m e ta l in d u s tr ie s :
I r o n a n d s t e e l f o r g i n g s ............................

See footnotes at end of table.

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

1.9
1.9

1.8

1.4

1.3
2.4
2.3

1.9

0.3
.3

0.3

1.2

1.3

0.4

.2

1.5

1.6

.2

.3
.5
.5
.5
.5

.5
2.3
3.5

.5

.7

.5
2.3
1.5
1.3
1.9

.1
.2

.2

.2

.2

.4

.3
.3
.3
.4
.3

2.5

2.6
2.2

.4
.4
.7
.3
.4

.7

.8

.2

.2

3.5

2.8

1.8

2.1
1.0

.3
.1

.2
.2

2.9
1.5
1.7
1.3

.5
.3

.9
.4

.2

.2
.1
.1
.8

2.2

2.4
2.2

.9
2.5
1.0
1.6
1.6

1.7
1.7

1.8

1.1
1.8
2.2

1.2

.3

.2
.2
.2
.2
.6

1.9

.6

.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.1
.1
.2

1.7
4.8
2.4
.7
1.7
6.3

2.2

2.9
2.0

1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9

.1
.2

.3
.3

.4

.6

1.3

1.2
1.2

.2

1.9

3.1
2.3

3.1
2.2

.2
.1

.2
.1

1.0

1.5
1.5
1.1

.3
.4

1.5

1.2
1.0

1.9
2.5
1.5
1.1

4.9
2.5

.3
.2

.6
.2

.3
.2

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

0.4
.3

4.1
3.7

4.6
4.0

.4
.3
.3
.4

6.3
4.3
4.6
3.7
3.5

3.4
5.0
6.7
4.9
3.0

4.7
3.4
3.4
3.7
2.5
3.4
3.8
3.6
3.4
5.1
3.5
3.4
3.0
4.0
3.1
3.4

3.7
5.5

3.7
3.8
3.8
3.4
4.2
3.6

.2

.4
.4
.3

1.8

8.4
4.1
3.7
3.0
3.6
3.4
6.2

.1

.2
.1
.2

1.0
.6

.3
.3
.4

.3

2.3
1.5

.2

.2

.3

.3

5.7
4.2

4.4
6.4

2.1
1.1

4.6

.3
.6

6.2

6.2

7.4

3.4

3.3

.3

.3

2.3

3.6

.2

.2

6.2

8.3
8.7
4.3

6.4
14.1
5.2

4.3
4.7
2.3

2.1

.4

.2

3.3

.3
.2

1.6

3.9
10.4
2.7

.6
.2
.2

.2
.1
.2

17.0
4.8

10.2

2.1

.2
.2

3.0
3.6

4.2
4.3
4.9
3.3
3.0

4.9
4.6
4.9
3.9
3.2

1.4
2.7
3.0

1.8

.2

.2

2.2

2.5

2.6

.4

2.9

.9

2.1

.5
.2

1.1
1.1
1.1

.4
.4
.4
.3
.4
.4
.3
.3

2.4
5.0
5.1
4.8
2.3

3.3
5.5

2.0

.4
.3
.4
.3
.4
.4
.3

1.4

1.5

2.2

2.6

4.1

4.1

1.0
2.2

1.2
2.2

2.0

2.1
2.8

1.1
2.1

2.3
2.7
1.9
2.3

.7
.3

.9
1.4
.7
.4

1.1
1.2

1.0
1.2

1.1
.8

.4
.3

.5
.3

3.3

1.6
1.0
2.6

1.8
1.1

3.0
2.2

3.0
1.4
1.9
.8

.7
3.1
1.7
3.8
4.1
4.2
4.0
4.1
3.2
3.3
2.1

3.8
3.9
2.9

2.1

5.3
4.1
4.0
3.0
4.2
4.0
5.8
1.9
4.5
3.5
2.9

1.9
2.9

2.3

1.2

1.2

3.2
1.5
1.3
1.5
1.9

2.5
1.5
1.4

1.6

1.7
1.7

1.6

4. 5
4.2
4.9
4.4

2.4
4.2
3.7
4.8
4.3

2.4
3.0

2.0

2.0

1.4
5. 0
2.8

2.2

3.0
2.2

1.3
2.5

1.2
1.8

1.5
2.3
1.9

-

.5
.5

.4

.2
.2

.2
.2

1.0
.6

1.1
.8

.3

.3
.1

1.3
.5

1.3

.2
.1

.2
1.0
2.6
.1

.2
.5
.2

«

1.0
.8

.1
.2

( 4)
( 4)

W

.l
.3
.1

.3

.5

.2
.1

.2
.2

.9
.5

.2
.1
.2
.2

.2
.1
.2

.9
.3
.4

.3

1.6

.3
.1
.3

.2
.1
.2

.7
2.4
.3

.2
.2
.2

.2
.2

1.3

.3
.4
.3
.1

.3
.3
.3

.8
1.0
1.2
1.8
.5

1.8
1.1
1.2

1.4
1.2

.1

1.9
3.6
.1

1.3
1.7

2.1
1.2

1.1

.2
.2

.3
.1
.1
.2
.2

.3
.4
.3
.6

.4
.3
.3
.3
.4
.5
.3
.3

.2

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

10.0

4.7
4.4

6.0

4.3
2.7

2.0

2.2

3.2

3.2
1.9

2.8
2.6

1.8

1.7

1.3

2.8
2.2

1. 1
2.2
2.1

2.5
.7
.5
2.4
1.9
2.6

2.9
5.5
3.2
5.9
2.9
4.6

1.1

.7
3.3
2.2

4.1
4.2
5.9
3.6
6.3
2.7
4. 1

.3

.6

.5

.4

.3
.3
.3
.4

.1
.6

.3

.3
.9
.9

.5
.4
.5
.4
.4

3.7
3.0
3.3
4.6

2.9
4.2
3.4
3.2
5.3

.3

1.7

1.1

2.2

.2

2.0

.8

1.4
1.7
.4

.3

.5
.4
.4
.4
.3

.5

.6

.2

1.2

1.8

2.8

2.4
2.4
3.3

2.3
2.8
2.2

2.1
2.8

.5
.4
.4
.7

1.2

1.0

.1

.1

1.5
3.7

.9
1.9

.9

.2
1.1

.2

.1

.2

.2

.4

1.5

.2

1.8

2.1

.9

.5

.3

5.0

5.0

2.5

2.0

1.6

.4

.3

.1

.2

.3

.4

3.1

4.5

2.0

.4
.3

1.1

597

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

REVIEW, MAY 1952

T able B-2: Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and Indus­

tries 1—Continued
Separation
Total

Industry group and industry
Feb.
1952
M a n u fa c tu r in g —Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation
equipment)______ ____ ______________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware___
Cutlery and edge tools__________
Band tools________ _______ _____
Hardware.____ _____________ _
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies __________
Sanitary ware and plumbers’
su p p lies_____________________
Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not
elsewhere classified ___________
Fabricated structural metal products..
M etal stamping, coating, and engraving.......... ......................... ................
Machinery (except electrical)........................
Engines and turbines_____ __________
Agricultural machinery and tractors...
Construction and mining machinery..
Metalworking machinery___________
Machine tools . _____________ _
Metalworking machinery (except
machine tools)_________ ______
Machine-tool accessories..................
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)________
General industrial machinery_______
Office and store machines and devices..
Service-industry and household machines ________ _______________
Miscellaneous machinery parts______
Electrical machinery___________________
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus______________ ____________ _
Communication eq u ip m en t____ ____
Radios, phonographs, television
sets, and equipm ent......................
Telephone and telegraph equipm ent__________________ ______
Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products___________
Transportation equipment_____ ____ ___
Automobiles........ .................... ..................
Aircraft and parts....................................
Aircraft_________ _____________
Aircraft engines and parts...............
Aircraft propellers and parts_____
Other aircraft parts and equipm en t______ ____ _____________
Ship and boat building and repairing..
Railroad equipm ent............................. .
Locomotives and parts__________
Railroad and streetcars__________
Other transportation equipm ent_____
Instruments and related products— ........ .
Photographic apparatus________ ____
Watches and clocks_________________
Professional and scientific instrum ents................................................ .......
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware—

0

Jan.
1952

4.3
4.0
4.9
3.6
4.0

4.0
3.3

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

2.6

2.0
2.0
2.0

2.7
3.7

1.3
2.3

4.8

4.4

2.1

2.9

2.6

1.5

7.2
3.6

6.2

4.0

5.0
2.9
2.9

5.2
3.1

1.9
1.7

3.1
2.7

3.2
3.7
3.1
2.9

1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7

2.5
3.2

4.0

3.0
2.9
2.5

2.9
3.1

2.6

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

0.4
.4
.4

1.8
1.8

1.4
1.5

Mise., incl.
military

Lay-ofi

Discharge

Quit

Feb.
1952

0.4
.4
.4

Jan.
1952

Feb.
1952

1.4
.7

1.6

1.3

0.3
.3
.3
.3
.4

0.4
.4
.2

3.7
2.7
2.4

.4
.4

3.2

4.6
3.2
1.7
2.5
4.0

.2

.2

.4

.4

.9

.6
.6
.8

2.1

.3

.4

2.0

1.4

.4

.5

3.7

3.6

1.3

.2

.1

.9

.9

.3

.3

1.5

1.5

2.9

3.0

.6
.6

2.1
1.0

.5
.3

.5
.3

6.2

6.0

2.1

.5
.5

3.3

2.2

4.1

5.5

.2

.2

2.7
.5

.6

.4
.3.
.4

2.7
.4
.3

.2

.4
.5

.4
.3

5.2
3.4
3.4

.6

.5
.5

.2
.2
.1

.4
.3
.3

.5
.5
.7
.4
.3
.3

5.9
3.9
4.4
3.9
4. 5
4.6
4.9

.2
.1

.3
.4

1.8
0

2.1

0

.6

.1

.4
.5
.3

0

0

1.9
1.8

1.9

.5
.4
.5

1.8
2.1

1.9
2.4

.3
.3

.4
.5

.2

.2

.7

.7

1.8

1.5

2.6

1.5

.5
.3

.7
.7
.4

.2

.2

.5
.5
.4

.2

1.6

.4
.4

.6

1.7
1.5

.3
.5

2.6

1.4

1.2

.2

.3

.5

3.4
4.0

1.6

1.7
1.9

.3
.4
.3

.4
.4

.8

.8

.4
.4

1.4

1.3

2. 5
4.3

1.1

1.4

.2

.5

2.5

2.6

.5

.2
.6

.5

4.1

.8

5.1

5.4

2.6

2.8

.8

.9

2.2

2.3

1.7

1.6

.2

.1

3.7
5.2
5.2
4.0
4.1
4.0
2.4

3.9
4.6
4.5
3.4
3.7
2.7
2.3

1.9

1.8

1.2

1.6

1.9

.3
.4

.2

2.1

.4
.3
.4
.4
.5
.3

2.0

1.6
2.0
.2

2.4
3.2
3.7
2.1

4.0
(5)
5.3
2.9
9.6
3.7
2.3
0

5.3
3.8
7.9
1.9
2.1
1.1

3.1

2.2

2.4
4.9
3.0

6.0

1.8

.1.3
2.8

3.0
2.4
1.6

3.3
10.0

2.0

3.2

2.0

2.8

2.0
0

Jan.
1952

2.2
1.8

2.2
2.0

2.8

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

1.5
1.3
1.9
1.4
1.1

1.2

.2

2.5
2.7
1.9
1.3

.4
.4
.7
.3

.2
.2
.2
.1

1.2
1.2

1.2
1.0

1.2

3.2
2.2

2.4
1.5

3.6

3.3

1.2

1.0

.6
.8
.2

0

1.7
1.1
.6
1.1

0

.5

2.1

4.1
1.4

.2

.2

1.4
0

0

.3
.3

3.6
3.1
2.4

3.9
3.7

.2

.7
.5
.4

4.4
2.5
3.7

4.2
3.1
4.0

.3
.3

.4
.3

2.2

.8

4.9

2.7
5.4

1.4

.3

.3

5.5

6

.3

.6

3.5

3.4

.3
.7

.3
.7

3.3
5.4
4.3
5.1
5.4
4.5
3.4

3.4
7.0

1.0

1.0

.3

.3
.3

.2

.2
.1

.3
.3
.3
.5

0

.2
2.8

.9

.4
.3
.9

1.3
5.1

1.0

1.0

.9
.4
.3

.9
.5

4.8

.3
.2
.1

6.6
1.8

.2

.7

.6

.2

.2

.3
1.3

.3
.4

.3
.4

.5

.6

2.0

.1

.2

.7

1.6
1.1

.5
.3
.3

.5

.6
1.0
.1

0

0

.3
0

.1

.1

0

3.6
3.6
3.9

4.3
4.1

1.2

2.7
.4

0

3.3

0

2.7
.5
.4
.7
.4

1.8

0

2.8

3.7
0

.2
.2

4. 5
2.3
8.5
3.3
2.9

0

2.1

3

6.1
6.6

6.4
7.9
4.3
5.5
16.5
4.6
2.8

7.5
4.5
2.9
1.5

.5

.5

2.6

2.6

.4
.4

.3
.5

3.1
5.8

.2

.2

2.6

3.6
6.3
2.3

.3
.3

5.5

.1
.2

.2
.2

.3
.4
.3

4.5

1.4

.1

.2

.2

.2

N o n m a n u fa c tu rin g

M etal mining__________ ______ _________
Iron mining_______________________
Copper mining___ _________________
Lead and zinc mining______________
Anthracite mining..........................................
Bituminous-coal m ining....................... .........
Communication:
Telephone________________ ____ ____
Telegraph____ ______ ______________

5.0
2.8

4.7
3.4
1.4
1.9
0
0

4.7
2.9
4.8
3.6
1.7
1.9
1.9
1.6

4.1

0
0

2.8

4.1
2.9

.9
1.3

1.3

1.2

1.5
1.0

See explanatory notes for definitions and methodology.
i See footnote 1, table B -l. Data for the current month are subject to
revision w ithout notation; revised figures for earlier months will be indicated
by footnotes.


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

.1

.3
.3

.1

.1

.3
.3
.3

.1

0

0
0

.1

.1
.1

0
0

.6

.1

.3

0
0

1 See footnote 2, table A - 2 .
3 See footnote 3, table A - 2 . Printing, publishing,
and allied industries are excluded,

2.1

.2

.3
.3
.2
.2

0
0

4
9

2.0
6.1

5.2
3.7

4.4

1.0

1.6

1.6

1.8

2.5
2.0

Less than 0.05.
N ot available,

598

0 : E A R N IN G S AND

MONTHLY LABOR

HOURS

C: Earnings and Hours
T able

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1
Mining '
Metal

Year and month

Total: Metal
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Coal

Iron

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Copper
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

Lead and zinc
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

1950: Average______ $55. 58
1951: Average_____ 74.60

42.2 $1,554 $81.96
43.6 1.711 72.63

40.9 $1,515 $72. 05
42.5 1.709 78.19

45.0 $1,601 $66. 64
46.1 1.696 76.20

1951: February____
March_______
April___ . .
M a y ................
June________
July____ _ .
August______
September___
October._. . . .
November___
December____

73.46
72.83
74. 62
74.96
70. 89
72.32
75.74
76.43
76.10
74.43
79.43

43.7
43.3
44.0
44.2
41.8
42.0
44.5
44.1
44.4
43.4
44.4

1.681
1.682
1.696
1.696
1.696
1.722
1.702
1.733
1. 714
1.715
1.789

70.98
69. 22
73.31
75.48
65.19
67.58
75.92
76.56
76.79
73.06
76. 83

42.5
41.3
43.2
44.4
38.3
39. 2
44.4
43.8
44.7
42.5
43.9

1.670
1.676
1.697
1.700
1.702
1.724
1.710
1.748
1. 718
1.719
1. 750

78.49
77.89
76.82
76.00
75.36
75.86
76.88
79.20
78.15
77.74
84.38

46.5
46.5
46.0
45.7
45.4
44.6
45.9
46.7
46.3
46.0
46.8

1952: January_____
February-----

79. 29
79.34

44.1
44.2

1.798
1.795

74.82
75. 98

43.5
44.1

1.720
1. 723

86.30
84.36

46.7
46.2

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Bituminous
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.6 $1.602 $63.24
43.0 1.772 66.60

32.1 $1.970 $70.35
30.3 2.198 77.86

35.0
35.2

$2.010

42.8
43.0
43.7
42.9
43.2
43.1
43.7
42.6
42.9
42.2
43.2

1.733
1.728
1.784
1.777
1.764
1.783
1.757
1.776
1. 761
1.764
1.887

66.65
50.68
47.20
. 67
68.94
79.50
58. 52
60. 36
78.24
81.84
69.98

30.2
23.1

2.219

1,690
1.803

74.17
74.30
77.96
76.23
76.20
76.85
76. 78
75.66
75.55
74.44
81.52

1.848
1.826

83.74
83.01

43.3
42.7

1.934
1. 944

73. 42

1.688

1. 675
1.670
1.663
1.660
1.701
1. 675
1.696

1.688

M ining—C ontinued

66

2.212

30.1
31.0
35.3
26.3
27.2
35.1
36.8
31.1

2.207
2.194
2.185
2. 215
2.224
2.252
2.225
2.219
2.229
2.224
2. 250

75. 67
74.66
75.63
73.86
77.67
73. 71
77.23
81.61
80.62
81.09
86.28

34.1
33.6
33.9
33.3
34.8
32.7
34.9
36.5
36.3
36.2
38.4

2.240
2.247

32.5

2. 259

86.36
80.06

38.5
35.9

2.243
2.230

21.6

2.222

2.231
2.218
2.232
2. 254
2.213
2. 236

2.221

Contract construction

Crude petroleum and
natural gas production

b ronbuilding constructio n

Nonmetallic mining
Petroleum and
and quarrying
natural gas production
(except contract
services)
1950: Average_____ $73.69
1951: Average_____ 79. 67

Anthracite

Total: Contract con­
struction
Total: Nonbuilding
construction

Highway and street

Other nonbuilding
construction

40.6 $1,815 $59. 88
40.9 |1. 948 67.19

44.0 $1,361 $73. 73
45.0 1. 493 81.71

37.2 $1,982 $73. 46
37.9 2.156 80.82

40.9 $1,796 $69.17
40.8 1. 981 74. 66

41.1 $1. 683 $76. 31
41.0 1.821 85.06

40.7
40.6

42.0
43.6
45.0
45.7
45.7
45.8
46.3
46.1
47.0
44.5
44.0

1.447
1.462
1.464
1.471
1.484
1.503
1.503
1.532
1.526
1.536
1.530

75.47
76.99
79.36
81.62
82.41
83. 73
84.46
85.19
86.26
81.66
83.83

35.7
36.3
37.4
38.3
38.4
39.0
39.1
38.9
39.3
36.8
37.9

37.7
38.5
40.3
41.8
41.3
42.9
42.7
41.9
42.6
38.7
38.9

2.033
2.049
2. 033

65.83
67. 40
71.43
75.68
75. 56
79. 22
79. 90
78.81
81.75
71.73
70. 56

37.3
38.1
40.4
42.4
41.7
43.6
43.4
42.1
43.6
38.4
38.2

1.765
1.769
1.768
1.785
1.812
1.817
1.841
1.872
1.875

2.212

72. 20
74.19
78. 26
81.26
81.48
84.81
85.27
84. 72
86.61
79. 30
79.08

75.80
78.25
82. 65
85.16
85.98
89.21
89. 51
89.20
90.42
84. 72
84. 75

37.9
38.7
40.2
41.3
41.0
42.4
42.2
41.7
41.9
38.9
39.4

2.139
2.158
2.178
2.151

43.8
45.1

1.518
1.513

84.07
85. 46

37.7
38.1

2. 230
2. 243

80.51
81.60

39.6
40.0

2. 033
2. 040

72. 29
74. 06

39.7
40.1

1.821
1. 847

85. 22

39.6
40.0

2.152
2.150

1951: February.........
M arch_______
April________
M a y _________
June_________
July-------------August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

77.15
76.69
80.30
78.30
78.74
83.32
78.15
83.68
78.93
79.02
83. 85

40.5
40.6
41.2
40.4
40.4
42.1
40.2
41.8
40.5
40.4
41.8

1.905
1.889
1.949
1.938
1.949
1.979
1.944

1.949
1.956
. 006

2

60. 77
63.74
65.88
67.22
67.82
68.84
69. 59
70.63
71.72
68.35
67.32

1952: January_____
February____

84. 57
82.34

41.6
40.5

2.033
2.033

66.49
68.24

2.002

2.114

2.121
2.122

2.131
2.146
2.147
2.160
2.190
2.195
2. 219

1.915
1.927
1.942
1.944
1.973
1.977
1.997

2.022

1.868
1.847

86.00

$1.875
2.095

2.000
2.022

2.056
2.062
2.097
2.104

2.121

Contract construction—Continued
Building construction
Special-trade contractors
Total: Building con­
struction

1950: Average.......... $73. 73
1951: Average_____ 82.10
1951: February.......
M arch............
April...............
M ay................
June................
J u ly ................
August...........
September___
October----November..
D ecem ber1952: January___
February____

General contractors
Total: Special-trade Plumbing and heating
contractors

36.3 $2.031 $68. 56
37.3
75.

35.8 $1,915 $77. 77
36.6 2. 052 87.20

2.201

10

82.26
84. 94

35.3
35.8
36.8
37.5
37.7
38.1
38.2
38.2
38.5
36.4
37.7

2.157
2.163
2.167
2.182
2.194
2.195
2.207
2. 236
2.239
2.260
2.253

. 75
69. 93
72. 97
75. 24
75. 28
76. 28
76. 76
77. 79
79.
76. 06
77. 98

34.0
34.5
36.0
36.9
36.9
37.3
37.5
37.4
38.3
36.2
37.4

84.78
86.26

37.3
37.7

2.273
2.288

78. 03
79. 76

37.3
37.8

76.14
77.44
79. 75
81.83
82.71
83.63
84.31
85.42

86.20

See footnotes at end of table.

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

68

66

2.022
2.027
2.027
2.039
2.040
2.045
2. 047
2.080
2.080

2.101

2.085
2.092

2.110

Painting and
decorating

Electrical work

36.7 $2.119 $81.72
37.8 2. 307 91.26

38.4 $2.128 $71.26
39.2 2.328 78. 65

35.4 $2. 013 $89.16
35.8 2.197
. 21

38.4
40.1

$2.322
2.549

81.49
82.95
84.48
86.60
88.32
. 97
89. 94
91.14
90.94
86.58
89. 51

36.3
36.8
37.3
37.9
38.3
38.6
38.7
38.8
38.6
36.5
37.8

2.245
2. 254
2.265
2.285
2.306
2. 305
2.324
2. 349
2.356
2.372
2.368

85.99
88.93
89. 05
91.80
92.11
92.19
92. 39
93.89
94.60
91.18
95. 92

38.1
38.9
38.8
39.4
39.5
39.6
39.4
39.7
39.9
38.2
40.2

2. 257
2.286
2.295
2.330
2.332
2.328
2.345
2.365
2.371
2.387
2. 386

75.44
74.91
77.40
79.24
79.68
79.24
80.33
80.27
82.16
78.07
80.31

35.4
35.2
36.1
36.6
36.7
36.4
36.2
35.9
36.5
34.3
35.1

2.131
2.128
2.144
2.165
2.171
2.177
2.219
2. 236
2.251
2.276
2.288

103. 70
103.54
104.42
106. 76
105.19
. 61
106. 28

39.0
39.4
39.6
40.3
40.7
40.7
40.9
41.0
40.6
38.8
40.8

2.498
2.506
2.493
2.534
2.548
2. 544
2. 553
2.604
2.591
2.593
2.605

89. 06
90. 65

37.2
37.6

2.394
2. 411

95. 72
94. 56

39.7
39.4

2. 411
2.400

79.48
81. 27

34.2
35.0

2. 324 106.80
2.322 108.30

40.7
40.9

2. 624
2.648

88

102

97.42
98.74
98.72

102.12
100

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

R E V IE W , M AY 1952

T

a b l e

599

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees

Con.

C o n tr a c t c o n str u c tio n — C o n tin u e d
B u ild in g co n str u c tio n — C o n tin u e d
S p e cia l-tra d e co n tra cto r s— C o n tin u e d
Y ea r an d m o n th
O th er sp e c ia l-tr a d e
co n tra cto r s
A vg.
w k ly .
ear n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
h ou r s

1950- A v e r a g e _______ $74. 71
1951: A v e r a g e _______ 83. 62

3 5 .8
3 7 .0

1951: F e b r u a r y _____
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 ____
S e p te m b e r ____
O c to b e r_______
N o v e m b e r ___
D e c e m b e r ____

76.32
78.10
80.84
82.29
85.28
86.86
87.90
88. 97
88.20
82.91
84. 51

3 4 .8
3 5 .5
36.4
3 6 .9
3 7 .6
38.3
3 8 .5
3 8 .6
38.1
3 5 .6
3 6 .6

2.193
2.200
2. 221
2. 230
2.268
2.2 6 8
2.283
2. 305
2.315
2.329
2. 309

1952: J a n u a r y _______
F e b r u a r y _____

83.11
86. 05

3 5 .7
3 6 .4

2.3 2 8
2.364

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

P la ste r in g a n d la t h ­
in g

M ason ry

A vg.
w k ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

$2.087 $70.85
2. 260
78.83

3 3 .9
3 5 .1

$2,090
2 .2 4 6

$86. 70
89. 66

3 5 .0
3 4 .9

66.2 2
73.01
77.5 0
78.83
77.23
83.96
83.5 5
84.0 0
83.61
74.93
76. 94

3 0 .5
33 .4
35.1
3 5 .7
3 4 .4
3 7 .4
37 .1
3 7 .3
3 6 .8
3 3 .2
3 3 .6

2.171
2.186
2.208
2.208
2.245
2.245
2.252
2. 252
2.2 7 2
2.2 5 7
2. 290

90.8 8
89.44
92.87
93.31
92.10
91.38
91.18
90. 72
87. 91
83.05
85. 81

3 4 .9
3 4 .4
3 5 .8
3 6 .0
3 5 .6
35 .5
3 5 .8
3 5 .8
3 4 .5
3 2 .8
3 3 .6

2.604
2. 600
2. 594
2.592
2. 587
2. 574
2.547
2. 534
2.548
2.532
2. 554

77. 06
77.29

3 3 .3
3 3 .4

2.314
2.314

81.92
87. 01

32.1
3 3 .7

2. 552
2. 582

A vg.
h r ly .
ea rn ­
in g s

R o o fin g a n d sh e e tm e ta l w o r k

C a r p e n tr y

E x c a v a tio n a n d fo u n ­
d a tio n w o rk

A vg.
w k ly .
earn ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

$2. 477 $69.86
2. 569 72. 92

3 7 .0
3 5 .8

$1,888
2 .0 3 7

$64.49
71.13

3 5 .3
3 6 .2

$1,827
1.965

$74.92
8 0 .1 7

3 8 .6
3 9 .3

$1,941
2.0 4 0

64.98
64 .5 2
70.85
72.16
73.70
76. 76
77.73
80.14
77.65
71.14
73.0 8

3 2 .8
3 2 .9
3 5 .8
3 6 .5
3 7 .0
3 7 .7
3 7 .3
3 8 .0
3 6 .2
3 3 .7
3 5 .0

1.981
1.961
1.979
1.977
1.992
2.036
2.084
2.109
2.145
2.111
2. 088

64 .5 8
65.25
68.9 5
71.14
71.11
73.63
73. 51
75. 53
76.63
70. 55
71.92

3 3 .9
3 4 .0
3 5 .8
3 6 .9
3 6 .6
3 7 .8
3 7 .6
3 7 .9
3 7 .9
3 4 .6
3 5 .5

1.905
1.919
1. 926
1.928
1.943
1.948
1.955
1.993
2.0 2 2
2.039
2.0 2 6

81.28
77. 88
78.19
82.23
80.80
83.1 5
85 .8 2
8 4 .6 9
85.11
77.53
81.8 2

3 7 .2
3 6 .6
3 7 .9
3 9 .9
3 9 .3
4 0 .7
4 1 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .8
3 6 .9
3 9 .0

2.185
2.1 2 8
2.0 6 3
2.061
2.056
2.0 4 3
2.083
2. 091
2.086
2.101
2. 098

73.33
74.69

3 5 .0
3 5 .4

2. 095
2.110

69. 43
71.0 0

3 4 .1
3 4 .5

2. 036
2.0 5 8

78.81
85.1 0

3 8 .5
4 0 .2

2 .0 4 7
2 .1 1 7

M a n u fa c tu r in g
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts
T o ta l: M a n u fa c ­
tu r in g

D u r a b le g o o d s *

1950: A v e r a g e ___
$59.33
1951: A v e r a g e _______ 64. 88

4 0 .5
4 0 .7

$1.465
1.594

$63. 32
69. 97

4 1 .2
4 1 .7

1951: F e b r u a r y ......... ..
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 e p te m b e r ____
O c to b e r _______
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r ____

63.84
64. 57
64.70
64. 55
65.08
64. 24
64.32
65.49
65.41
65.85
67.40

4 0 .9
41. 1
4 1 .0
4 0 .7
4 0 .7
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .6
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
4 1 .2

1.561
1. 571
1.578
1.586
1. 599
1. 598
1.596
1.613
1.615
1.626
1.6 3 6

68.18
69.3 0
69.6 8
69.6 0
70. 27
68. 79
69.5 5
71.01
71.10
71.05
72. 71

4 1 .6
4 1 .9
4 2 .0
4 1 .8
4 1 .8
4 0 .9
4 1 .3
4 1 .6
4 1 .7
4 1 .5
4 2 .2

1.639
1. 654
1.659
1.665
1.681
1.682
1. 684
1.707
1.705
1.712
1.723

1952: J a n u a r y _____
F e b r u a r y ____

67. 04
67. 03

4 0 .9
4 0 .8

1.639
1.643

72. 28
72. 27

4 1 .9
4 1 .8

1.725
1.729

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s 3

$1. 537 $54. 71
1.678
58. 50

T o ta l: O r d n a n ce a n d
a cc esso ries

3 9 .7
3 9 .5

$1,378
1.481

$64. 79
73. 78

4 1 .8
4 3 .5

58. 32
58.40
58.16
57. 93
58.4 7
58. 48
57. 91
58. 67
58.00
59.07
60.4 5

4 0 .0
4 0 .0
3 9 .7
3 9 .3
3 9 .4
3 9 .3
39.1
3 9 .4
3 8 .9
3 9 .2
3 9 .9

1.458
1.460
1.465
1.474
1.484
1.488
1.481
1.489
1.491
1.507
1.515

70. 92
72.71
70. 97
72. 45
71.02
73.10
73. 71
76.47
75.5 0
75.68
77. 62

42. 7
43 .1
42. 7
4 3 .2
4 2 .4
43.1
4 3 .9
4 4 .2
4 4 .0
4 3 .9
4 5 .1

60.19
60.1 2

3 9 .6
3 9 .5

1.520
1. 522

76. 99
78. 27

4 4 .3
4 4 .6

T o ta l: F o o d a n d k in ­
d r e d p r o d u c ts

M e a t p r o d u c ts

$1,550 $56.07
61.3 4
1. 696

4 1 .5
4 1 .9

$1,351
1.464

$60.07
66.79

41 .6
4 1 .9

$1. 444
1.594

1.661
1.687
1.6 6 2
1.6 7 7
1.675
1. 696
1.679
1.730
1. 716
1.724
1.721

59.04
59.1 2
59. 66
60.4 0
61.8 0
61 .6 5
61.15
62.06
61.91
63.34
64.13

4 1 .0
4 1 .0
4 1 .2
4 1 .6
4 1 .9
4 2 .2
4 2 .0
4 2 .8
4 2 .0
4 2 .0
4 2 .3

1.440
1.442
1.448
1.452
1.475
1.461
1.456
1.450
1.474
1.508
1. 516

6 a 25
61 .9 2
62. 91
63.90
67 .8 8
6 8 .2 6
67. 48
68.4 6
67.65
73.51
73.0 6

3 9 .9
4 0 .6
4 1 .2
4 1 .6
4 1 .8
4 1 .8
4 1 .3
4 1 .9
41 .5
4 4 .1
4 4 .2

1.510
1.525
1.527
1. 536
1. 624
1.633
1.634
1.634
1.630
1.667
1.653

1.738
1.755

63. 47
63.34

4 1 .7
4 1 .4

1.522
1.530

69. 50
69. 01

4 2 .3
41. 5

1.643
1.663

M a n u fa c tu r in g — C o n tin u e d
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts— C o n tin u e d

M e a t p a c k in g

S a u sa g es a n d ca sin g s

D a ir y p r o d u c ts

C o n d en sed a n d e v a p ­
o r a te d m ilk

Ic e cr ea m a n d ic es

C a n n in g a n d p r e s e r v ­
in g
3 9 .3
4 0 .2

$1,191
1.279

1950: A v e r a g e ............ $60.94
1951: A v e r a g e _______ 68.34

4 1 .6
4 1 .9

$1,465
1.631

$60. 80
65. 87

4 2 .4
4 1 .9

$1.434
1.5 7 2

$56.11
60. 61

4 4 .5
4 4 .6

$1. 261
1.359

$57.36
63. 25

4 5 .6
4 6 .1

$1,258
1.3 7 2

$57. 29
62.3 5

44 .1
4 4 .6

1051: F e b r u a r y _____
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 e p t e m b e r ___
O c to b e r _______
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r ____

61. 21
63. 01
63. 91
65. 03
69.47
69. 81
69.09
70. 27
69.01
75. 98
75. 82

3 9 .9
4 0 .6
41.1
4 1 .5
4 1 .7
4 1 .7
4 1 .2
41.9
41.1
44.2
4 4 .6

1.534
1. 552
1. 555
1.567
1. 666
1.674
1.677
1.677
1.679
1.719
1.700

61.04
64.3 7
64.1 7
64.17
66. 51
67.50
67.69
67. 92
67.00
68.19
66.44

4 0 .0
4 2 .1
4 1 .4
41 .4
4 2 .2
4 2 .8
4 2 .6
4 1 .9
4 1 .9
42 .3
4 1 .6

1. 526
1.529
1.550
1. 550
1.576
1.577
1.589
1.621
1.599
1.612
1.5 9 7

59. 45
59. 98
59. 67
60. 52
61.11
62. 02
60.70
62.10
60.60
60.09
61.4 8

44.1
44.4
4 4 .3
45.1
45 .4
45 .4
4 4 .9
45 .0
44.3
4 3 .8
44 .1

1.348
1.351
1.347
1.342
1.346
1.366
1.352
1.380
1.368
1.372
1.394

61.56
63. 75
62. 56
64.34
64. 26
65. 47
63.70
64. 77
62.06
61.92
62. 56

4 5 .1
4 6 .5
4 5 .9
4 7 .0
4 6 .8
4 6 .8
46 .7
4 6 .5
4 5 .5
4 5 .2
4 5 .2

1.365
1.371
1.363
1.369
1.373
1.399
1.364
1.393
1.364
1.370
1.3 8 4

62.01
61.6 6
61.6 6
61.2 7
61.4 6
63. 57
62 .3 2
63.11
62.33
62.48
64. 09

4 4 .2
4 4 .2
4 4 .2
4 4 .4
4 4 .6
4 5 .7
4 4 .9
4 4 .6
44 .3
44 .0
4 4 .6

1.403
1.395
1.395
1.380
1.378
1.391
1.388
1.415
1.407
1.420
1.4 3 7

48.8 4
48.6 4
50.39
48.8 8
49. 25
49.2 0
53.00
54.33
56. 87
47.80
51.02

3 7 .8
37. 5
3 8 .7
38.1
3 8 .6
4 0 .8
4 1 .7
4 3 .5
4 2 .5
3 7 .0
3 8 .3

1.292
1.297
1.302
1.283
1.276
1.206
1.271
1.249
1.338
1.292
1.3 3 2

1952: J a n u a r y _______
F e b r u a r y _____

71.57
71.02

4 2 .5
4 1 .7

1.6 8 4
1. 703

65. 79
65. 85

4 1 .3
4 0 .8

1.593
1.614

62. 63
62.10

4 4 .2
4 3 .7

1.4 1 7
1.421

63. 53
63. 97

4 4 .8
4 5 .4

1.4 1 8
1.4 0 9

62. 25
63.1 5

4 3 .9
4 3 .7

1.418
1.445

50.4 4
50.9 0

3 8 .1
3 8 .5

1.3 2 4
1.3 2 2

S ee fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f t a b le .


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

$1. 299 $46.81
51.42
1.3 9 8

600

G: E A R N I N G S A N D

HOURS

M O N TH LY LA BO R

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month

Grain-mill products
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Flour and other
grain-mill products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Prepared feeds

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Bakery products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Sugar

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Cane-sugar refining
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1950: Average_____ $59. 02
1951: Average--------- 66.28

43.3 $1. 363 $60. 95
44.6 1.486 67.43

44.1 $1. 382 $57. 21
45.5 1.482 64.63

45.3 $1. 263 $53. 54
46.1 1.402 57.38

41.5 $1.290 $59.94
41.7 1.376 61.66

43.0 $1.394 $61. 83
41.3 1.493 63.13

43.0
41.1

$1. 438
1.536

1951: February____
M arch..............
April________
M a y ________
June_________
July-------------August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

68.38

43.7
43.1
43.5
44.5
44.4
45.7
45.3
45.4
45.3
44.5
44.4

1.455
1.455
1.452
1.455
1.467
1.491
1. 503
1.511
1.516
1.528
1.540

65.03
62.88
62. 57
63. 36
64.00
6 8 . 54
69. 76
71.35
69.98
71.37
71.28

45.0
44.0
44.0
44.4
44.6
46.5
46.6
47.0
45.8
45.9
45.4

1.445
1.429
1.422
1.427
1.435
1.474
1.497
1.518
1.528
1.555
1.570

59. 98
59.83
62.10
64. 36
6 6 . 31
67. 40
65.85
6 8 .45
65. 98
67.04
65.98

44.2
43.8
45.0
46.4
47.3
47.7
46.8
47.9
46.5
46.3
45.5

1.357
1.366
1.380
1.387
1.402
1.413
1.407
1.429
1.419
1.448
1.450

55.49
55.32
56. 37
57.24
57.93
58.15
58.07
58. 69
58.38
59. 26
59. 43

41.5
41.5
41.6
41.9
42.1
42.2
41.9
42.1
41. 7
41.5
41.5

1.337
1.333
1.355
1.366
1.376
1.378
1.386
1.394
1.400
1.428
1.432

61.93
58.82
59. 72
65.66
63. 76
62.77
58. 42
62.82
55.39
65.20
64. 75

40.8
39.4
40.0
42.8
41.0
41.0
39.0
41.3
38.2
45.5
43.6

1.518
1.493
1.493
1.534
1.555
1.531
1.498
1.521
1.450
1.433
1.485

63.08
61.06
59.60
73.60
6 6 . 41
63.14
59.15
63.38
56.93
62.36
63.45

40.8
40.2
39.6
47.0
41.9
41.4
39.2
41.7
37.9
39.9
40.7

1.546
1.519
1. 505
1.566
1.585
1.525
1.509
1.520
1. 502
1.563
1.559

69. 75
6 6 . 77

45.0
43.3

1.550
1.542

71.25
67.67

45.5
43.6

1. 566
1.552

67. 64
63.11

46.3
44.1

1.461
1.431

59.16
59.84

41.4
41.5

1.429
1.442

62.77
62.27

40.6
40.2

1.546
1.549

65.06
62.29

41.6
39.7

1.564
1.569

1952: January_____
February____

63. 58
62.71
63.16
64. 75
65.13
68.14
68.09
68.60
68.67

68.00

Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Beet sugar
1950: Average___
1951: Average___

$58.69
61.36

1951: February—
M arch.........
April...........
M a y ...........
June............
J u ly ............
A ugust.___
Septem ber..
October___
N ovem ber..
December..

61.51
55.71
61.95
51.14
60.76
64.20
58.91
63. 78
54.90

1952: January___
February....

Confectionery and
related products

42.5 $1.381 $46. 72
41.1 1.493 50. 41

Confectionery

Bottled soft drinks

M alt liquors

39.9 $1.171 $44.81
40.2 1.254 48.32

39.9 $1.123 $67.49
40.3 1.199 73.62

41.0 $1.646 $49.12
41.2 1.787 53.03

42.9 $1.145 $72.66
43.5 1.219 78.99

40.8
41.1

$1.781
1.922

1.196
1.193
1.203
1.205

71.13
72.35
71.97
73.75
75. 21
75.64
75.13
75.11
72.54
74.54
73.48

40.3
40.9
40.5
41.2
41.9
42.0
41.9
41.8
40.8
40.6
40.8

1.765
1.769
1.777
1.790
1.795
1.801
1.793
1.797
1.778
1.836
1.801

50.53
50.74
51. 72
53.45
54.62
56.16
54.89
53.79
52.68
54. 59
52. 58

42.5
42.6
42.6
43.7
44.3
45.4
44.7
43.7
43.0
43.5
43.1

1.189
1.191
1.214
1.223
1.233
1.237
1.228
1.231
1.225
1.255
1 .2 2 0

76.45
78.27
76.99
79.30
80. 57
81.42
80.53
81.00
77.29
80.11
79.34

39.9
41.0
40.5
41.3
41.9
42.1
41.9
42.1
40.4
40. 5
41.0

1.916
1.909
1.901
1.920
1.923
1.934
1.922
1.924
1.913
1.978
1.935

1.245
1.241

72. 58
73.75

40.3
40.7

1.801
1.812

51.32
51.98

42.2
42.4

1.216
1.226

77. 51
78.64

40.2
40.6

1.928
1.937

66.60

40.6
36.7
40.7
33.8
39.3
40.1
38.3
40.7
38.1
47.7
43.9

1.515
1.518
1.522
1.513
1.546
1.601
1.538
1. 567
1.441
1.428
1. 517

49.31
48.82
49.00
49.93
51.64
49. 71
50.23
52.17
50.96
51.74
52.33

39.7
39.5
39.2
39.5
40.5
38.9
39.8
41.5
40.7
41.1
41.6

1.242
1.236
1.250
1.264
1.275
1.278
1.262
1.257
1.252
1.259
1.258

47.44
47.00
46.84
47.83
49.04
47.10
47.48
49.16
48.44
49.68
50.61

39.9
39.7
39.1
39.3
40.2
38.7
39.5
41.1
40.6
41.3
42.0

60.91
65.03

37.3
39.8

1.633
1.634

53.25
52.60

40.9
40.4

1.302
1.302

50. 67
50.01

40.7
40.3

6 8 .1 2

Beverages

1.189
1.184
1.198
1.217
1 .2 2 0

1.217
1 .2 0 2

Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Distilled, rectified,
and blended liquors

Miscellaneous food
products

Tobacco manufactures
Total: Tobacco
manufactures

Cigarettes

Cigars

Tobacco and snuff

1950: Average........... $61.94
1951: Average_____ 6 8 . 8 6

40.3 $1.537 $54.99
40.2 1.713 59.22

42.2 $1.303 $41.08
42.0 1.410 44.20

37.9 $1.084 $50.19
38.3 1.154 54. 21

39.0 $1.287 $35. 76
39.4 1.376 38.92

36.9 $0.969 $42. 79
37.6 1.035 46.07

37.7
37.7

$1.135

1951: February____
M arch_______
April.................
May__ ____
June________
J u ly _________
August______
September___
October_____
N ovem ber___
December____

67.78
69. 79
68.50
68.18
67. 70
70.20
67. 61
66.30

41.2
39.9
39.5
39.5
40.6
39.8
39.8
39.5
40.6
38.7
38.5

1.695
1.685
1.724
1.716
1.719
1.721
1.713
1.714
1.729
1.747
1.722

59.08
58.14
57.78
57.20
58.22
59. 21
58.66
59. 74
59.05
60. 06
60. 77

42.2
42.1
41.3
41.3
41.5
41.7
41.4
41.6
41.7
42.0
42.2

1.400
1.381
1.399
1.385
1.403
1.420
1.417
1.436
1.416
1.430
1.440

43.17
42.03
42. 58
42.49
44.49
44.03
44.08
44. 75
45.30
46. 26
46.53

37.9
36.8
36.8
36.6
37.9
37.6
38.5
39.5
39.7
39.3
39.5

1.139
1.142
1.157
1.161
1.174
1.171
1.145
1.133
1.141
1.177
1.178

52.76
48.57
50. 59
51.41
55.37
53.70
55.79
55.82
55.40
58.02
57. 53

39.4
36.3
37.2
37.8
40.3
39.2
40.4
40. 1
39.8
41.0
40.6

1.339
1.338
1.360
1.360
1.374
1.370
1.381
1.392
1.392
1.415
1.417

38.10
37.91
37.72
36.70
37. 50
37.83
38.94
40.18
40. 8 8
41. 03
41.66

37.5
37.2
36.8
35.8
36.3
36.8
37.7
38.3
38.9
38.6
39.3

1.016
1.019
1.025
1.025
1.033
1.028
1.033
1.049
1.051
1.063
1.060

45.25
44.62
44.27
43.56
46.85
44.99
46.76
48.20
46.90
48.63
47.67

37.8
37.0
36.5
36.0
38.4
37.0
38.3
38.9
37. 7
38. 5
38.2

1.197
1.206
1.213

1.239
1.244
1.263
1.248

1952: January_____ 68.41
February....... . 69.05

39.0
39.3

1.754
1.757

61.61
62.75

42.0
42.6

1.467
1.473

45. 31
43. 61

38.5
36.8

1.177
1.185

55.16
51.84

39.4
36.9

1.400
1.405

40.17
38.76

38.0
36.7

1.057
1.056

47.94
46.38

38.2
37.1

1.255
1.250

69.83
67.23
6 8 .1 0

See footnotes at end of table.


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

1 .2 2 2

1 .2 1 0
1 .2 2 0

1.216
1 .2 2 1

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

T

a b l e

C

1:

C: E A R N I N G S A N D

HOURS

601

Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
T o b a c c o m a n u fa c ­
tu res— C o n .

Y ea r a n d m o n th

T o b a c c o s te m m in g
a n d r e d r y in g

T e x tile -m ill p r o d u c ts

T o ta l: T e x tile -m ill
p r o d u c ts

Y a r n a n d th rea d
m ills

Y a r n m ills

B r o a d -w o v e n fabric
m ills

C o tto n , s ilk , s y n ­
t h e t ic fiber
U n it e d S ta te s

A vg.
w k ly .
ear n ­
in g s
1950: A v e r a g e ...........
1951: A v e r a g e _____

A vg.
w k ly .
h ou r s

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

$37. 59
37. 91

3 9 .4
3 9 .2

$0. 954
.9 6 7

$48.95
51.33

3 9 .6
3 8 .8

1951: F e b r u a r y ____
M a r ch .
A p r il..
M a y ..
J u n e ..
J u l y . . ................
A u g u s t .............
S e p t e m b e r ...
O c t o b e r ...........
N o v e m b e r ___
D e c e m b e r ___

35. 85
3 /. 81
38.84
41. 72
43.07
41.00
34. 99
37.30
39. 25
36.89
37. 67

3 4 .7
35. 3
35.8
3 8 .0
3 8 .8
3 6 .8
37.5
4 2 .0
42. 8
3 9 .0
38. 6

1.033
1.071
1.085
1.098
1.110
1.114
.9 3 3
.888
.9 1 7
. 946
.9 7 6

S3.94
53. 34
52.87
51.37
51.07
49.58
48.08
48.7 4
49. 29
50. 46
52. 70

4 0 .8
40. 5
3 9 .9
3 8 .8
3 8 .6
3 7 .7
36 .7
3 6 .9
3 7 .2
3 7 .8
3 9 .3

1.322
1.317
1.325
1.324
1.323
1.315
1.310
1.321
1.3 2 5
1.335
1.341

1952: J a n u a r y ______
F e b r u a r y ____

38. 21
37. 79

3 8 .6
36.8

.9 9 0
1.027

52.48
52. 44

3 8 .9
3 8 .9

1.349
1.348

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

$1. 236 $45.01
1.323
47.8 6

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

3 8 .9
3 8 .6

$1.157
1.240

$45.09
48.0 2

3 8 .8
3 8 .6

50.02
49.94
49 .6 4
48.05
47. 78
46. 70
44.89
45.14
46.01
46. 57
49.02

4 0 .6
40 .5
40. 1
3 9 .0
3 8 .5
37 .6
3 6 .2
3 6 .2
3 6 .9
3 7 .2
3 9 .0

1.2 3 2
1.233
1.238
1.232
1. 241
1.242
1.240
1.247
1.2 4 7
1.252
1.257

49.98
50. 02
49. 93
48 .3 9
47.81
4 6 .9 2
44 .9 4
45.16
46 .3 8
46. 97
48 .9 4

40.5
4 0 .5
4 0 .2
3 8 .9
3 8 .4
37 .6
3 6 .1
36.1
37.1
3 7 .4
3 8 .9

1.234
1.235
1. 242
1.244
1.245
1.248
1.245
1.251
1.2 5 0
1.256
1.258

54.22
5 3 .7 2
53. 95
52. 67
52.10
50.25
48.3 0
48.7 5
4 8 .7 7
50.01
52.62

4 1 .2
4 1 .2
4 0 .9
3 9 .9
3 9 .5
3 8 .3
37.1
37.1
3 7 .0
3 7 .6
3 9 .3

1.316
1.304
1.319
1.320
1.319
1.312
1. 302
1.314
1.3 1 8
1.330
1.339

48. 64
48.43

3 8 .6
3 8 .5

1.260
1.258

48. 71
48. 35

3 8 .6
3 8 .4

1.262
1.259

52. 26
51.34

3 9 .0
3 8 .4

1.340
1.337

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

$1.162 $49. 28
1. 244
51.63

40.1
3 9 .2

A vg.
h r ly .
ea r n ­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

$1. 229 $48.00
1.317
50. 38

40.1
3 9 .3

$1.197
1 .2 8 2

53. 54
53. 29
52. 64
51. 57
50. 63
48. 74
46. 59
47. 20
4 7 .3 6
48.3 5
50.48

41.7
41. 5
4 1 .0
4ft. 1
39 4
38. 2
3fi 8
36 9
3 7 .0
3 7 .6
3 9 .1

1 284
1.284
1 284
1 286
1 286
1 276
1 266
1 279
1 28ft
1 286
1.291

50.17
49.48

3 8 .8
3 8 .3

1 293
1.292

Manufacturing—Continued
T e x tile -m ill p r o d u c ts— C o n tin u e d
C o tto n , s ilk , s y n t h e t ic fib er — C o n tin u e d
W o o le n a n d w o r ste d
N o r th

S o u th

U n ite d S ta te s

1950: A v e r a g e .......... .
1951: A v e r a g e _____

$51.23
53. 66

4 0 .5
38.8

1951: F e b r u a r y ____

57.08
56. 02
Ö4. 96
54.13
54. 25
51. 60
48. 82
51.17
51.41
51.27
54. 46

4 1 .6
40. 8
4 0 .0
3 9 .6
3 9 .6
38.0
35.9
3 6 .6
3 6 .1
35. 8
3 7 .9

1.372
1.373
1.374
1.367
1.370
1.358
1.360
1.398
1.4 2 4
1.432
1.437

52.46
52. 33
52. 04
50. 90
49 .7 2
47. 86
45. 99
46.18
46. 40
47. 58
49.4 9

4 1 .7
4 1 .6
41 .4
4 0 .3
39 .4
3 8 .2
3 7 .0
3 7 .0
3 7 .3
3 8 .0
3 9 .4

1.258
1.258
1.257
1.263
1.262
1.253
1.243
1.248
1.244
1.252
1.256

57.10
57. 28
58. 69
57.35
58.16
57.47
55. 84
56.20
55.38
57.68
62.15

3 9 .3
4 0 .0
4 0 .2
3 9 .2
3 9 .7
3 9 .2
3 8 .3
38.1
3 6 .8
3 7 .6
4 0 .2

1.453
1. 432
1.460
1.463
1. 465
1.466
1.458
1.475
1. 505
1.534
1.546

54.89

3 7 .7

1. 456

49. 20

3 9 .2

1.255

61. 54
60. 29

3 9 .6
3 9 .0

1. 554
1. 546

March______

A p r il................ .
M a y ...................
J u n e ...................
J u l y . . .............. .
A u g u s t ............ .
S e p te m b e r ___
O c to b e r ______
N o v e m b e r ___
D e c e m b e r ___
1952: J a n u a r y ...........
F e b r u a r y ____

F u ll-fa sh io n e d h o sie r y
K n it t in g m ills

$1. 265 $47.08
1.383
49. 41

4 0 .0
3 9 .4

$1.177 $54.01
1. 254
57. 71

3 9 .8
39 .1

$1. 357 $44.13
1.476
46. 57

N o r th

3 7 .4
3 6 .7

$1.180
1.269

$53. 63
56.69

3 7 .9
3 6 .6

$1,415
1. 549

$54. 25
58.1 6

3 7 .7
3 5 .9

$ ¡.4 3 9
1.620

49.24
48. 54
46.76
45.04
45.18
44. 57
44. 44
44.8 4
4 6 .0 6
47.5 6
48.08

3 8 .8
38.1
3 6 .7
3 5 .3
3 5 .6
3 5 .4
35 .3
35 .5
3 6 .3
3 7 .3
37 .8

1.269
1.274
1.274
1.276
1.269
1.259
1. 259
1.263
1. 269
1.275
1.272

61.11
60. 45
57.16
55.14
54.01
54.01
53. 75
54.07
55.18
57. 75
58.09

3 9 .2
3 8 .6
3 6 .5
35.1
3 4 .8
3 5 .3
3 5 .2
3 5 .2
3 5 .9
3 7 .5
3 7 .6

1. 559
1. 566
1.566
1.571
1. 552
1. 530
1. 527
1.536
1.537
1. 540
1. 545

63.05
63.17
59.19
56.70
55.18
54. 48
54. 32
55.12
57. 47
57.80
56. 57

38. 4
38.1
35. 7
34. 2
3 4 .0
34. 2
34. 4
34. 6
36 .1
3 6 .4
3 5 .6

1. 642
1. 658
1. 658
1. 658
1. 623
1. 593
1. 579
1. 593
1. 592
1. 588
1. 589

47. 91
48. 51

3 7 .2
3 7 .9

1.288
1.280

58.11
59. 21

3 7 .3
3 8 .7

1.558
1.530

58.43

36. 7

1. 592

Manufacturing—Continued
T e x tile -m ill p r o d u c ts— C o n tin u e d
F u ll-fa sh io n e d h o ­
sie r y — C o n tin u e d

S e a m le ss h o siery
K n it o u te r w e a r

S o u th

U n it e d S ta te s

1950: Average____
1951: Average____

$53.33
55. 76

3 8 .2
3 7 .2

$1.396
1.499

$34.94
3 6 .8 5

35 .8
3 5 .2

1951: February___
March______
April...............
M a y ...............
June............... .
J u ly ............. .
A ugust......... .
September__
October..........
November__
December__

59.38
58.12
55. 65
53. 84
53. 39
53. 83
53. 41
53. 32
53.81
57. 68
58. 70

3 9 .8
3 8 .9
3 7 .2
3 5 .7
35. 5
36.1
3 5 .7
35. 5
3 5 .8
3 8 .2
38.8

1.492
1.494
1.496
1.508
1. 504
1.491
1.496
1. 502
1.5 0 3
1.510
1.513

38.79
38.17
35. 46
34.31
35.80
35. 39
35 .3 2
35.25
37.4 5
38. 66
39.41

3 7 .3
3 6 .6
34.1
3 2 .8
34 .0
34 .0
3 3 .7
3 3 .8
3 5 .5
3 6 .4
3 7 .0

1.040
1.043
1.040
1.046
1.053
1.041
1.048
1.043
1.055
1.062
1.065

1952: January........ .
February___

57.87

37.8

1.531

38.63
39. 49

3 6 .2
36 .8

1.067
1.073

N o r th

$0. 976 $38.12
41.2 4
1.047


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

$0. 998 $34. 37
1.091
36.0 2

35 .4
3 4 .7

$0. 971
1.038

$43. 73
47.23

3 8 .6
3 8 .4

$1.133
1.230

$39. 60
42. 71

37. 5
3 7 .3

$1.056
1.145

41.90
41.70
41.37
40. 51
40. 26
38.20
39.71
40. 74
42. 21
42.4 8
44.31

3 8 .8
3 8 .5
3 8 .2
37 .3
3 6 .8
3 5 .5
3 6 .6
37.1
38.1
3 8 .0
3 9 .6

1.080
1.083
1.083
1.086
1.094
1.076
1.085
1.098
1.108
1.118
1.119

38.15
37. 47
34.30
32. 94
34. 87
34. 85
34. 42
34.23
36. 54
37. 94
38.43

3 7 .0
3 6 .2
33 .3
31 .8
33.4
3 3 .7
33.1
3 3 .2
3 5 .0
36 .1
3 6 .5

1.031
1.035
1.030
1.036
1.044
1.034
1.040
1.031
1.044
1.051
1.053

48.30
47. 93
48.03
46. 37
46. 41
45. 26
46. 27
46. 56
47. 36
48. 33
48.21

3 9 .4
3 9 .0
3 8 .8
3 8 .2
3 8 .2
3 7 .5
3 7 .8
3 7 .7
3 7 .8
3 8 .6
3 8 .6

1.226
1.229
1.238
1.214
1.215
1.207
1.224
1.235
1.253
1.252
1.249

44. 29
44.12
43.55
41.27
41.99
40. 55
40. 91
4 1 .6 2
42. 33
43.1 4
44. 50

39 .4
3 8 .8
3 8 .3
3 6 .3
3 6 .8
3 5 .6
35. 7
3 6 .0
3 6 .3
3 6 .9
3 8 .0

1.124
1.137
1.137
1.137
1.141
1.139
1.146
1.156
1.166
1.169
1.171

43. 01

38 .3

1.123

37.73

35 .8

1.054

47. 22
47.8 2

3 7 .3
38 .1

1.266
1. 255

44.48
43.78

3 7 .5
3 7 .1

1.1 8 6
1.180

*
S ee fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .

3 8 .2
3 7 .8

K n it u n d e r w e a r

S o u th

602

C: E A R N IN G S A N D

M O N TH LY LA B O R

HOURS

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
M anufacturing—C ontinue d
Apparel and ocher
fin is h e d te x tile
products

Textile-mill products—Continued

Year and month

Dyeing and fiinshing
textiles
Avg.
wkly
earn­
ings

1960: Average______ $53.87
1951: Average_____ 56.49

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Carpets, rugs, other
floor coverings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

40.9 $1,317 $62. 33
39.7 1.423 62.53

Wool carpets, rugs,
and carpet yam

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Other textile-mill
products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

41.5 $1,502 $62. 72
39.4 1.587 60. 37

41.1 $1,526 $52. 37
37.9 1.593 54. 8 8

Fur-felt hats and hat
bodies

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ w kly.
ings
ings hours

Total: Apparel and
other finished tex­
tile products

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

40.6 $1,290 $51.05
39.8 1.379 52. 67

35.9 $1,422 $43. 6 8
35.3 1.492 45. 65

36.4
36.0

$1 , 2 0 0
1.268

60.12
58.19
56.18
54.40
55.97
52. 56
51.01
53.18
55.19
58.70
61.76

42.4
41.3
39.7
38.5
39.5
37.3
36.0
37.4
38.7
40.4
42.3

1.418
1.409
1.415
1.413
1.417
1.409
1.417
1.422
1.426
1.453
1. 460

67.25
6 6 .49
64.76
61.38
59.48
58.43
58. 59
59. 69
60.99
60.80
63.12

41.9
41.4
40.4
38.7
37.6
37.1
37.2
37.8
38.8
38.7
39.9

1.605
1.606
1.603
1.586
1.582
1.575
1.575
1.579
1.572
1. 571
1.582

66.30
65.08
62.83
58. 51
56.43
54. 92
54.46
55. 96
59.05
59.18
61.15

41.0
40.3
39.0
36.8
35.6
35.0
34.8
35.6
37.3
37.6
38.8

1.617
1.615
1.611
1.590
1.585
1.569
1.565
1.572
1.583
1.574
1.576

56.11
56. 62
55.70
54. 51
54. 55
53.70
52.32
53.89
54.03
54.09
56.30

40.9
41.3
40.6
39.7
39.7
39.2
38.3
38.8
38.7
38.5
40.1

1.372
1.371
1.372
1.373
1.374
1.370
1.366
1.389
1.396
1.405
1.404

59.45
55.43
50. 69
49.42
51.73
50. 38
47.18
49. 6 6
49.90
49.93
57.23

39.4
37.1
33.5
33.8
35.0
34.2
33.2
32.0
33.4
33.4
37.8

1.509
1.494
1.513
1.462
1.478
1.473
1.421
1. 552
1.494
1.495
1.514

48. 38
47. 27
44.97
43.56
44.05
45.10
46.11
45.89
43.70
45.12
46.26

37.5
37.4
36.5
35.3
35.3
35.4
35.8
35.6
34.6
35.5
36.2

1.290
1.264
1.232
1.234
1.248
1.274
1.288
1.289
1.263
1.271
1.278

1952: J a n u a ry _____ 60. 99
February____ 62. 52

41.6
42.3

1.466
1.478

65.28
65.73

40.7
40.8

1.604
1.611

63.84
64.16

40.0
40.0

1. 596
1.604

56. 64
57.16

39.8
40.0

1.423
1.429

56.24
57. 56

37.1
37.5

1.516
1.535

46. 61
47. 49

36.1
36.7

1.291
1.294

1951: February____
M arch_______
A p r il..______
M ay _______
June_________
July_________
August______
September___
October_____
November___
December____

Manufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
M en’s and boys’
suits and coats
1950: Average______ $50.22
1951: Average______ 52.73

M en’s and boys’ fur­
nishings and work
clothing

36.9 $1.361 $36.43
35.8 1.473 38.05

Shirts, collars, and
nightwear

Separate trousers

Work shirts

Women’s outerwear

36.8 $0,990 $36. 26
36.0 1.057 37. 95

36.7 $0,988 $39. 43
35.6 1.066 40.14

37.8 $1.043 $31.34
36.0 1.115 33.02

35.9 $0. 873 $49.41
35.7
.925 51.31

34.7
35.0

$1. 424
1.466

36.2
37.7
36.5
36.4
35.9
35.3
35.2
34.3
34.5
35.1
35.3

.913
.926
.918
.922
.916
.924
.921
.928
.943
.936
.931

56. 08
52. 49
48. 37
47.30
47. 52
52.35
53.45
51.50
47.33
50.41
52.30

36.7
35.9
35.1
34.3
33.8
34.9
35.4
34.4
32.8
34.6
35.8

1.528
1. 462
1.378
1.379
1.406
1.500
1.510
1.497
1.443
1.457
1.461

35.6
35.6

.929
.927

53.64
54. 56

36.0
36.4

1.490
1.499

1951: February____
M arch_____ April________
M a y ________
June_________
July-------------August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

56.32
57.13
54.90
53. 29
52.85
52. 82
51.56
51.98
47. 81
47. 59
49. 98

38.0
38.6
37.5
36.3
36.0
36.2
35.0
35.1
32.5
32.2
33.7

1.482
1.480
1.464
1.468
1.468
1.459
1.473
1.481
1.471
1.478
1.483

39.68
40.17
38.96
37.28
36. 82
36.15
36. 99
37. 67
37.14
38.13
38.09

37.4
37.9
37.0
35.5
35.0
34.4
35.3
35.5
35.0
35.6
35.8

1.061
1.060
1.053
1.050
1.052
1.051
1.048
1.061
1.061
1.071
1.064

39.87
40.05
39.15
36.96
35.97
35.30
36.47
37. 70
37. 52
38. 84
38. 41

37.3
37.5
37.0
34.9
34.0
33.4
34.5
35.1
35.0
36.0
35.7

1.069
1.068
1.058
1.059
1.058
1.057
1.057
1.074
1.072
1.079
1.076

43.08
43.69
42.37
38.86
39.28
38. 61
39.13
39. 94
36.83
37.56
39.32

38.6
38.8
37.9
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.0
35.6
33.3
33.6
35 2

1.116
1.126
1.118
1.107
1.119

1.106
1.118
1.117

33.05
34. 91
33. 51
33.56
32.88
32. 62
32.42
31.83
32.53
32. 85
32.86

1952: January. _ .
February____

50.01
51.59

33.1
34.3

1.511
1.504

38. 20
39. 09

36.0
36.7

1.061
1.065

39. 06
39.13

36.5
36.4

1.070
1.075

40. 30
41.99

35.6
36.9

1.132
1.138

33.07
33.00

1 .1 0 0

1.118
1 .1 2 2

M anufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued

Women’s dresses

Household apparel

Women’s suits, coats,
and skirts

1950: Average______ $48. 09
1951: Average_____ 50. 65

34.8 $1.382 $34.66
35.1 1.443 37. 8 6

36.1 $0,960 $63. 77
36.9 1.026 63. 89

1951: February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
June_________
July..................
August______
September___
October...........
November___
December____

52.56
52.20
50.65
49. 46
48.92
48.96
52.16
51.05
47.33
49. 60
52.60

36.3
36.3
35.1
34.3
34.5
35.4
35.8
34.4
32.8
34.3
36.1

1.448
1.438
1. 443
1.442
1.418
1.383
1. 457
1.484
1.443
1.446
1.457

39.74
39. 89
39.13
3 a oo
37. 22
34. 48
37.19
37.69
36. 81
38. 35
39. 07

38.7
38.8
38.1
37.0
36.1
34.0
36.5
36.7
35.7
36.8
37.9

1.027
1.028
1.027
1. 027
1.031
1. 014
1.019
1.027
1.031
1.042
1.031

73. 39
62. 8 6
53. 79
55.15
55. 71
6 8 . 43
6 6 . 97
63.33
56. 29
60.83
63. 21

35.8
32.4
30.6
32.1
31.0
34.2
33.5
32.1
29.3
31.5
33.2

2.050
1.940
1. 758
1.718
1. 797
2 . 001
1.999
1.973
1.921
1.931
1.904

1952: January_____
February____

52. 56
53. 69

36.4
36.9

1.444
1.455

39.48
40.69

37.6
38.5

1.050
1.057

67.15
6 8 . 20

34.0
34.1

1.975
2. 000

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Women’s and chil­
dren’s undergar­
ments

33.6 $1. 898 $38.38
32.9 1.942 40. 92

U n d e r w ea r and
nightwear, except
corsets

Millinery

36.9 $1.040 $36. 55
36.6 1.118 39. 67

36.4 $1.004 $54. 21
36.8 1.078 57.46

35.2
36.0

$1.540
1.596

42. 81
42. 21
40.88
38. 27
38.99
38. 41
39. 55
41.06
41.66
42.79
42. 90

38.5
38.2
36.8
34.6
35.0
34.6
35.5
36.5
36.8
37.5
37.5

1.114
1.125
1.132
1.141
1.144

40.84
40.25
39. 77
37.38
38. 52
38.56
38. 6 6
40.00
40. 51
41.13
41.21

38.2
37.9
37.1
35.0
35.8
35.7
35.9
36.9
37.2
37.6
37.4

1.069
1 . 062
1.072
1.068
1.076
1.080
1. 077
1.084
1.089
1.094
1 .1 0 2

6 8 . 84
62.07
52.94
45. 91
49.42
57.66
59. 35
62.10
52.50
50. 90
55. 91

41.1
38.6
34.2
31.0
32.9
35.9
36.5
37.3
33.4
32.9
35.5

1.675
1.608
1.548
1.481
1.502
1.606
1 . 626
1.665
1.572
1.547
1.575

,42. 25
42. 94

36.9
37.7

1.145
1.139

40. 30
40.73

36.8
37.3

1.095
1.092

62.08
6 8 . 51

38.9
41.1

1.596
1.667

1 .1 1 2

1.105
I ll
1.106
1.114
1.

1 .1 1 0

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

T

a b l e

C: E A R N I N G S

AND

603

HOURS

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. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Fur goods and mis­
cellaneous apparel

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Other fabricated
textile products

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Curtains and
draperies
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Textile bags

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex­
cept furniture)
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$55.31
59.26

41.0
40.9

$1,349
1.449

1950: Average_____ $38. 98
1951: Average_____ 41.53

36.5 $1.068 $43.45
36.3 1.144 45. 71

36.7 $1.184 $42.06
36.6 1.249 44.19

38.2 $1 . 1 0 1
37.8 1.169 $38. 37

36.3 $1.057 $44.85

38.4 $1.168

1951: February____ 42.70
March_______ 40. 77
April________ 40.74
May............... 40.35
June_________ 40. 90
July_________ 41.83
August______ 41.59
September___ 41.93
October........... 40.15
November___ 42.37
December____ 42. 79

37.1
36.5
36.8
35.9
36.1
36.5
36.2
35.9
34.7
36.4
36.7

1.151
1.117
1.107
1. 124
1.133
1.146
1.149
1.168
1.157
1.164
1.166

44.98
45.60
44.88
44. 82
46.14
43.61
46.28
46. 76
45.68
47.62
47.13

36.9
37.1
36.7
36.0
36.5
36.4
36.5
36.7
3a 0
37.0
37.2

1.219
1.229
1.223
1.245
1.264
1.198
1.268
1.274
1.269
1.287
1.267

44.12
44.05
43.15
42.81
44. 59
43.48
44.03
44. 36
44. 41
44.65
45. 74

38.6
38.3
37.1
36.5
37.5
37.1
37.7
37.5
37.6
37.9
38.6

1.143
1.150
1.163
1.173
1.189
1.172
1.168
1.183
1.181
1.178
1.185

39.93
38.44
38.12
37.21
38. 27
38.05
37. 49
37.31
37.73
38.00
39.33

37.6
36.4
36.0
35.2
35.7
35.3
35.7
35.4
35.8
36.5
37.1

1.062
1.056
1.059
1.057
1.072
1.078
1.050
1.054
1.054
1.041
1 . 060

44.73
45.16
43.12
42.65
44.03
44.00
45.94
44.92
45. 21
46.21
47.60

39.2
39.0
37.4
36.8
37.6
37.8
38.9
38.0
37.9
38.8
40.0

1.141
1.158
1.153
1.159
1.171
1.164
1.181
1.182
1.193
1.191
1.190

56.13
55.58
58. 95
59. 72
61.51
57.43
60.49
61. 51
62. 32
60.86
60.18

40.5
40.6
41.4
41.5
41.9
39.8
40.9
40.6
41.3
40.6
40.8

1.386
1.369
1.424
1.4.39
1.468
1.443
1.479
1.515
1.509
1.499
1.475

43.14
43.86

36.5
37.3

1.182
1.176

44.08
43.58

36.1
36.2

1 . 221

45. 07
45.03

38.1
38.1

1.183
1.182

38.88
40. 36

36.3
37.1

1.071
1.088

46. 61
46. 45

39.5
39.7

1.180
1.170

57.12
59.10

40.2
40.7

1.421
1.452

1952: January_____
February____

1.204

Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)—Continued
Sawm ills and planing mills, general
Logging camps and
contractors

Sawmills and plan­
ing mills

South

United States
1950: Average........ — $66.25
1951: Average_____ 71.37

38.9 $1.703 $54.95
39.3 1.816 58.73

40.7 $1,350 $55.53
40.5 1.450 59.58

40.5 $1.371 $38.90
40.5 1.471 41.19

M ill work, plywood,
and prefabricated
structural wood
products

West

42.1 $0.924 $70.43
42.2
.976 75.85

38.7 $1.820 $60.52
38.6 1.965 64.74

43.2
42.4

$1.401
1.527

1951: February . . .
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
June_________
July...................
August______
September___
October............
November___
December____

64.10
57. 93
71.10
71.64
77.10
62.55
74.57
75.63
79.99
79.38
74.92

38.2
36.3
39.0
39.0
41.7
35.7
40.2
39.7
41.9
41.3
40.0

1.678
1.596
1.823
1.837
1.849
1.752
1.855
1.905
1.909
1.922
1.873

55.30
55.06
58.49
59. 22
60.92
57.46
60.29
61.06
61. 49
60. 56
59. 47

39.9
40.1
41.1
41.3
41.5
39.6
40.6
40.2
40.8
40.4
40.4

1.386
1.373
1.423
1.434
1.468
1.451
1.485
1. 519
1.507
1.499
1.472

56.00
55.58
59.16
59.95
61.79
58.17
61.06
61. 95
62.42
61.49
60.36

39.8
39.9
41.0
41.2
41.5
39.6
40.6
40.2
40.8
40.4
40.4

1.407
1.393
1.443
1.455
1.489
1.469
1.504
1. 541
1.530
1.522
1.494

40.05
40. 34
41.82
41.81
41.12
40. 62
41.02
41.21
42.37
41. 75
42.03

41.5
41.8
42.8
43.1
42.0
41.7
41.9
41.8
42.8
42.3
42.5

.965
.965
.977
.970
.979
.974
.979
.986
.990
.987
.989

71.71
69. 94
75.61
75.62
79.31
72.38
77. 57
79. 01
79. 57
78. 82
77.19

37.9
37.3
39.4
39.1
40.4
37.1
39.1
38.6
39.1
38.6
38.1

1.892
1.875
1.919
1.934
1.963
1.951
1.984
2.047
2.035
2.042
2.026

63.88
64. 71
65.04
65.32
65.48
63.56
64.79
6 6 .39
66.94
62. 97
65.15

42.9
43.2
43.3
43.2
42.8
41.6
42.1
42.1
42.5
40.6
41.9

1.489
1.498
1.502
1.512
1.530
1.528
1.539
1. 577
1.575
1.551
1. 555

1952: January_____
February____

67.97
75.01

41.6
42.4

1.634
1. 769

56. 25
58.06

39.5
40.1

1.424
1.448

56.89
58.76

39.4
40.0

1.444
1.469

41.68
40.88

42.1
41.5

.990
.985

70. 71
76. 46

35.3
38.5

2.003
1.986

64.59
6 6 .0 2

41.3
42.0

1.564
1.572

Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)—Continued
Wooden containers

Millwork
1950: Average__
1951: Average—

$59.05
61.80

43.2 $1.367 $46.03
42.1 1.468 49.22

Wooden boxes, other
than cigar

40.7 $1.311 $46.56
41.5 1.186 49. 54

Furniture and fixtures

Miscellaneous wood
products

41.5 $ 1 . 1 2 2 $47.07
42.2 1.174 51.28

Total: Furniture
and fixtures

41.4 $1.137 $53.67
42.0 1 . 2 2 1 57.72

41.9 $1.281 $51.91
41.2 1.401 54.84

41.9
40.8

$1.239
1.344

42.2
42.3
41.1
40.4
40.4
39.7
40.8
41.1
41.4
41.1
42.0

1.378
1.387
1.386
1.393
1.387
1.404
1.410
1.421
1.420
1.431
1.440

55.78
56.37
54.04
52.96
52.64
51.91
53.64
55.32
55.94
56. 50
57.75

42.0
42.1
40.6
39.7
39.7
38.8
40.0
40.8
41.1
41.0
41.7

1.328
1.339
1.331
1.334
1.326
1.338
1.341
1.356
1.361
1.378
1.385

41.5
41.5

1.441
1. 451

56.59
57.49

41.1
41.3

1.377
1.392

1951: February..
M arch___
April_____
M ay _____
June..........
July...........
August___
September
October............
November.
December____

60.15
61.19
62.13
62.32
62.08
60.54
62.14
62.81
64.20
61.74
63.09

41.8
42.2
42.7
42.6
42.2
41.1
42.1
42.1
42.8
41.3
42.2

1.439
1.450
1.455
1.463
1.471
1.473
1.476
1.492
1.500
1.495
1.495

47.72
48.51
48. 70
49.27
50.46
48.63
48.87
49.93
50.01
49.48
51.07

41.1
41.5
41.8
41.9
42.3
40.9
41.0
41.3
41.5
41.3
42.0

1.161
1.169
1.165
1.176
1.193
1.189
1.192
1.209
1.205
1.198
1.216

49.26
49.62
49.64
49.82
50.35
49. 27
48.74
49. 42
49. 61
49.16
50.37

42.8
42.7
42.9
42.8
42.6
41.3
41.2
41.6
41.9
41.8
42.4

1.151
1.162
1.157
1.164
1.182
1.193
1.183
1.188
1.184
1.176
1.188

50.23
50.54
51.49
51.72
52. 26
50. 75
51.29
52.38
51.96
50.92
52.08

42.1
42.4
42.8
42.5
42.8
41.7
41.9
41.9
41.6
40.8
41.7

1.217
1.224
1.250
1.249
1.248
1.249

58.15
58.67
56.96
56.28
56.03
55.74
57.53
58.40
58. 79
58. 81
60.48

1952: January___
February...

61.84
61. 96

41.5
41.2

1.490
1. 504

48. 47
48.48

40.7
40.6

1.191
1.194

47.80
47.92

41.1
41.2

1.163
1.163

51.83
52.25

41.6
41.5

1.246
1.259

59.80
60.22

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Household furniture

1.193
1.192
1.203
1.217
1 .2 2 1

604
T

a b l e

C: E A R N IN G S AN D

HOURS

M O NTH LY

LA BO R

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
Avg. Avg.
wkly. WKly.
earn- hours
ings

1950: Average_____ $48. 39
1951: Average______ 50. 8 8

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Wood household furniture, upholstered
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings

42.3 $1,144 $56.35
41.3 1.232 58.03

1951: February____
M arch_______
April_______
M a y _______
June_________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

52.31
52.11
50.84
49.73
49. 45
47. 50
50.10
50. 92
51.46
51.58
52.54

42.7
42.4
41.4
40.5
40.2
38.9
40.6
41.1
41.5
41.3
41.8

1952: January_____
February____

52.29
52.50

41.6
41.5

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Mattresses and
bedsprings
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings

41.4 $1,361 $57. 27
39.8 1.458 60. 37

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Paper and allied products
Other furniture
and fixtures
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earnings hours

Total: Paper and
allied products

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

41.2 $1.390 $58. 53
40.3 1.498 64.69

41.9 $1.397 $61.14
42.2 1.533 65. 77

43.3 $1,412 $65.06
43.1 1. 526 71.17

43.9
44.4

$1,482
1.603

43.4
43.7
43.7
43.4
43.1
42.8
42. 6
42.8
42.5
42.4
42.8

1. 506
1.514
1. 519
1. 519
1.521
1. 529
1.522
1. 532
1.537
1.548
1. 558

70.49
70. 80
71.37
70. 96
70.84
71.73
70.38
71.29
71.15
71.31
72. 22

44.5
44.7
44.8
44.6
44.3
44.5
44.1
44.2
44.0
43.8
44.2

1.584
1.584
1. 593
1.591
1.599
1.612
1.596
1.613
1.617
1.628
1.634

42.7
42.5

1. 561
1.566

71. 98
72.16

44.0
44.0

1.636
1.640

1.234
1.239
1.240
1.249
1. 257

1 .2 2 1

58.92
59.68
55. 8 8
53.91
55.11
54.37
55. 59
58.17
60.23
61.39
65.33

41.0
41.3
38.7
37.1
37.8
37.6
38.5
40.2
41.0
41.2
42.7

1.437
1.445
1.444
1.453
1.458
1.446
1.444
1. 447
1. 469
1.490
1. 530

59.70
64.24
58.00
57. 29
56.47
58.84
57. 97
62.23
62. 09
63.15
63. 08

40.5
42.6
39.7
39.0
39.6
39.2
39.3
40.7
40.5
40.4
40.8

1.474
1.508
1.461
1.469
1.426
1.501
1. 475
1. 529
1.533
1.563
1. 546

64.33
64.63
64. 52
64.20
63.82
64.30
65. 92
65.32
65.30
64. 49
67.07

42.6
42.8
42.5
42.1
42.1
41.7
42.5
41.9
42. 1
41.5
42.8

1.510
1.510
1. 518
1.525
1.516
1. 542
1.551
1. 559
1.551
1.554
1.567

1.257
1.265

59.42
62. 58

39.8
40.9

1. 493
1. 530

63. 58
65.14

40.6
41.1

1. 566
1.585

67. 53
66.81

42.5
42.1

1. 589
1.587

1. 225
1.229
1.228
1.228
1.230

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills

65.36
66.16
66.38
65.92
65. 56
65.44
64.84
65. 57
65.32
65.64
6 6 .6 8

66.65
6 6 . 56

Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied industries

Paper and allied products--Continued
Paperboard con­
tainers and boxes
1950: Average......... _ $57. 96
1951: Average_____ 60. 65

Other paper and
allied products

43.0 $1.348 $55.48
41.8 1.451 59.73

Total: Printing, pub­
lishing, and allied
industries

42.0 $1,321 $72. 98
41.8 1. 429 76.05

Periodicals

Newspapers

38.8 $1 . 881 $80.00
38.8 1. 960 83. 34

36.9 $2.168 $74.18
36.6 2. 277 79.28

Books

39.5 $1.878 $64.08
39.8 1. 992 67.48

39.1
39.6

$1.639
1.704
1.702
1.707
1.714
1.704
1.712
1.693
1.707
1.713
1. 683
1.701
1. 718
1. 726
1.746

1951: F e b r u a r y ___
March_______
A p r il.______
M a y ...............
June________
July_________
A ugust............
September___
October_____
November___
December____

61.80
63.17
62. 74
61.38
60.05
58. 59
58.92
59.12
58.93
59.49
60. 77

42.8
43.3
43.0
42.1
41.5
40.6
40.8
41.0
40.7
40.8
41.2

1.444
1.459
1.459
1.458
1.447
1.443
1.444
1.442
1.448
1.458
1. 475

58. 83
59. 91
59. 82
59.99
60.15
58.95
59.39
59.78
59.60
59. 80
60. 76

41.9
42.1
42.1
42.1
42.3
41.4
41.5
41.6
41.3
41.1
41.5

1.404
1.423
1.421
1.425
1.422
1.424
1.431
1.437
1.443
1.455
1. 464

74.23
75.74
75. 78
75. 6 6
75. 82
75.50
75. 54
77.69
76.27
77.09
79. 43

38.4
38.9
38.9
38.7
38.8
38.6
38.7
39.2
38.6
38.7
39.4

1.933
1.947
1.948
1. 955
1.954
1.956
1.952
1. 982
1. 976
1.992
2.016

79.96
82.13
82. 98
83.49
83.16
82.36
82.29
85.13
84. 59
85.51
88.65

36.0
36.6
36.8
36.7
36.7
36.3
36.3
36.9
36.7
36.7
37.5

2.244
2.255
2. 275
2.266
2.269
2. 267
2.307
2.305
2.330
2.364

79.23
78.56
77.34
75.93
77. 70
79.64
80.32
83.23
80. 07
80.48
80.11

40.2
39.9
39.4
38.9
39.3
39.7
40.0
40.7
39.7
39.8
39.5

1.971
1.969
1.963
1.952
1.977
2.006
2.008
2.045
2.017
2.028

68.03

38.9
39.5
39.7
39.9
40.3
39.1
40.0
40.1
39.4
39.2
39.6

1952: January.. . .
February.........

60. 93
60.70

41.2
40.9

1.479
1. 484

60. 69
60.48

41.4
41.0

1.466
1.475

77.12
77.34

38.6
38.4

1.998
2.014

82.68
83. 65

35.7
35.9

2.316
2.330

79.17
82.12

39.0
40.1

2.030
2.048

67. 49
6 8 . 62

39.1
39.3

2 . 221

2 .0 2 2

6 6 .2 1

67.43
6 8 . 05

67.99
68.99
6 6 .2 0

68.28
6 8 . 69
66.31
6 6 .6 8

Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied industries—Continued
Commercial printing
1950: Average_____ $72.34
1951: Average______ 75.36

Lithographing

39.9 $1,813 $73. 04
40.0 1.884 75. 99

Chemicals and allied products

Other printing and
publishing

40.0 $ 1 . 826 $65.18
40.1 1.895 67.42

Total: Chemicals
and allied products

39.1 $1. 667 $62.67
39.2 1.720 6 8 . 2 2

Industrial inorganic
chemicals

41.5 $1,510 $67.89
41.8 1.632 75.13

Industrial organic
chemicals

40.9 $1.660 $65. 69
41.6 1.806 71. 62

40.6
40.9

$1,618
1.751

1951: February____
March..............
April.................
M a v ________
June________
July-------------August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

73.24
75. 52
74. 76
74.60
74.86
74. 8 6
74. 77
76. 99
75.13
76.57
78.75

39.4
40.3
40.0
39.7
39.8
39.8
39.9
40.5
39.5
39.9
40.7

1.859
1.874
1.869
1.879
1.881
1.881
1.874
1.901
1.902
1.919
1. 935

75.33
74.85
76. 52
74. 79
75. 95
76.42
77.09
77.81
75.96
75.56
78.47

40.2
40.2
40.4
39.7
40.1
40.2
40.3
40.4
40.0
39.6
40.7

1.874
1.862
1.894
1.884
1.894
1.901
1.913
1.926
1.899
1.908
1.928

66.81
68.17
67.60
67.69
67.11
6 6 .44
65.96
67. 70
67.22
6 6 . 99
69.38

38.8
39.2
39.3
39.4
39.2
38.9
38.8
39.2
38.9
38.7
39.6

1.722
1.739
1.720
1.718
1.712
1.708
1.700
1.727
1.728
1. 731
1. 752

67.17
67.54
67.84
68.14
6 8 . 72
69.01
68.18
6 8 .43
68.18
68.72
69.10

41.8
41.9
41.8
41.7
41.7
41.6
41.5
41.7
41.8
41.8
41.8

1.607
1.612
1.623
1.634
1.648
1.659
1.643
1.641
1.631
1.644
1.653

73.79
73. 65
73. 69
74.53
75.50
76. 36
76.03
76.13
76. 45
76.36
75.89

41.5
41.4
41.4
41.8
41.9
42.0
42.1
41.6
41.8
41.5
41.0

1.778
1.779
1.780
1.783
1.802
1.818
1.806
1.830
1. 829
1.840
1. 851

70.26
71.15
71.82
72.07
72.48
73.06
71.67
72.54
71.17
71.63
72.45

40.8
41.2
41.3
41.3
41.3
41.3
41.0
40.8
40.3
40.4
40.7

1.722
1.727
1.739
1.745
1.755
1.769
1.748
1.778
1.766
1. 773
1.780

1952: January____
February____

78.34
77.14

40.4
39.7

1.939
1.943

76.68
77.13

40.0
39.8

1.917
1.938

6 8 . 52
6 8 .1 2

39.2
38.4

1.748
1. 774

6 8 . 72
6 8 .39

41.5
41.3

1. 656
1. 656

75. 91
74.28

41.3
40.7

1.838
1.825

71.68
71. 76

40.2
40.2

1. 783
1.785

See footnotes at end of table.


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

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

T

a b l e

C: E A R N IN G S AN D

605

HOURS

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees

Con.

Manufacturing—Continued
Chemical and allied products—Continued
Year and month

Plastics, except syn­
thetic rubber
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Synthetic rubber
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Synthetic fibers

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Drugs and medicines

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Paints, pigments,
and fillers

Fertilizers
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.3 $1,532 $47.00
41.9 1.643 52.16

41.3
42.2

$1.138
1.236

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1950: Average_____ $05. 54
1951: Average_____ 72.66

41.8 $1,568 $71.93
42.0 1.730 78.31

40.8 $1,763 $58. 40
41.0 1.910 62. 76

39.3 $1,486 $59. 59
39.4 1. 593 62.51

1951: February____
March............ .
April_______
M a y ..
June________
J u ly ................
A ugust..
September___
October______
N ovember____
December____

70. 72
71.61
72.21
72. 20
72.15
73. 91
72.36
74. 55
72. 36
73.49
73. 61

41.5
42.0
42.3
42.1
41.9
42.6
41.9
42.5
41.3
41.4
41.4

1.704
1. 705
1.707
1 . 715
1.722
1.735
1.727
1. 754
1.752
1.775
1.778

76. 97
77.12
78.00
78.87
78.40
79.32
79.12
78.44
76.86
80.42
81.20

40.9
41.0
41.4
41. 6
41.2
41.1
41.1
40.6
40.2
41.2
41.6

1.882
1.881
1.884
1.896
1. 903
1.930
1.925
1.932
1.912
1.952
1.952

61.39
62. 29
62.81
63.08
62. 69
63.32
62. 53
&3. 54
62.86
63.10
63.91

39.3
39.5
39.7
39.8
39.6
39.5
39.4
39.1
38.9
38.9
39.4

1.562
1.577
1.582
1. 585
1.583
1.603
1.587
1. 625
1.616
1.622
1.622

61.96
62. 28
63.08
62.17
62.36
61. 63
62.00
61. 90
63. 51
63.59
63.67

41.5
41.6
41.8
41.2
41.3
40.2
40.6
40.3
41.0
41.0
41.0

1.493
1.497
1.509
1.509
1.510
1. 533
1.527
1. 536
1.549
1.551
1.553

69.05
69.07
68.79
68.83
6 8 .54
68.84
6 8 .35
67.86
6 8 . 56
69.85
70. 27

42.6
42.4
42.1
42.1
42.0
41.8
41.7
41.0
41.2
41.6
41.9

1.621
1.629
1. 634
1.635
1.632
1.647
1.639
1.655
1.664
1.679
1.677

48.42
50. 56
50.98
53.29
52.96
54.36
52. 67
54.02
52.92
53.09
54. 95

41.0
42.7
42.2
42.8
42.0
42.6
41.6
42.4
41.9
41.9
42.6

1.181
1.184
1.208
1.245
1.261
1.276
1.266
1.274
1.263
1.267
1.290

1952: January____
February____

73.35
72. 28

41.3
40.7

1.776
1.776

78.78
77.24

40.4
40.0

1.950
1.931

63.38
63.90

39.0
39.3

1.625
1.626

64.05
63. 81

40.9
40.8

1.566
1.564

69. 63
69.13

41.4
41.1

1.682
1.682

54.06
53.17

42.1
41.8

1.284
1.272

40.9 $1,457 $64. 80
41.1 1. 521 68.84

Manufacturing—Continued
Products of petroleum and coal

Chemicals and allied products—Continued
Vegetable and ani­
mal oils and fats

Other chemicals and
allied products

Soap and glycerin

1.998
1.997
2.013

81.28
81.89
84.87
84. 77
84.76
87.94
83. 70
86.60
84.68
84.89
87.14

40.2
40.2
40.9
40.5
40.4
41.6
40.2
41.1
40.4
40.6
41.3

2.037
2.075
2.093
2.098
2.114
2.082
2.107
2. 096
2.091
2 .1 1 0

69.63
68.08
68.96
69.12
70.42
70.88
6 8 .77
70. 62
69.20
69.32
70.35

40.2
39.4
40.0
40.0
40.1
40.5
39.5
39.9
39.7
39.5
40.2

1.732
1.728
1.724
1.728
1.756
1.750
1.741
1.770
1.743
1.755
1.750

2.027
2.019

87.13
85.88

41.1
40.7

2 .1 2 0
2 .1 1 0

70.07
71.06

39.5
40.1

1.774
1.772

1.856
1.870
1.883
1.905
1.919

78.44
78.93
81.33
81.31
81.20
84.06
80.55
83.21
81.72
81.28
82. 94

40.6
40.6
41.2
40.9
40.7
41.8
40.6
41.4
40.9
40.7
41.2

77. 87
77.28

41.2
40.8

1.890
1.894

82.90
82.38

40.9
40.8

56.36
56.28
58.39
59. 22
60.43
61.59
59.81
58.43
58. 82
58. 95
59. 65

44.8
43.9
44.4
43.9
44.3
44.5
44.4
47.7
49.1
48.6
48.3

1.258
1.282
1.315
1.349
1.364
1.384
1.347
1.225
1.198
1.213
1.235

68.19
69. 22
69. 55
70.47
70. 72

42.3
42.3
41.8
41.5
41.4
41.4
41.3
41.4
41.4
41.6
41.5

1.656
1.654
1.643
1.639
1.646
1.659
1.651
1. 672
1.680
1.694
1.704

1952: January...
February___

59. 65
59.45

47.3
46.7

1.261
1.273

70.47
70.33

41.5
41.3

1.698
1.703

68.14

$1.583
1.741

43.2
43.0
41.3
40.6
40.8
40.9
40.9
41.1
41.1
41.6
41.2

1951: February.. ._
March . . .
A p r il_______
M ay________
June________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November____
D ecember____

6 8 .6 8

39.7
39.9

79.36
79.64
75.87
74.05
75.48
76.40
75.91
76.86
77.39
79. 25
79.06

41.5 $1. 552 $71.81
41.7 1.662 77.11

1.837
1.852
1.837
1.824
1.850
1 .8 6 8

Coke and byproducts

40.4 $1. 929 $62.85
40.7 2.081 69. 47

40.9 $1,834 $77. 93
41.0 1.983 84.70

45.5 $1.175 $64.41
46.0 1.274 69.31

6 8 .6 8
6 8 .0 2

Petroleum refining

41.7 $1.722 $75.01
41.5 1.858 81.30

1950: Average______ $53.46
1951: Average____
58.60

70.05
69.96

Total: Products of
petroleum and coal

1.932
1.944
1.974
1.988
1.995
2. Oil
1.984
2 .0 1 0

2 .0 2 2

Manufacturing—Continued
Products of petro­
leum and coal—Con.
Other petroleum and
coal products

Total: Rubber
products

Tires and inner
tubes

44.7 $1. 494 $64.42
43.7 1. 581 68.70

1951: February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay ________
June_________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
N ovem ber___
December . _

67.68
6 8 .97
69.10
69.73
67. 69
69.09
70.68
72.44
72.74
67.37
64.75

43.3
43.9
43.9
44.3
43.2
43.7
44.4
44.8
44.9
42.4
41.4

1.563
1.571
1.574
1.574
1.567
1.581
1.592
1.617
1.620
1.589
1.564

63.37
65.88
65.96
68.56
71.27
70.81
69.52
70.18
6 8 . 67
69.46
73.91

38.9
40.0
40.0
41.3
41.9
41.0
40.7
40.9
40.3
40.5
41.2

1.629
1.647
1.649
1.660
1.701
1.727
1.708
1.716
1.704
1.715
1.794

71.40
70.15
75.92
82.44
83.67
82.07
81.64
78.76
80.27
86.26

35.5
37.6
37.0
39.4
41.7
41.4
41.2
40.9
39.9
40.5
41.0

1952: January_____
February____

64.17
67.04

40.9
41.9

1.569
1.600

75.15
74.30

41.2
40.8

1.824
1.821

8 8 . 71
87. 62

41.3
41.0


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

40.9 $1.575 $72.48
40.6 1.692 77.93
6 6 .95

Rubber footwear

Other rubber
products

Total: Leather and
leather products

40. i $1.302 $59. 76
41.0 1.410 63.26

42.2 $1,416 $44.56
41.4 1.528 47.10

37.6
37.0

$1.185
1.273

1.992
1.996
1.974
1.982
2.104

55.87
58.17
59.82
61.48
59.98
54. 6 8
57.04
55.94
56.16
56.64
59.95

40.6
41.4
42.1
42.9
42.3
39.0
40.8
40.1
40.0
40.2
40.7

1.376
1.405
1.421
1.433
1.418
1.402
1.398
1.395
1.404
1.409
1.473

61.95
63.13
63.81
64.09
64.47
63.29
61.42
63.06
62.68
62.36
65.45

41.3
41.7
41.9
42.5
42.0
41.1
40.3
41.0
40.7
40.6
41.5

1.500
1.514
1.523
1.508
1.535
1.540
1.524
1.538
1.540
1.536
1.577

49.43
48.73
46.65
45.38
46.90
47.12
46.19
45. 92
45.31
45.85
48.61

39.2
38.4
36.5
35.4
36.7
37.1
36.4
35.9
35.4
35.6
37.8

1.261
1.269
1.278
1.282
1.278
1.270
1.268
1.279
1.280
1.288
1.286

2.148
2.137

60.39
60.46

40.1
39.8

1.506
1.519

65. 58
64.70

41.3
40.9

1.588
1.582

49.63
50.32

38.5
38.8

1.289
1.297

39.8 $1,821 $52.21
39.6 1.968 57.81

1950: A verage_____ $6 6 . 78
1951: Average______ 69.09

See footnotes at end of table.

Leather and leather
products

Rubber products

1 .8 8 6

1.899
1.896
1.927
1.977
2 .0 2 1

606
T

a b l e

C: E A R N IN G S A N D

M O N TH LY LA BO R

HOURS

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Leather and leather products—Continued

Year and month

Footwear (except
rubber)

Leather
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Stone, clay. and glass products

Other leather
products

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Total: Stone, clay,
and glass products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Glass and glass
products

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
kly.
earn­ earn­ w
ings
ings hours

Glass containers

Avg. Avg.
hrly. w kly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1950: Average_____ $57. 21
1951: Average______ 60. 41

39.7 $1. 441 $41.99
39.1 1. 545 44.10

36.9 $1.138 $44.85
36.0 1.225 48.16

38.5 $1.165 $59. 20
38.5 1.251 64.94

41.2 $1.437 $61. 58
41.6 1.561 65. 81

40.3 $1. 528 $56.36
40.2 1.637 60. 67

39.8
40.1

$1.416
1. 513

1951: February____
M arch______
ApriL.............
M a y ______
June_________
July______
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

62. 52
60.71
60.49
59. 71
60.30
59.44
58.94
58.94
60. 37
59.98
61.11

40.6
39.6
39.1
38.6
38.8
38.5
38.1
38.3
38.9
38.3
38.9

1.540
1.533
1.547
1.547
1. 554
1.544
1. 547
1. 539
1. 552
1.566
1.571

46.99
46.43
43. 65
41.70
43. 79
44. 39
43.29
42.73
41.83
41.93
45. 57

38.8
37.9
35.4
33.9
35.6
36.3
35. 4
34.6
33.9
33.9
36.9

1.225
1.233
1.230
1.230
1.223
1.223
1.235
1.234
1. 237
1.235

48.82
48. 52
47.27
47.43
48.24
47.85
47. 8 8
48.04
47.08
48.79
50.17

39.4
39.0
38.0
37.7
38. 5
38.4
38.3
.38.1
37.6
38.6
39.5

1.239
1. 244
1.244
1.258
1.253
1.246
1. 250
1.261
1.252
1.264
1.270

63.15
64.53
65.09
65.11
65. 25
65.04
64. 74
65. 74
65.93
65. 03
65. 30

41.3
41.9
42.1
41.9
41.8
41.4
41.5
41.5
41.7
40.9
41.2

1. 529
1.540
1.546
1. 554
1.561
1. 571
1.560
1.584
1.581
1.590
1.585

65. 04
66.17
66.91
65.81
65. 97
67.14
63.19
65.40
65. 67
65.50
66.28

40.3
41.0
41.3
40.4
40.4
40.4
39.2
39.3
39.8
39.2
40.0

1.614
1.614
1.620
1.629
1.633
1.662
1.612
1.664
1.650
1.671
1.657

58.82
59. 84
61.32
60. 53
59. 89
61.44
58. 45
59.40
61.21
62. 2 2
64. 48

39.5
40.0
41.1
40.3
39.9
40.5
39.1
38.4
39.9
40.3
41.6

1.489
1.496
1.492
1.502
1.501
1. 517
1.495
1. 547
1.534
1.544
1.550

1952: January_____
Feruary______

62.13
62.29

39.2
39.3

1.585
1.585

47.24
48.32

38.1
38.5

1.240
1.255

49.67
49. 71

39.2
39.3

1. 267
1.265

64. 47
65. 27

40.7
41.0

1.584
1.592

65. 50
6 6 . 70

39.6
40.3

1.654
1.655

62. 50
62.34

40.4
40.3

1.547
1.547

1 .2 1 1

Manufacturing—Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Pressed and blown
glass

Cement, hydraulic

Structural clay
products

Brick and hollow
tile

41.7 $1.442 $54.19
41.8 1. 559 61.01

40.5 $1.338 $53. 75
41.5 1.470 58. 09

42.9 $1.253 $52.17
42.9 1.354 58.19

62.93
64.08
64.08
65.35
65.71
65.78
66.72
67.01
6 6 . 56
65.64
65.27

41.7
42.1
41.8
42.0
41.8
41.4
42.2
41.8
42.1
41.7
41.6

1.509
1.522
1.533
1.556
1.572
1.589
1.581
1 . 603
1.581
1.574
1.569

57.65
59.93
60.78
61.68
61.51
60.96
61.63
61.98
63.34
61.98
62.13

40.4
41.3
41.6
42.1
41.9
41.5
41.9
41.4
42.2
41.4
41.5

1.427
1.451
1.461
1.465
1.468
1.469
1.471
1.497
1.501
1.497
1.497

54.24
57.34
58.94
60.02
59.25
58.49
58.71
58. 58
59. 91
57.34
57. 92

41.6
42.6
43.4
44.0
43.6
43.2
43.2
42.7
43.6
42.1
42.4

1.307
1.346
1.358
1.364
1.359
1.354
1.359
1.372
1.374
1.362
1.366

65. 21
65. 91

41.3
41.9

1.579
1.573

60.63
59. 94

40.8
40.5

1.486
1.480

55.28
55.14

41.1
41.3

1.345
1.335

1950: Average_____ $53.71
1951: Average_____ 57. 50

39.7 $1.353 $60.13
39.9 1.441 65.17

1951: February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
June________
July_________
August______
September__
October_____
November___
December____

57.14
58.55
57.96
56.25
56.34
60.16
56.56
58.23
56.64
56. 70
58.76

39.9
41.0
40.9
39.5
39.4
40.9
39.5
39.8
39.2
38.6
40.3

1.432
1.428
1.417
1.424
1.430
1.471
1.432
1.463
1.445
1.469
1.458

1952: January____
February____

57. 97
59.70

39.3
40.5

1.475
1.474

Pottery and related
products

Sewer pipe

39.7 $1.314 $52.16
40.1 1.451 57. 65

37.5
38.1

$1.391
1.513

54. 8 6
56.00
57.31
58.90
57.47
55.57
59.30
59. 41
62.10
61.11
60. 25

39.3
39.8
40.3
41.1
40.3
38.7
40.7
39.5
41.1
40.5
39.9

1.396
1.407
1.422
1.433
1.426
1.436
1.457
1.504
1.511
1.509
1.510

57.69
58.64
58.65
57.26
57.04
55.37
57.04
56. 96
58.06
58. 79
59. 40

38.9
39.3
39.1
38.1
37.8
36.5
37.4
37.3
37.8
38.0
38.2

1.483
1.492
1.500
1.503
1.509
1.517
1.525
1.527
1.536
1.547
1.555

56. 85
55.31

39.1
38.2

1.454
1.448

58. 62
59. 87

37.7
38.4

1.555
1.559

Manufacturing—Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster products

Concrete products

P r im a r y m e t a l in d u s tr ie s

Other stone, clay,
and glass products

Total: Primary
metal industries

1950: Average_____ $62. 64
1951: Average_____ 6 8 .37

45.0 $1.392 $61.15
45.4 1.506 67.41

43.9 $1.393 $60.94
45.0 1.498 67. 67

41.4 $1. 472 $67. 24
41.8 1.619 75.12

1951: February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
June________
July-------------August______
September__
October...........
November___
December..

65.37
66.74
67.80
68.26
69.13
69.14
70.34
70.71
70. 82
69.06
67. 98

44.2
45.0
45.5
45.6
45.9
45.7
46.4
46.4
46.2
44.9
44.4

1. 479
1.483
1.490
1.497
1. 506
1.513
1.516
1. 524
1.533
1.538
1.531

63.19
65. 61
66.14
67.51
67. 80
69.07
69. 49
69.89
70.12
68.67
6 8 . 36

42.9
44.3
44.6
45.4
45.5
46.2
45.9
46.1
46.1
45.0
44.8

1.473
1.481
1.483
1.487
1.490
1.495
1.514
1.516
1.521
1.526
1.526

66.96
67. 76
67.85
68.72
68.29
67.32
67.93
6 8 .35
67.81
6 6 . 94
67.73

42.3
42.3
42.3
42.5
42.0
41.4
41.7
41.7
41.4
40.4
41.1

1.583
1.602
1.604
1.617
1.626
1 . 626
1.629
1.639
1.638
1.657
1.648

1952: January_____
February____

67. 01
68. 20

44.0
44.2

1. 523
1.543

6 6 . 67
69.37

44.3
45.4

1.505
1. 528

67. 36
68.63

40.6
40.8

1.659
1.682

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling
mills

Iron and steel
foundries

40.8 $1.648 $67.47
41.5 1.810 77.06

39.9 $1. 691 $65.32
40.9 1.884 71.95

41.9
42.4

$1. 559
1.697

73.12
75.11
75.70
75.02
76.03
74. 76
73.70
75. 79
74.82
75.23
77.73

41.1
41.8
42.1
41.7
41.8
41.1
40.9
41.3
41.2
41.2
42.2

1.779
1.797
1.798
1.799
1.819
1.819
1.802
1.835
1.816
1.826
1.842

74.16
77.35
77. 92
76.90
78.70
77.64
75.25
78. 72
75.79
77.49
79.44

40.0
41.3
41.6
41.1
41.4
40.8
40.2
41.0
40.4
41.0
41.9

1.854
1.873
1.873
1.871
1.901
1.903
1.872
1.920
1.876
1.890
1.896

71.48
73.31
72.93
72. 46
72.08
70. 22
70.85
71.82
72.24
71.37
73.69

42.8
43.3
43.1
42.8
42.5
41.6
41.9
42.1
42.0
41.4
42.4

1.670
1.693
1.692
1.693
1.696
1.691
1.706
1.720
1.724
1.738

76. 75
76.34

41.6
41.6

1.845
1.835

78.36
78.44

41.2
41.7

1.902
1.881

72. 61
70.96

41.9
40.9

1.733
1.735

1 .6 8 8

R E V IE W , MAY 1952

T

a b l e

G: E A R N IN G S A N D

607

HOURS

C -l: Hours and Gross EJarnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
M a n u f a c tu r i n g — C o n t i n u e d
P r im a r y m e t a l in d u s tr ie s — C o n tin u e d

G r a y -ir o n fo u n d r ie s
Y ea r a n d m o n th

M a ll e a b l e - i r o n
fo u n d r ie s

S te e l fo u n d r ie s

P r im a r y s m e ltin g
and
r e fin in g
of
n o n fe r ro u s m e ta ls

P r im a r y s m e ltin g
and
r e fin in g
of
c o p p e r , le a d , a n d
z in c

P r im a r y r e fin in g o f
a lu m in u m

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

1950: A v e r a g e . . ........... $65. 06
1951: A v e r a g e . ............. 7 0 .0 1

4 2 .3
4 2 .2

$ 1 .5 3 8
1 .6 5 9

$65. 46
7 1 .9 8

4 1 .3
4 1 .9

$1. 585
1 .7 1 8

$ 6 5 .4 3
75. 68

4 1 .1
4 3 .1

$1. 592
1. 756

$ 6 3 .7 1
7 0 .1 3

4 1 .0
4 1 .4

$ 1 .5 5 4
1 .6 9 4

$ 6 2 .3 7
6 9 .3 4

4 0 .9
4 1 .3

$1. 525
1 .6 7 9

$63. 97
70. 92

4 0 .9
4 1 .5

$ 1 .5 6 4
1 .7 0 9

1951: F e b r u a r y ............
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ___________
M a y ___________
J u n e ___________
J u l y ____________
A u g u s t _______
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r ________
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r _____

6 9 .9 0
7 2 .1 7
7 0 .8 8
70. 75
7 0 .4 7
6 8 .1 5
6 8 .8 1
6 8 .9 3
69. 47
6 8 .9 6
7 0 .4 3

4 2 .7
4 3 .4
4 2 .8
4 2 .7
4 2 .5
4 1 .3
4 1 .5
4 1 .4
4 1 .4
4 1 .0
4 1 .6

1 .6 3 7
1 .6 6 3
1 .6 5 6
1. 657
1. 658
1 .6 5 0
1 .6 5 8
1 .6 6 5
1 .6 7 8
1 .6 8 2
1 .6 9 3

7 0 .8 9
7 3 .4 0
7 4 .7 3
73. 23
7 1 .2 0
6 9 .3 7
7 1 .3 9
7 1 .8 4
7 1 .6 9
70. 79
72- 99

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

1 .6 6 8
1 .7 0 3
1 .7 2 2
1 .7 2 3
1. 724
1 .6 9 6
1. 716
1 .7 3 1
1 .7 4 0
1 .7 4 8
1 .7 6 3

7 4 .4 8
7 4 .6 1
7 5 .6 5
7 4 .9 0
7 6 .2 9
7 4 .4 5
74. 99
7 6 .3 3
7 6 .6 4
7 6 .3 7
79. 56

4 3 .2
4 3 .1
4 3 .4
4 2 .8
4 3 .3
4 2 .3
4 2 .9
4 3 .2
4 3 .2
4 3 .0
4 4 .1

1. 724
1 .7 3 1
1 .7 4 3
1. 750
1. 762
1 .7 6 0
1 .7 4 8
1 .7 6 7
1. 774
1 .7 7 6
1 .8 0 4

6 9 .1 8
6 9 .1 4
7 0 .1 8
7 0 .1 8
7 0 .7 3
69. 90
7 0 .4 6
6 8 .6 4
70. 47
6 9 .9 5
7 1 .5 8

4 1 .3
4 1 .3
4 1 .9
4 1 .8
4 1 .9
4 0 .9
4 1 .4
4 0 .4
4 1 .6
4 1 .1
4 1 .4

1. 675
1 .6 7 4
1 .6 7 5
1 .6 7 9
1 .6 8 8
1 .7 0 9
1 .7 0 2
1 .6 9 9
1 .6 9 4
1 .7 0 2
1. 729

6 8 .0 6
68. 72
70. 01
6 9 .3 5
69. 72
6 8 .2 6
6 9 .8 4
6 7 .3 1
7 0 .0 1
6 9 .1 7
7 2 .4 4

4 1 .2
4 1 .5
4 2 .2
4 1 .8
4 1 .7
4 0 .2
4 1 .4
3 9 .9
4 1 .6
4 1 .1
4 1 .8

1 .6 5 2
1 .6 5 6
1 .6 5 9
1 .6 5 9
1 .6 7 2
1 .6 9 8
1 .6 8 7
1 .6 8 7
1 .6 8 3
1 .6 8 3
1 .7 3 3

69. 21
6 9 .6 6
7 1 .1 9
7 1 .0 6
7 2 .6 3
7 2 .9 3
7 1 .3 9
7 1 .0 5
7 2 .2 4
7 1 .7 0
6 9 .1 2

4 1 .0
4 1 .1
4 1 .8
4 1 .7
4 2 .4
4 2 .4
4 1 .6
4 1 .5
4 2 .1
4 1 .3
4 0 .4

1 .6 9 5
1. 703
1 .7 0 4
1. 713
1. 720
1. 716
1. 712
1. 716
1. 736
1 .7 1 1

1952: J a n u a r y ...............
F e b r u a r y ______

7 0 .9 8
68. 22

4 1 .8
4 0 .2

1 .6 9 8
1 .6 9 7

70. 68
70. 35

4 0 .0
3 9 .7

1 .7 6 7
1 .7 7 2

7 7 .2 8
76. 58

4 3 .2
4 2 .9

1 .7 8 9
1 .7 8 5

7 3 .8 2
7 3 .1 1

4 1 .4
4 1 .4

1. 783
1. 766

74. 46
73. 28

4 1 .6
4 1 .4

1 .7 9 0
1 .7 7 0

7 1 .3 0
7 1 .3 3

4 1 .5
4 1 .3

1 .7 1 8
1. 727

1.688

M anufacturing—Continued
P r im a r y m e ta l in d u s tr ie s — C o n tin u e d
R o llin g , d r a w in g ,
and
a llo y in g
of
n o n fe r ro u s m e ta ls

1950: A v e r a g e _______ $66. 75
1951: A v e r a g e _______
68. 70

4 1 .9
4 0 .7

1951: F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ________ _
M a y ___________
J u n e ___________
J u l y ____________
A u g u s t ________
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r . . ...........
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r _____

6 8 .3 0
68. 21
6 8 .0 9
6 7 .9 1
69. 37
6 8 .7 6
6 7 .1 5
6 7 .6 4
68. 61
6 8 .9 4
7 3 .0 0

4 0 .8
4 0 .7
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
4 0 .9
4 0 .4
3 9 .9
4 0 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .6
4 2 .1

1 .6 7 4
1 .6 7 6
1 .6 7 7
1 .6 8 1
1 .6 9 6
1 .7 0 2
1 .6 8 3
1 .6 9 1
1 .6 9 0
1 .6 9 8
1 .7 3 4

1952: J a n u a r y ______
F e b r u a r y ______

7 0 .3 5
68. 64

4 0 .9
4 0 .0

1 .7 2 0
1 .7 1 6

R o llin g , d r a w in g ,
and
a llo y in g
of
copper

$ 1 .5 9 3 ■$ 7 0 .2 4
1 .6 8 8
70. 47

R o llin g , d r a w in g ,
and
a llo y in g
of
a lu m in u m

N o n fe r r o u s fo u n d r ie s

O th e r p r i m a r y m e t a l
in d u s tr ie s

Iro n a n d ste e l
fo r g in g s

4 2 .7
4 0 .9

$ 1 .6 4 5
1. 723

$ 5 9 .9 9
6 4 .1 4

4 0 .1
3 9 .4

$ 1 .4 9 6
1 .6 2 8

$67. 65
7 3 .8 3

4 1 .5
4 1 .9

$ 1 .6 3 0
1 .7 6 2

$ 7 1 .2 7
7 9 .4 5

4 1 .9
4 2 .6

$ 1 .7 0 1
1 .8 6 5

$ 7 4 .0 9
8 4 .8 7

4 1 .6
4 3 .3

$1. 781
1 .9 6 0

6 9 .5 2
7 0 .0 5
7 0 .1 4
6 9 .1 5
7 2 .2 2
7 1 .9 2
69. 53
6 9 .4 1
7 0 .5 4
6 9 .0 4
7 5 .3 5

4 0 .7
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
4 0 .3
4 1 .6
4 1 .5
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .8
4 0 .0
4 2 .5

1 .7 0 8
1 .7 1 7
1. 715
1. 716
1 .7 3 6
1 .7 3 3
1 .7 2 1
1 .7 1 8
1 .7 2 9
1 .7 2 6
1 .7 7 3

6 4 .9 6
6 4 .0 8
6 2 .8 3
6 3 .9 9
6 3 .2 9
6 2 .3 3
6 2 .1 7
6 3 .3 6
6 4 .3 9
66. 50
67. 07

4 0 .1
3 9 .7
3 9 .0
3 9 .4
3 8 .9
3 7 .8
3 8 .4
3 8 .4
3 9 .6
4 0 .4
4 0 .6

1 .6 2 0
1 .6 1 4
1 .6 1 1
1 .6 2 4
1 .6 2 7
1 .6 4 9
1. 619
1 .6 5 0
1. 626
1 .6 4 6
1 .6 5 2

7 2 .7 0
7 3 .1 2
7 3 .5 2
7 3 .8 5
7 3 .5 7
7 1 .4 3
7 2 .7 3
7 4 .7 6
7 5 .0 8
74. 48
7 7 .9 7

4 2 .0
4 2 .0
4 2 .3
4 2 .2
4 1 .8
4 0 .7
4 1 .3
4 2 .0
4 1 .9
4 1 .4
4 2 .7

1 .7 3 1
1. 741
1 .7 3 8
1 .7 5 0
1 .7 6 0
1 .7 5 5
1 .7 6 1
1 .7 8 0
1 .7 9 2
1 .7 9 9
1 .8 2 6

7 6 .8 3
7 8 .1 7
79. 22
7 8 .9 0
8 0 .3 1
7 8 .3 2
7 8 .5 1
7 9 .2 1
8 0 .4 9
8 0 .3 9
8 3 .6 9

4 2 .1
4 2 .3
4 2 .8
4 2 .6
4 2 .9
4 2 .2
4 2 .3
4 2 .0
4 2 .7
4 2 .4
4 3 .5

1 .8 2 5
1 .8 4 8
1 .8 5 1
1 .8 5 2
1 .8 7 2
1 .8 5 6
1 .8 5 6
1 .8 8 6
1 .8 8 5
1 .8 9 6
1 .9 2 4

8 1 .4 9
83. 87
8 5 .7 8
8 4 .4 1
8 5 .9 1
8 2 .1 5
8 3 .2 2
8 4 .1 4
8 7 .2 1
8 5 .4 6
9 1 .1 0

4 2 .6
4 3 .5
4 3 .9
4 3 .4
4 3 .7
4 2 .3
4 2 .7
4 2 .6
4 3 .8
4 2 .9
4 4 .7

1 .9 1 3
1 .9 2 8
1 .9 5 4
1 .9 4 5
1 .9 6 6
1 .9 4 2
1 .9 4 9
1 .9 7 5
1 .9 9 1
1 .9 9 2
2 .0 3 8

7 2 .7 3
7 1 .0 9

4 1 .3
4 0 .3

1 .7 6 1
1 .7 6 4

6 4 .1 6
6 1 .9 8

3 9 .0
3 8 .4

1 .6 4 5
1 .6 1 4

77. 79
76. 70

4 2 .3
4 1 .8

1 .8 3 9
1 .8 3 5

8 2 .3 9
82. 62

4 3 .0
4 3 .1

1 .9 1 6
1 .9 1 7

9 0 .3 5
8 8 .4 8

4 4 .4
4 3 .5

2 .0 3 5
2 .0 3 4

M a n u fa c tu r in g — C o n tin u e d
P r im a r y m e ta l in ­
d u s t r ie s — C o n .

W ir e d r a w in g

F a b r i c a t e d m e t a l p r o d u c t s ( e x c e p t o r d n a n c e , m a c h i n e r y , a n d t r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u i p m e n t )

T o ta l: F a b r ic a te d
m eta l p ro d u cts
(e x c e p t o r d n a n c e ,
m a c h in e r y ,
and
tr a n s p o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t)

T in ca n s a n d o th er
t in w a r e

C u t l e r y , h a n d t o o ls ,
a n d hard w are

C u tle r y a n d ed g e
t o o ls

H a n d t o o ls

1950: A v e r a g e _______ $ 7 3 .7 9
1951: A v e r a g e _______ 8 0 .1 5

4 2 .9
4 3 .0

$ 1 .7 2 0
1 .8 6 4

$ 5 3 .4 2
6 9 .3 5

4 1 .4
4 1 .7

$ 1 .5 3 2
1 .6 6 3

$ 6 0 .9 0
66. 45

4 1 .6
4 1 .3

$ 1 .4 6 4
1 .6 0 9

$ 6 1 .0 1
6 6 .4 7

4 1 .5
4 1 .7

$1. 470
1 .5 9 4

$.55.54
6 0 .5 3

4 1 .7
4 1 .6

$ 1 .3 3 2
1 .4 5 5

$ 6 1 .3 1
6 9 .4 9

4 1 .2
42. 5

$ 1 .4 8 8
1. 635

1951: F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ___________
M a y ___________
J u n e ___________
J u l y -----------------A u g u s t .................
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r ________
N ovem ber.
D e c e m b e r _____

7 9 .4 2
7 9 .1 5
8 0 .4 6
7 9 .3 5
8 0 .4 4
8 1 .0 0
7 9 .0 9
8 0 .0 6
7 8 .7 0
8 0 .3 3
8 1 .0 0

4 3 .0
4 2 .6
4 3 .4
4 2 .8
4 2 .9
4 3 .5
4 2 .8
4 2 .7
4 2 .2
4 2 .5
4 2 .9

1 .8 4 7
1 .8 5 8
1 .8 5 4
1 .8 5 4
1 .8 7 5
1 .8 6 2
1 .8 4 8
1 .8 7 5
1 .8 6 5
1 .8 9 0
1 .8 8 8

6 8 .1 8
6 9 .5 5
6 9 .5 1
6 9 .1 8
6 9 .4 3
67. 98
6 8 .6 8
7 0 .1 4
7 0 .3 9
69. 92
7 1 .7 8

4 1 .7
4 2 .1
4 2 .0
4 1 .8
4 1 .8
4 1 .0
4 1 .3
4 1 .7
4 1 .7
4 1 .4
4 2 .3

1 .6 3 5
1 .6 5 2
1 .6 5 5
1 .6 5 5
1 .6 6 1
1 .6 5 8
1 .6 6 3
1 .6 8 2
1 .6 8 8
1 .6 8 9
1. 697

6 3 .3 6
6 4 .0 7
6 3 .9 5
6 4 .8 3
6 4 .9 5
6 6 .6 8
6 9 .6 9
7 2 .1 1
68. 52
66. 50
68. 51

4 0 .2
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .8
4 0 .8
4 1 .6
4 2 .7
4 3 .1
4 1 .3
4 0 .7
4 1 .9

1 .5 7 6
1 .5 8 6
1 .5 8 3
1 .5 8 9
1 .5 9 2
1 .6 0 3
1 .6 3 2
1 .6 7 3
1 .6 5 9
1 .6 3 4
1 .6 3 5

6 6 .2 5
6 6 .4 9
6 6 .4 0
6 6 .3 3
6 7 .1 3
6 5 .4 7
6 5 .8 4
6 6 .4 1
6 6 .7 8
6 6 .7 4
68. 21

4 2 .2
4 2 .0
4 2 .0
4 1 .9
4 1 .8
4 1 .1
4 1 .2
4 1 .2
4 1 .3
4 1 .3
4 2 .0

1 .5 7 0
1 .5 8 3
1 .5 8 1
1 .5 8 3
1 .6 0 6
1 .5 9 3
1 .5 9 8
1 .6 1 2
1 .6 1 7
1 .6 1 6
1 .6 2 4

6 1 .7 2
6 0 .4 0
6 1 .2 1
6 0 .1 1
60. 55
5 8 .6 5
5 9 .1 8
6 0 .5 5
6 0 .3 1
6 0 .8 7
6 2 .3 6

4 2 .8
4 2 .0
4 2 .3
4 1 .8
4 1 .5
4 0 .7
4 0 .7
4 1 .3
4 1 .0
4 1 .1
4 1 .6

1 .4 4 2
1 .4 3 8
1 .4 4 7
1 .4 3 8
1 .4 5 9
1 .4 4 1
1 .4 5 4
1. 466
1 .4 7 1
1 .4 8 1
1 .4 9 9

6 9 .7 4
7 0 .5 8
7 0 .4 2
7 0 .3 1
7 0 .3 9
6 8 .5 0
6 9 .3 2
6 9 .0 9
6 9 .3 0
6 8 .0 6
6 9 .6 8

4 3 .1
4 3 .3
4 3 .2
4 2 .9
4 3 .0
4 2 .1
4 2 .5
4 2 .0
4 1 .9
4 1 .1
4 2 .1

1 .6 1 3
1 .6 3 0
1 .6 3 0
1 .6 3 9
1 .6 3 7
1 .6 2 7
1 .6 3 1
1 .6 4 5
1 .6 5 4
1 .6 5 6
1 .6 5 5

1952: J a n u a r y _______
F e b r u a r y ______

7 8 .1 4
7 8 .7 3

4 1 .5
4 1 .9

1 .8 8 3
1 .8 7 9

7 1 .1 9
7 1 .5 2

4 1 .9
4 1 .9

1 .6 9 9
1 .7 0 7

65. 77
6 5 .4 5

4 0 .3
4 0 .3

1 .6 3 2
1 .6 2 4

67. 81
67. 77

4 1 .5
4 1 .3

1 .6 3 4
1 .6 4 1

6 1 .5 5
6 1 .3 8

4 0 .9
4 0 .7

1 .5 0 5
1 .5 0 8

68. 60
6 9 .3 9

4 1 .6
4 1 .8

1 .6 4 9
1 .6 6 0

See footnotes at end of table.

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

608
T

G: E A R N I N G S

a b l e

AND

HOURS

M O N TH LY L A B O R

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
F a b r ic a te d m e t a l p r o d u c ts (e x c e p t o r d n a n c e , m a c h in e r y , a n d tr a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip m e n t ) — C o n tin u e d

Y e a r a n d m o n th

H ard w are

H e a tin g a p p a r a tu s
( e x c e p t e le c t r i c ) a n d
p lu m b e r s ’ s u p p lie s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

1950: A v e r a g e _______ $ 6 2 .6 5
1951: A v e r a g e _______
6 6 .7 0

4 1 .6
4 1 .3

$ 1 .5 0 6
1. 615

$ 6 3 .9 1
6 9 .5 8

1951: F e b r u a r y ______

S a n ita r y w a r e a n d
p lu m b e r s ’ s u p p lie s

O il b u r n e r s , n o n ­
e le c t r ic h e a t in g a n d
c o o k in g a p p a r a tu s,
n o t e ls e w h e r e
c la s s i f i e d

F a b r ic a te d s tr u c ­
tu r a l m e ta l p r o d u c ts

S tr u c tu r a l s te e l a n d
o r n a m e n ta l
m e ta lw o r k

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
earn­
in g s

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A vg.
h r ly .
earn­
in g s

4 1 .1
4 1 .0

$1. 555
1 .6 9 7

$ 6 7 .6 4
75. 03

4 1 .6
4 1 .8

$ 1 .6 2 6
1 .7 9 5

$61. 20
65. 93

4 0 .8
4 0 .6

$ 1 .5 0 0
1. 624

$ 6 3 .2 9
7 1 .7 4

4 1 .1
4 2 .6

$1. 540
1 .6 8 4

$ 6 3 .2 3
71. 61

4 1 .3
4 2 .3

$ 1 .5 3 1
1 .6 9 3

A vg.
w k ly .
hours

A p r i l ......................
M a y .......................
J u n e ............. .........
J u l y — ..................
A u g u s t . . . ..........
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r ________
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r _____

6 6 .1 4
6 6 .4 1
6 6 .4 1
6 6 .2 4
6 7 .5 6
6 6 .1 4
6 6 .3 0
6 6 .6 7
6 7 .3 2
67. 52
69. 09

4 1 .6
4 1 .4
4 1 .4
4 1 .4
4 1 .4
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
4 0 .8
4 1 .2
4 1 .4
4 2 .0

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

6 9 .6 0
7 0 .8 9
7 0 .2 2
6 9 .6 7
6 9 .5 0
6 7 .4 0
6 7 .2 3
6 9 .8 9
70. 65
6 9 .5 3
7 1 .4 9

4 1 .5
4 1 .9
4 1 .5
4 1 .2
4 1 .2
3 9 .6
3 9 .9
4 0 .8
4 1 .1
4 0 .4
4 1 .3

1 .6 7 7
1 .6 9 2
1 .6 9 2
1 .6 9 1
1 .6 8 7
1 .7 0 2
1 .6 8 5
1. 713
1 .7 1 9
1 .7 2 1
1 .7 3 1

7 5 .4 0
7 6 .7 5
7 6 .3 5
7 5 .4 5
7 6 .0 1
7 4 .1 3
7 0 .9 2
7 5 .8 4
75. 58
7 2 .9 6
7 5 .8 4

4 2 .6
4 2 .9
4 2 .7
4 2 .2
4 2 .8
4 1 .0
3 9 .8
4 1 .4
4 1 .3
4 0 .0
4 1 .4

1 .7 7 0
1 .7 8 9
1 .7 8 8
1 .7 8 8
1 .7 7 6
1 .8 0 8
1 .7 8 2
1 .8 3 2
1 .8 3 0
1 .8 2 4
1 .8 3 2

6 6 .1 3
6 7 .5 2
6 6 .6 7
65. 73
6 4 .8 0
6 2 .3 4
6 4 .2 4
65. 61
66. 91
6 6 .9 1
68. 27

4 1 .0
4 1 .5
4 1 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .1
3 8 .6
3 9 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .9
4 0 .7
4 1 .2

1 .6 1 3
1 .6 2 7
1 .6 2 6
1 .6 1 9
1 .6 1 6
1 .6 1 5
1 .6 1 0
1 .6 2 4
1 .6 3 6
1 .6 4 4
1 .6 5 7

6 9 .4 3
70. 51
7 1 .8 6
7 1 .5 7
7 1 .4 4
6 9 .9 3
7 1 .9 5
7 3 .4 4
7 2 .5 9
7 2 .9 3
7 4 .8 7

4 2 .0
4 2 .4
4 2 .7
4 2 .7
4 2 .6
4 1 .7
4 2 .7
4 3 .1
4 2 .6
4 2 .6
4 3 .4

1 .6 5 3
1 .6 6 3
1 .6 8 3
1 .6 7 6
1 .6 7 7
1 .6 7 7
1 .6 8 5
1 .7 0 4
1 .7 0 4
1 .7 1 2
1 .7 2 5

6 8 .6 4
6 9 .4 7
7 1 .0 2
7 1 .5 3
7 2 .2 0
7 0 .1 7
7 2 .8 9
7 3 .6 6
7 2 .1 2
7 3 .1 9
7 4 .7 8

4 1 .4
4 1 .7
4 2 .0
4 2 .5
4 2 .8
4 1 .4
4 2 .8
4 3 .1
4 2 .2
4 2 .5
4 3 .0

1 .6 5 8
1 .6 6 6
1 .6 9 1
1 .6 8 3
1 .6 8 7
1 .6 9 5
1 .7 0 3
1 .7 0 9
1 .7 0 9
1 .7 2 2
1 .7 3 9

1952: J a n u a r y . . ...........
F e b r u a r y ______

6 9 .1 4
68. 85

4 1 .7
4 1 .3

1 .6 5 8
1 .6 6 7

7 0 .5 7
7 0 .2 7

4 0 .7
4 0 .5

1. 734
1. 735

73. 41
7 4 .2 6

4 0 .2
4 0 .6

1 .8 2 6
1. 829

6 7 .8 9
6 7 .1 9

4 0 .8
4 0 .4

1. 664
1 .6 6 3

73. 62
73. 92

4 2 .9
4 2 .8

1. 716
1. 727

73. 53
7 3 .8 2

4 2 .7
4 2 .4

1. 722
1 .7 4 1

March_______

M a n u fa c tu r in g — C o n tin u e d

F a b r ic a te d m e t a l p r o d u c ts ( e x c e p t o r d n a n c e m a c h in e r y a n d tr a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip m e n t ) — C o n tin u e d

M a c h in e r y (e x c e p t
e le c t r i c a l)

M e ta l s ta m p in g ,
c o a tin g , a n d
e n g r a v in g

T o t a l: M a c h in e r y
( e x c e p t e le c t r i c a l)

B o i le r - s h o p p r o d u c t s

S h e e t-m e ta l w o rk

S ta m p ed a n d p ressed
m e ta l p r o d u c ts

O th e r f a b r ic a t e d
m e ta l p r o d u c ts

1950: A v e r a g e _______ $ 6 2 .1 6
1951: A v e r a g e ______
7 1 .5 7

4 0 .6
4 2 .7

$1. 531
1 .6 7 6

$62. 14
7 0 .3 1

4 1 .1
4 1 .9

$ 1 .5 1 2
1 .6 7 8

$64. 22
68. 54

4 1 .3
4 0 .7

$ 1 .5 5 5
1 .6 8 4

$66. 15
70. 50

4 1 .5
4 0 .8

$ 1 .5 9 4
1 .7 2 8

$64. 76
7 0 .4 3

4 1 .7
4 2 .3

$1. 553
1. 665

$67. 21
7 6 .7 3

4 1 .8
4 3 .5

$ 1 .6 0 8
1 .7 6 4

1951: F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ___________
M a y _____ __ __
J u n e ____ — .
J u l y ____________
A u g u s t ______
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r ________
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r _____

6 9 .1 4
7 0 .1 8
7 1 -4 8
7 0 .8 9
70. 72
7 0 .0 9
7 1 .5 6
7 4 .3 8
7 3 .7 3
7 3 .5 3
7 5 .1 1

4 1 .8
4 2 .3
4 2 .7
4 2 .5
4 2 .4
4 2 .3
4 2 .8
4 3 .7
4 3 .5
4 3 .2
4 3 .9

1 .6 5 4
1 .6 5 9
1 .6 7 4
1 .6 6 8
1 .6 6 8
1 .6 5 7
1 .6 7 2
1 .7 0 2
1 .6 9 5
1 .7 0 2
1. 711

6 8 .8 3
6 9 .0 1
7 1 .3 0
70. 52
6 9 .7 6
68. 59
7 0 .0 5
7 0 .6 8
72. 54
7 1 .1 3
7 4 .6 9

4 2 .1
4 1 .9
4 2 .8
4 2 .2
4 1 .7
4 1 .0
4 1 .6
4 1 .6
4 2 .3
4 1 .5
4 3 .0

1 .6 3 5
1 .6 4 7
1. 666
1 .6 7 1
1. 673
1 .6 7 3
1 .6 8 4
1. 699
1 .7 1 5
1 .7 1 4
1 .7 3 7

6 7 .8 6
69. 56
6 8 .1 4
6 7 .4 3
68. 67
66. 74
67. 06
68. 67
69. 49
69. 64
7 1 .1 5

4 1 .2
4 1 .6
4 0 .8
4 0 .4
4 0 .8
3 9 .4
3 9 .8
4 0 .3
4 0 .4
4 0 .3
4 1 .2

1 .6 4 7
1 .6 7 2
1 .6 7 0
1 .6 6 9
1 .6 8 3
1 .6 9 4
1 .6 8 5
1. 704
1 .7 2 0
1 .7 2 8
1 .7 2 7

69. 76
7 1 .4 7
7 0 .2 3
6 8 .9 2
7 1 .0 7
6 8 .6 9
68. 76
7 0 .7 3
7 1 .5 2
7 1 .8 5
7 3 .4 0

4 1 .3
4 1 .6
4 1 .0
4 0 .4
4 1 .2
3 9 .5
3 9 .7
4 0 .3
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
4 1 .4

1 .6 8 9
1 .7 1 8
1 .7 1 3
1 .7 0 6
1. 725
1 .7 3 9
1. 732
1. 755
1 .7 6 6
1 .7 7 4
1. 773

6 8 .8 4
7 1 .0 5
7 1 .4 7
7 0 .7 6
7 0 .8 9
6 9 .4 7
69. 22
7 0 .2 7
7 1 .3 2
7 0 .2 2
72. 71

4 1 .9
4 2 .8
4 3 .0
4 2 .5
4 2 .6
4 1 .6
4 1 .6
4 2 .0
4 2 .4
4 1 .9
4 3 .1

1 .6 4 3
1 .6 6 0
1. 662
1. 665
1 .6 6 4
1 .6 7 0
1 .6 6 4
1 .6 7 3
1 .6 8 2
1 .6 7 6
1 .6 8 7

7 5 .0 8
7 6 .4 3
76. 78
7 6 .3 0
76. 65
7 5 .4 2
7 5 .9 4
7 7 .2 4
7 7 .8 6
7 7 .6 3
7 9 .9 5

4 3 .5
4 3 .8
4 3 .9
43. 6
4 3 .5
4 3 .0
4 3 .0
4 3 .2
4 3 .4
4 3 .2
4 4 .1

1 .7 2 6
1. 745
1 .7 4 9
1 .7 5 0
1 .7 6 2
1 .7 5 4
1 .7 6 6
1. 788
1. 794
1. 797
1 .8 1 3

1952: J a n u a r y ^ . ...........
F e b r u a r y ______

73. 53
7 4 .7 8

4 3 .0
4 3 .4

1. 710
1. 723

73. 26
73. 65

4 2 .3
4 2 .4

1 .7 3 2
1 .7 3 7

72. 88
73. 57

4 1 .6
4 1 .8

1 .7 5 2
1 .7 6 0

7 5 .4 6
75. 66

4 1 .9
4 1 .8

1. 801
1. 810

7 1 .3 6
71. 87

4 2 .5
4 2 .5

1 .6 7 9
1 .6 9 1

79. 81
79. 56

4 3 .9
4 3 .5

1. 818
1 .8 2 9

Manufacturing—Con tinued
M a c h i n e r y ( e x c e p t e le c t r i c a l) — C o n t i n u e d
E n g in e s a n d
t u r b in e s

A g r i c u lt u r a l
m a c h in e r y
a n d tra c to r s

A g r i c u lt u r a l
m a c h in e r y
(e x c e p t tra c to r s)

T r a c to rs

C o n s t r u c t io n a n d
m in in g
m a c h in e r y

M e ta lw o r k in g
m a c h in e r y

1950: A v e r a g e ............... $69. 43
1951: A v e r a g e _______
7 9 .7 9

4 0 .7
4 2 .9

$ 1 .7 0 6
1 .8 6 0

$64. 60
7 3 .4 6

4 0 .1
4 0 .7

$ 1 .6 1 1
1 .8 0 5

$ 6 6 .0 9
7 5 .7 5

4 0 .3
4 0 .9

$ 1 .6 4 0
1 .8 5 2

$62. 57
7 0 .9 2

3 9 .8
4 0 .5

$ 1 .5 7 2
1. 751

$ 6 5 .9 7
7 5 .3 8

4 2 .4
4 4 .5

$ 1 .5 5 6
1 .6 9 4

$ 7 1 .5 4
85. 55

4 3 .2
4 6 .8

$ 1 .6 5 6
1 .8 2 8

1951: F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
A p r i l .....................
M a y ......................
J u n e . . .............__
J u l y ____________
A u g u s t ________
S e p t e m b e r ____
O c t o b e r ________
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r ..........

77. 81
80. 56
80. 44
79. 38
7 9 .9 1
7 7 .0 5
7 8 .9 1
7 8 .7 9
8 1 .7 6
7 9 .9 7
83. 55

4 2 .8
4 3 .5
4 3 .6
4 3 .0
4 3 .1
4 1 .9
4 2 .4
4 2 .0
4 3 .1
4 2 .4
4 3 .7

1 .8 1 8
1 .8 5 2
1 .8 4 5
1 .8 4 6
1 .8 5 4
1 .8 3 9
1 .8 6 1
1 .8 7 6
1 .8 9 7
1 .8 8 6
1 .9 1 2

7 1 .2 8
7 3 .0 6
73. 69
7 3 .2 9
74. 21
7 3 .3 6
7 2 .4 1
74. 52
7 4 .0 1
7 3 .4 2
76. 55

4 0 .8
4 1 .0
4 1 .1
4 0 .9
4 1 .0
4 0 .8
3 9 .7
4 0 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .1
4 1 .2

1 .7 4 7
1 .7 8 2
1 .7 9 3
1 .7 9 2
1 .8 1 0
1 .7 9 8
1 .8 2 4
1 .8 6 3
1 .8 2 3
1 .8 3 1
1 .8 5 8

7 3 .5 0
74. 52
75. 74
7 5 .7 3
7 5 .7 3
7 5 .1 3
7 4 .8 5
7 7 .7 3
7 6 .2 4
76. 58
7 9 .2 3

4 1 .2
4 0 .9
4 1 .3
4 1 .2
4 1 .0
4 0 .9
3 8 .6
3 9 .6
4 0 .9
4 0 .8
4 1 .7

1 .7 8 4
1 .8 2 2
1 .8 3 4
1 .8 3 8
1 .8 4 7
1 .8 3 7
1 .9 3 9
1 .9 6 3
1 .8 6 4
1 .8 7 7
1 .9 0 0

6 8 .4 7
7 1 .2 3
7 1 .2 5
70. 39
7 2 .5 4
7 1 .6 6
7 0 .6 4
7 2 .1 8
7 1 .6 5
6 9 .9 7
73. 40

4 0 .3
4 1 .1
4 0 .9
4 0 .5
4 1 .1
4 0 .9
4 0 .6
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
3 9 .4
4 0 .6

1 .6 9 9
1 .7 3 3
1 .7 4 2
1 .7 3 8
1 .7 6 5
1 .7 5 2
1 .7 4 0
1 .7 9 1
1 .7 7 8
1 .7 7 6
1 .8 0 8

7 4 .1 8
7 4 .1 3
7 5 .6 2
7 5 .6 3
74. 61
7 3 .6 3
7 4 .9 4
7 5 .6 0
7 5 .5 7
76 96
8 0 .4 7

4 4 .1
4 4 .1
4 4 .8
4 4 .7
4 4 .2
4 3 .7
4 4 .5
4 4 .6
4 4 .4
4 4 .9
4 6 .3

1 .6 8 2
1 .6 8 1
1 .6 8 8
1 .6 9 2
1 .6 8 8
1 .6 8 5
1 .6 8 4
1 .6 9 5
1 .7 0 2
1 .7 1 4
1 .7 3 8

8 2 .9 9
83. 69
8 4 .8 7
8 5 .0 7
8 5 .0 8
8 3 .5 7
8 5 .2 3
86. 77
8 9 .4 4
8 7 .3 3
9 0 .2 0

46. 7
46. 7
4 7 .1
4 7 .0
4 6 .8
4 6 .3
4 6 .5
4 6 .5
4 7 .4
4 6 .5
4 7 .6

1 .7 7 7
1 .7 9 2
1 .8 0 2
1 .8 1 0
1 .8 1 8
1 .8 0 5
1 .8 3 3
1 .8 6 6
1 .8 8 7
1 .8 7 8
1 .8 9 5

1952: J a n u a r y . ..........._
F e b r u a r y ______

8 4 .4 0
8 5 .2 5

4 3 .8
4 3 .9

1 .9 2 7
1 .9 4 2

7 6 .0 9
75. 92

4 0 .8
4 0 .0

1 .8 6 5
1 .8 9 8

7 8 .1 3
78. 42

4 1 .1
4 0 .3

1 .9 0 1
1 .9 4 6

7 3 .2 9
7 2 .7 3

4 0 .4
3 9 .7

1 .8 1 4
1 .8 3 2

80. 39
8 0 .5 4

4 6 .2
4 6 .1

1 .7 4 0
1. 747

9 0 .3 0
8 9 .3 0

4 7 .6
4 6 .9

1 .8 9 7
1 .9 0 4

S e e f o o t n o t e s a t e n d o f t a b le .


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

REVIEW, MAY 1952

G: E A R N IN G S A N D

609

HOURS

T able 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

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Metalworking ma­
c h in e r y (e x c ep t
machine tools)

Avg. Avg.
Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

$09. 72
84. 75

1951: February___
M arch_____
April...............
M ay .............. .
June.............. .
July............... .
August...........
September....
October_____
N ovem ber...
December__

82. 65
82.90
84.13
84.38
83. 99
81.84
84.64
84. 91
89. 42
86.89
89.69

47.5
47.4
47.8
47.7
47.4
46.9
47.1
46.5
48.0
47.3
48.3

1.740
1.749
1.760
1.769
1.772
1.745
1. 797
1 . 826
1.863
1.837
1. 857

1952: January____
February___

90. 63
88.73

48.7
47.5

1.861
1 .8 6 8

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Special-industry ma­
c h in e r y (e x c ep t
metalworking ma­
chinery)

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

General industrial
machinery

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

41.9 $1.569 $6 6 .33
43.6 1.713 76.91

Office and store ma­
chines and devices
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.9 $1.583 $6 6 . 95
44.2 1. 740 73. 58

41.1
41.9

$1. 629
1.756

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42. 7 $1.652 $74. 69
45.2 1. 814 88.08

43. 5 $1. 717 $65. 74
46.8 1.882 74. 69

79.83
80.28
82.58
82.17
82.08
80.95
81.00
83.68
85.28
82.89
85. 75

44.6
44. 7
45. 7
45.6
45.4
44.8
44.9
45.6
46.4
45.0
46.1

1.790
1. 796
1.807
1.802
1.808
1.807
1.804
1.835
1.838
1.842
1.860

84.17
85. 69
8 6 . 76
87.05
8 8 . 27
8 6 . 25
87. 46
90.81
91. 62
90. 64
93. 68

46.4
46.8
47.1
46.8
47.0
46.0
46.4
47.2
47.4
46.6
47.7

1.814
1. 831
1.842
1.860
1.878
1.875
1.885
1.924
1. 933
1.945
1.964

74. 59
75.15
76.01
74. 55
75. 37
74.00
73.14
74. 56
74.43
74. 65
76. 47

43.9
44.1
44.5
43.8
44.0
43.4
43.0
43.3
43.0
42.9
43.8

1.699
1.704
1.708
1.702
1.713
1.705
1.701
1. 722
1.731
1.740
1.746

75.19
75. 71
77.15
77.59
78. 00
75.04
76. 56
78.15
77.48
78.14
79. 97

44.1
44.2
44.7
44.8
44.8
43.4
44.0
44.2
43. 8
44.0
44.8

1.705
1.713
1.726
1.732
1.741
1.729
1.740
1. 768
1.769
1.776
1.785

72.46
72. 97
73.01
73. 08
73.46
72. 57
73. 67
74.38
75.04
74.95
75.35

42.4
42.3
42.2
42.0
42.0
41.4
41.6
41.6
41.9
41.8
41.7

1.709
1. 725
1.730
1.740
1.749
1. 753
1.771
1.788
1.791
1.793
1.807

84.13
85. 51

45.5
45.8

1. 849
1.867

93. 52
91. 99

47.4
46.6

1. 973
1. 974

76.08
76.38

43.3
43.3

1. 757
1.764

78. 63
79. 02

44.0
43.9

1.787
1 . 800

75.16
75.18

41.5
41.4

1.811
1.816

43. 2 $1.614 $70. 54
47.4 1.788 81. 99

1950 Average....... ..
1951: Average____

Machine-tool acces­
sories

Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
Computing machines
and cash registers

Typewriters

40.9 $1. 753 $62.08
41.5 1.899 6 8 . 0 0

Service-industry and Refrigerators and airconditioning units
household machines

41.5 $1.496 $67.26
42.5 1.600 71.06

41.7 $1.613 $66.42
40.7 1.746 69. 41

Miscellaneous ma­
chinery parts

42.0 $1.575 $6 8 .55
43.2 1. 719 76.69

42.5
43.4

$1.613
1. 767

73.26
74.60
75.07
74.64
74.22
72.85
73.49
74.13
74. 82
74.00
75.86

43.4
43.7
43.9
43.7
43.0
42.5
42.7
42.8
43.1
42.6
43.4

1 .6 8 8

1.707
1.710
1.708
1.726
1.714
1.721
1.732
1.736
1.737
1. 748

73.23
77. 92
77.31
76.78
78.17
75.97
77.39
76. 46
77. 20
75. 28
76.70

42.7
44.3
44.1
43.8
43.6
42.8
43.6
43.1
43.3
42.2
42.8

1.715
1.759
1.753
1.753
1.793
1.775
1.775
1.774
1.783
1.784
1.792

75. 64
75.24

43.1
42.7

1.755
1. 762

77. 92
76.22

43.1
42.3

1.808
1.802

41.1 $1.616 $66.15
39.8 1.744 74.26

1950: Average____
1951: Average____

$71.70
78.81

1951: February___
March_____
April_______
M ay...............
June.............. .
J u ly.............. .
August...........
September....
O ctober.........
N ovem ber...
December__

76.90
77.75
77.48
77.81
78.19
77.87
79.22
80. 48
81.17
81.62
81.91

42.0
41.8
41.7
41.5
41.5
40.9
41.5
41.4
41.5
41.6
41.6

1.831
1.860
1.858
1.875
1.884
1.904
1.909
1.944
1.956
1.962
1. 969

68.23
68.44
68.03
68.54
6 8 .35
67.20
67.49
67.45
68.42
6 8 . 51
6 8 . 51

43.1
43.1
43.0
43.0
42.8
42.0
42.0
42.0
42.6
42.5
41.9

1.583
1.588
1.582
1.594
1.597
1.600
1.607
1.606
1.606
1.612
1.635

70.88
73.98
71.36
69.28
69.67
70.04
69.54
71.32
71.73
72. 41
74.04

41.4
42.2
41.2
40.3
39.9
40.0
39.6
40.5
40.5
40.7
41.2

1.712
1.753
1.732
1.719
1.746
1.751
1.756
1.761
1. 771
1. 779
1. 797

68.59
73.82
68.87
67.23
67. 24
69. 24
68.72
70. 26
70. 25
71.44
72.80

40.3
41.8
39.9
39.2
38.6
39.5
39.2
39.9
39.8
40.0
40.4

1.702
1.766
1.726
1.715
1.742
1.753
1.753
1. 761
1.765
1.786
1.802

1952: January........
February___

82.23
80. 96

41.7
41.2

1. 972
1. 965

67.65

41.3
41.3

1.638
1 . 660

75. 50
74. 24

41.9
41.2

1.802

6 8 . 56

1 . 802

74. 77
74.31

41.4
41.1

1 . 806
1.808

Ball and roller bear­
ings

Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except
electrical)—Con.

Machine shops (job
and repair)

1950: Average........... $65.18
1951: Average-........ - 74.17

Electrical machinery

Total: Electrical ma­
chinery

41.7 $1.563 $60.83
43.2 1.717 6 6 . 8 6

Electrical generat­
ing, transmission,
distribution, and
industrial appa­
ratus

41.1 $1.480 $63.75
41.4 1.615 71. 53

41.1 $1.551 $64.90
42.1 1. 699 72. 92

1951: February____
March_______
April________
M ay ...............
June________
July_________
A u g u s t.____
September___
O cto b er__ _
November __
December____

74.69
72.83
73.69
74.13
72.80
71.91
72.38
74.08
74. 81
75. 90
78.15

44.3
43.3
43.4
43.4
42.6
42.2
42.4
42.6
42.8
43.1
44.2

1 .6 8 6

1.682
1.698
1.708
1.709
1.704
1.707
1.739
1.748
1.761
1.768

64.80
65.34
65.58
66.57
67.15
66.13
6 6 .34
68.06
6 8 . 27
69.10
69. 97

41.3
41.3
41.3
41.5
41.5
40.4
40.8
41.5
41.5
41.8
42.0

1.569
1.582
1.588
1.604
1.618
1.637
1.626
1. 640
1.645
1.653
1. 666

68.72
70.18
70.06
71.57
71.91
70.87
72.11
73.01
73. 26
73.78
74. 81

41.7
42.1
42.0
42.4
42.4
41.3
42.0
42.3
42.3
42.4
42.7

1952: January_____
February____

77. 8 8
78.31

43.9
43.8

1.774
1.788

70.35
70.10

42.0
41.7

1.

1. 675
681

75.37
74. 97

42.8
42.5

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Motors, generators,
transformers, and
industrial controls

Electrical equipment
for vehicles

41.1 $1. 579 $6 6 . 2 2
42.1 1. 732 6 8 . 84

40.9
41.1

$1.374
1. 505

1.638

70.08
70.32
70.86
72.99

1.670
1.679
1.698
1.712
1.722
1.739
1. 745
1.754
1.776

60.61
60. 58
60.60
61.05
62.05
60.34
60.34
62.75
63.87
65.02
64. 69

41.2
41.1
41.0
41.0
41.2
39.7
40.2
41.2
41. 5
42.0
41. 6

1 471
1.474
1.478
1.489
1.506
1.520
1.501
1. 523
1.539
1.548
1. 555

73.98
71. 55

41.7
40.4

1.774
1. 771

65. 58
65.37

41.8
41. 4

1. 569
1.579

1.673
1.696
1.696
1. 716
1.726
1.752
1.756
1.765
1.766
1.776
1.787

65.36
6 6 .97
67.97

1.696
1. 716
1. 717
1.726
1. 732
1.740
1.752

41.6
42.1
42.0
42.6
42.6
41.2
41.9
42.2
42.3
42.4
42.5

1. 761
1.764

77.36
76.73

43.1
42.7

1. 795
1. 797

1 .6 6 8
1 .6 8 8

41.7 $1.588 $56. 20
40.4 1.704 61. 8 6
39.9
40.2
40.7
40.5
39.8
40.9
40.0
40.3
40.3
40.4
41.1

69.60
71.40
71.23
73.10
73.53
72.18
73.58
74.48
74. 70
75.30
75. 95

1.648
1.667

Communication
equipment

6 8 .0 0

67.58
70.02
6 8 .8 8

1 .6 6 6

610

G: E A R N I N G S A N D

MONTHLY LABOR

HOURS

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees

Con.

Manufacturing—Continued
Electrical machinery—Continued

Year and month

R a d io s , p h o n o ­
graphs, television
sets, and equip­
ment
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Telephone and tele­
graph equipment

Avg. Avg.
hriy, wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Transportation equipment

Electrical appliances,
lamps, and miscel­
laneous products

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Total: Transporta­
tion equipment

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Automobiles

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Aircraft and parts

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1950: Average_____ $53.85
1951: Average............ 58.40

40.7 $1.323 $65.84
40. 5 1.442 77.20

40.1 $1.642 $61. 58
43.2 1.787 65.73

41.0 $1.502 $71.18
40.8 1 . 611 75. 77

41.0 $1. 736 $73.25
40.8 1. 857 75.52

41.2 $1. 778 $6 8 .39
39.5 1.912 78.05

41.6
43.8

$1.644
1.782

1951: February____
M a r c h ...........

57.31
57.13
56. 74
67. 41
58. 42
57.35
57. 26
59. 40
60. 41
60.98
61.14

40.5
40.4
40.1
40.2
40.4
39.2
39.9
40.8
40.9
41.4
41.2

1.415
1.414
1.415
1.428
1.446
1.463
1.435
1.456
1.477
1.473
1.484

72.97
75.79
77.33
76.85
76.28
76. 27
76.24
78. 76
80.42
81.33
81. 08

41.6
42.6
43.3
43.2
43.0
42.8
43.1
44.2
44.8
44.3
43.9

1.754
1.779
1.786
1.779
1. 774
1.782
1.769
1. 782
1.795
1.836
1.847

85.38
65. 07
65. 52
65. 44
6 6 . 62
64.55
64.28
65. 61
66.26
6 8 . 89

41.3
40.9
41.0
40.8
41.2
39.6
40.0
40.7
40.4
40.5
41.6

1. 583
1. 591
1. 598
1.604
1.617
1.630
1.607
1.624
1.624
1.636
1.656

74. 05
75.73
74.81
74. 97
75.14
74.33
76. 36
77.43
77.14
77.05
79.48

40.8
41.2
40.9
40.9
40.4
39.9
40.9
41.1
40.9
40.7
41.7

1.893
1.906

74.29
76.13
74. 52
74.90
74.88
73. 30
76.31
77.53
77.34
76.44
79.91

39.9
40.3
39.7
39.8
38.9
37.9
39.5
39.8
39.7
39.1
40.4

1.862
1.889
1.877
1.882
1.925
1. 934
1.932
1. 948
1.948
1.955
1. 978

75. 8 6
77.35
77.13
77.22
77.31
77.48
77. 48
79.28
78. 07
79. 85
80. 57

43.3
43.9
44.0
43.9
43.8
43. 7
43.6
43.9
43.3
43.9
44.1

1.752
1.762
1. 753
1.759
1.765
1.773
1. 777
1. 809
1.803
1.819
1.827

61. 43
61.47

41.2
40.9

1.491
1.503

80. 31
80.14

43.6
43.2

1.842
1. 855

67.90
68.31

41.0
41.0

1.656
1 .6 6 6

79. 77
78. 69

41.7
41.2

1.913
1.910

81.11
79.27

40.8
40.2

1.988
1. 972

79. 44
79.09

43. 2
42.8

1. 839
1.848

Apnl............ -

M a y ........ .........
June.......... .......
July________ _
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
1952: January_____
February____

6 6 .1 0

1.815
1.838
1.829
1.833
1.860
1.863
1.867
1.884
1 .8 8 6

Manufacturing— Con tinued
Transportation equipment—-Continued
Aircraft engines and
parts

Aircraft propellers
smd parts

Other aircraft parts
and equipment

Ship and boat building and repairing

Shipbuilding and
repairing

1950: Average_____ $67.15
1951: A v era g e_____ 75. 82

41.4 $1 . 622 $71. 40
43.3 1. 751 85.90

42.1 $1. 696 $73.90
45.4 1. 892 89.17

42.4 $1. 743 $70. 81
46.2 1.930 78. 53

41.7 $1. 698 $63.28
43.7 1.797 70. 56

38.4 $1.648 $63. 83
40.0 1.764 71.18

38.2 $ 1. 671
39.9
1.784

1951: February.........
March__ ____
April________
M ay________
June_____ _
July_________
August______
September___
October..........
November___
December____

73.49
75.04
74.43
74.69
75.00
75. 78
75.86
77.65
76. 42
77.95
78.13

42.7
43.5
43.5
43.3
43.3
43.4
43.3
43.7
43.1
43.5
43.5

1.721
1. 725
1.711
1.725
1.732
1.746
1. 752
1. 777
1. 773
1. 792
1. 796

83.49
86.19
86.80
8 6 . 67
88.06
86.24
84.00
85. 61
83.20
87.02
8 8 . 44

45.3
45.7
46.0
46.2
46.3
45.7
44.8
44.8
43.4
45.3
45.8

1.887
1.876
1.902
1.887
1.875
1.911
1.917
1.921
1.931

90.01
90. 42
90.38
87.68
90. 77
92.16
90. 49
87.33
86.33
87.67
88.98

46.3
46.3
46.9
46.0
47.3
48.1
47.5
45.2
44.8
45.1
45.4

1.944
1. 953
1.927
1.906
1.919
1.916
1.905
1.932
1.927
1.944
1.960

78.10
79.34
79. 25
78. 45
77.43
76.00
75.84
78.29
79. 35
78. 50
81.16

44.1
44.2
44.1
43.9
43.5
42.6
42.7
43.4
43.6
43.3
44.4

1.771
1.795
1. 797
1.787
1.780
1.784
1.776
1.804
1.820
1.813
1.828

68.80
6 8 . 78
68.31
68.46
70.42
71.59
71.96
71.52
73. 57
72.37
74.12

40.4
40.2
39.9
39.8
40.1
40.4
40.2
40.0
40.2
39.1
40.5

1.703
1. 711
1.712
1.720
1.756
1.772
1.790
1.788
1.830
1. 851
1.830

68.96
71.04
72.40
72. 6 6
72.10
74.23
72. 97
74.72

40.4
40.1
39.7
39. 7
40.0
40.4
40.1
39. 9
40.1
39.0
40.5

1. 718
1.729
1. 736
1. 737
1. 776
1. 792
1.812
1.807
1.851
1.871
1.845

1952: January______ 76.33
February......... 77.18

42.1
42.2

1.813
1.829

88.30
84.85

45.8
44.4

1.928
1. 911

88.79
85. 60

45.3
44.4

1. 960
1.928

81.06
80.38

44.1
43.4

1.838
1.852

74.89
74. 56

40.9
40.3

1. 831
1. 850

75. 48
75. 40

40.8
40.3

1.850
1.871

1.843
1 .8 8 6

69.41
69.33

6 8 . 92

Manufacturing—Continued
Instruments and
related products

Transportation equipment—Continued
Boat building and
repairing

Locomotives and
parts

Railroad and streetcars

Other transportation Total: Instruments
equipment
and related products

1950: Average........... $55.99
1951: Average______ 60.79

40.6 $1.379 $6 6 .33
40.1 1. 516 75. 99

39.6 $1.675 $70.00
40.9 1.858 81.16

40.3 $1. 737 $62.47
41.6 1. 951 70.48

38.9 $1.606 $64.44
40.0 1. 762 68.44

41.9 $1.538 $60. 81
42.3 1 . 618 68.87

41. 2
42.2

$1.476
1.632

1951: February____
March_______
April________
M a y ________
June________
J uly__ _____
August...........
September____
October.......... .
November___
December____

57.72
59. 49
59.80
59. 64
58. 56
60. 80
60.86
62. 52
62. 55
63. 48
65. 53

39.0
39.9
40.6
40.0
39.3
40.4
40.2
40.7
40.3
39.9
40.3

1.480
1.491
1.473
1.491
1.490
1.505
1.514
1.536
1.552
1. 591
1.626

71.16
75.13
77.36
76. 55
75.64
75.82
77.05
76.96
77.06
76.49
77.81

40.8
41.1
41.5
41.2
40.3
40.7
40.7
40.7
40.9
40.6
40.8

1.744
1.828
1. 864
1.858
1.877
1.863
1.893
1.891
1.884
1. 884
1.907

75.35
82.40
83.27
80.36
79. 75
82.43
82.45
82.05
82.75
81.93
83. 76

41.7
42.3
42.1
41.4
40.3
41.8
41.6
41.8
41.9
41.8
41.9

1.807
1.948
1. 978
1.941
1.979
1.972
1.982
1.963
1. 975
1.960
1.999

68.06
70.74
72.90
71.69
70.98
71.20
71.68
71.06
70.66
71. 05

39.7
40.2
40.7
41.0
40.3
39.9
39.6
39.6
39.9
39.3
39.3

1.687
1.693
1.738
1. 778
1.779
1.779
1.798
1.810
1.781
1. 798
1.808

67.48
69.08
64.70
65. 81
68.43
66.85
67.82
68.91
71.13
71.06
73.48

42.2
43.2
41.0
41.0
42.4
41.7
42.1
42.3
42.9
42.6
44.0

1.599
1.599
1. 578
1.605
1.614
1.603
1.611
1. 629
1.658
1. 6 6 8
1. 670

67.06
67.64
55
68.78
69. 44
68.18
6 8 . 51
69. 93
70. 26
70.98
71.70

42. 2
42.3
42. 5
42.3
42. 6
41.8
41. 9
42. 2
42.3
42.5
42.6

1. 589
1. 599
1. 613
1 . 626
1. 630
1.631
1. 635
1. 657
1 . 661
1.670
1.683

1952: January_____
February____

64. 04
62. 27

39.7
38.8

1. 613
1.605

78.10
79. 57

41.7
42.1

1. 873
1.890

82. 03
82.88

42.0
42.5

1.953
1.950

72. 93
75.17

40.7
41.1

1.792
1. 829

70. 92
71.10

42.8
42.5

1. 657
1. 673

71.40
71.44

42. 3
42.1

1. 6 88
1.697

See footnotes at end of table.


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

6 6 .97

68.

REVIEW, MAY 1952

611

C: E A R N IN G S AN D H O U R S

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Miscellaneous manu­
facturing industries

Instruments and related products—Continued

Year and month

Ophthalmic goods

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Watches and
clocks

Photographic
apparatus

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

40.7 $1. 250 $65.59
40.8 1.364 73. 08

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

41.2 $1. 592 $53.25
42.0 1.740 59. 49

Professional and sci­
entific instruments
Avg. Avg.
hrly.
wkly. earn­
hours ings

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

39.8 $1.338 $63.01
40.8 1. 458 71. 99

Total: Miscellaneous
manufacturing in­
dustries
Avg. Avg.
wkly.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.7 $1. 511 $54.04
42.9 1.678 58.00

41.0
40.9

$1.318
1.418

1.626
1.644
1.650
1.665
1.672
1.672
1.684
1.710
1.715
1.727
1. 742

58.41
58.18
58.03
57.39
57.85
56.46
56.82
57.61
58.18
58.71
60. 53

41.6
41.5
41.3
40.7
40.8
39.9
40.1
40.4
40.6
40.6
41.4

1.404
1.402
1.405
1.410
1.418
1.415
1.417
1.426
1.433
1.446
1.462

1.745
1. 750

59.80
60.37

40.9
40.9

1.462
1. 476

1950: Average__________ ____
1951: Average-------------- ------ -

$50. 8 8
55. 65

1951: February—............- ..........
M arch_______________ _
April................... - ............ .
M ay__________ _____
June....................................
J u ly - ................................
August..............................
September____________
October.................. ..........
November................ ........
December____________

55.66
55. 61
56.23
55.60
56.07
55.41
55.23
56.19
56.11
55.36
55.14

41.6
41.5
41.5
40.7
40.9
40.3
40.2
40.6
40.6
40.2
39.9

1.338
1.340
1.355
1.366
1.371
1.375
1. 374
1.384
1.382
1.377
1. 382

72.76
71.99
73.24
73. 77
72.82
73.04
71.93
72.90
73. 33
74. 53
74. 96

42.3
42.1
41.9
42.2
41.8
41.5
41.6
41.8
41.9
42.3
42.3

1.720
1. 710
1. 748
1. 748
1. 742
1. 760
1.729
1.744
1.750
1.762
1. 772

58. 77
60.40
60.49
61.07
59. 78
57. 6 6
59.70
59. 98
59. 52
60.57
60. 55

41.1
41.8
41.6
41.8
41.0
40.1
41.0
40.8
40.3
40.9
40.8

1.430
1.445
1.454
1.461
1.458
1.438
1.456
1.470
1.477
1.481
1.484

69.11
70.03
71.12
71.10
72.73
71.06
71.57
73.53
73. 92
74.78
75.95

42.5
42.6
43.1
42.7
43.5
42.5
42.5
43.0
43.1
43.3
43.6

1952: January...... ................ —
February_____________

55.36
56.57

39.6
39.7

1.398
1.425

75.26
74.92

42.4
41.9

1. 775
1.788

59. 91
61.10

40.1
40.6

1.494
1.505

75.38
75.08

43.2
42.9

Manufacturing—Continued
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries—Continued
Jewelry, silverware,
and plated ware

Silverware and
plated ware

Jewelry and
findings

42.8 $1.389 $54.25
41.6 1.493 58.21

41.6 $1. 304 $64.08
41.7 1.396 65.73

1950: Average___
1951: Average___

$59.45
62.11

1951: February..
M arch____
April—........
M ay............
June............
Ju ly............
August.......
September.
October___
November.
December..

64.08
62.93
62.46
61.45
61.23
58.59
59. 25
61. 53
62.14
63.42
6 6 .33

43. 5
42.9
42.4
41.3
40.9
39.4
39.5
40.8
40.8
41.4
42.6

1.473
1.467
1.473
1.488
1.497
1.487
1.500
1.508
1.523
1.532
1.557

59.79
58.73
57. 93
56.58
56.61
54.43
55.28
57. 25
59.27
61.07
63.02

43.2
42.9
42.1
41.0
40.7
39.3
39.6
41.1
41.3
42.0
42.9

1.384
1.369
1.376
1.380
1.391
1.385
1.396
1.393
1.435
1.454
1.469

1952: January__
February..

63.74
63. 50

41.5
41.1

1. 536
1.545

60. 84
60.26

42.4
41.7

1.435
1.445

6 8 .2 0
6 6 . 95

66.40
65. 49
64.90
61.94
62.69
65.28
64.68
65.73
69.25
6 6 . 30

66.46

43.8 $1. 463 $50.98
41.6 1.580 53.54

40.4 $1 . 262 $49. 52
39.6 1. 352 53.65

40.0
40.1

$1,238
1.338

43.8 1.557
43.0 1.557
42.7 1.555
41.5 1.578
41.0 1.583
39.4 1. 572
39.4 1.591
40.6 1.608
40.3 1. 605
40.9 1.607
42. 2. 1. 641

54.10
54.06
53. 48
52.10
52.68
52.13
52.72
53.54
54.26
54.53
56.17

39.9
39.9
39.7
39.0
39.2
38.7
39.2
39.6
39.9
39.8
40.7

1.356
1.355
1.347
1.336
1.344
1.347
1.345
1.352
1.360
1.370
1. 380

54.24
53.44
53.13
53.45
54.40
53.44
52.63
53.35
53.53
54.04
54. 20

41.5
40.7
40.1
39.8
40.0
39.5
38.9
39.9
39.8
39.3
40.0

1.307
1.313
1.325
1.343
1.360
1.353
1.353
1.337
1.345
1.375
1.355

1.629
1. 637

57. 21
57.25

40.4
40.4

1.416
1.417

54.95
55.19

40.2
40.4

1.367
1.366

40.7
40.6

Communication

Miscellaneous
manufacturing
industries—Con.
Class I railroads

4

Local railways and
bus lines 5

Other miscellaneous
manufacturing
industries
1950: Average___
1951: Average__

$54. 91
_ 59.20

41.1 $1.336 $63.20
41.2 1.437 *69. 78

1951: February. .
M arch____
April...........
M ay...........
June............
July______
August.......
September.
October___
November .
December..

59., 34
59. 54
59.34
58.83
59.22
57.85
58.22
58. 89
59. 43
59 84
. 61.73

41. 7
41. 9
41. 7
41.2
41.3
40. 4
40. 6
40. 7
40.9
40.9
41.6

1.423
1. 421
1.423
1.428
1.434
1.432
1.434
1.447
1. 453
1.463
1.484

1952: January—
February—

fin 70
_ 61.65

41 1
41.1

1 477
1. 500

See footnotes at end of table.

Costume jew elry,
buttons, not ions

Transportation and public utilities

M anufaeturing—Con.


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

Toys and sporting
goods

6 6 .6 6

69.43
6 8 .49
69.62
70.82
69.81
72. 54
68.82
72.74
71.40
69.95

40.8 $1. 549 $66.96
*41.0 *1. 702 72.32
41.1
41.9
40.6
41.0
41.1
40.1
42.1
39.1
42.0
40.8
39.5

1.622
1.657
1.687
1.698
1.723
1.741
1.723
1.760
1.732
1.750
1.771

Telephones

45.0 $1,488 $54.38
46.3 1. 562 58.30

8

Switch board c perating emploj'ces 7

38.9 $1.398 $46. 65
39.1 1.491 49.54

37.5
37.7

$1.244
1. 314

70.66
70. 42
70. 92
72.17
72. 77
73.19
72.72
73.11
73.23
73.11
75.35

46.0
45.7
45.9
46.5
46.8
46.5
46.2
46.1
46.2
46.3
47.6

1.536
1. 541
1.545
1.552
1. 555
1.574
1.574
1.586
1.585
1.579
1. 583

57.58
56.52
56.12
56. 59
58.12
59.30
58.84
59.97
59.94
60.84
59,44

39.2
38.9
38.7
39.0
39.4
39.8
39.2
39.4
39.1
39.2
38.8

1.469
1.453
1.450
1.451
1.475
1.490
1.501
1.522
1.533
1. 552
1.532

49.09
47.80
47.45
47.42
49.26
50. 77
50.03
51.23
51.48
52.79
49.70

37.7
37.4
37.3
37.4
38.1
38.7
37.9
38,2
37.8
37.9
37.2

1.302
1.278
1.272
1.268
1.293
1* 312
1.320
1.341
1.362
1.393
1.336

73. 99
73.54

46.3 1.598
46.4 |1. 585

59.60
59.79

38.7
38.5

1. 540
1.553

49. 6 6
50.35

36.3
36.3

1.368
1. 387

612
T

able

C: E A R N IN G S AN D

C

1:

HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Transportation and public utilities—Continued
Communication

Year and month

Line construction,
in s ta lla tio n ,a n d
maintenance em­
ployees 8
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

1950: Average.
1951: Average.

$73.30
81.28

Other public utilities

Telegraph *

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Gas

and electric
utilities

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Electric light and
power utilities

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Gas utilities

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.1 $1. 741 $64.19
42.8 1.899 6 8 .33

44.7 $1. 436 $6 6 . 60
44.6 1. 532 71.77

41.6 $1 . 601 $67.81
41.9 1. 713 72.74

41.6 $1. 630 $63. 37
41.9 1.736 6 8 . 76

41.5
41.8

$1. 527
1.645
1.648
1. 619
1. 623
1.628
1.630
1.629
1.634
1.659
1.672

1951: February...
M arch.........
April_____
M ay______
June............
July.............
August____
September.
October___
N ovem ber..
December..

79. 74
78. 47
77.69
79. 49
81.20
82.78
82.58
83.83
83. 54
83. 79
83.91

43.1
42.6
42.2
42.9
43.1
43.0
42.9
43.1
42.6
42.6
42.7

1.850
1.842
1.841
1.853
1.884
1.925
1.925
1.945
1.961
1.967
1.965

64.86
64.63
64.40
65. 97
65. 44
71.23
70. 47
72.33
72.34
72.13
72. 21

44.7
44.6
44.6
45.4
45.1
44.8
44.6
44.4
44.3
44.2
44.3

1.451
1. 449
1.444
1.453
1.451
1. 590
1.580
1.629
1. 633
1.632
1.630

71.36
70.14
70.38
70. 72
71.06
71.82
71.73
72.88
72.92
73.29
73.63

42.0
41.5
41.5
41.5
41.7
42.0
41.9
42.2
42.1
42.0
42.1

1.699
1. 690
1.696
1.704
1.704
1. 710
1.712
1. 727
1.732
1.745
1.749

72.50
71.72
71. 51
71.97
72. 40
73.25
72. 96
73.34
72.85
73. 56
74. 56

42.1
41.7
41.6
41.6
41.8
42.1
42.1
42.1
41.7
41.7
42.1

1. 722
1. 720
1.719
1.730
1.732
1. 740
1.733
1.742
1.747
1.764
1. 771

70.04
67.19
6 6 . 71
66.91
6 6 . 99
67. 44
67.48
69.35
71.39
71.49
71.53

42. 5
41.5
41.1
41.1
41.1
41.4
41.3
41.8
42.7
42.4
42.3

1. 691

1952: January. _.
February.

83. 94
84. 05

42.5
42.3

1. 975
1. 987

70. 77
70. 81

43.9
43.9

1.612
1.613

73. 29
72. 71

42.0
41.5

1.745
1.752

74. 56
73. 50

42.1
41.5

1.771
1.771

71.06
70.90

42.1
42.0

1 .6 8
1 .6 8

Transportation and
public utilities—
Con.

Trade

Other public utili­
ties—Con.

Retail trade
Wholesale trade

Electric light and gas
utilities combined
1950: Average.
1951: Average.

$67.02
72.36

1 .6 8 6

Retail trade (except
eating and drink­
ing places)

General merchandise
stores

D epartm ent stores
and general mail­
order houses

41.6 $1 . 611 $60.36
41.9 1.727 64. 51

40.7 $1,483 $47. 63
40.7 1. 585 50.25

40.5 $1,176 $35.95
40.1 1.253 37.25

36.8 $0. 977 $41. 56
36.2 1. 029 44.11

38.2
37.8

$1,088
1.167

1951: February__
March_____
April.............
M ay_______
June_______
July— ........
A ugust.........
September. .
October____
N ovem ber..
D ecem ber...

70. 80
69.92
71.43
71.47
71.94
72.80
73. 04
74. 50
74. 02
73. 96
73. 6 6

41.6
41.2
41.7
41.6
41.9
42.2
42.1
42.5
42.2
42.0
41.9

1.702
1.697
1.713
1.718
1.717
1.725
1.735
1.753
1. 754
1.761
1. 758

63.62
63.62
63. 95
63. 78
64.35
64. 55
64. 51
65.64
65. 44
65. 52
6 6 . 58

40.6
40.6
40.6
40.6
40.7
40.7
40.7
40.9
40.8
40.8
41.1

1.567
1.567
1.575
1.571
1.581
1.586
1.585
1. 605
1. 604
1.606
1 . 620

49. 56
48.95
49.84
49.83
50.74
51.49
51.37
50.80
50. 43
49.92
49. 92

40.1
39.7
39.9
39.8
40.4
40.8
40.8
40.0
39.8
39.4
40.1

1.236
1.233
1.249
1.252
1.256
1.262
1.259
1.270
1.267
1.267
1.245

37.43
36.44
36.98
36. 71
37.70
38. 51
38.01
37.19
36. 56
36.12
37. 52

36.3
35.8
35.9
35.5
36.5
37.1
36.9
35.9
35.6
35.1
37.0

1.031
1.018
1. 030
1.034
1.033
1.038
1.030
1.036
1.027
1.029
1.014

43. 70
43. 05
43.39
43. 49
44. 23
44.81
44.27
44.29
43. 57
43. 28
46.49

37.8
37.6
37.5
37.3
38.0
38.1
37.9
37.6
37.3
36.8
39.4

1952: January. _.
February.

1.156
1.145
1.157
1.166
1.164
1.176
1.168
1.178
1.168
1.176
1.180

73.15
73.32

41.8
41.4

1. 750
1. 771

66.46
66.54

40.9
40.6

1. 625
1.639

51. 26
51.19

39.8
39.9

1.288
1. 283

38. 34
37.40

36.0
36.0

1.065
1.039

45.08
43. 42

37.5
37.3

1 .2 0 2

1.164

Trade—Continued
Retail trade—Continued
oo

d and liquor
stores

1950: Average____________
1951: A verage,.............. ........

$51. 79
53.96

1951: February___________
March______________
April_____________~~
M a y____ _____ _____
June___________
J u ly ...................
August_____________
September........... ........
October____ ________
November____ ______
December___________
1952: January..........................
February___________

See footnotes at end of table.

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

Automotive and ac­
cessories dealers

Other retail trade
Apparel and acces­
sories stores

Furniture and appli­
ance stores

Lumber and hard­
ware-supply stores

40.4 $1 . 282 $61.65
40.0 1. 349 6 6 . 51

45.7 $1,349 $40. 70
45.4 1. 465 42.20

36.5 $1,115 $56.12
36.1 1.169 59. 61

43. 5 $1,290 $54. 62
43.1 1.383 58.64

43.8
43.6

$1,247
1.345

52. 69
52.62
53.18
53.44
54. 72
55.44
55.23
54.24
53.90
54.35
54. 44

39.5
39.3
39.6
39.7
40.5
41.1
41.0
40.0
39.6
39.7
40.0

1.334
1.339
1.343
1.346
1.351
1.349
1.347
1.356
1. 361
1.369
1.361

67.03
66.91
67.18
67.94
67.24
67.13
67.06

45.5
45.4
45.5
45.2
45.6
45.3
45.3
45.2
45.4
45.3
45.4

1.432
1.438
1.458
1.465
1.470
1.477
1.483
1. 503
1.481
1.482
1.477

41.40
40. 75
41.09
41.44
42.25
42. 71
42.47
42.45
42. 49
42.17
43. 31

36.0
35.4
35.7
35.6
36.2
36.5
36.8
36.1
35.8
35.5
36.3

1.150
1.151
1.151
1.164
1.167
1.170
1.154
1.176
1.187
1.188
1.193

58.31
58.49
59.18
59.38
59.13
59.62
59.47
60. 07
60. 50
60.23
62.39

43.1
43.2
43.1
43.0
43.0
43.2
43.0
43.0
43.0
42.9
43.6

1.353
1.354
1.373
1.381
1.375
1.380
1.383
1.397
1.407
1.404
1.431

56. 76
56.72
58.12
58.60
58.91
59. 67
59.48
59.69
60.18
59.10
59. 60

43.2
43.1
43.6
43.8
43.8
44.2
43.9
43.7
43.8
43.2
43.6

1.314
1.316
1.333
1.338
1.345
1.350
1.355
1.366
1.374
1.368
1.367

54. 59
54. 61

39.3
39.4

1.389
1.386

67.12
67. 57

45.2
45.2

1.485
1.495

44. 00
43.46

36.3
36.1

1 .2 1 2

59.68
60.32

43.0
42.9

1.388
1.406

58. 52
59.08

42.9
43.0

1.364
1.374

65.16
65. 29
66.34
6 6 .2 2

1.204

REVIEW, MAY 1952

C: E A R N IN G S A N D

613

HOURS

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Finance

Banks
and
trust
com­
panies

Year and month

Service

10

Security
Insur­
dealers
ance
and
ex­
carriers
changes

Hotels, year-round

Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
wkly.
wkly.
wkly.
wkly.
earnings earnings earnings earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Cleaning and dyeing
plants

Laundries

11

Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly.
earnings earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly.
earnings earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Motionpicture
produc­
tion
and
distri­
bution i*

Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly.
earnings earnings

1950: Average_________________
1951: Average______ ________

$46. 44
50.32

$81.48
83.68

$58.49
61.31

$33. 85
35.38

43.9
43.2

$0. 771
.819

$35. 47
37. 52

41.2
41.1

$0.861
.913

$41.69
44.07

41.2
41.5

$1 . 0 1 2
1.062

$92. 79
83. 95

1951: F eb ru ary.............................
March___________ _______
April___________________
M a y ______ . . . _______
June____________________
July____________________
August__________ _______
September .. ______ _____
October____ . ________
November_______________
D ecem ber.. _______ ____

49. 55
49. 70
50.08
50. 11
50. 06
50. 50
50.28
50. 36
50.78
51.13
51.81

90. 95
85.96
84.12
81. 78
80. 97
77. 67
79.14
81.78
85.20
83. 8 8
83. 09

61. 26
60. 96
60.83
61.01
61. 71
62. 09
61.01
60.91
61.32
60.70
62.25

35. 04
34.68
34.90
35. 02
35.24
35. 46
35.29
35. 78
35. 91
36.20
36.81

43.2
43.3
43.3
43.4
43.4
43.4
43.3
42.9
42.9
43.1
43.2

.811
.801
.806
.807
.812
.817
.815
.834
.837
.840
.852

36.25
36. 85
37.32
37. 96
38.06
37. 83
37.38
37.87
37. 73
37.93
38.34

40.5
40.9
41.1
41.4
41.5
41.3
40.9
41.3
41.1
41.0
41.4

.895
.901
.908
.917
.917
.916
.914
.917
.918
.925
.926

41. 78
44.14
44.90
45.90
45. 45
44.26
42. 56
44. 72
44.36
43.71
44.14

40.1
42.0
42.4
43.1
42.6
41.6
40.3
41.6
41. 5
40. 7
41.1

1.042
1.051
1.059
1.065
1.067
1.064
1.056
1.075
1.069
1.074
1.074

80. 74
84. 56
84 94
83.63
83. 55
84 13
83.32
83.98
85.09
83. 6 8
86.19

___ . . .
1952: January___ _
February._. . . . . . ______

51.81
51.96

80.82
81.54

61.92
61.93

36.47
36. 55

42.9
42.9

.850
.852

38.60
38.01

41.6
41.0

.928
.927

44.18
43.04

41.1
40.0

1.075
1.076

89.02

1 These figures are based on reports from cooperating establishments cover­
ing 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 ma­
chinery; transportation equipment; instruments and related products;
miscellaneous 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.
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.
* Data include privately and municipally operated local railways and bus
lines.

8 8 .2 1

« Through M ay 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 relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry
as switchboard operators, service assistants, operating room instructors, and
pay-station attendants. During 1950 such employees made up 46 percent of
the total number of nonsupervisory employees in telephone establishments
reporting hours and earnings data.
8 Data relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry
as central office craftsmen; installation and exchange repair craftsmen; line,
cable, and conduit craftsmen; and laborers. During 1950 such employees
made up 25 percent of the total number of nonsupervisory employees in
telephone establishments reporting hours and earnings data.
8 N ew series beginning with January 1952; data relate to domestic em ploy­
ees, except messengers, and those compensated entirely on a commission
basis. Comparable data for October 1951 are $70.52, 4 3 . 8 hours, and $1,610;
November—$70.31, 43.7 hours, and $1,609; December—$70.47, 4 3 . 8 hours,
and $1,609.
10 Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not avail­
able.
11 Money payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips, not included.
‘ Preliminary.
N O T E .—Data for Class I Railroads for 1951 have been corrected.

T able 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

Manufacturing

Current 1939 Current 1939 Current 1939
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
1939:
1941:
1946:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:

Bituminouscoal mining

Laundries

Year and month

Average........- ........... $23. 86
Average__________
29. 58
Average__________
43.82
Average__________
54.14
A verage........... ....... 54. 92
Average__________
59. 33
Average,............... .
64.88

1951: February................. 63.84
M arch___________
64.57
April........... .............. . 64. 70

$23. 86
27.95
31.22
31.31
32.07
34. 31
34.75
34.52
34. 79
34.84

$23.88
30.86
58.03
72.12
63.28
70.35
77.86
75. 67
74. 66
75.63

$23. 88
29.16
41.35
41.70
36.96
40.68
41.70
40. 92
40.22
40.72

$17. 69
19.00
30.30
34.23
34.98
35.47
37.52
36.25
36. 85
37.32

$17.69
17.95
21.59
19. 79
20.43
20. 51
20.09
19.60
19.85
20.10

*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 War II and postwar understatement by


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Current 1939 Current 1939 Current 1939
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
1951: M ay. _
June
July
August
September
O ctober-,_______
November- ______
December________

$64. 55
65. 08
64. 24
64. 32
65 49
65.41
65.85
67.40

$34 61
34. 93
34 42
34.47

1952: January 2
February 2._ _____

67.04
67.03

35.24
35.46

34 89
34.69
34. 71
35.43

$73
77
73
77
81

86
67
71
23
61

$39
41
39
41

60
6Q
60
38

$37 96
38 06
37 83
37 38
37 87
3 7 ! 73

20 43

20 27
20 03
20 17

80. 62
81.09
86.28

43 47
4¿ 76
42.74
45.35

86 36
80.06

45 39

38 60

20 29

4 2 !35

38! 01

2 0 .1 1

3 7 .9 3

38.34

2 0 .0 1

19.99
20.15

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,
3 Preliminary.

614

MONTHLY LABOR

G: E A R N I N G S A N D H O U R S

T able C-3: Gross and Net Spendable Average Weekly Earnings of Production Workers in Manufactur­

ing Industries, in Current and 1939 Dollars 1
N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Gross average
weekly earnings
Period
Index
Amount (1939=
100)

Worker with
no dependents

W orker with
3 dependents

Cur­
rent
dollars

Cur­
1939
rent
dollars dollars

111.7
199.1
190.5
181.5

$25. 41
39. 40
37.80
37. 30

$25.06
30. 76
28.99
27.77

$26.37
45.17
43. 57
42. 78

$26.00
35.27
33. 42
31. 85

23.86
25.20
29. 58
36.65
43.14
46.08
44. 39
43. 82
49. 97
54.14
54. 92
59.33
64.88

1 0 0 .0

23. 58
24.69
28.05
31.77
36. 01
38.29
36.97
37. 72
42. 76
47.43
48.09
51.09
54.18

23.58
24.49
26.51
27.08
28.94
30.28
28. 58
26. 8 8
26.63
27. 43
28.09
29. 54
29.02

23. 62
24.95
29.28
36.28
41.39
44.06
42.74
43. 20
48.24
53.17
53.83
57. 21
61.41

23. 62
24.75
27. 67
30.93
33. 26
34.84
33.04
30. 78
30. 04
30. 75
31.44
33.08
32.89

A v era g e...................
Average__________
Average__________
Average_________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average_________
Average_________
Average__________
A verage...................
Average_________

105.6
124.0
153.6
180.8
193.1
186.0
183.7
209.4
226.9
230. 2
248.7
271.9

i 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

Worker with
no dependents

Period
Index
Amount (1939=
100)

1939
dollars

1941: January__________ $26.64
47.50
1945: January__________
July................ ........... 45. 45
43.31
1946: June_____________
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:

N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Gross average
weekly earnings

1951: February........... ....... $63.84
M a rch ............ ......... 64. 57
A p r il...____ _____ 64.70
M ay_____________
64. 55
June_____________
65. 08
J u ly .......................... 64.24
August___________
64.32
September_______
65. 49
October______ _ . 65.41
November.. . _
65. 85
December . _ ___ 67.40
1952: January 2 _________ 67.04
February 2 ___ ____
67.03

267.6
270.6
271.2
270.5
272.8
269.2
269.6
274.5
274.1
276.0
282.5
281.0
280.9

Worker with
3 dependents

Cur­
rent
dollars

1939
dollars

Cur­
1939
rent
dollars dollars

$53. 55
54.13
54.23
54.11
54. 53
53. 87
53.93
54.85
54. 79
54.04
55.23
54.95
54.94

$28.96
29.16
29.20
29. 01
29. 27
28. 87
28. 90
29.22
29. 06
28.48
29.03
28. 8 8
29.06

$60.62
61.21
61.31
61. 19
61.62
60.94
61.01
61.95
61.89
61.96
63.17
62.89
62.88

$32.78
32.98
33.01
32.81
33.07
32. 65
32.69
33.00
32.83
32.66
33.21
33.06
33.26

gross average weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing
industries without direct regard to marital status and family composition.
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.

T able C-4: Average Hourly Earnings, Gross and Exclusive of Overtime, of Production Workers in

Manufacturing Industries 1
Durable
goods

Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime

Period
Gross
amount

1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:

Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average.._ .
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____

$0. 729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465
1.594

Gross
Index
Amount (1939 =
100)
$0. 702
.805
.894
.947
.963
1.051
1.198
1.310
1.367
1.415
1.536

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

110.9 $0.808 $0. 770 $0.640
127.2
.947
.881
.723
141.2 1.059
.976
.803
149.6 1.117 1.029
.861
152.1 1 . 1 1 1 2 1.042
.904
166.0 1.156 1 . 1 2 2 1.015
189.3 1.292 1.250 1.171
207.0 1.410 1.366 1. 278
216.0 1.469 1.434 1.325
223.5 1.537 1.480 1.378
242.7 1.678 1.610 1.481

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Period

$0.625
.698
.763
.814
2 858
.981
1.133
1.241
1.292
1.337
1.437

1951: February__
March. . . . .
April______
M a y _______
June_______
J u l y ______
August_____
Septem ber...
O ctober___
November__
Decem ber.._
1952: January 3___
February3. .

• 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 holi­
days. Comparable data from January 1941 are available upon request to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Durable
goods

Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime
Gross
amount

$1. 561
1. 571
1.578
1.586
1.599
1.598
1.596
1. 613
1.615
1.626
1.636
1.639
1.643

2 Eleven-month average.
period.
2 Preliminary.

Index
Amount (1939=
100)
$1. 504
1.511
1.518
1.528
1.540
1.546
1.542
1. 554
1.557
1.569
1.571
1.577
1.583

Gross

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

237.6 $1.639 $1.573 $1.458
238.7 1.654 1.582 1.460
239.8 1.659 1.587 1.465
241.4 1.665 1.596 1.474
243.3 1.681 1.611 1.484
244.2 1.682 1.622 1.488
243.6 1.684 1.619 1.481
245.5 1. 707 1. 638 1. 489
246.0 1. 705 1. 635 1.491
247.9 1.712 1.644 1.507
248.2 1.723 1.644 1.515
249.1 1.725 1. 650 1.520
250.1 1.729 1.656 1.522

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

$1.414
1.415
1.422
1.432
1.441
1.444
1.441
1.444
1.450
1.465
1.468
1.476
1.479

August 1945 excluded because of VJ-holiday

REVIEW, MAY 1952

D : PR IC E S A N D

COST

OF L IV IN G

615

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
Year and month

All items

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: A verage.............................
1929: Average______________
1930: Average-------------- --------1931: Average____ ___________
1932: Average........ .......................
1933: Average___________ ____
1934: Average________________
1935: Average--------- --------------1936: A verage.------ ---------------1937: Average--------- --------------1938: A verage..............................1939: Average________________
1940: Average------ -----------------1941: Average_____ ___________
1942: A verage.------ ------- -------1943: Average________ ____ —
1944: Average----------- -----------1945: Average_________ ____ _
1946: Average________________
1947: Average________________
1948: Average__________ _____
1949: Average................................
1950: Average............................. .
1951: A verage..
—. . . .
. .
1950: January 1 5 _____________
June 15.......... ................ .......
1951: January 15__________ . . .
J a n u a r y 15 _____________
March 15_______________
M a rc h 15 ______________
April 15________________
A p r i l 15________________
M ay 15_________________
M a y 15 _________________
June 15________________
J u n e 15 ________________
July 15_________________
J u ly 15 . _ ______________
August 15______________
A u g u s t 15-- ___________
September 15___________
S ep te m b er 15 ____________
October 15____ _________
October 1 5 - .. ........ ...........
November 15___________
N ovem ber 15 ____________
December 15____________
D ecem ber 15 ______ ____ _
1952: January 15____________
J a n u a r y 15 ___ . _____ _
February 15____________
F ebru ary 15 . . . _______
March 15____ ____ ______
M a rc h 15 __ _____ ____

70.7
71.8
72.5
77.9
91.6
107.5
123.8
143.3
127.7
119.7
121.9

79.9
81.8
80.9
90.8
116.9
134.4
149.8
168.8
128.3
119.9
124.0

1 2 2 .2

1 2 2 .8

125.4
126.4
124.0

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

1 2 2 .6

122.5
119.4
108.7
97.6
92.4
95.7
98.1
99.1
102.7
1 0 0 .8

99.4
1 0 0 .2

105.2
116.6
123.7
125.7
128.6
139.5
159.6
171.9
170.2
171.9
185.6
168.2
170.2
181.5

201.9
204. 5
227.4
196.0
203.1
221.9

181 .6

S il. 6

2 1 0 .2

69.3
69.8
71.4
78.3
94.1
127.5
168.7
2 0 1 .0

154.8
125.6
125.9
124.9
122.4
1 2 0 .6

118.3
116.5
115.3
112.7
1 0 2 .6

90¿»8
87.9
96.1
96.8
97.6
1 0 2 .8
1 0 2 .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
204.5
185.0
184.6
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
150.7
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

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
1 0 0 .0

101.4
100.7
1 0 0 .2
1 0 0 .2

Gas and
electricity

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3>
(3)
(3)
1 0 2 .8
1 0 0 .8

113.6

1 2 1 .1

1 2 1 .2

126.4
131.0
136.2
129.4
130.9
133.2

133.9
137.5
140.6
144. 1
140.0
139. 1
143.3
144-5

9 7 .2

1 1 0 .1

99.9
99.0
99.7
1 0 2 .2

105.4
107.7
109.8
110.3
112.4

199.7

126.0

226.2

203. 1

134. 7

1816

m . 4

2 0 4 -6

127.3

184.6

225.7

203.6

135. 1

144.0

127.7

1 4 6 .2

Other
fuels
(3)

0
0

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
97.2
96. 7
96.8
97.2

184.5

0
0
• 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

98.4
99.8
101.7

1 0 1 .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
204. 5
193. 1
189.0
202.3
2 0 1 .8

Ice

100.4
104.1
1 1 0 .0

1 2 2 .2

114.2
115.8
115.9
115.9
125.9
135.2
141.7
147.8
155.6
145.5
147.0
152.0

125.6
136.4
145.8
159.2
184.4
195.8
189.0
190.2
210.9
184.7
184.8
207.4

104.0
110.9
115.8
121.3
124.1
128.8
139.9
149.9
154.6
156.5
165.4
155.1
154.6
162.1
1 6 3 .7

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

162.9

154.4

208 .9

154-4

212 .7

165 .8

2 1 1 .8

164.6

96.9

154.4

135.4

143.6

97.3

202.4

154-4

214.1

128.0

144-9

97. 4

2 0 1 .6
2 0 2 .8

156.0

2 1 2 .6
2 1 4 .8

204.0

135. 7

205 .5

128. S

203.3

136.2

185.8

227.5

204.9

128.8

97. 1

205.0

210.7

206.7

226.9

205 .5

156.0

164.3
166.1

165.0
166. 4

143.6

97. 1

156.0

212. 5

146.1

9 7 .2

202.3

156.0

2 1 4 -6

97.2

203.7

157.6

166. 3

212.4

165.0

9 7 .2

144.0

203.6

136.8

144.2

97.3

2 0 3 .4

157.6

227.0

204.2

157.8

2 1 4 -8
210. 8

166 .3

185.6

226. 4

205.2

129.3

9 7 .3

2 0 4 .0

157 .8

1 6 6 .8

209.0

137.5

144.4

97.3

204.9

212.7

186.6

227.3

146. 0

157.8

186.5

226. S

210.7

130.0

9 7 .3

2 0 4 .8

157.8

208.9

138.2

97.4

205.8

156.3

1 6 7 .5

187.4

229.2

146.3

2 1 1 .1
2 1 2 .8

210.4

166.6

187.8

145.7

164.8

185.5

144.6

206 .3

229 .2

2 1 1 .0

13 0 .8

231.4

138.9

144.8

97. 4

206.3

156.3

2 1 2 .0
2 1 0 .8

168.1

207.6

232.1

209.9

147 .0

97. 4

206 .7

156.3

232. 2

212 .5

1 6 9 .9

189. 1

206.8

131.4

139. 2

144.9

97.5

206.6

156.3

169.1

190.0

233. 9

209.1

131.8

232.4

204. 6

139. 7

147. 1

189. 1
190.2

S34. 6

206. 7

187. 9

227.5

204.3

188. S

229.1

206.1

156.3

166.0

189.3

1 4 6 .8

97. 4

165.4

188.6

168.4

9 7 .5

207.0

156.3

2 1 0 .2
2 1 1 .8

145.0

97.6

206.8

156.3

209.1

169.6

132.2

147.2

9 7 .6

207.1

156.3

2 1 0 .6

171.1

140.2

145. 3

97.9

206.7

156.3

208.6

170.2

132.8

147.8

9 7 .8

207.1

156.3

2 1 0 .0

170.5

1 7 1 .5

188.0

227.6

203. 5

140.5

145.3

97.9

206.8

156.5

207.6

170.7

188.4

229 .2

205 .6

132.9

147.4

9 7 .8

207.1

156.5

2 0 9 .2

1 7 2 .0

adjusted population and commodity weights beginning with indexes for
January 1950. These adjustments make a continuous comparable series
from 1913 to date. 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
War I.
1 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
different kinds of paid services); recreation (that is, newspapers, motion pic­
tures, radio, television, and tobacco products); personal care (barber and
beauty-shop service and toilet articles); etc.
3 Data not available.

The old series of Indexes for 1951-52 are shown in italics in tables D - l , D -2, and D -5 for reference.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1 0 1 .1

205.0

204.0

227. 7

101.5
100.7

205.7

205 .2

227 0

1 0 1 .0

97.2

226.7

185.5

1 0 2 .2
1 0 2 .6

103.2
103.8
104.6
105.1
104.1
101.7
98.4
97.9
98.1
98.7

9 7 .2

2 2 4 -6

185.5

1 0 1 .2
1 0 0 .8

101.4

144.2

227.4

185.2

50.9
51.9
53.6
56.3
65.1
77.8
87.6
100.5
104.3

146.3

185.4

1815

Miscella­
neous *

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

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

185A

i 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 goods, rents, and services purchased by wage earners and
lower-salaried workers in large cities.
U. S. Department of Labor Bulletin No. 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
index is given in the following reports: Report of the Joint Committee on the
Consumers’ Price Index of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, A Joint
Committee Print (1949); September 1949 M onthly Labor Review, Construc­
tion of Consumers’ Price Index (p. 284); April 1951 M onthlv Labor R eview,
Interim Adjustment of Consumers’ Price Index (p. 421). and Correction of
N ew Unit Bias in Rent Component of CPI (p. 437); and Consumers’ Price
Index, Report of a Special Subcommittee of the House Committee on Educa­
tion and Labor (1951).
The Consumers’ Price Index has been adjusted to incorporate a correction
of the new unit bias in the rent index beginning with indexes for 1940 and
N o t e .—

Housefurnishings

Rent

616

D : P R IC E S

T able

AND

COST

MONTHLY LABOR

OF L IV IN G

D-2: Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City,1 for Selected Periods
[1935-39=100]

City
Average.................. .
Atlanta, Qa_______
Baltimore, M d ____
Birmingham, Ala.__
Boston, M ass______
Buffalo, N . Y _____
Chicago, I1L _ ..........
Cincinnati, Ohio___
Cleveland, Ohio___
Denver, Colo______
Detroit, M ich_____
Houston, T ex..........-

Mar. 15 Feb. 15, Jan. 15, Dec. 15, Nov. 15 Oct. 15, Sept. 15 Aug. 15, July 15, June 15, May 15, Apr. 15, Mar. 15 Jan. 15, June 15, M a r . 15,
1951
1951
1952
1951
1951
1951
1951
1951
1951
1951
1951
1951
1952
1952
1950
im
188.0
0

193.0
193.6
179.1
(2)
192.7
187.5
0
0

190.7
194.3

187.9

189.1

189.1

188.6

187.4

195.2
(2)
193.9
179.3
(2)
191.9
187.1
191.8
(2)
190.7
194.3

(2)
(2)
194.7
180.0
188.3
194.1
188.3
(2)
192.3
192.0
195.4

(3)
193.3
196.0
180.9
(2)
194.2
187.9
(2)
(J)
191.9
196.0

196.1
(2)
196.3
180.0
(2)
194.3
187.8
192.0
(2)
191.5
195.1

(2)
(2)
196.0
179.3
186.9
193.5
187.0
(2)
191.2
190.2
194.4

(2)

Indianapolis, Ind.__
Jacksonville, Fla___
Kansas City, M o ...
Los Angeles, C alif..
Manchester, N . H ..
Memphis, T enn___
Milwaukee, W is. . .
Minneapolis, M inn.
Mobile, Ala----- . . .
New Orleans, La__
New York, N . Y _ ...

(2)
195.6
(2)
190.9
(2)
190.2
(2)
188.0
187.9
(2)
182.4

(2)
190.7
(2)
(2)
195.1
(2)
(2)
190. 5
183.0

190.9
(2)
182.3
190.0
187.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
184.2

(s)
195.9
(J)
190.4
(2)
191.4
(2)
187.7
187.3
(2)
184.0

Norfolk, Va_______
Philadelphia, P a___
Pittsburgh, P a____
Portland, M aine___
Portland, Oreg____
Richmond, Va_____
St. Louis, M o_____
San Francisco, Calif.
Savannah, Ga_____
Scranton, P a______
Seattle, W ash___ . .
Washington, D . C ..

(2)
187.8
190. 3
180.6
(2)
(2)
190.2
193.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

3192. 0
187.1
190.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
184.2
195.3
183.9

(2)
188.9
192.2
(2)
199.0
183.8
(2)
(2)
200.3
(2)
(2)
(2)

(2)
189.2
191.7
179.9
(2)
(2)
190.2
193.1
(2)
(2)

0

0

(2)

190.0
184.1

189.9
(2)
180.4
187.9
187.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(s)
183.0

191.7
189.1
192.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
185.4
194.6
184.7

(2)
186.7
191. 2
(2)
195.8
183.8
(2)
(2)
198.8
(2)
(2)
(2)

0

(2)
(2)
189.6
(2)
(2)
195.3
(2)
0

186.6
0

190.5
191.4
177.8
(2)
191.8
186.8
0
0

189.0
194.1
0

192.0
0

187.2
0

189.9
0

183.1
185. 6
0

182.5
0

186.1
190.0
178.6
186.2
188.4

> The indexes are based on time-to-time 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.


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

0
0

0
0
0
0

185.5
193.1
0

190.5
177.2
0

190.9
185.3
189.1
0

188.5
193.0
0
0
0

186.6
0
0

192.3

0
0

185.5
0
0

189.2
176.9
185. 5
190.9
185.6
0

187.6
188.6
192.6
187.8
0

179.7
186.7
184.4
0
0
0
0
0

188.9
180.9

181.2

188.6
185.4
188.8

185.4
189.3

0

0

0
0
0
0

182.5
190.9
180.8

0

0

195.7
181.3
0
0

196.5
0
0
0

185.2
0

189.8
189.8
176.5
0

190.1
185.0
0
0

188.3
192.3
0

190.6
0

186.1
0

187.8
0

183.6
183. 5
0

180.5
0

185.6
187.8
176.4
0
0

185.0
188.4
0
0
0
0

185.4

184.6

192.7

0
0

0

189.9
175.5
183.3
189.1
184.6

190.1
176.1
0

189.8
184.8
188.2

0

187.0
186.7
192.5

0

187.4
3 192. 5
0
0
0

186.3
0
0

190.9
0
0

3

187. 5
0

178.5
185.6
182.9

0
0

0

0
0

188.5
181.4

180.6

188.3
186.4
187.8

185.9
186.7

0
0
0

0
0
0

182.4
191.4
180.0

0

0

194.1
181.2
0
0

195.5
0
0
0

184.5
0

188.6
190.6
175.8
0

189.1
184.4
0
0

187.0
192.4
0

190.4
0

185.6
0

186.5
0

183.2
181.9
0

180.4
0

185.6
186.0
175.7
0
0

185.2
188.7
0
0
0
0

181.5
0
0

188.2
173.5
180.8
185.4
182.3
0

184.9
184.2
190.1
184.4
0

175.6
181.3
180.6
0
0
0
0
0

177.8
0

170.2
0

174.7
171.6
165.5
0

175.1
170.5
0
0

173.5
175.8
0

176.3
0

169.3
0

172.7

0

169.1
168.2
0

167.0

0

0
0

168.8
172.4

190.4
179.8
189.2
0
0
0

191.3
193. 8
1 8 0.4
0

194.0
188.0
0
0

191.1
193.4
0

196.6

0189.9
0188.8
0188.1

187.9

0

183.0

0

169.1
171.8
164.4

181.0
183.4

18 8.4
0

0
0

0
0
0
0

0

188.2
191.5
181.5

0
0190.9
19 5.0

0
0
0
0

3 Indexes are computed monthly for 10 cities and once every 3 months for
24 additional cities according to a staggered schedule,
3 Corrected.

T

a b l e

D - 3

617

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

R E V IE W , M AY 1952

: Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City and Group of
Commodities 1
[1935-39=100]
F u e l , e l e c t r i c i t y , a n d r e fr ig e r a t io n
A p p arel

Food

H o u s e f u r n is h in g s

R ent

M is c e lla n e o u s

G a s a n d e le c t r ic it y

T o ta l
C ity
M a r . 15,
1952

F e b . 15,
1952

M a r . 15,
1952

F e b . 15,
1952

2 2 7 .6

2 2 7 .5

2 0 3 .5

2 0 4 .3

A t l a n t a , Q a ------------------B a l t i m o r e , M d ------------B i r m i n g h a m , A l a --------B o s t o n , M a s s ___________
B u f f a l o , N . Y - .......... ..
C h ic a g o , 111__ __________
C i n c i n n a t i , O h i o ---------C l e v e l a n d , O h io ----------D e n v e r , C o l o ___________
D e t r o i t , M i c h __________
H o u s t o n , T e x .....................

2 2 3 .9
2 3 9 .5
2 1 5 .3
2 1 4 .6
2 2 1 .8
2 3 3 .3
2 2 8 .6
2 3 5 .8
2 3 0 .4
2 2 8 .8
2 3 6 .1

2 2 7 .4
2 3 8 .6
2 1 7 .3
2 1 4 .5
2 2 1 .0
2 3 1 .4
2 2 8 .1
2 3 7 .2
2 3 0 .0
2 2 9 .1
2 3 6 .0

(')
1 9 6 .7
2 1 5 .7
1 8 9 .8

2 1 7 .3
(>)
2 1 6 .1
1 9 2 .9
0)
2 0 3 .7
2 0 0 .9
2 0 2 .6
(')
1 9 7 .0
2 1 9 .4

I n d i a n a p o l i s , I n d --------J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l a . -----K a n s a s C i t y , M o ______
L o s A n g e l e s , C a l i f _____
M a n c h e s t e r , N . H -----M e m p h i s , T e n n _______
M i l w a u k e e , W i s -----M in n e a p o lis , M in n . _
M o b i l e , A l a ----------------N e w O r l e a n s , L a ______
N e w Y o r k , N. Y ______

2 2 4 .1
2 3 1 .2
2 1 3 .1
2 3 4 .6
2 1 6 .6
2 3 1 .0
2 2 8 .0
2 2 0 .2
2 2 8 .0
2 3 9 .8
2 2 5 .3

2 2 3 .8
2 3 1 .5
2 1 3 .0
2 3 4 .2
2 1 6 .8
2 3 4 .9
2 2 7 .3
2 2 0 .1
2 2 8 .0
2 4 0 .5
2 2 6 .2

(>)
1 9 7 .6
(0
1 9 9 .8
(>)
2 1 8 .8
(>)
2 1 1 .9
2 0 6 .0
(*)
2 0 6 .4

N o r f o lk , V a ----------------P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
P i t t s b u r g h , P a ________
P o r t l a n d , M a i n e _______
P o r t l a n d , O r e g _________
R i c h m o n d , V a _________
S t . L o u i s , M o __________
S a n F r a n c isc o , C a l i f . ..
S a v a n n a h , Q a --------------S c r a n t o n , P a __________
S e a t t l e , W a s h __________
W a s h i n g t o n , D . C -------

2 3 1 .0
2 2 4 .3
2 2 9 .3
2 1 3 .8
2 4 8 .3
2 1 2 .9
2 3 8 .3
2 4 5 .4
2 3 8 .7
2 2 4 .3
2 3 9 .7
2 2 4 .0

3 232. 7
2 2 4 .4
2 2 9 .8
2 1 4 .1
2 4 6 .9
2 1 4 .3
2 3 8 .6
2 4 0 .5
2 3 8 .9
2 2 5 .6
2 3 8 .2
2 2 3 .1

(>)
1 9 9 .3
2 3 0 .8
2 1 0 .2
0)
(>)
2 0 5 .3
1 9 9 .3

1 9 2 .5
1 9 8 .9
2 3 4 .9
(>)
(>)
0)

(>)
( ')
(>)
( ')

0)
2 1 2 .1
2 0 4 .3
2 2 2 .7

A v e r a g e --------------------------

0 )

2 0 4 .5
2 0 0 .6
(■)
(>)
1 9 6 .3
2 1 9 .5

(0
(*)
0)
1 9 8 .5

(0
(')
2 0 6 .1
(')
(>)
2 1 0 .0
2 0 7 .7

(>)
(>)

M a r . 15,
1952

1 4 0 .5
( 2)

1 4 2 .3
(2)
1 3 2 .7
(2)
1 5 4 .4
12 9 .1
(2)
(2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)

1 6 1 .1
( 2)

(2)
(2)
1 6 0 .8
( 2)
15 0 .3
1 5 3 .3
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 2 4 .1
( 2)
( 2)
1 3 4 .8
1 3 8 .2
(2)
(2)
( 2)
( 2)

F e b . 15,
1952


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

F e b . 15,
1952

M a r . 15,
1952

F e b . 15,
1952

M a r . 15,
1952

F e b . 15,
1952

M a r . 15, F e b . 15,
1952
1952

1 4 0 .2

1 4 5 .3

1 4 5 .3

9 7 .9

9 7 .9

2 0 7 .6

2 0 8 .6

1 7 0 .7

1 7 0 .2

1 5 0 .9

1 6 0 .9
1 4 9 .3
1 3 8 .2
1 6 2 .6
1 5 4 .3
1 3 8 .2
1 5 1 .6
1 5 0 .5
1 1 3 .8
1 5 5 .3
9 8 .5

1 6 0 .7
1 4 9 .2
1 3 8 .2
1 6 2 .6
1 5 4 .0
1 3 8 .2
1 5 1 .3
1 5 0 .5
1 1 3 .8
1 5 5 .4
9 8 .5

8 5 .9
1 1 5 .5
7 9 .6
1 1 8 .3
1 1 0 .0
8 3 .5
1 0 1 .6
1 0 5 .6
6 9 .7
9 0 .0
8 2 .0

8 5 .8
1 1 5 .4
7 9 .6
1 1 8 .2
1 1 0 .0
8 3 .5
1 0 1 .1
1 0 5 .6
6 9 .7
9 0 .1
8 2 .0

0
2 0 4 .4
1 9 7 .7
2 0 0 .0
0)
1 9 6 .9
1 9 4 .1

2 1 8 .7
(')
1 9 8 .7
2 0 1 .3
(>)
1 9 6 .9
1 9 3 .9
1 8 6 .4
(0
2 2 3 .9
2 0 5 .4

(')
1 7 2 .5
1 6 9 .7
1 6 3 .7
(>)
1 7 2 .8
1 7 1 .3

1 8 1 .1
(■)
1 6 8 .8
1 6 3 .6

(>)
1 8 2 .6
1 7 2 .9

1 7 2 .9
1 7 0 .8
1 6 9 .3
(>)
1 8 1 .8
1 7 3 .0

1 6 2 .0
1 4 3 .0
1 3 5 .0
9 8 .7
1 6 9 .5
1 4 1 .6
1 5 2 .3
1 5 2 .1
1 3 0 .7
1 1 3 .2
1 4 4 .7

1 6 2 .0
1 4 3 .0
1 3 5 .9
9 8 .7
1 7 0 .1
1 4 1 .6
1 5 2 .3
1 5 1 .5
1 3 0 .5
1 1 3 .2
1 4 4 .7

8 4 .5
8 4 .8
7 2 .1
9 3 .0
1 1 4 .4
7 7 .0
9 9 .2
8 6 .2
8 4 .9
7 5 .1
1 0 2 .9

8 4 .5
8 4 .8
7 2 .7
9 3 .0
1 1 5 .5
7 7 .0
9 9 .2
8 6 .2
8 4 .8
7 5 .1
1 0 2 .9

0)
2 0 8 .0

(>)
(>)
(0
2 0 5 .1
(>)

(*)
0)
(0
1 6 9 .0
(>)
0)
1 6 9 .9
0)
(')
1 5 4 .5
1 7 0 .0

159. 4
1 5 0 .5
1 4 7 .6
1 6 0 .0
1 3 6 .0
1 4 8 .8
1 4 3 .6
9 8 .8
1 6 8 .8
1 6 1 .6
1 3 2 .2
1 4 9 .3

1 5 9 .6
1 5 0 .5
1 4 7 .6
1 6 0 .0
1 3 6 .0
1 4 8 .8
1 4 3 .6
9 8 .8
1 6 8 .8
1 6 1 .6
1 3 2 .2
1 4 9 .3

9 9 .8
1 0 4 .2
1 1 0 .5
1 1 2 .4
9 3 .9
1 0 2 .2
8 8 .4
8 7 .0
1 2 3 .9
1 0 3 .5
9 2 .6
1 0 5 .3

1 0 0 .1
1 0 4 .2
1 1 0 .5
1 1 2 .4
9 3 .9
1 0 2 .2
8 8 .4
8 7 .0
1 2 3 .9
1 0 3 .5
9 2 .6
1 0 5 .3

( 2)

2 0 1 .3
( 2)

(2)
(2)
( 2)

1 4 9 .1
( 2)
( 2)

1 7 0 .8
( 2)
( 2)

(2)
1 6 5 .9
(2)
( 2)
1 7 3 .3
( 2)
(2)
1 4 1 .6
(2)
1 6 0 .1
1 3 1 .7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)

1 2 4 .3
1 6 1 .4
1 2 7 .3

i P r ic e s of a p p a r e l, h o u s e fu r n is h in g s , a n d m isc e lla n e o u s g o o d s a n d se r v ic e s
are o b ta in e d m o n t h ly in 10 c it ie s a n d o n c e e v e r y 3 m o n th s in 24 a d d itio n a l
c itie s o n a sta g g e r e d s c h e d u le .

998444— 52------ 9

M a r . 15,
1952

0)
(0
2 2 3 .5
2 0 5 .0

0 )

2 0 3 .0
(0
1 8 1 .1
( !)
2 0 0 .8
1 7 8 .1
(>)
1 9 7 .0

2 1 6 .0
(>)
(>)
2 0 6 .5
1 9 8 .9

(')
1 8 2 .3
(')
1 6 9 .2
(0
1 6 0 .3
(•)
1 7 4 .9
1 6 3 .8
(>)
1 6 9 .8

(0
2 1 3 .2
2 1 1 .7
2 0 0 .8
(0

2 0 3 .9
2 1 4 .6
2 1 2 .3
(>)
(')

1 7 2 .5
1 7 0 .0
1 6 6 .3
(>)

0)

( ')

1 8 3 .1
1 7 1 .3
(0

(0
(>)

(0

0)

(>)
(*)
(>)
( ')

1 8 4 .6
2 1 0 .9
2 1 6 .2

0)

0)

1 6 7 .8
1 8 0 .3
(0
(>)

(0

(0

0 )

1 6 9 .3
1 7 0 .0
1 6 9 .8
(0
(*)
(>)

(0
(>)
(■)

1 5 5 .7
1 7 7 .2
1 7 2 .9

1 R e n t s a re s u r v e y e d e v e r y 3 m o n th s in 34 la rg e c itie s o n a sta g g e r e d s c h e d u le ,
* C o rrec ted ,

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

618
T

a b l e

M O NTH LY

LA BO R

D-4: Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods,1 by Group, for Selected Periods
[1935-39= 100]

Y e a r a n d m o n th

A ll
food s

C ere­
M e a ts ,
a ls
p o u l­
and
b a k e r y tr y ,
and
p rod ­
T o ta l
fish
u c ts

A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ______
A u g u s t_______
1940: A v e r a g e ______

124.0
137.4
132.5
8 6 .5
9 5 .2
9 3 .5
9 6 .6

105. 5
115.7
107. 6
8 2 .6
94. 5
93.4
9 6 .8

10 1.2

117.8
127.1
79. 3
9 6 .6
9 5 .7
9 5 .8

9 6 .6
9 5 .4
9 4 .4

1941: A v e r a g e ............
D e c e m b e r ____
1942: A v e r a g e ............
1943: A v e r a g e ______
1944: A v e r a g e ______
1945: A v e r a g e ...........
A u g u s t . . _____

105.5
113.1
123.9
138.0
136.1
139.1
140.9

9 7 .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

1946: A v e r a g e ............
J u n e . _______
N o v e m b e r ___

159.6
145.6
187. 7

125.0
122.1
140.6

1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:

A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ______
A v e r a g e ............
A v e r a g e ______
J a n u a r y ............
J u n e __________

193.8
210 .2
201 .9
204. 5
196. 0
203.1

1951: A v e r a g e ............
M a r c h ............
A p r il_________
M a y _________
J u n e __________
J u l y ....................
A u g u s t . . ..........
S e p te m b e r ___
O c t o b e r ______
N o v e m b e r ___
D e c e m b e r ____
1952: J a n u a r y ............
F e b r u a r y ____
M a r c h _______

1923:
1926;
1929:
1932:
1939:

M e a ts
B eef
and
veal

F r u its a n d v e g e ta b le s
C h ic k ­
F ish
ens

Pork

10 1.1

8 8 .9

9 9 .6

88.0

L am b

D a ir y
p ro d ­
u c ts

E ggs
T o ta l

129.4 136.1
127. 4 141. 7
131. 0 143 8
84. 9 82. 3
9 5 .9
9 1 .0
93.1
90. 7
101.4
9 3 .8

173
226
173
105
95
92
97

fi

169 0
103 5
94. 5
92 .4
96. 5

104.
111.
132
178
177
188
196

2
0
8
0
2
2
2

169. 5
210 8

9 9 .5
98 .8
9 9 .7

9 3 .8
9 4 .6
94 .8
10 2 .1

124.5
100.5 138.9
122 .6 163. 0
146.1 206. 5
151.0 207.6
154.4 217.1
157.3 217.8

112.0

112.2

120. 5
125.4
134.6
133. 6
133.9
133.4

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

10 1.0

9 9 .6

F ro­
F r esh
ze n s

C an­
n ed

B e v e r ­ F a ts
and
a g es
o ils
D r ie d

124 8 17* 4
1 2 2 0 152 4
1 94 3 171 0
92 3 03 3
91 6 00 3
02 4 10 0 6

131 5 126 2
170 4 145 0
164 8 127 2
112 6
71 1
05 5 87 7
04 0 84 5
9? * 82 2

106 7
118.3
136 2
1 58 0
164 5
168 9
168 6

101 5 04 0
1 1 4 ! 1 108. 5
1°? 1 119 6
124 8 1°6 1
194 9 193 3
124 7 124 0
124 7 124 0

106 4
114.4
126 5
127 1
126 5
126 5

190 7
196 7
182.3

140 8 100 4
197 ,5 179 5
167.7 251. 6

130 6 15 9 1
195 4 19 0 4
167.8 244.4

143 9
136 2
170.5

201
212
218
206
217.
224

2
6

9
1
8

01 1

01 2

102 .8

81.1

110.8

100.1

114.4
123. 6
124.7
118.7
118.4
118.5

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

161.3
134.0
2 0 3 .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

165.1 168. 8
147. 8 147.1
198.5 201 .6

182. 4
183 5
184.5

155.4
170.9
169.7
172.7
169. 0
169.8

217.1
246. 5
233. 4
243 .6
219.4
246. 5

214.7
243. 9
22 9 .3
24 2 .0
217.9
246.7

213.6
258. 5
241.3
26 5 .7
242.3
268.6

215.9
2 2 2 .5
205 .9
203.2
177.3
209.1

220.1
246.8
251.7
257.8
234.3
268.1

183. 2
203. 2
191. 5
183. 3
158.9
185.1

271.4
312.8
314.1
308.5
301.9
295.9

186. 2
204.8
186. 7
184. 7
184.2
177. 8

200. 8
208. 7
201. 2
173. 6
152.3
148. 4

199.4
205. 2
208 1
199. 2
204.8
209 3

5
4
8
1
2
3

166 2
158 0
152 0
146 0
143.3
142 7

999 Q

227.4
226 .2
225.7
227.4
226.9
227 .7
227 .0
227. 3
229 .2
231.4
232.2

188.5
187.5
188.3
188.2
188.4
189.0
188.7
189.4
189. 4
190.2
190.4

272 .2
272.2
272 .6
272 .8
271 .6
273.2
275.0
275.6
276 .6
273. 5
270.1

274.1
271.9
272.5
272.4
273.1
274 .2
276 .6
277 .6
281 .0
278 .6
274.6

310.4
308.0
309.5
308.7
308.8
310.3
310.1
310.7
317.0
317 3
316.9

215.7
215.4
213.7
213.4
214.4
215.3
22 2 .6
224.3
223.8
215.8
203.8

288.8
280.5
284 .2
289.1
292.5
292 .2
292 .0
292 .2
293. 7
295 .6
300.0

192.1
198.9
198.5
199.4
191.3
195.3
194. 4
195.1
188.7
184.0
181.9

352.0
351.2
351. 7
353.1
356.3
353.3
356.4
353.2
353. 2
351.1
351 .2

206.0
20 4 .6
204.1
203 .5
203.9
205.1
205.9
206.4
207.9
210 4
213.2

211.3
195.2
191.2
198.4
201. 2
211.5
225.8
239.3
243.4
241. 8
216.7

217.9
9 8 .6 223.3
217.1 101.2 220. 7
214.8 100.2 215.9
221 .6
9 9 .6 226 .5
219.9
98 .8 223. 5
218 .5
9 8 .8 221.8
208.9
9 8 .0 209.1
205.1
9 7 .5 204.3
210.8
9 7 .5 214.4
223. 5 9 5 .9 235.0
236.5
95 .0 255.4

165. 9
167.0
168.9
169.6
170.4
170.0
165.8
164. 2
162.8
162.7
163.3

249.9
257.4
257. 8
256. 7
254. 4
250. 7
248. 5
245.6
240.8
238. 1
238.9

232.4
227.5
227.6

190.6
190.9
191.2

272.1
271.1
267.7

273.8 316.0
270.8 314.2
268.8 312 .6

203.8
201.0
200.3

297.1
285.6
276.5

192.6 351.5
197. 5 «351.5
190.7 3 4 7 .6

215.8
217.0
215.7

184.3
166.5
161.3

241.4
223.5
232.1

163.3 238.6
163. 6 238.4
163. 9 230.3

i T h e B u r e a u of L ab or S ta tis tic s re ta il food p ric es are o b ta in e d m o n th ly
d u r in g t h e first th r e e d a y s of th e w e e k c o n ta in in g th e fifte e n th o f th e m o n th ,
th ro u g h v o lu n ta r y rep orts from ch a in a n d in d e p e n d e n t re ta il food d ea lers.
A r tic le s in c lu d e d are se le c te d to r e p r e se n t food sa le s to m o d e r a te -in c o m e
fa m ilie s.
T h e in d e x e s are c o m p u te d b y th e fix e d -b a se-w eig h ted -a g g reg a te m e th o d ,
u sin g w e ig h ts re p r e se n tin g (1) r e la tiv e im p o r ta n c e of ch a in a n d in d e p e n d e n t
s to re sa les, in c o m p u tin g c it y a v er a g e p rices; (2) food p u r ch a se s b y fa m ilies
o f w a g e earners a n d m o d e r a te -in c o m e w o rk ers, in c o m p u tin g c it y in d ex es;


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

110.6

....

S ugar
and
sw e e ts

3

95 .0 263.2
9 4 .2 234 6
9 2 .5 248.4

97. 9
106.3
121 6
130 6
120 5
130 2
130 3

963 5
946 8
297 4
998 5
223 .9

180
965
220
312
299.
296

8
O
7
5
5
*

1q7
105
148
144

5
5
4
3

1 on n
QQ 6

100 6
9* g

Qft Q

1 96 A

135!2

180 0
174 0
176 4
179 9
178.9

168.8
177. 3
178. 3
176.7
175.2
168.8
162. 7
161. 5
160.6
158. 5
157.8

186.6
186. 0
185.9
185. 4
186.1
188. 0
188. 3
188.2
187. 0
186.7
186.4

34 6 .7 155.3
347. 1 150. 9
347. 1 145.6

185.9
185.1
184.3

34 4.5

342 6
343. 5
345.3
345. 2
344. 8
345. 2
345.0
345. 8
346.6
34 6 .8

174 Q

a n d (3) p o p u la tio n w e ig h ts , in c o m b in in g c it y a g g re g a te s in o rd er to d e r iv e
average, p rices a n d in d e x e s for a ll c itie s c o m b in e d .
In d e x e s o f re ta il food p rices in 56 large c itie s c o m b in e d , b y c o m m o d ity
g ro u p s, for th e y ea r s 1923 th ro u g h 1949 (193 5 -3 9 = 100), m a y bo fo u nd in B u lle ­
tin N o . 1032 “ R e ta il P r ic e s o f F o o d , 1949,” B u r e a u of L a b o r S ta tis tic s , U . S .
D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r, ta b le 3, p . 7. M im e o g r a p h e d ta b le s o f th e s a m e d a ta ,
b y m o n th s , J a n u a r y 1935 to d a te , a re a v a ila b le u p o n r e q u e s t.
1 D e c e m b e r 1950=100.
» C o rrected .

REVIEW, MAY 1952

D : PR IC E S A N D

COST

619

OF L IV IN G

T able D -5: Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods, by City
[1935-39=100]
M ar.
1952

Feb.
1952

_________

227 .6

A tla n ta , O a _________________
B a ltim o r e , M d _____________
B ir m in g h a m , A l a . - - ...............
B o s to n , M a s s ______________
B r id g e p o r t, C o n n ................... ..

2 2 3 .9
239. 5
215.3
214 .6
227 .3

C it y

U n ite d S t a t e s ____

Jan.
1952

D ec.
1951

N ov.
1951

O ct.
1951

S ep t.
1951

A ug.
1951

J u ly
1951

June
1951

M ay
1951

A pr.
1951

M ar.
1951

June
1960

M ar.
1952

2 2 7 .5

232.4

23 2 .2

231.4

229.2

227.3

227 .0

227.7

226.9

227.4

225.7

226 .2

203.1

2 2 9 .2

227 .4
238 .6
217.3
214 .5
227.0

230.7
243.8

232.1
242.4
224.3
218.4
227.9

230.0
241. 1
224.0
217.8
227.4

232.1
238. 3

213.9
224. 3

231.4
238.0
217 3
215.5
225.0

229 4
237 .0
214.5
216.6
226-0

228.1
2.38.9
216.4
214.9
225.9

228. 7
239.0
218.1
214.4
225.3

228.5
236 .2
218.3

218.2
229.4

230.7
242.5
222.7
219.3
228 .9

224. 1
236.8
220 5
213.3
226 9

195.4
215.6
192. 2
196. 1
204 .0

2 1 7 .2
216 .1
2 2 8 .9

224.2
229. 2
237.8
217.9
236.2

221. 5
228.5
235.1
6
232.3

219 2
229 .0
236.0

224.3
225. 5
237.2

221.9
226.6
236. 5

218.0
222.9
234. 8

199.0
203.0
208.6
188. 0
20S.4

2 2 6 .8
2 3 2 .2
2 4 0 .4
219. 8
2 3 5 .6

228.3
235.7
207.3
230.9
231.6

205.1

221.8 221.0

220.2

220.1

222.1

228.1
235.1
219.3
2 3 3 .3

227.5
235.1
219. 4
231.4

225.2
230.2
238.3
222.3
237.5

226.7
233.7
239.8
221. 5
238.1

227 .2
230. 2
240.5
218.0
237.8

C in c in n a ti, O h io ______ _____
C le v e la n d , O h io ..........................
C o lu m b u s , O h io ____________
D a lla s . T e x ____ ____________
D e n v e r , C o lo ........................... ..

228 .6
235 .8
209.2
229 .8
230 .4

228.1
237.2
209. 8
228.8
230.0

233.2
240.9
214.3
236.3
236.2

230.4
238.5
211.3
235.4
239 .2

232. 0
239.0
211.4
236.0
236.9

229.7
237 .2
209.6
233.8
234 9

229.0
235.3
207.8
233.5
232.4

D e tr o it, M i c h _______________
F a ll R iv e r , M a s s ______ _____
H o u s to n , T ex— __________
I n d ia n a p o lis, I n d ___________
J a c k so n , M is s .1_____________

228 .8
221.4
236. 1
224.1
223 .9

229.1
220. 7
236.0
223.8
225.8

235.0
22 4 .0
241.4
227.6
230.3

234.5
223.8
241. 2
227.0
229 .2

233 5
224.2
237.8
227.9
227.4

230.5
223. 2
237 6
226.3
229.4

228.4
219. 7
239. 4
225. 4
227.2

232.5
213.9
253. 7
224.4
234. 5

233.8
213.7
251 7
223.6
232.7

249.8
225. 2
230.9

B u ffa lo , N . Y _______________
B u t t e , M o n t ________________
C ed ar R a p id s , I o w a 1_______
C h a r le sto n , S. C — ............—
C h ica g o , III_________________

J a c k s o n v ille , F l a ____________
K a n s a s C it y , M o ___________
K n o x v ille , T e n n .1___ ______
L ittle R o c k , A r k . __________
L o s A n g e le s , C a lif __________

231 .2
213.1
250. 5
224.3
234 .6

231.5
213.0
253.2
224.6
234.2

237.2
217.8
256.9
229.7
239.3

235.0
218.0
256.6
229.9
240.7

234.8
216.4
256.2
225. 4
237.1

L o u is v ille , K y .............................
M a n c h e s te r , N . H __________
M e m p h is , T e n n .............. ........
M ilw a u k e e , W is .........................
M in n e a p o lis , M i n n ..................

213.2
216. 6
231.0
228 .0

213.6
216.8
234.9
227.3

218.4

221.2

220.2 220.1

237.8
232.8
223.1

219.1
220.9
238.9
232.6
224.0

218.6
222.5
237. 7
231.7

221.2

228 .0
224.1

228 .0
225.0
219.7
240.5
226.2

231.6
227.7

231.4
227. 2

230.0
228.3

244.8
230 .2

244.3
230.6

229.2
236.7
207.6
227.0
230.6

227.1
235.6
207.3
228.9
232.3

226.0
231.8
206. 1
228.7
229.9

225.8
233.3
207 1
229 9
230. 5

211.2

2 2 9 .5
237. S
2 1 1 .8
2 3 1 .6
2 3 3 .5

228.9

229 1

237.2
224.3
24 .8

235. 2
223. 3

229.4
221. 3
235 .2
222.4
221.9

229.1
219.2
237.1
223.3
223 .2

227.3
219.8
238 3
.6

228.8
219 2
238 5
1
226.3

202.9
200. 7
208. 1
198.1

229. 5
2 2 3 .9
2L0.4
2 2 6 .6
2 2 5 .0

231.9

230.5
213.6
250. 3
225 1
230. 9

234.3
212.4
250. 9
224.9
228.9

234. 8
6
263. 4
226.8
229.8

205.8
189. 2
223. 1
.1

23 3 .5
214. 7
2 5 2 .7
2 2 9 .3
2 3 5 .2

192.0

2 1 6.9
219. 3
235.1
2 3 0 .3
2 2 1 .4

221.0 222. 2

222.6

211.6 211.6 212.2

221 222
222.1

253 1
222.9
232.3

222.8

214.8
221.9
234.7
229.2
217.5

216.0

215. 5

238 .0
228.9
218.9

215.6
219.8
237. 4
227.9
215.6

221.6 221.0
232.3
231.9
219.0

233. 0
229 9
219.4

213.7
218.4
234.6
227.5
21 8 .2

212.5
217.8
232. 9
224.8
217 .6

214.6
217.6
233 8
226.9
217.7

229.1
225.3
219.9
240. 6
226.1

227.0
225.0
219.2
240.8
225.5

229.5
225. 7

241.3
230.9

231.7
226.4
222.4
239.9
227.8

225.7
225.5
220.5
238.2
224.4

224.2
227.1
220.3
239. 5
226.4

225. 7
224.2
218.1
240.2
224.9

223.8
223. 2
219.3
242.1
224.7

233.6
227.0
242.5
228.8
234.6

231.9
225.1
239.5
228.6
235.2

230.0
223.3
235.6
227.1
233.5

229.1
219.6
235.6
224.1
231.0

220.0

229.1

236. 9
223.2
23 2 .0

229.1
219.1
239.8
223.6
232 .9

229 .2
219.6
241.2
230 .3

229.4
219.3
240.6
223. 8
230.5

22 7 .9
217.0
237.9
222 .3
227 .8

215.8
246.9
232.8
218.4

213. 2
247.9
228.3
217.7

222.3

220.2

215.9
247.4
228 .9
215.9
218.9

217.0
251.2
231.8
216 .5
221 .5

213.9
251.5
229.6
216.4
222.9

252.1
229.1
216.7
220 .9

221.6

239.3
220.7
228.5
235.6
240.7

238 .8
215.1
228.0
234. S
241.4

237.2
216.2
227.4
234.4
24 0 .0

237 .9
216.5
228 .3
237.8
241 .2

238.2
216. 2
230.0
237.4
239.6

229.8
238.1
241.4
228.1
244.1
220.5

22 7 .2
234.8
238.6
228.0
242.9

225.6
234.4
238.1
224.0
241.4
219.3

225.9
232.7
237. 9

225 .5
233.8
238.6
221 .9
238 .2
2 2 0 .3

225 .7
233.0
238.5
224.2
234.9

231 .0
222 .4
2 3 5 .6
224 .3
229.3

« 232.7
238.5
224 .4
229.8

237 .2
226.8
243.8
229.4
235 .7

P o r tla n d , M a in e ____________
P o r tla n d , O reg— ....................
P r o v id e n c e , R . I__________
R ic h m o n d , V a ______________
R o c h e s te r , N . Y _ ___________

213. 8
248 .3
231 .4
212.9

221.6

214.1
246 .9
229 .5
214.3
223 .5

217.0
254.8
234.4
219.3
227.4

216.1
253.3
234.1
218.3
227.4

216.4
251.8
233.3
219.1
226.3

S t. L o u is, M o —......................... S t. P a u l, M i n n _____________
S a lt L a k e C it y , U t a h ..............
S a n F r a n c isc o , C a lif________
S a v a n n a h , G a . ................... ........

238 .3

238 .6

220.0 221.2
231 .5
2 4 5 .4
238 .7

243.9
223.7
233.4
248.4
241.7

242.2

231.2
240 .5
238 .9

244.0
224.0
232. 9
248 .9
242.6

S cr a n to n , P a ......... ................. ..
S e a ttle , W a s h ....... ............... ........
S p r in g fie ld , 111___________ _
W a s h in g to n , D. O ________
W ic h ita , K a n s .1_______ _____
W in s to n -S a le m , N . C .1...........

224 .3
239 .7
238 .6
224 .0
240.8
217 .6

225 .6
238.2
240.2
223.1
24 2 .7
21 8 .6

232.0
243.4
244.1
228.7
248.3
223.2

229.9
239.9
242.6
228.9
248.8


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

231.1

233.4

234.7

N o r fo lk , V a ______ ______ _
O m a h a , N e b r ______________
P e o ria . I l l ___________________
P h ila d e lp h ia , P a —................ ..
P itts b u r g h , P a ......... ................. ..

• June 1940=100.
• Corrected.

233.0

226.9
236.3
208.5
227.9
232.6

221.0

254. 9
223. 0
233.3

239 .8
225.3

2 2 2 .6

233.4

219.6
223.9
234. 9
214.3
231.6

227.4
238.5
218.9
235.3

233.6

M o b ile , A la _________________
N e w a r k , N . J ....... ............... ........
N e w H a v e n , C o n n _________
N e w O rlean s, L a ___________
N e w Y o rk , N . Y ____________

220.2

220

212.8

226 .0

222.6 222.2 222.1

222.8

232.5
240.7
241.7

216.7

220.1

m .6
2 4 1 .3

212.2 211.8

2 2 2 .0

237.8
220.7

221.6
238.8
226.5

212.8

222.2

211

183.9
201. 5
205.9

201.0

200
201.6
200. 6

208. 3
206. 6
194.1

200.1
203. 3
199.8
212.9
203.7

2 3 0 .6
2 2 2 .9
2 2 1 .3
242.1
2 2 5 .4

233 .8
216.8
233.1
221.4
2 2 7 .2

205. 9
197.2
216.8
201.4
207 .5

2 3 2 .6
2 2 5 .0
239. 4
2 2 3 .9
231.1

209 .6
248.6
229 .5
21 5 .9
217.8

210 .5
250.3
228.6
217.4
218 .2

193 .0
219.1
207.9
195.2
196.4

2 1 5 .2
25 0 .7
2 3 4 .5
2 1 6 .0
2 2 4 .5

238.4
215.1
228.3
241.2
237.6

237.6
214.4
226.9
238.4
237 .6

239.4
214.1
227.9
241.7
232.3

225.2
236.6
237.6
224 .3
234.0

221.4
234 .4
237.6

222.7
234.3
237.8
222.4
237.5
223.7

210.0

220.6 220.6

2 2 2 .2

234.1
220.4

210.2
192.5
202.2
211.1

200 .3

204 .2
2 0 8 .6

211.8

201 .9
209.4
197.3

2 4 2 .4
2 1 9 .4
2 3 6 .2
2 4 8 .4
2 4 1 .5
2 2 6 .3
2 4 0 .6
23 9 .5
2 2 8 .6
245 .7
219 .5

620

D : P R IC E S

AND

COST

OF L IV IN G

M O N TH LY L A B O R

T able D -6: Average Retail Prices and Indexes of Selected Foods
Commodity

Aver­
age
priee
Mar.
1952

Indexes 1935-39=100
Mar.
1952

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

Dec,
1951

Nov.
1951

Oct.
1961

Sept.
1951

Aug.
1951

July
1951

June
1951

M ay
1951

Apr.
1951

Mar.
1951

52.6
22.4
10.2
17.3
18.0

203.7
209.6
218. 0
96.7
103.5

204.4
209.4
216.1
96.7
163.8

204.3
208.2
212.7
96.1
163.3

203.1
207.7
209.0
94 9
162.9

202.3
207.9
206.4
93 1
162.7

201.8
206.4
204.3
94 2
162.9

201.3
205. 8
203.6
0Q 7
162.2

201.1
203.9
201.8
101 2
162.0

201.7
199. 5
200.8
101 F
161.6

202.3
197.8
200.4

202. *
197 4
201.3

201.8
196.6
203. 7

200.9
194.3
203.7

190.5
176 5
181. 9

161.3

160. 2

159! 1

156. 6

145.8

15.8
23.3
49.8

185.1
224.6
108.5

184.8
224.5
107.9

184.5
224.2
108.3

184.2
223.8
109.1

183.9
223 1
109.8

183.9
221.5
107.5

183.7
220 0
107.9

183.5
215.8
107.1

183.4
214.9
108.6

183.4
213.5
106.9

182.8
213. 2
107.3

182.7
214 9
107.9

182.8
213.7
106.0

163.9
191. 7

111. 6
86. 1
75.3
64.5
65.6

330.4
298.0
333. 7
116.2
214.3

331.9
303.2
334.0
106.3
215.9

333.3
305.3
336. 7
107.6
217.0

333.6
307.2
338.3
108.1
217.9

334.6
308. 2
338. 5
103.6
217.6

332.7
306. 4
337. 4
108.9
218.7

323.3
290.6
327.7
108.6
216.1

323.2
289.5
327.1
108.6
215.1

323.1
290.0
327.0
108.4
215.9

322.2
289.5
327. 2
106.5
215.8

320.9
289.0
327. 1
106.5
216.9

320.3
294.6
326 2
106.2
219.7

318.0
292.8
324.1
106.4
218.8

287.9
264.1
279.2

130.8

326.4

326.8

325.0

322.9

319.5

319.6

320.1

319.8

319.1

317.2

315.4

311.9

308.6

271.2

74.3
61.3
62. 2
34.5

225.1
160. 6
211.9
164.0

223.9
161.9
214.4
168. 1

227. 6
163.5
216.8
171.4

226. C 248.8
165.2 172.7
217.2 218.7
174.8 179.2

258. 7
178. 4
226. 5
185.6

258.1
178.0
229.4
186.2

254. 4
177.8
229.4
184.9

236. 9
177. 8
229.0
183.6

235.3
177.8
228. 1
184.9

234. 2
177. 6
226.3
184.9

233.4
177 6
228.0
187.9

235. 7
178. 2
230.1
188.0

243.5
161.9
215.8
160.5

Leg.................. ................. -d o___
79.6
Poultry
Frying chickens:
New York dressed 9___ do . .
48.3
Dressed and drawn 9___ do___
60.7
Fish:
Fish, fresh or frozen 8 ...
__
Ocean Perch fdlct.frozen10*.do___ 45.9
Haddock fillet, frozen " *.do___ 51.8
Salmon, pink » ... ..16-ounce can.. 57.0
Dairy products:
Butter . . . ________ ______ pound..
89.5
Creese, American process______ do.-_
60.1
Milk, fresh (delivered) ..............-quart..
24.1
Milk, fresh (grocery)18 ________ d o ...
22.7
Ice cream 9___ . ____ _________ pint..
31.6
M ilk, evaporated... . 14J4-ounce ca n .. 14.8
Eggs: Eggs, f r e s h . . . ____ _____ ..dozen .
56.2
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen fruits:
Strawberries 9 18._ ____12 ounces..
40.9
Orange juice 9___ ------- 6 ounces..
19.7
Frozen vegetables:
12 minces
P ea s9 . ____ _
24 0
Fresh fruits:
Apples_________ _______pound..
12.8
Bananas________ -------------do___
17.0
Oranges, size 200.. _______ dozen.
45.7
Fresh vegetables:
Beans, green ___ ___ . pound.. 26.9
Cabbage______
------------- do
7.4
Carrots__________ --------- bunch . 10.7
Lettuce_________ ------------- head— 13.7
Onions _________ _______pound..
12.9
Potatoes.. . ____ ____15 pounds.
102.8

280.9
190. 7

290.2
197.5

301.8
192.6

304.8
181.9

300.3
184.0

298.4
188. 7

296.9
195.1

296.7
194.4

296.9
195.3

297.2
191.3

293.8
199.4

288.7
198.5

285.0
198.9

272.4

296. 7 <•299. 6

298.3

296.7

295.8

294.7

290.1

292. 5

288.1

291.4

287.1

286.4

287.6

Cereal? and bakery products:
Cereals:
Flour, wheat......... _____5 pounds..
Com flakes >____ _____13 ounces..
Com meal_____ ..............p o u n d ..
P ic e » _ ______ _______ d o ..
Rolled oats *......... ..........20 ounces..
Bakerv products:
Bread, white •___ ...............pound..
Vanilla cookies*.. ______7 ounces..
Laver cake • 7___ .............. pound.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Meats:
Beef:
Pound steak. ................. _do___
Rib roast____ ................... do___
Chuck roast.. _________ do___
Frankfurters 4...................do___
Hamburger 8_ ............... do___
Veal
Cutlets_____ ................... do___
C h o p s ..____ ...................do___
Bacon, sliced. ............. . —do___
Ham, whole.. ............... _do___
Salt pork____ ________ d o ___

C en ts

Sweetpotatoes___ ______ pound— 17.2
Tomatoes 14_____ ------------ do___ 29.3
Canned fruits:
Peaches............ . ...N o .
can.. 34.5
Pineapple... . ------------ do___ 38.3
Canned vegetables:
Corn 19___ _____ —No. 303 can . 18.6
Tomatoes_______ ____No. 2 can.. 17.5
Peas__________ ...N o . 303 can . 20. 7
Baby foods 9_____ 4J.£-4|i ounces.. 10.0
Dried fruits, prunes .. ------ .pound . 25.9
.Dried vegetables, navy beans__ do___ 15.8
Beverages:
Coffee______________ ------------ do___ 87.0
Cola drink 9________ 6-bottle carton.. 29.1
Fats and oils:
L ard.. .. . . ______ ----------pound.
19.3
bhortenmg, hydrogenated........—do __ 34.2
baiad dressing_______ ------------ pint— 35.6
Margarine__________ . . . . ___pound.. ___
Un colored 19_____ ------------ do----- 32.4
Colored 17 . ___ ------------ do----- 28.6
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar.
.. ..
------ 5 pounds . 50. 1
Grape iellv • ________ ___ 12 ounces..
23.4


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

181.8

460. 9

467.1

471.2

475.1

477.4

489.1

503.1

508.2

509.2

511.0

511.7

508.1

502.4

344.1

245. 8
265. 6
196.7
198.7
106.0
208.2
161.3

258.5
265. 4
196.5
198.5
105.7
206.6
166.5

252. 4
266. 8
196. 0
198.1
105. 3
205.1
184.3

241. 2
263.3
195.0
197.1
104.4
2C2.8
216.7

226.9
261.2
194.0
195.8
104. 5
202.8
241.8

224.2
258.3
191.2
192.7
KM. 9
203. 1
243.4

219 7
259. 4
189. 7
191. 2
104.8
203. 0
239.3

220.5
259. 3
188.3
190. 5
105. 2
203.7
225.8

221.8
260. 0
187.2
188.5
105.1
203.3
211.5

223.8
261.3
185.1
186.4
104.9
203.3
201.2

223.3
260.3
184.9
185.9
104.7
202.8
198.4

219.7
265. 7
185. 6
186.9
105. 2
203.2
191.2

224.0
265.7
185.4
187.3
104.9
202.4
195.2

195.4
226.2
160.4
162.0

91.9
84.2

92.0
85.3

92.7
88.8

93.2
92.5

94.9
96.6

95.1
99.2

95.6
100.2

95.8
101.5

97.4
103.2

97.0
104.8

98.7
105.0

100. 5
105.1

101.3
104. 2

98.5

96.9

96.3

97.8

98.3

98.2

98.0

98.3

98.3

100.1

239.4
281. 5
160.8

229.2
273.4
156.2

218.8
269. 9
161.7

204.3
267. 7
164.7

191.2
270.5
175.8

178.4
269. 9
189.3

203.0
265.6
194.4

214.3
264.5
188.0

240.2
268.9
161.5

232.9
271.7
167.5

213.6
274.2
163.7

205.1
273.9
158.0

206.0
276.2
166.1

301.1
271.9
172.8

250.4
198 1
196.3
106.0
313.3
282.0

238.1
260.0
220.0
145.4
250. 9
270.5

191.3
419.8
291. 7
256. 5
242.6
289.5

193.3
265.8
101.5

166.8
151.6
235.0
180.6
176.0

203.7
308.2
112.6

149.1
151.0
229.2
192.6
205.7

236.1
251.8
170.2

187.3
172.9
202.6
162.8
246.1

230.2
231.4
179.4

212.7
191.0
196.5
229.8
235. 1

205.7
225. 6
192.9
212.1
186.7

193.3
386. 5
220.4
149. 2
176.8

151.0
174.3
181.7
167.3
187.1

234.4
144.3

215.2
227.5
142.8

185.4
153.7
241.1
168. 1
168.6

265.2
222.4

246.2
217.2
289.4
232.1
196.6
247. 5

188.4
160. 5
235.9
186.4
177.0

299.7
189.0

208.0
268.0
2.81.8
272.8
209.0
266.2

174.8
177.6

95.8

202. 5
201.5
196.6

219.3
209.4
208.3

174.3
179. 7

173.8
178.3

140.1
172.0

164.4
226.4
118.8
101.9
273.1
233.8

163.6
223.6
119.3
101. 5
273.3
235.5

162.8
215.9
119.6
101. 4
272.1
235.4

138.4
161.6
114.3

346.7
108.0

346.5
108.2

344.1
108.4

342.9
108.3

294.9

159.9
190.4
163.5
184.2

166.2
198.4
166.1
194.3

167.8
201.1
164.8
197.8

173.7
201.1
165.8
199.9

174.4
198.4
165.5
199.1

116.0
155.6
142.1
161.1

190.8

187.4
101.0

186.4

186.7
101.5

187.4
100.8

175.3

309.9
160.7

179.7
176.4

180.0
176.8

179.1
176.7

178.3
177.3

177.6
177.6

177. S
177.8

177.0
177.4

175.3
177.5

174.9
178.1

174.6
178.8

171.2
195. 9
113.0
102.0
256.2
212.9

171.3
194.2
113.0
102.0
259.0
214.5

169.5
195.1
113.0
101.9
260.6
214.0

168.3
195.4
114.3
101.9
261.6
213.9

166.7
194.2
114.6
101. 7
263.1
211.9

165.3
194.8
115.5
101. 7
208.7
213.1

165.7
200.7
116.9
101.7
274.9
216.8

165.4 164.9 164.2
209.0 228.0 230.4
117.8 119.2 118.8
101.7 101.7 102.1
275. 1 274. 5 272.8
220.9 224.4 230.7

345.9
111.2

345.9
111.2

345.2
111.3

345.4
111.2

345.5
110.8

345.1
110.2

345.3
109.1

346.3
108.4

346.2
108.0

130.3
165.6
147.9
153.8

143.7
170.7
151.1
157.2

149.8
174.0
153.6
165.4

155.5
176.6
153.4
169.4

158.3
177.2
152.8
170.5

167.7
178.4
153.0
171.2

163.1
179.4
156.9
172.8

161.7
181.4
158.3
174.6

187.0
98.2

187.9
98.3

188.7
98.8

188.8
99.6

189.1
100.0

189.8
99 4

191.6
99 3

191.7
99. 4

100.0

101.0

185.0
192.4
193.1

174.2
148.4

179.1
190.3
216.1

231.2
192.9

Specification changed to 13 ounces
* Priced in 28 cities.
in December 1950.
* 1938-39=100.
»July 1947=100.
10 Priced in 46 cities.
* February 1943=100.
11 Priced in 47 cities.
4 Average price based on 52 cities;
18 Specification revised in Novem ­
index, on 56 citievS.
ber 1950.
* Specification changed to 7 ounces
18 Specification changed to 12
in September 1951.
ounces in January 1952.
*December 1950= 100.
14 October 1949=100.
7 Priced in 46 cities.
1

June
1950

237.8
202.7

No. 303 can ol corn introduced in M ay 1951 in place of No. 2 can.
Priced in 9 cities beginning October 1951,12 cities September 1951,13 cities
August 1951, 16 cities April through July 1951, 18 cities January through
March 1951, and 19 cities August through December 1950. Priced in 56 cities
before that date.
17 Priced in 37 cities August through December 1950, 38 cities January
through March 1951, 40 cities April through July 1951, 43 cities August 1951,
44 cities September 1951, and 47 cities beginning October 1951.
* Published for the first time in February 1952. Average price not previ­
ously computed.
0 Corrected.
14
19

R E V IE W , M A Y

D : PR IC E S

1952

T

a b l e

D -7 :

AND

COST

621

OF L IV IN G

Indexes of Wholesale Prices, by Group of Commodities
[1947-49=100] »
Mar.
1952

Commodity group

Feb.
1952

All commodities____________________________________

112.3

• 112.5

Farm products_________________________________
Processed foods________________________ ________

108.3
109.2

107.8
« 109. 5

All commodities other than farm and food____________

113.9

« 114.2

Textile products and apparel ___________________
Bides, skins, and leather products ______________
Fuel, power, and lighting materials______________
Chemicals and allied products___________ ________

1 0 0 .6

1 0 2 .1

« 99. 5
107.2
« 105.9

98.1
107.3
105.4

1 The revised wholesale price index (1947-49=100) is the official index
for January 1952 and subsequent months. The official index for December
1951 and previous dates is the former index (1926=100)— see table D-7a.
The revised index has been computed back to January 1947 for purposes
of comparison and analysis. Beginning with January 1952 the index is
based on prices for one day in the month. Prices are collected from manu­

T

a b l e

Feb.
. 1952

Mar.
1952

Commodity group
All commodities other than farm and food—Continued
Rubber and products _ _______________________
TJim bp,r and wood products_____________________
Pulp paper and allied products
______________
Metals and metal products
_______________
Machinery and motive products
_____________
Furniture and other household durables__________
Nonmetallic minerals—structural. ______________
Tobacco manufactures and bottled beverages_____
Miscellaneous__________________________________

142.1
120.5
117.7
1 2 2 .6
1 2 2 .0
1 1 2 .1

112.9
1 1 0 .8

109.3

143.1
« 120.3
• 118.3
1 2 2 .6

« 1 2 2 .0
« 112.4
112.9
« 1 1 0 .8
111.4

facturers and other producers. In some cases they are secured from trade
publications or from other Government agencies which collect price quota­
tions in the course of their regular work. For a more detailed description
of the index, see A Description of the Revised Wholesale Price Index
M onthly Labor Review, February 1952 (p. 180).
• Corrected.

D-7a: Indexes of Wholesale Prices,1by Group of Commodities, for Selected Periods
[1926 = 100]

Tex­
tile
prod­
ucts

Fuel
and
light­
ing
mate­
rials

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

1 0 1 .8

72.9
95.6
92. 7
1 0 0 .8

54.9
69.7
67.8
73.8

70.3
73.1
72.6
71.7

108.3
114. 8
117. 7
117. 5
116.7

84.8
91.8
96.9
97.4
98.4

106.2
106.4

118.1
118.0

1 0 0 .1

148.9
140.1
169.8
181.2
188.3
165.5
170.4
187. 4
196.1

130.7
112.9
165.4
168.7
179.1
161.4
166.2
179, 0
186.9

194.2
202. 6
203. 8
202.5
199.6
198.6
194.0
190.6
189.2
192.3
195. 1
193. 6

182.2
187.6
186.6
185.8
187.3
186.3
186.0
187.3
188.0
189.4
188.8
187.3

All
com­
modi­
ties

Farm
prod­
ucts

Foods

Hides
and
leather
prod­
ucts

A verage,........
July. ______
November__
M ay _______
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

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

1941: Average_____
December___
1912: Average..........
1943: Average_____
1944: Average_____

87.3
93.6
98.8
193.1

82.4
94.7
105.9

1 0 1 .0

123.3

82.7
90.5
99.6
106. 6
104.9

1945: Average_____
August______

105. 8
105.7

128.2
126.9

1946: Average_____
June________
N ovem ber., .
1947: A vera g e.___
1948: A verage,,........
1949: Average ____
1950: Average_____
December
1951: A verage,........

1 2 1 .1

112.9
139. 7
152.1
165. 1
155.0
161.5
175. 3
180.4

1951: January_____
February____
M arch.,
_
April................
M ay________
June________
Ju ly________
A ugust--------September___
October_____
N ovem ber___
December____

180.2
183.7
184.0
183.6
182.9
181.7
179.4
178.0
177.6
178. 1
178.3
177.8

Year and month

1913:
1814:
1918:
1920:
1929:

1 2 2 .6

Metals Build­
and
ing
metal mate­
prod­
rials
ucts

M is­
cella­
neous
com­
modi­
ties

Raw
mate­
rials

Semi­ Manu­
man ufac­
tured
facprod­
tured
articles ucts

All
com­
modi­
ties
ex­
cept
farm
prod­
ucts
and
foods

164.4
95.4

80.2
77.9
178.0
173.7
94.0

56.1
56.7
99.2
143.3
94.3

142.3
176.5
82.6

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

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

76.2
78.4
78.5
80.8
83.0

99.4
103. 3
103.8
103.8
103.8

103.2
107.8

94.3
102.4
102.7
104.3

82.0
87.6
89.7
92.2
93.6

83.5
92.3
113.2

86.9
90.1
92.6
92.9
94.1

89.1
94.6
98.6

111.4
115.5

84.4
90.4
95.5
94.9
95.2

1 0 0 .1
1 0 0 .8

88.3
93.3
97.0
98.7
99.6

89.0
93.7
95. 5
96.9
98.5

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

1 0 1 .8
1 0 1 .8

1 0 0 .8

99.6

100.9

99.7
99.9

137.2
122.4
172.5
182.4
188.8
180.4
191. 9
218.7
221.4

116.3
109.2
131.6
141.7
149.8
140.4
148.0
171.4
172.2

90.1
87.8
94.5
108.7
134.2
131.7
133.2
135.7
138.2

115.5

132.6
129.9
145.5
179.7
199.1
193.4
206.0
221.4
225.5

101.4
96.4
118.9
127.3
135.7
118.6
122.7
139.6
143.3

1 1 1 .6

110.4
118.2
131.1
144. 5
145.3
153.2
170.2
176.0

100.3
98.5
106.5
115.5
120.5
112.3
120.9
140. 5
141.0

134.7
126.3
153.4
165.6
178.4
163.9
172.4
187.1
192.4

105.7
129. 1
148.5
158.0
150.2
156.0
178.1
177.6

116. 1
107.3
134.7
146.0
159.4
151.2
156.8
169. 0
174.9

114.9
106. 7
132.9
145. 5
159. 8
152. 4
159. 2
172.4
176.7

109.5
105. 6
120.7
135.2
151.0
147.3
153.2
166.7
169.4

235.4
238.7
236.9
233.3
232.6
230.6
221.9
213.7

178.4
181.0
183.0
182.7
182.0
177.9
173.2
167.4
163.1
157.7
159.4
160.5

136.4
138.1
138.6
138.1
137.5
137.8
137.9
138.1
138.8
138.9
139.1
139. 2

187.5
188.1
188.8
189.0
188.8
188.2
187.9
188.1
189.1
191.2
191.5
191.7

226.2
228.2
228.6
228.6
227.7
225.6
223.8

147.5
150.2
149.3
147.2
145.7
142.3
139.4
140.1
140.8
141.1
138.7
137.9

175.0
175.7
179.1
180.4
180.1
179. 5
178.8
175.3
172.4
171.7
172.0
172.0

142.4
142.7
142.5
142.7
141.7
141.7
138.8
138.2
138. 5
139.2
141.3
141.6

192.6
198.9
199.4
197.7
195.5
194.7
189.9
187.5
187.0
188.9
189. 6
188.8

184.9
187.0
187.4
187.0
186.4
180.0
174.0
170.0
168.8
168.3
168.7
167.9

173.3
175.6
175.9
176.1
176.2
175.6
175.1
174.4
174.2
174.3
174.1
173.9

176.9
179.3
179.4
179.2
179.0
177.8
176.0
174.9
174.8
174.8
174.3
174.1

170.4
171.9
172.6
172.3
171.6
170.6
168.6
167.2
167.0
166.6
166.9
166.9

6 8 .1

2 1 2 .1

208.3
196. 6
192.3

1 1 2 .2

130.2
145. 0
163.6
170.2
173.6
184.9
189.2

i This index (1926=100) is the official index for December 1951 and all
previous dates. The revised index (1947-49=100) is the official index for
January 1952 and subsequent dates—see tables D-7 and D - 8 . B L S whole­
sale 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.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Chem­ Houseicals
furand
nishallied
ing
prod­ goods
ucts

All
com­
modi­
ties
ex­
cept
farm
prod­
ucts

56.7
52.9

1 1 0 .2

2 2 2 .6

223.1
223.6
224.5
224.0

1 0 1 .1

93.1
8 8 .1

6 8 .8

100. 6
1 1 2 .1

1 1 0 .8

For a detailed description of the method of calculation for this series see
November 1949 M onthly Labor Review, Compiling M onthly and Weekly
Wholesale Price Indexes (p. 541).
, .
Mimeographed tables are available upon request, giving monthly indexes
for major groups of commodities since 1890 and for subgroups and economic
groups since 1913.

622

D : P R IC E S

AND

COST

OF L IV IN G

M O N TH LY LA BO R

T able D-8: Indexes of Wholesale Prices, by Group and Subgroup of Commodities 1
[1947-49=100]
Commodity group

Mar.»
1952

Feb.
1952

All commodities.......................

112.3

« 112. 5

Farm products................. .......
Fresh and dried produce.
Grains........... ............ .........
Livestock and pou ltry...
Plant and animal fibers..
Fluid m ilk..........................
Eggs.............. .....................
Hay and seeds...................
Other farm products___

108.3
123.9

107.8

102.0

101.7
106.2
120.5

111.2

Processed foods........................ .........................
Cereal and bakery products_________
Meats, poultry, fis h ....................... ..........
Dairy products and ice cream................
Canned, frozen, fruits and vegetables..
Sugar and confectionery..........................
Packaged beverage materials..................
Animal fats and oils___ ______ _______
Crude vegetable o ils.................................
Refined vegetable oils_______________
Vegetable oil end products___________
Other processed foods.................. .............
All commodities other than farm and foods.

Textile products and apparel...........
Cotton products_______ ___
Wool products_____ ______
Synthetic textiles.___ ______
Silk products_____________
Apparel________________
Other textile products_______
Hides, skins and leather products......
Hides and skins__ ________
Leather________________
Footwear................. ........ ....
Other leather products... ...... ....
Fuel, power and lighting materials__
Coal__________________
Coke__________________
Gas___________________
Electricity__ ____________
Petroleumand products______
Chemicals and allied products_____
Industrial chemicals_________
Paint and paint materials...........
Drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics.
Fats and oils, inedible_______
Mixed fertilizer____________
Fertilizer materials__ ______
Other chemicals and products......
Rubber and products__________
Crude rubber_____________
Tires and tubes____________
Other rubber products____ ___
1

See footnote I, table D-7.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

112.6

105.2
118.9

Preliminary.

«

110.9

76.6
97.1
138.6

74.3
100.9
138.6

109.2
107.5

' 109. 5
107.4

1 1 1 .0

113.2
104.7
107.2
163.1

1 1 0 .8

55.8
63.4
80.1
116.0

« 115.1
104.8
« 106.1
* 163.1
74.5
58.0
69.1
'80.2
' 115.4

113.9

' 114.2

6 8 .0

1 0 0 .6

99.6
111.9
87.3
129.1

'

1 0 2 .1
1 0 1 .0

107.0

114.4
89.9
130.2
'101.7
126.4

98.1
59.6
87.4
115.9
102.7

'99.5
63.7
'89.5
'116.1
'103.3

107.3
108.7
124.3
107.0
98.0

1 0 1 .6

1 1 0 .6

107.2
108.8
124.3
' 107. 0
98.0
110.4

105.4
117.1
108.0
93.1
46.7
108.6
109.6
104.1

' 105.9
117.5
' 108.7
'93.4
51.2
108.6
109.6
104.2

142.1
187.9
133.4
129.1

143.1
193.3
133.4
129.1

Corrected.

Commodity group

M ar»
1952

Feb.
1952

L u m b e r a n d w o o d p r o d u c ts ...........................................
L u m b e r ...................................... ................... ............ ..
M illw o r k ...................... ....................................................
P l y w o o d . .......... ...............................................................

1 2 0 .5
1 2 0 .8
1 2 6 .8
1 0 5 .6

P u lp , p a p e r, a n d a llied p r o d u c ts ....................... ........
W o o d p u lp _________________ ______ _____ ______
W a s te p a p e r .......... .............................. ............................
P a p e r .......... ........................................................................
P a p e r b o a r d .............................................. ........................
C o n v e r te d p a p e r a n d p a p e r b o a r d ................. ..
B u ild in g p a p e r a n d b o a r d .......................................

1 1 7 .7
1 1 4 .5
7 0 .0
1 2 3 .8
1 3 0 .3
1 1 5 .0
1 1 3 .4

'1 1 8 .3
1 1 4 .5
8 7 .3
1 2 3 .7
' 1 3 0 .3
' 1 1 5 .8
1 1 3 .4

M e ta ls a n d m e ta l p r o d u c ts ____ _________________
Iron a n d s t e e l......................................... .......................
N o n fe r r o u s m e ta ls _____________ ______________
M e ta l c o n ta in e r s............................................. .............
H a r d w a r e ____________________ _____ __________
P lu m b in g e q u ip m e n t - ...............................................
H e a tin g e q u i p m e n t ..................................................
S tr u c tu r a l m e ta l p r o d u c ts ___________________
N o n s tr u c tu r a l m e ta l p r o d u c t s ........................ ..

1 2 2 .6
1 2 3 .2
1 2 5 .0
1 2 0 .6
1 2 6 .9
1 1 6 .7
1 1 4 .0
115. 5
1 2 4 .4

1 2 2 .6
1 2 3 .2
' 1 2 5 .0
1 2 0 .6
' 1 2 5 .9
' 116. 7
1 1 4 .0
1 1 5 .5
1 2 4 .4

M a c h in e r y a n d m o tiv e p r o d u c t s _______________
A g r ic u ltu r a l m a c h in e r y a n d e q u ip m e n t .........
C o n s tr u c tio n m a c h in e r y a n d e q u ip m e n t ___
M e ta l w o rk in g m a c h in e r y ___________________
G e n e ra l p u r p o se m a c h in e r y a n d e q u ip m e n t.
M is c e lla n e o u s m a c h in e r y ___________________
E le c tr ic a l m a c h in e r y a n d e q u ip m e n t ...............
M o to r v e h ic le s ........ ........................................... ...........

1 2 2 .0
1 2 1 .8
125. 2
1 2 8 .2
1 2 3 .3
1 2 0 .2
1 2 1 .4
1 2 0 .0

' 1 2 2 .0
1 2 1 .8
' 1 2 5 .2
' 1 2 8 .1
« 1 2 3 .3
' 1 2 0 .2
1 2 1 .6
1 2 0 .0

F u r n itu r e a n d o th er h o u se h o ld d u r a b le s..............
H o u s e h o ld f u r n it u r e ____________ ___________
C o m m e r c ia l fu r n itu r e ..............................................
F lo o r c o v e r i n g .................................... ................. ..
H o u s e h o ld a p p lia n c e s ................... ........ .................
R a d io , TV, a n d p h o n o g r a p h s .......... ...................
O th er h o u s e h o ld d u r a b le g o o d s .........................

1 1 2 .1
1 1 3 .4
1 2 2 .8
1 2 6 .1
1 0 7 .4
9 2 .7
1 1 7 .6

' 1 1 2 .4
1 1 3 .5
1 2 2 .8
' 1 2 6 .5
1 0 8 .0
9 3 .1
1 1 7 .6

N o n m e ta l ic m in e r a ls— s tr u c tu r a l_______________
F la t g la s s ........................ ..................................................
C o n c r e te in g r e d ie n ts _____ _____ ______ _______
C o n c r e te p r o d u c ts _____ _____________________
S tr u c tu r a l c la y p r o d u c ts ......... .................................
G y p s u m p r o d u c ts ___________________________
P r e p a r e d a sp h a lt r o o fin g _______ ________ ____
O th er n o n m e ta llic m in e r a ls...................................

1 1 2 .9
1 1 4 .0
1 1 3 .2
1 1 2 .4
1 2 1 .4
1 1 7 .7
9 8 .6
1 1 1 .2

1 1 2 .9
1 1 4 .0
1 1 3 .2
1 1 2 .4
1 2 1 .4
1 1 7 .7
9 8 .6
1 1 1 .2

T o b a c c o m a n u fa c tu r e s a n d b o ttle d b e v e r a g e s ...
C ig a r e tte s .........................................................................
C ig a r s________________ _______________________
O th er to b a c c o p r o d u c ts ______ _______________
A lc o h o lic b e v e r a g e s ._______ __________________
N o n a lc o h o lic b e v e r a g e s _______________ _____ _

1 1 0 .8
1 0 7 .3
9 8 .0
1 1 4 .8
1 1 1 .2
1 1 9 .7

' 1 1 0 .8
1 0 7 .3
9 8 .0
1 1 4 .8
' 1 1 1 .2
1 1 9 .7

M is c e lla n e o u s -.......................... .......................................
T o y s , s p o r tin g g o o d s, s m a ll a r m s .......................
M a n u fa c tu r e d a n im a l fe e d s__________ _____ _
N o t io n s a n d a cc e sso r ie s____ _____ ___________
J e w e lr y , w a tc h e s , p h o to e q u ip m e n t ________
O th er m is c e lla n e o u s ........................... ........................

1 0 9 .3
1 1 4 .0
1 0 9 .5
1 0 0 .2
1 0 0 .9
1 2 1 .0

1 1 1 .4
* 1 1 4 .5
' 1 1 3 .5
1 0 0 .2
1 0 0 .9
1 2 1 .0

' 1 2 0 .3
1 2 0 .6
* 1 2 6 .3
• 1 0 4 .8

R E V IE W , M A Y

1952

E: WORK STOPPAGES

623

E: Work Stoppages
T able E - l: Work Stoppages Resulting From Labor-Management Disputes1
N u m b e r o f sto p p a g e s

W o rk er s in v o lv e d in sto p p a g e s

M a n -d a y s id le d u r in g m o n th
or y ea r

M onth and year
B e g in n in g in
m o n th or y ea r

I n effec t d urin g m o n th

1935-39 (average)................................. .
1945............................................................ .
1946.............................................................
1947 _______________ ____________
1948 ........................................................
1949 .......................... ...........................
1950 .................................................. .

2,862
4, 750
4,985
3,693
3,419
3,606
4,843

1951: March...............................................
April_____ ___________________
M ay_______________ _____ ____
June_________________ _____ _
July...................................................
August........... ..................................
September______________ _____
October...................................... ......
November........................................
December__ _________________

355
367
440
396
450
505
457
487
305
186

537
540
621
615
644
727
693
728
521
357

1952: January 3_____________________
February»_____ ______________
March 3. ...........................................

400
350
400

600
550
600

1 A ll k n o w n w o rk sto p p a g e s, a risin g o u t o f la b o r -m a n a g e m e n t d is p u te s ,
in v o lv in g s ix or m ore w ork ers a n d c o n tin u in g as lo n g a s a fu ll d a y or s h ift
are in c lu d e d in rep orts o f th e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s . F ig u r e s o n “ w o r k ­
ers in v o lv e d ” a n d “ m a n -d a y s id le ” c o v e r all w o rk ers m a d e id le for o n e or
m ore s h ifts in e s ta b lis h m e n ts d ir e c tly in v o lv e d in a s to p p a g e . T h e y d o n o t


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

B e g in n in g in
m o n th or y e a r

I n e ffe c t d urin g m o n th

1,130,000

N um b er

P e r c e n t o f e stim a te d w o r k ­
in g tim e

16, 900 000
38,000,000
116,000 0 0 0
34, 600, 000
34,100,000
50, 500,000
38,800, 000

0 27
.4 7

163,000
166,000
194, 000
284,000
213,000
215,000
248, 000
84,000
81, 500

230,000
2 2 2 , 000
249,000
261,000
345, 000
314, 000
340,000
365,000
191,000
130,000

1, 710.000
1,890, 000
1 , 820, 0 0 0
1 , 800, 0 0 0
1,880, 0 0 0
2, 640,000
2, 540,000
2, 790.000
1 , 610, 0 0 0
1 , 0 2 0 ,0 0 0

.2 0
.2 3
.2 1
.2 1
.2 2
.2 8

.1 3

190,000
185,000
240,000

250,000
250, 000
320,000

1, 250, 000
1, 270,000
1,400,000

». 14
.1 5
.1 7

3, 470,000

4,600,000
2 ,170| 000
l' 960j 000
3,030,000
2 , 410,000
1 2 0 ,0 0 0

1.43
.4 1
.3 7

. 59
.4 4

.33
.3 0

.19

m ea su re th e in d ir e c t or s e c o n d a r y e ffe c ts o n o th e r e s ta b lis h m e n ts or in d u s ­
tries w h o se e m p lo y e e s are m a d e id le as a r e su lt o f m a te r ia l or s e r v ic e sh o r ta g e s
3 P r e lim in a r y .
» R e v is e d .

624

F: B U IL D IN G

AND

M ONTHLY L A B O R

C O N STR U C TIO N

F: Building and Construction
T able F - l: Expenditures for New Construction 1
[Value of work put in place]
Expenditures (in millions)
Type of construction

1951

1952
Apr . 2 Mar . 3 Feb . 3

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

1951

1950

Total

Total

Total new construction 4 -------------------------- $2,471 $2, 296 $2,014 $2,124 $2 , 2 2 2 $2,495 $2,709 $2, 827 $2,843 $2, 797 $2,737 $2, 584 $2,388 $29,863
Private construction ___________________ 1,656 1, 571 1,405 1,472 1,521 1,692 1,805 1,899 1,916 1,915 1,879 1,787 1,691 20, 823
922
959
898 10,915
954
954
968
945
809
915
720
799
676
846
Residential building (nonfarm)---------825
810 9, 775
845
860
855
845
815
840
715
650
600
750
710
New dwelling units______________
72
92
88
81
91
950
91
93
86
80
57
63
84
77
Additions and alteration s-----------16
16
16
190
14
16
17
17
14
14
13
13
12
12
Nonhousekeeping 8_______________
442
409 4,907
465
463
451
459
343
393
320
404
414
399
426
Nonresidential building (nonfarm) 4—
168
152
178
2
0
2
198
190
1,
975
178
155
147
198
205
212
207
Industrial_______________________
131
130
125 1,312
108
120
75
83
100
69
83
73
79
87
Commercial_____________________
Warehouses, office and loft
45
47
518
48
48
48
32
36
45
31
39
35
38
36
buildings _______ ________
83
80
794
60
72
83
55
43
47
38
44
38
43
Stores, restaurants, and garages.
49
144
132 1,620
154
132
149
153
155
104
113
123
119
134
123
Other nonresidential building-----38
35
42
42
41
429
32
43
26
23
29
31
30
36
Religious __________________
26
32
32
29
26
339
32
30
26
25
26
28
27
28
Educational_________________
15
15
12
14
15
9
13
161
8
7
9
8
8
Social and recreational.. -----10
39
38
37
34
36
38
418
32
34
37
32
32
33
33
Hospital and institutional 7 ----22
28
273
26
30
31
19
23
27
17
24
23
25
27
Miscellaneous_______________
113
140
134
126
95 1,250
92
108
130
81
80
80
75
88
Farm construction__________________
305
283 3,685
357
343
326
353
358
336
305
262
250
272
290
Public utilities_______ _____________
34
31
29
33
31
375
38
38
35
34
30
32
30
27
Railroad_________ ... . _______
42
42
40
460
43
43
32
35
40
37
31
27
29
35
Telephone and telegraph-------------232
214
280
253
283
267
2,850
278
239
263
196
211
203
223
Other public utilities------------------5
5
6
5
6
66
6
6
6
6
5
6
6
6
All other private 8_______
~. ------882
904
858
797
697 9,010
928
927
803
701
609
652
815
725
Public construction . . . ------------- ----------45
42
55
49
48
600
63
69
67
66
62
66
67
59
Residential building 8 ------ . . . . ---Nonresidential building (other than
298
312
308
305
283 3,318
289
302
269
260
251
267
319
296
military or naval facilities) ------------74
95
80
880
92
89
67
85
93
86
83
75
112
99
Industrial_______________________
134
132
128
125 1, 486
125
134
130
118
116
125
128
135
140
____________
Educational_____
42
48
45
43
47
490
40
39
34
38
32
35
30
Hospital and institutional________
37
44
48
48
46
32
41
456
28
36
24
21
24
______
30
27
Other nonresidential
75
6
8
56
1
2
2
108
8
8
1,045
149
148
137
115
145
132
125
M ilitary and naval facilities 10..... ......
280
260
250
215
160 2,225
275
95
170
250
70
140
105
75
Highways _ _ ___________________ —
62
62
64
65
65
703
54
58
48
60
44
50
45
59
Sewer and w ater.. ------ ------ ---------Miscellaneous public service enter2
2
23
21
23
23
17
2
10
14
2
0
11
1
0
13
9
15
prises " _______ .
------ -----------82
84
76
69
80
860
74
78
68
77
51
59
72
62
Conservation and development-------8
79
5
7
8
8
8
4
6
7
4
5
3
6
All other public 12. --------- -------------! 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.
‘ Includes major additions and alterations.
* Includes hotels, dormitories, and tourist courts and cabins.
• Expenditures by privately owned public utilities for nonresidential
building are included under “ Public utilities.’’


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

$27,902
20, 789
12,600
11,525
900
175
3,777
1,062
1,288
402
886

1,427
409
294
247
344
133
1,170
3,130
315
440
2,375
112

7,113
345
2, 402
224
1,16?
47C
53i
171
2,35(
67
18(

88f

9(

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.
8 Includes nonhousekeeping public residential construction as well as
housekeeping units.
10 Covers all construction, building as well as nonbuilding (except for pro­
duction facilities, which are included in public industrial building).
11 Covers primarily publicly owned airports, electric light and power
systems, and local transit facilities.
18 Covers public construction not elsewhere classified, such as parks, play­
grounds, and memorials.

R E V IE W , M A Y

1952

F : B U IL D IN G A N D

CO N STR U C TIO N

625

T able F-2: Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on Federally Financed

New Construction, by Type of Construction 1
V a lu e (in th o u s a n d s)

Type of construction

1952
Feb.

1951
Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

Total new construction 2._ $193,995 $260,647 $156, 6 6 6 $156, 631 $159.165 $240,331 $215,384
Airfields 8 ___________
3,371 10,198
1,836
9,118
5. 539 13,566 15,491
Building______ . .
96, 771 97,102 74, 754 42, 967 49. 784 GO, 917 89, 357
Residential_________
280
310
139
112
46
210
64
Nonresidential______
96,491 96, 792 74,615 42,855 49, 738 90, 707 89, 293
Educational 4 ______
3,384
6,508
4,387
4,714
9,216 10, 480
4.715
Hospital and insti­
tutional. _ ______
2,524
5,745
6 ,1 1 0
5,342
7,832 23, 595
9,135
Admin istrative and
general8 ________
1,717
2,239
1,567
829
1,676 15, 656
2,807
Other nonresidential
building______
85, 742 85, 424 62, 551 31, 970 31, 014 40, 976 72,636
Airfield buildings •_
2,041
890
1, 685
79
1,252
8,977 14, 799
Industrial 8 ______
6 , 764
3,782 15, 252
11.703
6,437 13, 562
8,338
Troop housing___ 23,962 25.061 43, 864
0
2,579
0
5, 626
Warehouses...........
32,427 28,133
6 , 661
12, 480
4.760
3,156
3, 219
Miscellaneous 9.„_ 20,548 19,637
6,559
4,159 18, 565 12, 702 40, 654
Conservation and de­
velopment________
24,382 26,389 13,449 28, 449 19,413 47,384 10,141
Reclam ation............
5,470
527
2,423
2,017
6,244
6,409
2,389
River, harbor, and
flood control.______ 18,912 25, 862 1 1 . 026 26, 432 13,169 40,975
7. 752
Highways___________
60. 971 6 6 . 623 53,144 69,176 65, 050 67.358 89. 536
E lectrification................
2, 960 48.231
5. 986
2, 670
3, 031
5. 904
2.144
All other i°........................
5,540 12,104
7,497
4, 251 16,348 15, 2 0 2
8.715
1 E x c lu d e s cla ssified m ilita r y p ro jects, b u t in c lu d e s p ro jects for th e A to m ic
E n e r g y C o m m is sio n . D a t a for F e d e ra l-a id pro g ra m s c o v e r a m o u n ts c o n tr ib ­
u te d b y b o th o w n e r an d th e F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t. F o r ce-a cc o u n t w o rk is
d o n e n o t th rou gh a co n tra cto r , b u t d ir e c tly b y a G o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y , u sin g a
sep a ra te w ork force to perform n o n m a in te n a n e e co n str u c tio n o n th e a g e n c y ’s
o w n p rop erties.
2 I n c lu d e s m ajor a d d itio n s an d a lte r a tio n s.
8 E x c lu d e s h a n g a r s a n d o th er b u ild in g s , w h ic h a re in c lu d e d u n d e r “ O th er
n o n r e s id e n tia l” b u ild in g c o n s tr u c tio n .
4 I n c lu d e s p rojects under th e F e d e r a l S ch o o l C o n s tr u c tio n P r o g ra m , w h ic h
p r o v id e s a id for are as affe c te d b y F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t a c tiv itie s .


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

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

1951

1950

Total

Total

$259, 553 $515, 269 $600, 833 $287, 254 $431,085 $207, 755 $3, 644,117 $2, 706, 650
37, 475 84. 911 36, 724
107, 629 227. 221 445,815
282
451
1. 791
107,347 226, 770 444, 024
0
450
128

16,691
6,330
95, 964 279, 681
3, 008
39
92, 956 279, 642
1, 217
179

10, 773
247, 8 6 6
54, 461
92,825 1. 702,565 1, 278, 263
916
7,904
15.445
91, 909 1,694. 661 1,262,818
41
35, 623
3,123
15,388

197, 269

10,096

54, 749

58, 255

66,384 1,407. 020
1,913
73. 907
25, 546
714. 051
6,089
206, 641
647
73,438
32,189
338, 983

811,592

5,941

23,862

13, 946

28,357

1 ,1 0 2

6,486

2,149

2,880

100,304 195. 972 427,801
1 2 ,8 6 6
11,725
9.184
55, 293 35, 039 338,129
7,514 76, 852 37, 533
6 . 434
17,547
7,447
18,197 54, 809 35, 508

42, 943
8,

773

60 502 227, 747
5, 566
5, 472
8,353 180, 001
11,512 13, 745
6.421
1, 562
28,650 26, 967

389, 848

O)

<7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

16, 266
12, 275

29, 848
9,214

43, 667 101,498
9,308 10,803

45, 613
15,346

30,333
10,125

436,185
129, 710

373, 453
134, 045

3. 991
75, 767
4,124
18, 292

20, 634
97, 843
23, 038
52. 408

34,359
59, 206
1.284
14,137

30. 267
71, 238
7,092
21,131

2 0 , 208
59. 067
2.083
12, 674

306,475
841. 002
231, 6 6 8
184, 831

239, 408
835. 606
104. 628
60,239

90, 695
58,063
5, 994
9,041

8 I n c lu d e s p o st o ffices, a rm o ries, offices, a n d c u s to m h o u s e s .
8 In c lu d e s a ll b u ild in g s on c iv ilia n a ir p o r ts a n d m ilita r y a ir field s a n d air
b a se s w ith th e ex c ep tio n of b a rra cks a n d o th er tro o p h o u sin g , w h ic h a re in ­
c lu d e d u n d e r “ T ro o p h o u s in g .”
7 U n a v a ila b le .
8 C o v e r s a ll in d u str ia l p la n ts u n d e r F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t o w n e r s h ip , in ­
c lu d in g th o se w h ic h a re p r iv a te ly o p era ted .
9 In c lu d e s ty p e s of b u ild in g s n o t else w h e r e cla ssified .
10 In c lu d e s sew er a n d w a ter p ro jects, railroad c o n s tr u c tio n , a n d o th e r t y p e s
o f p ro jects n o t e lse w h e r e cla ssified .

626
T

F : B U IL D IN G

able

F -3 :

AND

MONTHLY LABOR

C O N STR U C TIO N

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

N ew residential building
Housekeeping

Period
Total all
classes 1

Privately financed dwelling units
Total

1 -family

2 -fam­
ily 8

1942.................................- $2, 707,573 $598, 570 $478,658
1946 _________ ____ - 4,743,414 2,114,833 1,830,260
1947
......................... - 5, 563,348 2,885, 374 2,361,752
1948
______________ 6,972', 784 3,422,927 2, 745, 219
7,396,274 3,724. 924 2, 845,399
1949 .......... - ..............
1950 ______ ____ - ......... 10, 408, 292 5, 803,912 4,845,104
1951«________________ 8,787,605 4,375,366 3,814,768

$42,629
103,042
151,036
181,493
132,365
179, 214
170,392

Multifamily ‘

Publicly Nonfinanced housedwell­
keeping
ing *
units

N ew non­
resi­
dential
building

Addi­
tions,
altera­
tions,
and
repairs

Total

1 -fam­

2 -fam­

ily

ily »

$77, 283 $296.933 $22,910 $1,510,688 $278,472 184,892 138,908
181, 531 355, 587 43,369 1, 458,602 771,023 430,195 358,151
372, 586
42, 249 29,831 1,713, 489 892, 404 502,312 393. 606
496, 215 139,334 38, 034 2,367,940 1,004, 549 516,179 392, 532
747,160 285, 627 39, 785 2, 408, 445 937, 493 575,286 413, 543
779, 594 301,961 84, 508 3,127, 769 1,090,142 796,143 623,330
390,206 575,726 37,467 2,709,302 1,089,744 533,926 434,877

Pub­
fi­
Multi- licly
nanced
fam­
ily 4

15,747 30. 237
24,326 47, 718
33, 423 75. 283
36,306 87,341
26, 431 135,312
33, 302 139,511
29,743 69,306

95,946
98,310
5,833
15,114
32,194
34,363
6,896

1951: February______
March_________
A p r il__________
M ay___________
June___________
Julv___________
August..................
September______
October... . . ..
November______
December______

585,683
770, 269
777, 318
813. 218
986,643
703,258
764.711
829. 893
652, 458
534,974
426, 520

330,520
406, 763
420,085
457,664
388,187
342,532
385,139
435. 460
344, 289
264,081
210,328

294,756
356, 550
374, 674
393, 080
335,958
292, 361
333, 986
379,283
306, 132
235,456
178, 004

10,955
14, 580
19, 005
14, 466
15, 587
13,816
15, 389
18, 170
14,374
10, 324
9,572

24,809
35,633
26, 406
50,118
36, 642
35, 855
35, 764
38, 007
23, 783
18,301
22, 752

5,966
33, 305
7,027
298, 421
30.00C
15,838
15.333
S, 788
21,192
10,669

1.252
3,082
3, 346
1,477
1,454
3, 685
4,100
7,684
4,880
2,369
1, 014

174,050
263,920
234, 024
239, 332
202, 036
224, 381
258,318
276, 757
198,342
180, 742
145, 054

69, 660
90, 538
558
107,718
96, 545
102,660
101,316
94, 659
95,159
66,590
59. 455

39,749
50,668
50, 494
54, 626
47,057
41,657
47,182
50, 449
42. 170
32,681
26, 805

32,962
41,206
42,816
43, 957
37,860
33, 291
38,036
40,328
35, 575
27,781
21, 238

2,103
2,816
2, 857
2, 514
2, 629
2, 396
2,669
2.995
2, 477
1,766
1,700

4,684
6,646
4,821
8,155
6,568
5,970
6 , 477
7,126
4, 118
3,134
3, 867

1,039
579
3,343
836
35. 007
3,275
1,706
1,752
1,017
2,308
1,234

1952: January 7 . -----February 8--------

508, 470
590,406

266, 719
344,955

234,184
300,647

12,206
17,263

20,329
27,045

25,731
20,530

1,247
1,607

145,675
142, 615

69.098
80, 699

34,374
43,185

28, 376
34,972

2,386
3,017

3,612
5,196

3,185
2,415

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

1 0 ,2 0 1

86,

Urban is defined according to the 1940 Census, and includes all incorporated
places of 2,500 inhabitants or more in 1940 and a small number of places,
usually minor civil divisions, classified as urban under special rule.
* Covers additions, alterations, and repairs, as well as new residential and
nonresidential building.
8 Includes units in 1 -family and 2-family structures with stores.
4 Includes units in multifamily structures with stores.
5 Covers hotels, dormitorias, tourist cabins, and other nonhousekeeping
residential buildings.
6 Totals for 1951 include revisions which do not appear in data shown for
January through December. Revised monthly data will appear in a subse­
quent issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
7 Revised.
8 Preliminary.

REVIEW, MAY 1952
T able F -4 :

F : B U IL D IN G

AND

CO N STR U C TIO N

627

New Nonresidential Building Authorized in All Urban Places,1 by General Type and
Geographic Division 2

by

Valuation (in thousands)
Geographic division and
type of new nonresi­
dential building

1952
Feb . 4

1951
Jan . 8

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

All typ es, ......................... $142,615 $145,675 $145, 054 $180, 742 $198, 342 $276, 757 $258,318 $224,381 $202, 036 $239,332
New England...........
7,184 10, 847
7, 566 14, 651 12, 297 14, 405 30, 839 16, 471 12,881 16, 920
M iddle Atlantic___
26, 095 25,311 28, 021 30, 414 31, 585 33,360 46,158 25, 785 24, 580
578
East North Central. 34, 504 28,136 32, 254 61, 360 56, 067 70, 940 64, 015 54, 828 6 6 , 075 33,
70, 433
West North Central.
9, 701
9, 732
8 , 946
9,537 17,711 31,787 16, 628 18, 084 14, 894 16, 272
South A tlantic......... 19,317 17, 060 15, 534 17,160 20,368 42, 089 23, 606 2 0 , 8 8 6 16, 582 25, 040
East South Central.
6 , 276
6,735
2, 50C
5,470
4,999
7, 775
5,198
5, 436
5,662
9,651
West South Central. 15,413 18,142 12, 636 15, 246 20, 678 21, 605 27, 025 23, 019 26,
943 2 0 , 266
M o u n ta in ................
4.125
5, ass
5. 231
5, 279
9, 238 11 , 282 12, 677
8 ,1 0 0
6,957
5,283
Pacific—. .......... ......... 2 0 , 0 0 0 24, 073 32, 361 21, 625 25,399 43,173 32,172 51, 772 27, 462 41,
889
Industrial buildings •__
17,360 23, 222 17, 766 58,069 39, 906 34, 229 45,151 43, 267 43,123 42, 921
New England..........
2. 299
5,939
617
4,362
3,003
859
4, 600
1,843
2,667
4, 877
M iddle Atlantic___
2,074
3, 940
1,537 1 0 ,1 0 0 11, 546
6,634
9,380
8,528
8 , 722
8,133
East North Central.
5,859
4, 731
9,236 36, 426 12,981 12, 049 22,165 15, 333 19,177 15,159
West North Central.
1,300
1, 484
1,131
1,169
1,156
3, 887
1,526
3,980
1,252
1,961
South Atlantic.........
939
1, 570
499
1,016
1,530
2,950
1,008
2,865
2, 229
1,853
East South Central.
340
662
248
982
117
1, 590
1,048
887
1,129
3,316
West South Central.
1, 541
1, 586
1,185
3,246
975
1,048
1, 475
949
2, 482
522
M ountain....... ...........
131
279
293
308
749
382
214
304
1,044
965
Pacific____________
2,877
3, 031
3,021
5,655
2,654
4,830
3,735
8,578
4,421
6,135
Commercial buildings 7. 34,355 33,184 43, 594 41, 278 47,144 91, 442 67, 280 61,124 52,
846
55,
727
N ew England...........
1,227
1, 983
1,174
1,693
1,315
2,535
5, 947
7, 071
1, 984
2, 042
Middle Atlantic___
5. 398
5,203
6,625
6,631 12, 609 10, 734
8,834
5, 266
8.049
9,004
East North Central
6 , 948
3,853
6 , 797
9,375 16, 487 1 0 , 822 13,344 11, 324 15, 708
6,476
West North Central.
1,724
1, 537
2, 934
1,458
3, 776
4, 977
2,424
2, 946
4,116
2,932
South Atlantic____
5, 957
5, 045
6,714
9,346 17, 484
4, 853
7,244
5, 468
5,098
5, 999
East South Central.
1,146
2, 163
744
1,801
1,738
3, 078
2, 073
2, 244
1,
797
1,054
West South Central.
4, 749
4, 995
4, 707
5,499 10, 946
4.132
7,341
6 ,1 2 0
8 , 418
5,640
M ountain....... ..........
1,092
2,807
1,835
2,143
1,480
1,034
4,398
4, 675
1,854
1,300
Pacific_______ ____
6,114
5, 598 13, 539
7,722 18, 928
8,674
9, 661 13,990
0 , 206
12, 048
Community buildings !. 70,391 64, 084 51, 994 54, 461 77,323 110, 265 111,538 8 6 , 240 171,
99,
126
989
New England...........
3, 406
2, 481
4, 799
6,130
6 , 783
8,083 18, 528
6.683
4, 870
8,872
Middle Atlantic___
17,030 13,121 18, 710
9,311
9, 957 10,375 1 2 , 660
8 , 299
5,
532
11,
460
East North Central
18,662 12, 447
5,046 14, 273 22, 567 29, 619 20,141 14, 919 21,840 23, 667
West North Central.
5, 422
5,383
6 , 137
9, 754 17, 829
2,949
9,307
8,333
7.050
9, 257
South Atlantic____
7,608
8 , 559
5.209
7,873 17,564 13,126
6,294
9, 225
7, 009 13, 588
East South Central.
4,249
2,639
838
1,475
1,831
1,899
1, 713
1, 718
1,966
4, 928
West South Central
6,408
7,321
5,310
8,950
4, 387
6,549 14, 687 12, 899 1 2 , 280 10, 030
M ountain_________
2,005
1,140
1,331
4,625
2, 038
5, 111
9, 735
1.683
2,
360
1,673
Pacific____________
5, 601 10, 239
5, 3as
5,992 13, 236 11,641 22, 481
6,595
9, 082 15, 651
Public buildings 9 _____
1,060
4,045 11, 593
4,108
6,063
5,856 16,062
9,613
5,60S
10,
876
New England_____
0
86
265
23
781
889
200
114
842
0
Middle Atlantic___
107
1 ,1 2 2
48
226
38
213 11,076
325
159
1,410
East North Central
256
1, 522
7,934
130
937
897
375
3, 714
109
5.338
West North Central.
0
0
345
8
0
777
244
163
132
0
South Atlantic____
54
52
2,093
40
195
2, 666
47
1,580
505
1,748
East South Central0
1 ,0 0 0
0
0
57
37
0
100
0
12
West South Central
131
60
305
3,948
653
18
685
64
2,016
305
Mountain_________
90
18
0
8
1, 240
0
326
0
614
122
Pacific____________
422
185
604
1,739
148
359
3.109
3,553
1,171
1,941
Public works and utility
buildings 19__________
8,163 12, 753 11,674
7,507
9, 713
9,458
8,809
6,341 12, 878 11,368
New England_____
28
149
205
106
361
624
1 ,0 0 2
42
1, 814
380
Middle Atlantic___
644
1,162
187
1,024
647
1,354
348
1, 633
335
1, 570
East North Central.
816
3,903
1,424
707
3,960
3, 722
3,309
1,861
7,683
3,
580
West North Central.
238
134
6
534
1 ,0 0 2
1,825
889
758
806
307
South Atlantic____
3,517
689
389
3,555
1 ,2 1 2
127
324
175
674
917
East South Central
66
0
368
8
161
250
0
92
331
26
W est South Central763
2,862
472
845
842
512
1, 727
560
762
421
Mountain_________
4
1,085
70
440
0
240
240
126
18
370
Pacific____________
2,087
2, 769
8,553
664
1,151
426
1,348
1,094
455
3.798
All other buildings *>___ 11,286
8 , 433
8,387
13,364 20,148 25, 507 19,478 17, 796 15, 590 19,314
New England_____
223
209
506
1,305
1,086
1,037
941
717
705
750
Middle Atlantic___
842
762
914
1,485
2 , 201
2,174
1,961
1, 732
1.781
2 ,0 0 2
East North Central
1,963
1,680
1,817
7,054
2,540
8,166
7,203
5,657
5,940
6,982
West North Central.
1,017
441
623
1,113
2,852
2,492
2,238
1,905
1,538
1,814
South Atlantic____
1,243
1,144
630
732
881
1,298
1,857
1, 574
1,007
935
East South Central476
271
308
1, 776
623
922
363
396
439
315
West South Central.
1,821
1,318
657
958
1,488
2, 532
1 .1 1 0
2,428
986
3,347
Mountain_________
802
1,702
310
565
923
1,151
1,128
1,313
1,06.8
853
Pacific____________
2,899
2,252
1,276
2,891
3,140
5,735
2,677
2,074
2,128
2,316
i Building for which permits were issued and Federal contracts awarded
In all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken in some
smaller urban places that do not issue permits. Sums of components do not
always equal totals exactly because of rounding.
! For scope and source of urban estimates, see table F - 3 , footnote 1.
* Totals for 1951 include revisions which do not appear in data shown for
January through December. Revised monthly data will appear in a subse­
quent issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
1 Preliminary.
* Revised.
* Includes factories, navy yards, army ordnance plants, bakeries, ice plants,
industrial warehouses, and other buildings at the site of these and similar
production plants.


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

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

1951 »

1950

Total

Total

$234, 024 $263, 92f $174, 05C $2, 709, 302 $3,127,700
29, 751 14, 093 12, 916
195, 407
193, 386
26, 901 55,334 20, 989
403, 876
516, 583
52,623 85, 212 40, 62C
727,850
675, 555
2 2 , 682
12, 235 11,643
201,605
262, 737
17, 940 27, 262 17, 949
289, 919
375, 803
17, 617 11, 823
6,087
93, 987
144, 084
19, 743 25,156 25, 949
281,140
388, 201
14, 554
4, 840
6,543
100, 746
112, 265
32, 213 27, 965 31,354
414, 772
459,155
37, 655
1,497
8 ,2 0 0

14, 970
2,349
1 , 682
1,209
2,631
650
4, 567
62, 308
2, 231
9,448
8,689
5,635
5,083
12.315
7, 778
2, 674
8,455
104, 474
22, 790
6 , 907
21, 547
11,561
8,939
3,245
7,004
8 , 946
13, 535
2, 962
0
102

524
12

392
0
0

1,165
766
10,629
2,476
679
1,095
1, 534
650
549
829

45, 989
4, 232
8,308
21,309
1, 768

24, 995
472,124
296, 803
1, 678
31, 650
13, 999
4.194
97, 035
55, 679
201, 884
9,987
110, 829
2,861
25, 306
23,369
1 ,6 8 8
677
21,164
17, 019
459
375
13,194
13, 355
2,231
1,172
18, 32»
17, 800
373
481
6,103
5, 469
5, 621
3,570
57, 460
39, 284
69,317 53, 922
739, 788 1,122, 583
1,789
4, 945
36, 506
53, 675
9, 645
6 , 506
111,644
212,645
31,163
155, 535
7,277
201, 314
2, 960
3, 239
43, 206
94,104
7,445
7,255
99,315
139, 990
983
36, 535
1, 644
46, 076
6,827
9,609
93,132
175,129
1, 238
1,132
26,185
47, 481
7,267 12,315
137, 730
152, 169
124, 661 70, 913 1,085, 133 1, 200, 078
4, 789
104,053
5, 773
107, 541
34, 325
8,151
148, 877
169, 036
28, 233 18, 721
250, 645
275, 029
5, 6 6 8
3, 818
102,610
105, 603
16, 446
8 , 967
131,093
179, 635
1 0 , 040
35, 412
3, 6 8 8
62, 529
13, 038 11, 239
123, 521
146, 6 8 8
3, 721
2. 515
50, 767
43, 296
6,835
9, 607
138, 155
170, 721
6 , 741
2,680
106,171
134, 894
49
410
4, 354
2, 584
307
1.195
16, 236
40,178
241
160
25, 332
9, 513
219
0
2,084
4,896
381
165
15,398
15,008
66
0
270
9, 279
709
620
15, 899
8 , 268
69
102
4,090
3, 240
4,115
553
22,508
41,928
8,777
1,367
1,554
1,259
247
465
10

1,289

68

0

2,749
15,996
757
1,565
5,798
1, 592
1,195
298
1,500
1,151
2,140

2, 586
12,496
1,506
1,195
3,007
1,592
as 7
265
1,151
612
2,331

7,308
100

313
1,562
1,014
299
181
1,896
485
1,458
10,171
371
630
2,913
491
587
198
1,265
655
3,061

115,708
8,800
11,160
35, 028
9,672
9, 629
1,988
11,058
2 094
26, 279
190, 378
10,044
18, 924
59, 426
18, 727
13,320
6,588
19,202
11, 507
32,640

106,164
6,478
16, 8 6 8
26, 585
9,314
7, 658
3,316
13,646
2,702
19, 597
207, 247
9,109
22,177
52, 285
25, 451
16, 493
9, 529
26.670
10,077
35,456

7.Includes amusement and recreation buildings, stores and other mercantile
buildings, commercial garages, gasoline and service stations, etc.
’ Includes churches, hospitals, and other institutional buildings, schools,
libraries, etc.
9
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.
10 Includes railroad, bus and airport buildings, roundhouses, radio stations,
gas and electric plants, public comfort stations, etc.
11
Includes private garages, sheds, stables and bams, and other building
not elsewhere classified.

F : B U IL D IN G

628
T able F -5 :

AND

CO N STR U C TIO N

Number and Construction Cost of New Permanent Nonfarm Dwelling Units Started,
Urban or Rural Location, and by Source of Funds 1

by

Number of new dwelling units started
Estimated construction cost
(in thousands)

2

All units

Publicly financed

Privately financed

Period
Urban

Rural
non­
farm

937,000
1925___________________________
93,000
1933 3 __________________________
1941 *------ ------ -------------------------- 706,100
141,300
1944 3 __________________________
670, 500
1946___________________________
849,900
1947..........- ------------ -------------------931,600
1948___________________________
1,025,100
1949___________________________
1950 8 __________________________ 1,396,000
19517__________________________ 1,091,300

752,000
45,000
434, 300
96, 200
403, 700
479,800
524, 900
588,800
827,800
595,300

1950: First quarter______________
January________________
February_____
______
March . . __ ___________
Second quarter____ . ____
April____ _____________
M ay_________ __________
June------- ---------------------Third quarter_____________
July-----------------------------August-------------------------September______________
Fourth quarter----------------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
1 2 0 , 600
283,400
102, 500
87,300
93, 600

167, 800
48, 200
51,000
6 8 , 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

1 1 1 ,1 0 0

1951: First quarter_____________
January________________
February____ ____ ______
M arch___________ ______
Second quarter____________
April___________________
M a y _________________
June___________________
Third quarter_____________
July-----------------------------A u g u s t._______________
September_________ •____
---------Fourth quarter 7
October____- ---------------Novem ber___________ . .
December 7 _____________
1952: First quarter. _ . ______
January________ . ------February i°._ . . . . . . ___

260,300
85, 900
80, 600
93, 800
329, 700
96, 200

147, 800
49, 600
47, 000
51,200
192, 000
51,900
55, 400
84, 700
141,200
45, 900
45, 900
49,400
114,300
44,400
38, 500
31, 400

112, 500
36,300
33,600
42, 600
137, 700
44,300
45, 600
47, 800
134,800
44, 600
43, 200
47,000

(9)
(»)

C)
(»)

Total
non­
farm

1 0 1 ,0 0 0

132, 500
276, 000
90, 500
89,100
96.400
225,300
90,000
74, 500
60,800
6 8 ,0 0 0

77,000

Rural
non­
farm

185,000
937,000
93,000
48,000
619,500
271,300
45, 600
138, 700
662,500
266,800
845,600
369, 200
406, 700
913, 500
436, 300
988, 800
568,200 1,352, 200
496,000 1 , 0 2 0 , 1 0 0

752,000
45,000
369,500
93,200
395,700
476, 400
510,000
556,600
785,600
531,300

185,000
43,000
250,000
45, 500
266, 800
369,200
403, 500
432, 200
566, 600
488,800

276,100
77, 800
82, 300
116, 0 0 0
420,400
131, 300
145,700
143,400
393, 600
139, 700
137, 800
116,100
262,100
1 0 0 , 800
82, 700
78, 600

165,600
47, 300
50, 800
67, 500
241,200
77, 000
82, 2 0 0
82, 0 0 0
225,200
79, 500
79, 600
153, 600
57, 700
48, 500
47,400

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

248, 900
82, 2 0 0
76, 500
90, 200
280, 2 0 0
92, 300
97, 600
90, 300
270, 400
86,800
8 8 , 300
95, 300
220,600
88,900
72, 2C0
59, 500

137, 200
46, 400
43, 200
47, 600
148, 500
48,300
52, 300
47, 900
135, 700
42, 300
45,100
48,300
109,900
43, 400
36, 200
30,300

111,700
35, 800
33, 300
42, 600
131,700
44,000
45, 300
42, 400
134, 700
44, 500
43, 200
47,000
110,700
45, 500
36,000
29,200

11,400
3, 700
4,100
3,600
49, 500
3, 900
3,400
42, 200
5,600
3, 700
800

64, 700
74,200

(9)
(«)

(9)
p>

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

1 1 1 ,0 0 0

45,600
36,000
29,400

i The estimates shown here do not include temporary units, conversions,
dormitory accommodations, trailers, or military barracks. They do include
prefabricated housing units.
These estimates are based on building-permit records, which, beginning
with 1945, have been adjusted for lapsed permits and for lag between permit
issuance and start of construction. They are based also on reports of
Federal construction contract awards and beginning in 1946 on field surveys
in non-permit-issuing places. The data in this table refer to nonfarm
dwelling units started, and not to urban dwelling units authorized, as shown
in table F-3.
All of these estimates contain some error. For example, if the estimate
of nonfarm starts is 50,000, the chances are about 19 out of 20 that an actual
enumeration would produce a figure between 48,000 and 52,000.


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

Total
non­
farm

Urban

Total
non­
farm

6 6 ,1 0 0

Rural
non­
farm

Urban

0
0

0
0

0
0

86,600
3,100

64,800
3,000

21,800

8 ,0 0 0

8 ,0 0 0

3,400
18,100
36,300
43,800
71,200

3,400
14,900
32,200
42, 200
64,000

2,800
900
600
1,300
6 , 400

2 ,2 0 0

2 ,1 0 0

3, 400
900
13, 300
4, 700
4,100
4, 500
21,300
1,700
4,600
15,000

100
0
0

3,200
4,100
1,600
7,200
600

900

0

200
1 ,1 0 0

400

5,800
1,800
3,300
700
13, 000
4, 700
4,000
4,300

600
300

200

100
200

300
(8)
100
200
100

2 1 ,2 0 0

1,700
4,600
14,900

(8)
(8)
100

1 0 , 600

800
500
300
(8)
6, 000
300
300
5,400

3, 200
3, 800
3,600
43, 500
3, 600
3,100
36, 800
5, 500
3,600
800

1 ,1 0 0

1 ,1 0 0

4, 700

4,400

1 ,1 0 0

1 ,0 0 0

2,300
1,300

2,300

3,300
2,800

(9)
(9)

100
100
0

(8)
300
100

(8)

1 ,1 0 0

200

(9)

Total

Privately
financed

$4,475, 000 $4,475,000
285,446
285,446
2, 825,895 2, 530, 765
495,054
483,231
3, 769, 767 3, 713, 776
5, 642,798 5,617, 425
7,203,119 7,028, 980
7, 702, 971 7,374, 269
11,788, 595 11,418,371
9,800,538 9,186,123

Publicly
financed

0
0

$295,130
11,823
55,991
25,373
174,139
328,702
370,224
614,415

2,162,425
589,997
637, 753
934,675
3, 564,856
1,093, 726
1,232, 976
1,238,154
3, 564, 953
1,253,340
1, 266,198
1,045,415
2,496, 361
915,895
762, 625
817,841

2,138, 565
581, 497
632, 690
924, 378
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

23, 800
8 , 500
5,063
10,297
53, 652
18,082
27,998
7, 572
118,231
42, 595
35,960
39, 676
174,481
13, 705
37, 749
123,027

2,293,974
755, 600
716,629
821,745
2, 961,456
866,298
922, 661
1.175, 497
2,527,033
827,173
804,317
895. 543
2,015,075
806,955
672,078
536,042

2,191,489
721,014
681,607
788, 8 6 8
2, 549,238
828,339
895,309
825, 590
2,472,196
791, 783
795,624
884,789
1,973,200
796,682
650,660
525,858

102,485
34, 586
35,022
32, 877
415,218
37,959
27.352
349, 907
54,837
35, 390
8,693
10, 754
41,875
10, 273
21,418
10,184

595,185
687, 574

568,277
664,171

26,908
23,403

2 Private construction costs are based on permit valuation, adjusted for
understatement of costs shown on permit applications. Public construc­
tion costs are based on contract values or estimated construction costs for
individual projects.
3 Depression, low year.
* Recovery peak year prior to wartime limitations.
3 Last full year under wartime control.
8 Housing peak year.
7 Revised.
8 Less than 50 units.
• N ot available.
i° Preliminary.

U

S

GO V E RNM E NT PRIN T IN G O F F IC E : H 5 2