Full text of Monthly Labor Review : May 1956, Vol. 79, No. 5
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Monthly
Labor
Review
m mMM
JUÏ» 2 195G
MAY 1956 VOL. 79 N O .
Contract Settlements and Work Stoppages in 1955
Trends in Labor Force Participation by Women
Earnings in Dress Manufacturing Centers
The Labor Movement in the Communist Zone of Viet-Nam
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
James P. M itchell, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
E wan C l a g u e , Commissioner
H e n r y J. F itzgerald , Assistant Commissioner
H erm an B. B y e r , Assistant Commissioner
W. D u a n e E v a n s , Assistant Commissioner
N elson M . B ortz, Acting Chief, Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
Arnold E. Chase, Chief, Division of Construction Statistics
J oseph P. G oldberg, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
L eon Greenberg , Chief, Division of Productivity and Technological Developments
R ichard F. J ones, Chief, D ivision of Administrative Services
W alter G. K eim , Chief, D ivision of Field Service
P aul R. K erschbaum, Chief, Office of Program Planning
L awrence R. K lein , Chief, Office of Publications
L eonard R. L insenmayer , Chief, Division of Foreign Labor Conditions
F rank S. M cE lroy, Chief, D ivision of Industrial Hazards
H. E. R iley, Chief, Division of Prices and Cost of Living
Oscar W eioert , Special Assistant to the Commissioner
F aith M . W illiams, Chief, Office of Labor Economics
Seymour L. W olfbein , Chief, D ivision of Manpower and Employment Statistics
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Monthly Labor Review
U N ITED STATES DEPA R TM EN T OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
L a w r e n c e R . K l e in , Editor
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CONTENTS
Special Articles
521
527
Analysis of Work Stoppages During 1955
Labor-Management Contract Settlements, 1955
Summaries of Studies and Reports
534
537
542
545
548
551
596
596
The Labor Movement in the Communist Zone of Viet-Nam
Dress Manufacturing: Earnings in Selected Areas, August 1955
Union Wage Scales in Local City Trucking, July 1, 1955
Coverage Exclusions from Unemployment Insurance
Injury Rates in Manufacturing, fourth Quarter 1955
Employment and Characteristics of Women Engineers
Conferences and Institutes Scheduled from June 16 to July 15, 1956
Union Conventions Scheduled in June 1956
Technical Notes
559
566
568
Trends in the Participation of Women in the Working Force
Comments on the Analysis of Working Force Trends for Women
Relative Importance of Consumer Price Index Components
Departments
hi
555
572
577
579
586
597
The Labor Month in Review
Foreign Labor Briefs
Significant Decisions in Labor Cases
Chronology of Recent Labor Events
Developments in Industrial Relations
Erratum, February 1956 Issue
Book Reviews and Notes
Current LaborStatistics
May 1956 • Vol. 79 . No. 5
Now Available
Collective Bargaining Clauses: Layoff, Recall, and W orkSharing Procedures
This new com prehensive com pilation (BLS Bul
letin 1189) contains illustrative layoff, recall, and
work-sharing clauses selected from recent collective
bargaining agreements. These clauses, which are
arranged in a form suitable for easy reference,
d eal with—
itForestalling Layoffs
i t Layoff Procedures (including Seniority)
i t Re call to Work
itWork-Sharing Arrangements
itCompensation to Laid-Off Employees
...
In addition
A glossary of terms used in discussing layoff,
recall to work, and work-sharing procedures is pre
sented in the appendix.
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The Labor Month
in Review
T he steel in d u str y and the United Steelworkers
of America in mid-May were in the wings, so to
speak, ready to enact what could well be the lead
ing collective bargaining roles of the year. Most
basic steel industry contracts expire June 30 and
the major companies, in an unusual move, have
notified the union of intention to terminate exist
ing contracts on that date. As early as last
March the parties had issued preliminary “skir
mishing” statements with differing viewpoints re
lating to the need for an increase in steel prices.
Premium pay for weekend work, costly in con
tinuous process steel operations, is a union demand
and is generally considered to be a difficult item
for negotiation. The continuous process steel
plants normally work on Saturdays and Sundays.
The union is asking time-and-a-half and double
time, respectively, for these 2 days, even when
worked as part of a scheduled 5-day workweek.
Notable early May and late April settlements
were in the men’s and boys’ clothing and textile
industries. The clothing contract, effective June
4, is between the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
and the Clothing Manufacturers Association of
the U. S. A. and provides a 12%-cent hourly wage
increase, the first since 1953, plus improved in
surance benefits, for about 150,000 workers.
Manufacturers predict a rise in men’s and boy’s
clothing prices of from 4 to 5 percent.
Four New England cotton and synthetic textile
employers negotiated wage increases for approxi
mately 20,000 employees, represented by the
Textile Workers Union, which wiped out the cuts
in rates agreed to in 1952. The firms were
Berkshire-Hathaway, Bates, Pepperell, and Con
tinental. The latter granted a full union shop;
the other three restored premium pay for work on
certain holidays.
Settlements in major aircraft plants were
virtually completed in April except for the
strike by the Machinists against Republic Avia
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tion Corp. in its 13th week on May 15. Union
members on May 2 had voted down a company
offer of an increase in wages and fringe benefits
estimated as totaling 9 cents an hour, with an
additional 7-cent package on April 1, 1957. The
union had asked for wages and fringe items,
including severance pay, valued at 19 cents an
hour.
I f barg aining at the moment was relatively
quiescent, there was widespread legislative and
court activity relating to bargaining and other
labor matters. New York became the second
State (Washington was first) to enact a law
regulating collectively bargained welfare funds.
Effective September 1, each such fund will be
registered and its trustees required to file annual
reports and other information with appropriate
State supervisory agencies; trustees will be
liable to fiduciary law and subject to controls
against fee-splitting and kickbacks; there will be
periodic audits, with the control agencies per
mitted to make interim examinations at will and
to remove or fine trustees.
A United States Senate subcommittee on welfare
and pension funds, after 2 years of study, recom
mended legislation requiring registration with a
Government agency of any negotiated welfare or
pension plan covering 25 or more workers, regard
less of who administers it; plans covering 100 or
more employees would require that financial re
ports be filed with the designated governmental
agency and, in summary form, be sent to each
covered worker. Criminal penalties would be
imposed in instances of looting of funds, false
statement, or failure to report. The committee’s
action received general approval of the AFL-CIO.
On the matter of the registration agency, union
comment expressed a preference for the Labor
Department. There was considerable employer
opposition to the broad registration recommenda
tion.
The United States Supreme Court, on April
23, upheld for the second time the right of the
Secretary of Labor to establish industrywide
minimum wages under the Walsh-Healey Act
(the instant case was in the woolen and worsted
industry); upheld the National Labor Relations
Board in the Richfield Oil case ruling which re
quired an employer to bargain with a union of
its employees on a company’s contributory
m
IV
employee stock purchase plan; overruled the
Louisiana Supreme Court which had held that
failure to comply with the non-Communist
affidavit and financial filing requirements of the
Taft-Hartley Act barred a union (in this case the
United Mine Workers) from picketing rights;
agreed to hear on appeal by the Government the
case earlier dismissed by a Federal court in
Michigan in which the United Auto Workers
was accused of violating the Corrupt Practices
Act by sponsoring a television show in behalf
of a political candidate. The Court also heard
arguments of nonoperating rail unions in support
of the constitutionality of the 1951 union shop
amendment to the Railway Labor Act. The
case is on appeal from a Nebraska Supreme
Court decision. On May 7 the Court ruled that
an employer’s failure to disclose financial data
to a union in support of an alleged inability to
pay a wage increase constituted failure to bargain
in good faith, but emphasized that the rule did not
have general applicability.
In Alabama, the State Supreme Court upheld
a lower court which awarded $10,000 in damages
to a worker in an action against the Auto Workers
for preventing him from working by means of
unlawful picketing, holding that the Taft-Hartley
Act does not deprive the State Court of jurisdic
tion in a damage suit.
also commanded the atten
tion of organized labor in May. The Executive
Council of the AFL-CIO met in extraordinary ses
sion to consider, among other items, the mutual aid
pact between the Teamsters and the International
Longshoremen’s Association (Ind.) expelled from
the AFL in 1953 and rival to another longshore
union affiliated with the merged organization.
Shortly before the meeting the ILA renounced the
Teamster alliance. George Meany, AFL-CIO
president, announced that the “principles” in
volved would be discussed at the regular Council
meeting on June 4. The AFL-CIO constitution
prohibits any affiliate from recognizing or giving
representation to an expelled union. Dave Beck,
Teamster president and a Council member, did
not attend the meeting. Later, in a Philadelphia
speech, Mr. Meany characterized the incident as
part of the “growing pains” of the new organi
zation. During the session the former AFL Auto
Workers was granted permission to change its
I nstitutional law
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
name to Allied Industrial Workers of America.
Mr. Meany, at the International Ladies Gar
ment Workers Union convention on May 11,
joined David Dubinsky, ILGWU president, in
criticizing union leaders with private business con
nections in the same industries as their unions.
The Executive Council at its special meeting
had criticized a statement by the AFL-CIO Build
ing Trades Department, urging cessation of State
and local mergers pending settlement of jurisdic
tional disputes with industrial unions, as “indirect
violation of the spirit and letter of the . . . con
stitution.” Arizona and Montana became the
fifth and sixth States in which State-level mergers
of the AFL and CIO have taken place.
The Textile Workers Union (formerly CIO), in
convention on May 14, announced that a merger
offer tendered its former AFL counterpart, the
United Textile Workers, had not been accepted.
Shortly after the AFL-CIO merger, amalgamation
had been thought possible.
Meanwhile, final merger was effected between
the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada and the
Canadian Congress of Labor, with more than a
million members represented in the new Canadian
Labor Congress. Communists are barred from
membership.
have maintained a restive attitude
this spring over rising living costs and employ
ment security. An unofficial and reportedly
Communist-led strike of 11,000 Standard Motor
workers against introduction of certain automated
equipment, which ended on May 10 after 2 weeks,
was a case in point.
Late in April the British Industrial Disputes
Tribunal awarded a 5-percent increase to 250,000
cotton spinners and weavers. At about the same
time the Amalgamated Engineering Union, repre
senting nearly a million metal workers, asked for
both wage increases and a reduction of weekly
hours to 40.
April strikes for higher wages in Spain, which
persisted in widespread form throughout most of
the month, especially in northern areas, in defiance
of Government back-to-work orders, were more
dramatic than successful. Striking is illegal in
Spain. The national parliament on May 8 was
stimulated by this action in private employment to
vote increases to Government workers and mili
tary officer personnel.
B ritish u n io n s
Analysis of
Work Stoppages
During 1955
A n n J. H e r l ih y
and
H erbert H . M oede*
F a v o r a b l e economic conditions combined with a
greater volume of labor-management negotiations
were responsible for the increase in the level of
strike activity during 1955.1 The number of work
stoppages beginning in the year was about 25
percent greater than in 1954 but was substantially
below postwar peaks. Similarly, the number of
workers involved and amount of idleness also
exceeded 1954, although idleness remained below
all postwar years except 1951 and 1954.
A total of 4,320 work stoppages 2 began in 1955
and idled 2,650,000 workers. These stoppages,
together with those that continued from 1954,
resulted in a total of 28,200,000 man-days of idle
ness—about one-fourth of 1 percent of total
estimated time worked during the year. Strikes
ending in 1955 lasted an average of 18.5 days, less
than in any year since World War II except 1951
(table 1).
Not only was collective bargaining stimulated
by the rise in employment and output (with nonagricultural employment and gross national prod
uct increasing by about 2.3 and 6.2 percent,
respectively, from 1954 to 1955), but many long
term agreements expired and were subject to re
negotiation during the year. The major bargain
ing settlements in 1955 typically included wage
increases and supplemental benefits that exceeded
those agreed to in 1954.
New contract terms in many industries in 1955
were reached either without strikes or with only
brief interruptions of work. Thus, in the steel
and automobile industries, major settlements were
negotiated before stoppages in these situations
were a day old and no industrywide stoppage
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lasted more than 1 or 2 days. Emergency pro
visions of the Taft-Hartley Act were not invoked
during the year, although five emergency boards
were created under the provisions of the Railway
Labor Act.
There were, however, notable exceptions to the
general pattern of relatively peaceful bargaining
in major situations. The nearest approach to any
prolonged industrywide stoppage was a 47-day
strike over a new contract that shut down opera
tions of 3 of the 4 major nonferrous metals pro
ducers. Also, three major producers of agricul
tural implements were closed by separate stoppages
during the summer.
A few strikes closed down or seriously hampered
operation of large companies for relatively long
periods. Of the major stoppages that ended in
1955—those involving 10,000 or more workers—
3 continued more than 50 days: the Communica
tions Workers—Southern Bell Telephone & Tele
graph Co. dispute (72 days); the strike of 10 AFL
nonoperating brotherhoods on the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad (58 days); and the dispute
between the Textile Workers Union (CIO) and
New England cotton textile mills, which was the
longest major work stoppage ending in 1955 (90
days at some mills, although a number of settle
ments were agreed to during the early part of the
strike). In addition, the strike by 54,000 members
of the International Union of Electrical Workers
and the independent United Electrical Workers
at the Westinghouse Electric Corp. idled about
70,000 workers; this stoppage began on October
17, 1955, and continued into 1956. Average
duration ol the major stoppages that ended
during the year was 23.2 calendar days.3 Alto
gether they idled 1.2 million workers for a total
of 12.3 million man-days—over two-fifths of the
workers and man-days idle in all stoppages
during the year (table 2).
*Of the Bureau’s Division of Wages and Industrial Relations.
1 For a discussion of collective bargaining settlements in 1955, see p. 527 of
this issue.
2 All work stoppages known to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its
various cooperating agencies, involving 6 or more workers and lasting a full
day or shift or longer, are included in this figure. Figures on “workers
involved” and “man-days idle” include all workers made idle for as long as
one shift in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not
measure the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or 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 1955.
3 Since average duration is based on stoppages ending in the year, the
Westinghouse stoppage that was settled in late March 1956 is not included
in 1955 data on duration.
521
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
522
T a ble 1.— Work stoppages in the United States, 1945-55 1
Work stoppages
Year
1945___
1946....
1947....
1948....
1949....
1950....
1951....
1952....
1953....
1954....
1955....
Average
N um duration
(calen
ber
dar
d a y s)3
4,750
4,985
3, 693
3, 419
3, 606
4, 843
4, 737
5,117
5, 091
3, 468
4,320
9.9
24.2
25.6
21.8
22.5
19.2
17.4
19.6
20.3
22.5
18.5
Workers in
volved 2
Man-days idle during year
Per
Number
Number
cent
(thou
(thou of total
em
sands)
sands)
ployed
3,470
4,600
2,170
1,960
3,030
2,410
2, 220
3,540
2,400
1,530
2,650
12.2
14.5
6.5
5.5
9.0
6.9
5.5
8.8
5.6
3.7
6.2
38, 000
116, 000
34, 600
34,100
50, 500
38, 800
22, 900
59,100
28, 300
22, 600
28, 200
Percent
of esti
Per
mated
working worker
in
time
volved
of all
workers
0.47
1.43
.41
.37
.59
.44
.23
.57
.26
.21
.26
11.0
25.2
15.9
17.4
16.7
16.1
10.3
16.7
11.8
14.7
10.7
1 The number of stoppages and workers pertain to stoppages beginning in
the year; average duration, to those ending in the year. Man-days of idle
ness include all stoppages in effect. For a discussion of the procedures in
volved in the collection and compilation of work stoppage statistics, see
BLS Bull. 1168, Techniques of Preparing Major BLS Statistical Series (p.
106).
2 Workers are counted more than once in these figures if they were involved
in more than one stoppage during the year.
3 Figures are simple averages; each stoppage is given equal weight regard
less of its size.
N ote.—For definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 521).
Major Issues
Wages and supplementary benefits were the
most frequent issues in work stoppages in 1955,
as in other postwar years. These issues accounted
for half the disputes and about two-thirds of the
workers and man-days idle. Combined with
questions of union organization, they were respon
sible for another 16 percent of the idleness, while
union status alone was the issue in disputes caus
ing 10 percent of the idleness (table 3). Negotia
tions in 18 of the 26 work stoppages of 10,000 or
more workers were concerned solely with wages,
hours, and/or supplementary benefits. In 2 others,
these issues were combined with the question of
union organization, while union status alone
(notably strengthening of bargaining position)
was the key issue in 2 of the year's major stoppages.
Most, but not all, of the stoppages over economic
issues dealt with wages. Supplementary benefits
also were frequently involved and in some in
stances appeared to be the major cause of con
troversy. Thus, the 58-day Louisville & Nashville
Railroad stoppage was occasioned by a dispute
that revolved around a health and welfare plan.4
Supplemental unemployment benefit plans were
incorporated in contracts ending 6 of the 26 major
stoppages, but they did not pose a significant
barrier to agreement. Although most stoppages
over economic issues involved efforts to improve
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
wages and working conditions, a small number,
including the New England textile strike, occurred
over a proposed decrease in wage rates and
supplementary benefits.
The status or bargaining position of the union
(or correlatively the prerogatives of management)
appeared as important factors in 2 of the year’s
longest major work stoppages—the 72-day South
ern Bell Telephone & Telegraph work stoppage
and the Westinghouse Electric Corp. strike that
began October 17, 1955. These 2 strikes accounted
for about 18 percent of the total man-days of idle
ness in all stoppages during the year. The South
ern Bell stoppage revolved around the question of a
no-strike pledge requested by the company and a
provision for arbitration of grievances sought by
the union. The prolonged and complex Westinghouse dispute grew out of differences arising over a
midterm reopening of the collective bargaining
agreement scheduled to expire in October 1956.
These differences included disagreement over the
duration of the contract, the amount of wage in
creases as well as a company-proposed time-study
program (including the method to be used in set
tling grievances arising under such a program),
and changes in methods of wage payment. An
earlier agreement by management and the union to
consider the time-study issue during the national
negotiations had ended a strike at the company
during August and September. As the nationwide
< The strike occurred after all steps set forth in the B,ailway Labor Act,
including an Emergency Board hearing and report, had been taken without
effecting a settlement. The Emergency Board was formed on December 28,
1953, and its report was submitted to the President in M ay 1954.
T a b l e 2. — Work stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers,
selected periods
Stoppages involving 10,000 or more workers
Period
1935-39 average.
1947-49 average.
1945__________
1946- ________
1947___________
1948__________
1949__________
1950__________
1951__________
1952 ________
1953__________
1954__________
1955__________
Man-days idle
Workers involved
Percent
N um of total
Number Percent Number Percent
for
ber
of total
(thou
of total
(thou
period
sands)' for period sands) for period
11
18
42
31
15
20
18
22
19
35
28
18
26
0.4
.5
.9
.6
.4
.6
.5
.5
.4
.7
.5
.5
.6
365
1, 270
1, 350
2,920
1, 030
870
1, 920
738
457
1, 690
650
437
1, 210
32.4
53.4
38.9
63.6
47.5
44.5
63.2
30.7
20.6
47.8
27.1
28.5
45.6
i See footnote 2, table 1.
N ote.—F or definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 521).
5,290
23, 800
19, 300
66, 400
17, 700
18,900
34, 900
21, 700
5, 680
36, 900
7,270
7, 520
12,300
31.2
59.9
50.7
57.2
51.2
55.3
69.0
56.0
24.8
62.6
25.7
33.3
43.4
WORK STOPPAGES IN 1955
stoppage continued into 1956, this issue, together
with the status of strikers discharged for alleged
acts of violence, apparently became increasingly
difficult to resolve.8
The 4-day stoppage of workers at Caterpillar
Tractor Co. in August occurred over wages and the
union shop. In a number of somewhat smaller but
relatively long and in some cases bitter stoppages,
the question of union recognition or the union shop
was the major barrier to settlement; some also
involved wages. Union recognition was the pri
mary issue in the 1-year stoppage at the Buffalo
Arms Co. in Akron, N. Y., which ended in June
1955, and in a 32-day stoppage at the St. Joseph,
Mich., plant of the Whirlpool Corp. Recognition
was also the major problem in the Miami hotel
organizing strike, which began in April and con
tinued into 1956.6 The same issue led to a 76-day
stoppage at the Berne Hat Co. in Baltimore, Md.,
and resulted in the company going out of business.
The union shop issue was the major hurdle in the
129-day work stoppage of the United Automobile
Workers of America at the Indiana plants of the
Perfect Circle Corp.—a strike which was marked
by considerable violence. Wages were also an
issue in this stoppage. The 127-day stoppage at
the W. T. Smith Lumber Co. in Alabama, and the
22-day stoppage at the New York Air Brake Co. in
Watertown, N. Y., also arose over union-shop
differences.
Job security, shop conditions and policies, work
load, and protests against court injunctions or
administrative actions of government agencies de
clined slightly in importance as issues in 1955 com
pared with immediately preceding years. Alto
gether, these issues accounted for a fifth of all
strikes and workers but only a tenth of all strike
idleness. They precipitated 4 strikes of 10,000 or
more workers but 2 of them—an employee dis
charge question at the Chrysler Corp. in Detroit
in April, and the west coast longshore strike
against the trial of Harry Bridges—lasted but 1
day. The other two—an east coast longshore1 Early in February, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Concilia
tion Service stated that it appeared that differences concerning wages, arbi
tration procedures, contract duration, and other problems could be settled if
the time-study problem were handled separately. He recommended that the
parties agree to defer settlement of this issue until after the end of the strike,
with a 90-day moratorium after the return to work to be used for bargaining
on the time-study problem. This proposal was not adopted, however.
6 One of the first settlements was concluded during October 1955 when the
M onte Carlo Hotel and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union agreed
to a 5-year contract granting wage increases immediately, as well as in 1957
and 1958, with provision for starting a health and welfare plan later.
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523
men’s protest against actions of the New YorkNew Jersey Waterfront Commission and the
June stoppage at the East Pittsburgh plant of
Westinghouse—lasted 8 days each.
Interunion and intraunion disputes (including
union rivalry, and jurisdictional and sympathy
strikes), following the usual pattern, accounted for
a relatively small portion of the year’s total strike
activity. They caused 7 percent of the 1955
stoppages and 1 percent of man-days of idleness—
not significantly different than in 1954.
T a ble 3. — Major issues involved in work stoppages, 1955
Stopi>ages b eginning in 1955
Major issues
All issues_________________
Workers in
volved
Per
N um cent
ber
of
total i N um
ber 4
Per
cent
of
to ta l1
Man-days idle
during 1955
(all stoppages)
N um
ber 1
Per
cent
of
to ta l4
4,320 100.0 2, 650,000 100.0 28, 200,000 100.0
Wages, hours, and supplementary benefits_________ 2,154
Wage increase _______
1,291
Wage decrease_____ . . .
25
Wage increase, hour decrease___ __________
55
Hour increase______
2
Wage increase, pension
and/or social insurance
benefits____________
284
Pension and/or social insurance benefits______
32
Other 3________________
465
Union organization, wages,
hours, and supplementary
benefits____ . . . _________
305
Recognition, wages and/
or hours_________ . _
210
Strengthening bargaining position, wages
and/or hours___
___
26
Closed or union shop,
wages and/or hours___
69
Discrimination, wages
and/or hours_________
Union organization________
539
Recognition . . . . _ . . .
385
Strengthening bargaining position.
51
Closed or union shop___
69
Discrimination. . . . _.
11
Other___ ________ _____
23
Other working conditions__
964
Job security___________
452
Shop conditions and
policies______________
438
Workload__ _______
54
Other 4. . _______
20
Interunion or intraunion
matters____________ . . . _
299
Sym pathy . . . .
69
Union rivalry or factionalism. _____
_ ...
55
Jurisdiction_______ . . .
171
4
Union regulations_____
Other________ _____ . . .
N ot reported_______ ______
59
49.9 1, 780.000
29.9 854,000
.6
29, 400
1.3
(2)
25, 200
3, 850
6.6
.7
10.8
67.2 17,900,000
32.3 7, 500,000
1.1
980,000
1.0
.1
63.3
26.6
3.5
320,000
7,700
1.1
(2)
207,000
7.8 4, 280,000
15.2
29, 600
627, 000
1.1 1,050,000
23.7 3, 720,000
3.7
13.2
7.1
143,000
5.4 4, 590,000
16.3
4.9
22, 800
.9
371,000
1.3
12.2
.6
76,100
2.9 3,440,000
1.6
44, 200
1.7
784, 000
2.8
(2)
10.1
2.4
7.4
.2
(2)
(2)
9.2
4.1
12.5
8.9
101,000
23, 200
680
3.8 2, 840,000
.9
682,000
1.2
1.6
.3
.5
22.3
10.5
67, 200
6,350
640
3,610
550,000
201,000
2.5 2,090,000
.2
48,300
10,900
(2)
.1
11,800
20.8 2, 590,000
7.6 1,160,000
10.1
1.2
.5
260, 000
31, 700
58,000
9.8
1.2
2.2
942,000
288,000
200,000
3.3
1.0
.7
6.9
1.6
65, 700
36,000
2.5
1.4
295,000
128,000
1.0
.5
1.3
4.0
.1
6, 540
23,000
150
.2
.9
(2)
62, 200
105,000
180
.2
.4
(2)
1.4
9,240
.3
26, 200
.1
1 Because of rounding, sums of individual items do not necessarily equal
totals.
2 Less than 0.05 percent.
3 Includes stoppages in which the major issue was retroactivity, holidays,
vacations, job classification, piece rates, incentive standards, or other related
matters unaccompanied by eflorts to change wage rates. More than a third
of the stoppages in this group occurred over piece rates or incentive standards.
4 This group includes protest strikes against action or lack of action by
government agencies. The 2 major stoppages each involving more than
10,000 longshoremen are included in this group.
N ote.—For definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 5211.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
524
T a ble 4. — Work stoppages by State, 1955
Stoppages beginning in 1955
State
Workers involved
N um
ber
United States.................... 14,320
Alabam a...........................
Arizona_______________
A rkansas...------ ---------California_____________
C o lo r a d o ..------ ---------Connecticut___________
D elaw are_____________
District of Columbia___
Florida............... ................
Georgia_______________
Idaho_________________
Illinois________________
Indiana____ _____ ____ _
Iowa__________________
Kansas_________ ______
Kentucky______ . . . . .
Louisiana_____________
M aine________________
M aryland... _________
Massachusetts............ .
Michigan_____________
M innesota____________
M ississippi... _________
Missouri_________ ____
Montana_____________
Nebraska. ___________
N evada_______________
N ew Hampshire..............
N ew Jersey___________
N ew M exico__________
N ew Y o rk .. _________
North Carolina................
North Dakota__ ______
Ohio__________________
Oklahoma_____________
Oregon----------------------Pennsylvania_________
Rhode Island__________
South Carolina____ . . .
South Dakota________
Tennessee_____________
Texas____________ ____
U tah........................ ...........
Vermont________ _____
Virginia_______________
Washington___________
West Virginia_________
Wisconsin_____________
W yoming_____________
111
17
17
247
36
73
19
15
59
37
18
260
170
45
20
94
27
18
50
142
327
75
20
111
21
22
19
25
283
12
534
49
7
434
37
39
566
28
11
3
107
75
25
6
56
50
160
95
6
Number
2, 650, 000
91, 700
8,250
4, 710
157, 000
13, 300
30,900
9,790
5, 080
19, 000
20, 500
3, 800
167, 000
192, 000
23, 400
4,670
40, 800
12, 300
11, 400
40, 200
64, 800
292, 000
26, 700
6,050
64, 300
1,480
4, 370
3, 900
4,320
124, 000
6, 870
219, 000
16, 800
380
329, 000
6,880
12, 500
388, 000
12, 800
5,050
890
46, 900
28,100
17, 200
1,420
11, 600
14, 800
35, 300
44, 900
360
Man-days idle
during 1955
(all stoppages)
Percent
of total
Percent
of total
Number
100.0
28, 200, 000
100.0
951, 000
170,000
84, 800
1, 760,000
86, 900
567, 000
68, 600
145, 000
885, 000
414, 000
104, 000
1,480, 000
1,140, 000
294, 000
39, 000
757, 000
531, 000
276, 000
236, 000
1, 230, 000
1, 740, 000
323,000
198, 000
871, 000
23, 500
56, 400
64, 700
24, 500
1, 470, 000
95,300
2, 440, 000
316, 000
3, 610
2, 570, 000
86, 800
187, 000
3, 350, 000
261, 000
82, 800
6,370
845, 000
335, 000
228, 000
32,100
94, 000
125, 000
312, 000
849, 000
5,050
3.4
.6
.3
6.2
.3
2.0
.2
.5
3.1
1. 5
.4
5.2
4.0
1.0
.1
2. 7
1.9
1.0
.8
4. 4
6.2
1.1
.7
3.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
5.2
.3
8.6
1.1
(2)
9.1
.3
.7
11.9
.9
.3
(2)
3.0
1.2
.8
.1
.3
.4
1.1
3.0
(2)
3.5
.3
.2
5.9
.5
1.2
.4
.2
.7
.8
.1
6.3
7.3
.9
.2
1. 5
.5
.4
1.5
2.4
11.0
1.0
.2
2.4
.1
.2
.1
.2
4.7
.3
8.3
.6
(2)
12.4
.3
.5
14.7
.5
.2
(2)
1.8
1.1
.6
.1
.4
.6
1.3
1.7
(2)
1 The sum of the figures in this column exceeds 4,320 because the stoppages
extending across State lines have been counted in each State affected; workers
involved and man-days idle were divided among the States.
2 Less than 0.05 percent.
N o t e —For definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 521).
Geographic Patterns
An unusual feature of the 1955 strike picture was
the occurrence of two of the year’s longest and
largest work stoppages in the South. The pro
longed Louisville & Nashville Railroad and
Southern Bell Telephone strikes early in the year
had the effect of increasing the man-days idle
in most of the southeastern States to relatively
high levels—the highest in Georgia and Tennessee
since 1946.
Strike idleness in Florida reached its highest
level of any year on record because of the telephone
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strike and long stoppages in Miami hotels and in the
phosphate industry; these 3 situations accounted
for over four-fifths of the State’s 885,000 man-days
of idleness in 1955.
Elsewhere, Maine also experienced the greatest
amount of strike idleness ever recorded, primarily
because of the textile strike. The nonferrous
industry stoppage increased time lost in Nevada
to its highest point and also resulted in greater
working time losses in Arizona than in immediately
preceding years.
As in other years, the greatest number of days
of idleness occurred in highly industrialized
States. As in 1954, Pennsylvania experienced
more idleness in 1955 than any other State—
11.9 percent of all idleness in the country as a
whole (table 4); however, over half the State’s
time loss was due to the 1-day basic steel stoppage
and the 3 strikes at plants of the Westinghouse
Corp. Ten stoppages, each exceeding 50,000
man-days of idleness, accounted for more than half
of the year’s idleness in Ohio. This State, with
9.1 percent of all idle time, ranked second to
Pennsylvania.
Industries Affected
The general rise in strike activity affected most
industries (table 5). The construction trades
were the most notable exception to the general
trend, but total idleness also fell below 1954 in
lumber, trade, and rubber manufacture. Final
figures for the year show that work stoppages
and man-days of idleness in the manufacturing
industries increased about 40 percent, while in the
nonmanufacturing industries, there were increases
of about 8 percent in the number of work stop
pages and 6 percent in the man-days of idleness
over the previous year’s figures.
Declines in the number of workers involved and
man-days idle in construction were due to a drop
in the number of major stoppages compared with
immediately preceding years. Only 2 major
stoppages, involving a total of 28,000 workers,
were recorded in this industry in 1955 compared
with 7 involving 141,000 workers in 1954, 10
idling 210,000 workers in 1953, and 11 involving
287,000 workers in 1952.
Idleness in the lumber and wood products indus
tries fell to its lowest postwar level in 1955.
WORK STOPPAGES IN 1955
Idleness in the trade group was markedly lower
than in 1954, when the Pittsburgh department
store strike was in effect. Although the number of
stoppages increased, idleness decreased in the rub
ber products industry group. Only the 7-day
U. S. Rubber Co. strike affected as many as
10,000 workers; hence time lost declined by twothirds below 1954 when 2 fairly long major stop
pages brought idleness to its highest level in recent
years.
Two soft-goods industry groups, textiles and
leather and leather products, showed marked
increases in strike idleness over 1954 primarily as
a result of the New England textile strike and the
26-day strike that idled 23,000 International Shoe
Co. and Brown Shoe Co. employees. The latter
stoppage, which was resolved by agreement on the
first general wage increase at these companies since
1952, accounted for about half the workers idle in
the leather and leather-products industries in 1955.
Proportionately, one of the greatest increases in
strike activity occurred in the chemical industry
group in which idleness resulting from strikes
was about four times its 1954 levels, although it
remained below its postwar high. About 60
percent of the 1955 idleness in chemical plants
was accounted for by 8 stoppages primarily
involving wages.
The three Westinghouse work stoppages repre
sented the greater portion of the increase in num
ber of workers and man-days idle in the electricalmachinery industry group, which reached their
highest levels since 1946. The Westinghouse dis
putes also contributed significantly to the increase
in strike activity in machinery manufacturing
(other than electrical), which also included the
three major stoppages of farm-equipment firms.
The totals in the latter industry group include the
smaller, prolonged stoppages at the Ex-Cell-o Corp.
plants in Ohio and Michigan, the Maytag Co. in
Iowa, and the Avco Manufacturing Co. in Indiana.
Major stoppages during contract negotiations
brought the number of workers in the transporta
tion-equipment group to about four times 1954
levels. Similarly, the brief work stoppage at the
time of the nationwide basic steel negotiations
and a stoppage at Tennessee Coal & Iron Co.,
caused by contract demands of that company’s
railroad employees, brought the number of workers
idle in the primary metal industries well above the
382771— 56------ 2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
525
1954 figure but it fell short of its 1952 postwar
high.
Two strikes—a 5-week stoppage at the Sperry
Gyroscope Co. and a 92-day strike of 3,000 em
ployees of the Arma Division of American Bosch
Corp.—accounted for more than one-half of the
total number of workers and idleness in estab
lishments manufacturing instruments and related
products. Idleness in this group of industries
was higher than in any postwar year.
T a b l e 5.— Work stoppages by industry group, 1955
Stoppages begin
ning in 1955
Man-days idle
during 1955 (all
stoppages)
Industry group
N um Workers
ber
involved
All industries,. ___________
M a n u f a c t u r i n g ______
N um
ber
i 4,320 2,650,000 28, 200,000
.
Primary metal industries. .
Fabricated metal products (except
ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)_________
Ordnance and accessories.. . . .
Electrical machinery, equipment,
and supplies___ ______ . . . ___
Machinery (except electrical). . . .
Transportation equipment... . . . ._
Lumber and wood products (except
fu rn itu re)._________ _
Furniture and fixtures______. . .
Stone, clay, and glass products... . .
Textile mill products__
Apparel and other finished products
made from fabrics and similar
materials___
...
. ____
Leather and leather products______
Food and kindred products________
Tobacco manufactures. _______ . . .
Paper and allied products. ____
Printing, publishing, and allied
industries.. __ _ _____ . ____
Chemicals and allied products . . . .
Products of petroleum and coal .
Rubber products__ _____ _ _____
Professional, scientific, and control
ling instruments; photographic and
optical goods; watches and clocks.. .
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries_________ _____________
N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g _______
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing . .
M ining. . __ _ ______ _____
C onstruction__________________
Trade____________ ______ _ _ . . .
Finance, insurance, and real estate.. .
Transportation, communication, and
other public u tilities.. ____ _ . . .
Services—personal, business, and
other__________ . _ ______
Government—administration protection, and sanitation 4_______ ____
Percent
of esti
mated
work
ing time
of all
workers
0. 26
i 2, 420 2,000,000 18, 800,000
.45
279
535,000 1, 570, 000
.47
282
13
131,000 1, 590,000
10,800
140,000
.57
.42
147
306
200
202,000 3,300,000
230,000 3, 800, 000
440,000 1, 910,000
1.15
.95
.40
81
121
110
96
227,000
11,800
287,000
26,000
495,000
32,600
47,800 1,400,000
.12
.31
.35
.51
139
50
169
3
67
15,000
40,400
40, 400
340
13,600
136,000
542,000
974,000
1,220
197,000
.04
.56
.25
(2)
.14
29
105
18
105
7,660
40, 000
3,190
124,000
176,000
634,000
51,000
490,000
.08
.31
.08
.69
30
34,000
694,000
.87
99
14,300
191,000
. 16
i 1,913
646.000 9, 390,000
.14
11
343
733
409
8
14, 200
3,080
114,000 1,080, 000
204,000 1, 810, 000
52,300 1,090, 000
550
27, 300
(3)
.57
.28
.04
(3)
275
253, 000 4,860,000
.47
121
17, 800
488, 000
(3)
17
1,470
7, 210
(3)
1 This figure is less than the sum of the figures below it because a few stop
pages extending into 2 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.
2 Less than 0.05 percent.
2 N ot available.
4 Municipally operated utilities are included under transportation, com
munication, and other public utilities.
N ote.—For definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 521).
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
526
T a ble 6. — Work stoppages by afiliation of unions involved,
1955
i
Stoppages beginning in 1955
Workers
involved
Affiliation
PerN um cent
ber
of
total Number
Man-days idle
during 1955
(all stoppages)
Per
cent Number
of
total
Per
cent
of
total
T otal.................... .................. - 4,320 100.0 2, 650, 000 100.0 28, 200, 000 100.0
American Federation of
L a b o r... . . . __________ 2,337
Congress of Industrial Or
ganizations_____________ 1, 254
608
Unaffiliated unions................
15
Single firm unions________
61
Different affiliations---------41
N o union involved________
4
N ot reported_____________
607, 000
22.9 9, 750, 000
34.6
29.0 1, 630,000
14.1
239, 000
.3
8,750
1.4
154,000
.9
8,950
.1
80
54.1
61.5 11, 900, 000
9.0 1, 670, 000
.3
156, 000
5.8 4,710,000
59,100
.3
470
0
42.0
5.9
.6
16.7
.2
0
1 Since the merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress
of Industrial Organizations did not take place until December 1955, the strikes
involving their affiliates -were attributed to the appropriate federation
throughout the year.
2 Less than 0.05 percent.
N ote.—F or definitions, see text footnote 2 (p. 521).
Although the number of transportation, com
munication, and other public utility stoppages
remained practically the same as in 1954, 7 of
the 26 major work stoppages in 1955 occurred in
these industries, and idleness reached its highest
level since 1947—0.47 percent of estimated work
ing time of all workers in the group. The two
longest and most publicized strikes in these indus
tries were those at Southern Bell and on the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The trucking
industry had 2 major strikes—a 44-day stoppage
in New England and other eastern States and a 24day strike in 12 western States. Both resulted in
long-term contracts providing for the elimination of
interarea wage differences within the regions
affected and reductions in hours of work, as well as
increases in wage rates and liberalized benefits.
Members of 3 telephone unions struck over con
tract terms for about 2 weeks at the Pacific Tele
phone & Telegraph Co., and 2 strikes—1 on the
east coast, the other on the west coast—each idled
over 10,000 longshoremen.
Increases over 1954 were recorded in all three
of the measures of strike activity in the mining
industry group, with the largest increases expe
rienced in the number of stoppages and man-days
of idleness. Strike activity remained at rela
tively low levels in coal mining as compared with
most postwar years, although the number of
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bituminous stoppages increased slightly over 1954.
Metal mining experienced more controversies,
with idleness rising about 60 percent because of
the major stoppage in nonferrous metal mining as
well as 3 smaller prolonged stoppages. About
1,700 employees of Michigan copper mines were
out for 112 days from May through late August;
16 companies in the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, area
were struck for 161 days; and several hundred
miners of a New Jersey zinc company became
idle on August 22 and were still out at the end of
the year. A 122-day strike at phosphate installa
tions in Florida increased idleness in nonmetallic
mining well over 1954.
In the service trades, idleness increased almost
fivefold, primarily as a result of the Miami hotel
dispute.
Unions Involved
During 1955, unions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor 7 were involved in slightly
more than half of the work stoppages and ac
counted for 23 percent of the workers idle and a
third of the idleness (table 6). About a fourth
of these stoppages were in the construction
industry. Affiliates of the Congress of Industrial
Organizations took part in almost one-third of
the year’s strikes. These stoppages idled threefifths of all workers and accounted for two-fifths
of the idleness.
As in earlier years, a large proportion of the
stoppages involving unaffiliated or independent
unions were the brief, local strikes in bituminouscoal mines. On the whole, the unaffiliated unions
accounted for a smaller proportion of total workers
and idleness than in most years since World
War II.
Affiliates of the AFL and CIO accounted for
over 90 percent of workers involved and mandays idle in work stoppages of 10,000 or more.
Independent unions were involved with other
unions (AFL and/or CIO) in several major
strikes and an independent was the sole union in
each of the two longshore stoppages. In the pro
longed stoppage at Westinghouse, about 15 per
cent of the strikers were represented by the
unaffiliated United Electrical Workers.
7 See footnote 1, table 6.
Labor-Management
Contract
Settlements, 1955
Lily M ary D avid and D onald L. Helm*
T he year 1955 was one of widespread collective
bargaining activity, with the value of the settle
ments and the relative rapidity with which some
of them were reached reflecting generally pros
perous conditions. The large number of settle
ments in 1955 was also, in part, the outgrowth of
this favorable environment, especially in indus
tries that had been somewhat depressed or in
which the outlook had been uncertain in 1954.
The greater volume of settlements in 1955 over
1954 was also traceable partly to the fact that most
long-term agreements were subject to renego
tiation during 1955.
Wage agreements in 1955 involved almost all
major segments of the economy. Industries in
which long-term wage agreements expired or were
renegotiated during the year included automobiles,
farm equipment, and trucking. Nonoperating
railroad workers received their first wage-rate
advances in about 3 years (their supplemental
benefits had been liberalized in 1954). In bitumi
nous-coal mining, the improved business outlook
led to the first wage increases since 1952. Petro
leum refining and West Coast lumber negotiations
that had begun in 1954 were concluded in 1955.
Late in the year, the midwestern shoe industry
agreed to increase wage rates, which had been
unchanged since 1952. Southern cotton-textile
manufacturers raised pay rates also, prompted by
improved sales and anticipation of the $1 mini
mum hourly wage under the Fair Labor Standards
Act, effective March 1, 1956; a work stoppage in
the northern cotton-textile industry over proposed
wage cuts was resolved by agreement to leave
rates unchanged but to make some reductions in
supplementary benefits.
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A number of strikes lasting a day or so occurred
immediately prior to the conclusion of new agree
ments, but the year was marked by the compara
tive absence of prolonged and widespread work
stoppages in major bargaining situations. (For
an analysis of work stoppages in 1955, see p. 521
of this issue.)
Most of the year’s settlements not only in
creased wage rates but changed one or more sup
plementary benefits as well. The most publicized
bargaining feature was the adoption of supple
mental unemployment benefit plans. Also no
table were the large number of long-term agree
ments that specified wage increases to go into
effect in subsequent years; the number of workers
covered by such agreements was greater than in
any year since World War II. New 2- or 3-year
settlements not only replaced most of the long
term contracts that expired in 1955, but a sub
stantial number of 1-year agreements as well.
Most of the wage increases that became effective
in 1955 averaged from 5 to 17 cents an hour. Pay
adjustments frequently were much greater for
skilled than for other workers, as efforts continued
to counteract the narrowing of percentage differ
entials between low- and high-paid jobs that had
occurred in the war and postwar years. Reduc
tion of interarea or interplant wage differentials
was also a feature of some of the year’s major
contracts.
There was no general trend toward reducing
hours of work, but in the trucking industry, a
number of major agreements provided for a
gradual reduction of hours to 40 a week.
Changing Settlement Patterns
The pattern of bargaining tended to change
during the year. Negotiations during the early
months of 1955 were highlighted by settlements
in a number of industries in which no changes in
wage rates or supplementary benefits had been
negotiated in 1954, and by long-term settlements
in the trucking industry. The trucking contracts
provided, over a 3-year period, substantial wage
increases and reductions in hours of work, as well
as elimination of inter area wage differentials
within broad regions.
The settlements later in the year were on the
whole somewhat larger than the earlier ones and
*0f the Bureau’s D ivision of Wages and Industrial Relations.
527
528
were reached more quickly. Most supplemental
unemployment benefit plans were adopted in the
later period. The Ford and General Motors
agreements in early June were followed by a wave
of similar agreements, mainly in the automobile and
farm-equipment industries. Many of the settle
ments followed the Ford-General Motors pattern by
incorporating provisions for extra increases for
skilled workers; liberalized pensions, insurance,
vacation, and holiday provisions; and deferred
wage increases (usually about 2K percent yearly).1
Bargaining later in the year was also influenced
by the July 1 settlement in the basic steel industry,
which advanced wage rates by an average of about
15 cents an hour; in major steel companies, the
increases for individual workers ranged from 1 1 to
27 cents, depending on skill level. This settle
ment was quickly followed by agreements in a
number of industries, including aluminum and
meatpacking, which provided average increases of
about 14 or 15 cents an hour.
In August, the AFL-CIO International
Union of Electrical Workers (IUE) and the Gen
eral Electric Co. negotiated a significant 5-year
agreement increasing wages and supplemental
benefits. Reached about 5 weeks before expiration
of the existing agreement, the contract provided
for annual wage adjustments; a new cost-of-living
escalator clause; and broader health, insurance,
and pension benefits. Later in the month, agree
ments were concluded in bituminous-coal mining,
bringing the first wage rise in that industry since
1952—about 15 cents an hour effective September
1955, and 10 cents more in April 1956. Widespread
wage increases, generally 5 cents an hour, in
southern cotton-textile manufacturing occurred in
the summer and fall of 1955; the northern segment
of the industry did not alter wage rates during the
year.
During the final quarter of the year, wage in
creases were negotiated for most of the Nation’s
railroad workers, and most of the year’s telephone
settlements were concluded. Major midwestern
shoe manufacturers, following a 26-day strike,
agreed to the first wage increases since 1952.
Also, a number of agreements that had been
negotiated earlier in 1955, including some in
chemical manufacture, metalworking, and West
Coast lumber, were reopened or renegotiated well
in advance of their expiration dates to provide the
second pay raise in the year.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Extent of Bargaining
Almost 1,350 settlements in which wage rates
were an issue, and which affected at least 1,000
workers each, were recorded by the U. S. Depart
ment of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in
1955. (See table 1.) These settlements covered
approximately 7.1 million workers in the manu
facturing, mining, trade, transportation, com
munications, and utility industries. In addition,
9 settlements covering about 150,000 workers
were noted in which wages were not an issue but
which liberalized supplementary benefits.
Contract changes providing for either rate
increases, or liberalization of fringe benefits, or
both, applied to all but about 60,000 of the workers
covered by settlements in which there was bar
gaining over wages. Wage rates were advanced in
95 percent of such settlements, covering almost 6.9
million workers.2 The remainder of the settle
ments, covering about 250,000 workers, left rates
of pay unchanged, but over half of these altered 1
or more supplementary benefits.3
Size of Wage Increases 4
Except for the fact that almost all of the wage
increases amounted to at least 5 cents an hour,
there was no marked uniformity in the changes
negotiated in 1955. The most common increases
averaged 7 but less than 9 cents an hour, negotiated
in about 1 out of 4 settlements and affecting about
1.5 million workers. Almost as many workers
were covered by agreements in which average pay
was advanced by 13 but less than 15 cents,5 or
by 9 but less than 11 cents, an hour. The latter
increases, notably in the major trucking and
petroleum settlements, were clustered at 10 cents.6
There were also marked concentrations at 5 and
under 7 cents, and at 15 but less than 17 cents,
the latter including steel and aluminum contracts.
1 For provisions of the Ford and General Motors contracts with U A W CIO, see M onthly Labor Review, August 1955 (p. 875).
2 One wage decrease, affecting fewer than 2,000 workers, was reported.
3 Northern cotton-textile industry agreements typically continued wage
rates unchanged but redhced non wage benefits and revised working rules.
4 in the case of long-term agreements, this discussion is limited to changes
going into effect in the first contract year. Where agreements, e. g., in
bituminous-coal mining, provided 2 increases within the first year of the
new or amended contract, the total of the 2 increases is included.
8 Included in this category were employees in the meatpacking and rubber
industries, and most railroad workers.
8 In the construction trades (discussed later in this article), the most
common scale increase was 10 cents an hour, with the next most frequent
advances being 12}d and 15 cents.
CONTRACT SETTLEMENTS IN 1955
529
Almost a million workers covered by this
analysis not only received increases that were
negotiated during 1955 but additional pay increases,
generally amounting to 1 cent an hour, under costT able
of-living escalator clauses. Such clauses brought
pay cuts (mostly 1 cent) to nearly 60,000 workers,
but for about 20,000, these were more than offset
by negotiated increases.
1 .— Changes in wages and supplementary practices provided by selected collective bargaining settlements, 1955 1
Wage actions
Settlements
Industry and type of wage action
Number of settlements
Workers
covered
Establishing or liberalizing supplementary practices
Ap
proxi
Shift
mate
N um Per num Per Total 3 Pre
dif
mium feren
ber cent 2 ber
cent 2
pay
tials
(thou
sands)
N ot
Reduc
changing ing sup
Supple
supple
plemen
Health mental
tary
and
unem Other mentary
Holi Vaca Pen wel
prac
ploy prac prac
days tions sions 4 fare
tices
tices
ment tices 5
plans 4 benefit
plans
A l l i n d u s tr i e s s tu d ie d
All actions 6 ________________________ 1,345
100
7,122
100
886
No wage change____________________
61
Increases in wages-------------------------- . 1,283
Under 5 cents___________________
59
5 and under 7 cents __________
312
7 and under 9 cents__________
327
9 and under 11 cents----------------- _
216
11 and under 13 cents------------ „
80
13 and under 15 cents__________
84
15 and under 17 cents------------------124
17 cents and o v e r _____________
41
N ot specified__ _ __________
40
Decreases in wages___________ . . . .
1
5
95
4
23
24
16
247
6, 873
' 147
913
1,522
1,292
223
1,381
791
469
135
3
97
37
849
43
208
232
143
59
52
51
29
32
6
6
9
3
3
(10)
2
13
21
18
3
19
11
7
2
2
(10)
4,446
100
678
206
4,238
73
681
1,037
883
171
535
707
78
73
5
95
15
23
27
651
30
179
181
20
100
4
43
44
34
16
24
81
81
3
13
24
15
8
4
4
5
5
112
341
399
310
527
81
246
454
14
385
13
12
26
501
3
78
0
20
112
9
332
14
74
240
g
62
434
5
23
37
110
22
6
8
51
23
7
4
14
17
21
8
68
112
79
28
24
22
24
15
298
12
65
75
51
21
26
23
20
121
143
87
40
29
22
12
19
13
20
1
19
31
12
3
5
i
3
3
66
40
17
19
h
10
7
5
10
104
95
73
(7)
(8)
21
32
73
(«)
12
8
1
M a n u f a c tu r in g
All actions 11________________________
1,030
100
No wage change------------------------------Increases in wages___________________
Under 5 cents___________________
5 and under 7 cents______________
7 and under 9 cen ts.. ___________
9 and under 11 cents ------------------11 and under 13 cents------------------13 and under 15 cents------------------15 and under 17 cents__ ________ _
17 cents and o v e r ______________
N ot specified____________________
Decreases in w ages..________________
51
978
39
253
241
162
57
74
103
5
95
4
25
23
16
22
27
6
7
10
2
2
12
16
2
2
2
(10)
100
2,676
100
208
3
97
41
2,635
74
232
485
409
52
846
84
391
62
2
10
98
3
9
18
15
198
13
29
51
43
16
1
3
(I8)
All actions 13________________________
315
No wage change____ ________________
Increases in wages___________________
Under 5 cents _________________
5 cents and under 7 cents_________
7 and under 9 cents______________
9 and under 11 cents-------------------11 and under 13 cents____________
13 and under 15 cents---------------- .
15 and under 17 cents____________
17 cents and over________________
N ot specified____________________
Decreases in wages__________________
10
41
89
41
89
2
10
11
8
2
22
4
2
1
2
1
25
20
5
7
4
4
291
299
258
422
8
8
283
291
98
38
58
93
52
5
253
9
60
67
38
15
25
19
403
15
109
124
62
31
23
14
11
66
20
20
10
12
8
12
21
22
78
191
347
2
20
78
189
1
5
19
31
55
50
31
14
17
5
9
74
60
62
14
30
69
0
3
12
3
5
i
3
3
327
9
12
10
20
8
11
50
100
52
105
3
55
107
1
6
94
7
98
5
3
49
3
7
45
3
5
4
51
3
7
107
8
19
25
9
h
12
13
5
( 12)
(9)
0
1
S e le c te d n o n m a n u f a c tu r i n g i n d u s tr i e s
305
20
59
86
54
23
10
21
19
13
6
19
27
17
7
3
7
6
4
2
32
3
15
2
40
1
3
13
7
4
8
2
17
13
3
3
4
8
1 This tabulation relates to settlements involving 1,000 or more workers
each, concluded during 1955. It includes all wage changes negotiated during
the year 1955 that are scheduled to go into effect during the contract year, i. e.,
the 12-month period following the effective date of the agreement. In sum
marizing percentage increases, it has been necessary to estimate their value in
terms of cents on the basis of available information on wage levels in the in
dustry. The tabulation excludes: (1) Settlements involving fewer than
1,000 workers; (2) settlements in construction, the service trades, finance,
and government; (3) instances in which contract reopening privileges were not
exercised; (4) wage increases and changes in supplementary practices that
went into effect during the period but that were negotiated earlier (for ex
ample, deferred wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, or annual im
provement factor increases).
2 Because of rounding, sums of individual items do not necessarily equal
totals.
2 This total is smaller than the sum of the individual items since some set
tlements affected more than one item.
4 Includes settlements in which agreement provided for increased con
tributions to maintain existing benefits.
s The most commonly reported were paid funeral leave in 51 manufacturing
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40
23
23
3
1
10
1
12
2
1
1
8
12
13
3
19
27
7
3
4
5
2
11
12
3
4
5
2
1
13
6
1
12
6
8
7
7
10
9
0
2
0
1
1
—
7
30
35
(7)
( 14)
11
7
2
4
0
5
and 7 nonmanufacturing settlements; supplemental jury duty pay in 47
manufacturing and 6 nonmanufacturing settlements; paid sick leave in 26
manufacturing and 18 nonmanufacturing settlements; call-in or reporting pay
in 28 manufacturing and 1 nonmanufacturing settlements; and severance pay
in 20 manufacturing and 5 nonmanufacturing settlements.
8 Excludes 9 settlements affecting 149,000 employees in which wages were
not an issue but supplementary practices were established or increased.
7 One settlement that liberalized some benefits reduced vacation pay.
8 Three settlements that liberalized some benefits reduced other benefits.
9 One settlement that liberalized some benefits eliminated paid lunch peri
ods.
10 Less than 0.5 percent.
11 Excludes 4 settlements affecting 30,000 employees in which wages were
not an issue but which established or increased supplementary practices.
12 One settlement that liberalized some benefits reduced relief and cleanup
time.
43 Excludes 5 settlements affecting 119,000 employees in which wages were
not an issue but which established or increased supplementary practices.
14 Two settlements which liberalized some benefits reduced the number
of paid holidays in one case and insurance benefits in the other.
530
Cost-of-living escalator clauses were either
renewed or established in at least 144 settlements
covering about 1,532,000 workers, again including
those in the automobile and farm-equipment
industries. The most important agreement to
adopt a new escalator provision was that between
the General Electric Co. and the IUE. Escalator
clauses affecting about 128,000 workers were
discontinued.
Most of the major long-term contracts expired
or were renegotiated during 1955 and hence did
not provide deferred increases to go into effect
during that year. However, in approximately 75
situations, affecting about 230,000 workers, in
creases that had been negotiated in earlier years
went into effect, and in a few of these cases7
wage changes were negotiated later in the year.
In 6 settlements, affecting less than 15,000 workers,
previously negotiated deferred reductions in hours,
with compensating increases in piece rates or hour
ly earnings, became effective.
With the renegotiation of most long-term
contracts and the substitution of 2- and 3-year
agreements for some that had been on an annual
basis, agreement on deferred increases to go into
effect in subsequent contract years was an out
standing bargaining development in 1955. Of the
contracts included in this analysis, 285, covering
about 2.1 million workers, specified increases to
become effective in subsequent contract years;
included were settlements in automobiles, farm
equipment, electrical equipment, trucking, and
local transit.8
About a third of the agreements either (1)
maintained percentage wage differentials between
skilled and unskilled workers by providing
uniform percentage adjustments or by widening
Six situations, affecting more than 30,000 workers.
«In addition, an estimated half a million construction workers were cov
ered by contracts specifying the size of the increases to go into effect in the
1956 contract year.
M ost of the workers affected by deferred increases in manufacturing were
scheduled to get their pay increases during the second quarter of 1956,
although another large group were to receive increases in the July to Sep
tember quarter. The bulk of the increases for trucking workers were
due in the first quarter of 1956, although some of the workers in this industry
were scheduled to receive a further raise in the third quarter. The 1956
adjustments in the construction trades will be concentrated in the second
quarter of the year.
In most instances, the deferred wage increases due in 1956 amounted to
at least 6 cents an hour in manufacturing, 8 to 11 cents in trucking, and at
least 10 cents in construction. Typically, the contracts with deferred
increases specified the same amount of general wage changes for 1956 as for
1955. Frequently, however, the total increases were greater in 1955 because
additional raises were provided for skilled workers or for workers in some
plants of multiunit firms.
i
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
the cents-per-hour increments among labor grades,
or (2) increased these differentials through extra
increases for skilled workers (in addition to uni
form cents-per-hour or percentage wage changes
applicable to all employees in the bargaining
unit) as shown below:
Type of increase
Approximate
number of
Percent of workers covered
agreements by agreements
Across-the-board cents-per-hour in
creases, plus widening of cents
increments among labor grades—
Across-the-board cents-per-hour increases, plus extra increases for
skilled workers _
__
Across-the-board percentage increases__ ____ —
-----Across-the-board percentage increases, plus extra increases for
skilled workers __
__ —
10
931, 000
7
392, 000
12
518, 000
3
1 , 0 0 0 , 000
The group of agreements providing extra increases
for skill included the major automobile, farmequipment, and electrical-equipment contracts.
Some of these contracts also provided for further
classification adjustments.
Narrowing of differentials among areas or plants
was provided for in some of the major agreements,
including a number in the trucking, automobile,
and telephone industries. Altogether, such pro
visions were included in slightly less than 1 out of
20 settlements covering almost 1 out of 5
employees.
Changes in Supplementary Benefits
Two-thirds of the settlements in 1955 that in
creased rates of pay, as well as a majority of the
others, changed supplementary benefits. Typi
cally, more than one benefit was liberalized. Some
negotiations, like the steel contract reopenings,
were limited to wage matters.
Health and welfare plans were modified or in
troduced more often than any other benefit in
agreements concluded during 1955 (table 2); such
plans were affected by about two-fifths of the
settlements, covering over half the workers.
Many of these workers were employed in the
rubber industry, where new 5-year pension and
insurance contracts were adopted, and in the
trucking, dress manufacturing, automobile, air
craft, farm-equipment, and electrical-equipment
industries. The most common changes were
either increased company contributions to pooled
CONTRACT SETTLEMENTS IN 1955
531
2 . — Changes in supplementary practices provided
by selected collective bargaining settlements, 195 ^ and 19551
T able
Percentage of settlem ents 2
Type of practice
All settlements_____________ ____
Settlements establishing or liberalizing one or more supplementary
practices 8______________
Health and welfare plans 7_____
Holidays____ ____________ .
Vacations____________ .
Pensions 7__ _______ _________
Shift differentials_____________
Premium rates__________
Paid funeral leave________
Paid sick leave____________
Jury duty pay........... ....................
Supplemental unemployment
benefits________ ______ _____
Other practices__________ __
Settlements not changing supplementary practices____ ____ _____
Settlements reducing supplementary practices__________________
Number of settlements_________
All
industries
studied 3
Manu
facturing 4
Selected
nonmanu
facturing
industries 5
1954
1955
1954
1955
1954
100
100
100
100
100
66
69
41
26
66
59
27
67
38
23
20
20
8
4
3
2
2
39
25
30
23
8
6
4
4
3
20
22
8
4
4
1
2
6
9
32
1
41
28
29
25
9
4
5
5
3
8
9
34
(8)
1, 213 1,345
29
2
34
(8)
919 1,030
1955
100
66
6
6
33
16
32
17
7
13
(8)
4
(8)
2
2
6
12
22
13
1
9
40
34
1
0
294
315
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Because of rounding, sums of individual items do not necessarily equal
totals.
3 See footnote 3, table 2.
4 See footnote 6, table 2.
5 See footnote 7, table 2.
8 Tbis total is smaller than the sum of the individual items since some
settlements affected more than one item.
7 Includes settlements in which agreement provided for increased contribu
tions to maintain existing benefits.
8 Less than 0.5 percent.
health and welfare funds or greater benefits under
comprehensive insurance plans (including life,
hospital, medical, surgical, sickness, and accident
insurance). A number, including the General
Electric-IUE contract, added so-called disaster
or catastrophe insurance to cover major medical
expenses. Most of the others revised hospitaliza
tion and/or surgical benefits for employees, and
some extended benefits to dependents or retirees.
About 3 out of 10 agreements liberalized vaca
tions, principally lengthening those for workers
with long service. Most frequently, they added
a fourth week of paid vacation for workers with
20 or 25 years of employment, an extra half week
(for a total of 2% weeks) after 10 years’ service, or
a third week after 15 years. Holiday provisions
were liberalized in 1 out of 4 agreements, affecting
2 million workers (almost 3 out of 10); typically,
the change involved adding a seventh paid
holiday—frequently half days before Christmas
8 This does not include smaller agreements that adopted some form of
supplemental unemployment benefit provisions. At least one other plan
was adopted in the construction trades and another construction agreement
liberalized benefits under an existing plan.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
and New Year’s or the entire day preceding
Christmas.
Although pension benefits were established, or
increased in less than a fourth of the contracts,
these agreements accounted for nearly 2.4 million
workers (1 out of 3). New company-financed
plans were established primarily in the trucking
industry. Frequently the entire pension scale
was liberalized, but in some cases only minimum
benefits were increased. Pension plan benefits
were revised in many instances so that increased
old age and survivor’s insurance benefits would add
to retired workers’ incomes rather than reduce
company pensions. A notable development was
the provision for vested pension rights in the auto
mobile and related agreements.
Of the agreements summarized under this sec
tion, 6 percent provided for supplemental unem
ployment benefit plans.9 Altogether, these agree
ments covered over a million, or 15 percent, of
the workers, most of them represented by the
United Automobile Workers (formerly CIO) in
the automobile or farm-equipment industries.
These, as well as plans negotiated in the can
industry, established companywide benefit funds
for sharing the risks of unemployment among
workers. Plans in the glass industry and a few
other situations set up a fund for each employee,
to be drawn on in the event of unemployment or
prolonged illness, with payments limited by the
amount of money in the worker’s individual
account. Almost all of the supplemental un
employment benefit plans were to be financed by
company contributions of 5 cents a man-hour.
Settlements in Major Industry Divisions
Over 3 out of 4 settlements summarized here
were in manufacturing, with the remaining settle
ments in mining, transportation, trade, public
utilities, or the communications industries. In
nonmanufacturing, the most common wage in
creases, in terms of number of workers affected,
amounted to 13 but less than 15 cents an hour;
these increases accounted for almost a third of all
nonmanufacturing employees included in this
section of the discussion, primarily because the
wage increases for most railroad workers fell in
this category. In manufacturing, the settle
ments affecting the largest groups of workers
provided pay increases of 7 but less than 11 cents
532
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
The same proportion of agreements in manu
facturing as in nonmanufacturing changed supple
mentary benefits. Moreover, in both, about
half the workers were affected by liberalized
or new health and welfare provisions. Changes
in pensions and holidays were more frequent
in manufacturing; about 4 out of 10 man
ufacturing employees, compared with 1 out
of 10 in nonmanufacturing, benefited from liberal
ized holiday provisions; pensions were changed
or added in contracts affecting 45 percent of the
manufacturing workers but only 14 percent in
nonmanufacturing.
Only 3 nonmanufacturing
settlements incorporated supplemental unemploy
ment benefit plans. By contrast, changes in
premium pay provisions and reductions in hours
of work were most frequent in the nonmanufac
turing industries studied.
an hour. Such increases also were important in
nonmanufacturing. Whereas relatively few man
ufacturing employees were affected by contracts
in which the increase amounted to 17 cents or
more, increases of this size were agreed to in
settlements affecting about 1 out of 6 nonmanu
facturing workers covered. Most of these work
ers were in bituminous-coal mining.
A high proportion of the manufacturing settle
ments provided either for maintaining or widen
ing percentage wage differentials between skilled
and unskilled workers, but such provisions were
relatively uncommon in nonmanufacturing. Pro
visions for narrowing or eliminating differences
in pay among areas were incorporated in pro
portionately more nonmanufacturing than manu
facturing agreements, although the proportions of
workers affected were similar in both.
T a ble 3. — Wage changes -provided by selected collective bargaining settlements, 1954 an(i 1955 1
Workers covered
Settlements
Industry and type of wage action
Number
1954
1955
1954
Approximate number
(thousands)
P ercen t 2
1954
1955
P ercen t 2
1955
1954
1955
A l l i n d u s tr i e s s tu d ie d
All actions 3________
_ _ _ _ _ -------
N o wage change___ —_ - -- -------Increases in wages___ -- - - - - - - - Under 5 cents_____ — ___________
5 and under 7 cents-------------------- 7 and under 9 cents______ _______
9 and under 13 cents---------------------13 cents and over___________ ____ _
N ot specified____
- - _ - ----Decreases in wages- ------ ------------- ---
1,213
1,345
100
100
4, 751
7,122
100
100
107
1,080
196
537
169
61
1,283
59
312
327
296
249
40
9
89
16
44
14
7
4
3
5
95
4
23
24
247
6,873
147
913
1,522
1,515
2, 641
135
7
92
15
54
3
97
10
21
21
1
1
339
4,361
732
2, 555
457
316
171
130
51
88
38
52
26
22
0)
18
3
2
13
7
4
3
2
1
< 37
2
({)
M a n u f a c tu r in g
All actions 6____________________ _____
919
1,030
100
100
3,228
4, 446
100
100
N o wage change-------------- ----------------Increases in w a g e s ______ ____ _
-Under 5 cents_______ ______ _
_
5 and under 7 cents-------- ------7 and under 9 cents-----------------9 and under 13 cents— __________
13 cents and over____— — - _ —
N ot specified--- - _ _ _ _ _ _ -----Decreases in wages _ -- -------------
96
797
135
433
117
50
51
978
39
253
241
219
199
27
10
5
95
4
25
23
295
2,882
293
2,015
291
131
76
76
51
206
4, 238
73
681
1,037
1,054
1,320
73
9
89
9
62
9
4
5
95
2
2
2
2
22
87
15
47
13
5
22
19
3
2
1
4
3
294
315
100
100
1, 523
2, 676
100
11
10
283
61
104
52
38
16
305
4
96
3
97
20
21
6
59
35
18
13
5
4
19
27
24
16
4
44
1,479
439
540
166
185
95
54
41
2,635
74
232
485
461
1,321
62
3
97
29
35
40
26
(5)
2
15
23
24
4 30
2
(6)
S e le c te d n o n m a n u f a c tu r i n g in d u s tr i e s
All actions 7__________________________
N o wage ch a n g e _______
Increases in wages_______
Under 5 cents_____ 5 and under 7 cents—
7 and under 9 cents—
9 and under 13 cents-13 cents and over--N ot specified______
Decreases in wages
- -—
---------— ----_ _ _ - ------------------------------ ------------ — ------ —
.
------
12
86
77
50
13
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Because of rounding, sums of individual items do not necessarily equal
totals.
3 Excludes 9 settlements affecting 867,000 employees in 1954, and 9 settle
ments affecting 149,000 employees in 1955, in which wages were not an issue,
but which established or increased supplementary practices.
* For a breakdown of this percentage, see table 1.
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11
12
6
4
100
2
98
3
9
18
17
4 50
2
1
3 Less than 0.5 percent.
6 Excludes 7 settlements affecting 41,000 employees in 1954, and 4 settle
ments affecting 30,000 employees in 1955, in which wages were not an issue,
but which established or increased supplementary practices.
7 Excludes 2 settlements affecting 826,000 employees in 1954, and 5 settle
ments affecting 119,000 employees in 1955, in which wages were not an issue,
but which established or increased supplementary practices.
533
CONTRACT SETTLEMENTS IN 1955
Comparison with 1954
Approximately 130 more major settlements in
which wages were an issue were concluded in 1955
than in 1954; settlements in 1955 affected 2.4
million more workers. (See table 3.) These fig
ures exclude deferred wage increases negotiated
in earlier years as well as settlements in which
wages were not at issue but which liberalized
supplementary benefits. Whereas only about
200,000 workers received deferred increases in
1955, increases negotiated in earlier years went
into effect in 1954 for nearly 1.5 million workers.
The number of workers affected by settlements
in which wages were not an issue but which lib
eralized supplementary benefits was much greater
in 1954 than in 1955—over 850,000, compared
with about 150,000.
Wage increases tended to be distinctly larger
in 1955, but comparisons must be qualified by
the fact that industries in which no major settle
ments were concluded in 1954 made up a substan
tial segment of 1955 bargaining. In settlements
affecting nearly 60 percent of the workers, the
average hourly increase in pay rates was less than
6 cents in 1954, whereas 1955 settlements affecting
half the workers averaged 10 cents or more. In
1954, settlements that affected 44 percent of the
workers provided increases of 5 but under 6 cents,
compared with 5 percent in 1955. In 1955, agree
ments providing increases of 13 cents or more were
negotiated for more than one-third of the workers,
compared with less than 1 out of 20 in 1954.
About 15 percent of the workers in 1954 were
affected by wage increases averaging less than 5
cents, compared with about 2 percent in 1955.
Measured in terms of number of contracts, the
contrast between the size distributions of wage
increases in the 2 years was also marked. More
over, in 1954, 10 percent of the settlements either
did not change wage rates or reduced them;
in 1955, the corresponding figure was 5 percent.
About two-thirds of the agreements in both
1954 and 1955 changed supplementary benefits;
also remarkably similar was the frequency with
which various types of benefits were affected in
each year. As table 2 shows, however, agree
ments changed vacation provisions more fre
quently in 1955 than in 1954 and, as noted pre
viously, supplemental unemployment benefit plans
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T a b l e 4. — Distribution of increases in union wage scales in
7 construction trades1 in 85 cities, January 3, 1955, to
January 3, 1956
Amount of hourly increase
Number of scale
quotations
_ _______________ - ______
459
Under 5.0 cents _ __ - __________________ _______ 5.0 cents and under 10.0 __- ___ ___ _ - ________
5.0 cents
______________ ____________________
7.5 cents
_ __- _____ ______ _________________
10.0 cents and under 15.0__ ____ - _____________ ____
10.0 cents
__________________ ______________
12.5 cents
-- _____________________________
15.0 cents and under 20.0 -- - - _______ ___ ___ _
___ ___
- ________ ____ ____
15.0 cents
20.0 cents and under 25.0 ______________________ - ___________ -- _______ ___ _______
20.0 cents
25.0 cents and o v e r ________
__ - ________________
25.0 cents ____________________________________
14
107
46
42
219
135
65
69
53
26
19
24
All increases
_____
20
1 Bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, painters, plasterers, plumbers, and
building laborers.
were almost exclusively a 1955 bargaining item.
Moreover, a sharp decline in the number of workers
covered by cost-of-living escalator clauses occurred
in 1954; in 1955, such coverage rose slightly.
Union Scales in the Construction Trades, 1955
The construction trades, which were not in
cluded in the preceding analysis, also experienced
widespread rises in hourly pay scales (rates) in
1955. Altogether, over three-fourths of the ap
proximately 600 union wage scales (7 important
trades in 85 areas) surveyed each quarter by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics were raised during the
year. Although the foregoing analysis for other
industries is limited to situations in which con
tracts were reopened or renegotiated, in the con
struction surveys information was obtained for
approximately 600 scales, whether or not these
scales were renegotiated during the year. The
construction data relate to changes going into
effect in 1955 regardless of when they were nego
tiated, whereas the data shown for other indus
tries relate to changes negotiated in 1955.
The most frequent increase in construction
wage scales was 10 cents an hour, which was appli
cable to almost a third of the rates that were
changed during the year (table 4). The next most
common advances were 12.5 and 15 cents an hour.
Almost three-fourths of the scale changes
amounted to at least 10 cents an hour. The over
all average increase during this period, including
those scales that were not changed, was about the
same as in 1954—approximately 10 cents an hour.
Summaries of Studies and Reports
The Labor Movement in the
Communist Zone of Viet-Nam
T he all-embracing labor organization of the Com
munist-controlled Democratic Republic of VietNam (DRVN)1 is the General Confederation of
Labor of Viet-Nam or Viet-Nam Tong Lien Doan
Lao Dong (TLD). Like trade union organiza
tions in other Communist nations, the TLD, as it
exists today, is in fact nothing but another
enforcement agency of the executive branch of the
northern Vietnamese government. It has wide
quasi-governmental powers in the labor field. It
is able to reach broad segments of the Vietnamese
population through its own internal propaganda
machine, which includes a daily newspaper and a
periodical, as well as extensive books and film
libraries and trained agitators. Its organizing
cadres are experienced and entirely devoted to
their leader, Hoang Quoc Viet, a hard-core Com
munist of long standing. Thus, while nominally
a labor movement, the TLD is in reality only a
formal facade for a regime under which the last
remnants of free labor organization long ago
disappeared.
Development of the TLD
Prior to World War II, labor unions could not
legally develop in French colonial Viet-Nam “for
the excellent reason that they were prohibited by
law.” 2 This prohibition greatly aided the Com
munists, then the only political party in Viet-Nam
which provided for a strong program of labor
organization. In fact, the now defunct Indochina
Communist Party (ICP) built a great part of its
power upon the dockworkers of Saigon, the coal
miners of Quang Yen and Hon Gay, and the
various civil services—such as the postal depart
ment—where many Vietnamese could be found in
subordinate positions. Also predisposing the
Vietnamese labor organizations to Communist
control was the fact that the only contact Viet534
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namese labor had with organized labor abroad
was through Communist agitators or through
some Vietnamese workers who, while employed
in France, had joined a Communist-oriented
French labor union.
Typical of such agitators is Hoang Quoc Viet,
creator and currently Secretary General of the
TLD. Now in his fifties, Hoang began his labor
career in 1925 as a minor employee (he had re
ceived a French technical high school education)
in the French anthracite mines in North Viet-Nam.
He soon joined a group of revolutionaries and in
1930 became one of the charter members of the
Indochina Communist Party (ICP). At the
party’s behest, he went to Saigon late in 1930 and
began to organize the longshoremen into an illegal
Communist-led local. Hoang was instrumental
in causing the wave of strikes that racked Indo
china in 1930 and 1931. Arrested by the French
police, he spent the next 5 years in prison where he
met Pham Van Dong (now Prime Minister of the
DRVN) and Truong Chinh (now Secretary
General of the Dang Lao Dong, the Vietnamese
Labor Party, which succeeded the ICP in 1951).
Liberated from prison in 1936 “upon instruc
tions of the [French] Popular Front” 3 along with
Dong and Chinh, Hoang immediately resumed his
activities in the labor field. After the French
colonial administration had somewhat relaxed its
policy toward political activities during the 193639 period, Hoang and Chinh launched a legal news
paper called Lao Dong (Labor) while continuing
to organize small union locals and to instigate
strikes. In November 1936, 10,000 cotton-mill
workers struck; later in the same month, there
were strikes by about 50,000 workers at various
rubber plantations and processing plants and by
6,000 coal miners. During these strikes, all
1 The D R V N is located in the north of Indochina and is also popularly
known as the Viet-Minh. The non-Communist portion of Viet-Nam is
situated in the south and is referred to as the Republic of Viet-Nam.
2 Virginia Thompson, Labor Problems in Southeast Asia, New Haven,
Yale University Press, 1947 (p. 209).
3 Jean Ohesneaux, Contribution à L ’Histoire de la N ation Vietnamienne,
Paris, Editions Sociales, 1955 (p. 271).
COMMUNIST LABOR MOVEMENT IN VIET-NAM
political slogans were played down in favor of
specific demands for improvements in wages,
hours (no nightwork for women and for youths
less than 18 years of age), and working conditions.
In December, the French administration ordered
working hours limited immediately to 10 a day;
they were reduced to 9 in 1937 and 8 in 1938.
In 1937, Hoang switched his activities to the
building-up of an almost nationwide, disciplined
union structure. A new wave of strikes seriously
began to preoccupy the French. In a report of
October 1937 to the Colonial Council—the French
legislature for Cochin-China (now South ViêtNam)—the French governor of that territory
stated :
535
Imperial administration, the Communist labor
organization of Hoang Quoc Viet was the only one
able to take advantage of it.6
On October 26, 1945, a first conference of labor
cadres was held in Hanoi,7 preparatory to a con
vention of labor union delegates, held in that city
in March 1946. The March convention decided
to organize Vietnamese labor into one single con
federation patterned upon the Communist-domi
nated French General Confederation of Labor
(CGT). After preliminary meetings in May, the
General Confederation of Labor of Viet-Nam
(TLD) was officially constituted in Hanoi on
July 20, 1946.8
Structure of the TLD
The political character [of this new wave of strikes] is
even more clearly apparent than at the beginning of the
year [1937], They show a long and minute preparation
. . . Strike funds are constituted, encouragements are
sent from other enterprises, thus tending to demonstrate
the solidarity of the working class; public meetings are
held in favor of the strikers . . . workers who attempt to
return to work are menaced and assaulted . . . All this
expert orchestration shows that, in this territory, strike
techniques have been perfected.4
With the outbreak of World War II, Hoang,
like most other Vietnamese Communist leaders,
disappeared in the mountains of South China. In
1940, he was named a member of the Central
Executive Committee of the ICP and, in 1941,
he became one of the founders of the Viet-Minh 5
League and the leader of its labor adjunct, the
Association of Workers for National Salvation.
The Japanese-supported, short-lived Vietnamese
Imperial Government on July 5, 1945, passed the
first decree authorizing the organization of labor
unions in Viet-Nam. But, ironically enough, in the
chaos following the defeat of the Japanese and the
disappearance of the non-Communist Vietnamese
< Ibid. (p. 219).
8 See footnote 1.
6 See Trade Union M ovement in Viet-Nam, M onthly Labor Review,
January 1951 (p. 31). The July 1945 law was later repealed by the returning
French. A new Labor Union Code of the nationalist government was issued
on September 16, 1952.
i Reported in La République (daily), Hanoi, October 28, 1945.
8 Reports vary as to the exact date of the creation of the TLD; other dates
mentioned are July 25 and August 20, 1946.
8 N guyen Quon Chao, Profsoiuzy Vietnama v borbe Za natsionalnuiu
nezavisimost’ [The Labor Unions of Viet-Nam in the Struggle for National
Independence]. ( I n Sovetskie Profsoiuzy [Soviet Labor Unions], Moscow,
December 1953).
18 From an unpublished report of French delegate for Haiphong, December
22, 1950, regarding the dues paid by the nationalist, French-controlled,
postal workers to their T L D local.
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According to a Soviet source, the TLD included
in 1953 four major labor federations: the Arma
ment Workers Union, the Postal Workers Union,
the Teachers Union, and an organization of “med
ical workers.” 9 Following a recent reorganiza
tion, the TLD now apparently includes six union
federations: Union of Miners; Union of Civil
Service; Union of Security Police; Union of Arma
ment Workers; Union of Farmers; and Union of
Plantation Workers.
The basic union unit is the group (doan)—
somewhat comparable to the American union
local—which may be subdivided into subgroups
(phan-doan). Several such doans of similar occu
pational character form a district, city, or provin
cial union, which in turn is a member of a regional
or interzone (lien-khu) federation. Membership
dues vary according to the pay scale of the workers.
Illegally organized TLD locals in the southern
Republic of Viet-Nam constitute a precious source
of “hard currency” in that their members pay dues
in Vietnamese national piasters which are dollar
backed and, hence, acceptable for payments on
foreign markets. Use of union funds to finance the
DRVN war effort has been a known fact for several
years 10and is unlikely to end in the near future.
The highest decisionmaking body of the TLD
is its National Trade Union Congress, composed
of representatives of the local and regional union
councils of the various labor federations. The Na
tional Congress meets every 2 years to decide
general policy lines; in the interim, its Central
Executive Committee, which meets every 6 months
for brief sessions, is the policymaking body.
536
The committee also maintains constant liaison
between the TLD and the top echelons of the
Communist party and “front” organizations of the
DRVN. Because Hoang Quoc Viet himself is
simultaneously Secretary General and chairman of
the Executive Bureau of TLD and a member of
the Vietnamese Labor Party’s Central Executive
Committee and of the national committee of the
recently created “Fatherland Front,” 11 constant
harmony between the policies of the TLD and the
DRVN government can be fully expected. The
National Congress (or, in its absence, the Central
Executive Committee) maintains contact with the
Communist-dominated World Federation of Trade
Unions (WFTU) which the TLD joined in January
1949.
The central core of the administration of the
TLD, however, lies in its Permanent Executive
Bureau, which is in charge of the everyday work
of the TLD. Its members are selected from the
Central Executive Committee and its permanent
chairman is Hoang Quoc Viet. This bureau has
six executive offices to carry out its administrative
tasks. These offices deal directly with the central
representatives of the member federations. The
same pattern is repeated at regional or interzone,
provincial, city, or—for agrarian labor unions—
district and local levels.
For surveillance purposes, the Permanent Exec
utive Bureau has two committees: the Control
Committee and the Cadre Action Committee.
Each is composed of five members of the TLD
National Congress who are selected from among
those not already members of the Central Execu
tive Committee or the Permanent Executive
Bureau. While the Control Committee is mainly
in charge of checking on administrative operations,
the Cadre Action Committee seems to be more
particularly in charge of political control.
Estimates as to the TLD’s total membership
vary greatly. At the end of 1948, the TLD
claimed a membership of about 255,000, while
the proceedings of the WFTU Milan Congress
in July 1949 showed a claimed TLD membership
of 258,000.12 Late in 1953, the TLD membership
figure was placed at “more than 300,000,” 13 while
more recent reports from the DRVN zone speak of
membership figures above the half million mark.
It is likely that such figures are greatly inflated.
In fact, the Soviet 1953 report admitted that the
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
“membership increase since the founding of the
TLD has been negligible.”
The Tasks of the TLD
The tasks of the TLD in the DRVN are in no
way related to what is expected from a labor
organization in the free world. The government
is by now the sole major industrial employer in
Viet-Nam north of the 17th parallel, and, in view
of the close connections between the government
and the TLD, the latter in no way performs any
of the bargaining or labor-protecting functions
expected from an organization purporting to
represent the wishes of its members.
As a matter of fact, the TLD simply serves as
an additional funnel through which the govern
ment channels its orders for higher production
at lowest cost. In June 1948, the TLD itself
launched a permanent work speedup program in
the form of “Patriotic Labor Competitions” (Thi
Dua), in which workers compete for highest pro
duction achievements, along the lines of the
“stakhanovite” programs initiated in the Soviet
Union about two decades ago.
The unions’ functions in such programs have
been described as follows:
. . . the unions also watch the development of produc
tion and contribute their share to the fulfillment of working
plans through the organization of competitions and the
thoroughgoing democratization of the plant management.14
After these programs were inaugurated, the
Vietnamese Labor Party announced that “active
participation in labor competitions is a proof of
true love for the Fatherland,” and in his report
of September 2, 1952—the seventh anniversary
of the proclamation of the DRVN—Hoang Quoc
Viet stated that “Viet-Nam now has several
thousand elite workers who overfulfill their
quotas by more than 300 percent.” 15 The Soviet
report of December 1953 16 showed an increase of
the elite workers to 5,269, now including 2 “Heroes
11 A Communist-front organization created in 1955 which proposes to unite
Viet-Nam under a Communist-controlled government.
12 Report of Proceedings of the 2d World Trade Union Congress, June 29
to July 9, 1949, at Milan, Italy. Paris, World Federation of Trade Unions,
1949.
12 Nguyen Quon Chao, op. cit.
n Ibid.
' 5 Hoang Quoc Viet, Vietnam kämpft und arbeitet [Viet-Nam struggles
and works]. ( I n Die Länder der Volksdemokratie [Countries of People’s
Democracy], East Berlin, Press Bureau of the Presidency of the German
Democratic Republic, 1952, No. 167, p. 950.)
is Nguyen Quon Chao, op.cit.
EARNINGS IN DRESS MANUFACTURING
of Labor,” while a report of the DRVN’s ViêtNam News Agency of August 13, 1955, no doubt
carried away by its own enthusiasm, asserted that
the TLD, “strong with millions of members,” now
counted 12,466 “emulation combatants” in its
ranks.
That the TLD is merely a tool of the govern
ment designed to execute its policies in matters
of production and labor control is particularly
obvious in the communiqué published by the TLD
Central Executive Committee after meeting at
Hanoi in December 1955:
The conference stated that the main task of laboring
people in North Viet-Nam in 1956 is to push forward the
emulation movement for production and economization,
with the aim of ensuring the fulfillment and overfulfill
ment of the economic rehabilitation plan. 17
At a more recent meeting of the Second National
Congress of Model Workers on March 20, 1956,
a member of the Permanent Executive Bureau of
the TLD appealed to the labor force under Com
munist control “to stimulate the production and
economization drive so as to fulfill and overfulfill
the State Plan.” 18
In terms of propaganda abroad, the TLD is
regularly represented at all meetings of the
WFTU, which, in 1953, made the anniversary date
of the DRVN attack upon the French in 1946
an “International Day of Active Solidarity with
Dress Manufacturing: Earnings
in Selected Areas, August 1955
D r e s s m a n u f a c t u r in g w o r k er s in New York
City averaged $2.16 an hour, the highest among
11 important dressmaking centers surveyed by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in August 1955.
Average hourly earnings of production workers
in the other areas studied ranged from $1.95 in
Paterson to $1.13 in Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton and
$1.12 in Dallas.1
Among the 11 areas combined, about 7 percent
of the nearly 90,000 workers surveyed earned less
than $1 an hour in August 1955. The proportions
of workers earning less than $1 varied consider
ably among the individual areas, ranging from
about 2 percent in New York City and Paterson
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537
the Vietnamese People.” 19 The TLD also has
renewed its bonds with the Communist-controlled
French General Confederation of Labor and on
January 2, 1956, a delegation of the TLD Union
of Railway Workers left Hanoi to participate in
the congress of French CGT railway workers,
held in Paris late in January.20
In the field of internal political agitation, the
TLD also plays an important role. For example,
during the 1946—54 Indochina hostilities, the
TLD instigated several crippling strikes in the
various industrial centers held by the French
(Saigon docks, French army ordnance repair
works, Haiphong cement plants, Hon Gay coal
mines, etc.). With its locals still infiltrated
throughout the southern non-Communist zone
and still banking on its pre-World War II popu
larity when its Communist union locals were the
only organizations to fight for adequate labor
conditions, the TLD has great subversive poten
tialities that could cause the Saigon government
severe trouble in times of tension.
— B e r n a r d B . F all
Human Relations Area Files, Washington, D. C.
17 Viet-Nam News Agency, Hanoi (in English Morse to Southeast Asia),
December 31, 1955.
18 Ibid., March 21, 1956.
19 Viet-Nam Bulletin (weekly), Rangoon, Viet-Nam News Service, No.
6/54 of February 11, 1954 (p. 8).
29 Voice of Viet-Nam, Hanoi, January 4,1956. (The Railway Workers are
affiliated w ith the Civil Service Union.) | |
to 40 percent in Dallas and Wilkes-Barre-Hazle
ton. Approximately a fourth of the workers in
the latter two areas earned less than 90 cents
an hour.
Sewing-machine operators who performed all
or most of the sewing operations necessary to the
manufacture of a dress (tailor system) accounted
for half of the production workers covered in New
York City and averaged $2.18 an hour. Averages
for this job in the other areas studied ranged from
$2.01 in Paterson and Philadelphia to $1.20 in
Dallas. Earnings of sewing-machine operators
assigned to specific tasks (section system) were
somewhat lower, ranging from $2.04 in New York
City to $1.14 in Dallas and Wilkes-Barre-Hazle1 Earnings data exclude premium pay for overtime and for work on w eek
ends, holidays, and late shifts. For complete description of coverage and
definitions, see footnote 1 , table 1 .
538
ton. In all areas, the large majority of the sewingmachine operators were women.
Men in this industry were usually employed as
cutters and markers, and pressers, although women
in the latter occupation outnumbered men in 6 of
the 11 areas. Area averages for cutters and mark
ers exceeded $2.50 an hour in Boston ($2.52),
Chicago ($2.72), Los Angeles ($2.67), NewarkJersey City ($3.00), New York City ($2.91), and
Philadelphia ($2.66).
A majority of the workers in nearly all areas
studied received various types of supplementary
wage benefits. Those covered by labor-manage
ment contracts were usually entitled to vacation
pay, health and insurance benefits, and frequently,
retirement pension plans paid by the employer.
In addition, most employers provided paid
holidays.
Industry Characteristics
The dress manufacturing industry in the United
States is concentrated in comparatively few large
cities. New York City alone accounts for nearly
half of the 130,000 production workers estimated
to be employed by the industry; the remaining
10 areas included in the Bureau’s study employed
another fourth of the total production work force.
Although employment declines were recorded in
Cleveland, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, the general
distribution of employment was similar to that
found in August 1952,2 the date of the Bureau’s
earlier study of the industry.3
The typical dress manufacturing shop employs
comparatively few workers. By industry stand
ards, shops employing 100 or more workers are
considered large. Rapidly changing styles is one
of the factors determining the relatively small size
of most dress shops. Smaller shops can adapt to
such changes more easily than larger shops with
considerable inventories.
The structure of the industry also contributes
to the relatively small size of dress shops. The
three organizational units in dress manufacturing
are the regular or inside shop, the jobber, and the
contractor. The regular or inside shop owns the
materials, performs all or most of the manufac
turing, and sells the finished garments. Jobbers
own the materials but have the major part of their
production done by others (contractors).4 Con
tractors manufacture dresses from materials owned
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
by others. The jobber-contractor arrangement
thus divides the manufacturing process between
establishments, which results in a smaller average
size.
Jobbers and contractors are more prevalent in
New York City and surrounding areas than in
other cities. Employment in contract shops
exceeds that in regular shops more than 2 to 1 in
New York City. Virtually all of the shops studied
in the Paterson, Newark-Jersey City, and WilkesBarre-Hazleton areas were contractors. In Bos
ton, the number of workers was nearly the same
in regular and contract shops; in the remaining
areas studied, all or a great majority of the workers
were employed in regular shops.
Dresses are manufactured by either the section
or the tailor systems. Under the section system,
sewing-machine operators are assigned to specific
tasks, such as front making or sleeve setting, and
upon completion pass the work on to the next
operator for further sewing. The section system
is generally used in shops making cheaper dresses
and generally requires less skilled operators than
the singlehand (tailor) method. In August 1955,
it prevailed in the following areas: Cleveland,
Dallas, Philadelphia, and Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton.
Under the singlehand or tailor system, individual
operators perform all, or nearly all, of the sewingmachine operations involved in the manufacture
of a complete garment. Shops using this method
of manufacture are usually small and more flexible
to style changes. The singlehand system prevails
in New York City—the production center for
highly styled garments; nine-tenths of the more
than 33,500 sewing-machine operators in this area
were employed in August 1955 on this basis.
Women dominated the numerically important
sewing-machine jobs and accounted for a large
proportion of the production workers in each of
the areas studied, ranging from slightly more than
75 percent in New York City to 90 percent or more
in Dallas, Los Angeles, Newark-Jersey City,
Paterson, and Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton. Men, for
3 See M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1953 (p. 515).
3 An employment increase was recorded in the 1955 survey for New York
City, but it was primarily due to the inclusion of jobbing shops, which were
excluded from the 1952 study.
4 Typically, “ jobbers” cut the materials and have the parts sewn by
“ contractors” ; some finishing operations such as pressing and hand sewing
may also be performed by the jobber. For purposes of this study, jobbers
who did no manufacturing were excluded; those that did some manufacturing
were included with regular shops. The Bureau’s August 1952 survey excluded
all jobbers.
539
EARNINGS IN DRESS MANUFACTURING
the most part, were employed as cutters, markers,
pressers, and in custodial and maintenance jobs.
The predominant labor organization in the dress
manufacturing industry is the International
Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU).
Collective bargaining agreements with the union
were in effect in all or most of the shops in all
areas studied, except Dallas and Los Angeles
where a majority of the shops were not covered
by union contracts. Many ILGWU local unions
usually represent a separate craft—e. g., cutters,
pressers, sewing-machine operators, samplemakers, floorgirls, examiners, finishers, and button
hole makers.
Among the occupational groups studied, cutters
and markers, inspectors, thread trimmers, and work
5 Disputes that arise in the process of determining these “prices” are
referred to the Administrative Board composed of industry and union repre
sentatives, and/or the Impartial Chairman.
T a b l e 1 . — Percentage
distributors are usually paid on an hourly rate
basis; earnings of pressers, hand sewers, and sew
ing-machine operators are usually based on piece
rates. In union shops, representatives of the
union and the employer are guided in their deter
mination of piece rates by previous studies which
have established the time required by an average
operator to complete a specified operation. The
time units agreed upon are translated into money
values, and from this the piece price to be used in
production is established.5
Wage Levels
Average hourly earnings of production workers
in August 1955 were highest in New York City
($2.16) and in nearby Paterson ($1.95) and
Newark-Jersey City ($1.79). Workers in Chicago
and Los Angeles averaged about the same, $1.68
and $1.67, respectively. Lowest averages were
distribution of all production workers in women’s and misses’ dress-manufacturing shops, by average
straight-time hourly earnings,1 11 selected areas,2 August 1955
N ew York City
Average hourly earnings 1
(in cents)
Under 75___ . ______________
75 and under 80___ __ ___
80 and under 85___ _
_
85 and under 90___ _
90 and under 95_____________
95 and under 100___ _ ______
100 and under 110 ___ . . .
._ __ __
110 and under 120 ___
120 and under 130___ _
130 and under 140____________
140 and under 150____ _
.. .
. . .
150 and under 160_____
160 and under 170___ ________
170 and under 180____________
180 and under 190___
. ...
190 and under 200_____ _
...
200 and under 220_____ . . .
220 and under 240. . ____ _ _
240 and under 260._
260 and under 280. __________
280 and under 300
300 and under 320_____ _______
320 and under 340
340 and miHpir 300
360 and over________________
Boston
4.1
2 .1
3.2
4.1
2.3
9.6
7.3
9.1
7.0
Chi
cago
0.5
.4
.5
2.6
1.6
1.5
7.0
7.6
8.6
8.5
6.0
8.1
6.3
5.4
4.5
4.4
3.0
6.4
4.0
3.1
8.7
5.4
5.7
5.3
4.3
7.4
4.3
2.5
3.0
Cleve
land
2.9
5.7
4.8
4.8
4.6
14.8
Los
NewarkDallas Angeles
Jersey City
Regu
lar
shops
Con
tract
shops
(3)
0.3
.4
0.2
15.9
5.1
7.1
5.5
5.9
13.4
9.8
1.0
.6
1.0
0.6
.6
1.0
.7
1.3
7.8
6.4
1.9
1.3
10.3
12.3
7.9
7.2
5.2
4.0
11 .2
10.8
2 .1
2.4
6 .1
1.7
1.6
1.8
3.7
1.9
.3
.5
.5
1.8
.2
6.3
3.4
5.2
3.9
3.9
.1
11.8
All
shops
8.4
5.4
3.8
2.8
6 .1
2 .1
2.0
7.2
7.1
6.5
6.7
7.2
4.1
4.5
3.2
8.9
5.2
4.6
3.0
3.3
1.4
.4
.4
1.0
1.2
1. 6
7.9
7.2
11.0
7.2
.3
.1
0.1
.2
.3
.5
.5
4.9
4.3
5.0
4.1
5.4
5.1
5.0
5.2
5.0
4.3
.3
.3
.3
3.9
3.2
4.1
2.9
3.6
3.6
3.8
2.5
3.1
.3
.5
.5
5.4
4.8
5.5
4.7
8.8
0.3
.3
.6
5.9
5.6
6.4
5.9
5.3
9.1
7.1
5.5
4.3
3.1
2.5
.5
.3
5.3
4.9
5.9
7.0
7.5
5.4
6.4
5.9
5.3
5.1
10.3
6.3
5.5
4.2
2.4
2.4
2.8
1 .6
6.0
6.2
3.3
2.2
3.1
3.9
3.3
10.7
7.8
8.2
8 .1
7.1
5.4
6.2
5.4
3.4
2.6
4.5
3.3
4.3
WilkesBarreHazleton
0.5
4.9
3.4
0 .1
3.6
11.3
9.2
10.4
7.9
15.6
9.6
8.3
6.4
4.3
4.2
2.4
1.7
1.5
10.0
6.0
4.0
10 .1
10.3
7.8
7.9
5.7
5.8
5.5
3.2
2.8
2.3
5.2
1.7
1.0
1 .1
.8
.2
.1
1.8
2.9
7.1
10.9
9.1
9.9
7.0
5.4
3.8
2.5
9.6
.2
.1
T otal________ ____ _ . .
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Number of workers__ _____ _
Average hourly earnings______
2, 733
$1.60
3,784
$1.68
908
$1.29
1,716
$1.12
3,366
$1.67
2,938
$1.79
60,979
$2.16
19,464
$2.41
41, 515
$2.04
1,568
$1.95
4,484
$1. 55
3,357
$1.31
4,012
$1.13
1.8
.5
li
.3
1 5
2.9
2 .1
1.8
1.0
.4
.4
.1
.9
1.0
i Earnings data exclude premium pay for overtime and for work on week
ends, holidays, and late shifts. The study included establishments employ
ing 8 or more workers and primarily engaged in manufacturing women’s and
misses’ (including junior misses’) dresses for street, sport, and evening wear.
Housedresses, hoovers, uniforms, and other household apparel were excluded.
All or a majority of the workers were employed in regular (inside) shops in all
areas except the following: B o s t o n — employment about equally divided be
tween regular and contract shops; N e w Y o r k City—two-thirds of the em
ployment in contract shops; N e w a r k - J e r s e y C i ty , P a t e r s o n , and W il k e s - B a r r e H a z l e to n — a \ \ or a large majority of employment in contract shops. Jobbing
shops that performed some manufacturing were included as regular shops in
the current study; all jobbing shops were excluded from the Bureau’s pre
vious study of the industry conducted in August 1952.
The term “production worker” includes working foremen and all nonsupervisory workers engaged in nonoffice functions. In N ew York City,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.3
2 .1
8.2
Pater Phila St. Louis
son
delphia
6.6
6 .1
4.4
3.4
3.1
1.8
1.0
2.6
1.6
1 .1
.9
.3
.3
.4
.3
1.3
.1
2.5
3.6
2.2
(3)
Newark-Jersey City, and Paterson, certain maintenance, custodial, and ship
ping jobs were also excluded to conform with those workers included in pay
roll reports submitted by union establishments to the International Ladies’
Garment Workers’ Union Health and Welfare Fund, from which most of the
data were obtained. It is estimated that less than 10 percent of the workers
in these areas were excluded by this arrangement.
2 Areas conform with standard metropolitan area definitions of the Bureau
of the Budget with the following exceptions: C h ica g o —Cook County, 111.;
N e i v a r k - J e r s e y C i ty — Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties, N . J.; N e w Y o r k
C i ty — 5 boroughs; P h i la d e l p h i a — Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, Pa.,
and Camden County, N . J.
3 Less than 0.05 percent.
N ote .—Dashes indicate n o data or insufficient data to warrant presen
tation.
540
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
generally produce a higher styled garment and
use the singlehand or tailor system of production.
The relatively low earnings level for the WilkesBarre-Hazleton area apparently reflects the fact
that virtually all of the establishments in the area
are contract shops and that most of the shops
were producing dresses in the lower wholesale
price lines.
These factors, combined with the extensive use
of incentive wage systems, also explain the great
recorded in the Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton ($1.13)
and Dallas ($1.12) areas. (See table 1.)
This variation in area averages is at least partly
due to a number of factors closely associated with
differences in manufacturing processes. Averages
for regular shops tend to be higher than those in
contract shops which generally do not employ
high-paid cutters and markers; 6 shops employing
the singlehand or tailor system of production
usually require higher skilled, and thus higher
paid, workers than section-system shops; and
earnings are usually highest in shops manufactur
ing higher priced lines. New York City shops
T a b l e 2 .—
6 In N ew York City, with its heavy concentration of workers, the differen
tial was 37 cents an hour; nevertheless, the lower paid contract workers in
this area averaged $2.01 an hour or 6 cents more than the combined (regular
and contract) workers in the nest highest paid area.
Number and average straight-time hourly earnings of workers in selected
lishments,1 11 selected areas,2 August 1955
Boston
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Los Angeles
NewarkJersey City
Occupation and sex
Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average
hourly
of
of
hourly
hourly
hourly
hourly
hourly
of
of
of
of
workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings
All production workers.
M en______________
W omen......................
2,733
413
2,320
$1.60
2.45
1.44
3, 784
481
3, 303
$ 1.68
92
90
170
65
105
241
542
2. 52
.97
2.16
3.21
1.51
1.18
1.41
191
79
303
208
95
453
508
2. 72
1.24
2. 31
2. 73
1.39
1.63
1.37
918
1. 73
1,314
1.78
2. 52
1.55
111
$1.29
1.82
797
1.22
1,716
144
1, 572
$ 1.12
102
1.58
.98
.97
1.41
1.09
3,366
306
3,060
$1.67
2.47
1.59
2,940
237
2,703
$1.79
121
2.67
1.23
2.17
3.23
1.82
1.45
3.00
2.86
1.70
S e le c te d p r o d u c ti o n o c c u p a tio n s
Cutters and markers 3_____ _______________________
Inspectors, final (examiners) 4____ ____ ____________
Pressers, hand_______________ ___________________
M en_______ ____ ____________________________
W o m en ..._______ ___________________________
Sewers, hand 4___________________________________
Sewing-machine operators, section system 4_________
Sewing-machine operators, singlehand (tailor) sys
tem >____________ ____ ________________________
M en__________ _____ ________________________
Women______________________________________
Thread trimmers (cleaners) 4_______________________
Work distributors 4__________ _______________ _____
119
2.23
1.28
1.28
22
382
1.08
1.18
1.24
1.04
1.18
145
85
529
1.00
90
259
65
194
379
1.14
220
1.66
50
50
267
124
143
240
784
303
1.20
1,387
1.69
1,046
1.96
303
1.20
20
.80
1.06
118
150
1.08
1.18
63
145
35
.97
1.11
2. 54
3.13
2.02
1.34
1.63
N ew York City
Philadelphia
All shops
Regular shops
St. Louis
Contract shops
Wilkes-BarreHazleton, Pa.
Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average Number Average
hourly
of
of
hourly
of
hourly
hourly
of
hourly
hourly
of
of
hourly
of
workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings workers earnings
All production w orkers......................
M en_________________________
W om en._____ ________________
60,979
13,722
47,257
$2.16
3.13
3, 418
1,143
5,175
4,643
532
7,518
19,464
6,938
12,526
$2.41
3.18
1.99
41, 515
6,784
34, 731
$2.04
3.08
1.84
1,568
162
1,406
$1.95
3.13
1.82
4,484
721
3,763
$1.55
2.31
1.41
2. 91
1.41
3.61
3. 74
2.49
1.57
2,954
482
1,232
2.93
1.45
4.24
1.94
1.58
3.25
3.35
12
2 . 22
180
1.43
181
115
479
78
401
293
2.66
1.58
2. 77
1.37
3.41
3. 55
2.46
1.57
37
137
125
2,009
464
661
3,943
3,445
498
5,509
3,041
2.04
378
2. 42
2,663
1.99
1.75
30,489
4, 627
25,862
3, 576
336
2.18
2. 76
2.08
1.15
1.25
7,719
2,308
5, 411
1,155
78
2. 52
2.97
2.33
1.16'
1.31
22,770
2,319
20,451
2.421
258
2.07
2. 55
2.02
1.15
1.23
2.01
1.88
3,357
393
2,964
$1.31
1.80
1.25
140
86
2.05
.99
254
1.66
4,012
173
3,839
$1.13
1.35
71
313
28
285
218
22
1.90
.98
1.41
1.75
1.37
.93
2, 500
1.14
264
75
.94
1.12
S e le c te d p r o d u c ti o n o c c u p a tio n s
Cutters and markers 3_____________
Inspectors, final (examiners) 4______
Pressers, hand____________________
M en_________________________
Women____ _____ ____________
Sewers, hand 4________________ . . . .
Sewing-machine operators, section
system 4_______________________
Sewing-machine operators, single
hand (tailor) system 3___________
M en_________________________
Women_________________ ____ _
Thread trimmers (cleaners) 4______
Work distributors 4_______________
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 See footnote 2, table 1.
3 Virtually all workers in all areas were men.
4 Virtually all workers in all areas were women
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907
1.26
1.20
1.05
1.65
2.88
1.42
1.32
244
1,955
1.39
840
1.23
673
2.01
759
1.49
211
2.39
1.84
.94
1.05
462
159
14
3 In areas for which averages are not shown by sex, the large majority of
the workers were women.
N ote.—Dashes indicate no data or insufficient data to warrant presentation.
541
EARNINGS IN DRESS MANUFACTURING
variation noted in earnings of individual workers.7
which ranged from 75 cents an hour to well over
$4 an hour in many of the areas studied. In
New York City, earnings of the middle half of
the workers in the earnings array were spread
over a range from about $1.50 to $2.60 an hour.
Wage levels in Chicago, Cleveland, and Los
Angeles were virtually the same in August 1955
as those recorded in August 1952. Many shops
in the higher priced field in Chicago had gone out
of business since 1952 and the proportion of
workers employed under the singlehand system
of production was markedly smaller in 1955 than
in 1952. Despite two general wage increases
granted since 1952, piecework earnings of workers
in Chicago were lower in 1955. In both Cleve
land and Los Angeles, several of the shops in the
industry in 1952 were out of business in 1955.
Between the 1952 and 1955 surveys, an average
wage increase of approximately 5 percent was
recorded in Boston, Dallas, Newark-Jersey City,
and Paterson; about 10 percent in Philadelphia
and Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton; and 13 percent in
both New York and St. Louis.
Occupational Averages
Paid on a piece-rate basis in most instances,
individual sewing-machine operators had wide
variations in earnings within establishments, as
well as among establishments in the same area
and among areas.
Sewing-machine operators assigned to sew a
complete garment (singlehand or tailor system)
accounted for half of the production workers
in New York City and averaged $2.18 an hour.
About 85 percent of these workers were women
who averaged $2.08 an hour as compared with
$2.76 for men. Three-fourths of the tailorsystem operators in New York City were employed
in contract shops and averaged $2.07 an hour,
whereas such operators in regular shops averaged
$2.52. Averages for tailor-system operators in
the other areas ranged from $1.20 in Dallas to
$2.01 in Paterson and Philadelphia (table 2).
The section system of production was widely
used in Cleveland, Philadelphia, and WilkesBarre-Hazleton where operators employed under
7 The percentage of workers paid on an incentive basis ranged from about
60 percent in Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, and St. Louis to about 80 percent
in Paterson and Philadelphia.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
this system averaged $1.24, $1.39, and $1.14,
respectively. In comparison, the approximately
3,000 section-system operators in New York City
averaged $2.04.
Cutters and markers, predominantly men and
nearly always paid on a time-rate basis, averaged
$2.91 an hour in New York City. Averages for
this job in the other areas studied ranged from
$3 an hour in Newark-Jersey City to $1.58 in
Dallas. Hand pressers—usually paid on an
incentive basis—averaged $3.61 an hour in New
York City, $3.25 in Paterson, and well above
$2 in 4 other cities.
Work Schedules
A 5-day, 35-hour workweek applied to virtually
all of the dress manufacturing workers in New
York City, Newark-Jersey City, and Paterson in
August 1955 and has been the general practice
for a number of years. Nearly three-fourths of
the workers in Chicago were on a 35-hour schedule
with the remainder working either 37% or 40 hours.
Boston was the only other area in which a majority
worked 35 hours weekly. Philadelphia shops were
fairly evenly divided between work schedules of
35, 37%, and 40 hours, whereas all or a majority
of the shops studied in the remaining areas oper
ated on a 40-hour workweek at the time of the
study.
Supplementary Wage Practices
Among the areas studied, provisions for paid
holidays as reflected by union contracts and
employer arrangements varied considerably, both
in terms of the number of days granted and the
classes of workers eligible to receive them. Most
Newark-Jersey City shops provided 6% days
annually to both time-rated and piece-rated work
ers; in New York City and Paterson, paid holi
days (6% days) were generally limited to time-rated
workers. A majority of the shops in Philadelphia
and St. Louis provided 5 days annually to all
workers, whereas in Los Angeles the most com
mon practice was to provide 6 days to time workers
only. Provisions for 3 or 4 days a year were
prevalent in all remaining areas except Dallas
where 8 of the 15 shops studied had no formal
provision for holiday pay and the other 7 shops
provided from 2 to 5 days,
542
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Vacation payments, health and welfare benefits,
and pension plans were provided for in agreements
with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’
Union. These agreements, which were in effect
in all or most of the shops in all areas studied
(except Dallas and Los Angeles), provided for
payment of such benefits from funds to which
employers contributed a stipulated percentage of
payrolls for workers who were covered by the
agreements. The exact amount contributed by
employers and the benefits varied among the areas.
Benefits toward vacations for workers in New
York, Newark-Jersey City, and Paterson ranged
from $35 to $58, depending upon the occupation
of the worker (e. g., sewing-machine operators
received $45). Payments equal to 2 percent of
annual earnings were made to workers in the
other areas.
Health and welfare funds usually provided for
payments for sickness, hospitalization, surgical,
medical, and death allowances. Union health
centers, providing a variety of medical services,
were in operation or being established in nearly
all areas.
Retirement-pension funds were established in
nearly all areas, but, in some, the details of such
programs had not been completed. In the areas
where the plans were in operation (Boston, Chi
cago, Cleveland, Newark-Jersey City, New York
City, Paterson, and Philadelphia), pensions of
$50 a month were paid to qualified workers over
65 years of age. These payments supplemented
social-security benefits provided by law.
Union Wage Scales in Local
City Trucking, July 1, 1955
every five workers included in the study were
employed under contracts specifying 40-hour
straight-time work schedules.
of unionized local motor
truck drivers and helpers in cities of 100,000 or
more population rose, on the average, 11 cents,
or 5.7 percent, in the 12 months ending July 1,
1955.1 The average union scale as of July 1, 1955,
for drivers and helpers combined was $2.06 an
hour.2 These figures are based on the 20th annual
survey of union scales in local city trucking by the
U. S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Rate revisions effective during the year as pro
vided in labor-management contracts resulted in
scale increases for 87 percent of the local trucking
workers included in the study. These increases
varied from 5 to 15 cents an hour for nearly threefifths of all workers included in the study and
amounted to 25 cents or more for almost a tenth.
In about two-fifths of the cities, average scales
rose from 5 to 10 cents for drivers and helpers.
Straight-time weekly work schedules for drivers
and helpers continued their downward trend,
averaging 40.9 hours on July 1, 1955. Four of
1 Union scales are defined as the minimum wage scales or maximum sched
ules of hours agreed upon through collective bargaining between trade unions
and employers. Rates in excess of the negotiated minimum, which may be
paid for special qualifications or other reasons, are not included.
The information presented in this report was based on union scales in
effect on July 1, 1955, and covered approximately 265,000 drivers and 40,000
helpers in 52 cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Over-the-road drivers
and local city drivers paid on a mileage or commission basis were excluded
from the study. Data were obtained from local union officials primarily by
mail questionnaire; in some cities, data were obtained from regional or local
officials of the union by Bureau representatives.
Mimeographed listings of union scales are available for each city included
in the survey. The forthcoming BLS Bull. 1195 w ill contain more detailed
information.
The current survey was designed to reflect union wage scales of local motor
truck drivers and helpers in all cities of 100,000 or more population. All cities
with 500,000 or more population were included, as were most cities in the
population group of 250,000 to 500,000. The cities in the 100,000 to 250,000
group selected for study were distributed widely throughout the United
States. The data for some of the cities included in the study in the two
smaller sized groups were weighted in order to compensate for cities which
were not surveyed. In order to provide appropriate representation in the
combination of data, each geographic region and population group was con
sidered separately when city weights were assigned.
2 The averages computed on the basis of hourly scales are designed to show
current rate levels in effect on July 1, 1955. Individual scales are weighted
by the number of union members having each rate. These averages are not
designed for precise year-to-year comparisons because of fluctuations in mem
bership and in classifications studied. Average cents-per-hour and percent
changes from July 1,1954, to July 1,1955, are based on comparable quotations
for the various occupational classifications in both periods, weighted by the
membership reported for the current survey. The index series, designed for
trend purposes, is similarly constructed.
H ourly wage scales
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
— L . E arl L ew is
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
543
UNION SCALES—LOCAL CITY TRUCKING
1.— Indexes of union hourly wage rates and weekly
hours for motortruck drivers and helpers, 1936-55
T able
Scale Changes, 1954-55
The 5.7-percent increase in average scales of
union truckdrivers and helpers between July 1,
1954, and. July 1, 1955, exceeded the 4.3-percent
gain recorded in the previous 12 months, and
raised the index of hourly rates to a level 48.2
percent above the years 1947-49 (table 1). Gains
for drivers averaged the same as that for drivers
and helpers combined—5.7 percent, or 11 cents
an hour. Helpers’ scales rose 5.8 percent, or
10 cents.
Wage adjustments for local trucking workers
were primarily achieved through negotiations on
contract expirations or reopenings.3 Rate changes
for both drivers and helpers were widespread
throughout the industry, affecting 88 percent of
the drivers and 84 percent of their helpers. Of
the workers whose scales advanced, 2 of every 3
had increases varying from 5 to 15 cents; 1 of
every 5, from 15 to 25 cents; and 1 of every 10,
25 cents or more. These advances represented
gains of 3 to 6 percent for approximately half of
the workers benefiting from scale revisions. About
a fifth of the drivers and a fourth of the helpers
had scale advances of 10 percent or more.
Hourly rates of pay varied widely among the
52 cities included in the study—from 95 cents to
$3.45 for motortruck drivers and from 76 cents to
$2.62 for helpers. Rates ranged from $2 to $2.25
an hour for about 2 of every 5 drivers and from
$1.75 to $2 for a similar proportion of helpers, as
shown in the following tabulation:
P e r c e n t re c e iv in g
s p e c if ie d r a te s
D riv e rs
Less than $1.50__________________________
$1.50 and less than $1.75_________________
$1.75 and less than $2.00_________________
$2.00 and less than $2.25_________________
$2.25 and less than $2.50_________________
$2.50 or more___________________________
2
7
21
43
21
6
H e lp e r s
7
24
41
25
3
(*)
1 Less than 0.05 percent.
For all cities combined, scales averaged $2.09 for
drivers and $1.85 for helpers.
Some truckdrivers in each of the 52 cities
included in the survey obtained upward wage
adjustments in rates. The city increases in
average hourly rates varied from less than 1 cent
3 Labor-management contracts covering motortruck drivers and their
helpers are typically negotiated for a 1-year period. Contracts of more than
1 year’s duration usually provide for wage reopenings or for interim or de
ferred increases.
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(1947-49=100)
Drivers and
helpers
Drivers
Helpers
Year
1936:
1937:
1938:
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
M ay 15_________
M ay 15___ ______
June 1 _
June 1___
___
June l . . . - _
June 1_ . .
July 1___________
July 1__ _
July 1
July 1___________
July 1___________
July 1 ...
. _ _
July 1___________
July 1
July 1
July 1 ... . . . . . .
July 1___________
July 1___________
July 1__ .
July 1___________
Wage
rates
Hours
Wage
rates
Hours
Wage
rates
50.6
53.9
55.9
57.1
58.3
60.6
64.9
68.4
70.0
71.5
79.6
91.9
109.0
108.1
108.1
107.1
106.1
105.5
105.8
105.6
105.5
105.3
103.1
100.7
99.8
99.5
98.8
98.7
98.3
96.4
95.6
95.1
(>)
54.3
56.3
57.5
58.7
60.9
65.0
68.5
70.1
71.6
79.6
91.9
)
108.4
108.4
107.5
106.6
105.9
106.0
105.8
105.7
105.4
103.3
0
(>)
51.3
53.1
54.5
55.6
58.3
63.4
67.0
69.1
70.7
79.3
90.9
100.7
108.4
113.2
119.6
127.7
137.9
145.0
153.4
100.0
108.1
111.9
118.2
124.7
134.5
140.2
148.2
100.0
108.1
111.7
117.9
124.1
133.8
139.3
147.2
100.6
99.9
99.5
98.9
98.8
98.4
96.5
95.8
95.3
Hours
0)
106.8
106.8
105.5
104.2
103.5
105.5
105.3
105.3
105.2
102.9
10 1.1
99.7
99.2
98.5
98.2
97.7
95.6
94.2
93.6
i Information not computed separately.
in Little Rock to 30 cents in Atlanta. Part of the
increase in Atlanta resulted from a reduction in
weekly straight-time hours with no reduction in
weekly earnings for two classifications of drivers.
Average hourly increases ranged from 5 to 10
cents an hour in 21 cities and from 10 to 15 cents
in 20 others. Eight cities indicated average
gains of 15 cents or more. Among the 49 cities
for which data on truckers’ helpers were reported,
21 had scales indicating average increases of 5 to
10 cents an hour, and 14, of 10 to 15 cents.
City and Regional Scale Levels
Inasmuch as labor-management contracts for
the trucking industry are usually negotiated on a
locality basis, wage scales for the individual cities
differ considerably. Such differences are associ
ated not only with geographic location but with
the size and type of truck and the kind of com
modities hauled within individual cities. Because
of these differences in classifications and termi
nology among cities, it is impossible to present
separate averages by type of commodity, industry,
or type and size of truck.
Average hourly scales for truckdrivers ranged
from $1.40 in Charlotte, N. C., to $2.38 in San
Francisco-Oakland. They averaged $2.25 or more
in 4 other cities, and ranged from $2 to $2.25 in 21,
from $1.75 to $2 in 18, and from $1.50 to $1.75
in 6.
544
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Helpers’ scales averaged highest in San Francisco-Oakland ($2.18) and lowest in Birmingham
($1.04). Levels of $2 or more prevailed in 8 other
cities and of less than $1.25 in 2 others. Hourly
rates averaged $1.75 to $2 in 21 of the cities
studied, and $1.50 to $1.75 in 11 others.
When the individual cities were grouped accord
ing to population, scales for motortruck drivers
averaged $2.20 for the 5 cities with 1,000,000 or
more population and $1.88 for the 100,000 to
250.000 population size group. The averages for
cities with populations of 250,000 to 500,000 and
of 500,000 to 1,000,000 were practically the
same—$2.10 and $2.09, respectively. For helpers,
the average scales for the three largest size city
groups showed but slight variation. The average
for the group of cities with 500,000 to 1,000,000
population ($1.86) was 2 cents lower than for the
largest cities and 3 cents below that for the
250.000 to 500,000 population group. The aver
age for the smallest size city group was $1.73.
Scale levels for both drivers and helpers over
lapped among cities in the different size groups.
For example, the average for drivers in Newark,
N. J., ($2.29) in the 250,000 to 500,000 group was
higher than in any city in the two next larger
size groups except San Francisco-Oakland.
Regionally, wage levels were highest on the
Pacific Coast for both drivers ($2.23) and helpers
($2.07), and lowest for drivers ($1.68) in the
Southwest and for truckers’ helpers ($1.23) in
the Southeast. Drivers and helpers in the MidT a ble 2. — Average union hourly wage rates of motortruck
drivers and heifers, by regionf July 1, 1955
Average rate per hour
Region
Drivers and
helpers
Drivers
United States_______ _________
$2. 06
$2. 09
N ew England___________ _
Middle Atlantic_________
Border States_____________
S ou th east__________________
Great L a k es... ______________
M iddle W est_____________
Southwest___________________
M ountain__________________
Pacific_________________
1 . 86
2.12
1 . 82
1. 90
2.16
1. 87
1. 75
2.16
2. 03
1 . 68
1 . 86
2. 23
1. 71
2.14
2. 01
1 . 68
1.81
2.23
Helpers
$1.85
1 72
1. 87
1 . 66
1. 23
1. 96
1. 95
1 . 66
1. 56
2. 07
die Atlantic and Great Lakes regions and helpers
in the Middle West region also had scale levels
exceeding the averages for all cities combined
(table 2).
Standard Workweek
Straight-time weekly hours for drivers and
helpers engaged in local trucking averaged 40.9
hours on July 1, 1955, compared with 41.1 on
July 1, 1954, 45.8 on July 1, 1945, and 48.1 on
May 15, 1936. Except for a few years during
World War II, the Bureau’s index of weekly hours
for motortruck drivers and helpers has declined
steadily since 1936.
On July 1, 1955, four-fifths of the drivers and
their helpers were covered by labor-management
contracts providing 40-hour straight-time work
schedules. Workweeks of 48 or more hours pre
vailed for about 1 of every 20 workers. In 1936,
however, work schedules of 40 hours were provided
in labor-management contracts applicable to only
a tenth of the drivers and helpers engaged in local
trucking, and of 48 or more hours for slightly over
80 percent of the workers.
Insurance and Pension Plans
Negotiated health, insurance, and pension
programs covering local motortruck drivers and
helpers have increased markedly in recent years.
Between July 1, 1954, and July 1, 1955, the pro
portion of workers covered by health and insur
ance plans increased 10 percent. Pension plan
coverage, although affecting fewer workers, showed
a greater rate of increase.4
On July 1, 1955, labor-management contracts
providing for health and insurance plans affected
four-fifths of the local truckdrivers and helpers;
pension plan provisions were applicable to twofifths of the workers. Employer-financed plans
prevailed for slightly over 90 percent of the work
ers covered by each type of plan.
-— A n n e t t e
Y.
S h e r ie r
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
1 The regions used in this study include: N e w E n g l a n d —Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, N ew Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont;
Jersey, N ew York, and Pennsylvania; B o r d e r S t a le s —
Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, and West
Virginia; S o u th e a s t —Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Caro
lina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; G r e a t L a k e s —Illinois, Indiana, M ichi
gan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; M i d d l e W e s t —Iowa, Kansas, M is
souri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; S o u t h w e s t —Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; M o u n t a i n —Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, N ew Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; P a c i f i c — California, Nevada,
Oregon, and Washington.
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c —N ew
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4
The prevalence of negotiated health, insurance, and pension programs for
local motortruck drivers and helpers was first studied in July 1954. Infor
mation for these plans was restricted to those financed entirely by the em
ployer or jointly by the workers and employers. Plans financed by workers
through union dues or assessments were excluded from the study. No
attempt was made to secure information on the kind and extent of benefits
provided or on the cost of plans providing such benefits.
COVERAGE EXCLUSIONS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Coverage Exclusions from
Unemployment insurance
545
Estimated number of workers in the civilian labor force
included and excluded under unemployment insurance,x
1955 average
Worker status
O ver 12 million civilian workers or about 24 per
cent of the Nation’s wage and salaried earners are
currently excluded from unemployment insurance
protection under exemptions in the Federal Unem
ployment Tax Act and the various State unem
ployment insurance laws. This relatively large
segment of the work force remains unprotected by
unemployment insurance despite the 1954 amend
ments to the Federal law which resulted in the
coverage of nearly 4 million additional workers—
Federal civilian employees and workers in smaller
firms in 25 States. These additions brought the
total coverage under the Federal and State acts
to over 40 million wage earners; more than a
million other workers are covered by the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act. These estimates
do not include members of the Armed Forces who
are protected by veterans’ legislation; about 1
million individuals who entered the service after
February 1, 1955, have no unemployment insur
ance protection whatsoever. Unemployment in
surance is a wage loss program and consequently
does not apply to the more than 11 million selfemployed and unpaid family workers who make
up the remainder of the civilian labor force of
nearly 66 million persons. (See table.)
The number of civilian workers excluded under
the Federal act totals 13.5 million compared with
12.4 million excluded under State laws. The
difference results mainly from the fact that many
State laws apply to employers with fewer than the
Federal minimum of four employees.1 The major
exclusions under the Federal act pertain to the
following services: (1) employment in firms with
less than 4 workers operating less than 20 weeks;
(2) employment by State and local governments;
(3) farm labor including processing of agricultural
products; (4) domestic service; and (5) employ
ment by nonprofit institutions which are operated
exclusively for religious, charitable, or educational
purposes. In addition, a significant number of
workers are excluded by the Federal and some
State laws because (1) their employment does not
meet the tests of what constitutes an “employee”
under common law rules for determining such a
relationship; and (2) they are employees of certain
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Civilian labor force Unemployed________ _____ ____________________________
E m p loyed .._______ ____________ ______ _______________
Self-employed and unpaid family workers_____ ______
In agriculture________ _________________________
In nonagricultural establishments_______________
Wage and salary workers ................................................... .
Number of
workers
(in millions)
65.8
2.7
63.1
11.4
5.0
6.4
51.7
Total potential coverage under unemployment insurance
programs 2_______ ____ _______ _______________ _________
54.2
Total workers covered under unemployment insurance______
41.8
Covered by State program-.................. .....................................
Coverage added by extension to employers of 4 or more,
effective January ], 1956..... ............................... .......................
Coverage added by State changes below 4 or more, effective
January 1, 1956 _____________________________________
Federal workers—......................................... ............... .................
Railroad program_____________________________________
36.6
Total workers excluded under State unemployment insurance
law s_________________________ ____ _____________________
State and local governments . . ..................... .............
Domestic service_____________________________
Small firms (excluded by size-of-firm restrictions)
Agricultural workers__________________________
Agricultural processing. ______________________
Nonprofit organizations_______ _____ __________
“ Employment” defined under State laws_______
Miscellaneous (Federal instrumentalities, e tc .)...
1.4
.2
2.4
1.2
12.4
4.6
2.2
2.0
1.6
.2
1.2
.5
.1
1 Data on civilian labor force, unemployed and employed, from M onthly
Report on the Labor Force, Bureau of the Census; workers covered and not
covered by unemployment insurance, from Bureaus of the Census, Old
Age and Survivors Insurance, and Employment Security. Armed Forces
excluded. Under provisions of title IV of the Veterans’ Assistance Act of
1952, veterans with military service between June 27, 1950, and January 31,
1955, are entitled to unemployment compensation.
2 Because of the differences among the various sources from which the data
were obtained, the estimated total for wage and salary workers in the labor
force (51.7 million) cannot be reconciled completely with estimates of both
workers covered and not covered under unemployment insurance (54.3
million). The figures differ principally because of differences in estimating
methodology, reporting procedures, and periods of time covered.
instrumentalities of the Federal Government spe
cifically exempted from taxes by law.
Small Employers
The amended Federal act excludes employers
who do not have at least 4 workers in at least 20
weeks in a year. The number of workers excluded
by the size-of-firm restriction totals about 3.1
million. Two million of these workers are also
excluded by the laws of 34 States which have sizeof-firm restrictions.2 They represent about 17
percent of all workers presently excluded under
State laws. If the 34 States amended their laws
to cover employers of one or more, average month1 For significant provisions of the State laws, see State Unemployment
Insurance Legislation, 1955, M onthly Labor Review, January 1956 (p. 35).
2 Twenty-eight States restrict coverage to employers of 4 or more; 4 States,
3 or more; and 1 State, 2 or more. Eighteen States, including Minnesota,
cover employers of one or more workers. The Minnesota law covers em
ployers of 1 or more in communities of 10,000 or over and employers of 4 or
more elsewhere in the State.
546
ly insured employment for the Nation would in
crease 5 percent. Among the States, the increase
would range from 3 to 22 percent and in 11 States
the increase would be over 10 percent.
While the effect of the 20 weeks’ restriction
placed upon the coverage of employers with 4 or
more workers cannot be determined exactly from
available records, without doubt this restriction
results in excluding some employers with more
than 4 workers.
State and Local Government Employment
Coverage of 4.6 million employees of State and
local governments rests exclusively with the indi
vidual States since, under the Constitution, the
Federal Government cannot tax State or local
governments or their instrumentalities.
As of October 1955, 75 percent of the workers
in State and local governments were at the local
level. Over two-fifths of the State and local
governments’ employees were engaged in educa
tion. Other services utilizing large numbers of
these workers are: (1) legislative, executive, judi
cial, fiscal management, and general administra
tion; (2) building and maintenance of highways;
(3) health and hospitals; and (4) protective
services.
On the basis of reports received from the various
States, not more than 5 percent of the workers for
State and local governments are covered. A num
ber of States, however, are presently either study
ing this subject or contemplating studies. Laws
in 16 States have to a varying degree provided
for the coverage of both State and local govern
ment workers. In Connecticut, New York, Rhode
Island, and Wisconsin, coverage of State employees
is mandatory and, for employees of political sub
divisions, coverage is optional with some minor
exceptions. Nine other States3 permit elective
coverage for State employees and in most cases for
local government workers. California permits
election of coverage by the State, its political sub
divisions and instrumentalities for non-civilservice employees if the majority of the employees
affected approve coverage; employees of public
housing administration agencies operated by the
State and local governments, however, are covered
on a mandatorv basis. Oregon and Washington
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
cover mandatorily public utility districts and
public power authorities. The Massachusetts
law authorizes instrumentalities to elect coverage.
Agricultural Labor
In 1955, an average of 1.6 million farm wage
and salary workers were excluded from coverage
under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and
the individual State laws. Most of the State laws
exclude from coverage substantially the same
agricultural services as those excluded by the
Federal Unemployment Tax Act, as amended in
1939.4 The 1939 amendment exempted workers
engaged in a number of activities essentially in
dustrial in nature, including services for large farm
operators with extensive facilities for the process
ing, packing, and storing of their products. It
also led to the exemption of farmers’ cooperatives
and private commercial buyers on the ground that
their employees performed services on behalf of
the farmer which were incidental to ordinary
farming operations. In 1955, these exemptions
totaled about an additional 200,000 workers.
Domestic Service
Approximately 2.2 million household workers in
private homes are excluded from coverage under
the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the laws
of all States, except New York where households
which employ four or more workers at any time
are covered. The majority of domestics are
houseworkers but some are cooks, baby sitters,
practical nurses, and chauffeurs.
Employment by Nonprofit Institutions
Approximately 1.2 million workers employed
by nonprofit organizations operated exclusively
for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educa
tional, or humane purposes are excluded from un
employment insurance coverage under the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act and to a substantial de
gree under all State laws except Hawaii and
3 Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland,
Nevada, Tennessee, and Washington.
< Prior to the 1939 amendment, agricultural labor, while not defined in the
Social Security Act, was defined by a regulation of the Bureau of Internal
Bevenue.
COVERAGE EXCLUSIONS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Alaska. This total does not include ministers and
members of religious orders.
Under the general nonprofit exclusion in the
Federal Unemployment Tax Act, an organization’s
status as a covered or excluded unit is determined
by its character with respect to three principal
conditions: It must be operated exclusively for
religious, charitable, scientific, or educational pur
poses or for the prevention of cruelty to children or
animals. Its net earnings must not inure to any
private shareholder or individual. Finally, no
substantial part of the organization’s activities
can be connected with attempts to influence legis
lation through propaganda or otherwise. State
exclusions generally require the first two conditions
but many State laws do not include the third one.
The major group of workers for these nonprofit
organizations is employed by hospitals. Other
large groups are employed by colleges and uni
versities, charitable, civic, social, and fraternal
organizations, as well as religious organizations.
These workers represent all professions and trades.
The status of each nonprofit organization is decided
independently by the Federal Government and
by the State employment security agency. Even
when the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the
State unemployment insurance laws contain the
same language, their application to particular
organizations is not always the same.
Members of the Armed Forces
The 1954 amendments to the Social Security
Act gave unemployment insurance protection to
the civilian employees of the Federal Government,
but specifically excluded members of the Armed
Forces. Those who had active service between
June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955, and who are
separated before February 1, 1960, have protec
tion under a temporary program of unemployment
compensation for veterans established by the
Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952.
It is estimated, however, that during the fiscal
years 1957-61, about 3.7 million individuals will
be separated from the Armed Forces, many of
them without benefit rights under the unemploy
ment compensation for veterans’ program.
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547
Other Exclusions
o f “ E m p l o y m e n t .” The Federal Un
employment Tax Act provides for the application
of the usual common-law rules as the test for
determining the existence of an employee-employer
relationship. This test is followed to a varying
degree by a number of States. As a result, an
estimated half million workers in such occupations
as industrial homeworkers and house-to-house
salesmen are excluded from coverage. Most of
these workers would be included under coverage
if the “ABC” tests used by 25 States were adopted
by the Federal Government and the remaining
States. This test applies three conditions, all
of which must be met before services are excluded:
the worker is free from control in performing his
duties; his services are performed outside the
premises or outside the usual course of business
of the individual for whom they are carried on;
and he is customarily engaged in an independently
established business of the same nature as the
service which he performs for his principal.
D e f in itio n
C e r ta in F e d e r a l I n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s .
Certain instru
mentalities of the Federal Government are
excluded from coverage under the Social Security
Act because they are not wholly owned, and
under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act
because they are instrumentalities exempt by
some provision of law. It is estimated that about
30,000 workers are employed by such instru
mentalities. The instrumentalities include the
Bank for Cooperatives (1 central and 12 regional
banks); Federal land banks; Federal home loan
banks; Federal Reserve banks; and Federal
credit unions.
T y p e s o f S e r v ic e s .
In addition to
the sizable groups already mentioned, there are a
number of “miscellaneous” exclusions including
such groups as certain fishermen, life insurance
salesmen paid on a commission basis, and em
ployees of certain fraternal organizations.
M is c e lla n e o u s
-- E. F. SCHROEDER
Bureau of Employment Security
548
Injury Rates in Manufacturing,
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Injury-Frequency Rates in Manufacturing, January
1953 to December 1955
Fourth Quarter 1955
T h e in ju ry -freq u en cy r a t e 1 for m a n u fa ctu rin g
a v eraged 11.7 d uring th e fo u r th q uarter of 1955,
4 percent higher than in the similar period of
1954, on the basis of preliminary reports compiled
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (See accom
panying table.)
Although rates in 5 months of 1955 were lower
than a year earlier, the preliminary full-year
average was slightly above that for 1954—12.1
compared with 11.9. From the all time low of
10.5 in December 1954, the monthly rates moved
steadily upward to a peak of 13.9 in August of
1955. Rates for the first 4 months of 1955 were
below these for the corresponding months in 1954,
but from May through August, they equaled or
exceeded the previous year’s rates. A substantial
drop to 12.0 in September again brought the rate
slightly below 1954, but this was offset by a rise
to 12.5 in October, 4 percent above the previous
year. Declines to 11.6 in November and 10.9 in
December followed the usual seasonal pattern;
however, these rates remained somewhat above
the 1954 figures.
The 1955 annual injury rate for manufacturing
was still the second lowest on record. The fre
quency of work injuries in manufacturing has
declined fairly steadily since 1946. From an
average of 19.9 disabling work injuries per million
man-hours in 1946, the rate dropped to 14.5 in
1949. Slight increases, to 14.7 in 1950 and to
15.5 in 1951, accompanied the industrial expansion
associated with the Korean conflict. During
1952-54, the injury rate resumed its downward
trend. The slight increase in 1955 was again
associated with a moderate expansion of industrial
activity which involved a substantial increase in
the factory hiring rate and a moderate lengthening
of the workweek. Increases in the incidence of
work injuries have often been associated with a
rise in employment or a major shift in the type of
production that resulted in hiring new employees,
retraining old employees, or lengthening hours
of work.
Changes in injury rates during 1955 varied
considerably from industry to industry. Declines
which occurred between the third and fourth
quarters were largely seasonal. Of the 133 indus
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tries for which comparable quarterly rates were
available, 64 recorded decreases of 1 full frequencyrate point or more between the third and fourth
quarters, while 53 showed little change; only 16
reported increases of as much as 1 full point. On
the other hand, the fourth quarter rate for 64
industries was 1 full point or more higher in 1955
than a year earlier, 47 showed little change, and
only 22 were significantly lower. Annual aver
ages for both 1954 and 1955 were available for
135 separate industries. Of these, 69 showed
little change, 48 reported increases of 1 full point
or more, and only 18 recorded decreases of a like
amount.
The largest decrease between the third and
fourth quarters of 1955 occurred in logging, where
the average dropped from 86.2 to 75.9. The
i The injury-frequency rate is the average number of disabling work injuries
for each million employee-hours worked. A disabling work injury is any
injury occurring in the course of and arising out of employment, which (a)
results in death or any degree of permanent physical impairment, or (b)
makes the injured worker unable to perform the duties of any regularly
established job which is open and available to him throughout the hours
corresponding to his regular shift on any one or more days after the day of
injury (including Sundays, days ofl, or plant shutdowns). The term
“ injury” includes occupational disease.
INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING
549
fourth quarter rate, however, was well above the
69.6 recorded in 1954; the annual average in
creased slightly, from 74.3 to 75.4. Other indus
tries recording outstanding decreases between the
third and fourth quarters were: Sawmills and
planing mills; bottled soft drinks; structural steel
and ornamental metalwork; leather tanning and
finishing; office furniture; sausages and other pre
pared meat products; concrete, gypsum, and
mineral wool; and structural clay products. Only
4 of these recorded even a moderate improvement
in their annual averages, however; 1 showed no
change and 3 actually showed slight increases over
1954.
The annual averages for 3 other industries
showed substantial increases: Poultry and small
game dressing and packing, from 32.0 in 1954 to
38.7 in 1955; cold-finished steel, from 11.6 to 17.7;
and cutlery and edge tools, from 13.6 to 18.8.
It is encouraging to note, however, that 15
industries recorded rates of less than 5.0 disabling
injuries per million man-hours worked during
1955. The most outstanding records were: Syn
thetic rubber, 1.6; synthetic fibers, 2.3; miscel
laneous communication equipment, 2.3; aircraft,
2.7; radio tubes, 2.8; electric lamps (bulbs), 3.2;
explosives, 3.3; tires and inner tubes, 3.5; and
miscellaneous industrial organic chemicals, 3.9.
Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, fourth quarter 1955
Fourth quarter 1955
Industry
October
See footnotes at end of table.
382771—56------3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Annual average
November
December
12.5
11.6
10.9
11.7
11.2
12.1
11.9
23.4
16.0
(>)
15.4
19.2
20.0
16.8
15.5
14.0
21.3
15.5
6.7
11.5
18.1
19.0
(*)
18.4
19.9
14.5
14.9
24.5
8.4
23.3
13.5
14.8
9.7
21.4
20.8
(>)
17.9
17.2
13.2
14.4
25.6
11.8
12.4
13.2
6.0
13.1
20.7
18.6
42.0
17.2
18.8
16.0
15.4
22.0
11.5
19.1
14.0
9. 2
11.4
20.2
17.0
32.1
14.8
18.7
18.9
14.6
16.3
12.8
22.3
16.9
5. 5
n .i
21. 3
22. 5
38.7
18.0
20.2
15. 9
16.4
18 6
13.4
24. 5
17.3
9 9
11.8
19 4
23 5
32.0
16 7
21 7
17 3
15.8
18 3
13 7
25 9
18 8
6 5
12.1
8.6
8.1
19.6
4.7
15.9
16.3
8.4
6.5
16.8
5.6
20.6
11.0
6. 5
5.4
16.3
5.5
14.7
15.3
7.8
6.7
17.5
5.3
17.1
14.3
7. 6
7. 2
14.5
5.8
12.4
15.2
8 O
6 8
16. 9
6 2
14 7
16.0
8.0
6.4
14 n
5 5
13 0
15! 9
8.3
5.8
9.0
10.7
7.7
6.2
9.1
11.0
6.6
6.0
4.4
7.9
7.5
6.0
7.6
9.9
5.1
5. 4
4. 5
10.1
7. 2
5 6
9 2
10.8
6 4
5 5
7 1
11 .3
79.1
41.3
23.1
27.4
28.7
40.1
71.6
40.2
23.3
26.0
28.0
26.7
76.3
37.6
21.3
25.9
28.9
23.6
75.9
39.7
22.6
26.4
28.6
30.1
69.6
44. 0
19.8
28.4
25.2
28.2
75.4
44 6
24. 9
29.7
29.0
31.9
74 3
4? 0
21 4
27 6
29 5
27.6
20.3
15.5
15.5
17.9
(>)
20.0
(0
18.7
15.5
18.5
10.6
17.4
16.0
8.3
13. 7
0)
21.7
(>)
(')
15.6
(>)
18.8
15.7
14.2
14.0
22.0
19.1
12.8
19.0
11. 4
14.0
15.4
18.1
19.4
13.4
18 5
14.3
14.6
17. 7
19. 7
17.0
14.1
17 Q
14 4
15. 5
16 3
20 5
19 5
15.5
11.2
16.2
15.4
10.7
14.5
13.7
10.5
14.3
13.0
10.8
15.1
14.0
11.1
14.8
12.4
11. 7
16.1
14.4
12 .7
8.7
9.9
10.3
9.7
7.3
9.2
8.8
9.6
8.2
7.9
9.3
9.3
8.9
4.8
3.6
5.4
4.8
2.5
2.5
4.1
3.5
6.4
6.4
5.3
1.3
1.8
3.3
4.1
6.9
5.7
5.0
1.6
2.3
3.3
3.9
7.9
Average, all manufacturing________________________
Food and kindred products:
Meatpacking and custom slaughtering____________________ .
Sausage and other prepared meat products___________
Poultry and small game dressing and packing_____________
Dairy products___ _ _____________ _____
Canning and preserving___
.
___
___ . . .
Grain-mill produ cts.., . . . . . ___ _____
Bakery products________________________
Cane sugar ____
.
_ ....
Confectionery and related products_________
Bottled soft drinks. ___ _____ _______
M alt and malt liquors____ ________________ _
Distilled liquors_______ _______ ____ ____
Miscellaneous food products______ _______ .
Textile-mill products:
Cotton yarn and textiles_________ . . . . . . .
Rayon, other synthetic, and silk textiles__________________
Woolen and worsted textiles___________________
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 . . _ _______ _ _. . . . _
Fur goods and miscellaneous apparel.. . _________________
Miscellaneous fabricated textile p ro d u cts__________ ________
Lumber and wood products (except furniture):
Logging------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sawmills and planing mills________ _________
M ill work and structural wood products_________________ _
Plywood mills__ _ ___________ _ ___________
Wooden containers_________________________
Miscellaneous wood products________________ ________
Furniture and fixtures:
Household furniture, nonmetal________________________ .
M etal 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 m ills______________ _____ ________
Paperboard containers and boxes_________________ __________
Miscellaneous paper and allied products_______________________
Printing, publishing, and allied industries:
Newspapers and periodicals. ____ ___ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . ____
Miscellaneous printing and publishing__
______. _________
Chemicals and allied products:
Industrial inorganic chemicals___ ____________ _________ ____
Plastics, except synthetic rubber............ . . ____________ ______
Synthetic rubber. ______________________
_______________
Synthetic fibers..
________________________________________
Explosives____________________
__________________________
Miscellaneous industrial organic chemicals_______________ _____
Drugs and medicines________________ _______________________
Fourth
quarter
Fourth
quarter
1954
6.1
5.3
(>)
2.5
2.7
3.8
6.7
5.4
5.5
(>)
1.7
5.0
4.1
6.4
(>)
3.1
4.5
2.6
6.3
1955
1954
11 6
14 0
9 3
6. 4
5.3
1.6
1.8
2.8
4.1
7 .7
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
550
Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, fourth quarter 1955— Continued
Annual average
Fourth quarter 1955
Industry
October
Chemicals and allied procucts—Continued
Soap and related products----------------------- ---------------------- -----Paints, pigments, and related products-------- --------------------------Fertilizers..------ ------- ------------------------------- ---------------- --------- Vegetable and animal oils and fats.-------------------- -------------------Compressed and liquefied gases---------------------------------------------Miscellaneous chemicals and allied products------------------ ------ 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 fin d in g s....................................- ...........
Footwear (except r u b b e r )........................................................ ............
Miscellaneous leather products-------------- ------ ------------- ..............
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Glass and glass products..................... ............. - .........—- ........ - ...........
Structural clay products______ ____ ____ ______ - .............................
Pottery and related products................................... ...............................
Concrete, gypsum, and mineral wool........ ...................................... .
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral products------------------- --------Primary metal industries:
Blast furnaces and steel mills----------------------- -------------------------Gray-iron and malleable foundries-----------------------------------------Steel foundries______ J--------------------------- --------- ------ --------------Nonferrous rolling, drawing, and alloying----------------- --------------Nonferrous foundries--------------------- ------ -------------------------------Iron and steel forgings---------------------------------------------------- -----Wire drawing---------------------------------------------- -----------------------Welded and heavy-riveted pipe------------- ------ -------------------------Cold-finished steel------------------------------ ------------------------ --------Fabricated metal products:
Tin cans and other tinware.................... ...............................................
Cutlery and edge tools----------------------------------------------------------Handtools, files, and saws------ --------------------------------------- -------Hardware____________ ______ - .............. - .............. ............. - ..............
Sanitary ware and plumbers’ supplies------------------------------ -----Oil burners, heating and cooking apparatus— ------------------------Structural steel and ornamental metal work........ .......................---Metal doors, sash, frame, and trim ....................... .................................
Boiler-shop products..................... .......................................................... Sheet-metal work--------------------------------------- ------ ------------------Stamped and pressed metal products--------------------------------------Fabricated wire products_______________ _____ _______________
Metal barrels, drums, kegs, and pails--------------------------------------Steel springs_______________________________ _______________ Bolts, nuts, washers, and r iv e ts .................................... ........................
Screw-machine products--------------- -------------- --------- ------ --------Fabricated metal products, not elsewhere classified..------- --------Machinery (except electrical):
Engines and turbines------------------------------------- ----------------------Agricultural machinery and tractors--------------- --------- ----- --------Construction and mining machinery.......... ....................... ..................
Metalworking machinery-----------------------------------------------------Food-products machinery.........................................................................
Textile machinery--------------- -------------------- ---------- - .....................
Miscellaneous special-industry m achinery..........................................
Pumps and compressors.----------------------------------------- ------------Elevators, escalators, and conveyors---------------------------------------Mechanical power-transmission equipment (except ball and
roller bearings)--------------------- ------------------ ------------------------Miscellaneous general industrial machinery----------------------------Commercial and household machinery----------------------------------Valves and fittings___________________________- --------- ----------Ball and roller bearings.------- ----- --------- --------------------------------Machine shops, general------------ ------ ----- --------- ------- -------------Electrical machinery:
Electrical industrial apparatus---------------------------------------------Electrical appliances-------------------------------- --------------------- -----Insulated wire and cable............ .................. ................- ------ ----------Electrical equipment for vehicles------------------------------------------Electric lamps (bulbs)_____________________________ _____ ___
Radios and related products------------------------------------- --------- Radio tubes__________________________________ ________ _____
Miscellaneous communication equipment------ -----------------------Batteries_______________________________ ____ ______________
Electrical products, not elsewhere classified--------------------------- Transportation equipment:
Motor vehicles, bodies, and trailers......................................................
Motor-vehicle parts and accessories-------------------------------- -----Aircraft______________________ _______ ____ ______ ______ ____
Aircraft parts--------- -----------------------------------------------------------Shipbuilding and repairing----------------- ---------------------------------Boatbuilding and repairing--------------------------------------------------Railroad equipment------------------------------ - --------- ------------------See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
December
8.2
5.2
7.8
(>)
24.2
(')
14.1
7.4
15.6
22.7
14.8
14.9
6.0
3.5
4.5
8.9
8 .1
3.7
5.0
9.0
6.4
6.7
«
25.8
(*)
17.2
7.7
0)
18.2
(>)
13.6
3.5
4.7
4.0
10.2
26.5
19.1
(')
9.4
9.9
12.5
30.7
19.4
21.8
13.8
(')
9.6
12.7
12 .1
11.7
32.8
14.5
21.8
22.6
15.1
5.1
27.6
24.2
4.9
28.4
18.6
14.5
12.3
15.0
8.6
12 .1
8.6
9.8
19.7
9.8
15.8
13.3
17.0
15.7
19.5
13.4
14.5
7.2
14.5
13.4
17.4
7.6
9.1
8.8
15.2
21.8
15.9
9.5
16.5
3.5
4.2
9.4
11.0
12.8
4.3
3.4
23.5
19.9
9.0
12.5
23.9
11.1
9.2
34.6
15.1
26.1
14.9
22.0
8.1
11.2
15.4
34.2
16.6
22.4
13.5
34.6
16.9
25.5
17.4
4.9
28.8
24.0
4.4
23.8
15.5
4.9
29.3
20.7
12.3
19.9
17.4
14.5
10.9
17.7
4.3
25.9
17.9
10.9
18.8
17.0
11.3
16.2
14.8
20.5
10.9
13.6
16.3
9.7
15.5
17.1
19.6
15.0
22.3
12.2
9.9
15.2
17.6
11.4
16.2
13.0
15.2
10.5
22.5
20.7
11.7
13.3
0)
(>)
16.5
11.4
7.3
12.4
18.8
16.8
10.7
13.2
15.9
10.5
9.4
15.5
10.9
15.7
13.9
14.7
12.3
17.3
8.9
9.4
16.6
10.3
15.3
14.0
15.6
13.6
17.4
7.9
8.5
14.3
9.2
14.2
8.8
15.3
14.3
12.3
9.4
14.5
14.7
16.1
11.3
11.7
6.3
14.1
11.3
15.8
9.8
11.9
6.5
12.5
12.7
7.1
13.8
10.7
16.6
10.9
14.9
7.4
13.4
9.2
14.9
7.2
9.4
5.9
15.3
11.5
14.9
7.4
7.4
10.8
6.3
8.3
13.0
4.6
3.2
5.1
6.5
7.8
11.4
3.6
3.2
4.9
3.8
2.7
15.1
21.9
15.6
12.2
16.0
14.4
18.3
1 1 .1
19.1
24.9
12.3
15.2
13.7
10.3
14.0
7.3
8.9
14.6
10.2
14.5
15.0
15.2
13.1
15.1
13.4
11.0
5.6
12.8
10.0
5.2
3.2
1.8
5.0
4.6
2.7
16.6
16.2
13.0
18.0
11.8
13.4
6.9
4.0
0)
4.8
6.0
3.4
4.4
17.9
0)
(>)
4.6
2.0
3.1
10.4
(>)
4.5
6.1
4.4
5.7
2 .1
2.1
4.7
13.9
4.7
13.7
(>)
9.2
11.4
12.6
8.0
7.2
8.8
11.2
11.0
16.2
14.3
18.3
11.8
20.1
10.0
22.1
13.7
20.5
23.4
12.4
14.1
13.1
20 .2
10.6
21.0
15.4
10.2
11.2
6.4
8.7
4.7
5.5
10.2
9.6
20.2
9
7.5
10.0
16.6
14.9
8.0
0)
3.6
3.6
10.6
7.9
9.2
15.4
23.5
12.2
7.2
0)
15.7
18.8
4.0
13.2
12.2
7.2
17.0
(0
0)
21.6
11.8
9.1
11.0
1954
1955
19.1
17.4
13.7
10.4
15.2
16.2
4.2
(')
21.7
17.7
9.0
11.4
35.2
14.6
11 .6
20.8
8.3
24.9
24.4
13.3
13.9
(>)
(>)
15.8
8.9
8.0
11.8
10.2
20.8
21.2
19.5
(')
6.6
32.3
9.8
24.2
17.1
4.6
30.6
26.6
13.3
20.5
12.3
19.6
17.2
9.8
16.3
15.4
Fourth
quarter
November
Fourth
quarter
1954
11.0
4.6
3.4
4.9
3.3
2.7
12.4
(9
4.6
5.9
2.5
4.6
15.2
34.3
10.1
14.7
5.8
15.3
10.4
12.4
10.1
12.8
8.7
13.0
6.8
7.4
11.9
3.3
3.8
4.9
3.9
3.4
13.8
(9
3.9
5.4
3.0
5.7
17.1
25.7
9.5
11.2
22.4
23.7
12.3
15.9
13.3
17.2
14.8
11.3
12.0
8.8
9.7
17.2
10.2
12.2
2.8
2.3
13.7
5.1
4.5
6.5
2.7
4.9
18.1
32.3
10.4
18.1
16.9
11.8
9.0
11.6
21.2
10.6
15.6
9.7
15.0
11.5
12.4
11.3
9.1
10.0
15.7
10.3
14.8
9.4
15.0
13.5
12.3
8.2
14.1
12.1
6.7
4.1
5.7
3.2
5.8
19.1
30.6
10.9
WOMEN ENGINEERS—EMPLOYMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS
551
Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, fourth quarter 1955— Continued
Fourth quarter 1955
Industry
October
Instruments and related products:
Scientific instrum ents. .
Mechanical measuring and controlling instruments .
Optical instruments and le n s e s ____
Medical instruments and suriplies
Photographic equipment and supplies___
Watches and clocks__ _
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries:
Paving and roofing materials___________
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware
Fabricated plastics products. ..
Miscellaneous manufacturing__ . .
Ordnance and accessories______ .
2.9
5.9
(')
0)
(9
1 Insufficient data to warrant presentation of average.
N o t e —T he monthly and quarterly injury-frequency rates presented in
this table were derived from a sample of about 16,000 establishments, covering
approximately one-third of the employees engaged in manufacturing. They
were adjusted to be comparable with the final averages for 1954, which were
Employment and Characteristics
of Women Engineers*
W o m e n trained in engineering have succeeded in
entering jobs which traditionally have been open
only to men. Although few in number, these
women are helping to fill our need for highly
trained engineering personnel. Some are not
presently employed, but the skills which they
acquired in college may be utilized at some later
time when they are able to reenter the labor force.
Approximately half of the 874 respondents in a
recent survey of women in engineering, by the
Society of Women Engineers, were actually em
ployed as engineers, while the remaining half were
about evenly divided between women employed
in jobs related to engineering and women trained
as engineers but no longer in the labor force.
Nine out of 10 of the women currently employed
as engineers, as well as of those respondents who
were no longer employed, had completed at least
4 years of college. Most of these women had taken
their degrees in engineering. Some took degrees
in mathematics, physics, and other sciences. The
respondents employed not as engineers but in
jobs related to engineering had less formal edu
cation than the aforementioned groups. These
included a number of draftsmen who had not com
pleted college.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
November
December
4.1
5.0
(')
7.0
8.3
6.7
8.3
13.7
5.1
0)
(9
6.8
5.2
4.1
18.5
13.4
5.3
4.0
5.3
Fourth
quarter
Fourth
quarter
1954
Annual average
1955
1954
8.1
5.5
3.7
5.4
3.2
4.8
7.3
6.4
4.0
5.7
6.6
5.6
5.8
7.7
4.6
5.8
5.2
6.3
6.3
6.3
5.0
6.3
5.8
7.6
4.7
6.7
6.4
14.6
13.1
4.9
16.4
5.7
13.8
13.4
5.1
8.7
12.1
14.3
11.9
5.2
12.4
9.7
13.1
13.6
5.1
10.6
9.4
14.3
12.6
6.0
(9
(')
0)
based on a more comprehensive survey covering approximately 60 percent
of all employees engaged in manufacturing. Rates shown for 1955 are pre
liminary and are subject to revision when final annual averages become
available. See M onthly Labor Review, February 1956 (p. 185), for com
parable quarterly rates for 1954 and the first 9 months of 1955.
The fact that 90 percent of the women who were
no longer employed had degrees in engineering and
some work experience raises a number of pro
vocative questions. Although these women are
not currently in the labor force, they do possess
engineering skills which are in heavy demand to
day. How can we utilize these skills—perhaps
through contracts on a part-time basis? Also,
how can we encourage these women to keep their
skills current through appropriate study, so that
they may be called upon in the event of national
emergency? Though not a large number in the
survey, these nonworking college-trained engi
neers constituted about half as many as the num
ber of women currently employed as engineers.
Thus, about one-third of the college-trained
women engineers represented in the survey are
now in the labor reserve and, presumably, repre
sent a significant source of additional skilled labor.
1955 Survey
This survey of women in engineering was con
ducted in the spring of 1955 by the Society of
Women Engineers with the cooperation of the
Women’s Bureau of the U. S. Department of
Labor. The Women’s Bureau provided technical
assistance in the tabulation of replies and sum
marization. As the Society of Women Engineers,
’ Prepared in the Women’s Bureau of the U . S. Department of Labor.
552
which prepared the survey form, sent the ques
tionnaires to its members and to other women
whom it regarded as possible engineers, there was
no opportunity for sampling. It is not known,
therefore, how representative the respondents are
of all women engineers. Nevertheless, the survey
does provide information on women in the engi
neering field which is not available elsewhere.
Some idea of the scope of the survey may be
gained from other sources of information. For
example, about 6,500 women engineers were listed
in the 1950 population census. (However, a
study by the Women’s Bureau in 1954 1 raised
some question as to the professional status of these
engineers and estimated that, perhaps, only as
many as 3,600 could be identified as professional
engineers.) As the survey by the Society of Wom
en Engineers provides information on almost 900
women in the engineering field, it is likely that a
reasonably good picture of women trained and
actively interested in engineering has been secured.
Characteristics of Women in Engineering
The need for engineering skills in today’s
economy has led to continual examination of the
sources of supply and the characteristics of work
ers in occupations using these skills. Of every 10
participants in the survey, 7 were employed, 2
were not working, and 1 was still a student.
Among the employed women, two-thirds were
engineers (a small number of this group were
architects) ; one-fourth were working in fields
related to engineering, as chemists, mathemati
cians, and draftsmen; and the few remaining were
in unrelated jobs in areas other than engineering.
Most of the employed were working full time.
In view of the increasing emphasis on college
level training for engineers, it is not surprising
that women employed as engineers had more
formal education than those in jobs related to
engineering and those in unrelated jobs. The
engineers were also younger than those in the
other two groups. Information about selected
characteristics of the women in each of these
groups is shown in the accompanjung table.
College Degree and Specialization. Among the
women employed as engineers, as well as those
who were not in the labor force at the time of the
survey, nine-tenths had college degrees. More
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Age, education, and marital status of 874 women with engi
neering training, April 1955
Number of women engineers
Employed—
Characteristics
T otal
Survey respondents:
Number_______________
874
Median age (years)............ 32.4
N ot
current
As
In re In un ly em
engi- lated related ployed
neers1 jobs
jobs
422
32.9
165
34.6
38
40.3
194
31.4
Stu
dents
55
(2)
Percent3
Education................... ............
100
100
100
100
100
100
Less than college degree-First professional degree
only..................................
Graduate degree or training......................................
23
9
42
55
10
91
50
57
27
29
71
0
27
34
31
16
19
9
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
39
45
46
35
49
37
47
93
4
22
76
8
9
16
16
3
2
Marital status........ ............
Married........ ............. .........
Single_____ ____ ______ Widowed, separated, divorced_______________
1 Includes 46 architects.
3 Under 25 years.
3 Percentages based on number supplying information on the particular
characteristic, since not all respondents reported on each item.
N ote.—Because of rounding, the sums of the percentages may not equal
100.
than 15 percent of those not employed and over
30 percent of the employed had graduate degrees
or at least some training beyond their first college
degree. Almost all the degrees were in engineering,
and most of the others were in mathematics,
architecture, chemistry, physics, or other sciences.
Comparatively few of the women employed in
related types of work, rather than as engineers,
had engineering degrees; however, those who had
college degrees—more than half—usually had
obtained them in scientific fields. Half of the 165
employed in fields related to engineering held
professional level jobs, the remaining half were
draftsmen or scientific aids. About two-thirds of
those in professional jobs, such as chemists,
mathematicians, and analysts, were college gradu
ates. Only one-third of the subprofessionals were
college graduates.
Age Range. The age range of the women employed
as engineers was very wide. On the whole, how
ever, they were a young group, with a median age
(33 years) about 6 years lower than the median for
all women in the labor force. The following tabu
lation shows, as of April 1955, the age distribution
1 Employm ent Opportunities for Women in Professional Engineering,
Women’s Bureau Bull. 254, 1954.
WOMEN ENGINEERS—EMPLOYMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS
of the 422 women employed as engineers, in con
trast with the age distribution for all employed
women :
Percentage distribution
A ll employed
women 1
T otal. __
...
...
Under 25 years
25 to 34 years . . .
35 to 44 years.. ._
45 to 54 years.. __
55 to 64 y e a r s ___
65 years and over. _
_ _
__
__
100
19
21
24
20
12
4
100
8
53
21
13
5
1
N ote.—B ecause of rounding, the sums of the percentages may not equal
100.
Employment
T y p e o f W o r k . The women engineers specialized
in a variety of engineering work; however, most
were doing design, development, or research work.
As the following tabulation indicates, some were
using their engineering training in connection with
technical writing jobs requiring an engineering
degree or in teaching engineering.
Women employed
as engineers
(.percent)
Total--------------------------------------------------------------Design------------------------------------------------------Development______________________________
Research__________________________________
Technical writing and/or editing_____________
Management______________________________
Teaching and/or job training________________
Production and/or quality control___________
Sales______________________________________
Combination of duties______________________
Other_____________________________________
100
33
15
11
8
7
4
3
8
2
9
Four-fifths of the women engineers who were
working full time were with private employers;
the majority of these worked for firms having
more than 500 employees. The women engineers
who were in government employment (less than
a fifth) were about evenly divided between Federal
and other governmental agencies. A very small
proportion (4 percent) were self-employed.
Since 1940, women
engineering graduates have found jobs more
promptly than in former years. Of the women
working as engineers, two-thirds of the 1940 to
1955 graduates took engineering jobs soon after
receiving their degrees. In contrast, this was true
of only a third of those who had earned their
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degrees before 1940. Almost two-fifths of all the
women engineers had worked for a single firm
only, the largest proportion of them for 10 years
or longer.
Women employed
as engineers
1 Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports,
M onthly Report on the Labor Force, Series P-57, No. 154.
F i r s t J o b a n d L e n g th o f S e r v ic e .
553
L o c a t io n o f E m p l o y m e n t . The largest number of
women engineers are found in the most highly
industrialized areas of the country. More than
two-fifths of those who reported their employment
location were in the Northeastern States, nearly
a fourth were in the North Central States, a fifth
in the West, and over a tenth in the South. Threefourths of those who attended college in the
Northeastern and Western States found employ
ment in the same regions. Less than two-thirds
of those educated in the North Central States
and only half of those from colleges in the South
were working in those areas. The women educated
in the North Central States tended to take jobs
in the West; those educated in the South obtained
work in the Northeastern States.
Salaries
The entrance salary for those who started to
work before 1940 averaged $1,500; during World
War II, it was $2,100; for the period 1946-50,
$2,750. Since 1950, the rise has been rapid, and
entrance salaries have averaged $3,700.
A special analysis of 100 women who, since
graduation, had worked as engineers continuously
with a single firm suggests that women engineers
may benefit by remaining at work with the same
firm. Their salaries were compared with those
received by a group of women who also had
worked as engineers continuously since graduation
and for a similar length of time, but who had been
employed by more than one firm. Relatively, the
salaries of the single-firm group had advanced
somewhat more. This is undoubtedly associated
with the fact that women engineers are not as
readily accepted in employment as men and find
it especially difficult to seek advancement in new
firms. However, when they have in time proved
themselves capable to the firms which hire them
in beginning positions, they succeed in acquiring
positions of greater responsibility and pay.
In respect to the type of work performed, the
small group of women employed as engineers in
management positions had the highest median
salary—$6,750. Second in size of median salary
were the research workers (about one-tenth of
554
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
women engineers reporting), with $6,056. Women
engineers having combined duties, which often
included design or development in connection
with other work, had a median salary of $6,000.
The large groups in development and design (the
latter, one-third of the total) had median salaries
of $5,972 and $5,838, respectively. Lowest median
salaries were those in sales work ($4,700) and in
positions as teachers or job trainers ($4,500).
Although skill requirements in different kinds of
work influence salaries considerably, the salary
variations reported may be partly the result of
differences in length of experience.
With respect to type of employer, the women
engineers who were self-employed and those work
ing for the Federal Government received the
highest remuneration. Annual median salaries of
women engineers according to type of employer
were as follows:
M e d ia n
s a la r y
Self-employed________________________________ $6, 125
Employed in—
Private firms:
Large (100 or more employees)_________
5,946
Small (less than 100 employees)_________
5,650
Government:
Federal_______________________________
6,100
State_________________________________
5,500
Local_________________________________
5,000
The women working full time on jobs related to
engineering had a median salary of $4,800. This
was about $1,000 less for the group, many of
whom had no college degree, than the median for
women employed full time as engineers, most of
whom had college degrees. The women in related
engineering jobs who had a degree averaged about
$400 more than those in the same group with no
degree
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Women Engineers Not in Labor Force
The nearly 200 women who were not working
(about a fourth of those replying) and the 55
engineering students are of special interest in view
of the continuing shortage of workers with engi
neering skills. The women not currently employed
were generally well qualified. Nine-tenths of
them had at least a first professional degree in
engineering, architecture, or related sciences, and
nearly all had work experience in these fields.
About one-fifth had either a graduate degree or
some graduate training. Professional interest is
indicated by the fact that over a fourth of these
women retained their membership in the Society
of Women Engineers, although not at present in
the labor force. Less than a tenth of the group
classified as not currently employed were looking
for jobs, and a very small number had retired
after many years of work.
Most of these women who were not in the labor
force, with the general exception of the students,
gave family responsibilities as their chief reason.
Nearly all were married; nine-tenths had children,
and three-fourths were the mothers of very young
children (under 6 years). Many—over half—
gave marriage, children, or husband’s transfer as
their reason for leaving their first job. A fifth
left to take a better job, and some returned to
school. The rest reported they had left because
of a layoff or plant closing. Although these re
ported they were unemployed at the time of the
survey, not all were actively seeking work.
Many of the women who reported that they
had young children requiring their attention may
seek engineering jobs in the future. Three-fourths
of this group are under 35 years of age. With
short refresher training, their abilities could again
be used to supply much needed engineering skills.
Foreign Labor Briefs*
A New French Approach in
Labor-Management Relations
C ollective bargaining activity in the last half
of 1955, some French observers believe, brought to
French workers their most important gains since
the end of World War II and may be ushering in
a new concept of labor relations. The new con
tracts not only increase wages and certain fringe
benefits but they recognize the common interest
of labor and management in maintaining harmo
nious relationships by providing, under improve
ment factor clauses, for future wage increases based
on anticipated gains in production and productiv
ity.
During most of the period following the end of
World War II, collective bargaining activity
lagged far behind prewar levels and the number
of agreements concluded were but a fraction of
what they had been before the war. Moreover, the
postwar contracts added little that was new to the
framework of labor-management relations. Many
served principally to reinstate prewar contracts,
to give formal recognition to established labor prac
tices, or to enlarge on existing labor legislation.
Few agreements during recent years specified wage
scales, in spite of the fact that wages were freed of
Government controls early in 1950.1
The change in pace first became evident in the
summer of 1955 and gained momentum following
an outburst of strikes during the early fall. Many
collective agreements at the industry, local, and
plant levels reintroduced clauses specifying min
imum wage scales. Many also formalized prac
tices relating to vacations, holidays, or supplemen
tary social security schemes which had become
established within the industry or plant concerned ;
these practices were more liberal than the fringe
benefits provided under previous agreements.
A new pattern for collective agreements emerged
in September with the conclusion of a contract
covering production workers at the main plant
of the nationalized Renault Automobile Manu
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
facturing Co. This agreement not only incorpo
rated various provisions relating to fringe benefits,
which until then had appeared only sporadically,
but also introduced a new element into labormanagement relationships in the form of a com
mitment to effect future wage increases under the
improvement factor clause.
“Renault type” agreements that followed during
the closing months of 1955 brought increases in
wages and fringe benefits to one million workers
in such important industries as metalworking and
mining. In addition to immediate wage increases
ranging generally between 4 and 8 percent, they
provided for wage increases in 1956 and again in
1957, amounting usually to 3 or 4 percent. To
assure the progress in production and productivity
needed to make these increases possible, labor and
management agreed, in the event of disputes that
might impede such progress, to exhaust all proce
dures of conciliation provided by law or collective
agreement before resorting to strikes or lockouts.2
It is difficult to estimate how far all French
enterprises will be able or willing to follow the
lead that has been taken. For the most part, the
new contracts cover workers in large and progres
sive industrial establishments where labor is rela
tively well organized. Many small businesses are
marginal and will find it difficult to increase pay
ments to their workers without raising prices; and
the Government places a high premium on main
taining prices at present levels. Other establish
ments, both large and small, are unable to make
long-term wage commitments because of the na
ture of their operations. On the other hand, the
3-week paid vacation which has been written into
the new contracts was extended by decree in April
1956 to all industrial workers.
The forward step represented by the recent con
tracts is the more remarkable because most of them
were negotiated by a group of non-Communist
labor confederations representing little more than
10 percent of all French workers and fewer than
•Prepared in the Bureau’s D ivision of Foreign Labor Conditions. Based
on United States Foreign Service reports and information from other Ameri
can and foreign sources.
1 Under many important contracts, wage scales were expressed in terms of
differentials over the minimum wage established by law. For details, see
M onthly Labor Review, June 1954 (p. 656).
2 Compulsory conciliation machinery set up in 1950 (M onthly Labor
Review, June 1951, p. 642) did little to maintain industrial peace because
of the lack of effective sanctions. Subsequently, in 1955, renewed activity
in wage negotiations largely eliminated the need to resort to the provisions
of a decree issued in M ay of that year (M onthly Labor Review, August
1955, p. 915).
555
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
556
half of all French trade unionists.3 The Commu
nist-led General Confederation of Labor (CGT),
by far the largest and the most strongly organized
in industry, denounced the Renault agreement of
September and participated in few of the subse
quent contract negotiations. Its miscalculation of
worker sentiment in this connection and its inflexi
bility in adhering to the Party line has aroused
some speculation about the ultimate effect on the
CGT’s prestige of the “class cooperation” approach.
French commentators note that if the new concept
of labor-management cooperation does in practice
produce worker benefits, it may well serve to clarify
in the minds of some CGT members the difference
between the basic interests of a Marxist trade union
leadership, motivated solely by the doctrine of
class struggle, and the interests of the average
French worker whose primary aim is to improve
his economic position.
Postwar Growth in
Soviet Labor Productivity
percent), and 45 percent in construction (instead
of the planned 55 percent).
By 1955, according to Pravda, February 15,
1956, the 1940 level of industrial productivity (i. e.,
annual production per industrial worker) in the
Soviet Union had doubled. This and other Soviet
figures on production and productivity should be
used with reservations; Western students of the
Soviet economy generally agree that such figures
have been exaggerated over the 38 years of the
Soviet regime.1 The following tabulation brings
together published industrial productivity in
creases from 1947 through 1955.2
f i r s t s e c r e t a r y of the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, promised
the 20th Party Congress in Moscow in February
1956 that during the Sixth Five Year Plan period
(1956-60) Soviet workers’ real earnings are to go
up 30 percent, that low old-age and invalidity
pensions are to be raised, and that the workday is
to be cut from 8 to 7 hours. These improvements,
he said, would be possible mainly through an
increase in labor productivity. This accords with
other official admissions that Soviet industry can
no longer draw heavily upon manpower from the
countryside, where the Government’s agricultural
expansion program is being pushed.
The 20th Party Congress approved the following
ambitious, planned increases in labor productivity
during 1956-60: In industry—“ not less than 50
percent” ; in construction—“not less than 52 per
cent” ; in railroad transportation—“ approximately
34 percent” ; in sea transportation—“40 percent” ;
and on state farms and state agricultural enter
prises—“ about 70 percent” (Pravda, Feb. 26,
1956). Productivity appears to be at a very low
level in agriculture. These goals may not be
achieved, judging by the results of the previous
Five Year Plan. For example, Chairman Nikolai
Bulganin of the USSR Council of Ministers re
ported to the 20th Party Congress that during
the period 1951-55, productivity increased by 44
percent in industry (instead of the planned 50
T he
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3 The French Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (C FTC ), the
General Confederation of Labor-Workers’ Force (C G T-FO ), the General
Confederation of Technicians and Supervisory Employees (CGC), and cer
tain independent and autonomous unions. It is customary for all French
unions in a given industry or plant to bargain jointly with management
and to be joint signatories to the resulting contracts.
A n n u a l 'percent
age increase
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
13
15
13
12
10
7
6
7
8
S ources: N . S. Maslova, Proizvoditelnost truda v promyshlennosti SSSR
(Labor Productivity in USSR Industry, Moscow, 1953); Pravda, January 31,
1954, January 21, 1955, and January 30, 1956.
During the preceding Five Year Plan (1951-55),
the total volume of industrial production increased
much more relatively (85 percent) than did labor
1 See, for example, M onthly Labor Review, March 1955 (p. 339).
2 The relatively higher annual rates of increase in labor productivity in
the Soviet Union, as compared with the United States, are attributable to the
fact that, in absolute terms, Soviet productivity is still on a relatively low
level. This is clear from the statement by Prof. P. Khromov in Pravda,
March 21,1956: “ At the present time, labor productivity in industry is about
2.5 times higher in the U. S. A. than in the U SSR .” As Soviet production
gradually becomes more mechanized and efficient, the annual rate of increase
in productivity can be expected to diminish, as the tabulation suggests.
F O R E IG N L A B O R B R I E F S
productivity (44 percent). The planned increase
in industrial production for the Sixth Five Year
Plan period is approximately 65 percent.3 This
lower objective possibly reflects a brake on in
dustrial expansion caused by the scarcity of recruitable manpower for industry. (In the 1951-55
period, the total number of Soviet wage and salary
earners increased from 39.2 to 47.9 million.) Prof.
Unemployment Problems of
“Educated” Persons in India*
b o u t 5.3 million Indian workers are estimated
by the Government to be totally unemployed at
present, and a large but unknown number to be
underemployed. In addition, during the next 5
years the labor force is expected to increase by
10 million. To provide 8 million new jobs during
this period, and to sustain a rate of economic
expansion which would absorb the remainder of
the unemployed shortly thereafter are among the
principal objectives of the Second Five Year Plan
(fiscal years 1956-61).1
Among the Indian unemployed, the “educated”
persons pose a difficult problem, particularly in
urban areas where they have congregated, because
their dissatisfaction has been directed at the
existing social order. The situation seems incon
gruous in view of the Government’s efforts to
increase educational opportunities at all levels and
to wipe out illiteracy. The problem, however, is
partly cultural in that most Indians regard manual
work as demeaning, and those who are educated
seek white-collar jobs in order to maintain their
social status. Meanwhile, job openings for highly
skilled manual workers remain unfilled.
According to the National Sample Survey,2 the
number of “educated” persons unemployed at the
end of 1954 was 550,000, about 10 percent of the
country’s educated population and of the unem
ployed. (In this survey, educated persons were
defined as those who had at least finished their
college preparatory schooling.) The number of
students in universities and colleges has increased
rapidly—from 74,000 in 1931 to 444,000 in 1951;
A
382771—56-
4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
557
P. Khromov stated in Pravda (March 21, 1956)
that 80 percent of the scheduled increase in indus
trial production in the Sixth Five Year Plan
period would be due to higher labor productivity;
the corresponding figure for the Fifth Five Year
Plan was 67 percent.
3 According to the directives of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
on the Sixth Five Year Plan, published in Pravda, January 15, 1956.
in secondary schools, the increase was from 1.8
million to 5.7 million during the same period.
A sample survey made by Lucknow University
indicated that in the city of Lucknow 10 percent
of all “earners” were unemployed, and that over
half the unemployed had at least finished college
preparatory classes. Analyzing the unemployed
by education, it was found that 26.3 percent were
illiterate, 4.4 percent had completed the equivalent
of grammar school, 18.7 percent had completed the
equivalent of junior high school, 22.3 percent had
completed secondary school, 11.4 percent had
some university education, 11.3 percent were uni
versity graduates or had postgraduate degrees,
and 3.2 percent were “technically qualified.”
The University of Lucknow also made a study
of its own graduates who had received master’s
degrees in arts, science, commerce, and law during
the years 1949-53. According to this study, 20 to
25 percent of these persons were still unemployed
in January 1954 and looking for jobs. The situa
tion was especially critical among men with
degrees in arts and commerce. More than 65 per
cent of the men with master of arts degrees and
over 50 percent of those with master of commerce
degrees had been unsuccessfully looking for em
ployment for more than 2 years.
The study also revealed the salary levels ex
pected by the graduates. Fifty to 60 percent of
*Based on U . S. Foreign Service reports and the following publications of
the Ministry of Labor, N ew Delhi: Unemployment Surveys III and Ed
ucated Unemployed ( in Employment News, January and February 1956,
respectively).
1 These figures are from the December 1955 revision of the Summary of the
Second Five Year Plan issued by the Indian Planning Commission. H ow
ever, the estimates by other sources vary considerably. In the fall of 1955,
for instance, the Minister of Labor estimated unemployment at 8.2 million.
Total labor force in 1955 is estimated by the U. S. Department of Labor at
150 million.
J A part of the Department of Economic Affairs in the M inistry of Finance.
558
the men with master’s degrees expected a monthly
salary of over 200 rupees (approximately $40),
while a third expected between 100 and 200
rupees a month. The women expected consider
ably less. In spite of these modest expectations,
among the graduates who had found jobs over
half of those with arts and commerce degrees and
30 percent of those with science degrees were paid
less than the level they expected.
A special Government-appointed study group
has recommended that the Government could best
help the “ educated” unemployed by appropriat
ing money for the development of small-scale
manufacturing, distributing, and service indus
tries organized on “ modern” lines. Such small
industries, according to the study group, would
combine the advantages of low-investment require
ments in relation to the employment opportunities
generated and a minimum need for subsidy. In
addition, these industries are believed to be
attractive to “ educated” persons, as the work
involves the manipulation of machinery and
modern tools. However, even if these recom
mendations are carried out, the Planning Com
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
mission estimates that the number of job open
ings would only absorb the expected increase in the
“ educated” labor force, so that the total number
of “ educated” unemployed at the end of the
Second Five Year Plan would be at least as large
as at present.
In the meantime, the Government has en
couraged the filling of managerial and technical
positions with Indians, rather than with foreigners,
wherever possible. Pressure is being effectively
applied by the Government toward implementing
this policy by means of controlling the renewal
and issuance of residence permits to foreigners.
While no overall solution is in sight for the
“ educated” unemployed, the Council on Scientific
and Industrial Research 3 expects that the slack
in regard to well-trained scientists and technologists
with master’s degrees will be taken up before the
end of the Second Five Year Plan and that a
shortage of this type of personnel may exist unless
measures are taken to expand training facilities.
3 An autonomous body established by the Government for the purpose of
organizing scientific and industrial research in India.
Technical Notes
Trends in the Participation
of Women in the Working Force
E ditor ’s N ote .— The following article presents a
somewhat different approach to the analysis of
trends in labor force participation by women
than that used by most students of the subject.
The author’s conclusions are challenged, how
ever, in the appended comments (pp. 566-567).
The Review would welcome readers’ comments
on these contributions.
M ost , if not all students of manpower have ac
cepted as a fact the very great increase in the
participation of women in the United States
working force over the past two generations or
so, shown by published census data. This article
raises the question whether a large increase in
fact occurred, or whether the observed increase in
the proportion of women in the United States
working force largely reflects differences in census
procedures. The answer to this question would
obviously affect projections of labor force partici
pation by women, to the extent that they are
based on past trends.
Most studies have begun with the population
census of 1890—on the hypothesis that this was
the first year for which reasonably adequate data
were available—and have carried the analyses into
the 1940’s or 1950’s, thus covering a maximum
span of 65 years. The calculations have been
based on the percentages of women reported as
gainfully occupied by the decennial population
censuses of 1890 to 1930, inclusive, and then,
beginning with the 1940 census, the percentages
reported in the labor force as of each April. From
the figures thus obtained, the percent of the
women in the working force seems to have almost
doubled between 1890 and 1955 1—from 18 percent
to about 34 percent—excluding the peak of World
War II. (See chart 1.)
Certain studies presented revisions in the his
torical series, notably that by Dr. Alba M.
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Edwards.2 In particular, he has tried to explain
away the 1910 census as an anomaly, and has
adjusted it downward so as to bring it into line
with the censuses of 1900 and 1920.3
To this writer, however, the census of 1910
seems to be the earliest prior to 1940 in which the
procedures for enumerating the gainfully occupied
most nearly approximated the procedures now
used for obtaining labor force information. To
aline the two sets of procedures still more closely,
we have made adjustments in the labor force data
for the years 1950 to 1954 in an attempt to approxi
mate the coverage of the 1910 data. But, since
there is no way of knowing exactly which adjust
ment would be the correct one, several were made.
Method of Analysis
Much has been written about the so-called
differences between the procedures used in enumer
ating the gainfully occupied, in the censuses of
1930 and earlier, and the procedures for identi
fying the labor force, in use beginning with the
1940 decennial population census. This article
is not intended to reopen that discussion, but
simply to explore the probable degree of coverage
at various previous periods, and to reexamine the
time references of the data.
Degree of Coverage. The present procedures for
compiling labor force statistics aim to classify
(1) as employed everyone who, during the survey
period, worked for pay for even as little as 1 hour
and all unpaid family workers who worked for 15
hours or more, and (2) as unemployed everyone
who looked for work during this period. The
intent of these procedures, clearly, is to maximize
the number of persons reported as in the labor
force.
1 The apparent increase can be exaggerated even more if the rates reported
for 1870 and 1955 are compared. Between these two dates, the proportions
of women reported to be in the working force rose from about 13 percent to
34 percent, or almost threefold.
2 Comparative Occupation Statistics for the United States, 1870 to 1940.
( I n U . S. Census of Population: 1940.)
3 Ibid. (pp. 137-138).
559
560
The censuses of 1930 and earlier, however, did
not attempt to maximize the number of persons
who would be reported “with an occupation” and
thus the gainfully occupied data had smaller
coverage than the present labor force series. This
writer believes that the 1910 census constituted
the first attempt to include almost everyone who
could conceivably be classified as being in the
working force. Hence, it is the earliest census
which provides data almost comparable in cover
age with labor force data for 1940 and following
years. The 1930 census, it should be noted, also
provided coverage substantially comparable with
that of the labor force. Both the 1910 and 1930
censuses, nevertheless, omitted certain groups
(e. g., intermittent workers) which are included
in the labor force.
The evaluation of the probable extent of cover
age of the censuses of 1930 and earlier is based on
examination of the “Instructions to Enumera
tors.” 4 It assumes, of course, that the census
enumerators more or less tended to follow their
instructions. Only the instructions for 1910 are
analyzed here.
Comparisons of the extent of coverage are also
affected, however, by the difference in timing
between the present labor force data and the
earlier gainfully occupied data. The labor force
data relate to a 1-week period, whereas the gain
fully occupied data related to a less definite time
period—one which extended, probably, for a year
or longer if this writer’s inference from the instruc
tions is correct. In trying to infer who was in
cluded and who was excluded from the gainfully
occupied category in the census of 1910, this
timing must be borne in mind.
The labor force procedures were developed in
an attempt to be all-inclusive; hence, for 1910,
it is necessary to know only which groups were
excluded who would have been included under
the labor force procedures.5
The first two paragraphs of the instructions
suggest a coverage as complete as that of the
labor force:
144. Column 18. Trade or profession.— An entry should
be made in this column for every person enumerated. The
occupation, if any, followed by a child, of any age, or
by a woman is just as important, for census purposes, as
the occupation followed by a man. Therefore it must
never be taken for granted, without inquiry, that a
woman, or child, has no occupation.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W , M A Y 1956
145. The entry in column 18 should be either (1) the
occupation pursued—that is, the word or words which
most accurately indicate the particular kind of work done
by which the person enumerated earns money or a money
equivalent, as 'physician, carpenter, dressmaker, night
watchman, laborer, newsboy; or (2) own income; or (3) none
(that is, no occupation).
After this, the instructions begin to hedge a
little and start omitting certain categories of
women workers.
153. Women doing housework.— In the case of a woman
doing housework in her own home, without salary or
wages, and having no other employment, the entry in
column 18 should be none. But a woman working at
housework for wages should be returned in column 18 as
housekeeper, servant, cook, or chambermaid, as the case may
be; and the entry in column 19 should state the kind of
place where she works, as private family, hotel, or boarding
house. Or, if a woman, in addition to doing housework
in her own home, regularly earns money by some other
occupation, whether pursued in her own home or outside,
that occupation should be returned in columns 18 and 19.
For instance, a woman who regularly takes in washing
should be reported as laundress or washerwoman, followed
in column 19 by at home.
This suggests that women who were unpaid
family workers in nonagriculture were excluded
and that women who worked intermittently or
part time in nonagriculture were also excluded.
Note the emphasis on “ r e g u l a r l y earns money.”
Some women who earned money by running
small boarding and lodging houses were also
omitted.
157. Keeping boarders.— Keeping boarders or lodgers
should be returned as an occupation if the person engaged
in it relies upon it as his (or her) principal means of sup
port or principal source of income. In that case, the
return should be keeper—boardinghouse or keeper— lodginghouse. If, however, a family keeps a few boarders or
roomers merely as a means of supplementing or eking out
the earnings or income obtained from other occupations
or from other sources, no one in the family should be
returned as a boarding- or lodging-house keeper.
Some women engaged in agriculture, whether
as employees or unpaid family workers, were
excluded.
« U . S. Bureau of the Census, TJ. S. Census of Population: 1930, Vol. V,
General Report on Occupations (p. 23 fl.).
* Presumably certain groups were included by the gainfully occupied
procedures but excluded under the labor force procedures. This question
is treated in connection w ith the adjusted time reference (p. 561). B y increas
ing the time reference from 1 week to 1 year, it seems that virtually all groups
(except inmates of institutions) who were included by the gainfully occupied
procedures should also be included under the labor force procedures.
561
W O M E N I N T H E W O R K IN G F O R C E
154. Women doing farmwork.— A woman working reg
ularly at outdoor farmwork, even though she works on
the home farm for her husband, son, or other relative and
does not receive money wages, should be returned in col
umn 18 as a farm laborer. Distinguish, however, such
women who work on the home farm from those who work
away from home, by writing in column 19 either home
farm or working out, as the case may require. Of course,
a woman who herself operates or runs a farm should be
reported as a farmer, and not as a “farm laborer.”
Since the woman had to work “regularly [em
phasis supplied] at outdoor farmwork” in order
to be classified as gainfully occupied, we may
infer that intermittent and part-time workers
were probably omitted.
The censuses prior to 1910 and that of 1920
contained even more omissions than the 1910
census and must be disregarded for many historical
analyses. And even the 1910 census and its
instructions failed to include all women who would
have been reported as in the labor force, putting
aside, for the moment, the time reference. How,
then, might the 1910 data and the labor force
data be made more nearly comparable?
Time Reference. Some students have tried to
make the gainfully occupied and the labor force
series comparable by adjusting the former series.
They attempted to approximate the data which
would have resulted from taking a labor force
survey with a time reference of the week contain
ing April 8.6
The methodology basic to this article, in es
sence, consists of trying to adjust the current labor
force data so as to approximate the data obtained
under the instructions of 1910. This is exactly
the reverse of what has been done previously.
6 The adjustments by John D . Durand in the Edwards’ analysis, for'example, aimed at approximating the results of a labor force survey taken for
the week containing April 8, 1930. See Edwards, op. cit., ch. IV (pp. 11-16).
7 U . S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Labor Force,
annual data on work experience from reports in Series P-50.
8 Employed workers are grouped by Census into 4 classes: Private wage
and salary workers, Government workers, self-employed workers, and un
paid family workers.
8 In addition to inmates of institutions, only one other category of persons
might have been included as gainfully occupied in 1910 and omitted from the
labor force data on work experience during the preceding year. This cate
gory includes the people who were unemployed and seeking work during the
entire year. In 1910, persons temporarily unemployed at the time of the
census enumeration were to be included as gainfully occupied; no specific
mention was made as to how long they might be unemployed before they
would be omitted from the count. In collecting the labor force data on work
experience during the preceding year, any person who had been unemployed
during the entire year and had done no work whatsoever for pay or profit
would be omitted from the labor force data used in this analysis. It seems
very unlikely, however, that there were many women who would have been
included as gainfully occupied but who were excluded from the labor force
figures because unemployed for the entire previous year.
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Chart 1. Percent of Women A g e 14 and Over In the
Working Force, 1890 to 1955
1 8 90
1900
1910
1 9 20
1930
1940
19501955
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
S o urc es : 1890-1930, U . S. Census of Population; 1940-55, Census Bureau’s
M onthly Report on the Labor Force, for April each year.
Briefly, two steps were involved in adjusting the
labor force series, as follows:
1. To obtain a longer time reference than 1
week, the data on work experience during the
preceding year were used.7 This time reference
should begin to approximate the time reference
of the gainfully occupied series. In both in
stances, the surviving members of the population
who had worked in the past were interviewed
with reference to their past working experiences.
2. On the basis of the data on number of weeks
worked in the preceding year and unpublished
Census information on class of worker,8 an at
tempt was made to omit those categories inferred
to have been omitted from the 1910 census.9
Estimated Changes, 1910-50
All Women in the Working Force. The increase
in the proportion of women 14 years of age and
over in the working force between 1910 and 1950
was either negligible, or at the most amounted to
562
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , M A Y 1956
T a ble 1.— Percent of women age 14 and over in the working
force, under various assumptions of comparability between
the labor force and the gainfully occupied census data,
selected years, 1910-54
Working in preceding year at full- or part-time
jobs for periods specified,' given the—
As
reported
Current age and
marital composition
1950 age and marital
composition
Year
(a)
1910________
1930________
1Q40
1945
1950________
1951________
1952______
1953________
1954________
25.2
24.3
27. 9
37.3
32.1
32.7
32.7
33.1
33.5
27 weeks
or more
14 weeks
or more
27 weeks
or more
14 weeks
or more
(6)
(C)
(d)
ct )
25.2
24.3
25.2
24.3
24.0
24.0
24.0
24.0
27.1
28.8
29.0
29.2
29.0
33.3
35.0
34.7
35.0
34.5
27.0
29.0
29.0
30.0
30.0
33.0
35.0
35.0
36.0
35.0
i Excluding unpaid family workers in nonagriculture.
Source: Column a: U. S. Census of Population, 1910 and 1930; for the sub
sequent years, M onthly Report on the Labor Force, Series P-57, as of April
each year. Columns b , c , d , and e: U. S. Census of Population, 1910 and 1930
and for 1950-54, Current Population Reports, Series P-50, Work Experience
of the Population.
an increase of about one-third, under varying
assumptions as to comparability. The percent
ages are shown in table 1, columns a, b, and c.
Column a presents the percentages of women
gainfully occupied taken directly from the cen
suses of 1910 and 1930, and the percentages of
women in the labor force as of April 1940, 1945,
and 1950 to 1954. These data suggest almost no
change from 1910 to 1930; there was an increase
of between 3 and 4 percentage points between
1930 and 1940, and another increase of more
than 4 percentage points between 1940 and 1950.10
Over the entire 40-year period, there was an in
crease of about 7 percentage points, from about
25 percent in 1910 to about 32 percent in 1950.
Columns b and c present the labor force data
adjusted so as to be more nearly comparable
with the 1910 instructions. In both cases, the
Census Bureau’s labor force data on work experi
ence during the preceding year were used. In
both cases, unpaid family workers in nonagricultural work were excluded to conform to what
seems to have been the case in 1910 (instruction
153).11 The 1910 instructions also seem to have
omitted intermittent and/or part-time workers.
The data on work experience during the preceding
year can be made more or less comparable by
excluding certain categories of persons who did
not work the full year. In column b, all women
who worked fewer than 27 weeks were excluded;
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hence, the data presented there are the proportions
of all women who worked 27 weeks or more at
full- or part-time jobs during the previous year.
In column c, all women who worked fewer than
14 weeks were excluded; therefore, the data
represent the proportions of all women who
worked 14 weeks or more, full time or part time.
Both series were calculated because we have
no way of knowing precisely what was meant in
the 1910 instructions by the phrase “regularly
earns money.” Women who worked fewer than
14 weeks were, it would seem, intermittent workers
and most likely were excluded from the 1910 data.
How women who worked between 14 and 26 weeks
might have been classified is more difficult to
deduce. Perhaps they were included if they
worked at full-time jobs, but excluded if they
worked at part-time jobs; we shall never know.
All women who worked at least half of the year,
i. e., 27 weeks or more, presumably were included
in the 1910 gainfully occupied, but we cannot
be sure. It is not at all clear that women who
may have worked for 1 or 2 days a week during
most of the year were necessarily included as
gainfully occupied.
If the figures for 1950 as shown in column b
are most nearly comparable with those for 1910
and 1930, then the proportions of women in the
working force increased about 2 percentage points
during these 40 years—from about 25 percent to
about 27 percent. If we had assumed that women
who worked part-time weeks in 1950 (but had
worked in 27 weeks or more during the year)
should have been excluded also, then the pro
portion in the working force would have been
about 22 percent. This would imply a decrease
of about 3 percentage points from 1910.
On the other hand, perhaps the data for 1950 in
column c are most nearly comparable with those
for 1910 and 1930. If so, then there was an
increase of about 8 percentage points over the four
decades. Note that the data in columns a and c
lead to substantially the same results.
io The data for 1950 are from the Current Population Survey rather than
from the 1950 Census of Population. These Survey figures contain an un
known amount of sampling variability, which may easily encompass 1 or 2
percentage points. Thus, in estimating the change which may have occurred
since 1910, two problems arise: (a) making the data procedurally comparable,
and (b) determining fairly precisely the percentage in 1950.
u The adjustment excluded such workers per se because most of them work
at jobs which are substantially full time. In the case of unpaid family workers
in agriculture, a different type of adjustment was made, as described subse
quently (p. 563), because they typically work on an intermittent or part-time
basis.
W O M E N I N T H E W O R K IN G F O R C E
563
Thus, the range of estimates as to what might
have happened between 1910 and 1950, if com
parable data were available for the entire period,
is as follows:
P e r c e n t o f w o m e n in
th e w o r k i n g fo r c e
1910
As reported _____
Worked 27 weeks or more
at full-time jobs 1______
Worked 27 weeks or more
at full- or part-time
jobs1 _ _ _ _
Worked 14 weeks or more
at full- or part-time
jobs 1___ _____ _
25. 2
—
1950
C h a n g e , 1910
to 1950
(p e r c e n ta g e
p o in ts )
32. 1
+ 6. 9
22. 0
-3 . 2
27. 1
+ 1. 9
33. 3
+ 8. 1
1 Excluding unpaid family workers in nonagriculture.
One of the problems encountered in making the
estimates presented in the preceding tabulation
was related to the shift from agricultural to
nonagricultural work which occurred during these
40 years. There are many more female unpaid
family workers in agriculture than in nonagricul
ture; also, these unpaid family workers tend to be
seasonal workers or to work but 2 or 3 days per
week. In 1910, a much larger proportion of the
gainfully occupied women (as reported by the
Census) were engaged in agriculture than was so
in 1950. Hence, it seems that in 1910 a large
proportion of all women who were actually doing
some kind of work leading to pay or profit were
excluded because they did not work regularly. We
tried to take this into account by omitting from
the 1950 data certain categories of women who
did not work throughout the year, as previously
described.
Women in Large Cities. Another approach con
sists of comparing the working force participation
rates for women living in the larger cities. Such
a comparison circumvents the problem of agricul
tural workers, particularly the intermittent or
part-time unpaid family workers.
The 1950 population census shows the labor
force participation rates for all women (14 years
of age and over) who lived in the central cities of
urban areas with populations of (a) 3 million or
more, (b) 1 million and over but less than 3 million,
and (c) 250,000 and over but less than 1 million.12
For these central cities, then, we computed the
proportion of all women age 14 and over in 1910
13 U. S. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Popul ion Census: 1950, Special
Report, P -E No. 5A, Characteristics by Size of Place, table 4 (pp. 38-42).
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who were reported as gainfully occupied. The
rates for the two periods are shown in table 2.
Changes Between 1950 and 1954
Little change seems to have occurred since 1950
in the participation of women in the working force.
There may have been an increase of 1 or 2 per
centage points, as suggested by the data in table
1, columns a, b, and c. If this increase did occur,
most of it seems to have occurred between 1950
and 1951, possibly reflecting the Korean incident.
Certainly, between 1951 and 1954 there is little
change in any of the figures shown; the observed
changes are probably within the range of sampling
and enumerative variability.
Effect of Age and Marital Status Trends
Since 1910, some changes have occurred in the
age and marital composition of the female popu
lation of the United States. Since working force
participation is related to age and marital status,
it is desirable to ask how much change in working
force participation would have occurred if age
composition and marital status were held constant.
The answer seems to be, briefly, that a slightly
larger increase would have been apparent, were
marital status and age composition held constant,
than was observed otherwise.
The rates shown in columns d and e of table 1
were computed as follows. The distribution of
T a b l e 2 . — Percent
of women age 1^ and over in the working
force in central cities of selected size urban areas, under
various assumptions of comparability between the labor
force and the gainfully occupied census data, 1910 and
1950
Worked at full- or part-time jobs 3
Area population group
(1950 census)
3 million or more ..
1 million and over, but less
than 3 million__________
250,000 and over, but less
than 1 million______
1910'
In labor
force,
April
19503
27 weeks or
more during
the preceding
year
14 weeks or
more dur
ing the
preceding
year
(a)
(6)
(c)
32.0
35.6
33.0
32.1
35.2
33.0
40.0
31.0
35.6
33.0
41.0
41.0
1 Estimated proportion of all women age 14 and over in 1910 who were
reported as gainfully occupied.
3 Excluding unpaid family workers in nonagriculture.
3 As reported in the 1950 census: see text footnote 12.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
564
the female population age 14 and over, by age
groups, and by “married” and “all other,” were
obtained from the censuses of 1910 and 1930; for
1950 and subsequently, “married, spouse present”
and “all other” were used. The age-maritalstatus specific rates of 1950 (the proportion in
given age and marital status groups who were in
the labor force in 1950) were used as a standard.
These rates were applied to the other years to
eliminate the influence of changes in these two
demographic variables.
In column d, the calculations were made on the
assumption that data on persons who worked 27
weeks or more in the preceding year at full- or
part-time jobs, excluding unpaid family workers
in nonagriculture, are approximately comparable
with the 1910 data. These calculations suggest an
increase of 3 percentage points between 1910 and
1950, and another 3 points between 1950 and 1954,
two-thirds of which occurred between 1950 and
1951. The total increase between 1910 and 1954
thus might amount to about 6 percentage points,
or a 25-percent increase over 1910.
In column e, it was assumed that data on persons
who worked 14 weeks or more in the preceding
year at full- or part-time jobs, excluding unpaid
family workers in nonagriculture, are approxi
mately comparable with the 1910 data. These
figures provide an increase of 9 percentage points
between 1910 and 1950, and another 2 points
between 1950 and 1954. The total increase
between 1910 and 1954, hence, may amount to 11
points, or just short of a 50-percent increase over
the 1910 working force participation rate.
Range of Estimated Changes, 1910-54
From the various estimates we can only con
clude that if there has been an increase in the
working force participation of women, this in
crease is smaller than has been previously imag
ined. The estimates are plotted in chart 2.
Between 1910 and 1954, the minimum estimate
suggests that there might have been an actual
decrease in the working force participation of
women (line f). On the other hand, the maximum
increase which our calculations provide is about
46 percent (line e).
If we use the numbers as reported in the 1910
census and in the April 1954 Current Population
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Chart 2. Changes in Percent of Women A g e 14 and
Over in the Working Force, 1910-54
PER C EN T CHANGE
70
-101
--------------------------------------------------------
1910
1954
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT O f LABOR
BUREAU OE LABOR STATISTICS
1 Excluding unpaid family workers in nonagriculture.
Survey, we obtain an increase of about 33 percent
(line a). However, if we adjust the much maligned
1910 census 13 (as has been done by students) and
compare it with the April 1954 labor force figures,
we obtain the maximum increase—62 percent
(line g).
Finally, it can be argued that the data from the
Current Population Survey should not be com
pared with data from a decennial census, since the
CPS always seems to show more women in the
labor force than does the decennial census.
Following this line of reasoning, we should have
compared the 1910 and 1950 census results.
According to the 1950 census, 29.0 percent of the
women 14 years and over were in the labor force,
is The 1910 rate was adjusted by straight-line interpolation between 1900 and
1920. This provided the estimate that 21.5 percent of the women age 14 and
over were gainfully occupied in 1910.
565
WOMEN IN THE WORKING FORCE
as compared with 32.1 percent reported by the
CPS. Hence, direct comparison of the 1910 and
1950 censuses (without any adjustment) reveals
an increase of only 15 percent in the working force
participation of women. In short, by comparing
the 1910 census with the CPS data for 1950 and
following years, we have probably exaggerated
any increase which might have occurred.
Implications
Various projections have been made of the par
ticipation of women in the Nation’s working force
in future years,14 all based on analysis of past
events and changes. To the extent that the in
crease in the participation of women in the working
force in the past may have been overestimated,
future projections may also be overestimated.
Future research may, it is conceivable, prove
that at the beginning of the 20th century as large
a proportion of women were engaged in earning
pay or profit (or aiding their families in activities
which resulted in family profits) as in mid-century.
However, it is probable that at the end of the 19th
century and the beginning of the 20th, many more
women were carrying on working force activities
without leaving their homes; there was consider
able home industry .at that time in the apparel
and other industries, as well as relatively many
more small family farms. Since then, women
have left the home to work outside; by the mid20th century, home needlework and related home
industries had almost disappeared, and there had
been a great diminution in agricultural work.
The apparent increases in the proportion of
women taking jobs outside the home have un
doubtedly been related to decreases in the birth
rate. But the relationship between these two
variables is probably more complex than a com
parison of the rates would suggest. The most
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important factor may be the age at which women
complete their family formation rather than the
ultimate size of the family. If women continue
to have children until age 35 or even later, then
they are close to 40 years of age before they are
free to enter (or reenter) the working force. By
this age, they are almost “older workers” and
employers tend to be willing to hire them only if
no other applicants are available.
However, if women complete their family for
mation by the late twenties, then they can enter
(or reenter) the working force in the early thirties,
at which age they are more acceptable to em
ployers. Thus, even without any decrease in the
ultimate size of the family, a lowering of the age
at which family formation is completed may result
in an increase in the proportion of women who
leave the home for outside jobs. There is some
evidence to suggest that in the United States the
age at which women have completed their child
bearing has decreased significantly over the last
generation or so. This point has never been
adequately investigated, however, to the best of
knowledge.
Finally, it may be advisable to reinvestigate
other historical trends in the American working
force, using the labor force data derived from
“work experience in the past year” for comparison
with earlier data on the gainfully occupied. The
year 1910 may be the earliest starting point for
an analysis of women in the working force. For
analyzing historical trends among men, however,
prior censuses may possibly be used.
—A.
J. J a f f e
Columbia University
14 See, for example, U . S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Re
ports, Labor Force, Series P-50, N o. 42, A Projected Growth of the Labor
Force in the United States Under Conditions of High Employment: 1950
to 1975. Released D ecemher 10,1952. The author has suggested that 1950-75
projections might be recalculated to ascertain the effect of adjusting the 1920
rates upward.
566
Comments on the Analysis of
Working Force Trends for Women
I. Basic Assumptions
by A. J. Jaffe, in the preceding
article, that the increase in labor force participa
tion rates of women since the early part of the 20th
century may have been much smaller than is
generally believed, rests upon two points which
he has not made very convincingly. His first
point was that examination of historical trends
should begin with the Census data for 1910 rather
than for 1890, 1900, or 1920, on the grounds that
the 1910 census is the earliest census “which
provides data almost comparable in coverage with
labor force data for 1940 and following years.”
The second point advanced was that certain
groups of women workers, particularly the inter
mittent and part-time workers and unpaid family
workers, were probably omitted from the 1910
census, and that, for comparability, the labor
force data for later years should be adjusted to
exclude part-year workers.
Dr. Jaffe based his arguments almost entirely on
examination of the 1910 “Instructions to Enumer
ators” and his interpretation of the weight given
by enumerators to specific wording in those in
structions. The number of women gainful workers,
as shown in Census data, was high in 1910 com
pared with 1890, 1900, and 1920. Most students
have concluded that this resulted from the em
phasis in 1910 instruction 144 on reporting “The
occupation, if any, followed by a child, of any
age, or by a woman . . . , ” and also from in
struction 154. This was the point of view at the
time the 1910 census results were published.
Dr. Jaffe has ignored the discussion presented in
the 1910 census on the reasons why the results
were “an anomaly.” This was also the position
for which statistical evidence was offered by Dr.
Alba M. Edwards 1 and others—evidence based
on analyses of detailed data on farmworkers in
T h e contention
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
the various States and comparisons with farm
population trends. Dr. Jaffe has not refuted
this evidence. He simply states his belief that
instruction 144 provided better coverage than
was obtained in other censuses prior to 1940, and
that instructions 153 and 154 had been interpreted
to exclude women who worked only part of the
year.
There is a basic inconsistency between his in
terpretations of the effects of instruction 144 and
those of instructions 153 and 154. The additional
women workers reported in the 1910 census, com
pared with 1890 and 1900, resulted, this writer
affirms, from the emphasis on making an entry for
the trade or profession followed by each person,
regardless of age or sex. Presumably, an occupa
tion pursued on a full-time, full-year basis would
have been reported under any instructions.
Therefore, the additional coverage must have been
the more complete reporting of women and chil
dren who were working intermittently or part time.
But Dr. Jaffe believes that women who worked
intermittently or part time in nonagriculture and
agriculture were excluded because the word
regularly was used in instructions 153 and 154.
If part-year and part-time workers were excluded
from the 1910 data, as Dr. Jaffe contends, then
the count of women could not have been so much
greater in 1910 than in 1890 and 1900. In other
words, the two points which are the keystones of
Dr. Jaffe’s argument are not consistent: If the
coverage was better, it probably resulted from
picking up the marginal, intermittent and parttime workers—yet Dr. Jaffe says they were
excluded. Therefore, there is no basis for adjusting
current data to exclude women who worked only
part of the year. In fact, one could make a good
case for the thesis that current data on all women
who had any work experience during the year are
more comparable with 1910 data.
— S o p h ia C o o per
Bureau of Labor Statistics
i See footnote 2, p. 559.
WOMEN IN THE WORKING FORCE
II. Conclusions
h is a r t ic l e , A. J. Jaffe has made a valuable
contribution in calling attention to the advantages
of using work experience data for analyzing long
term labor force trends, as well as to the wisdom
of concentrating not merely on overall trends
alone but on the urban data as well. Analysis of
his materials leads to an interesting inference—
namely, that students of manpower have seriously
understated (not overstated, as he concludes) the
increasing role of women in the labor force. Two
main conclusions may be drawn from his study.
1. According to his estimates, the percent of
women in the labor force either rose or fell from
1910 to 1950. (Of the three alternatives he outlines
on p. 563, one indicates a rise of 8.1 points, or more
than the amount reported in Census data; one
indicates a rise of 1.9 points; and one suggests a
fall of 3.2 points.) He warns the reader not to
assume that any one of these alternatives is more
likely than the other, noting only that the figures
represent “the range of estimates as to what
might have happened between 1910 and 1950, if
comparable data were available for the entire
period.” It is something of a giant step from
this statement to his conclusion that “if there has
been an increase in the working force participation
of women, this increase is smaller than has been
previously imagined” (p. 564).
2. Dr. Jaffe may be overstating the gain in
worker rates for women in recent years, relative
to that in earlier years, in some of his alternatives.
His analysis does not include figures for 1940, but
they are readily available in the census volumes.1
By using them, we find his alternative (b), as
shown in table 1 (p. 562), indicating a decline of 3
points from 1910 to 1940 followed by a rise of 5
points to 1950 and still further gains since then.
His alternative (c) also indicates a fall for the
early period, followed by a 9-point rise from 1940
to 1950.2
In
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567
As a final point, one must express gratitude for
Dr. Jaffe’s useful tabulation of urban work rates
in 1910, for it provides a sounder basis for under
standing, and for labor force projection, than do
the distorted data of the 1910 census enumeration.
(One assumes as a jeu d’esprit his suggestion that
a careful reading of the 1910 “Instructions to
Enumerators” demonstrates the comparability of
the 1910 and later reports. Miss Cooper’s dis
cussion of the contradictory inferences to be
drawn from reading these instructions seems to be
as compelling as it is cogent. Experience with
labor force counts in 1945, 1950, and 1953 indi
cates that changes in questions, changes in
enumerative procedures, or even changes in the
sample of enumerators alone produce sizable
variations in labor force counts. This experience
has demonstrated that merely by taking thought
of the census instructions, one cannot add a cubit
to the accuracy with which we measure enumerator
response—particularly, as Miss Cooper points out,
when the instructions lead in two directions at
once.) A look at the agricultural component of
the gainful worker totals in 1910 turns up a host
of improbabilities—as, for example, that the
number of nonwhite female agricultural workers
in Mississippi numbered 209,000 in comparison
with 112,000 in 1900, 111,000 in 1920, and 119,000
in 1930. Since Dr. Jaffe accepts the 1930 figures
as more or less comparable with 1910, it is clear
that the published total data report a quite un
reasonable 1910-30 change. In the face of such
incomparabilities, the provision of detailed urban
data by Dr. Jaffe is a real help to the analyst.
— S t a n l e y L e be r g o t t
U. S. Bureau of the Budget
i U . S. Census of Population: 1940, Employment and Personal Charac
teristics (tables 1 and 31).
s These estimates accept Dr. Jafle’s procedure of directly comparing decen
nial census totals with those from the Current Population Survey reports
for recent years. Actually the noncomparability between these sources is
great, as a systematic presentation of data from both sources would indicate,
thus casting doubt on any direct comparison between 1910 census and 1950-54
CPS data.
568
Relative Importance of
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able
1.— Example of calculation of relative importance of
major groups in the C P I, December 1955
Consumer Price Index Components
E ach y e a r the U. S. Department of Labor’s Bu
reau of Labor Statistics publishes the relative
importance of each commodity and service in
the calculation of the Consumer Price Index
(i. e., percentage distribution of index value
weights). Table 1 illustrates the calculation of
group relative importance, using only published
data. Column 5 of that table summarizes the
figures calculated by the Bureau and indicates
how closely users may approximate the official
figures which are presented in table 2 for De
cember 1955.1
Significance of Relative Importance Changes
The changes in relative importance indicate
how urban families of wage earners and clerical
workers would allocate their expenditures, if they
still bought the same qualities and quantities of goods
and services as they did in the year ending June 30,
1952. They do not reflect changes in expenditure
patterns as a result of rising incomes, changes in
consumer preferences, or migration among cities.
However, such factors usually change so slowly
that the index “market basket” remains a good
approximation of actual consumer expenditures
for some years. When it becomes clear that the
“market basket” is not representative, the value
weights must be adjusted or a new set of weights
derived and a new weight-base period introduced.2
Within this frame of reference, the analysis of
changes in the relative importance of items and
groups of items provides indications of the effects
of price change on expenditure patterns.
During the 3 years December 1952 to Decem
ber 1955, the index of all items remained extraor
dinarily stable, moving within a range of 2
index points, i. e., between 113.4 and 115.4. How
ever, there were sharp differences in both the
direction and the rate of price change of index
components over that period. (See column 2 of
table 1.) Four of the 8 major index groups re
flected lower prices; the other 4, higher prices.
The divergence between the price changes for food
(—3.8 percent) and housing (+3.8 percent) is
particularly important because each represents
almost a third of the total value weight for the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Group
Relative importance
Relative
of price
Relative
change, Product: Decem
impor
tance, D e Decem columns ber
1955 Decem
cember ber 1955 2
(products ber
(Decem (1) X (2) 419521
1955 3
S
prod
(percent) ber 1952=
(percent)
ucts)
100)
(percent)
(1)
Food______
_
Housing____________
Apparel____________
Transportation_____
Medical care____ _
Personal c a r e ______
Reading and recrea
tion. _ __________
Other goods and serv
ices______________
All item s_____
29.84
32.18
9. 42
11.33
4. 78
2.12
(2)
96. 22
103. 78
99. 62
98. 76
109.14
104.80
(3)
(4)
28. 7120
33.3964
9. 3842
11.1895
5. 2169
2. 2218
28. 54
33.20
9. 33
11.12
5.19
2.21
(5)
28. 55
33.18
9. 32
11.13
5.19
2. 21
5.32
98.89
5. 2609
5.23
5.23
5.01
104.06
5. 2134
5.18
5.19
100. 00
100. 53
100. 5951
100.00
100.00
1 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1955 (p. 444) for the December 1952
relative importance.
2 See M onthly Labor Review, February 1956 (p. 253) for December 1952
and December 1955 indexes from which relatives were calculated.
s Official relative importance as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statis
tics (table 2).
index. The relative importance figures reflect
these changes almost directly. Food dropped
from 29.84 to 28.55; housing rose from 32.18 to
33.18.
It is not known whether the proportion of urban
consumer expenditures allocated to food and hous
ing changed in the same way and in the same de
gree. With substantial increases in real wages,
larger supplies of goods available for civilian con
sumption, and other changes in the economy, the
average city family may now spend more for food,
for example, both in actual dollars and in propor
tion to the family budget. They may and prob
ably do buy better qualities and larger quantities,
but these changes are excluded as rigidly as pos
sible from the index calculation.
Differing degrees of price change in the same
direction similarly affect relative importance; e. g.,
both the price relative and the relative importance
rose about twice as much for medical care as for
“other goods and services.” Again these shifts do
not prove that corresponding changes took place in
actual urban consumer expenditures; on the other
hand, given a greater margin between real disposa
ble income and expenditures required for basic
1 For complete descriptions of the procedures of calculation and for the
relative importance figures for recent years, see M onthly Labor Review,
August 1954 (p. 891) and April 1955 (p. 444).
2 Weight-base periods are the time spans to which the value weights (and
the quantities and qualities implicit therein) relate, as opposed to the base
period (the time span used as a uniform reference point for current indexes).
For example, the current weight-base period is 1951-52; the base period is
1947-49, i. e., the average of prices in the years 1947, 1948, and 1949 equals 100.
569
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF CPI COMPONENTS
needs, the average consumer may now devote a
larger proportion of his expenditures to medical
care.
Greater caution is necessary in interpreting
changes in the relative importance of individual
items. For example, the relative importance of
television sets to all items dropped 14 percent.
However, family expenditures for this commodity
almost certainly increased as TV stations opened
in more cities and as greater disposable income
broadened effective demand.
Any attempt to evaluate the significance of
changes in relative importance requires an overall
appraisal, as well as detailed analysis of individual
components. Essentially, the December 1955 rel
ative importance reflects much the same pattern
of expenditures as the December 1952 figures.
The apparent decline from 29.8 to 28.5 percent of
the consumer dollar spent for food is a far cry from
a revolutionary change in consumer habits, and
the proportion of average family expenditures used
to purchase food almost certainly approximates the
relative importance of food in the Consumer Price
Index.
— J o se p h A. C l o r e t y , Jr.
Division of Prices and Cost of Living
T a b l e 2. —List of items priced for the Consumer Price Index and their relative importance in the major groups of items and
in the all-items index, December 1955 1
Percent
of all
items
total
Item
Percent
of major
group
total
FO O D ________________________________________
28.55
100.00
Food at home
_______ ____ ____ ________ _
Cereals and bakery products _________ _____
Cereals_________________________
___
Flour, w hite— - - ____... - _____
Biscuit mix__ _
Com flakes____
Rolled oats____
C om meal_____
Rice______________ ._ ______ - __
Bakery products_____
__ ____________
Bread, w hite____ _ ______ __________
Soda crackers___
Vanilla cookies. __
Meats, poultry, and fish___
.
Beef________________ _
. . _______
Round s t e a k . __
Chuck roast.. .
Rib roast______ __ _____ _____
Hamburger. .
Veal cutlets. . . .
P o r k .. _______ _
Pork chops___ .
Smoked ham .
Bacon__________ . ____
___ ___
Lamb, leg_______
Other meats_______ .
Frankfurters
Canned luncheon meat
Poultry: Frying chickens
F ish..
Fresh and frozen fin fish—.
Canned salm on... .
Canned tuna____ .
Dairy products__________
Butter ___________ ____
Cheese, American process
M ilk, fresh (delivered)____
M ilk, fresh (grocery)
M ilk, evaporated...
Ice cream_________
Fruits and vegetables__
Fresh f r u it s _____
Oranges_____
Lemons __
23. 82
3.23
1.01
.56
. 15
. 10
.08
.04
.08
2.22
1. 57
. 15
. 50
6. 40
1. 71
.75
.40
. 14
.42
. 18
2. 01
. 69
. 58
. 74
. 16
.85
. 63
. 22
. 94
. 55
.28
. 10
. 17
3. 97
.43
.49
1.23
1.23
.27
.32
4.32
1.38
.40
. 05
83. 44
11.30
3.53
1.95
. 53
.34
.27
. 15
.29
7. 77
5. 50
. 54
1. 73
22.43
6. 00
2. 61
1.42
. 50
1.47
. 63
7. 05
2. 41
2. 03
2. 61
. 57
3. 00
2. 22
. 78
3 25
1.93
1. 00
.34
. 59
13. 92
1. 51
1. 70
4.34
4.33
. 93
1.11
15.14
4. 84
1.35
. 17
.31
93
. 10
. 07
. 06
. 10
1. 29
.37
. 05
. 11
. 05
. 11
. 09
.22
. 10
.19
1.08
R?f
Apples.
Peaches _
Grapes___
Strawberries
Watermelons
Fresh vegetables
Potatoes .
Swee tpota toes
Green beans.
Cabbage__
Carrots..
Onions
Tomatoes
Celery..
Lettuce __________
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
____
_______
_____
.3 7
. 26
. 22
.35
4. 51
1.10
. 17
.39
. 17
.39
.30
.77
.35
.67
Item
Percent
of all
items
total
Percent
of major
group
total
Food at home—Continued
Fruits and vegetables—Continued
Canned fruits. ___________________ ____ _
Orange juice_________________________
Peaches. _ . _______________ . . . . . .
Pineapple, sliced .
_______________
Fruit cocktail_____________________
Canned vegetables______________________
Corn________________ ______________
Peas__ _________________ . ________
Tomatoes________________ ________ _
Strained baby food_______ _________
Frozen fruits. _ A ____________ _____ ___
Orange juice concen trate_____ ______
Strawberries___________ ___________
Frozen vegetables__________ ____ ____ ___
Peas______________ ________________
Green beans__________ ____ __________
Dried fruits and vegetab les__ __________
Prunes_____________________________
Beans__________
Other foods at home,
. _ __
Partially prepared foods____
______________
Vegetable soup. ______ . . . . . __________
Beans with pork _________
_________
Condiments and sauces_______________ .
Sweet pickles_____________ . . . _________
Tomato catsup_ . . . _______ __________
Nonalcoholic beverages____ . _ ..... ________
Coffee . . . . . . -T_______ . ._ _________
T ea.. . . .
. . . ____________ _____
Cola drinks___ _____ ____ . .
Fats and oils . ___________ ______________
Margarine________________ . . ________
Lard. _________ _________
_________
Vegetable shortening_______________ _____
Salad dressin g___ ~ ________ _____
.. .
Peanut butter _ . . .
________________
Sugar and sweets____________________________
Sugar, w hite____________________________
Corn sirup_____________________________
Grape jelly______ _____ _________________
Chocolate bar___________________________
Eggs, fresh____________________ ___________
Miscellaneous: Flavored gelatin dessert_____
Food away from home: Restaurant meals________
0.58
.22
.17
. 10
.09
.61
. 13
. 16
. 19
. 13
.14
. 11
.03
.14
.09
.05
. 18
.09
.09
5.90
.53
.37
. 16
.33
.23
.10
1.69
1.17
.15
.37
.92
.23
. 10
.30
. 18
. 11
.92
.38
.13
.14
.27
1.41
. 10
4.73
2.04
.78
.61
.35
.30
2.14
. 44
.56
.67
.47
.48
.38
.10
.48
.30
. 18
.65
.32
.33
20. 65
1.84
1.29
.55
1.17
.82
.35
5. 92
4.12
.52
1. 28
3.20
.80
.35
1.05
.62
.38
3.18
1.32
.44
.48
.94
4.97
.37
16.56
H O U SIN G ____________________________________
33.18
100.00
Residential rents_______________ _______________
Other sh e lte r ____ . .
. _______ _________
Housing away from hom e2__ ___
________
Homeowner expenditures... . .
___________
Sale prices of homes___ ____
_______
Real estate taxes...
______ _______ ____
Mortgage interest rates________________
Property insurance rates________________
Repairs and maintenance_________ _________
Repainting garage______ . .
________
Exterior house paint_____________________
Repainting dining room_________________
Paint brush____ A . . ______ _____ ______ _
Reshingling house roof_______
________
5.89
12.45
.40
9.00
6.08
1.08
1.64
.20
3.05
.16
.26
.29
.30
.31
17.76
37.54
1.21
27.13
18.33
3.26
4.93
.61
9.20
.48
.79
.87
.90
.94
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
570
T a b l e 2. —List of items priced for the Consumer Price Index and their relative importance in the major groups of items and
in the all-items index, December 1955 1— Continued
Item
Other shelter—Continued
Repairs and maintenance—Continued
Replacing hot water heater_______________
Kitchen cabinet s in k .___________________
Sink faucet_____________________________
Refinishing dining room floor_____________
Porch flooring______________ _____ _______
Gas and electricity______________________________
Gas, residential heating--------------------------------Gas, other than residential heating.......................
Electricity_________________ ____ ___________
Solid fuels and fuel o il___________________________
Anthracite_________________________________
Bituminous coal____________________________
Briquets— _____________________ _______ ____
Wood and prestologs________________ ____ ___
Fuel oil____________________________________
Range oil___________________________________
Housefumishings______________________________ _
Textile housefumishings-------------------------------Sheets__________________________________
Blankets_______________________________
Bedspreads, cotton---------------------------------Towels_________________________________
Drapery fabrics, cotton---------------------------Curtains, cotton and rayon---------------------Floor coverings_____________________________
Rugs, wool, axminster, and broadloom____
Rugs, cotton, scatter------------------------------Rugs, felt base---------------------------------------Furniture------------- -------------------------------------Living room suites---------------------------------D inette sets, wood-------- ------ ------------------Dinette sets, chrome---------------------- --------Bedroom suites_________________________
Sofa beds_______________________________
Mattresses, innerspring___ ______________
Major household appliances------------------------Refrigerator, electric-------------------------------Cookstoves_____________________________
Washing machines, electric_______________
Vacuum cleaners, electric--------------- --------Sewing machines, electric------------------------Small household appliances: Toasters, electric..
Housewares______________________ - ............ —
Dinnerware, 53-piece set-------------- -----------Saucepans, alum inum___________ ________
Miscellaneous_________________ ____________
Napkins, paper__________ ____ __________
Toilet tissue__________________ ______ —
Electric light b u lb s..------------------------------Household operation________________ ______ _____
Laundry soap and detergents_____________
D ry cleaning.--------- -----------------------------—
Laundry service_________________________
Automatic laundry service_______________
D omestic service___ _____ _______________
Telephone rates_________________________
Residential water rates__________________
Postage___ ____ ______________ _____ ____
T o o ls2_________________________________
Percent
of all
items
total
Percent
of major
group
total
.02
.52
.05
6.13
.75
.19
.09
.08
.07
.17
.15
.55
.36
.06
.13
1.72
.52
. 14
. 18
.49
.17
.22
2.11
.76
.48
.49
.21
. 17
.19
.49
.19
.30
.32
.04
.21
.07
5.32
.64
1.26
.72
.09
.56
1.09
.37
.26
.33
2.36
.40
1.00
.54
.92
6.11
1.08
1.95
3.08
4.10
.73
1. 59
.01
.06
1.57
. 14
18. 46
2. 27
.58
.27
.25
.20
.50
.47
1.64
1.08
. 17
.39
5.16
1.56
.42
. 54
1.47
.50
.67
6. 37
2. 30
1.45
1.47
.63
.52
.57
1.48
.57
.91
.97
.12
.62
.23
16.03
1.92
3.80
2.18
.28
1.69
3. 27
1.12
.78
.99
A P P A R E L __________ _________________________
9. 32
100. 00
M en’s and boys’ apparel__________ ____ _________
M en’s apparel................... ..........................................
Topcoats._________________ ___________ _
Jackets____________________________ ____
Sweaters__________________________ _____
Suits, heavy w ool____________ _______ ___
Suits, light wool_________ _____ __________
Suits, rayon____________________________
Slacks, w o o l...__________ _______________
Slacks, ra y o n ..___________ ______________
Trousers, work__________________________
Dungarees, blue denim__________________
Gloves, work____________________________
Shirts, work_____ ____ ,___________ _____ _
Shirts, sport__________ ____ _____________
Shirts, business_______________ ____ _____
Shorts, cotton______________ ____________
Undershirts, knit________________________
Pajamas________________________________
Socks, cotton_________ ..................... ..............
2.94
2.49
31. 58
26.74
2. 41
1.33
.60
5.05
.76
1.02
1. 64
.55
2.23
1.39
.48
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.78
. 13
.33
. 18
.31
2.03
.36
.65
1. 02
1.36
.24
.53
.22
.12
.06
.48
.07
.09
. 15
.05
.21
.13
.04
.08
. 10
. 19
.05
.17
.06
.22
.86
1.07
2.04
.53
1.78
.62
2.38
Item
Percent
of all
items
total
Percent
of major
group
total
M en’s and boys’ apparel—Continued
______ - _____ - - ___ _
Boys* apparel
Suits, wool ____
____________________
Jackets, r a y o n .________ _________ . .
Slacks
.
____________________
Dungarees, blue denim__________________
Shirts, sport, w o v e n ____________________
Undershorts, knit _____________________
Women’s and girls’ apparel_____________________
Women’s apparel..
.
______________ .
Coats, heavyweight w o o l . ______________
Coats, lightweight w o o l __ . ___ ___ _ .
Coats, fur . . . ______ . . . _____ ___ ____
Suits, wool . ___________________________
Suits, rayon ___________________________
Dresses, wool ______ _
______ ____
Dresses, rayon
_____ _________________
Dresses, cotton, street.. . _____________
Housedr e s s e s ______ ________ _______ _
Skirts, r a y o n ___ ______________________
Blouses, rayon_______ _ ________ ____
Slips, nylon tr ic o t_____________________
Slips, rayon____
_
_
Panties, rayon_______ __________ . ____
Girdles ___
_____ __________ - __
Nightgowns, rayon, cotton ____
.. .
Stockings, nylon_________ ___________
Girls’ apparel____ _______ . . .
. . . .
C o a ts______ _______________ ___ _ . .
Dresses, c o tto n _____________ _________
Skirts, wool
-. . _ _________________
Sweaters, cardigan, wool_______ . ______
P a n t ie s ..__
_______
. . _ _
Anklets ____ ___________ _______ _____
Footwear..
. ___ _______ .
. . . .
. . .
M en’s
_________________ _____________
. _______ _____
Oxfords__ ___ _____ _
____
______ . ____
Work shoes. .
Women’s
_
____
____________
Oxfords and pumps, street______ ____
___
______
Play shoes
Children’s: Oxfords
__
. _______.
Shoe repairs, men’s and women’s__ ___ ____
Other apparel
.
. . . . . . . .
...
Diapers.
_____ .
____ _______ ____
Y ard goods
.
. . . _____
Cotton
__ _______ . . .
..
Rayon_______ ____ ____ _______ ___ _
M iscellaneous2____ __ . . . . . . . . . __
0. 45
. 13
.05
.04
.09
. 10
.04
4. 08
3.40
. 54
. 19
.09
.29
.11
.11
.43
.23
. 14
.10
. 15
.08
. 14
. 12
.15
. 13
.40
. 68
. 18
. 14
.08
.08
. 12
.08
1.50
.47
.32
.15
.55
.38
. 17
.33
.15
.80
.17
. 17
.13
.04
.46
4.84
1. 25
.57
.47
.99
1.09
.47
43.80
36.54
5.74
1. 99
1.00
3.11
1.13
1.13
4. 62
2.48
1. 55
1.08
1.65
.81
1. 51
1.33
1. 66
1.41
4.34
7.26
2.04
1. 51
.83
. 81
1.25
.82
16.05
5.09
3. 45
1.64
5.87
4.10
1. 77
3. 50
1.59
8.57
1.86
1.83
1.43
.40
4. 88
T R A N S P O R T A T IO N ________________________
11.13
100.00
Private_________________ . .
_____________
N ew cars____ _____ ____
. ________ ___ _
Used cars____ _________ _ - - __ ___ ____
Auto repairs._ ________ _____ _ ______ ____
Tires
______ . ______ .
_____ - __
Gasoline_________ ___ __ _
____. . . . . . . .
M otor o i l . . . ___. . .
. . . ._
. .
Auto insurance
_ _ _ __ _ _________
Registration and license fees ________ _________
Public________
..
________________________
Streetcar and bus fa r e s ____ . .
Railroad fares
. ___________ ________
9.67
2. 85
1.46
1.19
.35
2.40
.22
.90
.30
1.46
1.18
.28
86.85
25.59
13.12
10.66
3.14
21.58
1.95
8.11
2. 70
13.15
10.63
2. 52
M E D IC A L CARE
5.19
100.00
1.66
.73
.75
.18
.17
.09
.85
.68
.17
.27
.22
.07
.15
1.12
.81
.28
.08
31.97
14.04
14.40
3. 53
3.23
1.70
16.38
13.11
3.27
5.26
4.36
1.40
2.96
21.54
15.56
5.49
1.49
______________________
Physician
_______ ____ __ _________ . . .
Office v i s i t ______________________________ ..
Home v i s i t _________ ____________________
Obstetrical care___
_ _ _ _
Surgeon: Appendectomy ___ _ _ _ _ __ ___
Specialist: Tonsillectomy
. . _
D entist— ____________ _______ - . . . ____
Filling_________________ ___ ____________
Extraction____ _____
_______
Optometrist: Eyeglasses, complete . _____
Hospital rates
___ ______ ____ ___ _ _ __ _
Men's pay ward____ _____________________
Room
__
____
_ _ __________
Group hospitalization
_ ____ _ ____________
Prescriptions and drugs
__ _____ ___ ______
Prescriptions, narcotics and nonnarcotics______
Penicillin tablets_____________
___________
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF CPI COMPONENTS
571
T able 2 .— L is t of items priced for the Consumer Price Index and their relative importance in the major groups of items and
in the all-items index, December 1955 1— Continued
Item
Percent
of all
items
total
Percent
of major
group
total
Prescriptions and drugs—Continued
Multiple vitam in concentrates...
Aspirin........................ ............... .
Milk of magnesia.............................
0.20
.18
.07
3. 77
3.53
1.28
PE R SO N A L C A R E ................ ..........
2. 21
100.00
M en’s haircuts________________ ___
Permanent w ave............ .............. .........
Shampoo and waveset_____________
Toilet s o a p ............. ....................... .......
Cleansing tissue........... .........................
Toothpaste....................................... .......
Shampoo, liq u id ....................................
Shaving cream............ ..........................
Home permanent refill.........................
Face powder________________ _____
Face cream .._____________________
Razor blades._____ _______________
Sanitary napkins__________ _______
.70
.13
.19
.22
.12
.20
.11
.06
.05
.11
.12
.14
.06
31.38
5.85
8. 65
9.88
5. 26
9.28
5.00
2.89
2.43
5.13
5.34
6. 24
2.67
1 In addition to changes brought about by different rates of price change,
the relative importance figures for December 1955 reflect reallocation of
weights for the items listed below for which pricing and separate weights
were discontinued in 1955:
Weight reallocated to—
Tablecloth................................
Bedspring__________ _____
Broom_________________
Ice..................... .......................
M en’s rayon socks________
M en’s felt h a ts.................... .
W omen’s fur-trimmed coats.
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All textile housefurnishings
Mattress
Housewares and miscellane
ous housefurnishings
All household operation
M en’s cotton socks
All men’s apparel
W omen’s plain coats
Item
Percent
of all
items
total
Percent
of major
group
total
R E A D IN G A N D R E C R E A T IO N ..
5.23
100.00
Radios, table m odel..................................
Television sets..................... .....................
Television repairs_______ ____ _______
M otion picture admissions.....................
A d u lt............. .....................................
C hild....................................... ............
T oys______________________________
Sporting goods_________________ ____
Newspapers................................................
.35
.80
.04
1.61
1.27
.34
.28
1.16
.99
6.63
15. 27
.84
30.87
24. 36
6.51
5.34
22.08
18. 97
O THER GOODS A N D SERVICES.
5.19
100.00
Cigarettes........ ............................................
Cigars___________________ _________
Beer___ _____________________ _____
W hiskey___________________________
M iscellaneous2 *..... ..................................
1.84
.14
1.45
.93
.83
35.28
2.70
27.90
17.85
16. 27
Weight reallocated to—
W omen’s wool skirts and cotton shorts______All women’s dresses, skirts,
and blouses
Women’s wool sweaters____________________All women’s coats, suits,
and jackets
W omen’s brassieres_______ ________________ All women’s slips, panties,
girdles, and nightgowns
W omen’s gloves and handbags............ .............. All women’s apparel
M en’s rubbers__________________ __________All shoes
Parking and taxicab fares__________________ All transportation
2 N ot actually priced; imputed to another priced item or group of items.
3 Less than 0.005 percent.
1 Such as legal and burial services and banking fees.
Significant Decisions
in Labor Cases1
Labor Relations
Registration of Union Officers. The Supreme
Court of the United States held 2 that, during an
unfair labor practice hearing, an employer could
contest compliance with registration requirements
of the National Labor Relations Act by union
officers. The decision further stated that the
National Labor Relations Board could properly
define a union officer as “any person occupying a
position identified as an office in the constitution
of the labor organization.”
Section 9(h) of the act provides that the Board
may not issue a complaint based on a union’s
unfair labor practice charges unless each officer of
the local union and the national or international
with which it is affiliated has filed a non-Communist affidavit with the Board. The affidavit
must be filed either at the time that the complaint
is filed or within 12 months before that date.
The Court, in N L R B v. Highland Park M anu
facturing Co.,3 had ruled that, in an unfair labor
practice hearing, an employer could litigate the
question of whether the complaining union’s
officer had filed the required affidavit. The Board
construed that decision as applicable to cases
where the “employer seeks to question only the
fact of compliance, as distinguished from the
necessity of compliance.” Therefore, it had con
tinued to refuse to allow employers to raise the
question in unfair labor practice hearings. The
Court refused to accept the NLRB interpretation
because the Board’s theory “. . . would make of
law too thin a dialectic enterprise.”
The Court also held that the Board had properly
interpreted section 9(h) to mean that only those
persons occupying positions identified as officers
in a union’s constitution had to file the required
affidavits. It found that this conclusion could
be supported on either of two grounds. First,
since the act itself did not define “officer,” the
572
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
word should be given the meaning ordinary men
would give it. This, the Board had done. Sec
ond, if the word had a technical meaning in labor
relations, then the courts should defer to the
Board’s expertness in labor matters so long as its
interpretation of the act was reasonable.
Strike Over Railway Union’s Grievance, No. 1. The
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit held4that the Norris-LaGuardia Act’s ban
on injunctions in labor disputes did not prevent
a Federal court from enjoining a railway labor
union’s threatened strike to force the settlement
of grievance disputes through collective bargain
ing.
The union had presented the grievances to the
railroad in accordance with the Railway Labor
Act, as amended, and was dissatisfied with the
railroad’s settlement of the grievances. It there
fore threatened to strike in order to compel the
railroad to settle through collective bargaining.
The court held that the 1934 amendments to the
Railway Labor Act required the union to appeal
to the National Railroad Adjustment Board if it
was not satisfied with the railroad’s settlement of
the grievances. Accordingly, the court ruled that
a strike by the union over these grievances would
be illegal.
The court then stated that since the threatened
strike would be illegal, it could be enjoined unless
the Norris-LaGuardia Act’s ban on injunctions by
Federal courts in labor disputes applied in this
case. Though the court found that the NorrisLaGuardia Act of 1932 appeared to forbid an
injunction against this threatened strike, it
pointed out that the 1934 amendments to the
Railway Labor Act made this strike illegal. The
court reasoned that an injunction against the strike
was the only way in which it could make the
amendments effective. Therefore, the court con
cluded that the amendments had necessarily re
pealed by implication any provisions of the Norris1 Prepared in the U . S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor. The
cases covered in this article represent a selection of the significant decisions
believed to be of special interest. N o attempt has been made to reflect all
recent judicial and administrative developments in the field of labor law or
to indicate the effect of particular decisions in jurisdictions in which contraryresults 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 N L R B v. C o c a -C o la B o t tl i n g C o . (U. S. Sup. Ct., Feb. 27, 1956).
2 341 U . S. 322 (1951).
* C h ic a g o R i v e r R R . v. B r o th e r h o o d o f R a i lr o a d T r a i n m e n (C. A. 7 Feb. 6,
1956).
DECISIONS IN LABOR CASES
LaGuardia Act which would prevent a Federal
court from enjoining a strike over grievances in
the railroad industry.
Strike Over Railway Union’s Grievance, No. 2. The
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Cir
cuit held 5 that the Norris-LaGuardia Act pre
vented a Federal court from enjoining a union’s
threatened strike against a railroad in order to
preserve the status quo between the union and the
railroad while a grievance dispute between the
two was pending before the National Railroad
Adjustment Board.
The grievance had arisen out of a dispute over
the effect of an arbitrator’s award known as the
Cheney decision. In an earlier suit concerning
this grievance, the Supreme Court of the State of
Georgia had held 6 that the National Railroad
Adjustment Board had exclusive jurisdiction to
settle the grievance. The railroad had then
submitted the grievance to that Board, but the
union, in order to force the railroad to bargain
with it for a settlement of the controversy,
threatened to strike. Thereupon, the railroad
requested a Federal district court to enjoin the
strike in order to preserve the status quo while
the dispute was pending before the Board. The
injunction was granted.
The court of appeals, reversing the decision of
the district court, held that this grievance was a
labor dispute as defined in the Norris-LaGuardia
Act. That act had withdrawn a Federal court’s
power to issue an injunction in a case involving a
labor dispute except in exceptional situations, and
this case did not involve one of those exceptional
situations. The court said that the Railway
Labor Act had not repealed the Norris-LaGuardia
Act either specifically or by implication. There
fore, a Federal court had no power to enjoin a
union from striking against a railroad over a
grievance dispute. Because of that, the court
found it unnecessary to decide whether the strike
over a grievance would violate the Railway Labor
Act. It stated further that the latter act did not
make it mandatory for a grievance dispute to
be presented to the board for settlement when
4 B r o th e r h o o d o f R a i lr o a d T r a i n m e n v. C e n tr a l o f G e o r g ia R a i l w a y C o . (C. A.
5, Feb. 10, 1956).
6 C e n t r a l o f G e o r g ia R a i l w a y C o . v. B r o th e r h o o d o f R a i lr o a d I r a i n m e n ,
85 S. E. 2d 413 (Ga. Sup. Ct., 1955).
1 M a s t r o P l a s t i c s C o r n . v. N L R B (U. S. Sup. Ct., Feb. 27, 1956).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
573
the parties had not reached an agreement. In
stead, the dispute could be handled by means of
voluntary bargaining.
One judge dissented. He found that a conflict
existed between the provisions of the NorrisLaGuardia Act and the Railway Labor Act in
this case. The former was a statute of general
application whereas the latter was specifically
intended to regulate relations between railroads
and unions. Hence, the Railway Labor Act
should be applied in this case. The threatened
strike over a grievance would violate the Railway
Labor Act since that act, in his view, required the
presentation of a grievance to the adjustment
board when the parties could not settle it. A
union could thwart the board’s consideration or
determination of the dispute by striking, and
therefore such a strike should be enjoined in order
to make the statutory procedures for settling such
disputes effective.
Protection oj Unfair Labor Practice Strikers. The
Supreme Court of the United States held 7 that
employees who struck because of their employer’s
unfair labor practices did not lose their protection
under the NLRA even though their contract
contained a no-strike clause and the strike occurred
during the statutory 60-day “cooling off” period
following a contract reopening notice.
The employer had encouraged his employees to
join a union other than one which had been
certified as bargaining agent by the Board. Then
the certified union notified the employer of its
desire to modify the contract. During the 60day “cooling off” period required by the statute
after the reopening notice, the employer dis
charged one employee for his activities in support
of the certified union and a strike resulted. The
contract contained a clause in which the union
agreed not to engage “in any strike” during the
life of the agreement; the employer refused to
return the strikers to their jobs after their un
conditional offer to return. The Board ordered
the employer to reinstate the strikers with back
pay.
In allowing the Board’s order to be enforced,
the Supreme Court unanimously held that the
no-strike clause in the contract did not cause the
strikers to lose their rights under the act. The
clause was regarded as applying to strikes over
574
economic relationships and not to strikes caused
by the employer’s unfair labor practices. The
Court added that even if the employees could
waive their right to strike because of the
employer’s unfair practices, such a waiver could
not be inferred from the no-strike clause in this
contract.
A majority of the Court also held that the
employees did not lose their protection under the
act because they engaged in an unfair labor
practice strike during the 60-day “cooling off”
period required by section 8 (d) (4) of the act,
despite the provision that employees who strike
during such periods lose their status as “em
ployees” under the act. The Court found that
the section applied to economic strikes intended
to terminate or modify a contract during the
60-day period. If it was designed or intended to
apply to strikes caused by an employer’s unfair
labor practices, the employees would lose “. . .
their most effective weapon at a time when their
need for it is obvious.”
Three Justices dissented on the interpretation
of section 8(d)(4) in this case. They found that
it did apply to employees who engaged in unfair
labor practice strikes during the “cooling off”
period. Employees who engaged in economic
strikes during the period would lose the act’s
protection even in the absence of the provision in
section 8(d)(4) that any employee loses the act’s
protection if he engages in a strike during the
period. Therefore, they said that the provision
would be merely “an idle collection of words”
without any significance if it did not apply to
unfair labor practice strikes.
Wearing of “Scab” Buttons. The United States
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held 8
that the word “scab” tends to have such an
inherently disruptive influence on labor relations
that an employer was justified in suspending
employees for wearing buttons displaying the
word during a union-membership campaign in the
plant.
In a drive to get new members in the employer’s
plant, union members wore buttons bearing
various legends, including one stating: “Don’t Be
A Scab.” The employer suspended the employees
who wore the “scab” buttons after they refused to
remove them because he believed that such use of
the word might cause a disruption in discipline
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
and production at the plant. However, he did
not object to the wearing of the other buttons.
The court did not agree with the NLRB finding
that the employer had unlawfully interfered with
his employees’ rights under the National Labor
Relations Act. Instead, it held that the word
“ scab” when “ applied to one embraced in a labor
group, bears an inescapable connotation of
opprobriousness and vileness commonly recognized
by all members of modern American society.”
Hence, the employer had reasonably anticipated
a disturbance as a result of the use of the word,
and he did not have to wait for such a disturbance
to occur before he could ban the buttons. The
court found that this case involved such special
circumstances that the employer was justified in
partially curtailing the right of his employees to
organize.
Unlawful Lockout by Employer Group. The United
States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
held 9 that the National Labor Relations Board
had exceeded its power in holding that, even in
the absence of economic hardship, a strike against
one employer in a multiemployer bargaining
group justified a lockout of the employees of the
other employers in the group.
A truckdrivers’ union had been bargaining for
many years with a group of employers rather than
with the individual employers. An impasse was
reached in bargaining for a new agreement, and
the union called a strike of the truckdrivers of
one of the employers. The other employers in
the group immediately locked out their truckdrivers in retaliation. After a new contract was
signed, the union filed unfair labor practice charges
with the Board. Finding no violation of the act,
the Board held that the strike against the single
employer constituted a threat of a strike against
all of the other employers in the group and that
it might cause the destruction of the multiem
ployer bargaining arrangement. Therefore, the
lockout was justified.
The court cited previous NLRB decisions in
which the Board, in the absence of an unusual
economic hardship, had not permitted an individ
ual employer to engage in a lockout in anticipation
8Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. N L R B (O. A. 7, Mar. 2,1956). For a description
of the N L R B opinion in this case, see M onthly Labor Review, October 1955
(p. 1162).
9Truck Drivers Local Union N o. M9, International Brotherhood of Team
sters . . . v. N L R B (C. A. 2, Feb. 14, 1956).
DECISIONS IN LABOR CASES
of a strike.10 The same rule should be applied to
multiemployer groups, the court said. The fact
that this strike might destroy the multiemployer
bargaining arrangement was not a sufficient hard
ship to justify the lockout by the other employer
and, therefore, the lockout was unjustified. A
strike against one member of the employer group
could not be considered the equivalent of a strike
against all the members so as to make the lockout
lawful.11
In the NLRA, Congress had not expressly ap
proved multiemployer bargaining, according to
the court, but it had protected the right to strike.
Therefore, the court said that, in this case, the
Board had restricted the right to strike in order
to promote a policy on which Congress had not
expressed a definite opinion. It also found that
the Board had exceeded its power in this instance
and had thereby usurped the legislative function
of Congress. Since there was no economic justi
fication, the lockout violated the act by interfering
with the rights of the employees to engage in con
certed activities. It also discouraged union mem
bership since it constituted discrimination in hiring
and job tenure because of the employees’ union
activity.
One judge dissented; in his opinion, the Board
had not exceeded or abused its authority under
the act. He found that the Board’s decision was
a reasonable and proper construction of the act.
Both employers and unions had found multi
employer bargaining advantageous. Because the
Board was promoting a policy which the act did
not clearly prohibit, the court should not have
interfered unless it was perfectly clear that the
Board had exceeded its power. The mere fact
that Congress had not expressly approved multi
employer bargaining units did not necessarily mean
either that it disapproved them or that it had
reserved the problem for future legislation.
The
National Labor Relations Board held 12 that a 5year contract would not bar a representation
E l e c t i o n s — R é é v a lu a tio n o j C o n tr a c t B a r R u le .
10 Betts Cadillac Olds, Inc., 96 N L R B 268 (1951); International Shoe Co.,
93 N L R B 907 (1951); and Duluth Bottling Association, 48 N L R B 1335 (1942).
n But see Leonard v. N L R B , 197 F. 2d 435 (O. A. 9, 1952), 205 F. 2d 355
(C. A. 9, 1953); and Morand Bros. Beverage Co. v. N L R B , 190 F. 2d 576
(C. A. 7, 1951).
12 Ketchikan P u lp Co., 115 N L R B N o. 51 (Jan. 31,1956).
» 108 N L R B 1290 (1954).
h Rohm & Haas Co., 108 N L R B 1285 (1954); for discussion, see M onthly
Labor Review, August 1954 (p. 900).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
575
election when the contract had been reopened in
accordance with clauses which permitted both
annual and unlimited modification and termina
tion at the will of either party if negotiations for
modifications broke down.
The collective bargaining agreement contained
a provision for annual reopenings at the request
of either party. When the contract was reopened
at the union’s request, a rival union asked the
Board to hold a representation election, and in a
3-2 decision, the Board ordered the election held.
• The NLRB decision stated that the modifica
tion clause was unlimited in scope since either
party could compel bargaining about any or all
of the terms of the contract. If agreement could
not be reached, the contract could be terminated.
Thus, according to the Board, once notice was
given to reopen the contract, nothing remained
of the entire contract except the termination date,
and even that could be eliminated. Relying on
its earlier decision in the G e n e r a l E l e c t r i c case,13
the Board ruled that the contract could not bar a
representation election.
The reason for allowing a contract to bar an
election during the existence of the contract is to
promote stability in labor relations. However,
the Board found that this contract would not in
sure such stability. Therefore, it could see no
reason for allowing the contract to bar the re
quested election.
In a concurring opinion, one member of the
Board pointed out that the NLRB has allowed a
contract which is terminable at will to bar an
election 14 when the contract represented a final
agreement by which the parties intended to abide.
He stated, however, that though this contract
might have become terminable at will when it was
reopened, the terms of the modification clause and
the fact that the parties had reopened the contract
clearly indicated that they did not intend to be
bound by the contract for an indefinite time.
Hence, he could find no reason for allowing the
contract to prevent a representation election.
Two Board members dissented on the ground
that the G e n e r a l E l e c t r i c case should be overruled.
They argued that, by reopening the contract, the
parties indicated an intention to change some of
its provisions rather than an intention to terminate
their bargaining relationship. Thus, the stability
of the bargaining relationship remained, and a
representation election should not be ordered.
576
E m p l o y e r ’s D u t y to F u r n i s h I n f o r m a t i o n . The
NLRB held 15 that the National Labor Relations
Act required an employer to furnish a union with
information which was relevant to bargaining
about wages even though the information might
not be necessary to such bargaining.
The union asked the employer to give it certain
information related to the employees’ wages, and
he refused. The Board, relying on an earlier
case,16 ordered the employer to comply with the
union’s requests without requiring that the infor
mation be necessary, as well as relevant, to bar
gaining. It distinguished this case from a previous
one 17 in which it had ordered an employer to fur
nish information which was both relevant and
necessary to bargaining, because in the earlier
case the union had sought information about both
wages and employment conditions other than
wages.
One member of the Board dissented on the
ground that the employer should have been re
quired to supply the union only information which
was both relevant and necessary. He found no
justification for the Board’s “dual standard” for
information cases, “whereunder if the union seeks
only wage data, the sole criterion is relevance, but
if the union requests both wage data and other
information, then necessity as well as relevance
must be shown.”
S tr ik e R e fe re n d u m .
The
National Labor Relations Board held,18 among
L a w fu l B a r g a in in g f o r
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
other things, that an employer had not failed to
bargain in good faith by asking for a contract
provision calling for a secret ballot of employees
before the union could strike.
In bargaining on a union contract, the employer
had proposed the inclusion of a clause which would
allow the union to strike over wage demands 60
days after the contract was reopened, if the parties
had not reached an agreement on wages and if the
employees in the unit voted for a strike in a secret
ballot. The union refused to agree to the pro
posal, and it was not included in the contract
which the parties subsequently signed.
The Board held that the employer had not
violated his duty to bargain by introducing this
proposal. He did not insist on the provision to
the point of impasse, and the provision was not in
the contract which was eventually signed.19
One NLRB member dissented on the ground that
this proposal was not a proper subject for col
lective bargaining and that the employer had in
fact pressed his demand to the point of impasse,
because his insistence was one of the principal
issues in a 10-day strike called by the union.
18Glen Raven K nitting M ills, Inc., 115 N L R B N o. 66 (Feb. 15, 1956).
16W hitin Machine Works, 108 N L R B 1537 (1954), enforced, 217 F. 2d
593
(C. A. 4, 1954), cert, denied, 349 U . S. 905 (1955).
17 Oregon Coast Operators Association, 113 N L R B N o. 127 (1955).
18Cranston Print Works Co., 115 N L R B No. 89 (Feb. 27, 1956).
19 Compare Wooster Division of Borg-Warner Corp., 113 N L R B N o. 120
(1955). (Strike vote referendum held not to be a proper subject for mandatory
collective bargaining.)
Chronology of
Recent Labor Events
March 1, 1956
T h e Federal court of appeals in San Francisco ruled that a
warehouse located in a separate building and used mainly
for handling interstate cargo but operated as part of a
centrally controlled group of warehouses which, as a unit,
did most of its business within a State, was not a separate
“establishment” within the meaning of the Fair Labor
Standards Act. Affirming a trial court decision that the
warehouse was exempted from the act, the court held that
“it is possible for one business located in several buildings,
neither contiguous nor widely scattered, to be one estab
lishment,” and that, in a case of this kind, “the proprietor’s
unit of operation and control may be considered . . . in
determining what is an establishment.” The case was
Mitchell, etc. v. Bekins Van & Storage Co.
S e v e n locals of the Retail Clerks union negotiated 3-year
was the first of several settlements in the aircraft industry
during the month. (See also p. 580 of this issue.)
March 6
T h e Federal court of appeals in Boston upheld the consti
tutionality of sec. 301(a) of the Taft-Hartley Act, which
gives Federal district courts jurisdiction over suits arising
out of the violation of collective bargaining contracts, and
affirmed a district court’s decision granting damages of
$359,000 to the employer, who had been struck by the
union in protest over downgrading an employee. The
court stated that the section is constitutional as an exer
cise of the power of Congress to confer upon the Federal
courts a “protective jurisdiction” even in suits requiring
application of State law. The case was International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, . . . Local Union No. 25, . . .
v. W. L. Mead, Inc.
T he Federal court of appeals in Boston upheld an NLRB
ruling that individual employees, in good faith or acting
under “mere subterfuge,” may assert their own rights by
filing unfair labor practice charges against an employer
who had discouraged union membership by discriminately
discharging employees, even though the union, in failing
to meet the Taft-Hartley Act’s filing requirements, had
no right to file such charges and would nevertheless benefit
by the action. The case was News Printing Co., Inc. v.
NLRB.
contracts for over 24,000 grocery market employees of
about 5,000 food stores in southern California. The
contracts include an immediate 13-cent hourly wage
increase for most employees, plus 7.5 cents an hour in 1957
and again in 1958; and a 7.5-cent-an-hour employer
contribution to a pension fund. (See also p. 582 of this
issue.)
New York City management groups negotiated a 5-year
contract containing a severance-pay provision for workers
who lose their jobs if plant operations are terminated or
are moved out of the city. (See also p. 581 of this issue.)
March 2
T he Screen Actors Guild and the Association of Motion
T he Federal court of appeals in Chicago, in Caterpillar
Tractor Co. v. National Labor Relations Board, set aside a
Board decision holding an employer in violation of the
Taft-Hartley Act for discharging employees who had
disobeyed his regulation against wearing “Don’t Be A
Scab” buttons (see Chron. item for Aug. 11, 1955, MLR,
Oct. 1955). The court held that activities such as this,
which tend to disturb efficient operation of a business, are
not protected by the act. (See also p. 574 of this issue.)
T he New York Telephone Co. and the United Telephone
Organizations (Ind.) reached an agreement providing wage
increases and other benefits for 18,000 workers in the New
York City metropolitan area and 3 adjoining counties.
The increases ranged from $2.50 to $7, with $5 being the
maximum raise in most cases.
March 4
T he International Association of Machinists ratified a
2-year contract covering over 20,000 employees at 3 Lock
heed Aircraft Corp. plants in California. This agreement
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March 13
L ocal 105 of the Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and 2
Picture Producers announced a 4-year contract for 10,000
movie actors. Its terms include increases in minimum
wage scales and a reduction in the weekly schedule for
studio work. (See also p. 583 of this issue.)
March 20
T h e 156-day strike of 4 4 ,0 0 0 employees, represented by
the Electrical Workers (AFL-CIO), at 3 3 Westinghouse
plants was settled by a 5-year contract, retroactive to
October 15, 1955. The settlement included provisions for
increases in basic hourly wages in each of the contract
years, retention of the company’s right to time-study day
workers’ jobs, and establishment of a procedure to deter
mine the status of 3 6 strikers discharged for alleged picket
line violence. On March 25, the company reached a settle
ment providing identical economic clauses for 3 ,2 0 0 em
ployees, represented by the United Electrical Workers
(Ind.), in 8 plants. (See also p. 579 of this issue.)
T h e first merger of former AFL and CIO State organiza
tions occurred with the establishment of a joint Arkansas
State Federated Labor Council. The president and
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
578
secretary-treasurer of the former State AFL Federation
were elected, respectively, president and secretary of the
new Council; the vice president and treasurer of the
former Arkansas Industrial Union Council were elected
to the same offices in the merged organization.
On March 28, the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butchers (formerly AFL) and the United Packinghouse
Workers (formerly CIO) announced that they had merged,
subject to membership ratification, into a single organiza
tion of more than 450,000 members, under the Amal
gamated’s name. It was the first merger of this kind
since the creation of the AFL-CIO. The president and
secretary-treasurer of the former AFL union will assume
these positions, respectively, in the new organization; the
office of general vice president will be filled by a member of
the former CIO union.
T he NLRB found that a schism in a local of the Electrical
Workers (Ind.) warranted a representation election among
employees for whom it was the certified bargaining repre
sentative, despite the fact that the local’s action to dis
affiliate from the international, taken with the aid of
another union, may have violated its constitution and did
not meet all the formalities which the Board has required
in similar decisions. The fact that the reasons for the
local’s disaffiliation were related to the international’s
earlier expulsion by its parent body (the CIO) was held
to meet the Board’s established criteria for a finding of
schism (see Chron. item for Apr. 22, 1954, MLR, June
1954). The case was Globe Forge, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y.,
and Local 323, United Electrical . . . Workers . . . et al.
March 21
T he count of 16 disputed ballots cast in last month’s
election of officers for the New York City Teamsters’ Joint
Council gave a 5-vote victory to the slate headed by John
R. O’Rourke, who was supported by James R. Hoffa, a
Teamster vice president. The next day, the defeated
president, Martin T. Lacey, sought in Federal district
court to prevent Mr. O’Rourke from taking office, charging
that the council would be “subject to the arbitrary and
ruthless control and decision of gangsters, racketeers, and
others” ; the court issued a temporary restraining order.
A week later, during the impaneling of a special Federal
Grand Jury to investigate racketeering in the trucking
and garment industries, the United States Attorney in
New York indicated he would air Mr. Lacey’s charges
before the jury.
Meanwhile, on March 26, the Teamsters’ General Execu
tive Board decided to shelve a $400,000 loan to the Inter
national Longshoremen’s Association (Ind.), which had
been negotiated chiefly by Mr. Hoffa, on behalf of the
Eastern, Central, and Southern Teamster Conferences.
The board’s action followed AFU-CIO President George
Meany’s warning that the union might be subject to
suspension by the federation if the loan was consummated,
but left the three conferences free to proceed with their
mutual assistance pact with the ILA (see Chron. item for
Nov. 27, 1955, MLR, Jan. 1956).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
March 22
T he Alabama Supreme Court upheld a $10,000 damage
award against the CIO Auto Workers to a worker who was
prevented from working by means of unlawful picketing,
holding that the Taft-Hartley Act does not deprive a
State court of jurisdiction in a damage suit.
March 26
T h e Supreme Court of the United States ruled, without
deciding on the merits of the case of United Stales v.
Green and General Laborers’ Local No. 397 of Granite City,
III., etc., that the Hobbs Act, amending the Anti-Racketeer
ing Act of 1934 and making it a criminal offense to obstruct
interstate commerce by means of robbery, extortion, or
threat or use of violence, covers also the employer-em
ployee relationship, including “featherbedding” practices
of unions. The union and its agent had been indicted for
extorting wages from an employer for laborers whose
work was unwanted and superfluous, but a Federal district
court refused to take jurisdiction of the case on the ground
that the offense charged was not “extortion” under the act.
The High Court said that, from the legislative history of
the act, it is clear Congress specifically intended to prevent
such malpractices by unions, and remanded the case for
trial.
T he Supreme Court of the United States found valid the
Federal Wage and Hour Administrator’s definition of an
agricultural “area of production,” exemption from cover
age under the Fair Labor Standards Act, as one “in the
open country or in a rural community” not including any
town of 2,500 or more population and within a specified
distance from the source of 95 percent of its commodities.
Moreover, the court held that the agricultural employment
exemption in the act did not apply to bulking plant em
ployees of a tobacco company, even though they processed
only tobacco raised by the company and also worked on
company tobacco farms. The case was Mitchell, etc. v.
Budd, et al., d. b. a. J. R. Budd, Jr., and Co., et al.
On the same day, the Supreme Court denied review in
the case of Covington Mills, Inc., et al. v. Mitchell, etc.,
thus in effect affirming a lower court’s ruling that the
Walsh-Healey (Public Contracts) Act empowers the Secre
tary of Labor to determine minimum wage rates for the
cotton, silk, and synthetic branch of the textile industry
on an industrywide basis (see Chron. item for Dec. 1, 1955,
MLR, Feb. 1956).
March 28
T h e Federal Wage and Hour Administrator signed an
order, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, raising the
minimum wage rate for the artificial flower industry in
Puerto Rico from 43 to 50 cents an hour, on April 16, 1956.
On March 29, the Administrator signed a similar order
raising minimums in the Puerto Rican hosiery industry,
effective April 18, 1956: Men’s and children’s hosiery and
women’s anklets, 55 cents; women’s seamless hosiery,
57Yi cents; and women’s full-fashioned hosiery, 62)^ cents.
Developments in
Industrial Relations1
members in automobile, farm-equipment, and
some small aircraft firms, received a 1-cent-anhour wage cut under contracts gearing pay rates
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer
Price Index.
Work Stoppages
Erratum
In the February 1956 issue, page 210, it was
erroneously stated that in 1954 employees of the
Thompson ville, Conn., plant of the BigelowSanford Carpet Co. accepted pay cuts of $6 to $8
a week to help forestall closing of the plant. The
facts are that no changes in basic rates of pay were
made although pay for certain types of “down
time” was reduced when the contract was amended
in January 1955. Moreover, the company states
that it has on no occasion “threatened” its em
ployees to move its operations to the South,
and that its decision to remain in Thompsonville
was influenced only by such physical factors as
facilities.
The Review regrets any incorrect impressions
created by its original statement and is happy to
set the record straight and to convey the com
pany’s viewpoint.
that had idled approximately
70,000 Westinghouse employees was settled late
in March. The stoppage of 12,000 members of
the Machinists at Long Island plants of Republic
Aviation Corp. continued during the month but
2-vear agreements providing wage increases and
liberalizing supplementary benefits were negotiated
by several other major aircraft producers. Also,
a number of settlements increasing rates of pay
were concluded for textile and apparel groups
whose wage rates had not been increased for some
time.
An estimated 2 million low-wage workers, largely
in the South, were expected to benefit by the
increase in the Federal minimum wage from 75
cents to $1 an hour, effective March 1. About a
million workers, mostly United Auto Worker
T he work stoppage
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
On March 20, Westinghouse Electric Corp. and
the International Union of Electrical Workers
(AFL-CIO) reached a settlement that ended the
stoppage 2 in effect since October 17, 1955, at
plants organized by this union. Five days later,
the United Electrical Workers (Ind.), on strike
since October 25, agreed on generally similar
contract terms. Although the IUE Westinghouse
Conference Board had authority to sign a binding
contract, ratification of the contract terms was
required by the UE membership.
The IUE agreement was amended and extended
to October 15, 1960, and raised base rates by 8
percent effective immediately and again in Oc
tober 1956 and 1957 and by 3.5 percent in each
of the last 2 contract years; the minimum increase
was made 5 rather than 4% cents as in the com
pany’s original offer. Additional adjustments
ranging from %cent to 12 cents an hour were made
for skilled daywork and salaried employees. Two
issues that had interfered with the settlement for
many weeks—time studies and rehiring of 36
strikers discharged for violence during the stop
page—were resolved: the company retained the
right to conduct time studies of day workers’ jobs
and to use such surveys for setting production
standards for hourly paid workers directly involved
in production; the union obtained agreement on
procedures for reviewing work standards estab
lished as a result of the time studies, including
arbitration of any disputed standard. The status
of the 36 discharged employees was changed to
indefinite suspension, to be negotiated on an
individual basis at the plant level, subject to
arbitration. Pension and insurance provisions
were liberalized. The agreement incorporated a
new cost-of-living clause and other contract im
provements and provided for two reopenings—
one in 1958 for bargaining over employment secu
rity and one in 1957 over noneconomic terms.
1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Wages and Industrial Relations..
2 See Monthly Labor Review, April 1956 (p. 454).
579
580
The UE settlement, however, did not resolve a
local issue concerning methods of pay which had
precipitated a strike by about 6,000 workers at
the company’s Essington-South Philadelphia plant
on October 14, 1955—11 days before the multi
plant stoppage called by the UE. That plant was
still idle at the month’s end.
Transit service was restored in Baltimore on
on March 9 after the Governor of Maryland
proclaimed the Baltimore Transit Co. under
State control. The Governor’s action was based
on new legislation3 which required the transit
employees to return to work under prestrike
conditions subject to discussion of the disputed
issues during a 15-day mediation period. Provi
sion was also made for compulsory arbitration by
a 3-man board if no settlement was reached during
the mediation period. Although the dispute was
not settled during the month, the Governor
reportedly was reluctant to appoint an arbitration
board because such action might force a court
test of the law’s constitutionality and thus delay
settlement.
The prolonged Miami hotel strike continued
during March but 2 more hotels and the Hotel
and Restaurant Employees International Union
agreed on 5-year contracts. The agreements pro
vided for union recognition, establishment of
grievance and arbitration machinery, job seniority,
3 paid holidays, and 1 week’s paid vacation
after a year’s service or 2 weeks after 3 years.
They brought to about a half dozen the number of
hotels that had signed contracts with the union
since the strike began on April 13, 1955; these
settlements left about 20 hotels for which the
union sought collective bargaining rights.
As the dispute of the United Automobile
Workers at Kohler Co. in Wisconsin approached
the end of its second year, the Federal Mediation
and Conciliation Service again attempted unsuc
cessfully to effect a settlement at a mid-March
meeting with company and union representatives.
The last previous bargaining session in August
1954 had ended in a deadlock.
Bargaining Developments
Aircraft. A number of major settlements in the
aircraft industry were concluded during March.
Along with company action in other instances,
they provided wage increases and liberalized
supplementary benefits for about 180,000 workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
All but two of the collective agreements were for
2-year periods.
The first of these settlements was reached by
the Machinists’ union and Lockheed Aircraft
Corp., covering about 22,500 workers in Cali
fornia. Subsequently, the UAW negotiated con
tracts with Douglas Aircraft for plants in Okla
homa, Arizona, and California; with Chance
Vought Aircraft for its Dallas plants; and with
North American Aviation Co. for plants in Cali
fornia and Columbus, Ohio. Later in the month,
the Machinists settled with Lockheed for about
15,000 employees at its Marietta, Ga., plant
and with Douglas for 45,000 employed at its
Santa Monica, El Segundo, and Torrance, Calif.,
locations. The unorganized Northrop aircraft
and Marquardt aircraft companies announced
pay raises for their employees and North Ameri
can Aviation and Chance Vought Aircraft com
panies also put pay increases into effect for their
nonunion workers.
The wage increases going into effect during the
first year of the new contracts varied somewhat
among companies but all provided greater cents
per hour, and in some cases, greater percent
increases for skilled than for other workers.
At Lockheed, the increases for wage earners
ranged from 6 to 15 cents an hour (4 to 6 percent)
and reportedly averaged between 11 and 12
cents an hour. Factory workers’ pay at Douglas
and North American was increased by 7 to 15
cents an hour; Douglas technical and office workers
received 7 to 17 cents. The Chance Vought
employees received a 4-percent pay increase,
averaging 8 cents an hour, plus some inequity
adjustments. Northrop’s unorganized workers
received increases amounting to 4 to 6 percent.
Both the Lockheed (Calif.) and Douglas settle
ments provided an additional 7 cents an hour at
the beginning of the second contract year. Cor
responding increases under the Chance Vought
and North American Aviation contracts will be
6 cents and 6 to 8 cents, respectively. The
Lockheed (Ga.) settlement was negotiated under
a wage reopening of the contract expiring in March
1957.
Swing-shift bonuses were increased from 8 to 12
cents an hour at Lockheed, North American, and
Douglas. A pension-plan dispute at Lockheed
(Calif.) will be submitted to a special negotiating
3 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1956 (p. 456).
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
committee, while a pension plan was established
at Douglas. Hospital benefits were liberalized
by the Chance Vought and Lockheed contracts.
The Lockheed (Calif), settlement, which added
job security provisions in the event of plant dis
persal, also liberalized vacation provisions as did
the one with Douglas.
T e x tile s a n d A p p a r e l .
In the woolen industry, two
March contracts provided for wage increases—
the first of significance since 19514 except for the
recent Hayward-Schuster settlement.5 The con
tracts, both for 1 year, were concluded by the
Textile Workers' Union with the Forstmann
Woolen Co. of Passaic, N. J., and S. Stroock &
Co. of Newburgh, N. Y. They not only incorpo
rated wage increases but also liberalized supple
mentary benefits.
The Forstmann contract raised wages by 12%
cents an hour for 2,200 workers. It also called
for a seventh paid holiday and increased hospitali
zation and insurance benefits. Wage increases
that had accrued under a cost-of-living escalator
clause were incorporated into base rates but the
clause, which had been in effect since 1951, was
discontinued. In 1954, an arbitration award had
decreased wage rates of these employees by 7
cents.6
The Stroock contract provided pay raises of
15 cents an hour for hourly rated workers and a
12-cent minimum for pieceworkers. The com
pany's 250 workers were also to receive improved
insurance and vacation benefits.
A severance-pay plan—-apparently the first on
an industrywide basis in the women’s garment
trades—was obtained in March by 7,500 New
York garment workers who produce infants' and
children's coats, snow and ski suits, and novelty
wear.7 Under a 5-year agreement with 2 manage
ment groups, severance-pay allowances, amounting
to 1 week’s wages for each year of employment,
will be paid to International Ladies' Garment
Workers' members in the event their employers
terminate operations or leave New York. Effec
tive June 1, the companies will contribute 1 per
cent of payrolls to a jointly administered industry
wide fund for this purpose. The union had first
4 Since 1951, there had been some general wage rate cuts.
5 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1956 (p. 457).
6 See M onthly Labor Review, February 1955 (p. 222).
i
A somewhat similar arrangement was agreed to in February by the
Smolen Manufacturing Co. See M onthly Labor Review, April 1956 (p. 210).
382771—56------5
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581
proposed such an arrangement in 1950 as a means
of increasing workers' job security in the apparel
industries, which are characterized by high plant
mortality. Other new contract terms included
wage increases ranging from $3 to $4 a week for
timeworkers, and 5 percent for pieceworkers,
increases in minimum rates, extension of the 35hour week in effect for all other employees to ship
ping clerks, and a wage reopening after 3 years.
Wage increases for about 19,000 workers, to go
into effect on July 1, and liberalized supplementary
benefits were incorporated in a contract between
the same union and 3 New York lingerie and under
wear manufacturing groups. The agreement,
which replaced one scheduled to expire June 30,
provided wage increases of 6 percent for piece
workers, $3.50 for cutters, and $3 a week for other
workers. A new basic minimum of $1.10 an hour
was established. Other gains included an addi
tional employer contribution of 0.5 percent,
bringing the retirement-fund contribution to a
total of 1.5 percent and, beginning in July 1957,
extension to pieceworkers of 3 paid holidays now
received by timeworkers.
Wage increases ranging from 7 to 10 cents an
hour were also negotiated for more than 8,500
ILGWU members employed in shops affiliated
with the Philadelphia Waist and Dress Manufac
turers Association and the Women’s and Chil
dren’s Apparel Producers’ Association. Timeworkers received an immediate 8-cent increase,
but the 7-cent advance for pieceworkers and 10
cents for cutters would be made effective on
August 1. The Philadelphia garment contracts
also raised the minimum wage from 85 cents to
$1.05 now and to $1.10 next March. In 1957,
timeworkers in the children's wear and cottondress divisions would be paid time and a half after
35 instead of 37% hours. (The overtime rate was
already in effect for silk-dress and blouse makers.)
About 2,600 Amalgamated Clothing Workers’
members employed at 7 plants of Oberman Manu
facturing Co. in Missouri, Arkansas, and Georgia
were to receive 20-cent-an-hour wage increases
over a 2-year period as a result of a new contract.
Fifteen cents of the pay raise was retroactive to
March 1; additional increases of 2% cents were to
be effective on September 1, 1956, and again on
March 1, 1957. The existing company-financed
health and welfare plan was revised to conform
to the Amalgamated program.
58:2
An agreement between the United Hatters and
the Hat Corporation of America established a
pension plan for 1,200 union members at South
Norwalk, Conn. The program will be financed
by company payments, retroactive to last No
vember 1 and amounting to 3 percent of employ
ees’ gross earnings. The pension fund is to be
self-insuring and administered by both parties.
The union considered the action as a sign of con
tinuance of company operations in the area for at
least another 10 years. The Hatters had struck
for over 10 months in 1953-54 against the com
pany’s plans to relocate;8 at the end of the stop
page, the union’s pension plan demand had been
unresolved.
C h e m ic a ls a n d G la s s .
Wyandotte Chemical Corp.
announced it will double a 5-cent wage increase
due automatically on the first anniversary of its
2-year contract with District 50, United Mine
Workers. The company stated that although the
contract contained no wage reopening provision,
it was putting the extra increase into effect for its
2,300 employees to bring its pay rates in line with
other chemical company scales negotiated since
the agreement was signed.
A new wage agreement between the Glass Con
tainer Manufacturers Institute, representing the
Nation’s glass container manufacturers, and the
Glass Bottle Blowers Association went into effect
on March 1. Negotiated under a wage reopening
clause, the settlement called for an 8-percent in
crease for 5,000 skilled machine operators, upkeep
men, and apprentices in the automatic machine
departments. Ultimately, this agreement is ex
pected to set the pattern for a total of about
35.000 workers in other departments of the in
dustry.
T r a d e a n d S e r v ic e .
The Retail Clerks and the
Food Employers’ Council concluded settlements
expected to affect a total of over 24,000 workers in
5.000 southern California markets. Three-year
contracts provided for an immediate pay raise of
up to 16 cents an hour for department heads and
up to 13 cents for experienced clerks, and addi
tional increases of 7% cents in both 1957 and
1958. Effective April 1, the employers were to
increase their welfare payments by 1% cents an
hour; on April 1, 1957, they will contribute 7%
cents a man-hour to a pension fund. The agree
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
ment also provided a third week of vacation after
5 years’ service; an eighth paid holiday; and higher
premium pay for Sunday, holiday, and nightwork.
As a result of a court ruling, about 12,000 mem
bers of the Los Angeles local of the Retail Clerks
are to receive $8 million to $10 million in premium
pay for night and holiday work, retroactive to
February 1953. This action was expected to ter
minate 2 years of litigation between the local
union and area grocery markets represented by
the Food Employers’ Council over interpretation
of a 1952 arbitration award that was pending
before the Wage Stabilization Board when it dis
banded.
In New York City, the Building Service Em
ployees Union signed 2 agreements affecting over
11,500 members on March 1. In one, increases
totaling 30 cents an hour were provided over the
life of the contract for 4,000 office-cleaning women
and 1,000 men office waxers and porters, under a
3-year agreement with the Building Service
League which represents 90 cleaning contractors.
The pay raises were to be distributed in 3 steps of
10 cents each, the first to be effective immediately
and the others on March 1 of the following 2 years.
In the other, 6,500 maintenance and custodial
employees in 1,000 Manhattan loft buildings
received a 6.5-cent hourly increase retroactive to
February 4 and improved fringe benefits under a
wage reopener in the contract with the Midtown
Realty Owners Association.
In a step toward equalizing the workweek of all
State employees, the Governor of New York
approved a bill to shorten by 4 hours, workweeks
in excess of 40 hours for about 33,000 employees
(largely in State institutions), without loss of pay.
The ultimate goal reportedly is a 40-hour week for
all State employees.
A 5-year contract providing pay increases and
liberalized vacation provisions for 450 editorial and
commercial employees was formally signed on
March 20 by the Washington Post and Times
Herald and the Washington chapter of the Amer
ican Newspaper Guild. Earlier, the Guild’s
Executive Board had objected to the duration of
the contract but consented when provisions were
included calling for reopenings on wages in the
event the BLS Consumer Price Index should
“explode” and, after 2 years, on all nonwage items.
• See M onthly Labor Review, July 1954 (p. 789).
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
In a 4-year agreement between the Screen Actors
Guild and the Association of Motion Picture Pro
ducers, minimum scales were increased—up to
about 30 percent—for the majority of approxi
mately 10,000 movie actors; higher increases were
provided for special categories of workers during
the next 2 years; half of the increases were made
retroactive to February 1. In addition, a 5-day,
44-hour week for studio work and double pay for
weekend work in place of a 6-day, 48-hour week
was established starting April 1. The 48-hour
schedule was retained for fdms made on location
with pay equal to the studio’s 44-hour rate plus
4 hours at straight time. Additional benefits
included pay to dayworkers for holidays occurring
during the working period and call-in pay of 8
instead of 4 hours for singers.
C o m m u n ic a tio n s a n d T r a n s p o r t a t i o n .
The New
York Telephone Co. and four independent unions
signed contracts providing pay increases. About
6,000 upstate plant workers received weekly pay
rises ranging from $2.50 to $8.50. Pay adjust
ments for 18,000 plant employees in the downstate
area ranged from $2.50 to $7 a week; death and
burial benefits were also increased for about 11,600
employees. A general increase of $3 weekly was
applied to the accounting, commercial, and head
quarters scales; in addition, minimum rates were
increased by $1 a week and certain top rates were
also revised upward.
The Transport Workers Union postponed a
strike of 25,000 nonoperating employees of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, pending mediation. It
claimed that the carrier had failed to give advance
notice of layoffs of maintenance workers.
In another development affecting railroad labor,
a convention of the AFL-CIO Railway Employees’
Department called for a program of employment
stabilization that would guarantee a full year’s
work to the 300,000 shopcraft employees repre
sented by its affiliated organizations. The plan
was considered necessary to counteract, in part,
shrinking job opportunities, manifested by the
reduction of almost 100,000 employees in railroad
equipment maintenance units in recent years.
Other Developments
A consent degree in
the Brooklyn Federal district court canceled pro
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
583
visions of the Seafarers’ International Union’s
bargaining contracts requiring Atlantic and Gulf
Coast vessel owners to obtain shipstore supplies
exclusively from the union-operated Seafarers’
Sea Chest Corporation. This action permits
private merchants to compete in furnishing sea
men’s necessities on ships. The Government had
charged the union with violation of the Sherman
Anti-Trust Act; the defendants had claimed im
munity from anti-trust laws on the basis of the
Norris-LaGuardia Act and other Federal legis
lation.
Government agencies continued efforts to im
prove conditions on the New York Waterfront
and speakers at the 23d annual observance of
Port of New York Day referred to improvement
in labor relations in the port.
During March, the New York-New Jersey
Waterfront Commission held hearings into an
alleged kickback racket on the docks and specif
ically sought to determine whether to revoke the
license of a hiring agent suspended on such a
charge. It also permanently removed a dockworker from the longshore employment register
for coercing a ship passenger into payment of a
gratuity for baggage handling. In a case testing
the constitutionality of laws denying union finan
cial positions to longshoremen convicted of a fel
ony, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that an
ex-convict was disqualified as treasurer of his local.
Taking note of the corruption charges leveled
at his union, an International Longshoremen’s
Association (Ind.) official invited a public investi
gation of its welfare plan. The union announced
that 43,000 members and their families in 1955
shared management-supported welfare benefits
amounting to over $2.6 million. This year, life
insurance will be raised by $500 to $3,000, and
accidental death benefits by $1,000 to $6,000;
X-ray and laboratory coverage will be extended
to all members of dockworkers’ families and will
not be limited to hospital patients.
I n s u r a n c e , P e n s i o n , a n d W e lf a r e F u n d s .
The
shooting of an alleged insurance racketeer focused
new attention on a multimillion dollar union wel
fare racket reported in the New York metropolitan
area. Upon completion of a year-long study of
welfare funds, the special counsel to the New
York State Insurance Department stated that the
great majority of the systems were honestly ad-
584
ministered. However, he cited specific examples
of irregularities, including embezzlement of pre
miums, excessive agent commissions and fees, and
unreasonably high administrative costs. Other
situations involved the use of welfare money to
finance strikes, to erect a union building, or to
purchase automobiles for union officials’ use.
A subcommittee of the House of Representatives
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee
conducted hearings on a union-endorsed bill that
would raise rail workers’ pension and survivor
benefits by an average of 15 percent. Payroll
taxes on both workers and management would be
increased from 6% to 7% percent each on the first
$4,200 of annual earnings and workers’ payments
into the retirement fund would be exempted from
income taxes. The tax exemption feature was
opposed by the Treasury Department, the Bureau
of the Budget, and the House Ways and Means
Committee on the grounds that it would create a
special tax advantage not available to employee
contributors to social security and private pension
plans.
Union Cooperation and Internal Affairs. The first
merger since the founding of the united labor
movement last December was announced, subject
to membership ratification, by the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen (formerly
AFL) and the United Packinghouse Workers
(formerly CIO). The combined organization will
retain the Amalgamated’s name and will have a
membership reported at more than 450,000. The
president and secretary-treasurer of the present
Amalgamated will continue in their positions in the
combined organization while the office of general
vice president will be filled by a member of the
Packinghouse Workers.
Two antisubversive
clauses were approved as part of the constitution
and another provided that officers must sign
non-Communist affidavits.
The 7-million member Industrial Union Depart
ment of the AFL-CIO announced that its affiliates
will be grouped by industries in order to knit them
together more closely and provide a clearing house
for common problems. One industry committee
will include affiliates in metalworking, another will
cover the soft-goods field, and a third, the furni
ture and wood industries and the building trades.
Provision was made for the establishment of
specialized committees to deal with problems such
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
as guaranteed employment, automation, and
jurisdiction.
Two actions affected religious sects whose
followers cannot participate in union functions.
The Furniture Workers signed a “basis of under
standing” with the Mennonite and Brethren in
Christ churches, mainly in Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, and Indiana. Instead of paying initia
tion fees and dues to the union, church members
will contribute equivalent sums for charitable
purposes and will refrain from interference in
union activities. In turn, the union will not
discriminate against them and will issue special
identification in lieu of membership cards.
Two members of Plymouth Brethren, who had
refused to join a railroad union and were subse
quently fired under a union-shop provision, failed
to win reinstatement when the United States Court
of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a Federal
district court decision that the dismissals did not
infringe on constitutional rights.
The Teamsters captured a significant share of
labor news during March. The union’s executive
board concluded its Honolulu session without any
apparent showdown on potentially explosive in
ternal issues. It was decided to shelve the con
troversial proposed $400,000 loan 9 to the ILA but
to leave the Eastern, Southern, and Central Team
ster Conferences free to proceed with the rest of
an assistance pact with ILA, which called for
cooperation in recruiting new members and in
employer relations. The loan cancellation fol
lowed a warning by AFL-CIO President George
Meany that the federation would act if the
Teamsters consummated an alliance with the
expelled longshore union.
A second controversy centered around the ex
panding authority of James R. Hoffa, international
vice president and chairman of the Central States
Conference of Teamsters—an exponent of nation
wide collective bargaining and centralization of
power. In a bitterly contested election for the
presidency of the New York Teamsters’ Joint
Council, the incumbent, Martin T. Lacey, who
lost to John J. O’Rourke, accused the Hoffa con
tingent of influencing the vote and obtained a
court order restraining Mr. O’Rourke from
assuming office pending argument on April 3 for a
preliminary injunction. The allegation that un9 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1956 (p. 460).
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
derworld forces were seeking to control the
council, governing body for 57 New York locals,
will be investigated by a special Federal grand
jury, thus widening the Government’s current
inquiries into racketeering in the trucking, gar
ment, and food industries, and in small business.
In the meantime, the Teamsters’ executive board
empowered President Dave Beck to take any steps
needed to “guarantee clean, honorable trade union
conduct” in New York, Minneapolis, and other
cities.
In a speech during the latter part of March,
Mr. Meany emphasized the view that the sole
function of trade unions is to build up labor’s
living standards, and he criticized unions that
“amass great power and pile up great treasuries”
or use union power for personal aggrandizement.
Job Protection. A merger agreement by Eastern
and Colonial Airlines contained labor-protection
features recommended by the Machinists union
and approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board.
The airlines guaranteed that there would be no
layoffs as a result of the merger and agreed that
employees of both companies would be continued
at their jobs without any reduction in wages or
seniority.
A Machinists’ official charged the Government
with a policy of encouraging the movement of
defense plants to low-wage areas. He claimed
that during the course of contract negotiations in
the southern California aircraft industry, the
Rohr Aircraft Corp., a long-established California
firm, was attempting to set pay rates below the
industry pattern at its new Georgia plant.
Citing evidences of deterioration in American
shipbuilding, the Machinists’ Pacific Zone Marine
Conference petitioned Congress for a shipbuilding
program to restore the merchant fleet and retain
craftsmen’s skills in private yards. The resolu
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585
tion also called for return of shipbuilding and
repair work now being sent to foreign yards (many
of them operated by American companies), as
well as revision of the Government’s offshore
procurement program.
The AFL-CIO continued organized labor’s
traditional policy of supporting reciprocal foreign
trade programs by endorsing a bill for United
States membership in the proposed International
Organization for Trade Cooperation. The sug
gested agency would administer the 35-nation
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which
has been in operation for 8 years without any
machinery to police its work of encouraging world
trade expansion. In hearings before the House
Ways and Means Committee, the research director
of the AFL-CIO pointed out that the organization
could provide a focal point for discussing the rela
tionship between labor standards and tariff policy
and that elimination of unfair labor competition
would benefit Amercian workers. He emphasized
that failure by an exporting country to establish
and maintain minimum labor standards should be
grounds for withdrawing United States tariff con
cessions. Several individual unions, however,
including the Operative Potters and the United
Mine Workers (Ind.), opposed the measure.
In an unprecedented action, the heads of seven
of the biggest baking companies met with officials
of the Teamsters to discuss ways of reducing waste
in bread deliveries. The Chicago conference was
arranged by the Economics of Distribution
Foundation, a nonprofit research group formed
in February 1955 by the union and several large
employers, to explore means of lowering the cost
of bringing farm and factory products to the con
sumer. Later, the union appealed to its member
ship to assist in efficiency programs designed to
match the rapid rise in productivity in other
industries.
Book Reviews
and Notes
Special Reviews
Readings on Labor Law. Compiled by a group of
teachers and practitioners of labor law under
the editorship of Charles A. Reynard. Bos
ton and Toronto, Little, Brown & Co., 1955.
496 pp. $6.
The place of the lawyer in the field of labor
relations has been a subject of debate. He is con
sidered by some to be an indispensable element in
labor-management dealings, by others merely a
confounded nuisance. Where the latter view pre
vails, the lawyer, himself, may be to blame. It
may be that he is unsuited by his training, his na
ture, and his tradition to adjust to this relatively
new, constantly changing, field. It is in filling
this gap, particularly in the training of lawyers,
that this volume can make a valuable contribution.
Many students now hard at work in the Nation’s
law schools are preparing to take their places in the
practice of law. Most of them have at least a
newspaper reader’s knowledge of what unions are,
of what causes strikes, of what are some of the
social and economic forces influencing industrial
relations. Much can and should be done, how
ever, by the law schools, the professors, and those
of us in the profession who are interested in con
tinuing progress and improvement in legal educa
tion to prepare these young people to play more
important parts in this field. These young men
and women should be made aware not only of the
laws relating to labor-management relations, and
the judicial and administrative decisions which
have interpreted these laws, but also of the play of
forces leading to these laws and decisions and how
they have influenced the present labor relations
scene.
The editors of the present volume express the
hope that it, as well as their earlier companion
textbook entitled “Labor Relations and the Law”
and a forthcoming volume on the employment
586
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relation itself, will be used together for both
classroom and reference work by students of labor
law. On the present volume, the editors have
done their work competently and thoroughly.
Those members of the group who are teachers
must have long felt the need for a companion or
supplemental volume to the usual casebook or
text in this field. The fabric of labor law and
practice is so interwoven with economic and social
problems that a representative selection of writings
bearing on these subjects is important to the stu
dents’ fuller understanding of the law. Having
been collected for the benefit of law students, the
readings lean heavily to articles written either by
lawyers or from a legal point of view. Other
articles, although their frame of reference may be
legal, deal with such matters as practical sugges
tions on collective bargaining from both sides of
the table, evaluations of methods of labor arbitra
tion, and labor union self-government and de
mocracy, and even comments by the irrepressible
Mr. Dooley on “properly conducted” unions.
The volume includes selected excerpts from an
nual reports of the National Labor Relations
Board, from American Bar Association com
mittee reports, and from lectures, addresses, and
writings of many persons who are prominent in
the field. The selections are grouped under five
major headings in the same manner as the ma
terial in the previous volume. Of course, the re
sults attained are not at all times entirely satisfy
ing with respect to the method or substance of
the selections. The broad cross-section of the
field which is presented, however, will furnish the
average student an indication of many particular
and general issues with which he may be faced in
practice, and will lead the curious student or fu
ture specialist in labor law to further, more inten
sive, research. In this, the book would appear to
fulfill one of the purposes for which it was
intended.
This reviewer feels sure that students who are
assigned readings in this volume, or who under
take, on their own initiative, to read some or all
of the selections will be amply rewarded for their
trouble. Since the book is comparatively well
done from a substantive standpoint, it is regret
table that its typography is not in keeping. The
printing method used may have advantages for
the publisher. To this reviewer, however, the
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
587
physical appearance of the book seems unfinished.
This impression is heightened by an unfortunate
number of typographical errors and by the lack of
an index. Despite these shortcomings, the basic
effect of the work is good, and it deserves the at
tention not only of students specializing in the
labor field, but also of those future lawyers who
may require for their needs only a passing
acquaintance with labor law.
— Stuart
R othm an
Solicitor, U. S. Department of Labor
Successful Handling of Labor Grievances. By
Bertram R. Crane and Roger M. Hoffman.
New York, Central Book Co., Inc., 1956.
307 pp., bibliography. $5.95.
Man can and should cooperate but in an indus
trial world of employer, employee, corporation,
and union, interests will conflict and grievances
are unavoidable. Some method of relieving frus
trations, maintaining discipline, providing moti
vation for teamwork and productivity, promoting
safety, facilitating effective two-way communica
tions, and satisfying the basic human needs of
security and recognition is necessary. It is pref
erable to resolve, reduce, and channel these con
flicts by means of applied intelligence and prin
cipled compromise. The failure of the grievance
procedure may be evidenced by lockouts, dis
charges, strikes, slowdowns, absenteeism, excessive
turnover, and inefficient production. Union lead
ers as well as top management may have lost con
tact with the rank-and-file workers, or words
may have been spoken or written which have not
been understood or accepted. In any event, these
evidences of pressure, protest, or disorderly con
flict are expensive and wasteful alternatives to a
good and well-conducted grievance procedure.
Consequently, much attention has been given to
the subject of grievances and how best to handle
them.
Successful Handling of Labor Grievances is de
signed to provide the practitioner of industrial
relations as well as the student with a better under
standing of grievances and the whys and hows of
grievance procedure. The authors have combined
theory and practice and have very wisely placed
emphasis upon the foreman and the importance of
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spotting potential grievances and handling them
at the foreman or first-step level. The foreman’s
viewpoint and his problems, needs, and frustra
tions receive realistic treatment. However, the
outlined check-point procedure may occupy more
time than a busy foreman has available. The
unwisdom of bypassing foremen and ways and
means of avoiding this all-too-frequent practice are
emphasized. The foreman’s counterpart in the
union, the steward, is not overlooked nor is his
importance as an influence upon morale and pro
duction minimized. The objectives of grievance
handling are outlined. The grievance machinery
is scrutinized, as are the causes of grievances and
such techniques of locating them as exit interviews
and turnover, attitude, and absenteeism surveys.
The authors have not considered the possibility
that the grievances themselves as well as super
vision’s replies thereto can be as good or even
better sources of information than these surveys,
which usually bypass the grievance machinery and
suffer from the employees’ lack of motivation to
communicate.
The necessity for workable policies and controls
is set forth in this interesting book, and manage
ment and union blockades are ably described.
Some of the contract clauses, however, date back to
1949, notwithstanding the fact that current con
tract clauses are published in looseleaf services.
The bibliography contains no reference to these
services. The clause which the authors deem
restrictive (p. 14) might not prevent wide-open
arbitration. (See 1951 decision of New York
Supreme Court, North American Phillips Co. v. In
ternational Association of Machinists, 16 LA 274.)
The authors’ reference to labor-management
committees omits the situation which frequently
arises in which the union and management repre
sentatives on the committees lack the influence and
power in the labor-management hierarchy to
effectuate their decisions. Moreover, parts of
chapters II, III, and IV seem to be somewhat in
conflict. In chapter II, it is represented that en
lightened management will not object to very
broad definitions of grievances, and, again, in
chapter III, it is stated that broad definitions of
grievances are advisable. On the other hand,
chapter IV emphasizes the desirability of limita
tions on grievances and arbitration and the in-
588
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
herent dangers of commission and omission in
grievance definitions.
However, if the reader will supplement this
worthwhile book with the new clauses being
negotiated almost daily by companies and unions,
and with a more complete bibliography, he will
have available a helpful, interesting, and valuable
guide to the handling of labor grievances, a guide
which would be an important addition to any
library.
— G eorge E. S trong
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Psychology of Industrial Conflict. By Ross Stagner. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1956. 550 pp., bibliography. $8.
The author explores the psychological factors
“contributing to industrial conflicts and industrial
cooperation.” For, although “these psychological
factors are not operating in isolation [and] must be
considered in relation to economic, sociological,
and political influences . . . the evidence indi
cates conclusively that manipulation of the eco
nomic and technological variables without con
sideration of the psychological consequences may
very well lead to an increase rather than a decrease
in conflict.”
With the aim of exploring the possibilities of
securing industrial peace, Mr. Stagner uses the
behavior of the individual as his frame of reference.
From this point of view he analyzes workers’ mo
tivations in joining unions, as well as the attitudes
of executives towards unions. Tactics, strikes,
union-management cooperation, and the role of
leadership in labor-management relations are
studied. It is intelligent and mature leadership,
he believes, which offers the real chance for in
dustrial peace. Along with this need for leader
ship in bringing about industrial peace is cited the
need to “think as realistically about people as we
do about electrons.” When we do this, Mr.
Stagner concludes, “the emergence of a new and
more favorable social equilibrium, a state of ac
commodation in which group conflicts are resolved
with a minimum of waste and aggression, will be
the reward.”
The author has made a significant contribution
to the field of labor-management relations, not
only for social science students but for practitioners
in the field as well. In his examination of labormanagement relations in terms of the behavior of
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the individual, he is consistent throughout. His
method of first presenting the theory of a particu
lar phase of labor-management relations, followed
by a discussion of the application of this theory,
assures a thorough coverage of the subject. The
book is well documented and contains a compre
hensive bibliography.
—L. B. W allerstein
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Labor Relations and Productivity in the Building
Trades. By William Haber and Harold M.
Levinson. Ann Arbor, University of Michi
gan, Bureau of Industrial Relations, 1956.
266 pp., bibliography. (Report 6.) $4.75.
It may be of some comfort to amateur painters
swept into the “do it yourself” orbit that profes
sionals are also divided on the relative merits of
brush versus roller for house painting. While
perhaps a few of the objections to the use of a
roller stem from “restrictive practices,” there are
also many bona fide technical reasons. In fact,
“no generalization can safely be made concerning
either the attitude of the building trades unions in
general, or the attitude of any given union toward
any given technique.” This is one of the conclu
sions reached by Haber and Levinson in Labor
Relations and Productivity in the Building Trades.
It is their opinion that unions have liberalized their
policies toward new techniques since 1940, at
least partly because of the high levels of employ
ment generally prevailing.
The material contained in this book is based
largely on information obtained from representa
tives of labor, management, and the public in a
1952 field survey in 16 cities in the United States.
The primary objective was to explore labor rela
tions practices and other factors as they relate to
productivity and costs in housing construction.
Actually, the volume goes much further and pre
sents a substantial amount of background material
about the building trades, including their economic
characteristics, nature of collective bargaining,
apprenticeship, stability of employment, and the
closed shop. Much of this will be familar to those
who have studied the construction industry.
The major findings of the survey itself are de
scribed in two lengthy chapters on “Policies
Toward the Introduction of New Techniques”
and “Working Rules and Labor Efficiency.”
The authors have tried to present the viewpoints
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BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
of both unions and contractors, describing the
basic philosophy underlying certain practices and
commenting on their actual operational effects.
They have done an effective job of illustrating
the wide variation among prevailing union prac
tices and the disagreement among contractors
and others as to the effects of such practices.
The authors have recognized the danger in
drawing generalized conclusions from this study
because of the variety of responses received in the
localities surveyed, and because the sample of lo
calities is too small to warrant inferences about the
total construction industr}^ in the United States.
However, they have attempted to summarize their
impressions at the end of each chapter and have
also devoted an entire chapter to the effects of
union policies on productivity and costs in resi
dential construction.
— L eon G reenberg
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Productivity Measurement: I, Concepts. Paris,
Organisation for European Economic Coop
eration, European Productivity Agency, 1955.
143 pp. (Project 235.) $1.
For several years the Organization for European
Economic Cooperation has been actively concerned
with the postwar productivity drive in Europe.
Through its working committees it has attempted
to bring emphasis on this subject in member
countries. In May 1953, the OEEC created the
European Productivity Agency to continue this
work through a coordinated program covering
such areas as management development, market
ing and distribution, labor education and training,
industrial research and technology, and produc
tivity measurement. This book is the first major
volume of the European Productivity Agency on
productivity measurement.
The original plan was to bring together various
ideas on productivity concepts and measurements.
It became apparent, however, that it would be
extremely difficult to synthesize the diversified
viewpoints of the various member countries.
Consequently, the material has been published
in the form of contributions from individual
authors, including such recognized experts as
Gerhard Fiirst, the late Las lo Rostas, Erik Ruist,
Irving H. Siegel, and B. Walstedt. In addition
to the major essays, there are special notes by
other contributors.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
This first volume of a projected three-volume
series has been compiled by Gaston Deurinck of
the Belgian Productivity Center. In a very clear
introductory chapter, Mr. Deurinck provides a
framework for the articles which follow, and points
out the relationships among some of the concepts
discussed by the various authors.
Each of the main essays stresses a somewhat
different aspect of the main subject. The articles
by Dr. Rostas and Dr. Siegel emphasize the con
cept of labor productivity, i. e., the measurement
of output as related to man-hours and employ
ment, and discuss the major problems and limita
tions of several alternative measures. In addi
tion, they furnish useful insight into the areas in
which productivity measures can be used.
Several of the authors, on the other hand,
believe that the significant measures of produc
tivity are those which relate output to all produc
tion factors. Dr. Ruist feels that, while a measure
of labor productivity may be regarded as an
efficiency indicator from the community point of
view, it is not very useful to an individual entre
preneur. Mr. Walstedt develops what he terms
“an index of technical efficiency’’ as a more useful
measure than an index of productivity.
Perhaps one of the most effective accomplish
ments of this volume is to demonstrate that there
is no single concept of productivity and that each
measure must be considered in terms of its use and
interpretation. The divergent views on concepts
should serve as a suitable background for the next
two volumes in the series, which are to examine
various methods and results in measuring pro
ductivity at plant and national levels.
— L eon G r eenberg
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Economic Needs oj Older People. By John J. Cor
son and John W. McConnell. New York,
Twentieth Century Fund, 1956. 533 pp.
$4.50.
In 1965, if present trends continue, the number
of persons in the United States 65 years of age
and over will be almost 17 million. About 22
percent of them will be in the labor force. In
1900, there were just over 3 million people in this
age bracket in the country; in 1950, more than 12
million. In 1900, 63 percent of the men and 8 per
cent of the women 65 years of age and over classi-
590
fied themselves as gainful workers; in 1955, 39
percent of the men and 10 percent of the women
in this age bracket reported that they were in the
labor force. The decline in the proportion of
older men in the labor force is due in important
part to the decline in the manpower required on
our farms where men continue to work well after
70, and to the greater availability of old-age
pensions, largely from public but increasingly
from private sources. The rise in the proportion
of women 65 and over in the labor force is the
result of the increased labor-force participation
of women over 35 which began during World War
II and has continued since.
All these changes provide the background for
the Twentieth Century Fund report on the Eco
nomic Needs of Older People. This report is
divided into two parts. The first and longer one
is an analysis, by the authors, of the economic
status of persons 65 years of age and older in the
population of the United States. The second
part—chapter 14—presents a program of action
to deal with the economic problems of older peo
ple, developed by the tripartite Committee on
Economic Needs of Older People of the Twentieth
Century Fund.
The book performs a valuable service in bringing
together and analyzing current information on
the number and characteristics of all the older
people in our population and of those who are
gainfully occupied, on the types of work performed
by older workers, and on the factors affecting
their continuing in the labor force or retiring.
The report does not set an age beyond which a
worker is to be considered “old” ; in fact, it pre
sents summaries of a number of studies showing
the extent to which the abilities of workers in a
given age bracket (no matter at what age level)
vary from the average for all those in the bracket.
In addition to summarizing information on
older persons obtained since the end of World
War II by the Department of Labor, the Bureau
of the Census, and the Social Security Administra
tion, and by a number of private agencies and
individuals, the authors undertook two surveys
especially for this report. Their survey of 1,755
retired persons receiving retirement income in
1951 from 16 business corporations, 2 State retire
ment systems, and 1 international union is par
ticularly valuable in showing the incomes of a
sample of pensioners, and the reasons they gave
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
for their retirement. Combined with data from
other studies, the results of this survey provide
a clear outline of the character and magnitude of
the problems which must be solved if, as a nation,
we are going to make it possible for older people
to find more satisfactory ways of life than they
now have. A study made in 1952 of 112 em
ployers or pension administrators covers methods
used by private pension programs in meeting their
obligations. The results throw a good deal of
light on the difficulties involved in conducting
these programs in such a way as to safeguard the
employees’ pension rights and at the same time
not to interfere with the achievement of employ
ment goals.
The “program of old-age security” presented by
the Twentieth Century Fund committee is given
in some detail under 13 main headings. On a
large proportion of the points made, one or another
of the committee members dissented. Three of
the members deplored the “serious lack of factual
information on the subject at issue.” The most
controversial recommendations are those con
cerned with the method of achieving one coordi
nated retirement system to cover all gainfully
occupied workers, and the financing of grants to
workers totally and permanently disabled before
the age of 65.
— F aith M. W illiams
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Mine Workers’ District 50: The Story of the
Gas, Coke, and Chemical Unions of Massa
chusetts and Their Growth into a National
Union. By James Nelson. New York, Ex
position Press, 1955. 158 pp. $3.50.
Much has been written elsewhere about the rise
and philosophy of industrial unionism, the legends
of prominent labor leaders, and the major battles
between giant unions and colossal companies.
Therefore, it is refreshing to find in James Nelson’s
new book a detailed chronicle covering the birth,
growth, and struggles of the small locals which
grew up and became District 50.
John L. Lewis’ catchall union did not always
have its present heterogeneous industrial coverage,
as the author points out. It first saw the light
of day in the Boston area gas utilities and was
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
in National Recovery Administration days as a
federated union with an industrial-type member-
591
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
ship. As the workers were “vertically organized/’
the difficult task of molding into a workable unit
the skilled, the semiskilled, and the unskilled had
to be faced. After a brief flirtation with the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
the Gas and Coke Oven Workers petitioned the
AFL and the United Mine Workers for a charter,
since the “craft form of union was inadequate to
meet the problems of organization and labor ad
ministration in the public utility and mass pro
duction industries.”
The case for industrial unionism has been no
where more persuasive than in the situation of
these gas utility workers in 1935, yet the AFL
executive board refused them a charter. The
formation of the Committee for Industrial Organ
ization within the AFL in 1935 provided the new
union with the opportunity to pursue a destiny
of consolidation and growth on an industrial basis
with a charter from the United Mine Workers in
the new CIO. The National Council of Gas and
By-Products Workers had appealed again to Presi
dent Green for a charter—not on a craft but an
industrial basis. No charter was forthcoming.
Meanwhile, negotiations continued with John L.
Lewis and, as a result, District 50 of the United
Mine Workers of America was born under the
aegis of the new CIO. The author, who is now
New England deputy regional director of the U. S.
Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour and Public
Contracts Divisions, became its first president.
The tortuous path which a new union must
pursue in order to survive and grow can be ap
preciated by following the detailed early struggles
of the men who laid the foundation of District 50.
Mr. Nelson discusses the organization drive, the
election of officers, the raising of funds, the op
position of management, the trojan horse of
company unionism, the clash between the skilled
and the unskilled, the warring philosophies of
craft and industrial unions, and the reach for a
proper niche in the structure of American union
ism.
The tale of District 50 is told with warmth and
humor, with shrewd insight into the major issues
of the decade of the 1930’s. It is an authentic
narrative of struggles and setbacks, of battalions
reformed and charging again. No bitterness or
rancor is expressed toward either management
tactics or craft-union obduration as they both
opposed the ambitious young union of gas utility
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
workers 20 years ago. For an understanding of
craft versus industrial head-on collision, it is re
warding to read this on-the-scene account of how
one industrial union was born, incubated, nursed,
and finally grew to be the lusty lad which District
50 is today.
— W e n d e l l D. M a c d o n a l d
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Compiled by
Chris A. Theodore. Boston, Boston Uni
versity, College of Business Administration,
Bureau of Business Research, 1955. 90 pp.
N e w E n g l a n d E c o n o m ic I n d i c a t o r s .
$2.
In the publication of this book of charts, the
Bureau of Business Research of Boston Univer
sity’s College of Business Administration has ren
dered a distinct service to the sizable group of
analysts who are concerned with the fortunes of
New England. Over the past few years, the
economy of this six-State region has been studied
and restudied, probed, and surveyed to a point
at which more statistics are available than for
any other region of the United States. Nowhere,
however, had this mass of information been sum
marized, and students had no ready handbook
containing the major recognized economic series
treating New England until Dr. Chris A. Theo
dore, research associate of the Bureau of Business
Research, presented these series in tabular and
graphic form in this new volume. It is well con
ceived and attractively executed and will without
question justify the effort which went into its
preparation.
In eight major sections, the ups and downs of
the regional economy are set forth in tables and
graphs. The book contains few original data,
although there are one or two interesting elabora
tions by the Bureau staff of basic series prepared
by other agencies. For example, Dr. Theodore
has converted the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
employment series for each of the New England
States into indexes on a 1947-49 base and has
presented them on one chart, thus affording easy
comparison of relative employment changes within
each State and the region as a whole. The un
even progress of the individual States over recent
years is highlighted by this simple device.
One could wish that Dr. Theodore had included
a national series on this chart. New England’s
gains or losses, after all, are usually considered in
592
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , M A Y 1956
relation to those of the country as a whole. Lack
ing the national picture, the chart does not per
mit a ready answer to the often reiterated ques
tion : “How is New England doing compared to the
rest of the country?”
In addition to the employment and manpower
statistics, the volume treats in considerable detail
financial, transportation, agricultural, and price
data. There is no other single source, to this
reviewer’s knowledge, which offers such ready
access to so much pertinent information.
No doubt this pioneering effort will fall short
of pleasing everyone. This reviewer, for exam
ple, felt that there was a tendency to show too
much material on single grids in a number of the
graphic displays. This, however, is a matter of
opinion and it is possible that specialists in other
fields will not agree with the criticism.
Those who fear that New England’s disabilities
are sometimes overplayed will regret the emphasis
placed upon data for the hard-pressed consumer
goods industries. However, Dr. Theodore’s pur
pose was to draw together for handy reference
all existing statistical series treating New Eng
land. The fact that some of the oldest of these
series deal with the least dynamic industries is no
criticism of the author; series which do not exist
obviously cannot be included in the book. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that the region’s almost
tragic loss of cotton spindle activity and the drop
in consumption of that fibre should occupy
practically the whole section on manufacturing.
All in all, there is no doubt that the New Eng
land research community owes and will be happy
to extend a vote of thanks to Dr. Theodore and to
Boston University’s Bureau of Business Research.
— E
dw ard
T.
O ’D
Automatism in the American Economy. By R. L. Meier.
(In Journal of Business, University of Chicago, School
of Business, Chicago, January 1956, pp. 14-17.
$1.75.)
Keeping Pace with Automation— Practical Guides for the
Company Executive. New York, American Managment Association, 1956. 136 pp. (Special Report 7.)
$3.75 ($2.50 to AMA members).
Office Automation: Integrated and Electronic Data Processing.
By R. Hunt Brown. New York, Automation Con
sultants, Inc., 1955. xviii, 283 pp. $12.50.
Education and Training
Bibliography on Employee Training. Compiled by Eliza
beth Haggart. Washington, U. S. Department of the
Navy, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Library, Jan
uary 1956. 20 pp. Free.
Fifth Annual Institute for Training Specialists, June 6-10,
1955, at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.— [Digest of
Proceedings.]. Ithaca, Cornell University, New York
State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, [1956?].
94 pp.
Public Vocational Education Programs: Characteristics of
Programs Under Provisions of the Federal Vocational
Education Acts. Washington, U. S. Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education,
1956. 16 pp. (Pamphlet 117.) 15 cents, Superin
tendent of Documents, Washington.
Employment and Unemployment
Employment of White and Nonwhite Persons, 1955. Wash
ington, U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of
the Census, 1956. 12 pp. (Current Population Re
ports, Labor Force, Series P-50, No. 66.) 10 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
onnell
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Automation
The Age of Automation— Its Effects on Human Welfare. ByWarner Bloomberg, Jr. New York, League for In
dustrial Democracy, 1955. 39 pp. 35 cents.
Automation. (In Labor Research, Canadian Congress of
Labor, Research Department, Ottawa, OctoberDecember 1955, pp. 1-12; January-March 1956, pp.
1-12. 15 cents each.)
Automation as a Basic Factor in Industry. Compiled by
Agnes O. Hanson. Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Pub-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
lic Library, Business Information Bureau, 1956. 4 pp.
(Business Information Sources, Vol. 27, No. 1.) 25
cents.
The Trade Unionist and Full Employment. By John Vaizey.
London, Workers’ Educational Association, 1955. 32
pp.
Employment in Israel’s Agriculture. By David Krivine.
(In International Labor Review, Geneva, January
1956, pp. 77-92. 60 cents. Distributed in United
States by Washington Branch of ILO.)
Labor Organization
Sourcebook of Union Government, Structure, and Procedures.
By James J. Bambrick, Jr., and George H. Haas.
New York, National Industrial Conference Board,
Inc., 1956. 334 pp.
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
The New White Collar Unionization Drive. (In Manage
ment Record, National Industrial Conference Board,
Inc., New York, March 1956, pp. 89-98.)
Sixty-first Annual Report . . . of National Executive for
1954-55 and Report of Proceedings of 61st Annual
Meeting of Irish Trade Union Congress, Held in Portrush, July 27-29, 1955. Dublin, Irish Trade Union
Congress, 1955. 269 pp.
The Jewish Lahor Bund; Statements and Resolutions Adopted
by the Third World Conference of the Bund, April 8-15,
1955, Montreal, Canada. New York, Jewish Labor
Bund, World Coordinating Committee, 1955. 28 pp.,
bibliography.
593
Medical Care and Health Insurance
Meeting the Costs of Medical Care. By Robert M. Cunning
ham, Jr. New York, Public Affairs Committee, 1955.
28 pp. (Public Affairs Pamphlet 218.) 25 cents.
The Story in Charts of the Economic Position of Medical
Care, 1929-58. Chicago, American Medical Associa
tion, Bureau of Medical Economic Research, 1955.
8 pp. (Bull. 99A.)
The Growth of Voluntary Health Insurance: 1948-54■ (In
Social Security Bulletin, U. S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Social Security Administra
tion, Washington, December 1955, pp. 11-14, 29.
20 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.)
Manpower
Engineering and Scientific Manpower in the United States,
Western Europe, and Soviet Russia.
Washington,
U. S. Congress, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy,
1956. 85 pp., bibliography. (Joint Committee Print,
84th Cong., 2d sess.) 25 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
Occupations
Shortages and Surpluses of Highly Qualified Scientists
and Engineers in Western Europe. Paris, Organization
for European Economic Cooperation, 1955. 154 pp.
Educational Requirements for Employment of Actuaries,
Biological Scientists, Chemists, Economists, Geologists,
Geophysicists, Physicists, Sociologists, Statisticians.
By U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Washington, U. S. Veterans’ Administra
tion, 1955. 9 pamphlets, various pagings. (VA
pamphlet 7-8, Nos. 1-9.) 15 cents each, Superin
tendent of Documents, Washington.
International Mobility of Manpower in Western Europe.
By Xavier Lannes. (In International Labor Review,
Geneva, January 1956, pp. 1-24; February 1956,
pp. 135-151. 60 cents each. Distributed in United
States by Washington Branch of ILO.)
Employment Outlook in Skilled Electrical and Electronic
Occupations. By U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Washington, U. S. Veterans’
Administration, 1955. 51 pp. (VA Pamphlet 7-9.)
40 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Labor Market Areas for Manufacturing Plants in West
Virginia. By James H. Thompson. Morgantown,
West Virginia University, College of Commerce,
Bureau of Business Research, 1955. 27 pp. (West
Virginia University Business and Economic Studies,
Vol. 4, No. 3.)
Mediation, Conciliation, Arbitration
Eighth Annual Report of Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service, Fiscal Year 1955. Washington, 1956. 68 pp.
25 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Twenty-first Annual Report of National Mediation Board,
Including Report of National Railroad Adjustment
Board, for Fiscal Year Ended June SO, 1955. Wash
ington, [1956], 79 pp. 45 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
Grievance Mediation Under Collective Bargaining.
By
William H. McPherson. (In Industrial and Labor
Relations Review, Ithaca, N. Y., January 1956,
pp. 200-212. $1.50.)
Problem Areas for Management in Arbitration. By Irving
K. Kessler. (In Arbitration Journal, Vol. 10 (New
Series), No. 4, New York, 1955, pp. 179-187. $1.50.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Occupational Abstracts: Poultry Farmer, Chef, Stonemason,
Electronic Technician. By H. Alan Robinson, Sarah
Splaver, Vernard F. Group. Peapack, N. J., Per
sonnel Services, Inc., 1955, 1956. 6 pp. each. (Nos.
185, 188-190.) 50 cents each.
Careers in Forestry. Washington, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, 1955. 22 pp., illus.
(Miscellaneous Publication 249.) 15 cents, Superin
tendent of Documents, Washington.
First-Year Teachers in 1954-55. Washington, National
Education Association, Research Division, 1956.
47 pp., bibliography. (Research Bull., Vol. X XXIV,
No. 1.) 50 cents.
Personnel Management and Practices
Management-Labor Relations Handbook: Analysis of Per
sonnel Practices in the Cleveland Area, June 1955.
Cleveland, Associated Industries of Cleveland, 1955.
Various pagings. $15.
Personnel Practices in the South. By H. Ellsworth Steele,
William R. Myles, Sherwood C. McIntyre. (In
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Ithaca, N. Y.,
January 1956, pp. 241-251. $1.50.)
594
Selected Reading List on Human Relations in Management
Prepared for Fourth Utility Management Workshop,
Sixth Industrial Research Conference, Arden House,
Columbia University, 1955. New York, Columbia
University, School of Engineering, Department of
Industrial and Management Engineering, 1955.
30 pp. $3, Research Service, 353 West 57th Street,
New York.
Downward Communications. Washington, Bureau of
National Affairs, Inc., 1956. 14 pp. (Personnel
Policies Forum Survey 35.) $1.
Job Evaluation. By E. Lanham. New York, McGrawHill Book Co., Inc., 1955. 404 pp., bibliography. $6.
Profit Sharing
Pre-Severance Benefits in Deferred Profit Sharing: A
Research Study of Loan and Withdrawal Provisions
in Deferred Profit Sharing Plans. By J. J. Jehring.
Evanston, 111., Profit Sharing Research Foundation,
1956. 89 pp. $3.
Some Questions and Answers About Profit Sharing Retire
ment Plans. Hartford, Connecticut Mutual Life
Insurance Company, 1956. 19 pp.
Social Security (General)
The American Philosophy of Social Insurance. By J.
Douglas Brown. {In Social Service Review, Chi
cago, March 1956, pp. 1-8. $1.75.)
Social Security in Agriculture: A Preliminary Appraisal
of Its Operation, Implications, and Emerging Problems.
By Gene Wunderlich. {In Journal of Farm Econom
ics, Menasha, Wis., February 1956, pp. 17-29.
$1.75.)
Self-Support in Aid to Dependent Children— The California
Experience.
By Margaret Greenfield.
Berkeley,
University of California, Bureau of Public Administra
tion, 1956. 156 pp., bibliography. $2.
Gli Assegni Familiari. [Rome], Ministero del Lavoro e
Della Previdenza Sociale, 1956. 92 pp., bibliography.
(Quaderno 3.)
Unemployment Insurance
Twenty Years of Unemployment Insurance. By Ruth
Reticker. {In Social Security Bulletin, U. S. De
partment of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social
Security Administration, Washington, December
1955, pp. 3-10. 20 cents, Superintendent of Docu
ments, Washington.)
Unemployment Compensation— A Graphic Review, [193953], Chicago, Research Council for Economic Se
curity, 1955. 56 pp., bibliography. (Publication
108.) $1.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Wages, Salaries, and Hours of Labor
The Dynamics of Prevailing Wages. By William F. Soren
sen, Jr.
{In Personnel Administration, Washington,
January-February 1956, pp. 25-33. $1.)
Industrial _ Wage and Salary Control. By Robert W.
Gilmour. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1956.
261 pp., bibliography. $7.50.
Minimum Wages on the March. By Miriam Civic. {In
Business Record, National Industrial Conference
Board, Inc., New York, March 1956, pp. 114-119.)
Wage Criteria for Collective Bargaining. By Sylvia
Wiseman. {In Industrial and Labor Relations
Review, Ithaca, N. Y., January 1956, pp. 252-267.
$1.50.)
The Union Impact on Wages: The Case of the Year-Round
Hotel Industry. By Joseph Scherer. {In Industrial
and Labor Relations Review, Ithaca, N. Y., January
1956, pp. 213-224. $1.50.)
Le Retribuzioni dei Dipendenti dell’Industria dal 1938 al
1955. By Francesca Ambrogi. Rome, Confeder
azione Generale dell’Industria Italiana, 1955. 26 pp.
(“Quaderni” della Rassegna di Statistiche del Lavoro,
IX.) 100 lire.
Work Injuries and Injury Prevention
Administration of the Federal Coal-Mine Safety Act, Calen
dar Year 1954. By James Westfield, H. F. Weaver,
C. M. Keenan. Washington, U. S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1956. 73 pp. (Infor
mation Circular 7734.) Limited free distribution.
Coal-Mine Injuries and Employment, December and Annual
Summary, 1955. By Nina L. Jones, Nell B. Bradley,
Virginia E. Wrenn. Washington, U. S. Department
of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1956. 9 pp. (Min
eral Industry Surveys, CMI 96.) Limited free
distribution.
Fatalities at Pennsylvania Anthracite Mines, 1955. By
Joseph V. Mather. Washington, U. S. Department
of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1956. 25 pp.
(Mineral Industry Surveys, HSS 444.) Limited free
distribution.
International Cooperation in Reducing Mine Hazards. By
E. J. Gleim. Washington, U. S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1956. 15 pp., bibliog
raphy. (Information Circular 7739.) Limited free
distribution.
Work Injuries in Contract Construction, 1948-54• By
John C. Machisak. {In Construction Review, U. S.
Department of Labor and U. S. Department of Com
merce, Washington, March 1956, pp. 4-9. 30 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington, and field
595
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
offices of Department of Commerce and Department
of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
Woodworking Circular-Saw Accidents: A Detailed Analysis
of Accidents Resulting from the Operation of Woodwork
ing Circular Saws, 1951 and 1952. By Frank S.
McElroy and George R. McCormack. Washington,
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, 1956. 68 pp. (Bull. 1190.) 45 cents, Super
intendent of Documents, Washington.
Miscellaneous
Report of the Joint Committee on the Economic Report on
the January 1956 Economic Report of the President,
with Supplemental and Minority Views, and the Eco
nomic Outlook for 1956 Prepared by the Committee
Staff. Washington, 1956. 116 pp. (Senate Report
1606, 84th Cong., 2d sess.) 35 cents, Superintendent
of Documents, Washington.
International Bibliography of Economics, Vol. I I (Works
Published in 1953 Including Some Publications of the
Previous Year). Prepared by Fondation Nationale
des Sciences Politiques (Paris) with assistance of In
ternational Economic Association and International
Committee for Social Science Documentation. Paris,
United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, 1955. 384 pp. $7.50.
Measuring Business Changes: A Handbook of Significant
Business Indicators. By Richard M. Snyder. New
York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1955. 382 pp. $7.95.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Proceedings of New York University Eighth Annual Con
ference on Labor, New York City, June 8-10, 1955.
Edited by Emanuel Stein. Albany, N. Y., Matthew
Bender & Co., Inc., 1955. 499 pp. $11.50.
The Status of Labor in Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii.
Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 1956. 99 pp., bibliography. (Bull.
1191; reprint from Monthly Labor Review, December
1955.) 55 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
The Federal Republic of Germany: Economic and Com
mercial Conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany
and West Berlin. London, Board of Trade, Com
mercial Relations and Exports Department, 1955.
404 pp. (Overseas Economic Surveys.) 12s. 6d. net,
H. M. Stationery Office, London.
Government Yearbook, [Israel], 1955.
ment Printer, 1955. 520 pp.
[Tel Aviv], Govern
An Economic Survey of Communist China. By Yuan-Li
Wu. New York, Bookman Associates, 1956. 566
pp., bibliography. $12.50.
Economic Survey of Japan (1954-55). Tokyo, Japanese
Government Economic Planning Board, 1955. 258
pp. In English.
Labor Policy in the USSR, 1917-28. By Margaret Dewar.
London and New York, Royal Institute of Inter
national Affairs, 1956. 286 pp., bibliography. $6.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
596
Conferences and Institutes Scheduled from June 16 to July 15, 1956
Conference and sponsor
Date
Place
June 17-22
Summer School. Sponsors: Illinois State Federation of
Labor and Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations,
University of Illinois.
Urbana, 111.
17-22
Summer Conferences on Administering an Executive Devel
opment Program and Wage and Salary Administration.
Sponsor: Industrial Relations Section, California Institute
of Technology.
Pasadena, Calif.
June 17-29
Summer School. Sponsors: Kentucky State Federation of
Labor and University of Kentucky.
Lexington, Ky.
24-29
Summer Conferences on Selecting and Appraising Employees
and Supervision of Scientific and Engineering Personnel.
Sponsor: Industrial Relations Section, California Institute
of Technology.
Pasadena, Calif.
June
29 Personnel Managers’ Forum and Workshop.
Management Center, Marquette University.
(5 Fridays)
Sponsor:
Milwaukee, Wis.
Seminar on The Supervisor’s Role in Management— People.
July
6
Sponsor: Management Center, Marquette University.
(5 Fridays)
Milwaukee, Wis.
July
7-15
White-Collar Workshops.
cation Service.
July
8-14
7th Annual Eastern School.
ical Workers Union.
July 15-17
Sponsor: American Labor Edu
Bronx ville, N. Y.
Sponsor: International Chem
New Brunswick, N. J.
Workshop in Workers’ Education. Sponsor: Institute of
Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University.
New Brunswick, N. J.
Union Conventions Scheduled in June 1956
Ju n e
4
4
5
National and international unions
American Flint Glass Workers’ Union_____________________
United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International
Union.
Independent Union of Plant Protection Employees in the
Electrical and Machine Industry (Ind.).
7 Upholsterers’ International Union of NorthAmerica_______
10 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (Ind.)_____________
11 Communications Workers of America____________________
11 Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America.
11 American Federation of Musicians_______________________
11 United Packinghouse Workers of America________________
11 The Order of Railroad Telegraphers____________________
14 Brotherhood of Utility Workers of New England, Inc. (Ind.)_
25 American Federation of Technical Engineers_____________
25 American Newspaper Guild____________________________
29 National Federation of Salaried Unions (Ind.)____________
June
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4
S t a te la b o r o r g a n i z a t io n s
Virginia State Industrial Council_______________________
7 Washington State Industrial Council_____________________
8 South Dakota State Federation of Labor_________________
11 Michigan State Industrial Union Council________________
18 Michigan State Federation of Labor____________________
21 Maine State Federation of Labor_______________________
23 Oregon Stete Federation of Labor______________________
25 Texas State Federation of Labor_______________________
Place
Cleveland, Ohio
New York, N. Y.
Syracuse, N. Y.
St. Louis, Mo.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Atlantic City, N. J.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Montreal, Que.
Boston, Mass.
Boston, Mass.
Toronto, Ont.
Asheville, N. C.
P la c e
Richmond
Longview
Huron
Grand Rapids
Detroit
Belgrade Lakes
Portland
Austin
Current Labor Statistics
A —Employment and Payrolls
599 Table A-l:
600 Table A-2
604 Table A-3
607 Table A-4
607 Table
Table
Table
608 Table
A-5
A-6
A-7
A-8
Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours
worked, and sex
Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1
Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1
Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in
manufacturing industries 1
Federal personnel, civilian and military 1
Employees in nonagricultural establishments for selected States 2
Employees in manufacturing industries, by State 2
Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance pro
grams, by geographic division and State
Labor Turnover
609 Table B -l:
610 Table B-2:
Monthly labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by class of turnover
Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries
Earnings and Hours
612 Table C -l:
628 Table C-2:
628 Table C-3:
629 Table C-4:
629 Table C-5:
Table C-6:
Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees 1
Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars 1
Average weekly earnings, gross and net spendable, of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1947-49
dollars 1
Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of production
workers in manufacturing industries 1
Indexes of aggregate weekly man-hours in industrial and construction
activity 1
Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas 2
1 Beginning with the June 1955 issue, data shown in tables A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, C -l, C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5 have
been revised because of adjustment to more recent benchmark levels. These data cannot be used with those appearing
in previous issues of the Monthly Labor Review. Comparable data for earlier years are available upon request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3 This table is included in the March, June, September, and December issues of the Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
597
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
598
D.—Consumer and Wholesale Prices
630 Table D -l:
Consumer Price Index—United States average, all items and com
modity groups
631 Table D-2: Consumer Price Index—United States average, food and its subgroups
631 Table D-3: Consumer Price Index—United States average, apparel and its sub
groups
Table
D-4:
Consumer
Price Index—United States average, all items and food
632
632 Table D-5: Consumer Price Index—All items indexes for selected dates, by city
633 Table D-6: Consumer Price Index—All items and commodity groups, except
food, by city
635 Table D-7: Consumer Price Index—Food and its subgroups, by city
636 Table D-8: Average retail prices of selected foods
637 Table D-9: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities
638 Table D-10: Special wholesale price indexes
639 Table D -ll: Indexes of wholesale prices, by economic sectors
E.—Work Stoppages
640 Table E -l:
Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes
F.—Building and Construction
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
641 Table F -l:
642 Table F-2:
643 Table F-3:
643 Table F-4:
644 Table F-5:
645 Table F-6:
Expenditures for new construction
Contract awards: Public construction, by ownership and type of
construction
Building permit activity: Valuation, by private-public ownership,
class of construction, and type of building
Building permit activity: Valuation, by class of construction and
geographic region
Building permit activity: Valuation, by metropolitan-nonmetropol
itan location and State
Number of new permanent nonfarm dwelling units started, by
ownership and location, and construction cost
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
599
A: Employment and Payrolls
T able A -l: Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours worked, and sex
[In thousands]
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over1
1956
1955
nanor-force status
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.»
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
April
Mar.
Total, both sexes
Total labor force.. ...............................................
68, 806
68,396
68, 691
69, 538
70,164
70, 250
69, 853
70,695
70,429
69,692
68,256
67,784
66,840
Civilian labor force.............................................. .
U nem ploym ent..............................................
Unemployed 4 weeks or less.................
Unemployed 5-10 weeks...................... .
Unemployed 11-14 weeks__________
Unemployed 15-26 weeks......................
Unemployed over 26 weeks.... ............ .
Em ploym ent................................................
N onagrlcul tural......................................
Worked 35 hours or more_______
Worked 15-34 hou rs.......................
Worked 1-14 hours------------------W ith a job but not at work *____
Agricultural_____ ____ ____________
Worked 35 hours or more_______
Worked 15-34 hours____________
Worked 1-14 hours_____________
W ith a Job but not at work *........
65, 913
2,834
1,100
680
371
401
281
63,078
57, 400
46,015
6,441
2,855
2,089
5,678
3, 645
1,356
437
239
65, 490
2,914
1,130
865
278
359
283
62, 576
57,107
45, 092
7,131
2, 760
2,124
5, 469
3, 528
1, 213
477
253
65, 775
2,885
1,405
691
238
281
270
62, 891
57, 256
46, 576
5, 794
2, 727
2,159
5,635
3, 579
1,269
509
278
66, 592
2, 427
1,123
604
203
223
275
64,165
68, 281
47, 798
6, 104
2, 544
1,834
5,884
3, 906
1,348
447
183
67,206
2,398
1,282
541
152
195
228
64,807
57, 887
41,807
11, 583
2,703
1,794
6, 920
5,034
1,358
356
173
67, 292
2,131
1,079
471
130
238
213
65,161
57, 256
45, 984
6,811
2,289
2,173
7, 905
5, 937
1, 547
297
124
66, 882
2,149
1,128
390
172
242
216
64, 733
56, 858
46, 636
5,357
2, 087
2, 777
7, 875
6,093
1, 343
309
129
67, 726
2,237
1,060
528
189
195
265
65, 488
57,952
44, 910
5,173
1,924
5, 945
7, 536
5, 572
1,347
328
290
67,465
2,471
1,160
609
116
280
306
64,994
57,291
43, 955
5,201
1,913
6, 221
7, 704
5,625
1,505
330
244
66,696
2,679
1,433
464
135
337
311
64,016
56,335
45, 830
5,580
2,194
2, 731
7, 681
5,637
1,579
334
132
65,192
2,489
996
453
161
470
409
62,703
55,740
45,831
5,617
2, 440
1,852
6,963
5,175
1,372
263
153
64,647
2,962
958
538
355
664
447
61,685
55,470
43, 721
7,478
2, 361
1,911
6,215
4, 332
1,441
257
186
63,654
3,176
964
795
356
615
447
60,477
64, 785
45, 248
6,618
2,241
1,678
5,692
4,273
976
249
194
Males
Total labor fo r c e ............................................
47, 930
47,690
47,820
47,922
48,308
48, 265
48, 216
49,180
49,323
48,848
47,801
47, 590
47,226
Civilian labor force.........................................
Unemployment___________________
Em ploym ent____ _________________
Nonagricultural____________ ___
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours_________
W ith a job but not at work 3.
A gricultural.....................................
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours....................
W ith a job but not at work 8.
45,071
1,887
43,183
38,316
32, 236
3,322
1,335
1,423
4, 867
3,340
936
373
218
44, 818
2,049
42, 769
38,003
31, 552
3, 794
1,217
1, 440
4, 766
3,254
868
405
239
44, 938
1,951
42, 987
38, 095
32, 572
2,890
1,222
1,411
4,892
3,316
893
420
264
45,010
1, 574
43, 437
38, 437
33,114
2, 955
1,074
1,294
5,000
3,589
897
337
176
45,384
1,421
43, 963
38. 378
29, 523
6, 498
1,143
1, 213
5,585
4,374
799
251
159
45,341
1,254
44, 087
38,145
32, 415
3,340
937
1,453
5,942
4,863
765
205
110
45, 279
1,201
44,078
38,107
32, 918
2, 574
837
1, 778
5, 971
4, 977
681
195
118
46,245
1,387
44,858
38, 878
32,054
2,633
764
3, 427
6, 980
4,803
704
228
244
46,393
1,603
44, 790
38, 715
31,636
2,620
825
3,635
6,075
4,912
726
228
209
45,888
1,753
44,135
38,153
32,805
2,848
978
1,522
5, 982
4,800
845
222
115
44, 773
1,624
43,149
37, 527
32, 626
2,674
1,072
1,156
5,622
4,492
810
185
135
44,493
2,093
42,400
37,113
31,211
3,688
1,049
1,165
5, 287
4,052
862
201
172
44,078
2,283
41, 795
36, 772
31,946
2,766
981
1,079
5,023
4,005
620
212
186
Females
Total labor force. ........................................ ......... 20, 876
20, 706
20, 871
21, 616
21,856
21,985
21, 637
21,515
21,106
20,844
20,456
20,191
19,614
Civilian labor force............... .................................
Unemployment.......... ............................. .......
Em ploym ent_______________ _________ _
"No'nagricultural................. .................... .
Worked 35 hours or more..........
Worked 15-34 hours.____ _______
Worked 1-14 hours-----------------With a job but not at work *........
Agricultural__________ ____ ________
Worked 35 hours or more...............
Worked 15-34 hours...... ................ .
Worked 1-14 hours..................... .
W ith a job but not at w ork5____
20,672
865
19, 807
19,104
13, 540
3,336
1, 544
684
703
274
345
72
13
20,837
933
19,904
19,161
14, 004
2, 903
1,505
748
743
263
377
89
14
21, 582
854
20, 728
19,845
14, 685
3,149
1, 470
541
884
317
451
110
6
21,822
977
20, 846
19,510
12, 285
5,083
1,561
580
1,336
659
557
105
15
21,951
877
21, 073
19,111
13, 568
3, 471
1,352
719
1,962
1,074
782
92
14
21,603
948
20, 654
18, 751
13, 716
2,784
1, 250
1,001
1,904
1,116
661
115
11
21,481
850
20,631
19,075
12,856
2,541
1,160
2,518
1,556
766
643
100
46
21,072
868
20,204
18, 575
12,320
2,581
1,088
2,587
1,629
714
779
102
34
20,808
926
19,882
18,182
13,025
2,731
1,216
1,209
1,700
837
734
112
17
20,420
865
19,555
18,213
13,205
2,943
1,368
696
1,342
683
563
78
18
20,154
'869
19,284
18,357
12,510
3,790
1,311
745
927
280
579
55
14
19,576
893
18,683
18', 014
13,302
2,852
1,259
'600
669
269
356
37
8
20,842
947
19, 895
19,084
13, 779
3,119
1,520
666
811
305
420
64
21
> 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. Prior to July 1955, data refer to the
week including the 8th of the month; subsequent data refer to the week
including the 12th of the month. All data exclude persons In institutions.
Because of rounding, the individual figures do not necessarily add to group
totals.
* Census survey week contained legal holiday.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
* Includes persons who had a job or business, but who did not work during
the survey week because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute, or
because of temporary layoff with definite instructions to return to work
within 30 days of layoff. Also includes persons who had new jobs to which
they were scheduled to report within 30 days.
S ource : U . S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of th e Census.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
600
T able A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1
[In thousands]
1956
Annual aver
age
1955
Industry
Mar.
Total employees________________________
M ining________________________________
M etal_________________
- ________
Iron __________ _______ _ ________
Copper
Lead and zinc___ ___ ______________
Anthracite __ __________________ ___
B it uminous-coal__________ _____ ______
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
49, 783 49, 542 49, 615 51,311 50,629 50,471 50,322 49,858 49,420 49, 508 48,918 48, 643 48. 212 49, 398 48 285
749
100.7
209.7
Crude-petroleum and natural-gas production_____
. . . . ______________
747
754
100.0
100.1
33. 7
30. 6
15.2
34.3
30.3
15.2
754
99.9
35.0
29. 7
15.1
751
99.8
35.5
29.4
15.1
36 3
212.9
35.6
211.7
35.5
35.3
211.6
748
100.7
33.9
30 5
15.6
36.3
29 2
15.1
754
93.0
36.2
20. 6
16.4
749
90.0
35.8
18. 0
16.2
760
98.6
34.5
27. 9
16.3
742
97.1
33. 8
27. 5
16.2
33.9
208.8
35.4
207.6
34. 5
208.5
37.0
210.8
34.6
209.4
758
100.1
739
96.5
32.0
28 8
16. 4
739
94.8
30 5
28 7
16 3
748
96.5
33 7
15 9
770
98.1
35 9
97 4
16 9
211.0
33.6
208.1
37.4
204.8
38 3
208.4
36 5
209.1
41 1
226 7
298 8
97 9
295.6
296.6
302.3
301.5
299.4
305.1
309.4
308.3
306.3
297.3
295.3
295 6
300 7
Nonmetallic mining and quarrying____
105.0
102.3
102.6
104.0
106.7
108.0
109.9
108.9
107.5
107.2
106.1
105.1
102. 3
105.5
104.7
Contract construction__ ______________ _
Nonbuilding construction__________ Highwav and street ... ________
Other nonbuilding construction______
2 ,31G
2,252
392
152. 7
239. 2
2,267
398
156. 5
241.9
2,422
444
187.3
257.0
2.580
517
235.7
280.8
2,685
565
266.2
298.8
2,748
584
279.5
304.0
2,746
576
277.9
298.2
2. 701
567
272. 3
295.1
2,615
548
262. 3
286.1
2, 526
513
234. 7
278. 6
2,399
464
196. 4
267.3
2,255
411
161 9
249. 0
2.506
498
999 8
274. 8
2,527
5Ó6
217 4
288. 2
Building construction______________
_
1,860
General contractors_________________
703. 4
1,869
713.3
1,978
766.6
2, 063
808.4
2,120
829.2
2,164
851. 4
2,170
86S. 2
2,134
855. 5
2,067
819.7
2, 013
1, 935
789. 9
1,156. 4 1,156.1 1 , 211.2 1, 254.1 1, 291.0 1,312.3 1.301.6 1,278. 8 1,247. 2 1 , 222. 8 1
260.1 265.2 ' 275. 7 ' 285. 2 ' 295.3 ' 300.0 297.3 289.9 284. 0 279. 3
126. 5 123.0 138.6 151.8 157.3 161. 1 164.1 161. 5 153. 5 147. 8
142. 4 145.6 148.8 151.4 152.9 152.3 150.4 150.1 148. 5 145.6
627. 4 622.3 648.1 665. 7 685.5 698. 9 689 8 677.3 661. 2 650.1
Special-trade contractors
Plumbing and beating____________
Painting and decorating.- _______
Electrical work__ __ __ __________
Other special-trade contractors. . .
759.8
1,844
723 9
2 008 9 021
791 0
848 8
174.8 1 119 Q 1 917 0 1 172 7
272.6 266 3 ’ 281 8 ’ 283 4
140.2 129 2 145 7 141 4
143.8 143 6 148.3 156 5
618.3 580 8 641 2 591 5
Manufacturing____ ___________________ 16,807 16,821 16,842 17,026 17,049 16,999 16,915 16.807 16, 475 16,577 16,334 16,255 16, 201 16, 552 15,989
Durable goods 2
... . . . ________ 9,761 9, 775 9, 814 9,889 9,867 9, 762 9,645 9, 578 9, 511 9,624 9,501 9, 418 9, 323 9, 538 9,120
Nondurable goods 8__ ______ ____ _ 7,046 7,046 7,028 7,137 7,182 7, 237 7, 270 7,229 6,964 6,953 6,833 6,837 6, 878 7,014 6,870
Ordnance and accessories______________
12 1.1
122.6
124.4
123.8
126.4
127.0
130.5
131.5
132.3
132.3
133.2
134.5
137.0
132.1
160.8
Food and kindred products.................... . 1,462. 4 1, 447.1 1,455. 4 1,512.9 1, 572.8 1, 636. 7 1, 693. 9 1, 705.2 1.603.0 1, 530. 4 1, 469. 8 1, 440. 4 1.418.5 1,535.3 1,530.2
332.1 336.7 341.7 339.5 335.7 334.6 330. 2 328. 1 324. 3 320. 3 316.0 317 8 327 6 391 &
M eat products______________________
Dairy products_____________________
112.7 11 1.2 113.1 115. 2 119.0 125. 5 131.2 132. 9 130. 6 123 6 117.8 113 8 190 5 118 5
Canning and preserving_____________
167.1 170.4 190.5 233.8 293.2 358. 5 361.0 265.2 213. 7 179 0 171.7 157 7 998 5 224 2
Grain-mill products________________
114.4 114.6 115.9 117.1 120.0 119.1 122. 5 123.0 121. 4 119 1 117 1 117 8 119 9 121 3
Bakery products____________________
287.0 286.9 290.6 290.9 290.3 289.0 289.1 289.9 288. 0 284 0 280. 5 279 7 285 8 982 7
Sugar ___________________________
27. 5
31.3
43.1
49.1
44.0
33 2
31.0
29.4
27. 4
27 1
39 4
26 0
26 5
27.8
Confectionery and related products__
79.9
81. 5
86.4
89. 5
88.7
84. 8
78. 4
77 7
79 8
80 9
71.2
73 7
74. 5
73 6
194.0 193. 7 200.3 203.3 209.4 213. 6 222. 6 224.3 212. 9 207 2 200.3 1Q4 1 205 8 908 7
Beverages ___
_________________
132.4 129.1 131.3 134.4 136.4 137. 8 140.8 141.0 139 8 136 5 134. 7 132 8 135 7 137 ?
Miscellaneous food products________
Tobacco manufactures_______________
Cigarettes _________________________
Cigars
. . ____ _________________
Tobacco and s n u f f ___________ _____
Tobacco stemming and redrying_____
89.0
95.9
33.8
37.4
7.2
17. 5
100.4
34.1
37.0
7.2
22.1
105.7
34.0
38. 7
7.2
25.8
109.4
34.1
39.4
7.4
28.5
121.6
122.2
33.8
39.3
7.3
41.2
33. 9
38 9
7.5
41.9
113.3
33. 5
38. 4
7.4
34.0
86.8
33 0
36 5
7.1
10.2
89.4
33 0
38 6
7. 5
10. 3
87.9
32 3
37 9
7. 5
10 2
87.7
32 0
37 9
7. 4
10.4
91.0
37 3
3« 7
75
19 5
100.9
33 0
38 3
7 4
29 9
102.4
39 1
39 9
78
2? 7
Textile-mill products_____ _____ _______ 1,071.9 1,079. 9 1,081.7 1,091. 5 1,090.7 1, 084. 2 1,081.2 1,078.7 1,045.6 1,066. 9 1,057. 7 1,075.1 1,078.3 1,074.8 1,069.4
Scouring and combing plants_________
6.6
6. 5
6.5
6. 2
6. 2
6. 5
6 9
6 5
6 5
6. 6
6. 4
6 5
6 5
6 4
Yarn and thread mills_______________
129.6 129.4 130.4 129.8 129.7 130. 6 131. 3 127.6 130 7 130 9 131 5 131 4 130 4 127 6
Broad-woven fabric m ills____________ ___ 466.7 469.4 470.5 469.1 466.5 466.2 468. 2 456.5 46Ó.9 458.0 473.1 473.1 4673 4 472! 1
32.1
Narrow fabrics and small wares______
32.0
32.4
32.3
32.0
31. 6
31. 2
31 7
31 6
30 7
31 2
31.7
31 4
30 2
Knitting mills __________________
224. 2 222.9 228. 5 231.8 231.0 228 1 226. 4 214.0 222 3 217 3 217 1 218 1 ??1 9 218 0
D yeing and finishing te x tiles______
89. 2
89. 5
88.9
88 4
87 7
88 3
90. 4
90. 2
88 7
88. 4
86 1
88 9
89 6
87 9
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
51.9
50 3
51.6
51.6
51.1
50.8
49.8
50 5
50. 6
48. 7
49. 3
49 3
50. 4
51 4
12.9
Hats (except cloth and millinery)_____
12.9
12 .1
13.0
12. 7
12 9
12 4
12 1
12.7
12.3
11. 9
1? 5
1? 3
13 ?
Miscellaneous textile goods.. _____
67.4
66. 8
68.2
67. 5
67.0
66. 2
64. 5
63.7
64.2
64.6
64.7
64.7
6A3
62.6
Apparel and other finished textile
products_________________________ 1,270. 8 1 , 282.0 1, 254.0 1,271.2 1,268. 5 1,255.3 1, 246.3 1,230.1 1,152.1 1,188.2 1,168. 3 1,185.9 1, 240.3 1, 219.8 1,172.5
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats______
124.7 123.6 124. 2 123.5 122. 9 123 9 122. 5 110.4 119.6 116.6 116.6 122.4 120.3 121 .3
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
c lo th in g ._________________________
333. 2 326.1 329.2 330. 7 329.3 327 5 324.1 308 5 316 9 313 7 311 8 314 3 318 1 9Qf> 3
W omen’s outerw ear_______ _______
396. 5 382. 6 384. 2 376.0 366.2 366 5 365.9 337 7 343 5 335 8 354 6 385 9 364 5 355 3
Women’s, children’s undergarments__
122.7 120.4 122.2 124.3 124.0 120. 7 116. 8 1 1 1 . 8 116 6 116 2 118. 2 118 3 118 2 119 1
M illinery _________________________
20*$
19. 0
15 5
16 0
19 7
26.0
23.3
21 . 2
21.8
22. 4
21. 7
18 5
27 4
91 2
72 5
72. 9
72.1
72 1
70 8
68 8
66 9
Children’s outerwear. ____________
71.3
72. 2
72 1
71. 4
73 n
71 5
70 1
11 3
Fur goods__________________________
8.2
9.3
i l .6
11 .6
11 9
10 7
74
12.3
11 3
11. 2
11.3
8 ?
10 5
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories..
64.8
62.3
66.3
63 6
61 0
61 2
62 1
67. 2
67.1
66. 2
64. 9
56. 8
63 2
60 8
Other fabricated textile products_____ —
133.0 135.0 141.0 143.4 140.2 135.7 130.9 126.3 128.1 129.6 129.5 129.4 132! 3 125.4
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
601
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T able
A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1956
Annual aver
age
1955
Industry
Mar.
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except
705.4
furniture)_____________ _____ ______
Logging camps and contractors
Sawmills and planing mills__________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products__________
Wooden containers _ _ . _____
Miscellaneous wood products________ —
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept. Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
715.3
86.1
384.7
715.2
86. 0
384.0
735.7
94.8
392.4
765.5
111. 4
401.9
785.2
117.9
410.7
795.5
122.5
416.7
799.8
123.6
421.5
788.1
123 6
415.7
795.1
124.0
418.0
750. 5
99.9
401.1
718.2
82.3
389.3
700.9
73. 2
384.4
753.1
103. 2
400.8
705.8
89 6
378.7
130.4
53.0
61.1
131.8
52.8
60.6
134.9
53. 5
60.1
138. 6
53. 5
60.1
143.4
53. 5
59.7
144.3
52.9
59.1
144.6
51.4
58.7
139.7
52.3
56.8
140. 6
54.0
58.5
137.5
53. 4
58.6
135.2
52.8
58.6
132.1
53. 5
57.7
137. 7
53.1
58.3
126.0
55.8
55.6
373.6
264.1
374.9
265.3
377.9
267.7
379.8
269. 0
379. 5
268.1
376.1
265.2
369.2
259.8
353.2
248.4
356. 5
251. 5
353.6
249.2
353.4
251.0
354. 5
252. 5
362.8
256. 7
345.2
243 7
45.2
44.9
44.4
44.3
44. 6
44.1
43.6
42.1
41. 4
41. 8
41.8
41.6
42. 7
40 8
35.9
36.7
37.0
37.4
37.8
38.0
37.9
36.0
36.1
35.3
34.6
34.4
36. 0
33. 8
28.4
28.0
28.8
29.1
29.0
28.8
27. 9
26.7
27.5
27.3
26.0
26.0
27.4
26.9
555.3
555. 9
274.2
152.9
128.8
557.3
274.7
153.(1
129.6
563. 2
276. 5
157.0
129.7
564. 5
275.4
158 2
130.9
563.1
273.8
158.7
130.6
560.2
273.4
156.9
129.9
556.7
274.0
153.4
129.3
546.8
271.2
148 3
127.3
547. 5
269.1
150.3
128.1
540.0
266.3
146. 8
126.9
536.7
265.4
145.5
125.8
534. 6
264.5
144.7
125.4
548.1
269.8
150.6
127.7
530.6
261.9
145.1
123.6
829.5
825. 3
302.4
65. 0
49.0
216.8
60.9
17.8
46.0
821.2
297.7
64.0
48.4
218.8
60.6
18.0
45.4
830.5
300.9
65.1
48.8
221.5
62.3
19.6
45.6
833.3
.802 fi
05 4
4Q 1
219.4
02 9
21 4
45.6
828.0
301.4
64. 2
49 3
217.6
62 4
20.6
45.6
820.7
300.5
62.8
49.1
215.3
61.5
19.7
45.0
810. 5
297. 5
61.4
48. 4
212.9
60.3
19.5
43.7
807.7
297 6
60 8
48
213! 1
59 1
18 8
43.2
808.4
297.6
60.9
48.1
212.8
59. 7
19.0
43.6
802.8
295. 4
61.0
47.8
210.7
59 3
18.0
43.1
803.3
295.1
61.6
48.1
210.8
59.7
17.6
42.8
802.0
293. 4
62.0
48.1
211.0
59. 4
17.5
42.4
812.0
297.2
62. 5
48.4
213.7
60.4
18.9
43.7
800.1
292 3
62 6
48 8
208.0
60 0
18. 8
42. 9
67.4
68.3
66.7
66 9
66.9
66.8
66.8
66 6
66. 7
67.5
67.6
68.2
67.2
66. 7
842.2
Chemicals and allied products..................
Industrial inorganic chemicals________ ______
Industrial organic chemicals ______
Drugs and medicines . ______________
Soap, cleaning and polishing preparations. . .
____ _____________
Paints, pigments, and fillers__________
Gum arid wood chem icals....................
Fertilizers
______________________
Vegetable and animal oils and fats_____
Miscellaneous chemicals_____________
831.2
112.8
316.5
92.6
828.3
112.2
315. 8
92.6
829.5
112.1
315.8
92.8
827.9
111.4
814 5
92.1
825. 7
110.2
312 4
91 8
821.7
109.5
314 2
91.9
811.5
108.4
313.9
92.3
808.9
107.9
313 2
93! 0
808.6
109.2
310. 2
92. 5
811.5
107.9
307 0
92. 5
811.9
104.5
305.9
92.4
808.4
103.9
303.7
92. 9
812.6
107.7
309. 2
92.5
791.0
101.2
299.1
92.0
50.4
71.6
8.1
37.7
42. 2
99.3
50.6
71.5
8. 1
35.9
43. 6
98.0
50.7
71. 5
8.0
34. 7
45.3
98.6
51. 0
71 7
8.0
84 8
47. 0
97.9
51. 4
71. 8
8.1
35. 2
46.5
98.3
51.2
72.2
8.0
34. 5
42.7
97.5
51.0
73.2
8.1
29. 6
38.5
96.5
50 1
73 3
49. 8
72. 5
49.9
71. 2
7.8
33.5
7.9
37 9
95.7
38.0
95.1
42 7
38.1
94.3
50.2
70.9
7.8
47.8
38.9
93.5
50.3
70. 2
7.8
46. 7
40.9
92.0
50.5
71. 5
7.9
36.9
41.5
94.9
50. 5
70. 4
7.7
36.8
42.4
91.0
Products of petroleum and coal_________
Petroleum refining___________ ___ ___
Coke, other petroleum and coal products______________________ ______
250.0
248.0
199.4
247.7
199.2
249.2
199. 9
250.8
200.3
251.8
200.4
254.3
202.1
256.2
204.2
256.1
204.1
253. 9
202.6
251.0
200.5
249.8
200.2
248.9
200.2
251.4
201.3
253.0
203.6
48.6
48.5
49.3
50. 5
51.4
52.2
52.0
52.0
51.3
50. 5
49.6
48.7
50. 1
49. 5
Rlibber products________ ______ _______
Tires and inner tubes ______________
Rubber footwear _________________
Other rubber products_______________
285.6
287.3
121. 9
31. 2
134.2
292.5
122.4
31.2
138.9
293.4
122. 7
31.2
139.5
290.1
121. 5
80 8
137.8
285.1
119.9
29. 8
135.4
281.7
119.3
28.9
133.5
274.6
117.9
26.9
129.8
273.9
118. 7
27 2
128.0
276.3
118.0
r26. 8
131.5
273.4
116. 9
26. 6
129.9
268.5
115.8
26.5
126.2
269.3
114. 7
26.8
127.8
276.6
117. 7
28.0
130.9
250.2
106.0
26.0
118.2
Leather and leather p ro d u cts__________
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished
Industrial leather belting and packing. _
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings__
Footwear (except rubber)____________
Luggage___________ . . ___________
Handbags and small leather goods_____
Gloves and miscellaneous leather goods.
389.1
393.7
42.8
5.1
18.1
257.6
17.7
33.7
18.7
389.3
43.2
5.2
17.9
256.1
17.1
31.9
17.9
389.9
43.6
5.1
17.6
252.9
18.0
32.8
19.9
374.1
48. 9
4. 6
16. 2
236. 2
19. 4
33. 5
20.3
385.1
43. 6
5.1
16.3
246. 5
19.4
34.0
20.2
387.4
43. 5
5.0
16.0
249.6
19. 5
33.5
20.3
392.5
43.6
5.0
16.8
264.2
19.7
33.2
20.0
382.6
43 1
4.9
16.5
250.0
18. 8
30.3
19.0
382.9
44. 1
4.9
16.9
249.8
18.5
30.2
18.5
371.0
43 4
4. 8
16.0
242. 6
18.1
28. 7
17.4
377.4
43.4
4.8
16.7
246.2
17.7
31.5
17.1
386.7
43. 4
4.8
17.6
251.7
17.2
34.9
17.1
382.4
43. 5
4.9
16.7
248.3
18.2
32.5
18.3
370.1
43. 4
4.7
16.0
243.4
16.2
30.2
16.2
8tone, clay, and glass products_____ ____
Flat glass_________ ________________
Glass and glassware, pressed or blow n.._
Glass products made of purchased glass.
Cement, hydraulic____________ ______
Structural'clay products_____________
Pottery and related products_________
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products.................................................... .......
Cut-stone and stone products_________
Miscellaneous norimetalllc mineral
products__________________________
559.0
552.0
32.8
93.0
18.8
43.4
81.8
53.4
552.4
33.8
92.9
18.8
44.1
81.1
54.2
559.0
33.8
93.9
19.1
44.2
82.6
55.7
564.8
33. 5
95.1
19.0
44.3
83.7
55.2
567.0
33. 2
96.0
17.9
44. 2
84.4
55.7
566.8
33.0
96.8
17.7
44. 5
84.8
54.6
560.9
32.6
93.7
17.2
44. 4
84.5
53.3
547.8
32.2
89.6
16.4
44.4
82.8
51.3
553. 6
33.0
94.4
17.1
43. 9
81.8
53.5
543.4
31.8
92.8
17.1
43.1
79.7
53.8
535.7
31.9
91.0
17.2
42.7
78.3
54.2
527.2
32.0
90.0
17.0
42.4
76.6
54.2
546.6
32.6
92.5
17.4
43.6
80.7
53.9
514.2
29.3
89.7
16.1
41.7
76.1
51.9
112. 5
20.2
110.8
20.3
111.8
20.7
115. 5
20. 7
117.2
20.8
117.7
20.8
118.0
20.8
115.6
20.3
115.1
20.3
112.8
19.7
109.3
20.0
105.4
19.8
112.0
20.2
103.6
19.7
96.1
96.4
97.2
97.8
97.6
96.9
96.4
95.2
94.5
92.6
91.1
89.8
93.7
86.0
Furniture and fixtures_________________
Household furniture
Office, public-building, and professional
furniture
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fixtures .
__
___
Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous furniture and fixtures........ ................ .........
370.0
—
Paper and allied products______________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard m ills___
Paperboard containers and boxes____
Other paper and allied products___ .
Printing, publishing, and allied Industries_____ _______ . . . __________
Newspapers.
.
...
Periodicals .
Books
Commercial printing________________
Lithographing
Greeting cards
_____ .
Bookbinding and related industries
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
services_______________________ _
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
—
8 .1
29 7
602
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able
A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1956
Annual aver
age
1955
Industry
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
o
»0
00
Mannfactnri ng—Continued
Primary metal industries______ ________ 1,369.1 1,368. 3 1,368.1 1, 366.1 1,357.8 1,342. 9 1,341.1 1,318. 8 1, 302. 7 1, 316.4 1,294. 5 1,273.6 1, 251.6 1, 299. 5
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills......................................................................... 662.0 659.5 659.0 656.9 653.9 661.9 657.4 652,8 647.6 632.9 620.8 608.4 635.7
Iron and steel foundries_____________________ 259.9 260.1 259.7 256.0 252.9 248.8 244.3 239.9 239.9 238.9 233.8 229.1 240.1
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals___________________________
68.2
68.7
56.2
65.9
68.6
68.2
65.4
64.5
67.6
66.2
65.8
68.9
68.5
Secondary smelting and refining of
nonferrous metals__________ ______________
13.2
13.4
13.2
11.6
12.6
12.6
13.1
13.1
12.5
12.5
12.7
13.2
12.7
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of non ■
ferrous m etals.......................................... .............. 115.7 116.2 115.6 115.8 112.4 110.8 107.9 110.2 113.4 111.6 110.0 109.2 111.1
Nonferrous foundries........ ......................... ..............
90.1
83.4
84.2
88.5
90.6
86.5
85.7
88.2
85.7
85.3
85.5
90.8
83.3
Miscellaneous primary metal indus
tries___ _____ ____________________________ 160.6 159.9 158.9 157.1 153.9 151.8 148.7 148.6 149.7 147.1 144.8 142.7 148.6
1954
581.0
213.0
62.9
12.4
102.1
77.6
136.0
Fabricated metal products (except ord
nance, machinery, and transporta
tion equipment)...................................... 1,102.8 1,100. 3 1,110.0 1,124.2 1,128. 5 1,119.1 1,110.0 1,092.1 1, 077. 5 1, 096. 5 1,087. 8 1,077. 5 1,067. 5 1,089.6 1,045.2
Tin cans and other tinware....................................
54. 6
56.8
54.3
56.1
56.9
63.1
62.6
61.4
64. 6
61.2
58.7
58.6
58.5
54. 7
Cutlery, handtools, and hardware___________
149.0 151.9 155.3 154.8 151.2 147.6 145.1 145.1 149.4 150.6 150.3 150.2 149.5 143.5
Heating apparatus (except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies____________ ____ _______ 133.9 133.3 136.0 137.1 139.1 139.1 134.3 128.2 134.5 132.0 130.7 130.2 132.9 124.7
Fabricated structural metal products. ______ 290.6 288.3 287.7 288.7 287.5 290.0 287.5 283.8 281.4 274.7 268.8 264.3 278.2 274.8
Metal stamping, coating, and en
graving_____ _____ _______________________ 214.9 222.4 228.0 228.3 221.6 217.4 213 9 212.8 220.6 222.8 222.3 220.7 219.7 212.0
48.2
48.4
50.5
45.2
Lighting fixtures_________ __________________
46.9
47.7
47.5
48.0
43.9
47.6
49.1
46.2
47.9
49.6
64.4
Fabricated wire products___________________
66.2
67.4
62.6
64.1
64.5
58.4
63.9
64.2
68.0
66.3
62.9
64.2
68.8
Miscellaneous fabricated metal prod
ucts............................................................ .............. 142.7 143.8 144.1 144.8 142.9 141.3 137.6 137.2 137.7 136.8 136.0 135.3 138.3 129.5
Machinery (except electrical).................... 1,696.1 1,689. 7 1,670. 5 1, 658. 7 1,629. 6 1,611.8 1, 563.8 1, 572. 2 1, 573.5 1,593. 6 1,580. 5 1, 568.0 1, 544. 7 1,577.0 1, 551.1
78.7
76.7
80.7
Engines and turbines____________ ___
80.1
80.7
83.5
83.1
80.9
80.2
80.4
79.9
76.0
85.1
82.6
Agricultural machinery and tractors...
166.6 167.7 166.5 163.1 160. 2 130.4 156.8 164.2 165.0 164.7 164.4 161.8 158.8 145.7
Construction and mining machinery.. .
145.0 142.4 140.4 138.2 136.7 134.9 133 3 130.6 129.8 126.9 125.1 123.0 130.0 123.7
Metalworking machinery____________
275.6 272.9 272.2 268.0 259.8 262.5 259.7 258.0 258.9 256.2 253.8 251.5 258.3 270.8
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking m achinery)..................
190.7 188.4 187.2 184.5 183.6 182.8 180.7 179.3 180.6 179.2 178.4 176.3 180.0 178.5
249.4 245.1 244.2 242.4 240.4 240.4 234.3 233.2 232.2 230.6 229.1 224.7 233.3 232.9
General industrial machinery________
Office and store machines and devices. .
115.3 113.2 112.0 109.6 108.1 106.9 105.1 105.5 106.2 105.4 105.8 106.0 106.6 104.7
Service-industry and household ma
chines________________ _____ ______
189.3 184.8 182.0 175.6 174.9 167.4 169.1 175.0 186.8 187.3 185.1 180.2 176.9 178.6
Miscellaneous machinery parts_______
274.3 272.9 271.6 267.5 263.0 258.4 253.0 249.0 253.2 249.8 247.6 244.5 253.2 240.4
Electrical machinery----------------------------1,145.5 1,162. 2 1,162. 8 1,174.3 1,169.8 1,193. 5 1,163.3 1,126.4 1,108.2 1,118. 6 1,108.9 1,101.8 1,098.3 1,129. 7 1,088.6
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and Industrial appara
370.4 365.8 362.3 357.3 380. 6 375.9 365.0 367.8 375.0 373. 7 370.0 367.8 369.3 367.8
tus_______ ______ ___________
73.4
72.9
73.7
66. 1
64.5
Electrical appliances___________
64.7
70.6
74.3
68.3
66.0
67.8
65.6
64.6
73. 9
28.0
25.4
25.8
Insulated wire and cable_______
28.7
28.8
25.5
26.8
26. 1
27.7
25.2
26.3
24.1
26.1
28.7
76.4
76.2
78.9
81.2
82.5
Electrical equipment for vehicles
78.8
78.7
78.3
78.3
75.
1
78.9
70.8
79.5
83. 5
25.7
23.8
25.5
23.5
22.9
26.2
26.0
Electric lamps____________ ____
25.4
26.1
25.9
26.6
26 0
25.4
23.1
540.3 541.0 552.6 554.0 553.7 536.6 518.1 499.4 499.7 492.4 491.3 491.1 514.8 490.1
Communication equipment____
45.6
49.2
Miscellaneous electrical products
49.6
51.4
47.3
47.4
44.9
48.9
47.4
46.3
51.1
48.7
45.8
50.2
Transportation equipment...............
1,893. 6 1,888. 8 1,941. 9 1,961.0 1,928.1 1,819.1 1, 791.2 1,815.3 1. 854.9 1,876. 5 1, 880. 6 1,883.7 1,868. 5 1,861.5 1,744.9
908.2 969.5 992.9 976.1 874. 7 851.1 883.8 921.2 942.4 947.7 946.8 929.4 921.2 780.6
Automobiles_______ _____ ______
784.9 777.4 772.9 763.8 754.3 749.3 741.4 742.3 738.7 740.9 749.1 752. 0 750.9 768.1
Aircraft and parts...........................
505.1 501.2 497.9 492.9 488.3 485.5 482.1 481.9 476.3 476.8 478.0 477.1 482.2 473.4
Aircraft......................................... .
155.2 152.7 151. 3 148.3 144.5 143.2 140. 5 140.7 142.1 143.1 146.6 148.8 145.6 158.9
Aircraft engines and parts____
13.6
Aircraft propellers and parts.. .
14.7
14.5
13.2
13.9
13.3
13.9
13.7
13.4
14.2
13.6
13.5
15.9
13. 2
Other aircraft parts and equipment_________ 109.9 109.0 109. 5 108.7 107.9 107.1 105.6 106.5 107.0 107.6 110.9 112.2 109.4 119.9
122. 1 122.3 121.7 116.6 118.6 120.1 122.1 125.0 130.1 126.3 123.6 124.3 122.5 129.3
Ship and boat building and repairing________
Shipbuilding and repairing................................
96.8
99.1 100.3
97.7
94.1
97.0
98.9 100.4 102.0 105.6 101.4
99.4 108.4
97.7
24.5
Boatbuilding and repairing________________
25.3
24.6
22.5
24.0
21.2
23.0
21.6
24.5
21.7
24.9
23.1
20.9
24.0
Railroad equipment____ ________ ___________
63.6
63.5
60.7
55.6
60.0
56.7
54.0
60.6
55.8
57.3
57.4
63.2
57.6
56.6
8.6
10.0
9.2
Other transportation equipment_____________
10.9
9.7
8.8
10.7
9.5
9.1
9.6
10.9
10.4
9.3
10,3
Instruments and related products.........
325.8
Laboratory, scientific, and engineering
instruments______________________________
Mechanical measuring and controlling
instruments________ _____________________
Optical instruments and lenses.............. ..............
Surgical, medical, and dental instruments_______
Ophthalmic goods____ _____________________
Photographic apparatus_____ _______ _______
Watches and clocks.................................... ..............
325.5
323.8
323.4
322.0
320.5
318.3
315.5
314.8
315.1
305.0
310.4
311.0
314.4
53.6
51.9
51.3
50.7
51.9
51.2
50.0
50.1
49.7
41.8
49.8
49.7
49.6
51.7
90.3
12.9
42. 2
26.0
66.6
33.9
90.3
12.8
41.8
25.9
66.5
34.6
89.8
12.8
41.6
26.0
66. 7
35.2
89.2
12.8
41.4
25.6
66.6
35.7
87.8
12.7
41.4
25.1
66.3
35.3
86.9
12.7
41.0
24.6
67.1
34.8
86.4
12.6
40.8
24.2
67.8
33.7
86.0
12.9
40.6
24.1
68.0
33.1
86.9
12.8
40.2
24.4
67.2
33.9
86.4
12.7
40.1
24.0
66.3
33.7
85.5
12.7
38.3
23.7
66.4
34.0
84.9
12.7
39.4
23 6
66.5
34.2
86.5
12.7
40.3
24.3
66.8
34.2
82.0
13.7
40.1
24.0
67.0
37.3
472.9
476.7
53.8
18.8
85.6
29.4
67.3
80.0
141.8
470.1
53.4
18.5
81.2
29.1
66.0
80. 5
141.4
485.2
54.1
18.6
88.3
29.5
66.6
82.6
145.5
495.0
54.8
18.6
95.7
30.1
67.4
82.4
146.0
496.7
54.9
18.5
96.3
30.0
68.8
81.7
146.5
488.4 476.3
54.0
52.3
18.3
17.8
92.2
94.7
29.9
29.8
67.6
66.5
79.2
76.1
144. 71 141.6
457.6
48.7
17.5
88.5
29.2
62.7
73.5
137.5
469.9
51.7
17.8
90.1
29.7
64.4
76.8
139.4|
463.1
50.8
17.6
87.4
29.7
62.1
76. 2
139.3
461.2
51.4
17.5
84.0
29.5
62.0
75.3
141.5
462 0
53.2
17.6
79.4
29.0
65.3
75.1
142.4
471.4
52.7
17.9
86.9
29.5
65.5
77.0
141.9
463.3
53.7
16.8
82.8
29.5
63.6
71.2
145.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are...
Musical instruments and parts..............
Toys and sporting goods_____________
Pens, pencils, other office supplies____
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions____
Fabricated plastics products............ .
Other manufacturing industries.............
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
315.7
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T able
603
A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1956
Annual aver
age
1955
Industry
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
Transportation and public utilities___
Transportation___________________
2,739
Interstate railroads______________
Class I railroads*______________
Local railways and bus lines_____
Trucking and warehousing_______
Other transportation and services.
Bus lines, except local____________
Air transportation (common carrier).
Communication.............................................
787
Telephone________________________
Telegraph_____ ___________________
Other public u t ilitie s ................................
583
Gas and electric utilities____________
Electric light and power u tilitie s... . .
Gas utilities.................... ................... .
Electric light and gas utilities com
bined...... ........................ ................. .
Local utilities, not elsewhere classified.
4,083 4,089 4,165 4,143 4,127 4,152 4,137 4,113 4,081 3,997 3,939 3,966 4,057 4,008
2, 717 2, 728 2,801 2, 783 2,786 2. 793 2, 769 2, 749 2,735 2,701 2, 653 2,648 2, 722 2,688
1,192.3 1,198.1 1, 228. 3 1,225.4 1, 236.2 1, 242. C 1,245. 5 1,239. 7 1,224. 4 1,196. 2 1,158.6 1,156.8 1,205.1 1,215.4
1,040. 8 1,047. 5 1,070. 5 1,077. C1,087. 2 1, 092.1 1,096.1 1,090.8 1,075. 8 1,049. 8 1,012.4 1,010.6 1,057.1 1,064.6
111. 1 113.7 114.3 114.6 115.2 116.2 113.2 112.4 118.4 119.7 119. 7 120.5 117.3 126.9
783.5 787.9 814.8 808.6 800.4 791.4 772.8 762. C 760.4 754.5 747.9 743.9 767.8 719.7
630.0 628. 5 643.8 634.2 634.2 643.2 637.2 634.4 632. C 631. C 627.0 626.3 631.7 626.3
43.0
43.7
43.8
44.4
45.1
45.5
43.9
45.8
43.9
43.1
43.4
43.2
44.1
45.8
119.8 119.3 120.2 118.8 117.8 117.2 116.7 116.2 114.7 112.7 110 1 108.4 113.8 105.2
785
780
781
777
709
758
770
773
770
716
741
752
758
741N
743.1 737.4 737 8 734.6 714. fi 727.5 731. C 727.4 715.2 673.6 666.9 699.7 709.8 698.8
41.6
42.3
42.2
42.6
41. S
41.5
41.5
41.6
42. C 41.6
41.6
40.8
41.6
41.2
581
581
583
595
594
577
583
583
589
588
580
577
583
579
558.9 558.2 560.4 560.1 560.7 566.2 571. 7 570.8 564.6 557.1 554.3 554.4 560. 6 556.3
249.1 248.5 249.7 249.8 249.9 253.0 254.8 254.5 252. 0 249.1 248.3 248.3 250.4 249.0
142.0 142.0 142.4 142.0 142.1 143.2 145.2 144.4 142. 5 140.1 138.4 138.6 141.3 139.1
Wholesale and retail trade_______________
Wholesale trade_____________________ _ 2,919
Retail trade..................................................... 7, 885
General merchandise stores__________
Food and liquor stores................. ...........
Automotive and accessories dealers___ 773.1
Apparel and accessories stores_______
583.0
Other retail trade___________________
10,741 10,833 11,753 11,126 10,909 10,824 10,638
2, 917 2, 921 2, 959 2,942 2,909 2, 879 2,863
7, 824 7,912 8, 794 8,184 8,000 7,945 7, 775
1, 320.0 1, 373. 6 1,952. 7 1,570.0 1, 443. 6 1,394. 7 1,315.0
1, 572. 4 1, 563.0 1, 587.0 1,554.5 1, 527. 2 1,515.7 1, 499.0
777.0 782.6 802.4 789.9 784.9 785.3 788.3
566.8 583.1 735. 8 626.3 604.2 592.0 540.8
3, 587.8 3,610.1 3, 716.4 3,643.3 3, 639. 7 3, 657. 4 3,631.4
167.8
22.3
167.7
22.4
168.3
22.5
168.3
22.6
168.7
22.6
170.0
22.9
171.7
23.4
171.9
23.4
170.1
23.0
167.9
22.7
167.6
22.8
10, 633 10,643 10,534 10,549
2,858 2,826 2,801 2,804
7, 775 7, 817 7,733 7, 745
1, 313. 4 1,348. 7 1,341. 8 1,371.7
1, 505. 7 1, 502. 7 1, 486. 7 1,478.2
784.9 776.6 767.8 762.5
552.8 596.1 593.5 612.3
3, 618. 4 3, 592.8 3,542. 9 3, 520.7
167.5
22.5
168.9
22.7
188.2
22.4
10,408 10,728 10,498
2,813 2,856 2,796
7, 595 7,872 7,702
1,304. 8 1,413.6 1,395.8
1,471.4 1,504. 7 1, 446. 2
755. 4 774.5 764.6
578.3 596.9 592.4
3, 485. 2 3, 582.3 3,502.8
Finance, insurance, and real estate_______
Banks and trust companies____________
Security dealers and exchanges_________
Insurance carriers and agents__________
Other finance agencies and real estate__
2,249
2,227
567.0
80.4
807.5
772.2
2,214
561.1
80.1
801.0
771.8
2,219
561.9
80.0
802.9
773.8
2,213
560.3
79.5
799.9
773.2
2,216
656. 3
79. 2
798.2
782.1
2,223
555.6
78.9
798.0
790.0
2,241
561.2
80.2
802.7
796.8
2, 237
560.7
79.4
798.6
798.7
2,206
549.0
77.9
788.1
790. 6
2,171
540.8
76.9
781.1
771.7
2,161
539.9
76.5
782.5
762.2
2,150
538. 2
75.5
781. 5
754.7
2,191
549.3
77.5
790.7
773.5
2,114
529.3
67.3
770.6
746.4
Service and miscellaneous.___ __________
Hotels and lodging places............................
Personal services:
Laundries____ _____ _______________
Cleaning and dyeing plants_________
Motion pictures.............................................
5,639
5,609
463.7
5,603
453.6
5,657
458.3
5,690
460.5
5,730
472.1
5,791
509.1
5,818
575.4
5,816
574.2
5,775
513.9
5,733
488.3
5,674
479.7
5,571
462.9
5,694
492.7
5,629
498.0
328.8
149.8
222.7
330.7
151.3
224.8
331.4
152.6
226.4
332.6
155.5
231.7
334.4
157. 4
236.2
335.6
154.9
240.6
337.7
151.1
239.6
339.0
155. 7
239.9
337.7
160.8
239.3
333.1
160.4
238.7
328.5
157.1
236.5
325.4
154.1
228.9
332.1
155.2
233.8
331.4
160.7
231.5
Government___________________________
7,110 7, 061 7,020 7,315 7,074 7,054 6,911 6,717 6,696 6,851 6,881 6,927 6,922 6,923 6,751
Federal...... ................................................... ¡2,165 2,160 2,156 2,436 2,168 2, 172 2, 173 2,190 2,187 2,183 2,159 2,153 2,148 2,190 2,188
8tate and local *______________________ 4, 945 4,901 4,864 !4, 879 4,906 j4, 882 4,738 4, 527 4,509 4, 668 4, 722 4, 774 4, 774 4, 734 4, 563
i The Bureau of Labor Statistics series on employment in nonagricultural
establishments are based upon reports submitted by cooperating firms.
These reports cover all full- and part-time employees in private nonagricul
tural establishments who worked during, or received pay for, any part of the
pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month. Because of this, persons
who worked in more than one establishment during the reporting period will
be counted more than once. In Federal establishments the data generally
refer to persons who worked on, or received pay for, the last day of the
month. Proprietors, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, and
domestic servants are excluded. These employment series have been ad
justed to first-quarter 1954 benchmark levels indicated by data from govern
ment social-insurance programs.
Data for the 2 most recent months are subject to revision without notation;
revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the first month
they are published.
These data differ in several respects from the nonagricultural employment
data shown in the M onthly Report on the Labor Force (table A -l, civilian
labor force), which are obtained by household interviews. This M R LF
series relates to the calendar week which contains the 8th day of the month.
It includes all persons (14 years and over) with a job whether at work or not,
proprietors, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, and domestic
servants.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
s Durable goods include: ordnance and accessories; lumber and wood
products (except furniture); furniture and fixtures; stone, clay, and glass
products; primary metal industries; fabricated metal products (except
ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment); machinery (except
electrical); electrical machinery; transportation equipment; instruments and
related products; and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
8 Nondurable goods include: food and kindred products; tobacco manufac
tures; textile-mill products; apparel and other finished textile products; paper
and allied products; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chemicals and
allied products; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products; and leather
and leather products.
4 State and local government data exclude, as nominal employees, elected
officials of small local units, and paid volunteer firemen.
*Beginning with January 1956, class I railroads include only those having
annual operating revenues of $3,000,000 or more. This class formerly included
all railroads having annual operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more.
See footnote 1, p. 597.
N ote.—Information
on concepts, methodology, etc., is
given in a technical note on Measurement of Industrial
Employment, which appeared in the September 1953
Monthly Labor Review.
604
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able
A-3: Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1
[In thousands]
Industry
Mar. i Feb.
Mining:
Metal
_ _
.
___________
Iron
____ ___ ___ ________________
Copper
______
__ __________
..............................
Lead and zinc. . . .
Jan.
Dee.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
86.4
29.4
26.3
13.3
85.8
29.3
26.3
12.9
85.7
29.8
25.9
12.9
85.8
30.6
25.4
12.8
85.6
31.0
25.1
12.8
85.8
31.6
24.9
12.9
78.0
31.6
15.9
14.0
75.4
31.3
13.5
13.8
84.3
29.9
23.7
13.9
82.9
29.4
23.2
13.8
82.3
27.5
24.5
14.0
81.1
26.2
24.6
13.9
82.3
29.2
22.9
13.5
83.9
30.5
23.3
13.7
. ____
32.8
195.6
31.9
194.6
32.2
194.1
31.8
193.9
31.1
192.2
30.6
191.7
32.2
189.7
31.0
190.8
33.6
193.5
30.4
191.1
33.8
187.4
34.8
191.1
33.0
191.7
36.7
207.2
Crude-petroleum and natural-gas pro
duction:
Petroleum and natural-gas production
(except. eontraot services!
122.9
122.2
122 2
121.1
122.1
126.0
130.5
129.7
127.9
122.7
122.4
123.2
124.7
130.0
87.3
87.6
89 3
91. 8
93.1
94.3
93.4
91.8
91.6
91.0
90.6
87.2
90.3
89.6
Anthracite
Bituminous-coal
Non metallic mining and quarrying
Manufacturing____ ____________________ 13,199 13,229 13,272 13.464 13,498 13,446 13,373 13,262 12,951 13,086 12,882 12.816 12,778 13,061 12,588
Durable goods *. . . _______________ 7,679 7,703 7,758 7,847 7,839 7, 729 7, 623 7, 553 7,499 7,630 7, 530 7, 457 7,375 7, 547 7,184
Nondurable goods1_______________ 5, 520 5, 526 5, 514 5, 617 5,659 5, 717 5, 750 5,709 5, 452 5,456 5,352 5, 359 5,403 5, 515 5,404
Ordnance and accessories______________
80.0
81.2
82.6
82.6
84.1
83.9
86.5
87.8
88.6
89.3
90.4
91.2
Food and kindred products...................... . 1,014. 5 1,002. 2 1,014.3 1, 070. 9 1,130.3 1,191. 2 1, 245. 3 1,249.9 1,150.4 1,089.0 1,034.5 1,011.0
258. 5 264.4 269. 9 268.7 264.8 262.9 258.8 257. 4 254.8 251.0 246.3
Meat products_____________________
71.4
83.0
88.9
82.7
78 1
72.8
77.8
88.1
89.9
75.0
Dairy products______ _______________
73.1
135.7 138.9 158.9 201.3 259 9 325.1 327.1 232.5 182.9 148.8 141.8
____ ___
Canning and preserving__
81.1
86.4
84.2
87.9
81.6
85.7
88.9
89.1
83.8
86.9
Grain-mill products.. ________ ___ _
82.7
169.5 170.3 175. 2 175.0 175. 2 173.2 172.4 174.2 173. 5 171.2 169.1
Bakery products
22.1
22.7
25.6
21.1
25.5
37.8
23.9
22.0
20.7
37.6
43.0
Sugar
_
.
. ________
60.3
70.5
59.7
59.3
65.8
67.0
74.0
64.4
57. 7
Confectionery and related products___
74.9
71. 5
105.9 106.6 111.9 115.8 119.8 122.2 127.2 128. 6 121.8 118.0 113.7
Beverages
.
___________
94.8
99.1
96.0
90.8
88.6
92.
8
95.0
97.1
99
0
98.8
90.1
Miscellaneous food products______ _
93.5
89.0
115.5
991.1 1,096.2 1,100.4
248.1 257. 3 251.9
79.8
74.2
78.9
128.0 197.0 194.4
85.9
84.5
88.7
168.9 172.0 173.9
26.9
21.9
28.4
65.5
63.6
66.6
108.6 116.6 120.0
95.2
93. 3
97.7
80.4
87.7
30.4
35.6
6.2
15. 5
92.1
30.8
35.2
6.2
19.9
97.4
30 S
37.0
6.1
23. 5
100.8
30. 8
37.7
6.3
26.0
113.2
30. 7
37.6
6.3
38.6
113.5
30.7
37.1
6.4
39.3
105.3
30.6
36.7
6.3
31.7
79.1
30.1
34 8
6.0
8.2
81.5
30.1
36.7
6.4
8.3
79.8
29.2
36.1
6.4
8.1
79.6
28.9
36.1
6.3
8.3
82.8
29.2
36.9
6.4
10.3
92.7
30.0
36.5
6.3
19.9
93.9
29.1
37.9
6.7
20.2
Textile-mill products____ ___ __________ 981.5
Scouring and combing plants..................
Yarn and thread mills. _____________
Broad-woven fabric mills____________
Narrow fabrics and small wares_______
____ ___________
Knitting mills .
Dyeing and finishing tex tiles............
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
Hats (except cloth and millinery)_____
Miscellaneous textile goods___________ —
988.4
6.0
120.0
440.6
28.4
204. 2
77.6
44. 0
11.1
56.5
990.0
5.9
119.9
442.5
28.3
202.4
78.3
43.9
11.4
57.4
998.8
5.9
121 0
443. 4
28 5
207 4
79.3
43 8
11. 5
58.0
997.5
5. 7
120.5
441.2
28.4
210. 9
79.0
43.3
11.2
57.3
991.4
5. 7
120.3
438. 7
28.0
210.3
77.7
43. 1
10.6
57.0
988.5
5.9
120.9
438. 4
27.8
207.5
77.5
42.7
11.2
56.6
985.9
6.1
121.6
440.4
27.1
205.7
77.1
42.0
11.0
54.9
953.5
5. 8
118.2
429. 2
26. 5
193. 6
74.9
40.9
10. 5
53.9
974.4
5.9
121.3
433.4
27.1
201.7
77.1
41.5
11. 5
54.9
965.4
5.9
121.2
430. 7
27. 4
196.5
76.6
41. 4
11.0
54.7
982.6
5.8
121.6
445.5
27.7
196.1
77.4
42.6
10.7
65.2
985.4
6.3
121.8
445.1
27.7
197.0
78.6
42.6
10.8
55. 5
982.1
5.9
120.9
439.7
27.6
201.3
77.8
42.4
11.0
55.5
976.7
5.9
118.0
443.6
26.3
197 0
77.2
42.8
11.8
53.2
Tobacco manufactures------------------------Cigarettes
Cigars
Tobacco and sn u fl.. _______ _______
Tobacco stemming and redrying
Apparel and other finished textile prod
ucts ................. ............. ............ .............. 1,138. 4 1,149. 2 1,122 6 1,138. 5 1,135.1 1,123.1 1,114.6 1,101.0 1,025.1 1,057. 5 1,041.1 1,056.8 1,110.2 1,089.3 1,046.2
112.1 111.0 111. 8 111. 4 111.1 111.7 110. 6
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats______
98. 9 107. 4 104. 5 104.3 110.2 108.3 108.7
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing ._ _______________________
308. 2 300 9 303 3 305.0 303. 6 302.3 299.4 284.0 292. 2 289.2 287.2 289. 8 293.1 272. 5
Women’s outerwear......... .............. ...........
354.7 341 5 342. 5 333.7 324.4 324.7 324. 9 297.0 302. 4 296.2 314.0 343.2 323.2 315.7
99. 4
Women’s, children’s undergarments . .
110.3 107 8 109. 7 111. 8 111.4 108.1 104.4
99. 5 103.9 103.6 105.5 105. 5 105. 6
18.7
Millinery __________________________
17.2
18.6
22.9
16. 7
19.9
13.7
24. 7
18 7
19. 2
19. 4
16.1
13.2
20.8
63 9
64.6
65. 6
60.2
Children’s outerwear ____________ . .
64. 8
65.2
65.7
62.1
63.8
64 0
65.1
65. 5
64.2
66, 5
Fur goods
. ____ __
5. 6
8.0
89
9. 5
8 9
8 7
9.3
6.1
8.3
6.1
8. 4
6.7
8.6
9.0
54.6
56.5
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories
56.9
54. 7
54.1
57.8
59 6
50. 5
65 6
55.4
59.2
60.3
58 5
60.5
Other fabricated textile products .
112.0 114.6 120 4 121. 9 118 9 114.4 109.7 105.9 106.5 108.8 108.7 108 7 111.3 105. !
Lumber and wood products (except fur
niture) ........................................... .........
Logging camps and contractors_______
Sawmills and planing mills__________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products . ______
Wooden containers . . .
________
Miscellaneous wood products________
Furniture and fixtures_____ _____ ______
Household furniture____ ____________
Office, public-building, and profession
al furniture_______________________
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fix
tures........................................
Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous fur
niture and fixtures............................... .
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
635.8
__
311.4
645.4
78. 2
355.9
645.0
78 7
354.2
664.7
87 4
361.6
696.1
104.7
372.4
715.7
111. 2
381.4
726.0
115.5
387.2
730.9
116. 8
392.6
720.1
117.2
386.7
726.8
116.8
389.3
683.3
93. 7
372.5
650.9
76.0
360.0
633.8
66.9
355.3
685.1
96.5
371.8
639.3
83.3
350.1
107.9
49.0
54.4
109. 5
48. 8
53.8
112 9
49. 4
53. 4
116.3
49. 4
53.3
120. 5
49. 4
53. 2
121.8
48.9
52.6
122. 1
47.3
52.1
117.7
48.1
50.4
119.0
49.8
51.9
115.9
49.2
62.0
114.3
48.6
52.0
111.5
49.3
61.1
116.1
49.0
51.7
105.5
51.5
48.9
315.7
229. 5
317.3
231.2
321.0 323.1
234. C 235.6
322.7
234.6
319.8
231.9
312.6
226.6
297.5
215.4
300.2
218.3
297.6
215.9
297.2
217.5
298.4
218.9
306.6
223.3
290.5
211.0
36.6
36. 5
36.1
35.9
36.1
35.8
35.2
34.0
33.2
33.6
33.7
33.6
34.5
32.9
27.7
28. 4
28 6
29.0
29.3
29.5
29. 4
27.7
27.7
27.1
2fi. 4
26. 2
27.7
25.7
21.9
21.2
22.3
22.6
22.7
22.6
21.4
20.4
21.0
21.0
19.6
19.7
21.1
21.0
A: P]MPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
605
T able A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1956
Annual aver
age
1955
Industry
Mar.
M anufacturing—Continued
Paper and allied products________ _____
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills____
Paperboard containers and boxes_____
Other paper and allied products____
Printing, publishing, and allied Industries__________________________ ___
Newspapers.-................
Periodicals__________ __
Books__________
. __________ Commercial p rinting____________ .
Lithography _____________________ _
Greeting cards. ____________________
Bookbinding and related industries
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
services___________________ ___ _
Chemicals and allied products_________
Industrial inorganic chemicals
Industrial organic chemicals
Drugs and medicines..
Soap, cleaning and polishing preparations
Paints, pigments, and fillers_________
Gum and wood chemicals
Fertilizers
Vegetable and animal oils and fats
Miscellaneous chemicals_____ ________
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
452.1
453.8 456.4
227.3 228.8
124. 7 124.8
101. 8 102 8
463.2
231.4
128.7
103.1
465.3
231.6
130.1
103.6
537.1
532.7
150. 6
27. 9
30. 5
176. 7
45. 8
12.6
36.7
536.6
150. S
27.0
30.0
180.3
47.1
14.1
36.5
538. S 535.1
151.3 150.4
27.3
27.0
30.0 30.0
178.6 176.7
47.8
47. 5
15.9
15.3
36. 7 36 9
51.9
52. 4
50.8
51.3
51 3
51.1
50.8
50. 5
50.7
51.7
51. 4
52 1
51 3
51 2
570.0
561.5
78. 9
221. 5
56.1
559.2
79 0
220. 7
56.0
559.0
79.1
220.4
55.7
557.1
78.8
218.2
55.4
557.1
77 9
217^5
54.9
552.8
77.4
218.4
54.8
543.1
76. 2
218.4
55.2
542.3
76.2
218.9
56.1
544.8
77.7
216. 8
56.4
550.3
76. 6
214 7
56.6
551.1
73. 5
213.8
56. 7
548.2
72 7
211 9
57 6
547.7
76 0
215 4
56.1
531.7
71 8
903 8
57 0
30. 4
45.5
6.9
28.9
29.8
63.5
30.5
45.4
6. 9
27.1
30.9
62.7
30.6
45.6
6.8
25.9
32.0
62.9
30.8
45.4
6.8
25.6
33.2
62.9
31 4
45.7
26 3
33 0
63.5
31.1
46.0
6.8
25.6
30.0
62.7
30.7
46.9
7.0
20. 7
26.0
62.0
30.1
46.6
6. S
20.7
25.3
61.5
29.9
46.2
6. 6
24. 6
25. 5
61.1
30.3
45.2
67
33. 7
25.9
60.6
30.3
44.7
6. 6
38.9
26.6
60.0
44.1
66
37 6
28.3
59.0
30 6
45.3
6, 7
28 0
28 7
60.9
31 0
44.3
fi 5
28 3
30 3
58.8
169.3
130.1
170.1
130.1
170.5
129.6
171.7
129.9
174.1
131.6
176.4
134.1
177.2
135.1
176.1
134.7
174.5
133 6
172.6
132.3
171.7
132.5
172.8
132.3
177.1
137.3
___
—
529. 8
147. 3
27 2
29. 9
178. 8
45.1
12. 9
36 2
463.9
229.4
130.6
103.9
fi Q
461.7
228.8
129.2
103.7
458.6 448.4
229.4 226.8
126. 5 121.0
102.7 100.6
530.4 520.2
150. C 146.7
25.4
26.6
30.0
29.3
175.0 172.8
45.6
46.8
14.6
14.6
36.3
35.1
518.1
146.7
25.2
29.5
172.8
44. 5
14.1
34.8
450.5
225. 8
123.2
101.5
443.7
223.4
119.8
100.5
441.2
222.9
118.7
99.6
439.4
221.9
118.2
99.3
450.9
226 5
123 5
101.2
439.»
221 4
119 5
98.5
521.1
148. 8
25.3
29.3
172.6
45.3
14.1
35.0
516.3
147. 7
25. 4
28.7
170. 5
44.7
13.2
34. 4
516.2
146.9
26.1
29.1
170.7
45. 2
12.8
34.0
515.6
145 8
26 2
28.9
171 2
45 2
12. 7
33 5
522.7
148 0
2fi 1
20 3
173 4
45 7
13 9
35.0
514.0
145 3
25 8
29 4
IfiR 7
46 0
13 9
33.8
Products of petroleum and coal____ ____
Petroleum refining
Coke, other petroleum and coal products -
172.3
170.4
131.2
39.2
39.2
40.0
40.9
41 8
42. 5
42.3
42.1
41.4
40. 9
40.3
39 2
40 5
3Q 8
Rubber products............ ................... ...........
Tires and inner tubes
Rubber footwear
Other rubber products
226.1
228.2
93.8
26.1
108.3
232.5
94.1
26.2
112.2
233.9
94.7
26.2
113.0
231.2
94.2
25. 5
111.5
226.4
02 3
24A
100 7
223.1
91. S
23. 5
107. 7
216.8
91.0
21.5
104.3
215.7
91. 5
21.8
102.4
219.0
91.0
21. 6
106.4
215.7
89 8
21. 3
104 6
210.9
88.6
21.3
101.0
211.6
87 4
21 5
102 7
218.6
90 4
22 7
105 5
194. 7
79 7
90 7
94 3
Leather and leather products _________
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished.
Industrial leather belting and packing
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings
Footwear (except rubber)
Luggage
Handbags and small leather goods
Gloves and miscellaneous leather
goods
347.6
352.1
38.6
4.0
16.3
232.1
15.1
29.8
347.7 348.3
39.4
38.8
4. 0
4.0
16. 1 15.9
230. 7 227.6
14. 4 15.2
28.2
29.0
332.2 344.0
39.6 39.2
3.4
40
14. 6
210.7 221 fi
16. 7 Ifi 8
29. 7 30.4
346.0
39.0
3.9
14. 2
224. 4
16. 8
30.0
351.3
39.2
3. 8
15. 0
229. 3
17.1
29.5
341.7
38.8
3.7
14.8
225.0
16.3
26.6
342.2
39.7
3.7
15.1
225.1
15. 9
26.6
330.9 337.1
39.1
39.0
37
3.7
14 3 14.9
218 1 221. 6
15 6 15.1
28.1
25.1
346.7 341.6
39.2
38.9
37
37
15 R 15 0
227 3 223 4
15 fi
14 7
31.5
28.9
14, 8
15 8
330.6
39.0
3 fi
Stone, clay, and glass produ cts................
Flat glass
Glass' and glassware, pressed or blown.
Glass products made of purchased glass.
Cement, hydraulic
. .
Structural clay products_____________
Pottery and related products________
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products
Cut-stone and stone products________
Miscellaneous nonmetalllc mineral
products
466.9
431.0
9fi 1
76.6
13.9
34 Q
67 6
45.8
84.6
17.3
___
___
___
___
___
16.2
15. 5
17.2
17.5
17 6
17. 7
17.4
16.5
16.1
15 0
14. 7
462.1
29.2
78.3
15.9
36.4
72.5
47.3
91.6
17.6
463.9
30.3
78.3
16.1
37.0
72.4
48.0
90.5
17.8
470.4
30.5
79.5
16.5
37.1
73.9
49.6
91.4
18.2
476.5
30.2
80.8
16.4
37.2
75.0
48.9
95.2
18.2
478.3
20 0
81.6
15.3
37 2
75.8
49.3
96.8
18.3
478.5
29. 7
82.7
15.2
37. 4
76.1
48.3
97.5
18.2
472.2
29.3
79.7
14.6
37. 4
75.8
47.1
97.0
18.2
460.3
28.8
75.7
13.9
37.3
74.2
45.4
95.1
17.8
465.7
29. 4
80.3
14.7
36. 8
73.4
47.3
94.3
17.8
456.4
28 6
78.9
14.7
36 1
71.3
47.7
92.1
17.1
450.0
28. 7
77.4
14.8
35. 8
69.8
48.1
89.3
17.6
442.2
28 8
76.4
14.6
35 5
68.3
48.2
85.8
17.3
459.5
29 3
78.5
15.0
36 6
72.1
47.8
91.8
17.7
73.3
73. 5
73.7
74. 6
74 1
73. 4
73 1
72.1
71. 7
69 g
68. 5
fi7 3
70 7
Primary metal Industries____ __________ 1,160. 0 1,161.3 1,160. 2 1,160.1 1,150.9 1,135. 2 1,134.3 1,112. 2 1, 098.0 1,115.3 1,096.3 1,075.6 1,056.6 1,098.4
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
569.5 566.6 567.6 563 9 559 3 567. 5 564 2 559. 6 556. 5 543 8 531 0 520 3 545 0
mills
228.8 229.1 228.8 225 1 222.2 218. 9 214 2 210.3 210. 9 209.9 205. 3 200.7 210.8
Iron and steel foundries
Primary smelting and refining of non55.4
43. 5 55.2
ferrous metals
55.3
54 7 51 2
53.2
53.8
53.4
55.2
54.0
Secondary smelting and refining of
10.3
10.0
10.1
9.6
8.6
nonferrous metals
10.0
9.9
9. 4
9. 4
9.4
9.4
9.5
10.0
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of non93.0 93.0
92.5
91. 2 89 5 88.2
ferrous metals
93.1
89 7 88. 4 85. 3
87.7
87. 6 88. 8
74.1
76.1
76.1
72.1
71.2
75.7
68.6
68.9
71.4
70.4
Nonferrous foundries________________ ___
73.8
71.2
71.0
130.5 130.0 129.6 127.8 125.0 122.8 119.1 119.4 120.9 118.7 116.5 114.8 119.9
Miscellaneous primary metal Industries
Fabricated metal products (except
ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)______________
Tin cans and other tinware__________
Cutlery, handtools, and hardware
Heating’ apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies
Fabricated structural metal products..
Metal stamping, coating, and engraving.
Lighting fixtures
. _____________
Fabricated wire products_____ _______
Miscellaneous fabricated metal products.
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
882.0
___
.......
881.7
48.9
121.7
27! 1
13 9'
64
2
990.6
499 7
185! 0
51. 4
9.1
81 1
62.7
108.7
891.7
47.1
124.5
907.6
47.4
127.8
912.0
49.4
127. 6
903.9
53.9
124.1
894.4
55.6
121.0
877.1
57.1
118.5
862.9
55.1
118.1
883.9
53.9
122. 7
876.7
51.4
123. 9
868.1
49.6
123.5
860.1
47.2
123.4
876.9
51.2
122.7
837.5
51. 3
116.6
104. 9 103.8
218.1 216.8
178.4 186.5
38.4
38.8
55.0
57.0
116.3| 17.2
107.1
217.0
191.9
40.5
57.7
118.2
108.2
218.5
192.0
41.2
56.2
118.9
110. 5
217.0
185. 8
40.1
55.2
117.3
110.5
219.3
181.3
38.4
53.0
115.3
105.4
216.9
178.4
37.0
51.9
111.9
99.8
213.5
177.2
36.1
51.8
111.3
106.2
211.9
184.9
38.3
53.6
112.4
103. 7
205.7
187.8
38.7
53.8
111.7
102.9
200.8
187.2
39.0
54.2
110.9
102.6
197.6
186.1
39.3
53.8
110.1
104.5
208.9
184.3
38.7
53.8
112.8
97.2
208.5
176.3
34.9
48.2
104. 7
606
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Table A-3: Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1956
Annua! aver
age
1955
Industry
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
1955
1954
Mann facturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)..................... 1, 265. 5 1, 263. 3 1, 247. 6 1,236.2 1, 212. 6 1,194.3 1,149.3 1,154.8 1,159. 5 l, 181. 7 1,174. 2 1,164.0 1,144. 2 1,167. 5 1,147.8
61.2
61.6
60.9
61.9
59.3
57.2
Engines and turbines________________
57. 2
57. 8
56.1
54 5
57 5
53 6
58.2
57 6
124.9 125. 5 124.4 121.3 118.6
Agricultural machinery and tractors__
90.3 114.3 122.0 123 2 123 6 123.3 121 4 117 7 105 8
106. 7 104.3 102.7 100. 9 100.0
Construction and mining machinery..
96. 7
98. 5
94 3
89 4
94.6
94 5
91 9
90.1
88 5
212.5 211.1 209.9 206.0 198.3 200.8 198.1 196.9 197. 9 195 9 193.9 192 0 197.5 208.5
Metalworking machinery ___________
Special-industry machinery (except
136.4 134.3 133.6 131.6 130.5 130.0 127.5 126.8 128.3 127.6 127.3 125.1 127.9 127.8
metalworking machinery)__________ _____
170. 1 167.3 165.9 164.9 162.6 162.3 156.2 155. 8 156 3 155 9 155.1 150 7 157 3 158 3
General industrial machinery ______
86.2
88.1
84.4
85.7
80.9
Office and store machines and devices .
83.3
82.6
81.5
82. 8
82.1
82.8
82. 8
83 3
82! 8
Service-industry and household ma146.0 141.6 138.1 133.3 131.5 124.7 126.1 130.6 143.3 144 5 142.5 138 6 134. 4 134 5
chines . . ______________ _________
217.0 216.1 215.0 210.9 207.6 202.9 197.8 193.5 197. 2 195.1 192.9 190 1 198.1 187 1
Miscellaneous machinery parts ____
Electrical machinery__________________
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus
Electrical appliances________________
Insulated wire and cable_____________
Electrical equipment for v eh icles____
Electric lamps
__
. . __________
Communication equipment _______
Miscellaneous electrical products...........
834.5
__
—
850.1
856.2
871.8
869.8
884.7
854.7
818.2
802.0
815.7
808.8
804.2
803.2
828.3
794.6
263.0
59.1
22.7
62.0
21.0
385.6
36.7
260.0
58.8
23.0
66.7
20.9
389.6
37.2
257.8
60.5
23.0
68.8
20.3
403.5
37.9
253.7
60.5
22.4
67.9
20.1
406.0
39.2
268.8
61.2
22.1
64.9
23.2
405.9
38.6
264.0
57.4
21.2
63.6
22.8
389.1
36.6
252.6
54.8
19.8
60.5
22.5
371.3
36.7
255 7
52.8
20.0
61.7
22.7
353.8
35.3
264 0
52. 3
20.7
64. 0
22. 7
356. 5
35.5
263 6
52 7
20.8
64 6
22 6
350 0
34.5
261.1
51. 5
20.7
64. 5
22.3
350.2
33.9
259 0
51 7
20.4
64 5
22 1
352 3
33.2
259 8
54 6
64 3
22 1
371 1
257 1
52 2
19.4
56 6
22 1
353 1
35.4
34.1
21.0
Transportation equipment________ ____ 1,435.2 1,428. 5 1, 488. 2 1,511.1 1, 483. 7 1, 378.0 1,356. 5 1, 379. 2 1,419. 9 1, 447.1 1,456.3 1, 462.0 1,446.8 1,431.1 1 , 334.9
740. 1 801.9 825.3 811.2 710.7 689.4 721.6 760. 5 782.3 788 6 789.1 772 7 761 2 628 4
Automobiles
________ _________
528.1 526.4 525.3 518.7 512.1 510.1 501.3 501.7 502.5 508.9 517.5 519.7 513.9 544.3
Aircraft and parts------------- --------------- ___
338.4
339.8 340.1 336.1 332.5 332.1 327.3 326.2 323. 4 328 0 329. 8 328 2 330 0 333 8
Aircraft
. . . . _______
99.5
97.3
96.2
92.1
94.6
91.4
88.8
89.1
92.1
96.5
Aircraft engines and p a rts................ ___
93.2
94.5
99.0
108.8
9.9
10.
0
9.1
9.7
9.4
9.0
8. 7
8.9
Aircraft propellers and parts
9.1
11 3
9 1
9.3
9 7
9 3
80.2
79.4
78.4
79.3
78.6
76.5
77.6
77.5
Other aircraft parts and equipment
77. 9
82 8
90 5
81.9
80 1
78 6
104.4 104.6 104.3
98.6 100.5 102.6 104.9 107.9 113.2 109 4 107.2 107 6 105 4 112 3
Ship and boat building and repairing
82.1
83.1
79.1
81.9
86.2
83.3
84.4
87.9
Shipbuilding and repairing _____ _
86 5
94 1
91.8
87 5
85.7
85 3
22.3
21.5
21.0
19.5
18.6
18.2
18. 7
20.0
21.5
21 1
18 3
21. 4
21. 9
Boatbuilding and repairing
___
20 1
47.7
47.9
46.0
45.5
47.7
45.5
42.8
41.9
Railroad equipment
___________
41. 4
41.3
39 7
42 3
42.1
42. 8
8.2
7.4
9.2
8.5
9.2
8.6
8.9
7.9
6.9
Other transportation equipment______ —
7.7
7.3
7.8
7.1
7.6
226.0
225.6
226.0
225.1
224.6
222.7
219.8
218.6
219.9
211.3
217.8
218.9
219.9
223.3
31.2
30.6
30.4
29.7
31.2
30.6
29.1
29.3
29. 4
21. 7
30.1
30.1
29.3
31.0
63.6
9.9
63.6
9.9
63.5
9.9
63.3
9.9
62.5
9.9
61.8
9.9
61.4
9.7
60.6
9.9
61. 7
9.7
61 6
9.7
61. 2
9.7
60 5
9.8
61 5
57 8
9.8
10.7
__
29.6
20.7
43.4
27.6
29.2
20.7
43.3
28.3
29.0
20.8
43.7
28.7
28.7
20.5
43.7
29.3
28.7
20.0
43.3
29.0
28.6
19.5
43.8
28.5
28.2
19.3
44.6
27.5
28.0
19.1
44.7
27.0
27. 6
19.4
44.6
27. 5
27 6
19.1
43 9
27 7
26.4
18.6
44.0
27.8
27 2
18.7
44 4
28 2
27 9
19.3
44 1
28 0
27 9
19.0
45 7
31 1
382.7
387.2
43.8
16.0
70.7
22. 1
55.9
65. 1
113.6
379.8
42.9
15.7
66.5
21.6
54.1
65.5
113.5
395.4
43.7
15.8
73.6
22.1
54.9
67.5
117.8
405.4
44.6
15.8
81.2
22.6
55.5
67.3
118.4
407.3
44.1
15.8
82.0
22.4
56.8
66.7
119.5
400.4
43.7
15.6
80.5
22. 2
56.2
64.4
117.8
388.3
42.1
15.2
78.2
22.2
54.7
61.5
114.4
371.7
38 7
14.8
74.6
21.5
51.6
59.3
384.7
41 3
15. 2
76.4
22 1
53.8
62 8
113.1
378.6
40 4
15 0
74.0
22 2
51.5
62 0
113.5
376.3
41 0
14. 9
70.2
22 0
51.5
61.6
115.1
377.1
42 5
15 0
6A7
21 5
55! 0
61 6
llA 8
384.5
379.0
Instruments and related products______
Laboratory, scientific, and engineering
instruments
_____________ .
Mechanical measuring and controlling
instruments
__ _ _______________
Optical instruments and lenses _____
Surgical, medical, and dental instruments
____ _________________
Ophthalmic goods___________________
Photographic apparatus__ — ___ _ . .
Watches and clocks_________________
225.1
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are..
Musical instruments and parts _____
Toys and sporting goods..........................
Pens, pencils, other office supplies____
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions____
Fabricated plastics products ________
Other manufacturing industries............
__
—
i See footnote 1, table A-2. Production and related workers include work
ing foremen and all nonsupervisory workers (including leadmen and trainees)
engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling, inspection, receiving, storage,
handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, maintenance, janitorial, watch
man services, products development, auxiliary production for plant’s own
use (e. g., powerplant), and recordkeeping and other services closely associ
ated with the above production operations.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.2
2 See footnote 2, table A-2.
3 See footnote 3, table A-2.
S ee footnote 1, p. 597.
72.9
21 Q
54.4
62 7
115.0
43 6
14 4
69! 2
22 2
53! 2
Ç8 2
n s! 4
607
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T able A-4: Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in manufacturing industries1
[1947-49=100]
Period
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
Average__ ___________
Average____ ____ ___
Average_____________
Average ___ . .
Average_____________
Average_____________
Average_____ ____ ___
Average_____________
Average __
Average_____________
Average_____________
Employ
ment
W eekly
payrolls
66.2
71.2
87.9
103.9
121.4
118.1
104.0
97.9
103.4
102.8
93.8
29.9
34.0
49.3
72.2
99.0
102.8
87.8
81.2
97.7
105.1
97.2
Em ploy
ment
Period
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
Weekly
payrolls
Average_____________
Average_____
Average_____________
Average____
_ _
Average
Average_____________
99.6
106.4
106.3
111.8
101.8
105.6
111.7
129.8
136.6
151.4
137.7
152.9
1955: Mareh
April___
M ay________________
J une________________
103.3
103.6
104.1
105.8
146.6
146 7
150.1
152.1
Em ploy Weekly
payrolls
ment
Period
1955: July..............................
August______________
September___________
October......... ..................
November.......................
December___________
1956: January_____________
February____________
March_______________
104.7
107.2
108.1
108.7
109.1
108.9
107.3
107.0
106.7
151.0
154.6
158.7
161.2
163.9
163.9
159.2
157.9
See footnote 1, p. 597.
1 See footnote 1, tables A-2 and A-3.
T able A-5: Federal personnel, civilian and military
[In thousands]
Annual average
1955
1956
Branch and agency
Feb.
Total Federal civilian em
ployment L ........................ . 2,160
Jan.
2,156
Dec.
2,436
N ov.
2,168
OCt.
2,172
Sept.
2,173
Aug.
2,190
July
2,187
June
2,183
M ay
2,159
Apr.
2,153
Mar.
2,148
Feb.
2,142
1955
2,190
1954
2,188
Executive 2___________ 2,134.1 2,130.0 2,410. 0 2,142. 2 2,146.1 2,146. 9 2,164. 5 2,161.3 2,157.4 2,132.9 2,127. 4 2,122.1 2,116.4 2,163.8
Department of D e
fense______________ 1,022.9 1,022. 6 1, 023.8 1,033.8 1,036. 2 1,035.1 1,040.0 1,036.4 1,033.2 1,023.7 1,020.9 1,019. 9 1,016.8 1,027.9
Post Office Depart
532.1
502.1
503.7
510.2
504.6
m ent___ _____ ____
508.4
506.1
509.3
503.8
510. 6
508.7
506.3
510.6
790.5
603.8
600.1
595.8
614.2
602.0
Other agencies_______ 600.6
614.9
605.3
598.6
600.0
603.6
605.7
614.3
595.7
2,161.6
21.8
4.0
21.6
4.1
21.9
4.0
Legislative........................
Judicial_______________
21.7
4.3
District of Columbia *_____
228.6
228.1
234.9
230.0
230.0
Executive 1.............. .........
Department of D e
fense______________ .
Post Office Depart
m e n t..._____________
Other agencies......... . . .
207.9
207.6
214.6
209.6
209.6
88.4
88.5
88.4
90.3
90.3
90.0
8.7
110.8
8.5
110.7
16.1
103.3
8.6
110.7
8.5
110.7
8.5
110.7
8.6
112.2
8.5
112.3
Legislative____________
Judicial..............................
20.0
.7
19.8
.7
19.6
.7
19.7
.7
19.7
.7
19.7
.7
19.7
.7
19.8
.7
21.5
4.3
21.5
4.2
21.7
4.0
21.8
4.0
529.2
605.1
21.6
4.1
21.6
4.0
21.7
4.0
21.6
.0
229.6
232.0
232.4
231.9
228.2
227.9
228.2
227.6
230.0
227.5
209.2
211.5
211.9
211.3
207.7
207.3
207.5
207.0
209.5
206.
90.9
91.1
90.6
88.3
88.0
88.0
87.7
89.4
87.1
8.6
112.2
8.7
110.7
8.7
110.6
8.7
110.9
8.8
110.5
9.1
111.0
9.3
110.4
19.9
.7
19.8
.7
19.9
.7
20.0
.7
19.9
.7
19.8
.7
20.1
.7
3,188
3,025
2,997
3,065
3,133
Total military personnel
2,908
2,945
2, 952
2.960
2.974
2, 969
2,964
2, 893
2, 916
Army__________ _____ _ 1,060. 5 1,070.7 1,083.6 1. 095.0 1,105.1 1, 109. 5 1,123. 8 1,120. 5 1,109.3 1,143. 5 1,201.8 .1, 263.0 1,300. 3 1,165.3
955.9
955.4
959.9
957.0
959.5
956. 1
959.6
Air Force........................... 933.8
951.5
955.2
959.8
959.9
938.7
936.7
689. 4
N avy .......................... ....... 669.7
659.9
674.9
668.8
661.0
660.3
659.1
660.0
667.1
668.5
660.7
669.8
666.7
214.2
205.9
210.4
201.6
203.7
208.0
Marine Corps_________
199.5
201.8
202.0
205.2
205.7
199.8
200.0
201.0
27.9
27.7
28.6
Coast Guard.....................
29.2
29.0
28.0
29.2
29.3
29.3
29.4
29.3
28.7
28.6
28.1
3, 326
1, 402. 0
946.0
725.1
223.8
29.5
21.6
4.3
21.4
4.2
1,027.3
21.5
4.3
1 Data refer to Continental United States only.
2 Includes all executive agencies (except the Central Intelligence Agency)
and Government corporations. Civilian employment in navy yards,
arsenals, hospitals, and on force-account construction is also included.
4,3 Includes all Federal civilian employment in Washington Standard Metro-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
politan Area (District of Columbia and adjacent Maryland and Virginia
counties).
* Data refer to Continental United States and elsewhere.
Se e footnote 1, p. 597.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
608
T able A-8: Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance programs,1 by geographic
division and State
[In thousands]
1955
1956
1954
Geographic division and State
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Mar.
Feb.
Sept.
Aug.
961.5 1,091.9 1,120.9 1,262.8 1, 471.4 1,657.0 1,879.8
863.4
784.1
858.5
97.2
10.1
6.1
2.6
46.8
14.3
17.3
78.8
9.2
5.5
1.9
38.8
9.4
13.9
63.2
7.9
5.0
1.4
29.4
7.0
12.6
64.6
6.5
5.0
1.4
29.1
7.7
15.0
74.2
7.6
5.2
1.7
31.4
8.5
19.7
86.1
8.1
4.6
1.9
35. 1
10.3
26.1
Middle Atlantic.....................................
New York___________________ New Jersey .....................................
Pennsylvania.................... ............-
441.6
201.8
82.9
156.9
465.9
217.7
87.3
160.8
367.1
174.7
66.2
126.1
286.1
129.6
51.8
104.7
265.3
117.4
48.2
99.7
273.4
117.3
47.8
108.4
East North Central---- ------------------Ohio................ .................................Indiana_______________________
Illinois------ ---------------------------Michigan_____________________
Wisconsin__________ _______
281.0
62.8
35.1
62.1
96.8
24.1
235. 3
54.4
30.1
65.6
61.0
24.2
174.2
39.2
20.1
54.9
40.5
19.4
134.9
30.7
15.9
44.6
30.6
13.1
145.1
26.2
17.6
45.1
43.4
12.9
West North Central_______________
Minnesota------------------ ---------Iowa_________________________
Missouri__ _________ ____ .
North D a k o t a ------- -------------South Dakota___________ _____
N eb r a sk a ............................ ..........
Kansas...............................................
116.1
35.7
13.4
34.4
5.3
3.9
9.2
14.2
108.5
33.2
11.6
34.6
5.0
3.6
8.5
12.2
74.7
22.1
7.4
24.5
3.5
2.3
5.9
9.0
51.6
12.6
4. 1
22.8
1.6
.9
3.0
6.5
South Atlantic----------------------------Delaware_______ ____________
Maryland------------------ -----------District of Columbia.....................
Virginia.. __________________
West Virginia------------------------North Carolina_______________
South Carolina........ ......................
Georgia.............................................
Florida__________ ______ _____
131.0
2.7
15.0
5.4
13.6
13.8
34.4
12.0
20.5
13.8
132.9
2.5
16.9
5.0
12.6
14.2
32.8
12.9
21.1
15.0
100.5
1.6
11.7
3.5
9.0
10.3
24.9
9.9
17.1
12.5
East South Central................................
Kentucky-----------------------------Tennessee____________________
Alabama_____________________
M ississippi___________________
104.7
32.9
40.2
17.7
13.8
95.5
27.2
39.2
17.2
11.9
West South Central.............................
Arkansas_____________ . . . ---Louisiana..........................................
Oklahoma........................................
Texas..... ........................- ..................
78.8
17.8
18.2
14.7
28.0
M o u n ta in ...------ ------ -----------------Montana_____________________
Idaho................................................
W yoming.........................................
Colorado-........................................ .
New M exico....................................
Arizona....... ................. ...................
U t a h .............................................. .
N evada______________________
Pacific.......................................... ...........
Washington.............. ...................
Oregon............................................ .
California____ _____ __________
July
June
Feb.
2,169. 3
99.5
9.0
5.3
2.2
45.2
14 2
23.6
92.4
10.2
5.7
2.4
42.3
13.6
18.2
104.9
13.3
7.5
2.8
48.0
14.7
18.6
122.9
16.7
8.6
3.5
56.0
15.5
22.6
124.0
11.2
7.6
5.4
60.3
15.3
24.2
140.4
12.8
7.5
5.8
70.1
16.8
27.4
161.2
14.4
9.4
3.6
78.3
27.2
28.3
310.4
134 0
61.9
124.4
377.9
177.8
58.9
141.2
392.9
194.5
60.2
138.2
428.2
207.1
69.3
151.8
468.5
221.0
76.5
171.0
507.4
226.9
84.0
196.5
557.3
251.8
91.7
213.8
575.6
264.5
89.0
222.1
191.6
28.0
17.9
52.4
79.6
13.7
190.2
31.9
18.5
60.4
67.7
11.6
181.7
36.1
19.5
74.0
40.7
11.4
185.8
37.4
17.8
85.0
33.8
11.8
202.0
42.9
19.9
93.9
32.9
12.4
243.6
55.6
23.5
102.7
43.7
18.1
279.2
72.7
28.7
91.7
59.8
26.3
337.9
89.0
36.7
110.2
69.0
33.0
472.3
109.3
65.8
126.9
127.8
42.5
40.8
7.9
3.3
21.4
.4
.4
1.8
5.6
40.6
8.8
3. 1
20.9
.3
.3
1.6
5.7
44.4
11.3
3.6
20.4
.4
.3
1.6
6.8
49.5
12.3
4.4
22.8
.6
.4
1.9
7.1
55.8
14.1
4.5
26.4
.9
.4
2.0
7.5
67.7
19.9
5.3
30.1
1.6
.6
2.2
8.0
93.3
33.8
7.4
32.6
4.0
1.6
4.3
9.6
120.3
40.7
11.3
38.2
6.4
3.3
7.5
12.9
137.7
43.4
14.0
44.4
6.7
3.8
9.0
16.4
127.8
35.3
17.1
42.0
5.4
3.3
8.9
15.8
81.9
1.1
8.2
2.6
7.0
8.5
18.4
8.5
14.5
13.1
82.3
1.2
8.0
2.4
6.2
8.3
16.4
8.3
13.8
17.7
94.2
1.1
8.8
2.5
7.3
9.6
19.3
9.2
14.3
22.1
110.2
1.3
11.8
3.1
10.0
11.5
21.6
9.6
17.2
23.9
133.2
1.5
14.9
3.2
14.0
14.4
30.4
11.4
21.0
22.4
134.7
1.6
17.2
3.4
17.1
15.5
32.5
11.2
20.6
15.6
142.8
2.0
20.4
3.8
14.8
18.1
36.4
11.6
22.3
13.4
150.3
2.8
20.6
4.9
12.9
22.0
39.3
11.7
24.0
12.1
160.9
3.8
19.0
6.5
15.5
26.1
40.8
13.1
23.1
13.0
184.1
4.4
25.1
7.5
17.9
29.8
43.3
15.1
26.5
14.5
221.5
4.6
27.5
7.5
22.4
36.3
54.1
21.1
33.7
14.3
72.9
21.2
28.8
13.4
9.5
63.2
19.2
25.3
11.8
6.9
58.8
18.5
23.3
10.9
6.1
64.6
21.0
25.0
12.0
6.6
79.1
23.9
27.5
19.2
8.4
87.1
27.1
33.9
16.5
9.6
88.3
30.0
32.9
15.9
9.5
102.8
37.3
36.5
17.0
12.0
119.5
45.0
41.7
19.3
13.5
118.7
41.1
42.3
20.4
14.9
128.2
41.2
46.4
23.4
17.2
151.5
45.3
56.3
28.9
21.0
68.7
15.6
14.9
13.5
24.7
52.4
11.0
11.1
10.2
20.0
40.7
8.3
8.5
7.6
16.3
36.0
6.3
8.3
6.6
14.8
37.5
6.2
9.4
7.0
15.0
46.0
7.8
12.3
8.0
18.0
52.1
8.7
14.1
8.8
20.5
53.9
8.5
14.7
9.0
21.7
62.1
10.1
17.0
10.1
24.9
75.7
14.1
20.5
12.1
29.0
87.5
16.8
24.0
14.3
32.4
101.0
20.0
27.8
17.3
35.9
107.9
22.1
25.0
18.8
42.0
50.2
8.8
8.3
3.4
6.1
4.6
6.6
7.5
4.9
43.1
7.3
7.9
2.5
4.9
3.9
5.8
6.3
4.5
31.3
5.1
6.5
1.6
3.5
3.2
4.0
4.2
3.2
19.3
2.4
3.5
.7
2.3
2.1
3.4
2.7
2.3
11.7
1.0
1.3
.4
1.5
1.6
2.8
1.5
1.5
10.9
.7
1.2
.4
1.4
1.7
3.1
1.5
1.0
15.1
.9
1.5
.5
1.7
2.1
4.2
3.0
1.0
17.4
1.2
1.5
.6
1.9
2.4
4.9
3.9
1.0
16.0
1.9
1.9
.9
2.2
2.2
3.2
2.6
1.1
21.6
3.4
3.4
1.2
2.7
2.8
3.6
3.0
1.5
33.5
6.4
5.9
2.5
4.0
4.0
4.3
4.3
2.1
45.8
8.0
8.8
3.6
5.7
4.9
5.3
6.6
2.9
52.5
8.1
9.9
3.9
6.9
5.7
6.3
8.4
3.3
60.0
8.4
11.8
3.7
9.2
6.5
6.5
10.0
3.9
207.7
49.5
29.9
128.3
212.1
50.1
29.9
132.1
171.4
44.8
24.2
102.5
122.5
32.6
17.4
72.5
79.5
18.6
8.6
52.3
71.5
15.5
6.4
49.5
80.0
14.5
7.1
58.4
93.2
13.6
8.3
71.3
101.0
12.9
8.0
80.1
130.8
20.2
12.6
98.0
164.1
31.6
21.1
111.4
213.6
45.7
27.2
140.7
240.7
51.6
30.2
158.9
291.5
63.4
42.3
185.8
1
Average of w eek ly data adjusted for split w eeks In th e m on th. For a
technical description of th is series, see the A pril 1950 M on th ly Labor R eview
(p .382). Figures m ay not add to exact colum n totals because of rounding.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
April
Oct.
104.0
10.6
6.6
2.4
50.8
14.8
18.8
Continental United States-------------- 1,508. 2 1,466.1 1,123.1
N ew England.........................................
Maine________________________
N ew Hampshire_________ ____ Verm ont.. . .............. ......................
Massachusetts________________
Rhode Island-------------------------Connecticut-.................................. -
M ay
N ov.
S ource : U . S. D ep artm en t of Labor, B ureau of E m p lo y m en t Security,
B : LABOR TURNOVER
609
B: Labor Turnover
T able B - l : Monthly labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by class of turnover
[Per 100 employees]
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
M ay
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
N ov.
Dec.
Annual
average
Total accession
1948........ .......................................... .
1949............................. - ..................
1950______________ ____ ______
1951__________________________
1 952........................ .........................
1953......................................... .........
1954__________________________
1955.............................. ......................
1956__________________________
4.6
3.2
3.6
5.2
4.4
4.4
2.8
3.3
3.3
3.9
2.9
3.2
4.5
3.9
4.2
2.5
3.2
3.0
4.0
3.0
3.6
4.6
3.9
4.4
2.8
3.6
4.0
2.9
3.5
4.5
3.7
4.3
2.4
3.5
4.1
3.5
4.4
4.5
3.9
4.1
2.7
3.8
5.7
4.4
4.8
4.9
4.9
5.1
3.5
4.3
4.7
3.6
4.7
4.2
4.4
4.1
2.9
3.4
5.0
4.4
6.6
4.5
5.9
4.3
3.3
4.5
5.1
4.1
5.7
4.3
5.6
4.0
3.4
4.4
4.5
3.7
5.2
4.4
5. 2
3.3
3.6
4.1
3.9
3.3
4.0
3.9
4.0
2.7
3.3
3.3
2.7
3.2
3.0
3.0
3.3
2.1
2.5
2.5
4.4
3.5
4.4
4.4
4.4
3.9
3.0
3.7
5.1
4.0
4.2
5.3
4.6
4.8
3.5
4.0
5.4
4.2
4.9
5.1
4.9
5.2
3.9
4.4
4.5
4.1
4.3
4.7
4.2
4.5
4.1
4.0
3.8
4.3
3.5
4.2
3.0
3.1
4.3
3.2
3.6
3.5
3.4
4.0
3.0
3.0
4.6
4.3
3.5
4.4
4.1
4.3
3.5
3.4
1.8
2.9
3.1
3.0
2.9
1.4
2.2
3.9
2.1
3.4
3.1
3.6
3.1
1.8
2.8
2.8
1.5
2.7
2.5
2.8
2.1
1.2
1.8
2.2
1.2
2.1
1.9
1.5
1.0
1.4
1.7
.9
1.7
1.4
1.7
1.1
.9
1.1
2.8
1.5
1.9
2. 4
2.3
2.3
1.1
1.6
0.4
.3
.4
.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
0.4
.2
.4
.3
.4
.4
.2
.3
0.4
.2
.4
.4
.4
.4
.2
.3
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.4
.3
.2
.3
0.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4
.2
.3
1.8
.7
1.3
.7
1.5
1.7
1.1
1.0
1.2
2.3
.8
1.4
.7
1.8
1.6
1.2
1.4
2.5
1.1
1.7
.7
2.3
1.6
1.2
2.2
2.0
1.3
1.5
2.5
1.7
1.4
1.0
1.3
2.4
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.9
1.2
0.1
.1
.4
.4
.3
.3
.3
.2
0.1
.1
.4
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.3
.4
.3
.3
.1
.2
0.1
.1
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.2
.5
.3
.3
.2
.2
Total separation
1948__________________________
1949................... ..........................
1950__________________________
1951__________________________
1952.............................. .....................
1953....................................................
1954...... .............................................
1955......... .............. ................ ...........
1956__________________________
4.3
4.6
3.1
4.1
4.0
3.8
4.3
2.9
3.6
4.7
4.1
3.0
3.8
3.9
3.6
3.5
2.5
3.7
4.5
4.8
2.9
4.1
3.7
4.1
4.7
4.8
2.8
4.6
4.1
4.3
4.3
5.2
3.1
4.8
3.9
4.4
3.7
3.0
3.8
3.1
3.3
3.2
1948___________ ______________
1949.................................. - ................
1950__________________________
1951....................... . ...........................
1952....................................................
1953.......... ......................... ................
1954___________________ ______
1955.......................... ..........................
1956__________________________
2.6
1.7
1.1
2.1
1.9
2.1
1.1
1.0
1.4
2.5
1.4
1.0
2.1
1.9
2.2
1.0
1.0
1.3
2.8
1.6
1.2
2.5
2.0
2.5
1.0
1.3
3.0
1.7
1.3
2.7
2.2
2.7
1.1
1.5
4.6
4.3
3.0
4.3
3.9
4.2
3.1
3.2
4.4
3.8
2.9
4.4
5.0
4.3
3.1
3.4
3.3
3.5
3.3
Quit
2.8
1.6
1.6
2.8
2.2
2.7
1.0
1.5
2.9
1.5
1.7
2.5
2.2
2.6
1.1
1.5
2.9
1.4
1.8
2.4
2.2
2.5
1.1
1.6
2 .1
Discharge
1948___________________ _____ _
1949_____________________ ____
1 9 5 0 ............ ................ ....................
1951..________________________
1952.......................................... .........
1953....................................................
1954....................................................
1955....................................................
1956__________________________
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.3
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
.3
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
0.4
.2
.2
.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
0.3
.2
.3
.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
0.4
.2
.3
.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
19481949.
1950.
1951.
1952.
1953.
1954.
1955.
1956.
1.2
2.5
1.7
1.2
2.8
1.4
.8
1.1
.8
2.3
1.3
1.2
2.8
1.2
1.3
.9
2.4
1.2
1.1
3.3
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
2.5
.9
1.4
.9
2.8
1.6
1.7
1.7
2.3
1.7
.8
1.3
.8
2.2
1.1
1.9
1948_________________ _______ _
1949........... ......................................
1950........... ....................................
1951...................................................
1952....................................................
1953....................................................
1954.....................................................
1955.....................................................
1956__________________ _______
0.1
.1
.1
.7
.4
.4
.3
.3
.2
0.1
.1
.1
.6
.4
.4
.2
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.1
.5
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.1
.5
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4
.2
.3
Layofl
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.9
1.1
1.0
1.1
.9
1.7
1.2
1.0
2.1
.6
1.3
2.2
1.1
1.6
1.3
1.2
1.8
.6
1.4
1.0
1.3
1.7
1.3
Miscellaneo us, including military
1 Data for the current month are preliminary.
N otk.—M onth-to-month changes in total employment in manufacturing
Industries as indicated by labor turnover rates are not comparable with the
changes shown by the Bureau’s employment series for the following reasons:
(1) Accessions and separations are reported for the entire calendar month;
the employment and payroll reports, for the most part, refer to a 1-week pay
period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
(2) The turnover sample is not so large as that of the employment sample
and includes proportionately fewer small plants; certain industries are not
covered. The major Industries excluded are: printing, publishing, and allied
industries; canning and preserving fruits, vegetables, and seafoods; women’s,
misses’, and children’s outerwear; and fertilizers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0.1
.1
.1
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.1
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.2
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.1
.1
.3
.4
.3
.3
.3
.2
(3)
Plants are not included in the turnover computations in months when
work stoppages are in progress; the influence of such stoppages is reflected,
however, In the employment figures.
Beginning with data for October 1952, components may not add to total
separation rate because of rounding.
Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is given in
a technical note on Measurement of Labor Turnover,
which appeared in the May 1953 Monthly Labor Review.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
610
T able B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries
[Per 100 employees]
Separation rate
Total accession
rate
Feb.
1956
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
Discharge
Quit
Total
Industry
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
M ise., incl.
military
Layoff
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
Jan .
1956
M a n u f a c tu r i n g
All manufacturing____________________
Durable goods____ ________________
Nondurable goods_________________
3.0
3.2
2.7
3.3
3.5
3.0
3.7
4.1
2.9
3.6
3.9
3.0
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
0.3
.3
.2
0.3
.3
.2
1.9
2.3
1.1
1.7
2.0
1.1
0.2
.2
.1
0.2
.3
.2
Ordnance and accessories______________
Food and kindred products_______ ____
Meat products_____________________
Grain-mill products___________ __ Bakery products..____ ____________
Beverages:
Malt liquors____ ______________
Tobacco manufactures_________________
Cigarettes_____________ _____ ____ .
Cigars_____ ______ ____ ___________
Tobacco and snuff_______________ .
Textile-mill products__________________
Yarn and thread mills_________ __
Broad-woven fabric mills_______ ...
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber___
Woolen and worsted___________
Knitting mills___ . ______________
Full-fashioned hosiery_________
Seamless hosiery___ __________
Knit underwear______________
Dyeing and finishing textiles_______
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings..
Apparel and other finished textile products__ _________________ ____________
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats__ ...
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing_________________________
Lumber and wood products (except furniture).. ._ _ . . . . ___________ ____
Logging camps and contractors______
Sawmills and planing mills_________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products ________
Furniture and fixtures_________________
Household furniture ___________ _
Other furniture and fixtures_______
Paper and allied products... . _______
Puln, paper, and paperboard mills __
Paperboard containers and boxes.......
Chemicals and allied products_________
Industrial inorganic chemicals ______
Industrial organic chemicals _______
Synthetic fib ers _____________
.
Drugs and medicines ..... .......... .
Paints, pigments, and fillers.. ............
Products of petroleum and coal________
Petroleum refining______ ________
Rubber products________________ ______
Tires and inner tubes___________ . . .
Rubber footwear___________________
Other rubber produ cts_____________
Leather and leather products___________
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished.
Footwear (except rubber)___________
Stone, clay, and glass products__________
Glass and glass products____________
Cement, hydraulic......... ............... .......
Structural clay products___________ _
Pottery and related products________
Primary metal industries__________ ___
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills_____ . . . . . _________ ____ _
Iron and steel foundries. ___________
Gray-iron foundries____________
Malleable-iron foundries_______
Steel foundries_____ __________
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals:
Primary smelting and refining of
copper, lead, and zinc_________
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals:
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of
copper__________ _________
Nonferrous foundries_______________
Other primary metal industries:
Iron and steel forgings________
2.4
3.0
3.2
2.6
2.5
3.1
3.3
3.7
3.1
2.7
3.0
3.7
4.1
3.8
2.6
3.0
3.7
3.9
3.2
2.6
1.0
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.6
1.3
1.2
.9
1.0
1.6
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
1.6
2.1
2.8
2.3
.7
1.4
2.1
2.4
1.8
.7
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.3
.1
.1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(9
(9
1.9
3.6
3.1
3.4
1.3
5.7
1.8
3.3
3.5
3.2
3.1
4.1
3.6
2.6
3.2
3.6
2.4
2.6
1.0
1.4
.3
1.6
.9
2.4
.5
1.6
1.8
1.7
1.7
1.5
2.0
1.7
2.0
1.7
.9
1.1
(9
.1
.4
.2
.6
.1
.3
.5
1.7
2.5
1.4
.1
2.7
.7
1.2
1.4
1. 1
.9
2.1
1.3
.7
.9
1.7
1.1
.9
.6
.9
.7
1.0
2.0
2.9
3.8
2.9
4.4
3.6
3.4
2.7
3.7
3.1
2.4
1.5
2.7
1.8
.3
.2
.2
.2
3.6
4.3
3.4
3.8
2.5
2.9
.3
.2
.4
3.7
10.0
2.8
4.2
11.1
3.2
3.3
5.3
2.6
4.4
8.0
3.9
1.5
2. 5
1.3
1.9
4.2
1.6
.3
.4
.3
.3
.4
.2
1.3
1.8
.9
2.0
3.1
3.0
3.4
2.1
1.3
2.7
1.6
1.6
1.4
1.9
1.1
2.1
.9
.6
1.7
.8
2.6
2.3
3.6
3.7
4.2
4.6
3.1
2.4
1.2
3.3
1.5
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.3
1.9
2.0
1.6
1.3
.7
1.9
.8
.8
.6
.4
.9
.8
.3
.3
1.2
.6
2.5
1.5
2.1
1.2
2.2
.3
.4
.4
.3
.2
.1
.3
.1
.2
.1
.2
.4
2.1
2.1
2.4
1.2
.9
.4
1 .1
.5
.1
.5
.5
.4
.4
.4
.3
1.6
.9
.6
2.4
.5
1.0
.4
1.4
2.5
.3
.8
.5
.8
1.7
1.6
1.9
.9
.9
.4
1.3
.5
.2
.8
3.0
1.6
3.2
4.2
3.0
2.3
3.1
2.6
3.4
1.3
2.4
2.0
2.2
3.3
4.0
4.5
3.0
2.6
1.5
3.8
1.6
1.5
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.4
.9
.7
3.0
1.8
3.3
4.1
3.3
4.3
3.2
2.6
2.9
1.4
2.8
3.3
2.1
1.2
1.6
1.7
1.4
1.1
.6
1.7
.8
.7
.5
.4
.8
3.8
2.4
3.0
.9
3.1
2.8
2.2
2.7
3.8
3.7
4.1
2.1
1.2
2.3
1.8
1.6
1.2
.8
1.2
1.9
.8
.5
2.3
1.4
3.5
2.8
4.4
2.8
4.7
2.3
2.8
1.3
2.2
2.4
2.5
1.6
3.4
3.1
3.5
3.8
1.6
3.9
3.5
3.9
4.3
1.1
3.8
4.4
4.0
2.9
1.4
3.2
3.1
4.0
3.0
1.6
1.6
1.8
1.4
2.2
2.3
1.5
1.0
1.6
2.0
3.2
2.4
3.3
1.6
6.9
1.6
4.6
2.3
3.1
3.3
3.0
(‘)
2.0
2.5
1.5
3.4
1.9
3.3
4.1
3.1
3.1
3.7
3.3
2.6
3.3
(9
1.0
1.6
1.0
2.3
1.0
1.5
1.7
1.5
1.5
1.7
1.8
1.8
1.5
(9
1.0
.3
.2
1.0
0)
(9
2.7
1.7
1.2
2.4
.7
3.1
3.5
3.0
2.8
4.3
3.2
2.4
2.8
3.4
2.0
3.3
2.4
1.0
3.9
1.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.4
5.1
4.0
3.3
2.6
.3
(2)
(9
(2)
.6
.2
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.3
.4
.2
.2
.2
.3
.1
.2
.1
(2)
.2
.5
.3
.3
.2
.4
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
(2)
.2
.1
.4
.4
.4
.4
1.3
2.0
1.2
1.1
1.5
1.3
.6
1.5
(9
(9
.1
.1
.1
.4
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
(9
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.4
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
(9 [a
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.6
.1
.1
2.0
3.3
1.8
.2
.7
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.5
.8
.2
.4
.3
.2
1.3
.8
.4
1.9
.8
.2
.2
.2
1.0
.1
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.7
1.7
1.7
.1
.5
.5
1.5
.5
.1
.5
.5
.5
.5
.6
1.0
.2
.2
1.5
.6
.7
1.4
.5
.4
.4
.3
4.7
2.4
.2
.3
.9
1.3
.3
.2
1.9
1.2
.2
.3
.5
2.2
1.2
2.0
.8
2.2
.8
.6
.5
1.2
1.1
.9
.6
1.0
.8
.7
1.2
1.3
.6
.2
.4
.3
.5
.3
.2
.1
.2
.3
.5
.2
.3
.3
1.3
1.7
1.4
.8
(2)
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.4
.1
.2
.2
.3
.3
.2
.3
2.2
.2
.6
1.2
1.7
.3
1.0
1.3
.6
.1
.2
.2
.3
.2
.1
.2
.3
.8
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.8
.8
1.0
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.4
B : LABOR TURNO VER
T able
611
B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries—Continued
[Per 100 employees]
xuiai auuesaiun
rate
Total
Industry
Feb.
1956
Jan.
1956
M a n u f a c t u r i n g — C ontinued
Fabricated metal products (except ord
nance, machinery, and transportation
eq u ip m en t)........... ......................................
3.4
3.9
Cutlery, handtools, and hardware___
2.4
3.1
Cutlery and edge tools........ .............
2.0
2. 2
Handtools........................... .............
2.6
2.7
Hardware____________________ _
2.3
3.5
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies..... ..................
3.1
3.4
Sanitary ware and plumbers’
supplies_______ _____ _________
2.0
2.6
Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not else
where classified............ .................
3.9
' 3.9
Fabricated structural metal products.
3.4
3.5
Metal stamping, coating, and en
g r a v in g ..._______________________
5.0
5.0
Machinery (except electrical).......................
3.1
3.6
Engines and tu rb in es..____ _________
3.6
3.5
Agricultural machinery and tractors..
3.5
C1)
Construction and mining machinery..
2. 9
3.3
Metalworking m achinery.._________
2.8
3.3
Machine tools__________________
2.7
3.2
Metalworking machinery (except
machine tools).......... ................ .
3.0
3.1
2.9
Machine-tool accessories_________
3.5
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)_________
2.8
3.0
General industrial machinery_______
2.9
3.6
Office and store machines and devices.
3.0
3.5
Service-industry
and
household
machines______ __________________
4.9
5.5
Miscellaneous machinery parts............
2.7
3.2
Electrical machinery________ _____ _____
3.6
3.6
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appa
ratus......... ..............................................
3.2
3.1
Communication equipment_________
3.9
0)
Radios, phonographs, television
sets, and equipment__________
3,4
4.1
Telephone, telegraph, and related
equipment............................ ...........
3.1
0)
Electrical appliances, lamps, and mis
cellaneous products_______ _______
3.5
4.1
Transportation equipment_____ _____ _
3.6
3.6
Automobiles................. ... ............................................
3.3 ......................
2.7
Aircraft and parts........... .......................
2. 9
3.2
Aircraft_______________________
2.6
2.9
Aircraft engines and parts...............
4. 5
4.2
Aircraft propellers and parts_____
3.3
3.5
Other aircraft parts and equip
m ent______ _____ ___________
4.1
4.0
Ship and boat building and repairing.
12.6
0)
Railroad equipment________________
0)
6.1
Locomotives and parts__________
3. 5
(')
Railroad and street c a rs.................
5.0
7.5
Other transportation equipment........ .
6.7
(0
Instruments and related produ cts........... .
2.5
c)
Photographic apparatus____________
1.1
0)
Watches and clocks________ _______ _
2.7
2.4
Professional and scientific instruments.
2.9
2.9
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries
4.6
5.5
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware.
3.2
3.0
Feb.
1956
4.3
3.5
2.5
3.0
4.0
Quit
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
5.0
3.3
2.4
2.3
4.1
Discharge
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.7
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.3
1.9
0.4
.4
.3
.4
.4
Mise., incl.
military
Layoff
Jan.
1956
Feb.
1956
0.4
.4
.2
.2
.4
2.5
1.5
1.0
1.4
1.7
Jan.
1956
2.9
1.1
.7
.6
1.5
Feb.
1956
0.1
.2
(2)
.1
.2
1956
0 3
.2
.1
2
.3
3.3
4.2
1.5
1.4
.5
.3
1.1
2.3
.2
.2
3.2
4.1
1.3
1.4
.4
.4
1.3
2.1
.2
.2
3.3
2.7
4.2
2.8
1.7
1.2
1.4
1.2
.5
.3
.3
.4
1.0
1.1
2.4
1.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
9.2
2.7
2.3
i1)
1.9
2.0
1.6
8.6
2.3
1.9
3.1
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.5
1.2
1.5
(>)
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.7
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.1
.4
.3
.5
7.1
1.0
.2
(0
.3
.4
.1
6.0
.6
.4
1.3
.2
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.4
.3
.2
.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.1
.2
.2
.5
.2
_2
.4
2
2
.2
1.5
2.9
1.7
2.3
1.0
1.3
1.1
1.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.1
1.1
.1
.4
.1
.2
2
.1
2.0
2.2
1.7
2.0
2.7
1.5
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
.9
.3
.3
.2
.3
.3
.1
.5
.5
.3
.4
1.0
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.3
3.5
2.5
4.5
2.8
2.4
3.5
1.3
1.1
1.8
1.3
1.0
1.6
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.3
1.8
.9
2.1
.8
.8
1.4
.2
.3
.2
.4
.3
.2
2.6
(>)
2.1
3.6
1.5
0)
1.3
1.9
.3
.2
.3
.7
.4
1.1
.2
.2
.2
6.3
4.5
1.9
(0
1.9
(0
1.9
4.2
7.6
12.5
2.2
2.0
2.3
2.0
3.9
6.5
9.3
2.3
2.1
2.1
2.9
1.6
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.5
1.2
.8
4.2
0)
0)
0)
6.6
(0
(»)
(')
4.6
2.6
4.2
2.2
4.3
11.8
6.3
7.1
5.8
5.0
2.1
1.2
3.9
2.0
4.7
3.6
1.4
0)
(0
0)
1.1
0)
(>)
(>)
1.3
1.0
2.0
1.5
1.6
1.6
.7
.7
.7
1.1
1.1
.5
1. 1
1.1
2.1
1.5
(>)
0)
1.4
.4
.4
(0
0)
(9
3.8
0
1.9
.1
.2
0
.3
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
2.0
5.7
10.4
.5
.4
.5
.5
1.8
4.4
6.9
.6
.4
.5
1.6
.2
.3
.3
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.4
.4
2.5
(i)
(0
(0
4.9
0
(O
0
2.6
1.3
1.6
.5
2.2
9.7
4.8
4.9
4.7
3.6
.7
.4
2.5
.6
1.9
1.4
.5
.9
.7
1.1
.1
2.0
.3
.3
0
.2
.2
0)
(0
0)
(>)
(>)
0)
0)
to
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
(2)
0
0
0)
.3
.2
0
.3
.4
.7
.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
.4
.7
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.7
1.4
.3
,i
,i
.2
.2
,i
.2
.2
.4
0)
0
(!)
.3
.1
.3
.1
N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g
Metal mining...... .............................................
Iron mining_________ _____ _______ _
Copper mining_____________________
Lead and zinc mining_______________
Anthracite mining______________ ______ _
Bituminous-coal mining________________
Communication:
Telephone_________________________
Telegraph 3________________________
3.4
i. 1
4.0
(0
1.5
1.5
3.2
1.6
4.1
1.9
1.5
1.7
3.0
1.5
3.8
0)
1.3
.8
3.4
1.7
4.1
3.5
1.4
.9
2.0
.3
3.1
(>)
.7
.5
2.1
.2
3.3
1.1
.8
.4
(0
(2)
0
(2)
(2)
0)
(0
2.0
2.4
0)
(0
1.6
1.7
0)
«
1.2
1.2
0
0)
(2)
1 N ot available.
3 Less than 0.05.
3
Data relate to domestic employees except
messengers and those compensated entirely on a commission basis.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.3
.1
.4
.4
(2)
.5
.1
(2)
(0
.3
.2
.1
0)
(0
.3
.2
.3
.3
.1
.3
.4
.3
.2
.3
.2
.1
.2
N ote.—See footnote 1 and N ote on table B -l, p. 609. For industries in
eluded in the durable- and nondurable-goods categories, see table A-2, foot
notes 2 and 3 (exceptions are contained in the note to table B -l).
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
612
C : Earnings and Hours
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or non supervisory employees 1
Mining
Coal
Metal
Year and month
Total: Metal
Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
hrly.
earn hours earn
ings
ings
40.8 $2.07
1954: Average_____ $84. 46
42.1
2.19
92.20
1955: Average_____
42.0
2.10
88.20
February____
87. 78
41.6
2.31
March______
41.1
2.10
86.31
April— ...........
42.2
2.12
89. 46
M ay________
90. 73
42.2
2.15
J u n e................
41.2
2.22
91. 46
July..................
42.1
2.25
94.73
August.........
2.26
42.8
96. 73
September__
42.8
2. 28
97. 58
October.........
42.4
2. 27
96. 25
November___
42.9
2.28
97.81
December___
2. 29
98.70
43.1
1956: January_____
2.27
96.48
42.5
February___
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings ho ms
$82. 03
37.8
40.1
92.23
38.0
83.98
38.0
83. 60
36.8
80. 59
40.2
88.04
88.62
40. 1
94.24
40.1
97.88
41.3
100. 08
41.7
101.94
42.3
41.9
100. 56
41.4
99.36
98. 49
40.7
95.04
40.1
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2.17
2. 30
2.21
2. 20
2.19
2.19
2. 21
2.35
2. 37
2.40
2.41
2. 40
2. 40
2.42
2.37
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
42.6
$87. 33
44.1
95. 70
91.67
44.5
92. 38
44.2
44.4
92.35
94.34
44.5
44. 7
97. 00
42.9
94.81
43.2
98. 06
99.68
44.3
98.10
43. 6
42.8
96.73
43.8
98. 99
45.2
102. 60
44.2
100.33
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2. 05
2.17
2.06
2.09
2.08
2.12
2. 17
2.21
2.27
2. 25
2.25
2. 26
2.26
2. 27
2. 27
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
40.6
$76. 73
84. 22
41.9
82. 06
42.3
81.29
41.9
81.51
4!.8
41.7
81.73
83. 20
41.6
82.01
40.6
41.2
83. 22
42. 1
86.73
42.2
87. 78
86.11
41.8
88.621 42.4
42.3
88. 83
41.6
86. 94
Average_____ $91.94
94.19
Average_____
89. 38
February___
91. 43
March — .
93. 67
April........... ...
96.41
May
. .
93. 03
June___
96.29
Julv ______
92.63
August . . .
95.88
September___
O ctober_____ 96. 35
94.13
November
94.13
December.
January__ .
99.96
February____
97.69
40.5
40.6
39.9
40. 1
40.2
41.2
40. 1
40.8
40.1
40.8
41.0
40.4
40.4
42.0
40.2
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.89
2.01
1.94
1.94
1.95
1.96
2.00
2.02!
2.02;
2.06;
2.08
2.06
2.09
2.10
2.09
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
30.0
$75.60
33.4
84. 50
94. 74
36.3
31.9
80.07
74.88
28.8
30.8
77.62
87. 40
35.1
86.27
35.5
85. 76
33.5
33.9
85.77
93. 53
35.7
32.9
83.90
34.6
88.23
91.96
35.1
33.0
84.81
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2. 52
2. 53
2. 61
2.51
2.60
2.52
2. 49
2. 43
2.56
2.53
2.62
2. 55
2 55
2. 62
2. 57
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
32.6
$80. 85
37.5
96.00
94.50
37.8
36. 9
91.88
37.2
93.00
93.87
37.4
39.0
98.28
38.2
95.50
94.50
37.5
96. 73
36.5
37.4
99.86
36.1
96. 03
39.6
105.73
104. 22
38.6
38.5
103.18
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2. 48
2.56
2.50
2. 49
2.50
2.51
2. 52
2.50
2. 52
2.65
2.67
2.66
2.67
2.70
2.68
Contract construction
Mining—Continued
Petroleum and nat
ural-gas produc
tion (except con-
Bituminous
Anthracite
Lead and zinc
Copper
Iron
Nonbuilding construction
Nonmetallic mining
and quarrying
$2. 27 $77. 44
2.32 80.99
2. 24 74.05
2.28 77.17
2. 33 78.58
2.34 81.99
2. 32 82.90
2.36 83. 99
2. 31 84. 73
2.35 85.83
2.35 84.36
2. 33 82.43
2.33 80.96
2.38 80. 41
2.43 82. 53
44.0
44.5
41.6
43.6
43.9
45.3
45. 3
45.4
45.8
45.9
45.6
44.8
44.0
43.0
43.9
Total: Contract con
struction
$1.76 $93. 98
1.82 95. 94
1. 78 91.43
1.77 94.06
1.79 92. 52
1.81 96.12
1.83 96.89
1.85 98.94
1.85 98.02
1.87 100. 87
1.85 98. 36
1.84 94. 08
1.84 97. 62
1.87 95.68
1.88 96.75
Total: Nonbuilding Highway and street
construction
40.6 $2.14
40.2 $2. 31 $86.88
37.0 $2. 54 $92. 86
41.2;
2. 21
40.2
2.36 91.05
36.9
2.60 94.87
2.09
37.9
2.33 78. 79
37.7'
35.3
2. 59 88. 31
2.07
39.6
2.31 83.21
40.2
36. 6
2. 57 91.48
2. 15
2. 34 81.92
38.1
38.2
2. 57 89. 39
36.0
2.18
40.2
2.34 90.03
41.3
2. 57 94.07
37.4
2. 21
41. 2
2.34 93. 93
42.5
37.7
2.57 96.41
2.36 97.22
43.4' 2.24
2. 59 99.36
42.1
38.2
2.38 96. 75
43.0
2.25
37.7
2.60 99.01
41.6
2.39 102.13
44.61 2.29
2.62 102 29
42.8
38.5
42.5
2.28
41.4
2.40 96.90
37.4
2.63 99.36
39.3
2.27
2. 65 92. 64
38.6
2.40 89. 21
35.5
39.41 2.22
2. 41 87.47
2.66 95.20
39.5
36.7
2.42 85.19
38.9< 2.19
2. 68 93.17
38.5
35.7
2.42 85. 53
38. 7Í 2. 21
2. 68 93.17
38.5
36.1
Building construction
Other nonbuilding
construction
39.9 $2.44
$97 36
39.4
2. 49
98.11
94. 11
2. 47
38.1
97. 22
39.2
2. 48
2. 49
95.37
38.3
2.49
97.86
39.3
39.9
2. 47
98. 55
2.48
101.18
40.8
2.51
101.15
40.3
41.1
2.50
102. 75
40.4
2.51
101.40
2.52
95. 76
38.0
101.12
39.5
2.56
2. 57
38.3
98. 43
2. 56
98. 05
38.3
Special-trade contractors
Total: Building con
struction
1954: Average__
1955: Average___
February....
March_____
April______
M ay.............
June______
July---------August____
September..
October___
Novem ber..
December..
1956: January___
F ebruary...
$94.12
96.39
91.96
94. 42
93.10
96. 52
96. 89
98. 95
97.99
100. 61
98.01
94.04
98. 55
96.17
97. 54
36.2
36.1
34.7
35.9
35.4
36.7
36.7
37.2
36.7
37.4
36.3
34.7
36.1
35.1
35.6
General contractors
$2.60 $89. 41
2. 67 90.22
2. 65 85. 59
2.63 89.14
2.63 87.40
2.63 90.27
2. 64 90. 14
2.66 92.00
2.67 92.23
2.69 93.61
2.70 91.55
2.71 88. 24
2.73 92.11
2. 74 88. 75
2. 74 89.95
36.2
35.8
34. 1
35.8
35.1
36.4
36.2
36.8
36.6
37.0
35.9
34.2
35.7
34.4
35.0
$2.47
2.52
2.51
2. 49
24.9
2. 48
2. 49
2.50
2. 52
2.53
2. 55
2.58
2.58
2. 58
2.57
Painting and deco
Total: Special-trade Plumbing and heat
Electrical work
contractors
rating
ing
38.6 $2.92
37.9 $2.71 $90,391 34.5 $2.62 $112. 71
$98. 01
36.3 $2.70 $102.71
2.72 116. 52
39.1
2.98
2.80 94. 38
34.7
36.4
2.76 106. 68
38. 1
100. 46
2. 92
33.6
2.68 i l l 25
38. 1
37.6
2. 75 90 05
35. 0
2. 73 103. 40
95. 55
2.67
113.10
2.93
38.6
34.6
37.6
2. 75 92. 38
97. 92
36.0
2.72 103. 40
2. 93
2.67 112. 81
38.5
37.4
2. 76 90. 251 33.8
2. 72 103. 22
97.10
35.7
2.95
2.68 114.17
38.7
2. 77 94.871 35.4
2. 73 105. 26
36.9
38.0
100. 74
39.1
35.2
2. 71 115. 35
2.95
2. 78 95. 39
2. 74 105. 64
38.0
37.1
101. 65
2.98
118.31
39.7
35.8
2.71
38.3
2.83
97.02!
37.4
2.77 108.39
103. 60
2. 74 118.60
39.8
2. 98
38.2
2. 81 96. 72
35.3
2. 78 107. 34
102.03
36.7
39.9
3. 03
2.78 120.90
2.83 99. 25
35.7
37.6
2.79 109.80
38.8
104. 90
39.9
3.04
35.0
2. 78 121.30
2.83 97.30;
2. 80 108.96
38.5
102. 48
36.6
2. 75 117.43
38.5
3.05
37.2
2. 83 91. 58
33.3
35.1
2.80 105. 28
98. 28
3.05
2. 79 122.00
40.0
2.82 96.26; 34.5
2. 82 109. 42
38.8
102. 65
36.4
2.
78
39.3
3.06
94.24!
33.9
120.
26
2. 85
2.84 109.16
38.3
35.5
100. 82
39.6
34.2
2.80 121. 57
3.07
2. 85 95. 76
2.84 107. 73
102. 24
37.8
36.0
Special-trade con
tractors—Continued
Other special trade
contractors
1954: Average____
1955: Average____
F eb ru ary .......
March______
April_______
M ay_______
June_______
J u ly .............
$93 19
96.21
89. 24
93. 37
92.92
97. 55
98. 36
100. 64
97.73
101. 28
97. 54
92. 89
97.23
94. 58
97. 65
35. 3
35.5
33.3
35. 1
34.8
36.4
36.7
37.0
35.8
37.1
35.6
33.9
35.1
33.9
35.0
August—........
Septem ber...
October____
N ovember. ..
December__
1956: January____
February___
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2.64
2. 71
2.68
2.66
2. 67
2.68
2.68
2. 72
2. 73
2.73
2. 74
2. 74
2. 77
2.79
2. 79
Manufacturing
Total: Manufac
turing
$71.86
76. 52
74. 74
75. 11
74. 96
76.30
76.11
76.36
76. 33
77.71
78.50
79.52
79.71
78.55
78.17
39.7
40.7
40. 4
40.6
40.3
40.8
40.7
40.4
40.6
40.9
41.1
41.2
41.3
40.7
40.5
$1 81
1.88
1.85
1.85
1.86
1.87
1.87
1.89
1.88
1.90
1.91
1.93
1.93
1.93!
1. 93!
Durable goods s
$77 18
83. 21
80. 56
81. 56
81.58
82. 78
81.99
82. 62
82. 61
84.46
85.07
86. Ill
86. 52
84.87
84.05
40.2
41.4
41. 1
41.4
41.2
41.6
41.2
40.9
41.1
41.4
41.7
41.8
42.0
41.2
41.0
Nondurable goods *
$1.92 $64. 74
2.01 68.06
1. 96 66.36
1.97 66. 70
1.98 65. 91
1.99 67.32
1.99 67.83
2. 02 67.89
2 01 67.83
2.04 68.97
2.04 69. 32
2. 06 70.12
2.06 70.30
2. 06 69.83
2. 05 69. 65
39.0
39.8
39.5
39.7
39.0
39.6
39.9
39.7
39.9
40.1
40.3
40.3
40.4
39.9
39.8
Total: Ordnance
and accessories
$1.66 $79. 60
1.71 83. 44
1.68 82. 22
1.68 82.42
1.69 82. 42
1.70 82.82
1.70 83.44
1.71 82.62
1.70 82. 42
1.72 85.28
1. 72 85.28
1.74 86. 73
1.74 86. 73
1. 75 87. 56
1. 75 88.19
40. 2
40.7
40.5
40.6
40.6
40.8
40.9
40.3
40.4
41.0
41.0
41.3
41.3
41.3
41.6
Food and kindred
products
Total: Food and
kindred products
41.0 $1.67
$1.98 $48.47
41.2
1.75
2.05 72.10
40.5
1.73
2.03 70.07
40.5
1.73
2.03 70. 07
1.74
2. 03 70.12
40.3
41.1
1.74
2.03 71.51
1. 72
2. 04 71.38
41.5
2.05 72.07
41.9
1.72
2. 04 71.10
41.1
1.73
2.08 72.98
1.75
41.7
2.08 73.63
41.6
1.77
2.10 74.70
41.5
1.80
41.8
1.81
2.10 75.66
2.12 76.36
41.5
1.84
1. 82
2.12 74. 26
40.8
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
613
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month
Meat products
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings hours
1954: Average............ $76.8f
1955: Average______ 83. ie
February____
76. Of
M arch_______ 77.76
April________
76.00
M a y ......... ....... 79.30
June_________ 79.30
July................... 80.48
A ugust............. 83.62
September___
87.52
October______ 87.74
November___
94.34
December____ 93.01
1956: January_____
91. 54
February..___ 84. 67
41.
42.
40.
40.5
40.0
41.3
41.3
41.7
41.6
42.9
42.8
44.5
44.5
43.8
41.3
*
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
38.7
38.8
38.2
38.0
37.7
38.3
39.3
39.7
39.2
39.9
39.9
36.5
38.3
38.8
38.8
S a u s a g e s a n d c a s in g s
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings hours
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
$1.87 79.71
1.98 86.92
1.90 78.78
1.92 81.16
1.90 78.99
1.92 82.37
1.92 81.38
1.93 82.98
2.01 86.94
2.04 92.44
2.05 92.45
2.12 100.79
2.09 98.52
2.09 96.98
2.05 87.57
Canning and pre
serving 4
1954: Average_____ $54. 57
1955: Average______ 56. 65
February......... 56.15
March_______
56.24
April________
67.68
M ay.................. 56.68
June_________ 55.81
July.................. 54. 79
August______
56.45
September__ _ 58.65
October______ 59.05
November___
53. 66
December____ 57. 83
1956: January______ 59.36
February____
59.36
M e a t p a c k i n g , w h o le
s a le
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
41.
42.4
40.4
41.2
40.3
41.6
41.
41.7
41.6
43.4
43.2
45.4
45.4
44.9
41.5
$1.91 $76. 2S
2.0i 80.9C
1.95 76.00
1.97 75.41
1.96 76.19
1.98 79.27
1.98 81.41
1.99 81.98
2.09 83.23
2.13 84.51
2.14 83.78
2.22 84.80
2.17 85. 85
2.16 84.25
2.11 84.45
Seafood, canned and
cured
$1.41 $46.82
1.46 50.71
1.47 48. 47
1. 48 49.38
1. 53 54.94
1.48 47.95
1.42 51.95
1.38 46.90
1.44 49.92
1. 47 49.68
1.48 50.62
1.47 50.53
1.51 59.85
1. 53 56.11
1.53 53.90
30.4
32.3
32.1
32.7
33.5
29.6
35.1
30.6
32.0
32.9
34.2
29.9
34.2
33.2
33.9
41.2
41.7
40.0
39.9
40.1
41.6
42.4
42.7
42.9
42.9
42.1
42.4
42.5
41.5
41.6
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
40.3
39.9
39.8
39.6
38.7
40.1
39.7
41.3
39.9
40.5
40.8
37.6
38.9
40.1
39.5
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
$1.85 $70.04
1.94 72.48
1. 90 71.46
1.89 71.28
1.90 70.95
1.91 72.71
1. 92 73.04
1.92 75.26
1.94 72.98
1.97 73.95
1.99 72.07
2.00 71.83
2.02 72. 42
2.03 73.02
2.03 73.44
Canned fruits, vege
tables, and soups
$1.54 $56. 82
1. 57 58.65
1.61 68.90
1.51 69.40
1.64 59.60
1.62 60.15
1.48 57.17
1.50 56.58
1.56 58.25
1.51 60.75
1.48 61.61
1.69 54.90
1.75 58.74
1. 69 61.75
1.59 61.62
Dairy products4
40.9
40.9
40.5
40.4
40.3
41.1
41.4
41.4
40.9
41.2
41.0
40.9
40.8
40.4
40.6
$1.66 $69.22
1.72 71.93
1.70 70.41
1.69 70.00
1.69 70.00
1.70 71.45
1.71 72.38
1.71 72.98
1.72 72.45
1.73 72.86
1.74 72.92
1.76 74.16
1. 75 73.16
1.76 72. 50
1.76 72. 85
Oonfectionery a n d
related products 4
1954: Average______ $55.81
1955: A verage_____ 58.11
February........ 57.60
M arch_______ 56.88
April________
55. 77
M ay............ .
56.94
June.................. 58.80
July................... 57.48
August............. 56.94
59.39
September___
October______ 60.53
November___
58.98
December____ 59.39
1956: January_____
59.70
February____
60.10
39.3
39.8
40.0
39.5
38.2
39.0
40.0
39.1
39.0
40.4
40.9
40.4
40.4
39.8
39.8
See footnotes a t end of table.
382771—56------7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.2
41.1
40.7
40.7
40.7
41.3
41.6
41.7
41.4
41.4
41.2
41.2
41.1
40.5
40.7
$1.68 $61. 45
1.75 62.88
1.73 62.33
1.72 61. 54
1.72 60.37
1.73 62.96
1.74 64.06
1.75 62.87
1.75 61.23
1.76 64.72
1.77 64.64
1.80 63. 68
1.78 63.83
1.79 65. 76
1.79 65.76
Confectionery
$1.42 $53. 70
1.46 55.84
1.44 65.60
1.44 54. 77
1. 46 54.00
1.46 64.85
1.47 56.66
1.47 54.00
1.46 54. 71
1.47 57.23
1.48 58. 90
1.46 57.37
1.47 57.77
1. 50 57.71
58. 36
151
39.2
39.6
40.0
39.4
38.3
38.9
39.9
38.3
38.8
40.3
40.9
40.4
40.4
39.8
39.7
39.9
39.8
39.7
39.2
38.7
40.1
40.8
40.3
39.0
40.2
40.4
39.8
39.4
40.1
40.1
Beverages 4
$1.37 $78.59
1.41 82.22
1.39 78.61
1.39 80.00
1.41 81.41
1.41 82.21
1. 42 82. 21
1.41 87.35
1.41 85.28
1.42 84.66
1.44 82.00
1.42 82.19
1.43 82. 59
1.45 82.18
1.47 82.58
40.3
40.5
39.7
40.2
40.5
40.7
40.7
42.2
41.4
40.9
40.0
39.9
39.9
39.7
39.7
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
$1.61 $71. 73
1.67 74.2S
1.65 71.81
1.65 72.13
1. 65 73.68
1.66 74.00
1.66 77.22
1.68 77.39
1.67 74.33
1.70 76.19
1.68 73.64
1.69 74.20
1. 70 73. 81
1. 71 75. 21
1.72 75. 04
45.4
45.3
44.6
44.8
45.2
45.4
46.8
46.9
45.6
45.9
44.9
44.7
44.2
44.5
44.4
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.41 $74. 42
1.47 77.18
1.48 74. 74
1.50 73.79
1.54 76. 21
1.50 75.85
1.44 78. 09
1.37 79.98
1.46 77.53
1.50 80.28
1.51 78.77
1.46 77.94
1.51 77. 40
1.54 78.74
1. 56 76. 08
44.3
44.1
43.2
42.9
43.8
44.1
45.4
45.7
44.3
45.1
44. 5
43.3
43.0
43.5
42.5
$1.68 $79. 74
1. 75 82.88
1.73 79. 74
1.72 77.69
1.74 78.12
1.72 78.55
1.72 80.73
1.75 85.46
1.75 84.04
1.78 87.61
1.77 89.36
1.80 86.14
1.80 84. 93
1. 81 84.17
1.79 78.63
Sugar4
$1.54 $73.01
1.58 77.17
1. 57 73. 51
1. 57 73. 71
1.56 72.44
1.57 76.89
1. 57 78.38
1. 56 84.29
1.57 77.19
1.61 81. 65
1.60 76.08
1.60 80.16
1.62 76.79
1.64 80. 04
1.64 78.31
43.2
43.6
41.3
40.5
39.8
40.0
42.6
44.6
41.5
43.2
42.5
50.1
47.4
42.8
41.0
$1.69 $76.26
1.77 83.92
1.78 77.14
1.82 77. 76
1.82 74.50
1.88 82.12
1.84 84. 97
1.89 93.80
1.86 86.63
1.89 91.30
1.79 99.42
1.60 86. 09
1. 62 84.04
1.87 85.91
1.91 84.67
41.6
42.0
40.7
41.6
41.7
42.0
41.7
44.6
43.6
42.8
41.3
40.9
41.4
40.9
40.7
41.0
42.6
40.6
40.5
38.6
41.9
43.8
46.9
44.2
45.2
47.8
42.2
41.4
41.5
41.3
M alt liquors
$1.48 $92.80
1.51 97.84
1.47 93.06
1.47 94.40
1.48 97.20
1.50 98.09
1. 48 98.66
1.55 104.67
1.54 101.34
1. 55 99.45
1.50 96.72
1.51 97.61
1.56 98. 50
1.52 97. 61
1.53 98. 53
40.0
40.1
39.6
40.0
40.5
40.7
40.6
41.7
40.7
40.1
39.0
39.2
39.4
39.2
39.1
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
42.6
42.8
42.6
42.0
42.1
43.1
42.7
44.6
43.8
43.4
42.6
41.6
42.1
41.9
42.9
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.68
1.75
1.73
1.70
1.71
1.73
1. 73
1.76
1.75
1.79
1.78
1.79
1.80
1.79
1. 83
Prepared feeds
$1. 78 $71.87
1.85 74.09
1.80 71.34
1.79 72.00
1.80 74. 87
1.81 73.55
1.81 75. 67
1.87 77.10
1.88 74.29
1.88 77.11
1.93 74.09
1.91 73.85
1. 90 74.12
1.90 75. 75
1. 85 73. 78
Cane-sugar refining
Bottled soft drinks
$1.95 $61.57
2.03 63.42
1.98 59.83
1.99 61.15
2.01 61.72
2.02 63.00
2.02 61. 72
2.07 69.13
2.06 67.14
2.07 66.34
2.05 61.95
2.06 61.76
2. 07 64. 58
2.07 62.17
2. 08 62.27
44.8
44.8
44.3
43.4
43.4
43.4
44.6
45.7
44.7
46.6
46.3
45.1
44.7
44.3
42.5
I c e c r e a m a n d ices
$1. 58 $71. 57
1.64 74.9C
1.61 73.70
1.61 71.40
1.63 71. 99
1.63 74.56
1.65 73.87
1.65 78.50
1.63 76. 65
1.66 77.69
1.64 75.83
1.66 74. 46
1.67 75. 78
1.69 75.00
1. 69 78.51
Grain-mill products4 Flour and other grainm ill products
Bakery products 4 Bread and other bakery Biscuits, crackers, and
products
prêt tels
1954: Average_____ $67. 89
1955: Average_____
70. 35
February____
68.85
March_______ 68.28
April________
68.11
M ay________
69.87
June.......... ....... 70. 79
Ju ly.................. 70.79
August___ . . .
70.35
September___
71. 28
October______ 71.34
November___
71.98
December____ 71.40
1956: January_____
71.10
February____
71.46
43.6
43.4
43.3
43.2
43.0
43.8
44.0
44.8
43.7
43.5
42.9
42.5
42.6
42.7
42.7
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
C o n d en sed a n d e v a p
o r a te d m il k
45.2
44.9
43.5
43.9
45.1
45.4
47.0
47.3
45.3
45.9
44.9
43.7
43.6
44.3
43.4
$1.59
1. 65
1.64
1.64
1.66
1.62
1.61
1.63
1.64
1.68
1.65
1.69
1. 70
1.71
1. 70
Beet sugar
$1.86 $73.08
1.97 73.43
1.90 72.71
1.92 71.61
1.93 75.44
1.96 72.77
1.94 73.60
2.00 74.40
1.96 64.08
2.02 73.12
2.08 63.43
2.04 82.00
2.03 76.44
2.07 80.44
2. 05 73. 26
43.5
42.2
39.3
38.5
41.0
38.3
40.0
40.0
35.6
40.4
39.4
49.4
45.5
44.2
39.6
$1.68
1.74
1.85
1.86
1.84
1.90
1.84
1.86
1.80
1.81
1.61
1.66
1.68
1. 82
1. 85
Distilled, rectified, and
blended liquors
$2.32 $74.88
2. 44 78.56
2.35 77.37
2.36 77.37
2.40 77.55
2.41 77.59
2.43 78.78
2.51 77.77
2.49 78.54
2.48 81.37
2.48 81.18
2.49 81.80
2.50 75.95
2.49 80.13
2. 52 81. 37
38.6
38.7
38.3
38.3
38.2
38.6
39.0
38.5
38.5
39.5
39.6
39.9
37.6
38.9
39.5
$1.94
2.03
2.02
2.02
2.03
2.01
2.02
2.02
2.04
2.06
2.05
2.05
2.02
2.06
2.06
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
614
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Tobacco manufactures
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month
Miscellaneous food
products *
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn* hours
ings
1954: Average_____ $66. 36
67.97
1955; Average_____
February____
66.65
March_______ 65.19
April________
65.19
M ay..................
. 72
June................. 67. 62
July................... 69.17
A u g u sts.......... 69.04
69. 81
September___
October______ 70.90
November___
70.06
December____ 70.14
70. 21
1956: January_____
February____
70.79
66
42.0
41.7
41.4
41.0
41.0
41.7
42.0
42.7
42.1
41.8
42.2
41.7
41.5
41.3
41.4
Corn sirup, sugar, oil.
and starch
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.58 $83.69
1.63 83.16
1.61 82.10
1.59 80.48
1. 59 79.71
1.60 80.93
1.61 84. 48
1.62 85.17
1.64 88.91
1.67 83.63
87.33
84.03
1.69 84. 85
1.70 83.02
1. 71 83.02
1.68
1.68
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
42.7
42.0
42.1
41.7
41.3
41.5
43.1
42.8
43.8
41.4
42.6
41.6
41.8
41.1
41. 1
Total: Tobacco
manufactures
Manufactured ice
$1.96 $65.64
1.98 66.14
1.95 65.83
1.93 64.92
1. 93 64. 64
1.95 66.50
1.96 64.35
1.99 68.73
2.03 67.45
66.60
2.05 67.50
. 44
2. 03 67.20
. 02 66.30
. 02 67. 05
2.02
2.02 66
2
2
45.9
45.3
45.4
45.4
45.2
46.5
45.0
47.4
46.2
44.7
45.3
44.0
45.1
45. 1
44.7
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$1.43 $49.01
1.46 51.86
1.45 49.58
1.43 51.51
1.43 50. 60
1.43 54.71
1.43 55. 55
1.45 54.00
1.46 50.57
1.49 50. 50
1.49 51.25
1.51 51.46
1.49 54.10
1.47 53.48
1.50 50.87
1954: Average_____ $52.73
1955: Average_____
54.17
February......... 50.54
March_______ 53.80
April................. 51.48
M ay________
56.30
June_________ 54.90
54.02
J u ly .................
August....... .
55.42
September___
55.42
October______ 55.86
November___
53.36
December____ 55. 80
1956: January_____
55. 65
February....... . 53. 58
37.4
37.1
35.1
37.1
35.5
38.3
37.6
36.5
37.7
37.7
38.0
36.3
37.7
37.1
36.2
Tobacco stemming
and redrying
$1.41 $39.43
1.46 41.98
1.44 40.43
1.45 44.04
1.45 45. 36
1.47 48.01
1. 46 47.99
1.48 48.26
1.47 40.19
1.47 42. 58
1.47 43.17
1.47 36. 75
1.48 42.86
1.50 41. 99
1.48 40. 25
37.2
39.6
36.1
36.4
36.0
38.1
38.7
38.3
40.6
43.9
44.5
35.0
37.6
36.2
34.7
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$1.30 $63.27
1.34 67.30
1.31 63.63
1.37 65. 76
1.39 63.08
1.41 69.38
1.41 70.64
1.41 67.06
1.29 67.80
1.25 65.13
1.25 67.56
1.34 68.14
1.38 71.72
1.40 70. 45
1.39 61.66
39.3
40.3
38.8
40.1
38.0
41.3
41.8
40.4
40.6
39.0
40.7
40.8
41.7
41.2
36.7
Cigars
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
$1.61 $42.32
1.67 43.90
1.64 42.35
1.64 42.12
41.42
43.78
1.69 44. 72
43.79
1.67 43. 90
1.67 46.20
45.84
1.67 47.19
1.72 46.08
1.71 44. 65
46.00
1.66
1.68
1.66
1.66
1.68
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
36.8
37.2
36. 2
36 0
35.4
37.1
37.9
36.8
37.2
38.5
38.2
39.0
38.4
36.9
37.4
$1.15
1.18
1.17
1.17
1. 17
1.18
1.18
1.19
1.18
1.20
.210
11.2
1.20
1.21
1.23
Textile-mill products
Tobacco manufactures—Continued
Tobacco and snuff
37.7
38.7
37.0
37.6
36.4
38.8
39.4
38.3
39.2
40.4
41.0
38.4
39.2
38.2
36.6
Cigarettes
Total: Textile-mill
products
$1.06 $52.09
1.06 55. 74
55.20
. 21 54.80
1.26 53.02
1.26 54.51
1.24 54. 92
1.26 54.25
.99 55.48
.97 56.70
.97 57. 53
1.05 58.50
1.14 58. 50
1.16 57.37
1.16 57. 51
1.12
1
38.3
40.1
40.0
40.0
38.7
39.5
39.8
39.6
40.2
40.5
40.8
41.2
41.2
40.4
40.5
Scouring and comb
ing plants
$1.36 $60. 53
1.39 63.86
1.38 62.22
1.37 61.35
1.37 60.34
1.38 61.97
1.38 63.71
1.37 68.48
1.38 63.50
1.40 65. 72
1.41 62.24
1.42 65.03
1.42
1.42 65.63
1.42
. 57
66.10
66
38.8
41.2
40.4
40.1
39.7
40.5
41.1
43.9
41.5
42.4
39.9
40.9
42.1
41.8
42.4
Yam and thread
mills <
$1.56 $46.00
1. 55 50.04
1.64 49. 77
1.53 49.77
1. 52 48. 51
1.53 48.76
1.55 49. 53
1.56 49.27
1.53 49.90
1.55 50.96
1.56 51.22
1.59 52.66
1.57 53.19
1. 57 53.06
1.57 52. 92
36.8
39.4
39.5
39.5
38.5
38.7
39.0
39.1
39.6
39.5
39.4
40.2
40.6
40.5
40.4
Yarn mills
$1.25 $45.63
1.27 50.04
1.26 49.25
1.26 49.25
1.26 48. 64
1.26 49.01
1. 27 49. 66
1.26 49. 52
1.26 50.27
1.29 51.08
1.30 51.35
1.31 52.79
1.31 53. 45
1.31 53.32
1.31 53. 59
36.5
39.4
39.4
39.4
38.6
38.9
39.1
39.3
39.9
39.6
39.5
40.3
40.8
40.7
40.6
$1.25
1.27
1.25
1.25
1.26
1.26
1.27
1.26
1.26
1.29
1.30
1.31
1.31
1.31
1.32
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber
Broad-woven fabric
mills ‘
1954: Average............ $47.50
1955: Average_____
51.61
February.........
52.13
March............
52.65
April________
50. 83
M ay................. 50.70
June_________ 50. 57
J u ly .................
50.44
August............. 50. 70
September___
52.80
October______ 53.20
November___
53.46
December____ 52. 40
1956: January_____
52.80
February____
52.40
37.4
39.7
40.1
40.5
39.4
39.3
39.2
39.1
39.3
40.0
40.0
40.5
40.0
40.0
40.0
$1.27 $50.69
1.30 54.27
1.30 53.33
1.30 52. 93
1.29 52. 00
1.29 53.20
1.29 53.20
1.29 53.20
1.29 54.13
1.32 56.17
1.33 56.44
1.32 57.41
1.31 57.27
1.32 56.31
1.31 56.03
Narrow fabrics and
small wares
39.4
1954: Average_____ $54.37
40.1
56.14
1955: Average_____
40.7
56.17
February____
40.6
March_______ 56.03
39.7
April................. 54. 79
40.0
M ay.................. 55.60
56. 02
40.3
June________
39.4
July................... 54. 77
55.04
39.6
August______
56.40
40.0
September___
39.9
October............ 57.06
58.18
40.4
November___
December........ 58.63
41.0
40.4
57.
77
1956: January..........
40.6
February____
58.46
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.38 $48.60
1.40 50.81
1.38 50.81
1.38 50.69
1. 38 47. 92
1.39 49. 50
1.39 50.29
1.39 49.01
1.39 50.95
1.41 51.21
1.43 53.19
1.44 53.86
1.43 52. 52
1.43 51.79
1.44 52.88
38.4
40.5
40.1
40.1
39.1
40.0
40.0
40.3
40.7
41.0
41.2
41.6
41.8
41.1
40.9
$1.32 $49. 28
1.34 52.79
1.33 52.40
1.32 51.87
1.33 50.44
1.33 51.48
1.33 51. 08
1.32 51.73
1.33 52.65
1.37 55.08
1.37 55.49
1.38 56. 58
1.37 56.30
1.37 55. 35
1.37 54. 95
mins *
37.1
38.2
38.2
38.4
36.3
37.5
38.1
37.7
38.6
38.5
39.4
39.6
38.9
37.8
38.6
United States
38.2
40.3
40.0
39.9
38.8
39.6
39.6
40.1
40.5
40.8
41.1
41.6
41.7
41.0
40.7
38.8 $1. 42 $47.88
$1.29 $55.10
40.3
1.43 51.99
1.31 57.63
1.43 51.07
1.31 57.92
40.5
1.42 50. 55
1.30 57. 23
40.3
1.41 49. 79
1.30 54.29
38.5
40.2
1.43 50.56
1.30 57.49
40.2
1. 43 50.17
1.29 57. 49
1.29 56.80
40.0
1.42 50.93
40.4
1.42 51.84
1.30 57.37
1.35 57. 77
40.4
1.43 54.40
1.44 54.93
40.3
1.35 58.03
1.44 55.88
40.9
1.36 58.90
1.44 55.46
41.5
1.35 59.76
1.44 54.53
1.35 59. 04
41.0
1.44 54.13
40.7
1.35 58. 61
Full-fashioned hosiery
United States
$1.31 $55. 50
1.33 56.39
1.33 58.31
1.32 58. 46
1.32 54.24
1.32 55.13
1.32 54.10
1.30 53.14
1.32 55.13
1.33 54.10
1.35 58.26
1.36 59.70
1.35 58.95
1.37 59.98
1.37 60.89
37.5
38.1
39.4
39.5
36.9
37.5
36.8
36.4
37.5
36.8
39.1
39.8
39.3
39.2
39.8
North
$1.48 $55.65
1.48 55.04
1.48 56.92
1.48 56.09
1.47 54.75
1.47 53. 22
1.47 52.13
1.46 49.68
1.47 54.60
1.47 53.00
1.41 57.13
1.5C 59.45
1.50 58. 31
1. 53 59.89
1.53 59. 65
North
37.1 $1.50 $55.80
37.7
1.46 56.68
38.2
1.49 59.20
37.9
1.48 59. 64
1.46 53.80
37.5
36.7
1.45 65.94
36.2
1.44 54.91
36.0
1.38 64.17
37.4
1.46 65.13
36.3
1.46 54. 54
1.48 58.95
38.6
39. E 1.49 60.1C
39.4
1.45 59.19
39.4
1. 52 59.82
1.51 61.60
39.5
South
38.0
40.3
39.9
39.8
38.9
39.5
39.5
40.1
40.5
40.9
41.3
41.7
41.7
41.0
40.7
South
37.7
38.3
40.0
40.3
36.6
37.8
37.1
36.6
37.5
37.1
39.3
39.8
39.2
39.1
40.0
39.9 $1.53
$1.26 $61.05
1.52
1.29 63. 38
41.7
41.1
1.28 61.65
1. 50
1.27 62.21
41.2
1. 51
40.9
1.28 61.76
1.51
42.2
1.61
1.28 63. 72
1.27 64.90
42.7
1.52
1.52
41.3
1.27 62.78
41.9
1.51
1.28 63.27
33 63.99
42.1
1.52
1.33 63.95
41.8
1.53
1.34 64.11
41.9
1.53
42.5
1.53
1.33 65.03
1.33 63. 95
41.8
1.53
42. 4! 1. 53
1.33 64.87
Seamless hosiery
1
United States
$1.48 $40. 77
1.48 42.69
1.48 42.57
1.48 42.09
1.47 38.53
1.48 40.02
1.48 42. 55
1.48 41.15
1.47 4.3. IS
1.47 44.6C
1.5C 45.93
1.51 46.17
1.51 45.58
1.53 43. 56
1. 54 45.38
36.4 $1.12
36.8
1.16
1.16
36.7
36.6
1.15
33.5
1.15
34.8
1.15
37. C 1.15
36.1
1.14
37.5
1.15
37.8
1.18
1.19
38.6
38.8
1.19
38.3
1.19
36.3
37.2
. 22
1.20
1
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
615
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products—Continued
S e a m le s s h o sie r y —Continued
Year and month
K n i t o u te r w e a r
North
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average_____ $13.07
1955: A verage------46. 22
February____
43.80
M arch_______ 44. 77
April________
45.96
M ay.......... ....... 43.55
45. 46
June________
J u ly ................. 46.68
August______
47.43
September___
48.09
October______ 49.08
November___
49.08
December____ 49.48
1956: January_____
47.24
February____
48. 64
36.5
38.2
36.2
37.0
38.3
36.6
38.2
38.9
39.2
39.1
39.9
39.9
39.9
38.1
38.6
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
40.2
41.9
41.2
42.1
41.2
41.3
40.8
41.0
41.9
42.4
43.1
43.2
43.2
42.4
42.0
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$1.18 $10.40
1.21 42. 21
1.21 42.32
1.21 41.61
1.20 37.51
1.19 39. 44
1.19 42. 07
1.20 40. 34
1. 21 42. 52
1.23 43.99
1.23 45.31
1.23 45. 67
1.24 44.96
1.24 43.32
1.26 44. 77
Carpets, rugs, other
floor coverings 4
1954: Average_____ $69. 95
1955: Average_____
73.74
February____
71.69
March_______ 73. 25
A p ril... _____
72.10
M ay______ _
72.28
June_____ . . .
72. 22
J u ly ................. 72.16
A ugust............ 74.16
September___
75.47
October______ 76. 72
November___
76.90
December____ 76.46
1956: January_____
75. 47
February____
74. 76
K n it u n derw ear
South
36.4
36.7
36.8
36.5
32.9
34.6
36.9
35.7
37.3
37.6
38.4
38.7
38.1
36.1
37.0
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.11 $51.85
1.15 53.76
1. 15 51.57
1.14 52.16
1.14 50.23
1.14 54.07
1.14 54. 49
1.13 53.96
1.14 54.23
1.17 54.99
1.18 56.08
1.18 56.45
1.18 53.77
1.20 52.20
1.21 54.14
W o o l c a r p e ts , ru g s ,
an d carpet yarn
$1.74 $66.95
1. 76 71.05
1. 74 70.12
1.74 71.40
1.75 68. 78
1.75 69.25
1.77 69.13
1.76 66.91
1.77 71.23
1.78 71.93
1.78 73.74
1.78 74. 27
1.77 75.05
1.78 73.92
1.78 73.87
38.7
40.6
40.3
40.8
39.3
39.8
39.5
38.9
40.7
41.1
41.9
42.2
42.4
42.0
41.5
37.3
38.4
37.1
37.8
36.4
38.9
39.2
39.1
39.3
39.0
39.2
39.2
37.6
36.5
37.6
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.39 $44. 53
1.40 48. 34
1.39 47. 72
1.38 48.19
1.38 46.34
1.39 47.95
1.39 48. 34
1.38 47.07
1.38 48.68
1.41 49.60
1.43 49. 88
1.44 51.44
1.43 50.15
1. 43 49. 53
1.44 50.29
Hats (except cloth
and millinery)
$1.73 $54.66
1.75 58.19
1. 74 61.69
1. 75 55. 72
1.75 51.19
1.74 58.37
1.75 60. 92
1.72 57. 67
1.75 60.83
1.75 58.81
1.76 54.48
1.76 58. 72
1.77 61.66
1. 76 60.16
1. 78 63. 99
36.2
37.3
38.8
36.9
33.9
37.9
38.8
36.5
38.5
37.7
34.7
36.7
38.3
37.6
39.5
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. Avg. hrly.
earn wkly. earnings hours -ings
36.5
39.3
38.8
39.5
38.3
39.3
39.3
38.9
39.9
40.0
39.9
40.5
39.8
39.0
39.6
40.1
41.6
42.0
41.7
40.9
41.1
41.3
40.8
41.7
41.9
42.0
42.4
42.6
41.2
40.3
1954: Average........... $67.89
1955: Average_____
72.76
February____
77. 33
March_______ 73.70
April________
73.70
M ay________
72. 50
June_________ 66. 73
J u ly ................. 73.19
73. 27
A ugust..........
70. 72
September___
October______ 74.02
November___
74.39
December____ 75. 51
1956: January........... 67. 37
February____
63.79
40.9
42.8
44.7
43.1
43.1
42.4
40.2
42.8
43.1
41.6
43.8
43.5
43.9
40.1
38.2
$1.66 $51.41
1.70 52.03
1.73 52. 45
1.71 53.07
1.71 50.18
1.71 52.33
1.66 53.80
1.71 49.65
1.70 51.29
1.70 50.63
1.69 52.03
1.71 51.29
1.72 51.17
1.68 51. 75
1. 67 52.33
M en’s and b o y s ’
fu rn ish in g s and
work clothing 4
1954: Average_____ $40. 81
1955: Average_____
41.92
41.92
February____
March_______ 42.29
April________
40.23
M ay________
41.36
J u n e ............... 41.92
J u ly ............. .
40. 52
42. 22
August______
42. 83
September___
October______ 43. 66
November___
43. 21
December____ 42. 86
1956: January........... 42. 67
February......... 43.36
35.8
37.1
37.1
37.1
35.6
36.6
37.1
36.5
37.7
37.9
38.3
37.9
37.6
37.1
37.7
See footnotes at end of table.
382771—56------8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P ro c e sse d w a s te a n d
re co v e re d f ib e r s
41.8
42.3
42.3
42.8
40.8
42.2
42.7
40.7
41.7
41.5
42.3
41.7
41.6
41.4
42.2
S h i r ts , c o lla r s , a n d
n ig h tw e a r
$1.14 $41.04
1.13 42.29
1.13 42. 41
1.14 42.18
1.13 41.06
1.13 41.95
1.13 41.61
1.11 40.45
1.12 41.92
1.13 43.43
1.14 44.51
1.14 44.31
1.14 43.50
1.15 42. 82
1.15 43.52
36.0
37.1
37.2
37.0
35.7
36.8
36.5
35.8
37.1
38.1
38.7
38.2
37.5
36.6
37.2
43.3
46.0
46.2
45.5
44.4
45.0
46.4
44.9
44.3
47.0
46.0
47.0
47.3
45.7
43.7
36.1
37.2
37.9
37.5
36.2
36.5
37.2
36.9
37.3
37.2
37.4
37.7
38.1
37.6
38.2
C ordage a n d tw in e
$1.83 $53. 02
1.94 55.58
1.92 55. 20
1.90 55.20
1.88 54.35
1.91 54.63
1.91 55.44
1.91 55.16
1.89 56. 54
1. 96 56. 68
1.95 54.85
2.03 57.08
2.03 59.18
2.01 57.74
1. 95 57. 71
S e p a r a te t r o u s e r s
$1.14 $43.32
1.14 43. 52
1.14 45.10
1.14 44.63
1.15 42.72
1.14 42.71
1.14 43.15
1.13 41.70
1.13 43. 27
1.14 43.52
1.15 43.38
1.16 43.38
1.16 44. 58
1.17 44. 37
1.17 45. 46
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings hours
40.8
42.2
42.7
42.2
40.6
41.6
42.3
40.7
41.7
42.6
43.1
43.9
43.6
41.8
42.2
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.51 $61.35
1. 54 64.72
1.53 65.06
1. 51 63.60
1.51 61.05
1.52 62.82
1. 54 64. 72
1.50 60. 49
1.52 62. 82
1.54 65.18
1.58 67. 67
1.60 70. 40
1.58 69.05
1.57 65. 63
1. 57 66. 41
F e l t g o o d s (e x c e p t
w o v e n f e l t s a n d h a ts )
40.0
42.0
41.1
41.2
40.9
40.6
41.1
40.2
42.0
41.9
42.6
43.5
42.4
41.6
39.7
40.9
42.3
42.8
42.4
40.7
41.6
42.3
40.6
41.6
42.6
43.1
44.0
43.7
41.8
42.3
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.50
1.53
1.50
1.50
1.51
1.53
1. 52
1.49
1.51
1.53
1.57
1.60
1.58
1. 57
1. 57
L ace goods
$1.74 $60.80
1.79 63.91
1.76 63.91
1.77 63.36
1.78 62.54
1.78 63.34
1.78 63.69
1.82 62. 70
1.80 65.30
1.80 64.96
1.81 64.62
1.83 64.80
1.82 64. 02
1.81 64. 90
1.82 65.11
37.3
38.5
38.5
38.4
37.9
37.7
38.6
38.0
39. 1
38.9
39.4
38.8
38.8
38.4
38.3
$1.63
1.66
1.66
1.65
1.65
1.68
1.65
1.65
1. 67
1.67
1.64
1.67
1.65
1.69
1.70
Apparel and other finished textile products
A r t i f i c i a l le a th e r , o il
c lo th ,
and
o th e r
c o a te d f a b r ic s
$1.23 $79. 24
1.23 89.24
1. 24 88.70
1.24 86. 45
1.23 83. 47
1.24 85.95
1.26 88. 62
1.22 85. 76
1.23 83. 73
1.22 92.12
1.23 89.70
1.23 95.41
1.23 96.02
1. 25 91.86
1.24 85.22
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
$1.56 $69.60
1.61 75.18
1.59 72.34
1.59 72. 92
1.59 72.80
1.60 72.27
1.59 73.16
1.60 73.16
1.60 75.60
1.62 75.42
1.62 77.11
1.64 79. 61
1.64 77.17
1. 64 75.30
1. 63 72.25
Textile-mill products—Continued
P a d d in g s a n d u p h o l
s te r y fillin g
D y e i n g a n d f in i s h in g
te x tile s (e x c e p t w o o l )
$1.22 $61.61
1.23 64.99
1.23 65.33
1.22 63.72
1.21 61.31
1.22 63.23
1.23 65.14
1.21 61.05
1.22 63. 38
1.24 65.60
1.25 68.10
1.27 70.24
1.26 68.89
1.27 65. 63
1.27 66.25
Miscellaneous textile
goods4
$1.51 $62. 56
1. 56 66.98
1.59 66.78
1.51 66. 30
1.51 65.03
1.54 65. 76
1. 57 65. 67
1.58 65. 28
1.58 66. 72
1. 56 67.88
1. 57 68.04
1.60 69.54
1.61 69. 86
1. 60 67. 57
1. 62 65. 69
Dyeing and finishing
textiles 4
38.7
39.7
40.0
40.0
39.1
39.3
39.6
39.4
40.1
40.2
38.9
40.2
41.1
40. 1
39.8
W o r k s h ir ts
$1. 20 $33. 63
1.17 36.48
1.19 33.56
1.19 35. 52
1.18 34.58
1.17 34.68
1.16 36.10
1.13 35.34
1.16 38.29
1.17 37.91
1.16 39.00
1.16 38. 51
1.17 36.96
1.18 38.12
1.19 37.82
35.4
38.0
35.7
37.0
36.4
36.5
38.0
37.6
40.3
39.9
39.8
39.3
38.1
38.9
38.2
Total: Apparel and
other finished tex
tile products
$1.37 $48.06
1.40 49.41
1.38 49. 55
1.38 49. 71
1.39 46.99
1.39 47.92
1.40 48.68
1.40 47.88
1.41 49. 82
1.41 50.05
1.41 50.59
1.42 50.32
1.44 50.83
1. 44 50.51
1.45 51.61
35.6
36.6
36.7
37.1
35.6
36.3
36.6
36.0
36.9
36.8
37.2
37.0
37.1
36.6
37.4
$1.35 $56.05
1.35 59.70
1.35 59.66
1.34 60.64
1.32 55. 40
1.32 58.91
1.33 61.09
1.33 58. 48
1.35 60. 72
1.36 61.92
1.36 60.56
1.36 60. 23
1.37 62. 54
1.38 61.22
1.38 62.70
Women’s outerwear4
$0.95 $52. 05
.96 52. 90
.94 54.21
.96 53.72
.95 50. 62
.95 51.84
.95 51.48
.94 52.00
.95 54. 21
.95 52.59
.98 53.00
.98 52.30
.97 53.91
.98 54.62
.99 56.30
34.7
35.5
35.9
36.3
35.4
36.0
35.5
34.9
35.9
34.6
35.1
35.1
35.7
35.7
36.8
M en’s and boys’
suits and coats
34.6
36.4
36.6
37.2
34.2
35.7
36.8
36.1
36.8
37.3
36.7
36.5
37.9
37.1
38.0
$1.62
1.64
1.63
1.63
1.62
1.65
1.66
1.62
1. 65
1.66
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.65
V t'o m e n ’s d r e s s e s
$1.50 $52. 20
1.49 53. 40
1.51 53. 04
1.48 54. 39
1.43 54.81
1.44 65.18
1. 45 51. 54
1.49 50.26
1.51 54.00
1. 52 53.90
1.51 54. 25
1.49 52. 70
1.51 53. 66
1. 53 53.81
1. 53 55.42
34.8
35.6
35.6
36.5
36.3
36.3
35.3
34.9
36.0
35.0
35.0
34.9
35.3
35.4
36.7
$1.50
1.50
1.49
1.49
1.51
1.52
1.46
1.44
1.50
1.54
1.55
1.51
1.52
1.52
1.51
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
616
Table C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufacturing—Cont inued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
Underwear and niqhtWomen’s and chilWomen’s suits, coats,
dren’s undergarments4 weart except corsets
and skirts
Year and month
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average..........
1955: Average_____
February___
March______
April...............
M ay........ .......
June................
July.................
August_____
Septem ber...
October_____
November__
December___
1956: January..........
February____
$39. 82
40.63
39.93
40.92
40. 48
41.66
40. 29
38. 17
39.35
40.07
41.78
41.70
41.89
41.36
41.89
36.2
36.6
36.3
37.2
36.8
37.2
36.3
34.7
36.1
36.1
37.3
36.9
37.4
36.6
37.4
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$1.10 $63. 31
1.11 64.27
1.10 68. 36
1.10 63. 74
1.10 52. 69
1.12 52. 87
1.11 61.79
1.10 67. 71
1.09 69. 34
1.11 63. 56
1.12 62. 21
1.13 62.21
1.12 67.03
1.13 70.00
1.12 70.30
Children’s outerwear
1954: Average_____
1955: Average.........
February___
M arch........ .
April...............
M a y .............
J u n e...............
July.................
August_____
September__
October_____
November__
December___
1956: January_____
February____
$45.14
45. 38
46.00
45.62
41.65
44.52
46.13
46. 49
46. 62
45. 38
45. 51
46. 62
45. 63
47.12
47.75
36.7
37.2
37.4
37.7
35.6
37.1
37.5
37.8
37.6
36.6
36.7
37.6
37.1
37.1
37.6
32.3
33.3
34.7
33.2
29.6
29.7
33.4
34.9
35.2
32.1
31.9
32.4
34.2
35.0
34.8
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$1.96 $44.04
1.93 44. 77
1.97 44.17
1. 92 45. 51
1.78 43.20
1.78 44.28
1.85 44.16
1.94 42.12
1.97 44.16
1.98 45.38
1.95 47. 50
1.92 47.38
1. 96 45. 51
2. 00 45.49
2.02 46. 00
Miscellaneous apparel
and accessories
$1.23 $43. 68
1.22 45.51
1.23 44. 04
1.21 44.53
1.17 43.20
1.20 44. 04
1.23 44.28
1.23 44.64
1.24 44.65
1. 24 47.12
1.24 47.24
1.24 47.63
1.23 48. 76
1.27 47.00
1. 27 47.63
36.1
37.0
36.4
36.8
35.7
36.4
36.9
36.0
36.9
38.0
38.1
38.1
38.7
37.6
38.1
36.1
36.7
36.5
37.3
35.7
36.0
36.2
35. 1
36.8
37.2
38.0
37.9
37.0
36.1
36.8
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$1.22 $41. 27
1.22 42. 32
1.21 41.70
1.22 42.98
1. 21 40. 81
1.23 41. 17
1. 22 41.04
1.20 39. 55
1.20 41.92
1. 22 43. 24
1.25 45. 43
1.25 44. 58
1.23 42. 80
1.26 42.12
1.25 43. 27
Other fabricated
textile products 4
37.2
38.4
38.1
38.2
37.7
37.3
38.4
37.3
37.9
38.9
40.2
39.8
38.6
36.8
37.8
$1.21 $47.99
1.23 51.07
1.21 49. 91
1.21 49. 66
1. 21 50.14
1. 21 49. 61
1.20 51.07
1.24 49.24
1. 21 50.03
1.24 52.13
1.24 55. 48
1.25 55.32
1.26 52. 50
1.25 50.42
1.25 51. 41
36.2
36.8
36.9
37.7
35.8
35.8
36.0
35.0
37.1
37.6
38.5
38.1
36. 9
36.0
37.3
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn
ings
ings
$1.14 $48. 24
1.15 49.28
1.13 48.11
1.14 49. 04
1.14 47. 22
1.15 48. 51
1.14 49.41
1.13 46.46
1.13 48.41
1.15 49. 41
1.18 50. 46
1.17 51.51
1.16 50. 09
1.17 50. 68
1.16 50.40
Curtains, draperies,
and other house-fur
nishings
$1.29 $42. 80
1.33 45.60
1.31 45.22
1.30 44. 49
1.33 44.29
1.33 43. 44
1.33 45. 72
1.32 44. 27
1.32 44.37
1. 34 47.31
1.38 49.17
1.39 48. 56
1.36 47. 07
1.37 43. 67
1.36 46.13
36.9
38.0
38.0
37.7
36.6
36.2
38.1
37.2
37.6
39. 1
40.3
39.8
38.9
35.5
37.2
Corsets and allied
garments
Avg.
wkly.
hours
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
36.0
36.5
35.9
36.6
35.5
36.2
36.6
35.2
36.4
36.6
37.1
37.6
37.1
36.2
36.0
$1.34 $58.16
1.35 57.51
1.34 64. 71
1.34 64.06
1.33 49. 95
1.34 45.60
1.35 51.34
1. 32 54. 60
1.33 60.70
1.35 61.06
1.36 61.60
1.37 51.01
1.35 55. 14
1.40 61.22
1. 40 70.47
Textile bags
$1.16 $50. 79
1.20 54.07
1.19 51.38
1.18 52. 47
1.21 51. 79
1.20 52.03
1.20 54.32
1.19 55. 30
1.18 53.27
1.21 55. 70
1.22 56.14
1.22 56.00
1. 21 55.04
1.23 56.12
1. 24 55.98
37.9
38.9
37.5
38.3
37.8
37.7
38.8
39.5
38.6
39.5
40.1
40.0
39.6
39.8
39.7
Millinery
35.9
36.4
39.7
40.8
33.3
30.4
32.7
35.0
37.7
38.4
38.5
32.7
34.9
37.1
40.5
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.62
1.58
1.63
1.57
1.50
1.50
1.57
1.56
1. 61
1.59
1.60
1.56
1. 58
1.65
1.74
Cannas products
$1. 34 $52. 38
1.39 53.86
1.37 53. 33
1.37 53. 60
1.37 53.60
1.38 54. 94
1. 40 56. 44
1. 40 53. 06
1.38 54.35
1.41 51. 59
1.40 53. 41
1.40 54.23
1. 39 55.04
1.41 54. 46
1. 41 53. 79
38.8
39.6
39.5
39.7
40.0
40.4
41.2
39.6
39.1
38. 5
38.7
39.3
39.6
38.9
38.7
$1.35
1.36
1.35
1.35
1.34
1. 36
1.37
1.34
1.39
1.34
1.38
1.38
1.39
1.40
1.39
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)
Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex
cept furniture)
1954: Average.
1955: Average.
February.......
March______
April...............
M a y ..............
June................
July.................
August—........
September__
October.........
November__
December___
1956: January..........
February___
$66.18
69.12
66. 50
66.10
67. 06
68. 47
71.90
69. 66
72. 21
70. 93
71.10
68. 28
68. 47
66. 73
67.13
40.6
40. S
40.8
40.8
40.4
41.0
41.8
40.5
41.5
41.0
41.1
40.4
41.0
40.2
40.2
$1.63 $73. 72
1.6S 75.04
1.63 71. 24
1.62 65. 87
1.66 73.23
1.67 72.80
1. 72 78.41
1. 72 77. 34
1. 74 81.59
1.73 78. 93
1. 73 78.36
1.69 70. 33
1.67 70. 27
1.66 71.23
1. 67 71.44
Millwork, plywood,
and prefabricated
structural wood
products 4
1954: Average.......... . $70.97
73.63
1955: Average..........
February___ _ 72.28
March............ _ 72.98
72. 80
April...............
M ay...... ......... . 73.74
June................ . 74.16
July................
73. 99
74.82
August_____
74. 58
September__
74. 23
October_____
72. 62
November__
December___ _ 74.23
72. 85
1956: January.........
February___ _ 73.44
41.5
41.6
41.3
41.7
41.6
41.9
41.9
41.8
41.8
41.9
41.7
40.8
41.7
40.7
40. 8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Logging camps and
contractors
38.0
37.9
38.3
35.8
36.8
36.4
39.4
38.1
39.8
38.5
38.6
35.7
36.6
37.1
37.8
Millwork
$1. 71 $70.81
1.77 72. 56
1. 75 70.45
1.75 71.48
1.75 71.21
1.76 72.31
1.77 73.60
1. 77 73. 43
1.79 73.68
1.78 73. 68
1.78 74.16
1.78 71.81
1.78 72. 86
1.71 71.28
1.80 71.51
41.9
41.7
41.2
41.8
41.4
41.8
42.5
42.2
42.1
42.1
41.9
40.8
41.4
40.5
40.4
Sawmills and planing m ills4
$1. 94 $66. 83
1.98 69. 55
1. 86 67. 57
1.84 66. 99
1.99 67. 40
2.00 69. 64
1.96 73.10
2.03 70. 35
2.05 72.83
2.05 71.62
2. 05 71.8C
1.97 69.97
1.92 69. 89
1.92 67.80
1.89 67. 94
41.0
41.4
41. 2
41.1
40.6
41.7
42.5
40.9
42.1
41.4
41.5
41.4
41.6
40.6
40.2
Plywood
$1.69 $73.08
1.74 78. 1£
1.71 79. 90
1.71 79.28
1. 72 77. 76
1.73 77. 40
1.74 77. 22
1.74 73.63
1.75 77. 53
1. 75 78.81
1. 77 77.76
1.76 77.04
1.76 80.18
1.76 77.35
1. 77 78.69
42.0
43.2
43.9
43.8
43.2
43.0
42.1
41.6
42.6
43.3
43.2
42.8
44.3
42.5
43.0
Sawmills and planing mills, general
South
United States
$1.63 $67.40
1.68 70.38
1.64 67. 98
1.63 67. 40
1.66 67.80
1.67 70.06
1. 72 73. 53
1. 72 70. 76
1.73 73.25
1.73 72.04
1.73 72. 21
1.69 70.38
1.68 70. 30
1.67 68.04
1. 69 68.17
41.1
41.4
41.2
41.1
40.6
41.7
42.5
40.9
42.1
41.4
41.5
41.4
41.6
40.5
40.1
$1.64 $44. 20
1.70 46.76
1.65 45. 26
1.64 45.89
1.67 44.63
1.68 47.81
1.73 47.17
1.73 46. 44
1.74 46. 44
1.74 47. 95
1.74 48.18
1.70 47.74
1.69 47. 74
1. 68 46.43
1.70 45. 54
Wooden containers4
$1.74 $50.00
1.81 52.48
1.82 49. 97
1.81 52. 04
1.8C 52. 07
1.8C 52.58
1.8C 54.61
1. 77 51. 75
1.82 52. 7i
1.82 53. 32
1. 8( 54.63
1 .8( 53.28
1.81 54.31
1.82 52. 63
1.83 53. 56
42.5
43.7
43.1
43.7
42.5
45.1
44.5
43.4
43.4
44.4
44.2
43.8
43.8
42.6
41.4
West
$1.04 $85. 06
1.07 88.65
1. 05 86. 29
1.05 84. 75
1.05 86. 80
1.06 87. 53
1.06 92. 57
1.07 88.24
1.07 92. 62
1.08 88.69
1.09 90. 06
1.09 88. 59
1.09 88. 37
1.09 86.49
1.10 88.24
Wooden boxesy other
than cigar
40.0 $1.25 $49.48
41. C 1.28 53. 25
40.3
1. 24 50.84
41.3
1.26 52. 79
41. C 1. 27 52. 54
41.-1
1. 27 54. 1C
1. 30 55.61
42.0
39.5
1.31 53. 46
40.3
1.31 52.91
1.31 53. 43
40.7
41.7
1.31 55.15
41.3
1.29 53.92
42.1
1.2£ 54. 95
1.29 53.63
40.8
41.2
1.30 53.79
39.9
41.6
41.0
41.9
41.7
42.6
42.8
40.5
40.7
41.1
42.1
41.8
42.6
41.9
41.7
39.2
39.4
39.4
38.7
39. 1
38.9
40.6
38.7
40.8
38.9
39.5
39.2
39.1
38.1
38.7
$2.17
2.25
2.19
2.19
2.22
2. 25
2. 28
2.28
2. 27
2. 28
2.28
2.26
2. 26
2. 27
2. 28
Miscellaneous wood
products
$1.24 $54.95
1.28 57. 69
1.24 57.41
1.26 58.10
1.26 56. 72
1.27 57.41
1. 30 58.38
1. 32 58.38
1.30 57.96
1.3C 58. 8C
1.31 58.38
1.29 57.68
1.29 58. 52
1.28 56.99
1.29 57. 55
40.7 $1. 35
1.39
41.5
41.6
1.38
42.1
1.38
41.4
1.37
41.6
1.38
41.7
1. 40
41.7
1.40
41.4
1.40
1.41
41.7
1.40
41.7
41.2
1.40
41.3
1.40
41. C 1.39
41.4
1.39
617
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
Furniture and fixtures
Year and month
Total: Furniture
and fixtures
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average............ $62.96
1955: Average--------- 66.82
February____
65. 67
March-....... .
65. 67
April — ............ 64. 48
M ay ____ --- 64. 71
June_________ 66. 98
July_________
64. 96
August............. 68. 46
September___
69.37
October______ 69. 96
November___
68.88
December____ 69. 37
1956: January______ 67. 49
February......... 67.82
Wood household fu r
niture (except u p
Household furniture 4
holstered)
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
40.1
41.5
41.3
41.3
40.3
40.7
41.6
40.6
42.0
42.3
42.4
42.0
42.3
40.9
41.1
$1.57 $60. 25
1.61 63.91
1.59 62.78
1.59 62.78
1.60 61.10
1. 59 61. 71
1. 61 63.34
1.60 61. 71
1.63 64.79
1.64 66. 57
1.65 67.47
1.64 66. 41
1.64 66.41
1. 65 63. 90
1.65 64.78
39.9
41.5
41.3
41.3
40.2
40.6
41.4
40.6
41.8
42.4
42.7
42.3
42.3
40.7
41.0
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.51 $54. 54
1.54 58.24
1.52 56. 85
1.52 56. 98
1.52 65.35
1.52 56. 44
1.63 57. 68
1. 52 56. 44
1. 55 58. 37
1.57 59.08
1.58 60.76
1.57 60.48
1.57 60. 34
1. 57 58.80
1. 58 58.80
Wood household fu r
niture, upholstered
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkiy.
ings
ings hours
40.4
42.2
41.8
41.9
40.7
41.5
42.1
41.5
42.3
42.5
43.4
43.2
43.1
42.0
42.0
$1.35 $64.29
1.38 09.19
1.36 68.14
1.36 68.88
1.36 66.70
1.36 65.80
1.37 68.28
1. 36 64. 46
1.38 70.38
1.39 72.41
1. 40 74.03
1.40 74.27
1.40 75.05
1.40 68.08
1.40 72.14
39.2
40.7
40.8
41.0
39.7
39.4
40.4
38.6
41.4
42.1
42.3
42.2
42.4
38.9
40.3
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Mattresses and bedsprings
Avg. Avg.
wkly
earn wkly.
ings hours
$1.64 $66. 86
1.70 71.17
1.67 70.18
1.68 68. 23
1.68 68.06
1.67 68. 63
1.69 70. 35
1.67 70. 35
1.70 73. 92
1.72 77.70
1.75 74. 46
1.76 70 27
1.77 72. 50
1.75 70. 77
1.79 70. 74
Furniture and fixtures—Continued
W ood office fu r n itu r e
1954: Average_____
1955: Average-..........
February.. . .
March______
April............
M ay.................
June________
July...................
August______
September___
O c to b e r ..___
N ovem ber___
December____
1956: January..........
February____
$59.15
65.10
60. 49
61.20
60. 40
62.32
64.57
63.14
69. 68
68.53
67.20
71.56
74. 37
73. 87
74.93
39.7
42.0
40.6
40.8
40.0
41.0
42.2
41.0
44.1
43.1
42.8
43.9
44.8
44.5
44.6
M etal office furniture
$1.49 $77. 55
1.55 84.38
1.49 82.64
1.50 81.83
1.51 80.90
1. 52 80. 73
1.53 83. 95
1. 54 84.02
1.58 84.15
1.59 85. 45
1.57 85.67
1.63 87. 33
1.66 89. 59
1.66 89. 22
1. 68 86.92
40.6
42.4
42.6
42.4
41.7
41.4
42.4
41.8
42.5
42.3
42.2
42.6
43.7
43.1
42.4
Partitions, shelving,
lockers, and fixtures
$1.91 $75. 01
1.99 80.98
1.94 78. 38
1.93 78. 57
1.94 77.03
1. 95 77.42
1.98 82. 57
2.01 79.60
1.98 85. 04
2.02 86.31
2.03 84.65
2. 05 82.42
2.05 81. 77
2.07 79. 80
2.05 80.80
39.9
40.9
40. 4
40.5
39.5
39.7
41.7
40.2
42.1
41.9
41.'7
40.8
41.3
40.1
40.0
$1.88 $64. 43
1.98 65.51
1.94 65. 83
1.94 66.82
1.95 66. 56
1.95 64. 58
1.98 66. 62
1.98 64. 62
2.02 66.30
2.06 66. 49
2.03 65.76
2.02 64. 96
1.98 65. 44
1.99 66. 42
2. 02 67.07
1954: Average_____
1955: Average...........
February____
March_______
April________
M ay________
June.................
July..................
A ugust............
September___
October______
November___
December____
1956: January______
February____
$68.97
73.85
70. 38
71.90
72. 04
72.66
74.20
73. 57
75. 23
76.64
77.87
75. 58
74.62
73. 87
72.75
41.3
42.2
41.4
41.8
41.4
42.0
42.4
41.8
42.5
43.3
43.5
42.7
42.4
41.5
41.1
P a p e r b o a r d boxet
$1.67 $68. 72
1.75 73. 60
1.70 70.14
1.72 71. 65
1. 74 71.80
1. 73 72. 41
1.75 73. 78
1. 76 73.33
1.77 74.98
1.77 76.38
1.79 77.61
1.77 75.33
1.76 74. 38
1. 78 73. 46
1. 77 72. 51
Periodicals
1954: Average.......... $88. 70
1955: Average............ 92. 97
90.68
February____
March_______ 91.77
April................. 89. 54
89.54
M ay________
91.96
June________
July..................
93.50
August______
98.40
97.44
September___
October______ 99. 22
November___
91.87
December____ 93.60
1956: January______ 93. 37
February____
93. 60
39.6
39.9
39.6
39.9
39.1
39.1
39.3
40.3
41.0
40.6
41.0
39.6
40.0
39.9
40.0
See footnotes at en d of table
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.4
42.3
41.5
41.9
41.5
42.1
42.4
41.9
42.6
43.4
43.6
42.8
42.5
41.5
41.2
Books
$2.24 $76.24
2.33 80.60
2.29 78.21
2.30 79.60
2.29 79.80
2.29 80. 40
2.34 76.60
2.32 78.41
2.40 81. 41
2. 40 81.41
2.42 81.20
2.32 82.01
2.34 82. 21
2.34 82. 62
2.34 82.61
39.3
40.1
39.3
39.8
39.9
40.0
38.3
39.4
40.5
40.5
40.4
40.4
40.3
40.3
40.1
F iber can s, tu b es,
and dru m s
$1.66 $73.02
1.74 77.11
1.69 74.19
1.71
74. 56
1.73 76. 52
1.72 75. 89
1.74 79.19
1.75 78.31
1.76 77.11
1.76 80.45
1.78 80.29
1.76 79.46
1.75 78. 09
1. 77 78.69
1.76 76.36
39.9
40.8
40.1
40.3
40.7
40.8
41.9
41.0
40.8
41.9
41.6
41.6
41.1
41.2
40.4
Commercial
printing
$1.94 $85. 72
2.01 90.23
1.99 87.96
2.00 89. 65
2.00 88.13
2. 01 88. 70
2.00 90.00
1. 99 90.17
2. 01 90.23
2.01 91.94
2.01 91.03
2.03 91.03
2.04 93.30
2.05 91.88
2.06 90.35
39.5
40.1
39.8
40.2
39.7
39.6
40.0
39.9
40.1
40.5
40.1
40.1
41.1
40.3
39.8
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.68 $71.10
1.74 75.78
1.72 74. 52
1.71 73. 92
1. 71 72. 92
1.72 73.63
1. 72 75.65
1. 72 73. 57
1.76 78.01
1.77 77. 96
1.79 77.41
1. 77 78. 63
1.79 81.10
1.81 79. 71
1.80 79. 66
41.1
42.1
42.1
42.0
41.2
41.6
42.5
41. 1
43.1
42.6
42.3
42.5
43.6
42.4
42.6
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.73
1.80
1.77
1.76
1. 77
1.77
1. 78
1.79
1.81
1.83
1.83
1.85
1.86
1. 88
1.87
Paper and allied products
Screens, blinds, and
miscellaneous furni ture and fixtures
41.3
41 2
41. 4
41.5
41.6
41.4
41.9
40.9
41.7
41.3
41.1
40.6
40.9
41.0
41.4
Total: Paper and
allied products
$1.56 $74.03
1.59 78.87
1.59 76.08
1.61
77. 04
1. 60 76.93
1.56 77. 65
1.59 78.69
1.58 79. 30
1. 59 79.92
1.61 81.10
1.60 81.35
1.66 81.35
1.60 81. 53
1.62 81.46
1.62 79.66
Paper and allied products—Continued
Paperboard con
tainers and boxes *
39.8
40.9
40.8
39.9
39.8
39.9
40.9
40.9
42.0
43.9
41.6
39.7
40.5
39.1
39.3
Office, public-build
ing, and p r o f e s
sional furniture4
42.3
43.1
42.5
42.8
42.5
42.9
43.0
43.1
43.2
43.6
43.5
43.5
43.6
43.1
42.6
Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills
$1.75 $80.04
1.83 85.94
1.79 82.34
1.80 83.16
1.81 83. 47
1.81 83.60
1.83 85.11
1.84 86. 78
1.85 87.02
1.86 88.11
1.87 88.31
1.87 88.90
1.87 89. 75
1.89 89. 60
1.87 87.32
43.5
44.3
43.8
44.0
43.7
44.0
44.1
44.5
44.4
44.5
44.6
44.9
45.1
44.8
44.1
$1.84
1.94
1.88
1.89
1.91
1.90
1.93
1. 95
1. 96
1.98
1.98
1.98
1.99
2.00
1.98
Printing, publishing, and allied industries
Other paper and
allied products
$1.83 $66.67
1.89 69.97
1.85 68.23
1.85 69.14
1.88 68. 47
1.86 69.38
1.89 69. 80
1.91 69. 97
1.89 70.14
1.92 71.23
1.93 70.21
1.91 71.38
1.90 72. 73
1.91 71. 51
1.89 71.28
40.9
41.4
41.1
41.4
41.0
41.3
41.3
41.4
41.5
41.9
41.3
41.5
41.8
41.1
41.2
$1.63 $87.17
1.69 91.42
1.66 89.47
1.67 90. 79
1.67 89. 71
1.68 90. 95
1.69 90. 95
1. 69 90.95
1.69 91.42
1.70 93.14
1.70 92.67
1.72 92. 28
1.74 94.25
1. 74 91.72
1. 73 91.87
Lithographing
$2.17 $87. 20
2. 25 91.66
2. 21 88. 70
2. 23 89.38
2. 22 87.19
2.24 90. 57
2. 25 92. 75
2.26 94. 42
2. 25 93.79
2. 27 95. 76
2.27 93.84
2.27 91.48
2. 27 93.20
2.28 91.87
2.27 91.01
40.0
40.2
39.6
39.9
39.1
39.9
40.5
40.7
40.6
41.1
40.8
40.3
40.7
39.6
39.4
T o ta l: P r in t in g ,
p u b lish in g, and
allied ind ustries
38.4
38.9
38.4
38.8
38.5
38.7
38.7
38.7
38.9
39.3
39.1
39.1
39.6
38.7
38.6
$2. 27 $92 98
2.35 96.65
2.33 93.01
2.34 94.15
2.33 95. 67
2. 35 97.46
2.35 97.19
2.35 95.76
2. 35 95. 49
2.37 98.28
2.37 98.82
2. 36 99. 36
2. 38 100. 81
2.37 94. 52
2.38 96. 66
Greeting cards
$2.18 $53.06
2. 28 56. 68
2.24 55.94
2. 24 58. 14
2.23 57.75
2.27 57.38
2.29 55.63
2.32 54.60
2.31 54.81
2. 33 56.74
2.30 56.74
2.27 57.48
2. 29 59.36
2.32 59. 52
2.31 60. 51
37.9
38.3
37.8
38.0
38.5
38.0
38.1
37.4
37.8
38.6
38.6
39.1
38.8
38.4
38.3
N ew spapers
35.9
36.2
35.5
35.8
36.1
36.5
36.4
36.0
35.9
36.4
36.6
36.8
37.2
35.4
35.8
$2.59
2. 67
2.62
2.63
2.65
2.67
2.67
2.66
2.66
2.70
2.70
2.70
2. 71
2. 67
2.70
Bookbinding and
related industries
$1.40 $67. 82
1.48 69.92
1.48 67. 79
1.53 69, 70
1. 50 69. 56
1. 51 69.38
1.46 69.70
1. 46 69.70
1.45 69.87
1.47 70 62
1.47 70. 40
1.47 70.80
1.53 72.90
1. 55 71.46
1. 58 70. 56
39.2
39.5
38.3
39.6
39.3
39.2
39.6
39.6
39.7
39.9
40.0
40.0
40.5
39 7
39.2
$1.73
1.77
1.77
1.76
1. 77
1.77
1.76
1. 76
1.76
1. 77
1.76
1.77
1.80
1.80
1.80
618
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
Printing, publishing,
and allied indus
tries—Continued
Year and month
Miscellaneous pub
lishing and print
ing services
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average^_____ $104. 91
1955: Average_____ 109.18
February____ 111.35
March.............. 111.76
April________ 108.11
M ay................. 107. 59
June_________ 107. 29
July.................. 107. 96
A u g u s t_____ 106. 90
September___ 111.11
O ctober_____ 110.09
November___ 109.85
December__
109. 53
1956: Januarv - - 108.19
February____ 111.20
39.0
39.7
40.2
40.2
39.6
39.7
39.3
39.4
39.3
40.7
39.6
39.8
39.4
39.2
40.0
40.7
41.8
41.0
41.1
42.9
41.4
41.6
41.5
42.0
41.7
41.7
41.9
41.9
42.1
41.9
$2.69 $78. 50
2. 75 82. 39
2.77 80.34
2. 78 80.32
2.73 81.36
2. 71 81.77
2.73 82. 80
2. 74 83. 22
2.72 82.81
2.73 84. 25
2.78 83.42
2. 76 85.07
2. 78 85. 27
2. 76 84. 87
2. 78 84. 46
February____
March______
April________
M ay________
Ju n e......... .......
July-------------August______
September___
October_____
November___
December____
1956: January. ___
February____
$77.87
84.18
79. 71
81. 71
83.13
84.74
87.20
85. 60
85. 40
84. 22
85.22
87.13
85. 67
84. 46
86. 31
41.2
42.3
41.3
41.9
42. 2
42.8
43.6
42.8
42.7
41.9
42.4
42.5
42.2
41.4
42.1
41.1
41.4
41.2
41.4
41.3
41.3
41.4
41.2
41.2
41.5
41.5
41.7
41.8
41.4
41.2
40.1
40.3
40.5
40. 7
40.8
40.5
40.3
40.3
39.9
40.2
39. 6
40.3
40.5
40.5
39.7
$1.91 $86.09
1.99 89.98
1.95 88.15
1.94 88. 34
1. 97 89. 54
1.98 88. 94
2.00 88.94
2.02 90.80
2. 01 90.17
2.03 91.62
2.01 90. 54
2.04 92. 48
2. 04 93. 56
2. 05 93. 75
2.05 93.07
41.0
42.2
41.2
41.8
42.1
42.9
43.6
42.7
42.7
41.7
42.1
42.4
42.1
41.1
41.3
40,8
40.9
41.0
40.9
40.7
40.8
40.8
40.9
40.8
40.9
40.6
41.1
41.4
41.3
41.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
39.8
40.0
39.7
39.6
39.4
39.8
40.5
39.6
40.0
40.9
40.3
40. 2
40.3
40.6
39.6
Alkalies and chlorine
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$2.11 $83. 81
2.20 87.89
2.15 86.07
2.16 85. 44
2.20 85.60
2.18 86. 65
2.18 86. 67
2. 22 88. 07
2. 21 88. 44
2. 24 88.66
2.23 89.95
2.25 90.83
2. 26 91.88
2. 27 91.62
2. 27 91. 62
Explosives
$1.82 $78.01
1.87 81.20
1.84 79.40
1. 84 79. 20
1. 89 78. 80
1.85 80. 40
1.87 82.22
1.90 80. 39
1.86 82.00
1.92 83.85
1.89 83.42
1.90 83.62
1. 91 83. 82
1. 92 85. 26
1.92 82. 76
Paints, varnishes,
lacquers, and enamels
$1.89 $76.26
1.99 82. 29
1.93 77.87
1. 95 79. 84
1. 97 81.25
19.8 83. 66
2. 00 85. 46
2.00 83.69
2. 00 84.12
2.01 82.15
2. 01 83. 36
2.05 85. 22
2. 03 83. 78
2.04 82. 20
2.05 82.19
Industrial Inorganic
chemicals 4
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Synthetic fibers
$2.23 $72. 98
2.34 75. 36
2.27 74. 52
2. 29 74. 89
2.32 77.11
2.30 74. 93
2.32 75. 36
2. 35 76. 57
2.38 74. 21
2.40 77.18
2. 37 74.84
2. 39 76. 57
2. 41 77. 36
2. 42 77.76
2. 44 76. 22
Paints, pigments,
and fillers4
1954: Average........ .
1955: Average_____
T o ta l: C h e m ic a ls
and allied prod
ucts
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
¡Synthetic rubber
1954: Average............ $90. 76
97.81
1955: Average_____
February......... 93.07
March_______ 94.12
99.53
April-----------M ay________
95. 22
June.................. 96. 51
J u ly ................ . 97.53
99. 96
August______
September___ 100.08
October_____
98.83
November___ 100.14
December____ 100. 98
1956: January_____ 101.88
February......... 102. 24
Chemicals and allied products
40.1
40.5
40.6
40.3
40.0
40.3
40.5
40.4
40.2
40.3
40.7
41.1
41.2
40.9
40.9
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.09 $83.23
2.17 87.33
2.12 84. 86
2.12 85. 69
2.14 87.12
2.15 86. 51
2.14 87 54
2.18 87. 94
2.20 86. 90
2.20 89. 60
2.21 88.13
2. 21 90. 03
2. 23 90.25
2.24 90.23
2. 24 89.35
Drugs and medicines
$1.96 $72.16
2. 03 75. 07
2.00 74. 93
2. 00 73. 62
2.00 73.12
2.02 73.16
2.03 74. 34
2. 03 74. 56
2.05 74. 56
2.05 75.89
2. 07 76. 67
2.08 79. 68
2.08 77. 42
2.10 76.92
2.09 77.93
41.0
40.8
41.4
40.9
40.4
40.2
40. 4
40.3
40.3
40.8
41.0
41. 5
41.4
40.7
40.8
42.2
43.1
42.0
42.6
43.0
43.7
42.5
43.9
43.8
44.0
42.2
42.7
42.5
43.4
43.2
1954: Average___
1955: Average___
February__
March___ _
April...........
M ay______
June............
J u ly .............
August____
September.
October___
November.
D ecember..
1956: January___
February...
$77.46
81.17
78.75
79.55
78. 67
79. 55
81.77
80.96
82.06
83.08
81.63
83. 99
83. 62
84.73
84.60
45.3
45. 6
45.0
45.2
44. 7
45.2
46.2
46.0
46.1
45.4
45.1
45.4
46.2
46.3
45.0
See footnotes at end of table,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Miscellaneous
chemicals 4
$1.60 $61.48
1.66 63. 75
1.62 59.16
1. 62 64.78
1.65 63.80
1.66 66.12
1. 67 63. 57
1.66 63.50
1. 67 62.47
1. 69 66.14
1.66 64. 57
1.73 64. 37
1. 69 66. 46
1.70 64. 79
1. 69 64.33
$1.71 $71.51
1.78 75.07
1.76 74.07
1.76 74. 48
1.76 72.94
1.76 73. 67
1. 77 74.66
1.76 74.15
1.78 74. 30
1.83 75. 67
1.81 76.86
1.85 76. 89
1.81 77. 64
1. 83 77.90
1.88 76. 55
40.4
40.8
40.7
40.7
40.3
40.7
40.8
40.3
40.6
40.9
41.1
40.9
41.3
41.0
40.5
Essential oils, per
fum es, cosmetics
$1. 77 $60.37
1.84 63.34
1.82 63.50
1.83 63. 60
1.81 62.63
1.81 62.08
1.83 63.34
1. 84 61.02
1.83 61.44
1. 85 63.34
1.87 63.83
1.88 64. 62
1.88 66. 00
1.90 65. 35
1.89 63.50
38.7
39.1
39.2
39.2
38.9
38.8
39.1
37.9
38.4
39.1
39.4
39.4
40.0
38.9
37.8
$2.05 $83. 80
2.13 88. 41
2.08 84. 85
2.09 86. 92
2.13 86. 92
2.11 87. 56
2.13 87. 78
2.15 86.53
2.13 87. 36
2.18 91.16
2.16 90. 74
2.18 92.02
2.18 92.23
2.19 90.09
2.19 89.02
41.1
40.9
41.3
38.0
41.4
40.7
41.2
41.0
41.6
41.8
41.5
40.1
41.0
40.6
41.1
42.4
42.5
40.8
45.3
43.4
43.5
42.1
41.5
41.1
42.4
42.2
41.8
42.6
41.8
41.5
$1.45 $68.24
1.50 71.14
1.45 69. 46
1. 43 69.60
1.47 69.96
1.52 70.36
1. 51 73. 96
1.53 74.20
1. 52 72. 82
1.56 71.46
1.53 71.10
1.54 72.06
1.56 72.38
1. 55 71. 92
1.55 72.48
45.8
45.6
45.4
44.9
44.0
43.7
45.1
44.7
44.4
46.1
47.4
47.1
47.0
46.4
45.3
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
41.9 $2.00
42.3
2.09
41.8
2.03
42. 4 2.05
42.4
2.05
2. 07
42.3
42.2
2.08
41.4
2.09
42. 0
2.08
42.4
2.15
42.6
2.13
43.2
2.13
42. 7 2.16
41.9
2.15
41.6
2.14
Soap and glycerin
$1.99 $89.19
2.08 91.88
2.04 91.46
2.02 78. 59
2.08 94. 81
2. 07 91.71
2. 08 92. 80
2.08 92.11
2.10 94. 76
2.12 96.23
2.12 95.58
2.11 90.39
2.13 94. 54
2.14 93.83
2.14 94. 66
Vegetable and animal
oils and fats 4
Chemicals and allied products— Continued
A n im a l oils and fats
40.6
41.0
40.8
41.0
40.9
41.0
41.1
40.9
40.8
41.1
40.8
41.3
41.4
41.2
40.8
Plastics, except syn
thetic rubber
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Soap. cleaning and
polishing preparations 4
$1.76 $81. 79
1.84 85.07
1.81 84.25
1.80 76. 76
1.81 86.11
1.82 84. 25
1.84 85.70
1.85 85.28
1.85 87. 36
1.86 88.62
1.87 87.98
1.92 84. 61
1.87 87. 33
1.89 86. 88
1.91 87.95
Gum and wood
chemicals
$1.86 $67.52
1.95 71.55
1.89 68.04
1.91 69.01
1.93 70.95
1.95 72. 54
1.96 70. 98
1.96 72. 87
1.97 73.15
1.97 74.36
1.98 70.05
2.01 73.87
1.99 71.83
2.00 73. 78
1.99 73.01
Industrial organic
chemicals 4
41.1
40.3
41.2
35.4
41.4
40. 4
40.7
40.4
41.2
41.3
41.2
39.3
40.4
40.1
40.8
v e g e ta o ie
$1.49 $63.16
1. 56 65. 21
1.53 63.84
1.55 63. 62
1.59 63. 95
1.61 63. 47
1.64 68. 07
1. 66 69. 05
1. 64 66.10
1. 55 64. 64
1. 50 66.10
1. 53 66. 24
1. 54 65.89
1.55 64. 96
1. 60 64.92
$2.17
2.28
2.22
2. 22
2. 29
2.27
2.28
2.28
2. 30
2. 33
2.32
2.30
2. 34
2.34
2. 32
cus
46.1
45.6
45.6
44.8
43.5
42.6
44.2
43.7
43. 2
46. 5
48.6
48.0
47.4
46.4
45.4
$1.37
1.43
1.40
1. 42
1.47
1.49
1.54
1. 58
1. 53
1.39
1.36
1.38
1. 39
1.40
1.43
Products of petroleum and coal
Compressed and
liquefied gases
$1.56 $82.32
1.62 87.92
1.62 84.60
1.62 85. 43
1.61 85. 45
1.60 85. 65
1.62 87. 29
1. 61 88. 74
1.60 88. 54
1.62 88.99
1.62 88.80
1.64 90. 29
1.65 88.99
1. 68 88. 82
1.68 89.88
42.0
43.1
42.3
42.5
42.3
42.4
43.0
43. 5
43.4
43.2
42.9
43.2
43.2
42.7
42.8
Total: Products of
petroleum and coal
$1.96 $92. 62
2.04 96. 76
2.00 91.25
2.01 93. 61
2.02 95. 94
2. 02 97. 70
2.03 97.23
2.04 99. 53
2.04 97.58
2.06 100.36
2. 07 99. 84
2.09 99. 22
2. 06 98.40
2.08 99.95
2.10 100.37
40.8
41.0
40.2
40.7
41.0
41.4
41.2
41.3
41.0
41.3
41.6
41.0
41.0
41.3
40.8
$2.27
2.36
2. 27
2.30
2. 34
2.36
2. 36
2. 41
2.38
2.43
2. 40
2. 42
2. 40
2. 42
2.46
Petroleum refining
$96.22
100.12
91,87
96. 96
99.72
101. 27
100. 28
102. 41
99. 79
102. 82
103. 09
102.91
102. 09
103.66
104.34
40.6
40.7
40.2
40.4
40.7
41.0
40.6
40.8
40.4
40.8
41.4
41.0
41.0
41.3
40.6
$2.37
2. 46
2.36
2.40
2. 45
2. 47
2. 47
2. 51
2.47
2. 52
2.49
2. 51
2. 49
2. 51
2.57
619
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Products of petroleum and coal—
Continued
Year and month
Coke, other petroleum and coal
products
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
1954: Average........... $80.73
86. 52
1955: Average_____
79.00
February____
March. _____ 83.38
83. IS
April________
M a y ................
85.63
88. IS
June________
July_________ 91.16
89.88
August______
92.88
September___
89.46
October..........
86. 50
November___
86. 51
December. .
87. 77
1956: January_____
87.35
February____
Avg.
wkly.
hours
1954: Average......... . $69.17
1955: A v e r a g e ..___ 72. 40
71.42
February____
March..........
71.60
April................
72.18
M ay
72. 54
72. 58
June___
69. 84
July_________
71.86
August ______
72. 58
September___
October______ 73. 57
74. 74
November___
D ecem ber... . 75.48
1956: January______ 74.19
74.37
February____
Total: Rubber
products
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.4 $1.95 $78. 21
42. C 2.06 86. 94
40.1
1.97 84.25
1.99 83. 61
41.9
1. 9t 86.53
41.8
2. 01 87. 36
42.6
2. 04 88. 83
43. 2
43.0
2.12 86. 32
42.8
2.10 86. 32
43.0
2.16 86. 74
2.12 89.04
42.2
40.8
2.12 92.01
2.11 89. 21
41.0
41.4
2.12 87.91
2.11 85.81
41.4
Leather: tanned,
curried, and finished
39.3
40.0
39.9
40.0
40.1
40.3
40. 1
38.8
39.7
40.1
40.2
40.4
40.8
40.1
40.2
39.7
41.6
41.3
41.(1
41.8
42.0
42.3
41.3
41.3
41.5
42.0
42.4
41.3
40.7
40.1
39.7
41.1
39.4
40.0
41.2
42.3
41.4
39.2
40.0
41.4
42.5
42.3
40.9
41.6
40.9
Tires and inner
tubes
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 97
2.Of
2. 04
2.04
2. 07
2. 08
2.10
2.09
2.09
2.09
2.12
2.17
2.16
2.16
2.14
Industrial leather
belting and packing
$1.76 $66. 30
1.81 72.34
1.79 67. 77
1. 79 68.80
1.80 72. 92
1.80 74. 87
1.81 72. 45
1.80 67.82
1.81 70. 00
1.81 73.28
1.83 74.38
1.85 75. 72
1.85 74.44
1.85 76.96
1.85 74.44
$87.85
101.0£
96. 46
95. 51
102.18
101. 88
105.60
103.33
102. 72
101.02
103. 74
106. 26
99. 50
101.00
97.96
38.7
41.6
40.7
40.3
42.4
42.1
43.1
42.7
42.1
41.4
42.0
42.0
39.8
40.4
39.5
$1.67 $49.71
1. 76 51.68
1.72 52. 52
1.72 51.44
1. 77 49. 64
1. 77 50.14
1. 75 51.82
1.73 51.99
1. 75 52.11
1.77 51.14
1.75 50. 78
1.79 51.99
1.82 54. 51
1.85 55.58
1.82 54.74
37.1
38.0
38.9
38.1
36.5
36.6
38.1
38.8
38.6
37.6
36.8
37.4
39.5
39.7
39.1
1954: Average______ $44.64
46. 25
1955: Average_____
February___
46.00
March_______ 45. 63
April________
42.68
M ay_____ ■__
45. 38
June_______ . 46.13
July_________
45.13
A u g u s t_____
46. 50
September___
46.00
October______ 47.63
48. 26
November___
December____ 48.89
1956: January. ___ 46.49
February
46.87
36.0
37.0
37.1
36.5
34.7
36.3
36.9
36.1
37.5
37.1
37.8
38.3
38.8
36.9
37.2
1954: Average
$60. 75
65.19
1955: Average_____
February
60. 74
March. J_____ 62.06
A p ril.............
62.22
M ay _______
64. 53
June___ ___ 63.83
63.60
July. _______
66. 72
August______
September___ 66. 82
O ctober.......... 68. 79
November___
69.14
December____ 70. 72
1956: J an u a ry__ _ 68.06
February____
66.99
40. 5
41.0
39. 7
40.3
40.4
41.1
40. 4
40.0
41.7
41. 5
42.2
41.9
42.6
41.5
41.1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2.27 $67. 43
2. 43 70.53
2.37 69. 72
2.37 69. 72
2.41 70. 82
2. 42 70.07
2. 45 71.34
2.42 70.99
2. 44 67. 25
2. 44 67. 60
2.47 69.20
2.53 77. 89
2.50 74.89
2.50 74.37
2.48 74.74
39.9
40.3
40.3
40.3
40. 7
40.5
41.0
40. 8
39.1
39.3
40.0
42.1
40.7
40.2
40.4
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$1. 69 $71.91
1.75 78.35
1. 73 76. 86
1.73 76. 49
1. 74 76.54
1.73 78.68
1.74 77.93
1.74 74. 37
1.72 75.85
1. 72 78. 96
1.73 80. 56
1.85 83.03
1.84 83. 69
1.85 79. 73
1.85 77. 76
Footwear (except
rubber)
$1.34 $48.15
1.36 50.36
1.35 51.59
1.35 51.05
1.36 48.24
1.37 48.24
1.36 50. 63
1.34 49. 74
1.35 50. 67
1.36 49.01
1.38 49.41
1.39 50.69
1.38 53.16
1.40 54.21
1.40 55.98
36.2
37.3
38.5
38.1
36.0
36.0
37. 5
37.4
38.1
36.3
36.6
37.0
38.8
39.0
39.7
40.4
41.9
42.0
41.8
41.6
42.3
41.9
40.2
41.0
42.0
42.4
42.8
42. 7
41.1
40.5
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
37.7
39.4
40.7
40.0
39.8
39.0
38.4
38.0
37.9
39.9
40.9
41.3
38.9
38.2
38.2
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$1.78 $50. 92
1.87 53. 44
1. 83 53.93
1.83 53. 52
1. 84 51.24
1.86 51.76
1.86 53. 44
1.85 52. 40
1.85 53. 24
1.88 52. 45
1.90 53. 39
1.94 54. 58
1.96 55. 91
1.94 56. 55
1.92 57.28
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
36.9
37.9
38.8
38.5
36.6
36.7
37.9
37.7
38.3
37.2
37.6
37.9
39.1
39.0
39.5
$1.38
1.41
1. 39
1.39
1. 40
1. 41
1.41
1.39
1.39
1.41
1.42
1.44
1.43
1.45
1.45
Handbags and small
leather goods
Luggage
$1.33 $56.93
1.35 60.28
1.34 62. 68
1.34 61.60
1.34 60. 50
1.34 58.11
1. 35 56. 83
1. 33 56. 62
1. 33 56.47
1. 35 61.85
1.35 65.44
1.37 65.67
1.37 61.07
1.39 59. 97
1.41 59. 97
Total: Leather and
leather products
$1.51 $48. 00
1.53 48. 39
1.54 48.83
1.54 49.88
1.52 44. 10
1.49 45.09
1.48 47 63
1.49 48. 01
1.49 47.88
1. 55 49.02
1.60 51.09
1.59 50. 95
1. 57 49. 54
1.57 49. 39
1.57 49.67
38.4
38.1
39.7
39.9
35.0
35.5
37.5
38.1
38.0
38.0
39.0
38.6
38.4
37.7
38.5
$1.25
1.27
1.23
1.25
1.26
1.27
1.27
1.26
1.26
1.29
1.31
1.32
1.29
1.31
1.29
Stone, clay, and glass products
Total: Stone, clay,
and glass products
$1.24 $71.86
1.25 76. 78
1.24 73.49
1.25 74. 75
1.23 75.17
1. 25 76.91
1.25 77. 52
1.25 77.23
1. 24 77.93
1.24 79.19
1.26 78.77
1.26 79.04
1.26 79.19
1.26 77.71
1.26 77.68
Glass products made
of purchased glass
Other rubber
products
Rubber footwear
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Boot and shoe cut
stock and findings
Leather and leather
products—Continued
Gloves and miscella
neous leather goods
Leather and leather
products
Rubber products
40.6
41.5
40.6
41.3
41.3
41.8
41.9
41.3
41.9
41.9
41.9
41.6
41.9
40.9
41.1
$1. 77 $100.61
1.85 114.38
1.81 110.34
1.81 111.02
1.82 110.08
1.84 115. 62
1.85 111.94
1.87 111. 10
1.86 112.83
1.89 115. 45
1.88 116.03
1.90 122. 69
1.89 118.80
1.90 120. 25
1.89 111.51
Cement, hydraulic
$1.50 $75. 71
1.59 78.66
1.53 75. 95
1. 54 75.95
1.54 76.78
1. 57 78.06
1. 58 80.48
1.59 81.93
1.60 79.49
1.61 82. 76
1.63 79. 68
1.65 78.50
1.66 78. 69
1.64 79.07
1.63 78.66
41.6
41.4
41. 5
41. 5
41.5
41.3
41.7
41.8
41.4
41.8
41.5
41.1
41.2
41.4
41.4
Glass and glassware,
pressed or blown *
Flat glass
40.9
43.0
43.1
43.2
43.0
44.3
42.4
41.3
42.1
42.6
42.5
42.9
43.2
43.1
41.3
$2.46 $70. 77
2. 66 74. 82
2. 56 72. 47
2. 57 74. 21
2.56 74. 05
2. 61 74.05
2.64 75. 36
2. 69 73.91
2. 68 75.17
2. 71 75. 62
2. 73 75.98
2.86 77.20
2. 75 77. 57
2. 79 76. 64
2.70 77.76
Structural clay
products ‘
$1.82 $66. 26
1.90 69.80
1.83 66.09
1.83 68. 39
1.85 67.89
1.89 70. 22
1. 93 71.15
1.96 70.30
1.92 70.89
1.98 71.97
1.92 72.31
1.91 71.51
1.91 71.80
1.91 71.17
1.90 70.82
40.9
41.3
40.3
41.2
40.9
41. 8
42. 1
41.6
41.7
41.6
41.8
41.1
41.5
40.9
40.7
39.1
39.8
39.6
39.9
39.6
39.6
40.3
38.9
40.2
39.8
40.2
40.0
40.4
39.3
40.5
$1.81 $72.47
1.88 76.19
1.83 74. 21
1.86 76. 40
1.87 76.61
1.87 76. 97
1.87 77. 55
1.90 76. 21
1.87 77.16
1.90 76.02
1.89 76.38
1.93 76. 81
1.92 77. 76
1.95 75.47
1.92 77,74
Brick and hollow tile
$1.62 $64. 63
1.69 68.10
1.64 63. 54
1.66 66. 77
1.66 66. 30
1.68 69.17
1. 69 69. 92
1.69 69. 76
1. 70 69. 32
1.73 70. 52
1.73 70. 20
1.74 68.68
1. 73 68. 64
1.74 66. 88
1.74 65.67
42.8
43.1
41.8
42.8
42.5
43.5
43.7
43.6
43.6
43.8
43.6
42.4
42.9
41.8
41.3
Glass containers
39.6
40.1
39.9
40.0
39.9
40.3
40.6
39.9
40.4
39.8
40.2
39.8
40.5
38.7
40.7
$1.83 $68.15
1.90 73.08
1.86 70. 74
1.91 71.46
1. 92 70. 38
1.91 69. 87
1.91 72. 44
1.91 70.12
1.91 72.04
1.91 74. 64
1.90 75.39
1.93 77. 99
1.92 77. 38
1.95 77.60
1.91 77.59
Floor and wall tile
$1. 51 $68.17
1.58 69.60
1.52 67.42
1. 56 67. 55
1. 56 64.73
1.59 70.24
1. 60 71.10
1.60 70.41
1. 59 69.43
1.61 68.90
1.61 70.31
1.62 70. 88
1.60 72.18
1.60 72. 58
1.59 74. 21
40.)
40.0
39.2
39.5
38.3
40.6
41. 1
40.7
40.6
39.6
39.5
39.6
40.1
40.1
41.0
Pressed and blown
glass
38.5
39.5
39.3
39.7
39.1
38.6
39.8
37.3
39.8
39.7
40.1
40.2
40.3
40.0
40.2
$1.77
1.85
1.80
1.80
1.80
1.81
1.82
1.88
1.81
1.88
1.88
1.94
1.92
1.94
1.93
Sewer pipe
$1.70 $66.99
1.74 69.26
1.72 64.02
1.71 68. 54
1.69 68.17
1.73 69. 43
1.73 72. 49
1.73 69.66
1.71 71. 51
1.74 71.98
1.78 72. 63
1.79 70.82
1.80 70. 07
1.81 68.85
1.81 69.25
40.6
40.5
38.8
40.8
40.1
40.6
41.9
40.5
41.1
40.9
41.5
40.7
40.5
39.8
39.8
e‘1
$1.65
1.71
1. 65
1.68
1.70
1. 71
1.73
1.72
1.74
1. 76
1.75
1.74
1.73
1.73
1.74
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
620
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1 Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
1
Year and month
Pottery and related
products
C l a y r e fr a c to r ie s
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
lours
1954: Average.........- $67.16
75. 27
1955: Average........ February........ 72. 37
M arch_______ 73. 32
April................. 73.32
M ay.................. 73.88
June_________ 73. 33
J u ly ................. 72.96
August— ........ 76. 02
September___
77.37
October--------- 78.99
November----- 79. 39
December. . . . 80.39
1956: January--------- 80. 99
February------- 81. 00
Avg.
irly.
earnings
Avg.
vkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
jours
Avg.
irly.
earnings
Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster prod
ucts 4
Avg.
vkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
lours
44.0
36.5 $1.69 $73.92
36.9 $1.82 $61. 69
44.7
37.4
1.76 78. 23
1.94 65. 82
38.8
42.7
36.3
1. 72 72. 59
38.7
1. 87 62. 44
44.1
37.4
1.73 75.41
39.0
1.88 64. 70
44.5
1.74 76.54
36.8
39.0
1.88 64.03
45.6
1.75 79.80
36.9
39.3
1.88 64.58
45.8
1.77 80.61
36. 5
38.8
1.89 64.61
45.7
35.5
1.77 81.35
1.92 62.84
38.0
45.6
80.71
1.77
1.99
67.26
38.0
38.2
45.6
1. 77 81.17
37.6
38.3
2.02 66. 55
44.9
79.
47
1.76
38.8
39.3
2.01 68. 29
44.1
1.78 77.62
39.6
2. 02 70. 49
39.3
44.5
39.9
1.78 78. 77
2. 03 71.02
39.6
43.4
1.82 76.38
37.3
2.04 67. 89
39.7
43.6
1.82 78. 04
37.8
2.03 68.80
39.9
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Avg.
irly.
earnings
C o n c r e te p r o d u d s
Avg.
vkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
lours
$1.68 $71.88
1.75 74. 98
1. 70 68.85
1. 71 72. 49
1. 72 73.76
1. 75 77. 62
1.76 78. 59
1.78 78.88
1.77 78.20
1. 78 78.83
1.77 76.39
1.76 73.48
1. 77 74.15
1. 76 72. 31
1.79 74. 561
Avg.
irly.
earn
ings
Cut-stone and stone
products
Avg.
vkly.
earn
ings
A b r a s i v e p r o d u c ts
1954: Average....... . $76. 44
1955: Average........... 86. 52
84. 46
February........
M arch---------84. 45
86. 53
April-----------86. 74
M ay________
88.20
June________
July— .............. 80. 50
August---------- 85. 90
September----- 87.97
October--------- 91.14
November___ 90. 49
December------ 90.07
86.24
1956: January-------February------- 85. 24
38.8 $1.97 $77.42
41.2
2.10 84. 67
41.4
2.04 80. 56
2.03 82. 32
41.6
2. 07 85. 65
41.8
2. 08 86.04
41.7
2.10 87.22
42.0
38.7
2.08 86.48
2.09 85.10
41.1
2.13 87.60
41.3
2.17 88.27
42.0
41.7
2.17 83. 82
2.16 81.16
41.7
2.14 80. 77
40.3
40.4
2.11 80. 77
E l e c tr o m e t a ll u r g i c a l
p r o d u c ts
1954: Average.........
1955: Average------February----M arch______
April...............
M ay................ June________ July------------ August............ Septem ber.. . .
October------- N ovem ber... December___ 1956: January------- .
February----- _
$79.80
87.14
86.32
84. 87
86.53
86.11
86.74
88. IS
87.7(
88.3
87.7
87.5
87.9
86.8
86.8 3
40.1 $1.99
41.3
2.11
2.07
41.7
41.4
2.0£
2. 0'
41.8
41.2
2.0f
41. £
2.0'
41.4
2. i:
41.2
2.1
41.
2.1
2.1
40.
2.1 5
40.
2.1 6
40.
40.
2.1 4
2.1 4
40. 3
P r i m a r y s m e l ti n g a n d
r e fin in g o f c o p p e r ,
le a d , a n d z in c
1954: Average___ . $76.6 1
1955: Average____ - 81.6 1
February__ . 78.1 8
March_____ .. 78.5 7
April............. .. 78.7 6
M ay_______ .. 79.9 7
June.............. .. 80.1 9
80.6 0
J u ly .............
August____ . . 75. «5
Septem ber.. . . 87. £7
October........ . . 85.7 0
N ovem ber.. . . 85. £1
D ecem ber... . . 86. 2
1956: January____ . . 87. 9
February___ __ 83. 0
39. 9 $1.9 2
2.0 1
40. 6
1.9 4
40. 3
40. 5
1.9 4
1.9 4
40. 6
40. 8
1.9 6
40. 5
1.9 8
39. 9
2. C2
37. 6
2. 2
2.1 0
41. 7
41. 4
2. 7
41. 5
2. 7
41. 5
2. 8
41. 9
2. 0
40. 0
2. )8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.4 $1.87
43.2
1.96
1.90
42. 4
1. 91
43.1
1. 96
43.7
1.96
43.9
1.96
44.5
1.97
43.9
1. 97
43.2
2.00
43.8
2.02
43.7
41.7
2.01
1.97
41.2
1.97
41.0
1. 97
41.0
Total: Primary
metal industries
N o n c l a y r e fr a d o r ie s
$67.66
82.60
74. 98
77. 77
76.33
73. 49
79.04
81.48
84. 37
92.27
86.63
91.43
90. 85
93. 26
92. 57
Iron and steel
foundries 4
34.0
38.6
36.4
38.5
37.6
36.2
38.0
38.8
38.7
39.6
38.5
40.1
40.2
40.2
39.9
$1.99
2.14
2.06
2. 02
2.03
2.03
2.08
2.10
2.18
2. 33
2.25
2.28
2. 26
2. 32
2.32
$80. 88
92. 29
87.29
88. 34
89. 40
90.69
91. 30
92. 57
91.94
97.39
96.10
96.10
97. 21
97.63
95.17
G r a y - ir o n f o u n d r ie s
39.2 $1.8S
$1.91 $73.70
2 .0C
42.0
2.02 84.00
41.6
1.9£
1. 97 81.12
41.6
1.9C
1. 98 81. 54
42.2
1.9i
2. 0C 83. 56
1.9C
85.
77
43.
2.01
42. C 1. 9’
2. OC 82. 74
2.0
83.
42
41.
£
2 . o:
1.9 )
41.,
82. 5£
2.0
42.
2.0
2.0 : 85. 4.
2.0
42."
87. 9(
2.0
42.
2.0 5
87.9(
2.0
42.
2.0 4
2.0 3 85.8
2.0 i
40.
2.0 8 83.2
2.0 3
40.
2.0 8 83.0
Secondary smelting
P r i m a r y r e fin in g o f
a n d refining o i
a lu m in u m
nonferrous metals
$74.30
84. 64
81.56
82.17
84.0C
86.01
84. OC
83. 41
83.8:
86.5
88.8
89.0
88.4
86.3 2
86.1 ll
$85.0 5
88.6 2
86.0 3
86.2 4
86.4 3
87.2 6
86.6 5
87.4 5
89.4 2
92. C6
93.3 2
92. 9
92.9 7
91.9 4
93. 4
38.9
41.9
41.4
41.5
42.0
42.
42.
41.
41.
42.
42.,
42.
42.
41.
41.
40. 5 $2.1 0
2.2 1
40. 1
2.1 4
40. 2
2.1 4
40. 3
2.1 5
40. 2
2.1 6
40. 4
40. 3
2.1 5
2.1 7
40. 3
2.2 3
40. 1
2.2 9
40. 2
40. 4
2. 1
2.2 9
40. 3
2.2 9
40. 6
2.2 7
40. 5
2.2 0
40. 8
$74.8 0
82.0 3
79.5 2
79.9 5
81.5 1
78.2 1
79.7 6
79.5 7
82.7 1
86.1 3
85.9 7
84. £8
86.2 3
85.6 7
86. 0
41. 1 $1.8 2
1.9 3
42. 5
1.8 8
42. 3
1.8 9
42. 3
1.9 0
42. 9
1.8 8
41. 6
1.8 9
42. 2
1.8 9
42. 1
42. 2
1. 6
43. 5
1. 8
1. 9
43. 2
42. 5
1. )9
42. 9
2. 1
43. 0
1. 19
2. )0
43. 3
38.7
41.2
40.6
40.9
41.2
41.6
41.5
40.6
40.5
41.8
41.6
41.6
41.9
41.9
41.2
Blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling
mills 4
$2.09
2.24
2.15
2.16
2. 17
2.18
2.20
2.28
2. 27
2.33
2. 31
2.31
2.32
2. 33
2. 31
M a ll e a b le - ir o n
f o u n d r ie s
38.5 $1.92
$73.92
41.7
2.01
83.82
1.98
82.76
41.8
41.9
1. 98
82.96
2. 0C
42.3
84.60
2 . o:
43.3
87. 47
2. 0C
42.
85.2C
1.98
40.
80.3£
1.9
41.
81.5£
2.0
41.
84. 6,
41.
2.0
82.8:
41.
2.0 5
85.9(
42.
2.0 6
86.9,
41.
2.0 7
86.3
2.0 7
40.
84.6
Bolling, drawing, anc
alloying of nonfer
rous m etals4
$80.8 0
89.8 9
86.9 4
87.9 8
87.1 5
89.6 7
89.8 8
85.0 5
84.8 4
92.2 1
94 61
95. 4
96.6 6
97.2 2
96.3 2
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
vkly.
lours
41.1 $1.57 $73.66
44.1 $1.63 $64. 53
42.2
1.61 81.12
44.9
1.67 67.94
1.58 78. 09
40.3
42.5
1.62 63.67
1.59 77. 87
41.3
1.64 65. 67
44.2
1.61 80. 87
41.1
44.7
1.65 66.17
1. 59 80. 45
42.6
46.2
1.68 67.73
1.60 81.87
42.7
1.69 68.32
46.5
1.61 79.15
43.0
46.4
1.70 69.23
1.61 81.93
43.1
1.70 69.39
46.0
42.9
1.63 83.80
1.71 69.93
46.1
1.64 84. 00
42. 7
1. 69 70.03
45. 2
1.62 82.39
42.1
1.67
68.
20
44.0
1. 62 81.97
42.8
44.4
1.67 69. 34
1.64 80. 59
40.5
66.42
1.67
43.3
40.21 1. 661 80. 98
43.6
1.711 66. 73
Primary metal industries
1
A s b e s to s p r o d u c ts
Avg.
vkly.
ours
Miscellaneous nonmetallic
mineral
products 4
$83.38
96. 63
89.95
91. 25
92. 34
93. 66
95.12
98.65
96.96
103.91
99. 47
99.72
102. 01
103. 25
99.23
37.9
40.6
39.8
40.2
40.5
40.9
41.0
40.1
39.9
41.4
40.6
40.7
41.3
41.8
40.5
$2.20
2.38
2.26
2. 27
2.28
2.29
2. 32
2.46
2. 43
2. 51
2. 45
2. 45
2.47
2.47
2. 45
S te e l f o u n d r ie s
$75.82
88.20
83. 44
84. 46
85.08
86. 74
87. 57
84.87
88. 6£
91.1,
93. 51
93.5
95.9
95.0'
95.0
39.6
41.6
41.1
41.2
41.9
41.9
42.2
40.8
41.8
41.9
42.0
41.4
41.4
40.7
40.9
$1.86
1.95
1.90
1.89
1.93
1.92
1.94
1.94
1.96
2.00
2.00
1.99
1.98
1.98
1.98
B l a s t f u r n a c e s , s te e l
w o r k s , a n d r o llin g
m i l l s , e x c e p t e le d r o m d a llu r g ic a l p r o d
uds
’
37.8 $2.20
$83.16
2.38
40.5
96.39
2.26
39.8
89. 95
2.27
40.2
91.25
2. 28
92. 34
40.5
2.29
40.9
93.66
2. 32
41.0
95. 12
2.47 .
40.1
99.05
2. 44
39.9
97. 36
2. 52
41.4
104. 33
2.45 *
40.6
99. 47
40.7
2. 46
100.12
2. 47
41.3
102.01
2.48
41.8
103. 66
2.46
40.5
99.63
Primary smelting and
refining of nonfer
rous metals 4
38.1 $1.99 $80.00
2.11 84. 45
41.8
2.05 81.20
40.7
2. 06 81.41
41.0
2. 07 81.61
41.1
2.08 82.62
41.7
41.
2.1C 82. 62
41. C 2.07 84. 6£
2.11 81. 4S
42.
42.Î
2.1C 89. 42
2 .1£ 88. 5?
42."
2. If « 87.9
42.
2.2C 89.0
43.
2.2C 89. 8(
43.
2.2C 86.8(
43.
R o l li n g , d r a w i n g , an d
a l lo y in g o f c o p p e r
40. 4 $2.0 0 $81.2 0
2.1 3 93.5 3
42. 2
2.0 7 89.4 5
42. 0
2.0 8 91.7 9
42. 3
2.0 8 90.9 4
41. 9
42. 7
2. 0 93.9 3
2.1 0 94.7 9
42. 8
2.1 0 86.9 2
40. 5
40. 4
2.1 0 83.6 2
42. 3
2.1 8 96.1 4
2. 9 99.2 2
43. 2
2.:!2 101.2 5
42. 9
2.: 3 101. £ 3
43. 3
2.: !4 104.4 2
43. 4
2 .: 24 101.2 5
43. o
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
40. 2 $2.0 2
2.1 5
43. 5
42. 8
2.0 9
43. 5
2.1 1
2.1 1
43. 1
2.1 3
44. 1
2. 13
44. 5
2.1 2
41. 0
2.0 8
40. 2
43. 9
2.1 9
2.2 0
45. 1
2.2 5
45. 0
2.2 6
45. 1
2.2 8
45. 8
2.2 6
44. 8
40.2
40.6
40.4
40.5
40.6
40.7
40.
40.
38.
41.
4i.:
41.
41.
41.
40.
$1.99
2.08
2.01
2.01
2.01
2.03 •
2. 04
2.09
2.10
2.16
2.15
2.14
2.15
2.16
2.15
R o l li n g , d r a w i n g , a n d
a l lo y in g o f a l u m i n u m
$79.7 9
86.0 9
84.0 5
83.6 4
82.8 2
84.4 6
84.2 5
83.1 8
84.8 0
88.9 1
90.6 4
88. £ 1
91. 5
89.1 3
90. 3
40. 3 $1.98
2.11
40. 8
2.01
41. 2
2.04
41. 0
2.04
40. 6
2.06
41. 0
2.0Ì
40. 9
2.09
39. 8
2.12
40. 0
2.16
40. 6
2.20
41. 2
2.19
40. 6
2.21
41. 2
2.19
40. 7
2.21
41. 1
621
O: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
F a b r ic a te d m e ta l
products
(except
ordnance, machin
ery, and transpor
tation equipment)
Primary metal industries—Continued
Year and month
Nonferrous foundries
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
39.9
40.9
40.6
41.0
40.5
40.9
40.4
40.2
40.4
41.3
42.0
41.4
41. 6
40 3
40.7
1954: Average............ $80.60
1955: Average -------- 85. 89
84.45
February........
March_______ 85.28
83. 84
April________
M ay.................. 85.07
June_________ 84.03
July ------ ------ 82. 81
84. 03
August______
September___ 87. 56
91.14
October_____
88.60
November___
December____ 89. 44
1956: J a n u a r y .-___ 85.84
87.10
February____
Miscellaneous pri
mary metal indus
tries 4
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.02
2.10
2. 08
2.08
2. 07
2.08
2.08
2.06
2.08
2.12
2.17
2.14
2.15
2.13
2.14
Tin cans and other
tinware
$84.74
97.33
92. 57
94.11
95. 85
96.53
96.50
93.98
95. 72
99.96
101.72
101. 72
103. 05
102.38
100. 54
39.6
42.5
41.7
42.2
42.0
42.9
42.7
41.4
41.8
42.9
43.1
43.1
43.3
43.2
42.6
Iron and steel forg xngs
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.14
2.29
2. 22
2.23
2. 25
2. 25
2.26
2.27
2.29
2.33
2. 36
2.36
2. 38
2 37
2.36
Cutlery, handtools,
and hardware 4
$86.75
101. 28
96.00
98.70
101.20
100. 91
101.81
97.23
100. 38
104. 30
106. 21
106.32
106. 82
108. 25
105. 90
38.9
42.2
41.2
42.0
42.7
42.4
42.6
41.2
42.0
42.4
43.0
42.7
42.9
43.3
42.7
Wire drawing
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
$2.23
2.40
2.33
2. 35
2. 37
2.38
2. 39
2.36
2. 39
2.46
2. 47
2. 49
2. 49
2. 50
2. 48
Cutlery and edge
tools
$85.03
96.32
92. 21
93. 29
93.94
95. 91
96. 14
94.08
94. 75
98.29
99. 39
100.07
101.18
100. 51
98.24
40.3
43.0
42.3
42.6
42.7
43.4
43.5
42.0
42.3
43.3
43.4
43.7
43.8
43.7
42.9
Handtools
Welded and heavyriveted pipe
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$2.11 $84.40
2.24 91.24
2.18 87.31
2.19 86. 48
2.20 90.27
2.21 91.12
2. 21 88. 34
2.24 86. 94
2.24 89. 33
2.27 94.16
2.29 94.81
2. 29 96.60
2. 31 98.09
2.30 93.90
2.29 94.07
40.0
41.1
40.8
40.6
41.6
41.8
40.9
39.7
39.7
41.3
41.4
42.0
42.1
40.3
40.9
Hardware
Total: Fabricated
metal products
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.11 $77. 33
2. 22 82.17
2.14 80. 34
2.13 80. 73
2.17 80. 34
2.18 81. 54
2 16 80. 95
2.19 81.99
2.25 82. 78
2.28 84.02
2.29 85. 67
2.30 85.06
2.33 85. 06
2 33 82.82
2.30 83.43
40.7
41.5
41.2
41.4
41.2
41.6
41.3
41.2
41.6
41.8
42.2
41.9
41.9
41.0
41.1
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.90
1. 98
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.96
1. 96
1.99
1.99
2.01
2.03
2.03
2. 03
2. 02
2.03
Heating a p p a r a t u s
(except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies 4
$1.96 $74.15
40.3 $1.84 $66. 40
39.6 $1.85 $77. 52
40.8 $1.90 $74. 24
40.0 $1.66 $73. 26
39.7 $1.87
2.05 79.30
41.3
1.92 69.87
41.1
1.92 82. 78
41.6
1.99 78.18
40.3
1.94
1.70 77.95
40.6
39.8
2.01 80.03
41.9
40.4
43.1
1. 99 76.02
1.91 67.60
1.69 75. 55
1.91
40.0
1.87 85. 77
40.2
1.91
2.00 79. 46
1.91 68.28
1.69 75. 95
40.4
40.4
42.4
1.98 76.78
41.6
1.88 83. 95
2.01 75. 95
40.4
1.91
1.66 75. 20
40.0
40.6
1.93 76.40
40.0
1.88 78. 36
1.88 66.90
40.3
2.02 78.69
41.2
40.4
1.91 68.88
41.6
40.3
1.92
1.89 81.95
1.97 77.38
41.0
1.68 76. 36
2. 04 74.80
40. 7
39.2
40.4
40.0
1. 87 70. 72
1.89 74.87
1.91 77 57
41.6
1.70 76. 92
1.92
2.05 77.95
40.6
1.92 67.23
40.5
1.66 75.22
41.0
39.6
1.89
39.8
1.89 82. 41
2.01 74.84
41.1
40.4
2.06 79. 32
41.6
2.02 77. 97
1.93
1.93 67. 97
1.67 76.97
40.7
40.3
1.91 84.03
2.05 79.73
41. 1
41.4
1 94 70. 72
41.2
40.9
2.00 81. 56
1.97
41.6
1.70 81.16
1. 97 81.80
2.12 82. 74
42.0
1.97 72. 07
41.9
1.72 82.39
41.4
1.99 85. 87
42.3
2.03 81.77
41.3
1.98
2.02 79.19
40.2
42.4
1.98 84. 44
2.10 81.93
41.8
1.96 73.78
1.74 81.77
41.8
1.97
41.3
2.13 82.54
42.0
2. 03 80.60
40.5
1. 99
42.7
1. 76 82.19
1.99 85.26
41.9
1.97 75.15
41.3
40.2
2.13 79.37
41.1
2. 00 79.20
39.8
1.99
40.7
1.95 73. 22
41.6
1. 76 81.38
1.98 80. 40
2.13 79. 58
40.6
41.3
41.1
40.1
2.00 78.80
39.8
1.98
1.96 72.69
1.76 81.79
1.99 80.20
Oil burners, nonelec
tric heating and Fabricated structural Structural steel and M etal doors, sash,
Sanitary ware and
Boiler-shop products
cooking apparatus,
ornamental metal
frames, molding,
plumbers’ supplies
metal products 4
and trim
not elsewhere classi
work
fied
1954: Average_____ $80. 95
85. 69
1955: Average_____
81.00
February____
March_______ 80. 60
82.01
April _______
84.23
M ay ________
87. 31
June________
July— .......... - 89. 59
90. 23
August______
September___ 86.72
October.......... - 89.04
85. 47
November___
December........ 89.25
1956: January........... 86. 05
87.76
February____
41.3
41.8
40.3
40.3
40.8
41.7
42.8
43.7
43.8
42.3
42.0
40.7
41.9
40.4
41.2
1954: Average _____ $77.42
82. 42
1955: Average _____
February ____ 80.00
March ______
80.80
April_______
80.60
M a y . .............. 81.40
June ________
81.61
77.62
July ________
August ............ 79. 60
September ___ 84.87
October _____
86.72
November ___ 85. 67
December ___
87.12
1956: January _____
84.40
February ___
83. 82
39.7
40.4
40.0
40.2
40.3
40.7
40. 4
39.6
39.6
41.0
41.1
40.6
40.9
40.0
40.3
40.9
40.4 $1.94 $79. 35
41.2 $1.93 $80.45
39.7 $1.84 $79. 52
41.9 $1.92 $78.38
$1. 95 $73.05
40.7
40.3
41.0
2.02 81.81
41.5
1.89 83.01
41.3
2.04 76.17
2.00 82. 82
2.01 83.00
39.9
40.3
40.0
39.7
1.86 78.20
40.1
1.93 79.39
1.97 78.20
1.95 77.20
2.00 73.84
41.1
40.2
40.1
1.93 81.38
1.98 78.20
40.4
2.01 74.77
1.95 77.97
40.6
1.86 79.17
40.6
1.94 82. 20
41.1
2. 00 79.98
1.87 79. 97
40.8
1.96 79.15
40.8
39.8
2.00 74. 43
41.4
1.95 82.80
1.88 81.56
41.4
40.1
41.0
2.00 81.18
41.3
2.00 75. 39
1.97 80. 54
42.2
41.1
40.4
2. 00 81.79
1.97 84. 40
1.88 83.38
41.9
2.02 75. 95
1.99 82.74
42.0
38.6
42.1
41.2
39.6
2.03 82.82
40.6
2.04 77.97
2.03 85. 46
1.86 83.64
1.96 73.66
40.9
1.89 84. 65
2. 01 77.11
41.0
2.03 82. 41
2. 04 83.03
41.7
40.8
2.03 85.68
42.0
41.1
1.93 86.31
40.8
41.5
41.9
2.07 80.10
2.05 83. 43
2.07 83. 64
42.6
2.06 88.18
41.1
42.4
2. 04 84.26
41.4
2.11 79.90
40.7
2. 07 87. 77
2.07 83.03
42.0
1.93 86.94
40.6
41.6
41.0
2.07 82. 42
2.03 84.05
1.91 85.70
40.0
2.11 76.40
2.06 86.53
41.8
41.5
1.92 85. 90
2.04 85. 90
41.7
2. 06 85. 49
41.3
41.7
40.3
2.06 84. 25
2.13 77. 38
41.6
41.2
39.7
1.94 86.32
2.11 77.02
2.07 85.28
41.0
2.08 86.11
2.08 85. 28
41.5
41 8
41.4
41.1
40.4
1.94 85.70
2. 08 76. 82
2.07 83.63
2.07 86. 53
39.6
2.07 85.08
M etal stam ping,
Fabricated
wire
Stamped
and
pressed
Vitreous
enameled
Lighting fixtures
coating, and en
Sheet-metal work
ucts
metal products
products
graving 4
1954: Average............ $78.76
84.64
1955: Average_____
79.18
February____
March_______ 80. 97
April..... .......... 80. 18
M ay ................ 83. 78
J u n e ................ 85.20
July ................. 86.88
August ............ 86.31
September ___ 87. 36
90. 08
October _____
November ___ 87.98
December____ 89. 46
87.99
1956: January _____
February ____ 87.36
40.6
41.9
40.4
41.1
4a 7
42.1
42.6
42.8
42. 1
42.0
43.1
42.3
42.6
42.1
42.0
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.94 $80. 57
2.02 86.10
1.96 85. 87
1. 97 86. 07
1.97 84. 44
1. 99 86.50
2.00 82. 82
2.03 86. 74
2. 05 85.28
2.08 85.28
2.09 87.14
2.08 88.83
2.10 87. 99
2.09 82. 81
2. 08 84. 86
40.9
42.0
42.3
42.4
41.8
42.4
41.0
41.7
41.6
41.6
42.3
42.5
42.1
40.2
40.8
$1. 97 $61.18
2.05 64. 78
2.03 62.95
2.03 64.88
2.02 61.18
2.04 61.85
2. 02 62.88
2.08 66.58
2.05 68.80
2.05 70.64
2.06 68.78
2.09 65. 40
2. 09 63. 34
2. 06 61.56
2.08 60.33
38.0
39.5
39.1
40.3
38.0
38.9
38.8
41.1
41.2
41.8
40.7
39.4
37.7
36.0
35.7
$1.61 $83.02
1.64 89. 25
1.61 89.24
1.61 89. 45
1.61 87. 78
1.59 89.88
1.62 85. 49
1.62 90. 95
1.67 89. 04
1. 69 87. 57
1.69 89.89
1.66 91.81
1.68 91.80
1.71 85.24
1.69 87.74
41.1
42.3
42.7
42.8
42.2
42.8
41.1
42.3
42.0
41.5
42. 4
42.7
42.5
40.4
41.0
$2.02 $73. 38
2.11 78. 53
2.09 78.53
2.09 76.95
2.08 75. 79
2.10 77.14
2.08 76.00
2.15 73.88
2.12 78. 53
2. 11 80. 29
2.12 82. 71
2.15 84. 74
2.16 78.91
2.11 75.05
2.14 75.39
40.1
40.9
40.9
40.5
40.1
40.6
40.0
39.3
40.9
41.6
42.2
42.8
41.1
39 5
40.1
$1.83 $73. 53
1.92 77.87
1. 92 76. 26
1.90 77. 61
1.89 78.81
1.90 77.64
1.90 75. 36
1.88 75.55
1.92 76.89
1.93 78.06
1.96 79. 27
1.98 79. 68
1.92 80.48
1.90 80.12
1.88 78.94
40.4
41.2
41.0
41.5
41.7
41.3
40.3
40.4
40.9
41.3
41.5
41.5
41.7
41.3
40.9
$1.94
2.01
1.96
1.95
1.97
1.98
1. 99
2.02
2. 01
2.03
2.05
2.05
2. 06
2 07
2.07
prod
$1.82
1.89
1.86
1.87
1.89
1.88
1.87
1.87
1.88
1.89
1.91
1.92
1.93
1.94
1 93
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
622
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)
Year and month
Miscellaneous fabri- I i f d a l s h i p p i n g b a r r e ls ,
cated metal products 4 d r u m s , k e g s, a n d p a i l s
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
wkly.
tiours
1954: Average............ $75. 70
84.28
1955: Average...........
February......... 81.98
M a r c h ............ 82.60
83. 42
April.............
M ay.................. 83.61
June_________ 84.83
J u ly ................. 83.30
August ------------------- 83.73
September ---------- 85.17
87. 44
October_____
November ---------- 87. 031
December ----------- 88. 48)
1956: January ----------------- 86.83!
93'
Avg. Avg.
hriy. wkly.
earn earn
ings
ings
Avg.
wkly.
tiours
40.7 $1.86 $83. 03
1.96 90. 74
43.0
1.92 86. 53
42.7
1.93 86.74
42.8
1.94 91.59
43.0
1.94 91.16
43.1
1.95 93. 26
43.5
1.96 95.26
42.5
1.97 93. 74
42.5
1.99 94.13
42.8
2.01 92.18
43.5
43.3’ 2.01 89.40
2.02 91.27
43.8
43.2; 2. 01 90. 91
42. 9! 2. 01 91.96
Avg.
hriy.
earn
ings
S t e a m e n g in e s , t u r
a n d w a te r w h e e ls
1954: Average-------- $86. 05
1955: Average........... 90. 86
89. 42
February........
M arch_______ 88.13
87.29
April................
M ay.................. 91.54
June_________ 91. 96
July— .............. 88. 94
A ugust--......... 88.51
September----- 93.44
93.83
October_____
November----- 92. 74
December........ 95. 40
1956: January--------- 93. 86
February-------
40.4 $2.13 $94.94
2.20 91.96
41.3
2.16 90. 78
41.4
2.16 89. 55
40.8
2.15 87.32
40.6
2.19 90.79
41.8
2.20 92. 43
41.8
2.18 87. 55
40.8
2.18 91.25
40.6
2.23 96. 70
41.9
2.25 94.80
41.7
2. 24 93.30
41.4
2. 25 97. 75
42.4
2. 24 94. 47
41.9
41 7
2. 25 97.64
Construction and
mining machinery 4
1954: Average............ $79.17
1955: Average........... 86. 72
81.79
February----M arch_______ 83. 82
A pril................ 85. 45
M a y ................. 86.46
June_________ 87. 52
86.50
J u ly .................
August---------- 88.80
September----- 90. 51
89.66
October_____
88.83
November___
December------ 91.80
1956: Jnauary.......... 91.8C
February-------
40.6
42.3
41.1
41.7
42.3
42.8
42.9
42.4
42.9
43.1
42.9
42.3
43.
43.1
43
1954: A verage.......... $98.71
1955: Average-.......... 102.5
95.8
February____
97.1
M arch...........
100.7
April_______
M ay................ 104.6
June________ 106. 9
104.5
July........... . . .
August............ 102.9
102.0
September__
October_____ 102.9
105.8
November__
December___ 110.3
1956: January_____ 111.4
112.8
February-----
43.
44.
42.
42.
43.
44.
45.
44.
43.
43.
43.
44.
45.
45.
45.
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.1
39.3
39.3
38.6
37.8
38.8
39.5
38.4
39.5
40.8
40.0
39.7
40.9
40.2
41.2
Avg.
wkly.
hours
$2. 31 $82. 41
2. 34 90. 72
2.31 89.04
2.32 87. 36
2.31 87.15
2.34 92.02
2. 34 91. 80
2.28 89.23
2.31 87.74
2. 37 92.00
2.37 93.68
2.35 92.80
2. 39 94. 79
2.35 93. 68
2.37 93. 21
40 2
42.2
41.0
41.8
42.4
42.6
42.9
42.2
42.7
42.9
42.6
42.3
43.6
43.3
43.
41.
41.1
41.
41.
41.
42.
42.
41.
41.
42.
42.
42.
43.
42.
43.
Avg.
hriy.
earn
ings
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
$1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
2.0
2.0 2
2.0 2
2.0 4
2.0 5|
2.0 5
40.2
42.0
42.2
41.6
41.5
42.8
42.5
41.5
41.0
42.2
42.2
41.8
42.7
42.2
41.8
41.5
42.5
41.3
41.5
42.0
43.1
42.9
42.7
43.5
43.5
43.6
42.4
43.
42.6
42.6
$1.98
2.04
2.00
2.00
2.01
2.01
2. 02
2.00
2.06
2.09
2.08
2.11
2.14
2. 12
2. i:
Avg.
hriy.
earn
ings
40.3
43.8
43.2
43.6
44.0
43.5
44.0
43.1
43.2
43.7
44.7
43.8
44.6:
43. 81
43.0
Total: Machb iery
(except electri cal)
7
1
7
7
$1.7(
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7 l!
1.7 3!
1.7 9[
1.8 a;
1.8 r
1.8 2!
1.8 l!
1.8 1
39.4
40.9
41.0
41.3
41.0
41.0
41.2
40.1
41.0
40.7
41.3
40.8
41.1
41.3
40.8
42.6
43.7
42.0
42.4
43.1
44.0
44.8
43.5
44.1
45.8
45.4
43.7
46.6
46.2
46.3
43.
44.
43.
43.
43.
44.
45.
43.
44. 3
44.
44. 9
45. 7
47. 1
46. 2
45. 5
40.6
41.8
41.0
41.4
41.6
42.1
42.1
41.4
41.6
42.1
42.3
42.4
43.2
42.7
42.6
Avg.
hriy.
earn
ings
$2.01
2.09
2.04
2.08
2.06
2.07
2.08
2.08
2.09
2.11
2.13
2.15
2.16
2.17
2.17
A g r i c u lt u r a l m a c h in e r y
( exct p t tr a c t irs)
$2.05 $76. 03
2.15 79.40
2.11 79.19
2.11 81.19
2.11 80.60
2.12 80.19
2.11 79.19
2.08 78.41
2.16 75.85
2.18 77.60
2. 22 80. 60
2. 21 81.40
2.22 83. 64
2. 25 83.42
2.26 83.84
39.6
40.1
40.2
40.8
40.5
40.5
40.2
39.8
39.1
40.0
39.9
40.1
40.6
40.3
40.5
$1.92
1.98
1.97
1.99
1.99
1.98
1.97
1.97
1.94
1.94
2.02
2.03
2.06
2.07
2. 07
M e t a h c o r k in g m a c h in e r y [e x c e p t m a ch in e
to o ls )
$2.09 $85.08
2.18 91.80
2.11 85.69
2.13 86. 32
2.13 87. 99
2. If 88.20
2.18 90.74
2.17 90.94
2.18 93.95
2. If 95.47
2. 21 97.90
2. 2, 97.67
2.28 99. 9C
2. 2f 98.34
2. 28 99. 68
P a p e r -in d u s tr ie s
m a c h in e r y
$82.9'
89.0(
84.9
85.8
87.3
88.1
89.7
87.6(
89.8<
90.5
91.1 5
93.2 3
97.0 3
94.7 1
92.8 2
Avg.
wkly.
tiours
$1.84 $81.61
1.92 87.36
1.89 83.64
1.89 84. 87
1.90 85.70
1.90 87.15
1.90 87. 57
1.89 86.11
1.91 86.94
1.92 88.83
1.95 90. 10!
1.98 91.16;
1.97 93.311
1.97 92. 66 i
1.96 92.44!
M a c h in e to o ls
42.6 $2.18 $89.03
2. 25 95.27
43.6
2.18 88.62
42.1
2.19 90.31
42.3
2. 21 91.80
43.1
2.24 95.04
44.0
2.26 97.66
44.5
2.26 94.40
43.7
2. 27 96.14
43.7
43.4
2.26 93. 73
2. 2S 100.33
44.2
44. C 2.31 98.33
2.34 106. 2E
45. €
2. 3f 105. 8C
45.:
2.3' 105. 56
45.
39.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
41.
42.
41.
41.
40.9
43.2
42.9
43.0
42.9
43.4
43.6
42.3
42.3
43.0
44.2
44.1
44.6
44.1
44.1
T r a c to r s
$1. 98 $30. 77
2.07 87.94
2.04 86. 51
2. 05 87.14
2.05 86.51
2.05 86.92
2.04 86. 93
2.03 83. 41
2.06 88.56
2.06 88. 73
2.13 91.69
2.12 90.17
2.14 91. 24
2.16 92.93
2.17 92.21
39.6
4.05
40.6
41.0
40.7
40.7
40.7
40.0
40.1
40.3
40.6
40.5
40.9
40.8
40.6
T e x tile m a c h in e r y
$1.9' $70.2:
4i.:
74.2<
2.0
41..
73.2Í
2.0
40.
74. 4(
2.0
41. :
73. 6Í
2.0
41.'
73.8
2.0
41.
74.4
2.0
41.
73.5
2.0
41.
73.1
2.0
41.
42.
2.0 6 73.9
2.0 6 74.5
42.
2.0 7 75.4 3
41. 5
42. 4
2.0 8 76.6 2
2.1 0 75.4 3
42.
2.1 2 75.4 3
42.
S c r e w - m a c h in e
p r o d u c ts
$1.89 $75. 26
2.02 82.94
1.97 81.08
1.98 81.27
1.98 81.51
1.98 82. 46
1.99 82.84
2.00 79. 95
2.03 80.79
2. 06 82. 56
2. 09 86.19
2.07 87.32
2.08 88.06
2. 07 86.88|
2. 07 86.44!
Metalworking ma
chinery 4
$92.87
98.10
91.78
92. 64
95. 25
98.56
100. 57
98. 76
99.20
98.08
101.22
101.64
106. 7f
106. 91
107.84
Machinery (except
electrical)
Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
hriy. wkly.
wkly. wkly.
earn aours 1 earn earn
ings
ings
ings
Agricultural machin
ery and tractors 4
$2. 05 $78. 21
2.16 83.84
2.11 82. 82
2.10 84.05
2.10 83.44
2.15 83.44
2.16 83.03
2.15 81.20
2.14 82.61
2.18 83.02
2. 22 86. 48
2. 22 85.86
2. 22 87. 53
2. 22 88.13
2.23 88.10
F o o d - p r o d u c ts
m a c h in e r y
$81.36
84.66
81.86
83. 2‘
83.6:
83.6,
84.0
83.4
84.6
87.1
86.5
85.9
88.1 9
88.6
90.9
Avg.
wkly.
hours
39.3 $1.99 $76.17
2.14 88. 48
41.8
2.12 85.10
42.9
2.11 86. 33
42.2
2.13 87.12
42.4
2.13 86.13
42.5
. 16 87. 56
43 0
2.09 86.20
40.9
2.10 87.70
40.5
39.2; 2.12 90. 02
2.16 93.42 j
40.9
42. o! 2.20 90. 67t
42.6; 2. 22 92. 77i
40.4| 2.20 90. 67
41. ll 2.18 89.011
O ilfie ld m a c h in e r y
a n d to o ls
$1.94 $82.17
2.05 86.70
1.99 82.60
2.01 83.00
2.02 84. 42
2.03 86.63
2.05 86. 66
2.06 85.40
2.07 89.61
2. If 90. 92
2. If 90.69
2. Of 89.46
2. If 92. 4f
2.14 90.31
2.1. 90. 74
Special-industry ma
chinery
(except
metalworking ma
chinery)4
$2.2! : $79.5'
83.3
2.3
80. 5(
2.2
2.2 7 82.3
81.5
2.3
2.3 3 82.7
2.3 6 83.5
2.3 5 81.9
2.3 5 82.1
2.3 3! 84.8
2.3 61 86.0
2.3 9 85.8
2.4 3 88.3
2.4 5 87.7
2.4 8 88.3
j
D i e s e l a n d oth e r i n te r
n a l c o m b u s tio n e n
g in e s , n o t e ls e w h e r e
c la s s ifie d
C o n s tr u c tio n
and
m i n i n g m a c h in e r y ,
e x c e p t f o r o i lf ie l d s
$1.95 $77.99
2.05 86. 51
1.99 81.59
2.01 84.02
2. 02 85.65
2.02 86.48
2.04 87. 95
2.04 86.93
2.07 88.39
2. If 90.06
2. Of 89.46
2. If 88.41
2. i: 91.16
92. 66
2. i:
9 1'
93. 5?
M a c h in e - to o l
a c c e s s o r ie s
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
40.7 $2.04 $78.21
2.14 89. 45
42.4
2. 07 90.95
41.8
2.08 89.04
41.7
2.13 90.31
43.0
2.12 90.53
43.0
2.11 92. 88
44.2
2.16 85.48
44.1
2.16 85.05
43.4
2.22 83.10
42.4
2. 20 88.34
41.9
41.2! 2.17 92.40
41.3, 2. 21 94. 57l
41.7! 2.18 88.881
41. 8! 2.20 89.60'
Engines and turbines4 b in e s ,
B o lts , n u ts , w a sh e rs,
a n d r iv e ts
S te e l s p r i n g s
Continued
$2.07
2.16
2.09
2.09
2.11
2.11
2.14
2.16
2.19
2.21
2.23
2.23
2.24
44. e
2.24
43. S
2.24
44.
41.1
42.5
41.0
41.3
41.7
41.8
42.4
42.1
42.9
43.2
43.9
43.
P r i n in g -tr a d es m a c h in e r a n d eqi l i p m e n t
$1.9 : $89.01
92. 6(
2.0
1.9
90. o :
1.9 7 91.9
1.9 9 91.3
1.9 9 91.9
1.9 9 91.5
2.0 0 90.6
2.0 0 90.4
2.0 2 93.0 4
2.0 3 97.2 0
2.0 4: 97.4
2.0 6 100.5 3
2.0 5 100.7 2
2.0 4 101.8 7
41.' $2.15
2.21
41.
2.18
41.;
2.20
41.
2.19
41.
2.19
42.
2.19
41.
2.20
41.
2.19
41.
2.21
42.
2.25
43. 2
2.26
43.
2.29
43. 9
6
2.31
43.
2.31
44. 1
623
O: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able
C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
Year and month
General industrial
machinery 4
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average............ $80.19
1955: Average............ 86.53
February____
81. 61
March_______ 82. 82
April________
84. 25
M ay___ _____
86 10
June_________ 87.14
July....... ........... 84. 46
August______
85.70
September___ 88.83
October............ 90.74
November___
90.95
December____ 92.88
1956: January_____
91.38
February____
91.81
40.5
41.8
40.6
41.0
41.3
42.0
42.3
41.4
41.6
42.3
42.6
42.7
43.4
42. 7
42.7
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
$1.98 $78.99
2.07 84. 45
2.01 80.99
2.02 80.16
2.04 83.01
2.05 85. 67
2.06 85. 46
2.04 80.59
2.06 82.19
2.10 86. 31
2.13 89. 04
2.13 88. 62
2.14 88. 62
2.14 89.24
2.15 90.73
M e c h a n ic a l s to k e r s
a n d i n d u s tr i a l f u r
n a ces a n d ovens
1954: Average—........ $81.00
85. 49
1955: Average_____
February____
84.04
March_______ 84. 05
April_______
83.23
M ay................
83. 23
June_________ 84.67
J u ly ................. 84. 44
August______
85. 08
September___
85. 70
October............ 89. 68
November___
87. 78
December____ 91.81
1956: January_____
87.98
February____
92.88
40.5
41.5
41.4
41.2
40.8
41.0
41.3
41.8
41.3
41.2
42.5
41.8
42.7
41.5
42.8
P u m p s , a ir a n d ças
co m p resso rs
1954: Average........... $79. 32
41.1
1955: A verage.......... 85.45
42.3
February____
41.9
82. 96
March_______ 84.15
42.5
April................. 83.78
42.1
M ay________
83. 78
42. 1
June................ . 83.60
41.8
July.________
41.8
83.18
August______
41.6
84.03
September___ 87. 54
42.7
October______ 87. 55
42.5
89.66
November___
42.9
December........ 91.35
43.5
43.1
1956: January.........
90. 94
February____
41. 9
87. 99
See footnotes at end of table.
3 8 2 7 7 1 — 5 6 -------9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.96 $81.40
2.03 87. 34
1.99 80.98
1.96 82. 61
2.01 82.80
2. 03 85.28
2. 03 87. 99
1.98 86.94
1.99 86.48
2. 06 90. 73
2.10 91. 56
2. 09 92.00
2.09 96.14
2. 09 95.91
2.11 93. 06
39.8
40.2
39.6
40.0
39.8
39. 7
39.6
40.0
39.8
40.6
40.9
40.7
41.3
40.9
40.8
39.8
40.2
39.7
39.8
39.6
39.9
40.1
40.1
39.9
40.2
40.5
41.4
40.8
40.8
41.5
$2.00 $74. 59
2.12 79.76
2.05 75.81
2.06 75.60
2.07 77.33
2.08 77. 33
2.10 78.14
2.10 80.38
2.13 84.20
2.15 84. 80
2.18 83.00
2.18 83.23
2.19 85.67
2. 21 84.03
2.20 84. 85
39.8
40.3
39.7
39.9
39.5
39.6
39.8
41.3
40.4
40.2
40.8
40.5
41.2
40.9
41.1
39.3
40.8
40.8
40.8
41.2
42.3
41.1
39.9
40.0
39.0
39.9
41.5
42.6
42.4
41.2
40.1
40.9
39.9
40.0
40.7
40.7
40.7
40.8
42.1
42.4
41.5
41.0
42.2
41.6
41.8
39.8
40.2
39.5
39.9
39.8
39.8
39.7
39.0
39.4
40.6
41.2
41.6
41.5
40.5
40. 5
$1.86 $77.42
1.95 86. 92
1.90 80.60
1.89 84. 46
1.90 84.04
1.90 85.67
1.92 86. 50
1.97 81.40
2.00 85.90
2. 00 87. 34
2.00 93. 05
2.03 91.98
2.03 96.04
2. 02 91.81
2.03 90. 52
40.0
42.0
41.2
41.7
41.8
42.1
41.8
41.6
41.6
42.7
42.5
43.1
43.4
42. 5
42.0
39.5
42.4
40.1
41.4
41.4
42.2
42.4
40.1
41.9
42.4
44.1
43.8
45.3
42.9
42.3
$1.84 $77.82
1.90 83.64
1.88 81.61
1.88 82. 42
1.88 82. 62
1. 87 84.85
1.89 82.62
1.89 80. 79
1.89 81.81
1.92 83. 41
1.94 84.65
1.94 88.60
1.96 91.16
1.97 89.46
1. 97 87.98
39.5
40.8
40.6
40.8
40.9
41.8
40.9
39.8
40.3
40.1
40.5
41.4
42.4
42.0
41.5
$1.96 $81.00
2.05 90. 31
2.01 84.05
2.04 85. 28
2.03 87.15
2.03 89. 65
2.04 91.12
2.03 88.61
2.05 88.83
2. 06 92. 45
2.11 98. 36
2.10 96. 80
2.12 98.12
2. 14 96.14
2.14 94.39
39.9
40.9
40.1
40.5
40.4
40.6
40.8
39.9
40.5
41. 6
41.7
41.8
42.1
41.4
41.4
40.5
42.8
41.2
41.6
42.1
43.1
43.6
42.6
42.3
43.2
43.8
44.2
44.6
43.5
43.3
Avg.
hrly,
earn
ings
$2.00
2.11
2.04
2. 05
2.07
2.08
2.09
2.08
2.10
2.14
2.20
2.19
2.20
2. 21
2.18
D o m e s ti c l a u n d r y
e q u ip m e n t
$1.97 $79.80
2.05 85.07
2.01 81.61
2.02 84. 87
2.02 82.62
2. 03 82. 62
2.02 82. 62
2.03 78.28
2.03 81.59
2.08 91.16
2. 09 89. 67
2.14 88. 54
2.15 97.90
2.13 90. 71
2.12 94.81
F a b r ic a te d p i p e ,
f i t t i n g s , a n d va lv e s
$1.95 $78. 60
2.04 83. 03
2. 00 80.20
2. 01 81.00
2.01 80.80
2. 02 81.61
2.03 82.42
2. 03 80.20
2.05 81.81
2. 07 85. 28
2. 08 86.32
2.10 86. 53
2.12 87.99
2.12 87. 35
2.12 86.94
M e c h a n ic a l
pow ert r a n s m is s i o n e q u ip
m en t
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
Service-industry and
household m achines4
Miscellaneous
machinery parts 4
$1.98 $78. 00
2.07 85. 68
2.04 82.40
2.04 83.82
2.04 84.02
2.06 85. 04
2.03 84.85
2.04 84. 45
2.05 85.28
2. 09 88.39
2.11 88.40
2.17 90. 51
2.17 92. 01
2.16 90.10
2.12 89.04
I n d u s t r i a l tr u c k s ,
tr a c to r s , etc.
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
T y p e w r ite r s
$2.14 $73.23
2. 21 76. 38
2.17 74. 26
2.17 75.01
2.17 74.82
2.18 74.43
2.18 75. 03
2. 25 73. 71
2. 25 74.47
2.23 77. 95
2. 26 79.93
2. 25 80.70
2.26 81.34
2.25 79. 79
2. 26 79. 79
R e f r ig e r a to r s a n d
a ir - c o n d itio n in g u n i ts
$2.00 $77. 81
2. 06 84.46
2.03 83. 23
2.03 83.23
2.04 84.05
2.05 87.14
2.05 83.43
2.05 81.40
2.06 82.00
2.10 81. 51
2. 09 84.19
2.12 90.06
2.11 92.44
2.12 91. 58
2.15 87. 34
39.9
40.9
40.4
41.4
40.7
40.9
40.3
38.0
39.8
42.8
41.9
40.8
43.9
41.8
42.9
$2.00
2.08
2.02
2. 05
2.03
2.02
2 05
2 06
2.05
2.13
2.14
2.17
2.23
2.17
2. 21
B a l l a n d ro lle r
b e a r in g s
$1. 97 $76.25
2.03 90. 92
2.00 85.04
2.00 86.70
2.00 89.18
2. 01 91.70
2. 02 89. 40
2.01 91.54
2.02 90.94
2. 05 94. 57
2. 07 92. 66
2.07 97. 20
2.09 97. 65
2.11 92. 66
2.10 92.02
39.1
43.5
42.1
42.5
43.5
44.3
43.4
43 3
43.1
44.4
43.5
45.0
45.0
43.3
42.8
$1.95
2.09
2.02
2.04
2.05
2.07
2.06
2.09
2.11
2.13
2.13
2.16
2.17
2.14
2.15
Electrical machinery
Total: Electrical
machinery
$1.93 $72. 44
2.02 76.70
1.98 74. 74
1.98 75. 33
1.99 75. 52
1.99 76. 30
2.00 75. 92
1.99 74.82
2.02 75. 92
2. 05 76.17
2. 06 79. 46
2.09 79. 46
2.10 79.68
2.11 78.94
2.10 78. 36
40.7
41.2
39.5
40.1
40.0
41.0
41.9
41.4
40.6
42.2
42.0
42.2
43.9
43.4
42.3
B lo w e r s , ex h a u st a n d
v e n tila tin g f a n s
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
C o m p u t in g m a c h in e s
a n d ca sh r e g is te r s
$1.99 $85.17
2.05 89.06
2.01 86.15
2.02 86.58
2.01 85.72
2. 02 86.33
2.03 86. 76
2.07 92. 93
2.07 90.90
2. 07 89. 65
2.10 92. 21
2.09 91.13
2.11 93.11
2.11 92.03
2.11 92.89
S e w i n g m a c h in e s
1954: Average______ $74. 74
40.4 $1.85 $79.60
1955: Average_____
78. 25
41.4
1.89 82. 81
74. 37
February____
40.2
1.85 80. 59
March_______ 77.19
41.5
1.86 80. 79
April________
41.1
77.27
1.88 80.78
M ay________
78. 58
41.8
1.88 81.80
June_________ 78. 81
41.7
1.89 82. 21
July-------------- 78.66
41.4
1.90 82. 21
August______
78.81
41.7
1.89 82.19
September___
81.70
43.0
1.90 84. 42
October______ 81.41
42.4
1.92 84. 65
81.45
42.2
1.93 87. 77
November___
December____ 83.10
42.4
1.96 86.09
1956: January_____
83. 27
42.7
1. 95 86.50
February____
41.9
80. 87
1.93 89. 23
Machinery (except
electrical)—Con.
M a c h in e s h o p s (Job
a n d r e p a ir )
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
Office and store ma
chines and devices *
$2.00 $79. 20
2.06 82.41
2.03 79.60
2. 04 80.80
2.04 80.00
2.03 80. 19
2.05 80.39
2.02 82.80
2.06 82.39
2.08 84. 04
2.11 85. 89
2.10 85. 06
2.15 87.14
2.12 86.30
2.17 86. 09
C o m m e r c ia l l a u n d r y ,
d r y -c le a n in g ,
and
p r e s s i n g m a c h in e s
40.3
41.6
40.7
40.9
41.3
42.2
42.1
40.7
41.3
41.9
42.4
42.4
42.4
42.7
43.0
C on veyors a n d con
v e y in g e q u i p m e n t
39.8
40.8
40.4
40.5
40.6
40.8
40.6
39.8
40.6
40.3
41.6
41.6
41.5
40.9
40.6
Electrical generating,
transmission, distri
bution, and indus
trial apparatus 4
$1.82 $77. 59
1.88 80.98
1.85 79.17
1.86 79.56
1.86 79. 76
1. 87 80.75
1. 87 80.95
1.88 79.99
1.87 80.18
1.89 78.99
1.91 84. 45
1.91 83.83
1.92 84.85
1.93 84.86
1.93 84. 25
40.2
40.9
40.6
40.8
40.9
41.2
41.3
40.4
40.7
39.3
41.6
41.5
41.8
41.6
41.3
W ir i n g d e v ic e s a n d
s u p p lie s
$1.93 $67. 72
1. 98 71.15
1. 95 69.08
1.95 69. 95
1.95 69.83
1.96 70. 18
1.96 70. 93
1.98 69.38
1.97 70.09
2.01 71.38
2. 03 74. 03
2. 02 74. 57
2.03 74.98
2.04 74. 66
2.04 75.62
39.6
40.2
39.7
40.2
39.9
40.1
40.3
39.2
39.6
40.1
40.9
41.2
41.2
40.8
41.1
C a r b o n a n d g r a p h ite
p r o d u c ts (e le c tr ic a l )
$1. 71 $74. 80
1. 77 79. 49
1. 74 76.73
1.74 77. 30
1.75 77.52
1. 75 78.12
1.76 77. 36
1.77 77.59
1.77 79. 73
1.78 79. 90
1. 81 80. 32
1.81 83. 89
1. 82 85.80
1.83 84.62
1.84 8?. 61
40.0
41.4
40.6
40.9
40.8
40.9
40.5
40.2
41.1
41.4
41.4
42.8
42.9
42.1
41.1
E le c tr ic a l i n d ic a tin g ,
m e a s u r i n g , a n d re
c o r d in g i n s tr u m e n ts
$1.87 $72. 80
1.92 74. 37
1. 89 73. 05
1.89 74.00
1.90 73.42
1.91 74.89
1.91 74.52
1.93 72.40
1.94 74.30
1. 93 71.78
1. 94 75.95
1.96 76. 89
2.00 77.68
2.01 77. 23
2.01 76. 97
40.0
40.2
39.7
40.0
39.9
40. 7
40.5
40.0
40.6
38.8
40.4
40.9
41.1
41.3
40.3
$1.82
1.85
1.84
1.85
1.84
1. 84
1.84
1.81
1.83
1.85
1.88
1.88
1.89
1.87
1.91
624
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufactu ring—C ontinued
Electrical machinery—Continued
Year and month
M o t o r s , g e n e r a to r s , a n d P o w e r a n d d is t r ib u t i o n S w itch g ea r , s w itc h b o a rd ,
m o to r -g e n e r a to r s e ts
tr a n s f o r m e r s
a n d i n d u s tr i a l c o n tr o ls
Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
Avg.
wkly.
hours
1954: Average........... $82. 82
1955: Average_____
85.90
84.87
February____
March.......... _. 84. 67
April................ 84. 46
M ay________
85. 70
84. 67
June. _ ____
July— ............ 84. 23
August---------- 84.85
September___
85.14
October______ 88. 81
November___
88. 60
December........ 90.30
1956: January........... 90. 29
February____
89.01
40.4
41.1
41.2
41.3
41.2
41.6
41.3
40.3
40.6
39.6
41.5
41.4
42.0
41.8
41.4
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.05 $78. 59
2. 09 84.03
2. 06 82. 59
2.05 82.17
2. 05 84.40
2. 06 84.20
2.05 86. 23
2.09 84.04
2.09 82.81
2.15 87.56
2.14 87. 35
2.14 81.80
2.15 83. 23
2.16 84.87
2.15 84.05
Electric equipment
for vehicles
1954: Average_____ $75. 84
1955: Average_____
83. 64
February____
84. 82
M arch_______ 84.80
April________
82.78
M a y________
86. 05
78.01
June________
J u ly ................. 82. 42
August............. 85.08
September___
82.42
October______ 85.49
85. 07
November___
December____ 85.90
1956: January......... . 83.01
February____
79. 36
39.5
41.2
42.2
42.4
41.6
42.6
39. 6
40.4
41.3
40.4
41.3
40.9
41.3
40.1
38.9
40.3
41.6
41.5
41.5
42.2
42.1
42.9
41.4
41.2
42.3
42.2
40.1
40.8
41.4
41.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.95 $75.95
2. 02 79. 98
1.99 76.99
1.98 77. 38
2.00 77.97
2. 00 79.35
2. 01 80. 56
2.03 80. 39
2.01 78.72
2.07 70.72
2.07 86. 09
2. 04 86.50
2.04 86.09
2.05 85.07
2.05 85.07
Electric lamps
$1.92 $64. 91
2.03 68. 97
2.01 68.91
2.00 69.60
1.99 69.60
2. 02 69.66
1.97 69. 26
2. 04 66. 81
2.06 67.32
2.04 60. 72
2.07 72.51
2.08 74. 40
2.08 74.82
2.07 75. 42
2.04 75.60
39.1
40.1
40.3
40.7
40.7
40.5
40.5
39.3
39.6
35.3
41.2
41.8
41.8
41.9
42.0
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings hours
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
40.4
40.6
40.1
40.3
40.4
40.9
41.1
40.6
41.0
35.9
42.2
42.4
42.2
41.7
41.7
$1.88 $83. 21
1.97 92. 63
1.92 84.66
1.92 86. 72
1.93 89. 22
1.94 93.68
1.96 95. 97
1.98 93.29
1.92 95. 82
1.97 94.80
2. 04 96. 55
2.04 93. 31
2.04 93. 53
2.04 98.33
2.04 101. 69
Communication
equipm ent4
$1.66 $68.68
1.72 72. 67
1.71 70.40
1.71 70. 80
1.71 70.98
1. 72 70.98
1. 71 71.96
1.70 69.78
1.70 72. 32
1.72 74.16
1.76 75.12
1.78 75. 53
1.79 75.17
1.80 74.70
1.80 74.34
E l e c tr i c a l w e l d in g
a p p a r a tu s
39.7
40.6
40.0
40.0
40.1
40.1
40.2
39.2
40.4
41.2
41.5
41.5
41.3
40.6
40.4
41.4
43.9
41.5
42.3
43.1
44.4
45.7
43.8
45.2
44.3
44. 7
43.0
43.5
44.9
44.6
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2. 01 $75.84
2.11 79.17
2.04 77 01
2.05 79.15
2.07 79.54
2.11 79.35
2. 10 79. 37
2.13 77. 62
2.12 78.57
2.14 78. 20
2.16 81. 16
2.17 81.56
2.15 80.16
2.19 77.03
2.28 78.41
R a d io s, p h o n o g ra p h s,
te le v is io n s e ts , a n d
e q u ip m e n t
$1. 73 $67. 49
1. 79 69. 77
1. 76 68.11
1.77 68.68
1.77 68.68
1.77 68. 85
1. 79 69. 43
1.78 68.60
1.79 69. 43
1.80 69.95
1.81 71.40
1. 82 71.81
1.82 71.46
1.84 70.80
1. 84 70. 67
39.7
40.1
39.6
39.7
39.7
39.8
39.9
39.2
39.9
40.2
40.8
40.8
40.6
40.0
39.7
Electrical appliances
Electrical machinery—Continued
Miscellaneous elec
trical products 4
39. 4
40.8
40.1
39.7
40.4
40.4
40. 2
39.8
40.3
41.6
41.9
42.5
41.6
40.8
40.7
1954: Average_____ $68. 95
74.66
1955: Average_____
72. 58
February____
March_______ 71.06
A pril________
73.12
M ay_________ 73.12
72. 36
June__ __ . . .
July................... 72.83
A u gu st............ 73. 75
77. 79
September___
October______ 78. 35
November___
79.90
December........ 79.46
1956: January_____
77.93
February.
77.74
$1. 75 $76. 82
1.83 85. 69
1.81 81. 80
1.79 78. 80
1.81 80.80
1.81 83. 22
1.80 81. 19
1.83 82.00
1.83 86.31
1.87 92. 59
1.87 93. 05
1. 88 90. 93
1.91 90.50
1.91 85.28
1.91 82.78
M o to r v e h ic le s, b o d ie s ,
p a r t s , a n d a c c e s s o r ie s
1954: Average............
1955: Average_____
February....... .
March_______
April.................
M a y ..................
J u n e _______
J u ly .................
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
1956: January______
February____
$89. 95
98.87
99. 65
101. 23
98.31
101. 68
89. 38
98. 83
96.28
97.06
99. 54
105.88
99.17
91.77
88.09
40.7
42.8
43.9
44.4
43.5
44.4
39.9
42.6
41.5
41.3
42.0
44.3
42.2
39.9
38.3
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S to r a g e b a tte r ie s
39.6
41.8
40.9
39.6
40.4
41.2
40.8
40.0
42.1
44.3
44.1
43.3
43.3
41.0
39.8
T r u c k a n d b u s b o d ie s
$2. 21 $75. 98
2.31 81. 38
2. 27 80. 93
2. 28 91.43
2.26 85.70
2.29 85.37
2.24 82. 59
2.32 80. 77
2. 32 81.18
2.35 79.00
2.37 79.39
2. 39 79.40
2.35 76. 24
2.30 79.00
2. 30 79.98
40.2
41.1
41.5
44.6
43.5
42.9
41.5
41.0
41.0
39.7
40.3
40.1
38.9
40.1
40.6
0
39.1
39.5
39.5
39.4
40.4
40.0
39.2
39.6
39.5
39.2
39.3
40.2
39.8
39.7
40.6
40.1
41.9
41.0
42.5
42.6
42.7
42.2
41.3
41.3
41.8
41.9
42.5
41.6
39.7
40.8
X - r a y a n d n o n - r a d io
e le c tr o n ic tu b e s
$1. 51 $78.18
1. 55 82. 21
1. 54 78.60
1. 53 77. 81
1. 54 79.40
1. 54 78. 41
1. 54 80.80
1. 52 84.87
1.56 80.80
1.56 84.67
1. 56 82. 82
1. 58 86.11
1.61 86. 31
1.60 83.20
1.63 89.03
T r a i le r s (t r u c k a n d
a u to m o b ile )
$1. 89 $76.19
1.98 84. 64
1.95 80. 77
2.05 84.15
1.97 83. 50
1.99 84. 55
1.99 84.82
1.97 83.01
1.98 83.43
1.99 86.94
1.97 86.73
1.98 89. 68
1.96 87. 36
1. 97 81.39
1.97 84. 05
39.5
40.6
39.9
40.8
41.0
40.9
40.7
39.6
40.5
39.9
41.2
41.4
40.9
39.3
39.8
$1.92 $70. 47
1.95 77.04
1.93 73.93
1.94 73. 57
1.94 74.64
1.94 75. 24
1. 95 76. 44
1. 96 73. 85
1.94 74.75
1.96 78. 75
1.97 81.03
1.97 83.10
1.96 84.42
1. 96 82. 51
1.97 80.94
39.4
40.0
40.0
39.6
39.9
39.2
38.8
37.7
39.6
41.6
41.5
41.7
40.7
39.5
38.9
40.5
42.1
41.3
41.1
41.7
41.8
42.0
40.8
41.3
42.8
43. 1
44. 2
44.2
43.2
42.6
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.74
1.83
1.79
1.79
1.79
1.80
1.82
1.81
1.81
1.84
1.88
1.88
1.91
1.91
1.90
T e le p h o n e , te le g r a p h ,
a n d r e la te d e q u i p m e n t
$1.61 $80. 40
1.66 91.15
1.64 86. 53
1. 63 86. 53
1.63 87.15
1.64 88. 41
1. 65 90. 30
1.65 84.46
1.66 92. 63
1.68 95. 21
1. 70 96. 09
1.69 95. 47
1.68 96. 57
1. 69 97.02
1.68 97. 24
40.4
43.2
41.8
41.8
41.9
42.3
43.0
41.2
43.9
44.7
44.9
44.2
44.5
43.9
44.2
$1.99
2.11
2.07
2.07
2.08
2.09
2.10
2. 05
2.11
2.13
2.14
2.16
2.17
2. 21
2.20
Transportation equipment
P r i m a r y b a tte r ie s
d ry a n d w e t)
$1.94 $59. 04
2.05 61.23
2. 00 60. 83
1.99 60.28
2.00 62. 22
2.02 61.60
1.99 60. 37
2.05 60.19
2.05 61.62
2.09 61.15
2.11 61.31
2.10 63. 52
2.09 64.08
2.08 63. 52
2.08 66.18
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
R a d i o tu b e s
$1.70 $63. 43
1.74 66.40
1.72 65.60
1.73 64. 55
1.73 65.04
1.73 64.29
1. 74 64. 02
1.75 62. 21
1.74 65.74
1.74 69. 89
1. 75 70. 55
1. 76 70. 47
1. 76 68.38
1. 77 66.76
1.78 65.35
Insulated wire and
cable
40.3
40.9
40. 1
39.7
39.9
39.8
40.4
41.4
40.2
41.3
40.6
41.6
41.1
40.0
41.8
Total: Transporta
tion equipment
$1.94 $86. 67
2.01 93. 44
1.96 93 28
1.96 94.37
1.99 92. 62
1.97 94. 79
2.00 88. 26
2. 05 92.99
2.01 92.06
2.05 93.11
2.04 94. 21
2.07 98. 21
2.10 95. 53
2.08 91.35
2.13 89.15
Aircraft and parts 4
$1.90 $85. 07
2.02 89. 62
1.97 87. 95
1.98 88. 38
1.96 87.10
1.98 88.15
2.01 88.15
2. 01 89.40
2.02 88. 97
2.08 90.67
2.07 91.30
2.11 91. 52
2.10 93. 26
2.05 92. 82
2. 06 92. 38
40.9
41.3
41.1
41.3
40.7
41.0
41.0
41.2
41.0
41.4
41.5
41.6
42.2
42.0
41.8
$2.08 $85. 07
2.17 89. 40
2.14 88.80
2.14 89. 23
2.14 87.72
2.15 88. 56
2.15 88. 15
2.17 89.19
2.17 89.19
2.19 90.03
2.20 90.23
2. 20 90. 45
2.21 91.54
2. 21 91.32
2. 21 90. 89
40.5
41.9
42.4
42.7
42.1
42.7
40.3
41.7
41.1
41.2
41.5
42.7
41.9
40.6
39.8
A ir c ra ft
40.9
41.2
41.3
41.5
40.8
41.0
41.0
41.1
41.1
41.3
41.2
41.3
41.8
41.7
41.5
$2.14
2.23
2. 20
2. 21
2. 20
2. 22
2.19
2.23
2.24
2.26
2.27
2.30
2. 28
2. 25
2.24
Automobiles 4
$89. 32
97.78
98. 99
100. 56
97.88
101.00
89 20
97. 75
95. 45
96.23
98. 47
104. 96
98.09
90. 97
87.78
40.6
42.7
43.8
44.3
43.5
44.3
40.0
42.5
41.5
41.3
41.9
44.1
42.1
39.9
38.5
$2.20
2.29
2. 26
2. 27
2.25
2.28
2.23
2.30
2.30
2.33
2. 35
2.38
2.33
2.28
2.28
A i r c r a f t e n g in e s a n d
p a r ts
$2. 08 $85. 06
2.17 88.97
2.15 86.69
2.15 87. 74
2.15 85.65
2.16 87. 10
2.15 86.67
2.17 89. 62
2.17 86.37
2.18 89.98
2.19 91.69
2.19 92. 57
2.19 96. 73
2.19 96.08
2.19 94. 33
40.7
41.0
40.7
41.0
40.4
40.7
40.5
41.3
39.8
40.9
41.3
41.7
42.8
42.7
42.3
$2. 09
2.17
2.13
2.14
2.12
2.14
2.14
2.17
2.17
2.20
2. 22
2. 22
2.26
2. 25
2.23
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
625
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
Transportation equipment— Continued
Year and month
Aircraft propellers
and parts
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1954: Average____ $82.35
1955: Average____
90. 69
February___
84.38
March_____
84.77
April______
84.99
M a y ............
84.38
Ju n e........... .
87.91
July................. 88.70
August_____
95. 67
September__
96.78
October____
98.34
November__ 101.47
December___ 95. 40
1956: January ___ 92.77
February__
92.38
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Ship and boat build
ing and repairing 4
Avg. Avg.
hrlv. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
39.4 $2.09 $85. 70
41.2 $2.08 $80. 70
41.6
2.18 90.49
41.7
2.17 83. 53
2.12 86.71
39.8
40.9
2.12 82. 95
39.8
2.13 86. 71
40.9
2.12 82.76
39.9
2.13 85.86
2. 12 83. 16
40.5
39.8
2.12 87. 76
41.2
2.13 83.39
40.7
2.16 89. 64
41.5
2.16 83.18
40. 5
2. 19 90.06
41.5
2.17 81. 72
42.9
2. 23 90.91
2.18 83.67
41.7
43.4
2. 23 93. 48
42.3
2. 21 84.93
2. 24 94.79
43.9
42.7
2.22 84.24
2. 23 95.00
45.5
42.6
2.23 82. 51
42.4
2.25 96.10
42.9
2.24 86.15
41.6
2. 23 95.18
42.3
2. 25 84. 63
41.8
2.21 95.42
42.6
2. 24 85.28
Transportation equipment— Continued
Locomotives and parts
1954: Average____ $84.16
1955: Average____
94.05
February.
88. 26
March_____
86. 71
April______
90.20
M a y_____ ... 96.30
June______
96.53
J u ly ............... 95.60
A ugust........... 98.47
September__ 100. 42
October____
94. 81
November__
97. 67
December___ 98.18
1956: January____
99.49
February___
99. 53
Other aircraft parts
and equipment
39.7
41.8
40.3
40.9
41.0
42.8
42.9
42.3
43.0
43.1
41.4
42.1
42.5
42.7
42.9
Railroad and street
cars
$2.12 $81.20
2. 25 87.81
2.19 84. 80
2.12 83.03
2. 20 86.68
2. 25 84.32
2. 25 85.85
2.26 86.85
2.29 89.44
2. 33 89. 77
2.29 89.01
2.32 91.03
2.31 95 11
2.33 91.03
2.32 90.86
38.3
39.2
38.9
38.8
39.4
38.5
39.2
39.3
39.4
39.2
38.7
38.9
40.3
38.9
38.5
38.8
39.4
39.5
39.6
39.6
39.9
39.8
39.1
39.1
39.5
39.0
38.2
39.7
39.0
39.3
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.08 $82.39
2.12 86.41
2.10 85. 85
2.09 85.63
2.10 86.24
2.09 86.51
2.09 86. 51
2.09 84.63
2.14 87.47
2.15 88.31
2. 16 87.08
2.16 85. 65
2.17 89. 67
2.17 87.85
2.17 89.31
Other transportation
equipment
$2.12 $72.31
2.24 77.87
2.18 74. 56
2.14 76. 30
2. 20 72.98
2.19 74. 56
2. 19 76. 30
2. 21 75. 39
2.27 79.87
2.29 81. 60
2. 30 83.85
2.34 81.18
2. 36 76. 92
2.34 77. 55
2. 36 77. 38
39.3
41.2
40.3
40.8
40. 1
40.3
40.8
40.1
41.6
42.5
43.0
42.5
40.7
40.6
40.3
Shipbuilding and
repairing
38.5
39.1
39.2
39.1
39. 2
39.
39.5
39.0
39.4
39.6
38 7
37.9
39.5
38.7
39.0
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg,
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
40.0
40.8
40.5
40.5
40.3
40.6
40.8
40.2
40.6
41.2
41.4
41.5
41.4
40.8
41.0
1954: Average......... . $75.17
1955: Average____
78.17
February___
76.97
March_____
76. 40
April______
76. 59
M a y _______ 77.18
June______
78.36
July................. 77. 78
August............ 76. 78
77. 57
September__
October........... 79. 35
November__
81.79
December___ 81.99
1956: January.
81.81
February___
81.20
40.2
40.5
40.3
40.0
40.1
40.2
40.6
40.3
40.2
40.4
40.9
41.1
41.2
40.7
40.4
$1.87 $66.80
1.93 69. 02
1.91 67. 54
1.91 68.45
1. 91 67.94
1.92 69.19
1.93 70.04
1.93 67.60
1.91 69.53
1.92 69.94
1.94 71. 51
1.99 70.86
1.99 70. 69
2. 01 70. 58
2. 01 70. 58
Jewelry, silverware,
and plated ware 4
1954: Average____ $68.15
1955: Average____
71.40
February___
68. 81
March_____
69.47
A p r il______ 69. 22
M ay......... ......
69.63
June......... ...... 70. 64
J u ly ... ......... 67. 66
A u g u st____
70.89
September__
73.96
October........... 76.30
November__
75.34
December___ 74.91
1956: January____
71.99
February__
72.16
41.3
42.0
41.7
41.6
41.2
41.2
41.8
39.8
41.7
43.0
43.6
43.3
43.3
42.1
42.2
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Surgical, medical, and
dental instruments
40.0
40.6
40.2
40.5
40.2
40.7
41.2
40.0
40.9
40.9
41.1
41.2
41.1
40.8
40.8
$1.67 $58.80
1. 70 62. 52
1.68 59.80
1.69 59.70
1.69 60. 65
1. 70 61.10
1.70 61.10
1.69 60.89
1.70 62.22
1.71 64.84
1. 74 66. 36
1.72 66.68
1.72 66. 52
1.73 62.40
1.73 64. 53
Jewelry and findings
$1.65 $65.00
1.70 67.04
1. 65 65.36
1.67 65.99
1.68 65. 76
1.69 66.17
1.69 66. 88
1. 70 62.88
1.70 66. 56
1.72 68. 75
1.75 71.01
1.74 69.76
1.73 71.01
1.71 68.10
1. 71 68.10
41.4
41.9
41.9
41.5
41.1
41.1
41.8
39.3
41.6
42.7
43.3
42.8
43.3
42.3
42.3
Ophthalmic goods
39.2
40.6
39.6
39.8
39.9
40.2
40.2
39.8
40.4
41.3
42.0
42.2
42.1
40.0
41.1
$1.83 $83. 20
1.91 88. 99
1.88 88.81
1.88 88.17
1.88 87. 94
1.87 90. 72
1.91 88.99
1.90 88.29
1.91 89.19
1. 93 91.54
1.94 89. 62
1.95 90. 25
1.95 91.10
1.96 91.52
1. 96 91.74
Silverware and plated
ware
$1.57 $73.98
1.60 79.95
1. 56 75. 76
1. 59 77.10
1.60 75.58
1. 61 76.18
1.60 77. 75
1.60 77.30
1.60 79.84
1.61 85.02
1.64 87. 96
1.63 87.27
1.64 84.20
1.61 80. 06
1.61 81. 90
41.1
42.3
41.4
41.9
41.3
41.4
41.8
40.9
41.8
43.6
44.2
44.3
43.4
41.7
42.0
Photographic appa
ratus
$1.50 $80. 39
1.54 85.70
1. 51 82. 21
1.50 82.62
1. 52 83.23
1.52 83.03
1. 52 86.31
1.53 85.28
1.54 85.48
1.57 87.34
1. 58 88.60
1.58 89.45
1.58 89. 44
1.56 89.40
1.57 89.40
40.6
41.2
40.7
40.9
41.0
40.9
41.1
41.0
40.9
41.2
41.4
41.8
41.6
41.2
41.2
40.0
41.2
41.5
41.2
40.9
42.0
41.2
40.5
41.1
41.8
41.3
41.4
41.6
41.6
41.7
40.3
40.8
40. 7
40.8
40.4
40.5
40.3
40.0
40.2
41.7
42.0
42.0
41.9
41.1
41.4
39.0
40.0
39.8
39.5
39.4
39.4
39.8
39.2
39.6
40.5
41.5
41.4
40.2
39.2
39.5
38.9
39.4
39.0
39.3
38.9
39.1
38.6
38.7
39.5
39.9
40.9
39.7
39.2
39.1
39.2
$2.12
2.25
2.18
2.13
2.20
2.21
2. 22
2.23
2.28
2.31
2. 30
2.33
2.34
2.34
2.34
Mechanical measur
ing and controlling
instruments
Total: Miscellaneous
manufacturing in
dustries
$1.65 $64. 24
1.73 67. 40
1.70 66. 42
1.70 66. 58
1. 71 65. 76
1.70 66.83
1. 73 66. 42
1.70 65. 61
1.74 66.50
1. 76 68.30
1. 77 69. 38
1.78 69.46
1.78 70. 04
1. 79 69. 26
1.78 69.26
Toys and sporting
goods 4
$1.79 $58. 74
1.84 60.68
1.82 60.06
1.83 60. 92
1.82 59. 91
1. 82 59.43
1.82 58. 29
1.80 59. 21
1.82 60.04
1.87 61.45
1. 90 62. 58
1.88 62.33
1.89 61.15
1. 88 61. 78
1.88 61.94
38.8
40.2
39.
39.5
40.0
40.1
40.7
40. 5
40.9
40.8
39.8
40.3
41 2
40.5
40.4
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2.08 $74. 59
40.1 $1.86
2.16 79.15
40.8
1.94
2.14 77. 74
40.7
1.91
2.14 77. 55
40.6
1.91
2.15 76.38
40.2
1.90
2.16 77.36
40.5
1.91
2. 16 78. 74
40.8
1.93
2.18 77.20
40.0
1.93
2.17 78. 57
40.5
1.94
2.19 81. 95
1.97
41.6
2.17 81. 77
41.3
1.98
2.18 81.99
41.2
1.99
2.19 83.40
41.7
2.00
2.20 82. 60
41.3
2.00
2.20 83.00
2.00
41.5
Miscellaneous man
ufacturing industries
Watches and clocks
$1.98 $64.35
2.08 69.20
2.02 67.66
2.02 67.15
2. 03 67. 37
2.03 66. 98
2.10 68. 85
2. 08 56. 64
2.09 68.90
2.12 71.28
2.14 73. 46
2.14 73. 69
2.15 71.56
2.17 70.17
2.17 70.31
Musical instruments
and parts
$1.80 $72.14
1.89 76. 07
1.83 74. 07
1.84 74.66
1.83 73.53
1. 84 73. 71
1.86 73.35
1.89 72.00
1.91 73.16
1.95 77.98
1. 99 79.80
1.97 78.96
1.94 79.19
1.92 77. 27
1.95 77.83
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Laboratory, scien
tific, and engineer
ing instruments
Instruments and related products— Continued
Optical instruments
and lenses
Railroad
equipment4
$2.14 $71.15
40.2 $1.77 $82. 26
2. 21 70. 30
40.4
1.74 90.45
2.19 70. 07
40.5
1.73 85.89
2.19 71.38
1.72 84.14
41.5
2.20 70.86
41.2
1.72 88.00
2.19 71. 55
41.6
1.72 88. 62
2.19 71.04
41.3
1. 72 90. 35
2.17 68.38
39.3
1. 74 90. 32
2. 22 66.50
38.0
1.75 93. 25
2. 23 69.03
39.0
1.77 94.25
2. 25 71.33
40.3
1.77 91.51
2.26 70.09
39.6
1.77 93. 90
2. 27 71.10
40.4
1.76 96.41
2. 27 71.15
40.2
1.77 94. 77
2. 29 70. 93
40.3
1.76 94. 54
Instruments and related products
Total: Instruments
and related products
$1.84 $73.20
1.89 77.93
1. 85 76.14
1.87 76.14
1.82 75.76
1.85 75. 92
1.87 77.93
1.88 76. 38
1.92 77. 55
1.92 79. 52
1.95 80. 32
1.91 80. 93
1.89 80. 73
1.91 79. 97
1. 92 80. 36
Boatbuilding and
repairing
39.9
40.6
40.5
40.6
40.1
40. 5
40.5
39.7
40.3
40.9
41.3
41.1
41.2
40.5
40.5
$1.61
1.66
1.64
1.64
1.64
1.65
1.64
1.65
1.65
1. 67
1.68
1.69
1.70
1. 71
1. 71
Games, t o y s , d o lls , and
children’s vehicles
$1.51 $58.82
1.54 60. 28
1. 54 59. 91
1. 55 60. 92
1.54 59.91
1. 52 59. 43
1.51 56. 77
1.53 58.67
1.52 59.40
1.54 61 66
1. 53 64.11
1.57 62.09
1.56 59. 52
1. 58 60. 67
1. 58 61. 30
38.7
39.4
38.9
39.3
38.9
39.1
38.1
38.6
39.6
40.3
41.9
39.8
38.4
38.4
38.8
$1.52
1.53
1. 54
1. 55
1.54
1. 52
1.49
1.52
1.50
1. 53
1.53
1.56
1. 55
1.58
1.58
626
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing— Continued
Transportation and
public utilities
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries—Continued
Sporting and athletic
goods
Year and month
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
ings hours
1954: Average_____ $59.04
1955: Average_____ 60.92
February____ 59.98
March______
60. 52
April_______
59. 67
May................ 59.58
June________ 60. 52
July................. 60.14
August______ 60. 52
September___ 61.54
October_____ 60.21
November___ 62.57
December___
63. 83
1956: January_____ 63.04
February____ 63.12
39.1
39.3
39.2
39.3
39.0
39.2
39.3
38.8
39.3
39.2
39.1
39.6
40.4
39.9
39.7
Pens, pencils, other
office supplies
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.51
1.55
1.53
1.54
1. 53
1.52
1. 54
1. 55
1.54
1. 57
1.54
1. 58
1.58
1.58
1.59
$60. 90
62.73
62. 97
63. 54
62. 78
61.71
62.78
61.41
61. 56
61. 45
64.06
65.10
65.16
62.31
65. 57
40.6
41.0
41.7
41.8
41.3
40.6
41.3
40.4
40.5
39.9
40.8
41.2
41.5
40.2
41.5
Costume jewelry,
buttons, notions
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Fabricated plastic
products
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Other manufacturing
industries
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 50 $57.09
39.1 $1.46 $67.87
40.4 $1.68 $66. 47
1. 53 60. 30 40.2
1.50 72. 80 41.6
1.75 70.30
1.51 58. 84 40.3
1.46 72. 56 41.7
1. 74 68. 97
1.52 59.28
40.6
1.46 71.45
41.3
1.73 68. 51
1. 52 59.30
39.8
1.49 71. 51
41.1
1.74 67.72
1. 52 60. 40 40.0
1. 51 72.14
41.7
1.73 70.24
1. 52 60. 05 40.3
1.49 72. 21
41.5
1.74 70.58
1.52 56.60
38.5
1.74 69.48
1.47 72.04
41.4
1.52 58.56
1.49 71.75
39.3
1.75 70.30
41.0
1.54 61.16
40.5
1.51 74.34
1. 77 70. 93
42.0
1.57 61.81
40.4
1.53 75.23
42.5
1.77 71.05
1.58 63.18
40.5
1. 56 74.16
41.9
1.77 72.16
1.57 63.86
41.2
1.55 73. 81
41.7
1.77 73.98
40.4
1. 55 63.02
1.56 72.62
40.8
1.78 73.93
1.55 72. 57 41.0
1.58 62.16
40.1
1. 77 73. 53
Transportation and public utilities— Continued
Communication
Class I railroads *
Avg. Avg.
Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg. hrly.
earn earn wkly.
earn
ings
ings hours ings
39.8
40.4
40.1
40.3
39.6
40.6
40.8
39.7
40.4
40.3
40.6
41.0
41.1
0.4
40.4
$1.67 $78. 74
1.74 82.12
1.72 83.36
1. 70 80.64
1.71 79. 93
1.73 80.12
1.73 82. 84
1. 75 81.14
1.74 83.61
1.76 83. 07
1.75 81.58
1.76 84. 35
1.80 86.31
1.83 86. 73
1.82
40.8
41.9
42.1
42.0
41.2
41.3
42.7
41.4
43.1
42.6
41.2
42.6
41.9
.";3
$1.93
1.96
1.98
1.92
1. 94
1.94
1.94
1.96
1.94
1.95
1.98
1.98
2.06
2.10
Other public utilities
Local railways and
bus lines
1954: Average.......... $78.19
1955: Average_____
81.03
February____ 79. 37
March______
79.18
April.......... .
79.98
May________ 80.54
June________ 82.09
July................ 81.22
A ugust_____ 81.40
September___ 81.70
October_____ 80. 56
November___ 81.51
December___
83.03
1956: January_____ 81.60
February____ 82. 56
L in e construction,
Switchboard opera
installation, and
Total: Gas and
Telephone
Telegraph
ting employees9
maintenance em
electric utilities
ployees 1
43.2 $1.81 $68. 46 38.9 $1. 76 $56. 61 37.0 $1.53 $ 97.61
41.6 $1. 83 $83. 01
43.0 $2. 27 $76.13
41.3 $2.01
43.1
1.82 59. 72 37.8
1.88 72.07
39.6
2. 32 78. 54 42.0
43.9
1.58 1 01. 85
2.10
1.87 86. 52 41.2
42.9
1.85 70. 98 39.0
1.82 58. 62 37.1
1.58 100. 42
41.3
43.1
2.33 76. 82
40.9
2. 07
1.86 84.66
42.8
1.85 70. 20
39.0
1. 80 56.98
37.0
1. 54 99. 56 43.1
1.86 84. 05
2.31 77. 19 41.5
2.06
40.8
43.0
1.86 71. 71
39.4
1.82 59.03
37.6
1.57 100.46
2.07
1. 87 84. 66 40.9
2.32 78. 54 42.0
43.3
43.3
1.86 72.83
39.8
1.83 61.12
38.2
2.32 79. 52 42.3
43.6
1.60 101.15
1.88 85.28
41.0
2.08
43.9
1.87 70. 92 39.4
1.80 59. 28 38.0
42.3
1.56 99. 36 43.2
1.88 85. 49
2.30 79.52
41.1
2.08
43.2
1.88 72.00
38.5
40.0
1.80 60.06
42.2
1.56 101.87
44.1
2.31 79.34
41.4
1.88 86. 94
2.10
43.3
40.2
1.88 72.76
1.81 59. 52 38.4
1.55 105.08
42.4
45.1
2.11
1.88 87. 78
2.33 79.71
41.6
1.90 72. 58
43.0
40.1
1.81 60.29
38.4
42.4
44.5
1.57 102.80
2.31 79.71
41.4
1.88 87. 77
2.12
42.4
1.90 73.42
1.84 60. 86 37.8
39.9
42.2
44.6
1.61 103.92
2.33 79.34
1.88 89.02
41.6
2.14
42.9
40.2
1.90 75.58
1. 88 65.18
44.4
41.9
2.37 78.35
1.68 105. 23
2.15
38.8
1.87 89.23
41.5
43.7
1.90 73.84
1.86 59.68
39.7
37. 3
2. 35 78.96
42.0
1.88 89.01
44.8
1.60 105.28
41.4
2.15
42.5
1.92 73.28
39.4
1.86 59.41
36.9
1.61 102. 93 43.8
41.4
89.
42
2.35 78. 40 41.7
2.16
1.88
1.92 71.76
43.0
1.84 58. 67 36.9
39.0
1.59 99.76
2.32 78.21
41.6
43.0
2.15
41.1
1.88 88.37
Transportation and public utilities—Continued
Wholesale and retail trade
Other public utilities—Continued
Electric light and
power utilities
1954: Average........... $84. 67
1955: Average_____ 88.17
February____ 85.05
March______
85.47
April_______
86. 51
Mav................ 86. 72
June________ 87. 77
July................. 89.66
August.______ 89. 45
September___ 89. 42
October____
90.06
November___ 90.47
December___
90.67
1956: January___ _ 91.08
February____ 90.45
41.3
41.2
40.6
40.7
41.0
41.1
41.4
41.7
41.8
41.4
41.5
41.5
41.4
41.4
41.3
Electric light and gas
utilities combined
Gas utilities
$2. 05 $79.13
2.14 82.62
2.10 82. 61
2.10 80. 39
2. 11 80.40
2.11 80.40
2.12 80.80
2.15 81. 81
2.14 80.80
2.16 83. 43
2.17 85. 49
2.18 85.70
2.19 85.28
2.20 84.05
2.19 83. 44
Retail trade
Wholesale trade
41.0 $1.93 $84. 25 41.5 $2.03 $73. 93
40.4 $1.83
40.9
2.02 87. 57 41.5
2.11 77. 55 40.6
1.91
41. 1 2.01 85.28
41.4
2.06 74. 96 40.3
1.86
40.6
1.98 85. 28
41.2
2. 07 75.76
40.3
1.88
40.4
1.99 85. 70
2.08 76.17
41.2
40.3
1.89
40.2
2.00 86.53
41.4
2.09 77.14
40.6
1.90
40.4
2.00 86. 32
41.3
2.09 77. 55 40.6
1.91
40.7
2.01 87.78
2.11 78.53
1.92
41.6
40.9
40.4
2.00 90.31
42.2
2.14 77.95
40.6
1.92
41.1
2. 03 89. 66 41.7
2.15 78.96
40.7
1. 94
41.5
2.06 90. 49 41.7
2.17 79.37
1.95
40.7
2. 06 89. 62 41.3
41.6
1.94
2.17 78.96
40.7
41.4
2.06 89. 84 41.4
2.17 79. 56 40.8
1.95
41.0
2. 05 90.69
41.6
2.18 79. 58 40.6
1. 96
40.7
2. 05 89. 60 41.1
2.18 79. 59 40.4
1.97
Wholesale and retail trade—Continued
Retail trade (except General merchandise
eating and drink
stores 9
ing places)
35.4 $1.15
$56. 84
39.2 $1. 45 $40. 71
35.3
1.18
39.0
58.50
1.50 41.65
38.9
35.1
57. 57
1.48 41.07
1.17
35.2
38.8
57.42
1.17
1.48 41.18
38.6
1. 49 40. 60 34.7
57.51
1.17
1.18
38.8
58.20
1.50 40. 83 34.6
39.1
35.4
1.19
59.04
1. 51 42.13
1.52 43.08
35.9
1.20
60. 34 39.7
1.52 42. 48 35.7
1.19
39.6
60.19
39.1
59.82
1.20
35.0
1.53 42.00
58.82
38.7
1.52 41.76
1.20
34.8
58.52
38.5
1. 52 40.71
1.18
34.5
39.4
1.49 43.04
1.16
37.1
58. 71
1.54 42.70
1.22
59.44
38.6
35.0
1.54 42.94
35.2
1.22
59. 44 38.6
Retail trade—Continued
Department stores and
general mail-order
houses
1954: Average_____ $46. 83
1955: Average_____ 47. 39
February____ 46. 28
March______
46. 77
April....... ........ 46.60
M a y ..............
46.61
June________ 47.88
July..... ........... 48. 28
August........... 47.88
September___ 48.11
October_____ 47. 70
November___ 46.24
December___
50.44
1956: January_____ 48. 42
February___
48.47
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
36.3
35.9
35.6
35.7
35.3
35.3
36.0
36.3
36.0
35.9
35.6
35.3
38.5
35.6
35.9
Food and liquor
stores
$1.29 $60.83
1.32 62.10
1.30 61.02
1.31 60. 54
1. 32 60. 54
1.32 61.07
1.33 62.43
1.33 63. 73
1.33 63. 73
1.34 62.98
1.34 62.48
1.31 62.37
1.31 62.16
1.36 61.92
1.35 61.59
38.5
38.1
37.9
37.6
37.6
37.7
38.3
39. 1
39.1
38.4
38.1
37.8
37.9
37.3
37.1
Automotive and
accessories dealers
$1. 58 $74.42
1.63 79. 64
1. 61 76.91
1.61 78.68
1. 61 80.00
1.62 81.14
1.63 81. 77
1.63 81.14
1.63 81.03
1.64 80.96
1.64 79.53
1.65 79. 53
1.64 80.08
1.66 79.10
1.66 79.28
44.3
44.0
44.2
44.2
44.2
44.1
44.2
44.1
43.8
44.0
43.7
43.7
44.0
43. 7
43.8
Apparel and
accessories stores
$1.68 $46. 51
1. 81 46.82
1. 74 46.24
1. 78 45.50
1.81 46. 10
1.84 46. 55
1.85 46.73
1.84 47. 61
1.85 46. 77
1.84 46. 77
1.82 46.63
1.82 46.50
1.82 48. 51
1.81 47.06
1. 81 46.15
35.5
35.2
35.3
35.0
34.4
35.0
35.4
35.8
35.7
34.9
34.8
34.7
36.2
34.6
34.7
$1.31
1.33
1.31
1.30
1. 34
1.33
1.32
1.33
1.31
1.34
1.34
1.34
1.34
1.36
1. 33
Other retail trade
Furniture and
Lumber and hard
appliance stores
ware supply stores
43.1 $1. 56
$63. 72 I 42.2 $1. 51 $67. 24
1.59 69.82
43.1
1.62
66. 94 1 42.1
42.3
1. 51 66.83
42.3
63.87
1.58
42.2
1.52 67. 62
1.58
64.14
42.8
64. 53
41.9
1. 54 68. 64 42.9
1.60
42.0
43.4
65.94
1.57 69.87
1.61
67.10
42.2
1. 59 69. 87
43.4
1.61
41.9
1.61 71.39
67. 46
43.8
1.63
67.46
41.9
1.61 71.50
43.6
1.64
67. 72
41.8
1.62 72.38
43.6
1.66
1.64 71.71
43.2
68.72
41.9
1.66
1. 64 70.29
42.6
68. 72 41.9
1.65
71.38
43.0
1.66 70.46
42.7
1.65
41.6
1. 62 69.72
1.66
67.39
42.0
66. 56 41.6
1.60 69. 89 42.1
1.66
627
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Service and miscellaneous
Finance, insurance, and real estate 8
Personal services
Year and month
Banks and Security
dealers and
trust
companies exchanges
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
1954: Average..........................
1955: Average_____________
February___________
March______________
April_______________
M ay________________
June............................... Ju ly .................................
August...... ......................
September__________
October.-__________
November__________
D ecem b er................. .
1956: January. ___________
February____________
$57.39
59. 27
59.02
59.08
59.00
58.69
58. 50
58. 77
58.67
59.09
60.25
60.49
60.83
61.72
61.47
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$95.02
102.04
108.37
107.97
106.08
102.04
100. 97
101.69
97.16
96.69
99.60
96. 61
99. 24
99.09
99.03
Insurance
carriers
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$70.08
73.26
71.79
71.90
72.36
72.89
73.13
74.13
74.22
74.03
73. 95
73.84
74.94
75.78
75. 72
Hotels, year-round 9
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
hrly.
wkly. wkly.
wkly. wkly.
hrly.
wkly. wkly.
hrly.
earnings hours earnings earnings hours earnings earnings hours earnings
$40.13
41.18
40.96
40. 45
40. 35
40. 79
40. 47
40.89
40. 77
41.20
41. 50
41.60
42.02
41.61
41. 30
*Data are based upon reports from cooperating establishments covering
both full- and part-time employees who worked during, or received pay for,
any part of the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month. For mining,
manufacturing, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing plants, data refer to pro
duction and related workers only. For the remaining industries, unless
otherwise noted, data relate to nonsupervisory employees and working
supervisors.
Data for the most recent month are subject to revision without notation;
revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the first month
they are published.
1 See footnote 2, table A-2.
1 See footnote 3, table A-2.
* Italicized titles which follow are components of this industry.
1 Figures for class I railroads (excluding switching and terminal companies)
are based upon monthly data summarized in the M-300 report by the Inter
state Commerce Commission and relate to all employees who received pay
during the month, except executives, officials, and staff assistants (ICO
Group I). Beginning with January 1956, class I railroads include only those
having annual operating revenues of $3,000,000 or more. This class formerly
included all railroads having annual operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cleaning and dyeing
plants
Laundries
41.8
41.6
41.8
41.7
41.6
41.2
41.3
41.3
41.6
41.2
43.5
41.6
41.6
41.2
41.3
$0.96 $ 40.10
.99
40.70
.98
40.20
.97
40.60
.97
40.70
41.62
.99
.98
40. 80
.99
41.01
.98
40.40
1.00
40.70
1.00
41.01
41.11
1.00
1.01
41.31
1.01
41.51
1.00
41.00
40.1
40.3
39.8
40.2
40.3
40.8
40.4
40.6
40.0
40.3
40.6
40.3
40.5
40.3
40.2
$1.00
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.02
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.02
1.02
1.03
1.02
$47.12
47.40
45.22
47.04
47.24
49. 61
48.12
47.04
45. 82
48.36
48. 24
47.40
47.92
47.34
47. 09
39.6
39.5
38.0
39.2
39.7
41.0
40.1
39.2
38.5
40.3
40.2
39.5
39.6
38.8
38.6
$1.19
1.20
1.19
1.20
1.19
1. 21
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.21
1.22
1.22
Motion
picture
production
and distri
bution 8
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$89.09
93.84
90. 54
93.36
92.66
94.22
93.11
95. 94
92. 93
94.89
93. 91
95.17
94.57
93.28
86.54
* Data relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry as
switchboard operators, service assistants, operating-room instructors, and
pay-station attendants. During 1955 such employees made up 41 percent of
the total number of nonsupervisory employees in telephone establishments
reporting hours and earnings data.
TData 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 1955 such employees
made up 26 percent of the total number of nonsupervisory employees in
telephone establishments reporting hours and earnings data.
8 Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not avail
able.
8 Money payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips not included.
Se e footnote 1, p. 597.
N o t e .— Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is
given in a technical note on Hours and Earnings in Nonagricultural Industries, which appeared in the April 1954
Monthly Labor Review,
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
628
T able C-2: Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected industries, in current and
1947-49 dollars1
Manufacturing
Bituminouscoal mining
Manufacturing
Laundries
Bituminouscoal mining
Laundries
Year and month
Year
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
1939: Average................... $23.86 $40.17 $23.88 $40. 20 $17.64
17.93
41.25
24. 71
42. 07
1940: Average.-..............- 25.20
18.69
49.06
30.86
47.03
1941: Average................... 29 58
50. 24 20. 34
35. 02
52.58
1942: Average-....... ......... 36. 65
23.08
41.62
56.
24
58.30
43.
14
1943: Average—......... ......
25. 95
68.18
51.27
61.28
1944: Average.................. 46.08
27.73
67.95
52.
25
57.
72
44.39
1945: Average----- --------30.20
69.58
58.03
52. 54
1946: Average____ _____ 43. 82
32. 71
69.
73
66.
59
52.32
49.
97
1947: Average...................
34.23
72.12
70.16
52. 67
1948: Average................... 64.14
34.98
62.16
63.
28
53.95
54.
92
1949: Average...................
35. 47
68.43
70.35
57. 71
59. 33
1950: Average_________
37 81
70.08
77.
79
68.
30
64.
71
1951: Average.................38.63
68.80
78. 09
59. 89
1952: Average................... 67. 97
39.69
74.
57
85.31
62.67
71.69
1953: Average...................
40.10
70.43
80.85
62.60
1954: Average................... 71.86
40.70
83.84
96.00
1955: Average-------------- 76. 52 66.83
Cur
1947-49
$29.70
29. 93
29. 71
29.18
31.19
34.51
36.06
36. 21
34. 25
33. 30
34. 36
34.50
34.06
34.04
34.69
34.93
35. 55
i These series indicate changes in the level of average weekly earnings prior
to and after adjustment for changes in purchasing power as measured by
the Bureau’s Consumer Price Index, the years 1947-49 being the base period.
rent
1947-49
1955: February— ............ $74. 74 $65.39
75.11
65. 71
M a rc h ...............
65.64
April..................... . 74.96
66.81
M ay....................... . 76.30
66.53
June......................... 76.11
66.57
76.36
July- ...... ..............
August__________ 76. 33 66.66
67.63
September_______ 77.71
68. 32
October................... 78.50
79. 52 69.15
November_______
69.49
December________ 79.71
78. 55 68.54
1956: January-------------68.21
78.17
February2_______
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
$94.50 $82.68 $40 20
40.60
80.38
91.88
81.44
40. 70
93.00
41.62
82.20
93.87
98.28
85.91
40.80
41.01
95.50
83. 26
82.53
40. 40
94.50
84.19
40. 70
96.73
86.91
41.01
99.86
83. 50
41.11
96.03
92.18
41.31
105.73
41.51
104. 22 90.94
103.18
90. 03 41.00
1947-49
$35.17
35. 52
35.64
36.44
35.66
35.75
35.28
35. 42
35. 69
35. 75
36.02
36.22
35.78
2 Preliminary.
Se e footnote 1, p. 597,
T able C—S i Average weekly earnings, gross and net spendable, of production workers in manufacturing
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars 1
Net spendable average weekly
earnings
N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Gross average
weekly earnings
Year
Index
A(1947mount 49=100)
1939: Average-................... $23. 86
25.20
1940: Average--------------1941: Average..................... 29. 58
1942: Average------- -------- 36.65
1943: Average..................... 43.14
1944: Average----------- -- 46.08
1945: Average..................... 44.39
1946: Average..................... 43. 82
1947: Average-................. - 49.97
1948: Average.............. ...... 54.14
1949: Average..................... 54. 92
59.33
1950: Average--------------64. 71
1951: Average-------- -----1952: Average........... ......... 67. 97
1953: Average.................... 71.69
1954: Average— .............. 71.86
1955: Average..................... 76. 52
45.1
47.6
55.9
69.2
81.5
87.0
83.8
82.8
94.4
102.2
10&7
112.0
122.2
128.4
135.4
135.7
144.5
Worker with no
dependents
Worker with 3
dependents
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
$23.58
24.69
28.05
31.77
36.01
38. 29
36. 97
37. 72
42. 76
47. 43
48.09
51.09
54.04
55.66
58.54
59.55
63.15
$39. 70
41.22
44.59
45. 58
48.66
50.92
48.08
45. 23
44. 77
46.14
47.24
49. 70
48.68
49.04
51.17
61.87
55.15
$23. 62
24.95
29. 28
36. 28
41.39
44.06
42. 74
43.20
48.24
53.17
53.83
57. 21
61.28
63. 62
66.58
66. 78
70.45
Year and month
Index
A(1947mount 49=100)
1947-49
$39. 76
41.65
46. 55
52.05
55.93
58.59
55.58
51.80
50.51
51.72
52.88
55. 65
55.21
56.05
68.20
58.17
61.53
• N et spendable average weekly earnings are obtained by deducting from
gross average weekly earnings, Federal social security and income taxes for
which the worker is liable. The amount of income tax liability depends,
of course, on the number of dependents supported by the worker as well as
on the level of his gross income. N et spendable earnings have, therefore,
been computed for 2 types of income-receivers: (1) A worker with no depend
ents; (2) A worker with 3 dependents. See footnote 1, table C-2.
The computations of net spendable earnings for both the worker with no
dependents and the worker with 3 dependents are based upon the gross
average weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing indus
tries without direct regard to marital status and family composition. The
primary value of the spendable series is that of measuring relative changes
in disposable earnings for 2 types of income-receivers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Gross average
weekly earnings
1955; February____
March..............
April-----------M ay..................
June------------July...................
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
1956: January—........
February2—
$74. 74
75.11
74. 96
76.30
76.11
76.36
76.33
77.71
78.50
79. 52
79.71
78. 55
78.17
141.2
141.9
141.6
144.1
143.7
144.2
144.2
146.8
148.3
150.2
150. 5
148.3
147.6
Worker with no
dependents
Worker with 3
dependents
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
$61.76
62.05
61.93
62.98
62.83
63.02
63.00
64.08
64. 70
65.49
65.64
64.74
64.44
$54.03
54.29
54. 23
55.15
54.92
54.94
55.02
55. 77
56.31
56. 95
57. 23
56. 49
56.23
$69. 02
69. 32
69.20
70.27
70.12
70.32
70.29
71.40
72.03
72. 85
73.00
72.07
71.77
1947-49
$60.38
60. 65
60.60
61.53
61.29
61.31
61.39
62.14
62.69
63.35
63.64
62.89
62.63
2 Preliminary.
S e e footnote 1, p. 597.
N o t e .— Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is
contained in a technical note on the Calculation and Uses
of the Net Spendable Earnings Series (Revised May 1954),
which is available upon request to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
629
T able C-4: Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of production workers in manu
facturing industries1
Durable
goods
Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime
Year
Gross
amount
Gross
Amount
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
Average____
Average____
Average........
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average........
Average____
Average____
Average____I
$0. 729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465
1.59
1.67
1.77
1.81
1.88
$0.702
.805
.894
.947
3 .963
1.051
1.198
1.310
1.367
1.415
1.53
1.61
1.71
1.76
1.82
Index
(194749=100)
Nondurable
goods
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
Gross
54.5 $0.808 $0.770 $0. 640
62.5
.947
.881
.723
69.4 1.059
.976
.803
73.5 1.117 1.029
.861
»74.8 1.111 31.042
.904
81.6 1.156 1. 122 1. 015
93.0 1. 292 1.250 1. 171
101.7 1.410 1.366 1.278
106.1 1.469 1.434 1.325
109.9 1.537 1.480 1.378
118.8 1.67
1.60
1.48
125.0 1.77
1.70
1.54
132.8 1.87
1.80
1.61
136.6 1.92
1.86
1.66
141.3 2.01 • 1.93
1.71
Excluding
overtime
ir and month
Gross
amount
Amount
$0.625
.698
.763
.814
3 .858
.981
1.133
1.241
1.292
1.337
1. 43
1.49
1. 56
1.61
1. 65
> Overtime is defined as work in excess of 40 hours per week and paid for
at time and one-half. The computation of average hourly earnings excluding
overtime makes no allowance for special rates of pay for work done on holidays.
These data are based on the application of adjustment factors to gross average
hourly earnings, as described in Eliminating Premium Overtime From
Hourly Earnings in Manufacturing, M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1950;
reprint Serial N o. R. 2020.
Durable
goods
Manufacturing
February___
March_____
April_______
M ay............_
June...........
Ju ly ----------August . . . .
Septem ber...
October....... .
November_
December-_
January
February 3_ .
$1.85
1.85
1.86
1.87
1.87
1.89
1.88
1.90
1.91
1.93
1.93
1 03
1.93
$1.78
1.79
1.S0
1.80
1.80
1.82
1.81
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.85
1 87
1.86
Nondurable
goods
Gross
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
Gross
138.2
139.0
139.8
139.8
139.8
141.3
140.5
142.1
142.9
143. 6
143.6
$1.96
1.97
1.98
1.99
1.99
2. 02
2.01
2. 04
2. 04
2. 06
2.06
$1.89
1.89
1.90
1.91
1.91
1.94
1.94
1.96
1.96
1.97
1.97
$1.68
1.68
1.69
1. 70
1.70
1.71
1.70
1.72
1.72
1.74
1.74
$1.63
1.63
1.65
1. 65
1.65
1.66
1.65
1.66
1.67
1.68
1.68
14L4
2 .05
1.98
1.75
1.70
Index
(194749=100)
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
3 11-montb average; August 1945 excluded because of V-J holiday period,
• Preliminary,
° EE footnote 1, p. 597.
T able C-5: Indexes of aggregate weekly man-hours in industrial and construction activity1
[1947-49=100]
1956
Annual
average
1955
Industry
Total >— . . . . ___ _
. . _______
______
F eb.3
Jan.
Dec.
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
1955
1954
101.5
105.6
106.3
110.5
110.8
111.7
111.5
109.8
107.2
108.0
106.1
103.1
103.0
100.8
106.8
Mining division........................ ....................... .
77.7
78.8
79.7
77.4
78.9
78.3
78.7
78.6
80.4
77.7
75.7
76.0
76.4
77.9
76.6
Contract construction division___________
98.8
98.3
109.4
113.4
125.1
132.3
129.3
128.7
122.3
117.2
106.1
100.6
92.4
114.3
115.9
Manufacturing division_________________
108.5
109.3
112.7
112.6
112.0
110.7
109.1
106.0
107.8
106.4
104.5
105.2
103.6
107.7
101.1
117.5
365.6
119.1
369.2
122.6
369.2
122.2
375.9
120.1
372.3
117.7
383.9
115.8
383.9
114.2
117.2
386.5
395. 2
116.7
399.1
114.3
400.8
113.6
410.8
111.5
411.6
116.3
392.3
502.2
84.9
107.5
107.4
117.7
85.0
107.3
107.4
119.8
89.3
112.3
111.6
119.9
92.1
112.4
112.1
117.9
96.4
113.3
113.5
116.3
97.5
111.9
113.4
116.8
99.3
108.6
112.1
110.9
95.6
100.0
107.6
109.7
99.5
103.3
110.6
114.0
91.7
100.1
108.0
112.4
86.2
99.2
105.1
109.0
84.6
102.0
103.3
106.5
85.5
101.3
99.8
103.2
91.8
105.2
108.0
111.5
85.0
96.5
99.0
94.5
115.1
116.1
134.7
142.1
119.5
116.1
115.0
136.5
150.9
118.7
121.0
115.1
141.1
158.2
120.6
121.4
110.9
141.0
158.4
120.2
121.2
108.9
143.4
142.8
119.7
118.7
104.4
134.5
139.6
118.3
116.0
103.6
129.5
141.6
114.9
113.2
103. 7
124.3
147.9
113.1
116.2
107. 3
129.1
145.8
115.5
116.0
106.6
128.6
155.2
110.4
113. 6
104.4
127.3
153.7
113.1
113.2
102.2
127.0
154.4
114.2
110.6
99.6
126.6
150.9
112.9
115.8
105.4
131.6
149.6
115.5
108.3
100.6
123.4
135.0
114.9
101.8
99.6
105.6
108.1
109.2
106.1
101.5
95.6
101.1
99.4
97.7
99.3
97.4
101.2
98.0
97.7
81.8
79.7
84.2
97.7
84.3
87.3
84.3
100.8
89.6
94.8
86.7
101.2
93.9
96.0
86.6
102.2
99.1
115.2
85.1
102.4
103.8
114.0
84.2
101.2
102.8
102.6
83.6
96.2
96.4
75.2
79.6
96.6
90.4
79.7
81.7
94.0
85.1
76.9
80.4
92.8
81.6
72.0
80.2
95.2
80.4
77.2
83.0
94.2
79.8
81.4
83.0
97.5
90.4
89.1
82.9
93.5
90.3
87.8
78.7
114.4
113.6
109.2
115.4
112.3
118.7
111.8
119.0
111.3
118.6
109.2
118.2
108.1
116.4
98.1
113.5
102.9
113.8
100.5
111.7
100.1
110.1
109.5
110.5
107.6
109.3
106.1
114.0
99.0
109.2
108.7
109.6
92.1
114.9
102.4
108.3
109.7
112.3
110.7
92.4
121.4
100.3
111.4
109.9
92.5
123. 2
92.8
110.7
109.4
94.6
119.4
95.3
110.2
108.6
95.3
116.3
94.9
106.8
105.9
95.8
112.4
99.1
106.0
105. 7
97.0
112.0
94.8
106.7
106.9
96.1
116.4
95.5
105.5
107.6
95.7
114.0
89.6
105.1
107.7
93.7
110.9
90.9
105.7
107.4
92.7
109.1
98.4
104.0
104.4
90.3
108.6
98.6
107.4
107.3
93.9
114.3
95.3
104.4
103.5
95.7
97.0
89.9
Durable goods_______________________ _
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 transportatlon equipment)_____________ ___
Machinery (except electrical)________
Electrical machinery_______________
Transportation equipment........... ...........
Instruments and related products_____
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries........................... ................................
Nondurable goods____________________
Food and kindred products__________
Tobacco manufactures_________ ____ _
Textile-mill products________________
Apparel and other finished textile
products...................................................
Paper and allied products____________
Printing, publishing, and allied industries------------------------------- ------------Chemicals and allied products________
Products of petroleum and coal.............
Rubber products__________________ _
Leather and leather products................
92.7
118.9
99.8
>Aggregate man-hours are for the weekly pay period ending nearest the
15th of the month and do not represent totals for the month. For mining and
manufacturing industries, data refer to production and related workers. For
contract construction, the data relate to construction workers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 Preliminary.
3 Includes only the
divisions shown.
See footnote 1, p. 597.
107.5
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
630
D : Consumer and Wholesale Prices
T able D -l: Consumer Price Index ^ U n ite d States average, all items and commodity groups
[1947-49=100]
Housing *
Year and month
All
items
Total
food 5
Total
apparel
Total *
Rent
House House
Solid
Gas and
electric 'uels and furnish hold op
eration
ings
fuel oil
ity
90.6
100.9
108.5
111.3
118.4
126.2
129.7
128.0
126.4
94.9
100.9
104.1
106.0
111. 1
117.2
121.3
125.2
128.0
97.6
101.3
101.1
101.1
110.5
111.8
112.8
113. 4
115.3
95.5
100.4
104. 1
103.4
106. 5
107.0
108.0
107.0
106.6
96.1
100.5
103.4
105.2
109.7
115.4
118.2
120.1
120.2
110.9
110.8
114.7
114.8
115.7
115.9
116.1
117.8
118.0
118.1
118.8
118.9
118.9
119.3
111.0
. 111.2
111.2
111.8
111.9
112.1
112.8
113.3
113.4
122.8
123.7
124.4
124.8
125.1
126.3
126.8
127.0
127.7
128.4
128.9
128.9
111.3
111.6
111. 7
111.9
112.1
112.1
112.3
112.4
112.5
107.2
106. 6
106.3
106.2
106.2
106.8
107.0
107.0
107.3
107.6
107.4
108.0
113.2
114.4
114.8
115.2
115.8
115. 7
116.0
115.9
115.9
115.8
115.8
115.9
107.7
108.0
108.0
107.8
107.6
108.0
108.1
107.4
108.1
108.1
108.3
108.1
113.4
113.5
114.0
114.3
114.7
115. 4
115.7
115.8
116.0
116.6
116.9
117.0
129.3
129.1
129.3
129.4
129.4
129. 4
129.7
130.6
130.7
130.7
130.1
128.9
119.4
119.3
119.5
120.2
120. 7
121.1
121.5
121.8
122. 6
122.8
123.3
123.6
112.4
112. 5
112.4
112.5
112.8
112.6
112.6
112.7
112.9
113.2
113.4
113.6
107.8
107.5
107.7
107.9
108.0
107.8
107.4
107.6
107.8
108.6
108.9
108.9
115.9
115.8
117.5
117.9
118.0
118.2
118.3
118.4
118.5
119.7
120.2
120.3
125.7
126. 2
125.8
123.9
120.9
120. 9
121. 1
121.9
122.4
123.8
124.2
125.5
107.2
107.2
107.2
106.1
105.9
105.8
105.7
105.4
106.0
105. 6
105. 4
105.4
117.2
117.3
117.5
116.9
117.2
117.2
117.2
117.3
117.4
117.6
117.8
117.7
130.5
129.4
129.0
129.1
129.1
128.9
126.7
126.6
126.4
125.0
127.6
127.3
123.7
124.1
124.4
124.9
125.1
125.1
125. 2
125.5
125. 7
125.9
126.1
126.3
113.7
113.9
114.1
112.9
113.0
112. 7
113.3
113. 4
113.5
113.4
113.8
113.6
108.7
108.0
108.2
106.6
106.4
106.4
107.0
106.6
106.5
106.9
106.8
106.6
120.3
120.2
120.1
120.2
120.1
120.1
120.3
120.2
120.1
120.1
120.0
119.9
109.4
109.9
110.3
110.3
110.9
110.7
110. 8
110.8
111.2
111.2
111.5
111.5
126.1
126.2
126.2
125. 7
122. 5
122.7
123.2
123.8
125.2
126.3
126.7
128.0
104.6
104.8
104.6
104. 5
103.7
103.8
103.6
103. 2
103.6
104. 4
104.5
103.4
117.7
117.7
117.9
118. 1
119.0
119.2
119.4
119.5
119.8
120. 1
120.5
120.7
127.6
127. 4
127.3
125. 3
125.5
125.8
125. 4
125. 4
125.3
126.6
128.5
127.3
126. 5
126.8
127.0
127.3
127.5
127.6
127.9
128.0
128.2
128. 7
129.8
130.2
113.7
113.5
113.5
113.7
113.9
114.7
115.5
115.8
116.6
117.0
117.5
117.9
106.9
106.4
106.6
106.6
106. 5
106.2
106.3
106. 3
106.7
106.7
106.8
106.8
119.9
119.8
119.8
119.8
119.9
119.9
120.3
120.4
120 6
120.6
120.6
120.6
111.7
111.7
111.7
129.5
130.0
130.6
102.0
102. 5
103.1
121.2
121.4
121.6
126.8
126. 9
126.7
130.7
130.9
131.4
118.5
118.9
119.2
107.3
107.5
107.7
120.8
120.9
121.2
95.5
102.8
101.8
102.8
111.0
113. 5
114.4
114.8
114.5
95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.8
112.6
110.9
97.1
103.5
99.4
98.1
106.9
105.8
104.8
104.3
103.7
95.0
101.7
103.3
106.1
112.4
114.6
117.7
119.1
120.0
94.4
100.7
105.0
108.8
113.1
117.9
124.1
128.5
130.3
97.6
100.0
102.5
102.7
103.1
104.5
106.6
107.9
110.7
88.8
104.4
106.8
110.5
116.4
118.7
123. 9
123. 5
125.2
97.2
103.2
99.6
100.3
111.2
108.5
107.9
106.1
104.1
1952: January_____
113.1
112.4
112.4
112.9
113.0
113.4
114. 1
114.3
114.1
114.2
114.3
114.1
115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115.4
115.0
115.0
113.8
107.0
106.8
106.4
106.0
105.8
105.6
105.3
105. 1
105.8
105.6
105.2
105.1
113.9
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.4
114.6
114.8
115.2
115.7
116.4
116.0
116.4
116.7
116.9
117.4
117.6
117.9
118.2
118.3
118.8
119.5
120.7
103. 5
103.8
103.8
103.9
104.1
104.3
104 2
105.0
105.0
105.0
105. 4
105.6
117.7
117. 6
117.7
117.3
115.6
115.8
118. 6
119.0
119. 6
121.1
121.6
123.2
110.2
110.0
109.4
108. 7
108. 3
107.7
107.6
107. 6
108.1
107.9
108.0
108.2
1953: January..........
113.9
113 4
113.6
113.7
114.0
114. 5
114.7
115.0
115.2
115. 4
115.0
114.9
113.1
111.5
111 7
111.5
112. 1
113.7
113.8
114. 1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
104.6
104.6
104.7
104.6
104.7
104. 6
104. 4
104.3
105.3
105.5
105. 5
105.3
116.4
116.6
116.8
117.0
117.1
117.4
117.8
118.0
118.4
118.7
118.9
118.9
121.1
121.5
121.7
122.1
123.0
123.3
123.8
125.1
126.0
126.8
127.3
127.6
105.9
106.1
106.5
106.5
106.6
106.4
106.4
106.9
106.9
107.0
107.3
107.2
123.3
123.3
124.4
123.6
121.8
121.8
123.7
123.9
124.6
125.7
125.9
125.3
1954: January.........
115.2
115.0
114.8
114.6
115.0
115.1
115. 2
115.0
114.7
114.5
114.6
114.3
113.1
112.6
112.1
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8
111. 1
110.4
104.9
104.7
104. 3
104.1
104.2
104.2
104.0
103.7
104. 3
104.6
104.6
104.3
118.8
118.9
119.0
118.5
118.9
118.9
119.0
119.2
119.5
119.5
119.5
119.7
127.8
127.9
128.0
128.2
128.3
128.3
128.5
128.6
128.8
129.0
129.2
129.4
107.1
107.5
107.6
107.6
107.7
107.6
107.8
107.8
107.9
108.6
108.7
109.1
1955: January..........
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.2
114.2
114. 4
114.7
114.5
114.9
114.9
115.0
114. 7
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111.1
111.3
112. 1
111 2
111.6
110.8
109.8
109.5
103.3
103.4
103.2
103.1
103.3
103. 2
103.2
103.4
104.6
104.6
104.7
104.7
119.6
119.6
119.6
119.5
119. 4
119.7
119.9
120.0
120.4
120.8
120. 9
120.8
129.6
129. 7
130.0
129.9
130.3
130.4
130.4
130.5
130. 5
130.8
130. 9
131.1
1956: January........ .
114.6
114.6
114. 7
109.2
108.8
109. 0
104.1
104.6
104.8
120.6
120.7
120.7
131.4
131.5
131.6
February____
March______
April_______
M ay________
June________
July................
August_____
September___
October..........
November---December___
February........
March______
April...............
M ay___ ____
June________
July................
August........ .
September---O ctober------November___
December___
February____
M arch______
April...............
M ay___ ____
June________
July................
August_____
September__
October_____
November__
December___
February.— .
March______
A p r il...........
M ay.............. .
June_______
July................
August_____
September—
October_____
November__
December___
February___
M arch______
i A major re vision was incorporated in the Consumer Price Index beginning
January 1953. The revised index, based on 46 cities, has been linked to the
previously published “ interim adjusted” indexes for 34 cities and rebased on
1947-49=100 to form a continuous series. For the convenience of users, the
“ All-items” indexes are also shown on the 1935-39=100 base in table D-4.
The revised Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices
of goods and services purchased by urban wage-earner and clerical-worker
families. Data for 46 large, medium, and small cities are combined for the
United States average.
, „
„ . _ .
For a history and description of the index, see: The Consumer Price Index—
A Layman’s Guide, BLS Bull 1140; The Consumer Price Index, in the Feb
ruary 1953 M onthly Labor Review; The Interim Adjustment of Consumers’
Price Index, in the April 1951 M onthly Labor Review; Interim Adjustment
of Consumers’ Price Index, BLS Bull. 1039; and the following reports: Con
sumers’ Price Index, Report of a Special Subcommittee of the House Com
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reading Other
and
goods
recrea
and
tion
services4
97.2
102.6
100.1
101.2
109.0
111.8
115.3
117.4
119.1
Average...........
Average_____
Average.......... .
Average_____
Average.......... .
Average...........
Average..........
Average_____
Average..........
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
Trans M edical Personal
porta
care
care
tion
111.0
111.0
111. 1
111.0
mittee on Education and Labor (1951); and Report of the President’s Com
mittee on the Cost of Living (1945).
Mimeographed tables are available upon request showing indexes for the
United States and 20 individual cities regularly surveyed by the Bureau for
“ All item s” and 8 major components from 1947 to date. Indexes are also
available from 1913 for “ All item s,” food, apparel, and rent, for all large cities
combined, and from varying dates for individual cities.
s Includes “ Food away from home” (restaurant meals and other food
bought and eaten away from home); prior to January 1953, prices for this
category were estimated to move like prices for “ Food at home” but, since
that date, have been measured by prices of restaurant meals.
* Includes “ Other shelter.”
4 Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and “ miscellaneous services” (such
as legal services, banking fees, and burial services).
631
D: CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able D-2: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, food and its subgroups
[1947-49=100]
Food at home
Total
Year and month food
8
Total
food
at
home
95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.8
112.6
110.9
113.1
111.5
111.7
111. 5
112.1
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
113.1
112.6
112.1
95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.5
111.9
109.7
112.9
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
1953:
A vg.
Avg.
Avg~
AvgAvgA vg.
AvgA vg.
A vg.
Jan—
FebMar.
Apr.
May.
June.
July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct—
N ov.
D ec.
1954: Jan..
Feb.
Mar.
111.1
111.3
111.1
111.7
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.5
113.3
111.4
111. 7
112.6
112.0
111.4
Cereals Meats,
and
poul
bakery
try,
and
prod
fish
ucts
94.0
103.4
102.7
104.5
114.0
116.8
119.1
121.9
123.9
117.7
117.6
117.7
118.0
118.4
118.9
119.1
119.5
120.3
120.4
120.6
120.9
121.2
121.3
121.2
93.5
106.1
100.5
104.9
117.2
116.2
109.9
108.0
101.6
110.9
107.7
107.4
106.8
109.2
111.3
112.0
114.1
113.5
111.1
107.0
107.8
110.2
109.7
109.5
Food at home
Year and month
Dairy
prod
ucts
Fruits
and
vege
tables
Other
foods 3
96.7
106.3
96.9
95.9
107.0
111.5
109.6
106.1
105.9
111.6
110.7
110.3
109.0
107.8
107.5
108.3
109.1
109.6
110.1
110.5
110.3
109.7
109.0
108.0
97.6
100.5
101.9
97.6
106.7
117.2
113.5
111.9
113.5
116.7
115.9
115.5
115.0
115.2
121.7
118.2
112. 7
106.6
107.7
107.4
109.2
110.8
108.0
107.8
100.1
102.5
97.5
101.2
114.6
109.3
112.2
114.8
111.5
109.7
107.3
109.1
110.4
110.3
110.9
112.3
114.4
116.7
117.4
114.8
113.5
113.5
114.0
112.3
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes for 18 food subgroups (1935-39=
100) from 1923 to December 1952 were published In the March 1953 M onthly
Labor Review and in previous issues.
1954: Apr______
M ay..........
June___ —
July-------A u g - ........
Sept_____
Oct______
N ov ...........
D ec______
1955: J a n _____
Feb______
Mar_____
Apr______
M a y ,.........
June_____
Ju ly ,..........
Aug--------Sept_____
Oct........—
N ov_____
D ec, ____
1956: Jan- ____
F eb______
Mar_____
Total
food3
Total
food
at
home
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8
111.8
112.8
113.3
114.2
113.3
111.6
110.9
110.1
109.2
109.4
109.6
109.7
110.1
110.0
110.3
111.1
110.0
110.4
109.4
108.2
107.9
107.5
107.1
107.3
111.1
110.4
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111.1
111.3
112.1
111. 2
111.6
110.8
109.8
109.5
109.2
108.8
109.0
Cereals Meats,
and
poul
bakery
try,
prod
and
fish
ucts
121.1
121.3
121.3
121.6
122.3
122.6
122.7
123.1
123.3
123.4
123.8
123.9
123.9
123.8
124.0
124.2
124.1
124.0
123.9
123.9
123.9
123.9
124.3
124.4
110.5
111.0
111.1
109.7
107.6
106.7
103.9
103.5
102.2
102.4
102.5
102.3
103.0
102.1
103.8
103.7
102.9
103.5
100.9
97.1
94.6
93.3
93.6
92.8
Dairy
prod
ucts
Fruits
and
vege
tables
104.6
103.5
102.9
104.3
105.1
105.8
106.7
106.6
106.8
106.4
106.1
105.4
104.6
104.0
104.1
104.7
105.7
106.5
107.5
107.8
107.7
107.3
107.3
106.9
110.0
114.6
117.1
120.1
114.7
110.5
111.1
109.6
108.4
110.6
110.7
112.0
117.5
120.2
119.5
121.9
111.3
110.2
108.5
109.0
110.7
112.6
113.3
114.8
Other
foods8
113.6
114.5
115.2
117.3
119.6
116.0
115.7
113.7
112.0
111.3
112.1
111.9
109.4
108.4
107.7
109.2
112.6
114.1
113.9
113.1
113.7
112.8
109.6
110.7
5 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
3 Includes eggs, fats and oils, sugar and sweets, beverages (nonalcoholic),
and other miscellaneous foods.
T able D -3 : Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, apparel and its subgroups
[1947-49=100]
Year and month
1947:
1948:
1949:
19501951:
1952:
1953:
Avg
................
Avg
................
Avg _ _________
Avg
- ...........Avg . ________
Avg .............. .
Avg .....................
1955: Avg
.
19S3: J a n “ ______________
Feb _________
M ar __________
A p r __________
M ay___________
J u n e - _________
July___________
Aug __________
Sept _________
Oct____________
Nov___________
Dec___________
1954: Jan .......................
Feb........................
M ar____ _____
Total
apparel
97.1
103. 5
99. 4
98.1
106.9
105. 8
104.8
104. 3
103.7
104. 6
104.6
104.7
104.6
104. 7
104.6
104.4
104.3
105.3
105.5
105. 5
105.3
104.9
104. 7
104.3
Men’s
and
boys’
97.3
102. 7
100.0
99. 5
107.7
108.2
107. 4
106. 8
105.7
107.1
107.3
107.3
107.3
107.4
107.2
107.4
107.3
107.5
107.6
107.8
107.6
107.4
107.4
107.2
Women’s
and
girls’
98.0
103. 8
98.1
94.8
102.2
100.9
99. 7
98.9
98.0
99.7
99.3
99.6
99.4
99. 4
99.2
98.9
98. 7
100. 5
100. 8
100. 7
100. 5
99.8
99.5
99.0
Foot
wear
94.5
103.2
102. 4
104.0
117. 7
115.3
115.2
116.4
117.7
114.3
114.6
114.5
114.8
115.1
115.3
115.0
115.0
115.3
115.8
116.2
116.1
116.2
116.1
116.1
Other
apparel8
(3)
108. 6
93.2
92.0
101.6
92.1
92.1
90. 7
90.6
92.0
92.3
92.4
92.1
92. 5
92.3
92.2
92.0
92. 5
92.3
91.3
90.9
90. 4
90.4
90.0
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
8Includes diapers, yard goods, and an unpriced group of items represented
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Year and month
1954: Apr.......................
M ay___________
June________ -July___________
Aug___________
Sept__________
O ct---..................N o v ___ ______
Dec___________
1955: Jan____________
Feb___________
M ar___________
Apr____________
M ay__ _____ ..Tune
July ___________
Aug____________
Sept __________
Oct____________
N o v .._____ ____
Dec _________
1956: J a n ____________
Feb .
M ar____ ________
Total
apparel
104.1
104. 2
104.2
104.0
103. 7
104.3
104.6
104. 6
104.3
103.3
103.4
103. 2
103.1
103.3
103. 2
103.2
103. 4
104 6
104. 6
104.7
104. 7
104.1
104. 6
104.8
Men’s
and
boys’
107.1
107.3
107.0
106.6
106. 4
106.4
106.4
106. 5
106. 5
105.5
105. 6
105.6
105. 5
105. 7
105.6
105.7
105. 5
105. 8
106. 0
106.0
106.1
106.0
106. 5
106.6
Women’s
and
girls’
98. 4
98. 5
98. 5
98. 2
97. 7
99.0
99.6
99. 5
99.0
97.6
97. 7
97.4
97.1
97. 3
97. 2
96.9
97. 4
99. 5
99. 5
99.3
99.1
97.9
98. 3
98.3
Foot
wear
116.1
115. 9
116.3
116. 5
116.9
116. 5
116. 7
117.0
116. 9
116. 7
116. 6
116. 7
116. 9
117.4
117. 4
117.5
117. 6
118 1
118 4
119 2
119 8
120. 4
121.3
121.9
Other
apparel8
90. 4
90. 9
91. 0
90. 8
90. 7
90.9
91.1
91. 2
91.1
90. 5
90.6
90. 4
90. 2
90 3
90.1
90.5
90. 5
91 0
91 0
91. 0
91 1
90. 7
91.0
91.1
in the index by the weighted average of prices for all priced items in the total
apparel group.
3 N ot available.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
632
T able D-4: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, all items and food
1947-49=100
1913*
1914'
1915;
1916:
1917:
1918:
1919:
1920*
1921:
1922’
19231924:
1925:
192fi*
1927:
1928:
1929*
1930:
1931:
1932:
1933:
1934:
1935:
193fi*
1937*
1933*
1939:
1940:
1941*
1942:
1943:
1944*
1945*
194R*
1947:
1948:
Avftrfigfi
Avp.ragft
Avpragß
Average.. .
A vfiragfi
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average..........
Average
Average_____
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average_____
Average
Average_____
Average_____
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average_____
All
items
Total
food 1
42 3
42.9
43 4
46.6
54. 8
64.3
74.0
85 7
76.4
71.6
72. 9
73 1
75 0
75 6
74. 2
73.3
73 3
71.4
65.0
58.4
55.3
57. 2
58. 7
59 3
61 4
60 3
59.4
59.9
62 9
69.7
74.0
75 2
76. 9
83 4
95.5
102.8
39.6
40. 5
40.0
45.0
57.9
66.5
74.2
83.6
63.5
59.4
61.4
60.8
65.8
68 0
65. 5
64.8
65. 6
62.4
51.4
42.8
41.6
46.4
49. 7
50 1
52.1
48 4
47.1
47.8
52. 2
61.3
68.3
67 4
68 9
79 0
95.9
104.1
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
1951:
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average ____
January
February ___
March_______
April
M ay________
June________
July
August
September___
October______
November___
December.......
1952: January_____
February ___
March. _____
A pril________
M ay________
June________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
19.531 January
February. __
M arch. _____
April________
M ay.......... ...
All
items
Total
food 2
101.8
102.8
111.0
113.5
114.4
114.8
114.5
108.6
109.9
110.3
110.4
110.9
110.8
110.9
110.9
111.6
112.1
112.8
113.1
113.1
112.4
112.4
112.9
113.0
113.4
114.1
114.3
114.1
114.2
114.3
114.1
113.9
113.4
113.6
113.7
114.0
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.8
112.6
110.9
109.9
111.9
112.0
111.7
112.6
112.3
112.7
112.4
112.5
113.5
114.6
115.0
115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115.4
115.0
115.0
113.8
113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
1935-39 = 100
1947-49=100
Year and month
All items
70. 7
71.8
72.5
77.9
91.6
107.5
123.8
143.3
127.7
119. 7
121. 9
122.2
125.4
126.4
124.0
122.6
122.5
119.4
108.7
97.6
92.4
95. 7
98.1
99 1
102. 7
100.8
99.4
100.2
105.2
116.6
123.7
125. 7
128.6
139. 5
159.6
171.9
1935-39 = 100
1947-49=100
1935-39=100
Year and month
Year
All items
170.2
171.9
185.6
189.8
191.3
191.9
191.4
181.5
183.8
184.5
184.6
185.4
185.2
185.5
185.5
186.6
187.4
188.6
189.1
189.1
187.9
188.0
188.7
189.0
189.6
190.8
191.1
190.8
190. 9
191.1
190.7
190.4
189.6
189.9
190.1
190.6
All
items
Total
food 2
114.5
114.7
115.0
115.2
115. 4
115.0
114.9
115.2
115.0
114.8
114.6
115.0
115.1
115.2
115.0
114.7
114.5
114.6
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.2
114. 2
114.4
114.7
114.5
114.9
114.9
115.0
114.7
114.6
114.6
114.7
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
113.1
112.6
112.1
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8
111. 1
110.4
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111.1
111.3
112.1
111.2
111.6
110.8
109.8
109.5
109.2
108.8
109.0
1953: June..............—
July—...............
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
1954: January_____
February____
March______
April........... .
M ay...............
June________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December___
1955: January_____
February____
M arch,. .
April________
M ay.......... .......
June.................
July_________
A ugust............
September___
October______
November.......
December____
1956: January_____
February. . . .
March_______
All items
191.4
191.8
192.3
192.6
192.9
192.3
192.1
192.6
192.3
191.9
191.6
192.3
192.4
192.6
192.3
191.8
191.4
191.6
191.1
191.1
191.1
191.1
190.9
190.9
191.3
191.8
191.4
192.1
192.1
192.3
191.8
191.6
191.6
191.8
>See footnote 1 to table D -l.
1 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
T able D -5: Consumer Price Index 1—All items indexes for selected dates, by city
193,5-39
= 100
1947-49=100
City
Mar.
1955
June
1950
Revised
series
Mar.
1956
114.2
114.3
101.8
191.8
0
0
0
198.1
198.0
117.2
113.4
116.9
115.3
114.9
0
0
117.0
113.4
115.3
116.4
115.5
116.2
116.3
0
0
0
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Jan.
1956
Dec.
1955
Nov.
1955
Oct.
1955
Sept.
1955
Aug.
1955
July
1955
June
1955
May
1955
Apr.
1955
United States averages_________ ______
114.7
114.6
114.6
114.7
115.0
114.9
114.9
114.5
114. 7
114.4
114.2
Atlanta, Oa_________________________
Baltimore, M d ______________________
Boston, M ass.-............ - ........- ....................
Chicago, 111_________ _______________
Cincinnati, Ohio..........................................
116.8
115.2
(3)
(3)
114.6
118.1
(3)
117.1
115.8
(3)
118. 5
114.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
119.1
(3)
(3)
(3)
114.5
119.0
(3)
117. 2
115.5
(3)
118.9
113.7
0
0
0
0
0
118.5
113.8
118.2
116.0
115.0
117.7
114.3
(3)
(3)
(3)
118.3
(3)
0
0
117.4
113.7
Cleveland, Ohio..................... ...................... 0
Detroit, Mich. __________ ______ ____ 116.9
Houston, Tex________________________
(3)
Kansas City, M o ........................................
(3)
Los Angeles, Calif____________________ 116.1
115.7
116.4
116.6
(3)
115.8
(3)
116.3
(3)
115.5
116.0
(3)
116.7
(3)
(3)
116.3
116.2
116.8
116.7
(3)
116.3
(3)
116.5
(3)
116.2
116.3
(3)
116.9
0
116.0
116.5
115.5
116.8
116.7
0
0
116.1
115.5
0
0
(3)
116.4
112.4
115.3
113.8
116.2
0
Minneapolis, M inn.............................. ......
(3)
New York, N. Y _____________________ 112.2
Philadelphia, Pa___ ____ -____ ________ 115.8
Pittsburgh, P a------ ---------------------------- (3)
Portland, Oreg---------- -----------------------(3)
115.7
San Francisco, C a lif..------------------------- 116.8
Scranton, P a................................................. (3)
Seattle, Wash----- ----------- ------------------(3)
Washington, D . C -------------------------------(3)
St . Louis, Mo_____ ___________ ______
(3)
112.1
114.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
111.1
116.2
113.4
116.1
112.1
114.6
113.6
116.3
0
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
112.0
114.8
112.5
115.0
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
116.1
115.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
110.9
117.4
113.7
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes are based on time-to-time changes
In the cost of goods and services purchased by urban wage-earner and clericalworker families. They do not indicate whether it costs more to live in one
city than in another.
2 Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953. See footnote 1 to table D -l.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
(3)
(3)
(3)
0
0
0
112.6
115.2
0
0
116.5
115.6
0
0
0
0
0
115.9
115.9
0
117.5
111.9
115.8
114.0
114.7
111.9
115.8
0
0
0
0
111.5
116.6
113.8
0
115.3
0
0
0
0
0
115.2
114.5
0
117.0
112.3
115.8
113.8
114.2
115.4
111.8
115. 5
111.8
115.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
115.9
115.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
111.4
116.8
113.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
101.6
102.8
102.8
101.2
(*)
102.8
103.8
0
115.1
101.3
0
102.1
100.9
101.6
101.1
112.4
115.8
0
0
0
115.6
115.6
101.1
100.9
0
0
(*)
0
0
0
0
200.4
192.5
0
197.3
0
0
194.0
0
185.7
192.7
0
0
193.1
199.6
0
0
0
» Prior to January 1953, indexes were computed monthly for 9 of these cities
and once every 3 months for the remaining 11 cities on a rotating cycle.
Beginning in January 1953, indexes are computed monthly for 5 cities and
once every 3 months for the 15 remaining cities on a rotating cycle.
633
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able D -6: Consumer Price Index 1—All items and commodity groups, except food,2 by city
[1947-49 = 100]
Other goods
and services
Reading and
recreation
Transportation
Medical care
Personal care
All items
City and cycle of pricing
United States average........... .
Monthly:
Chicago, 111____________
Detroit, M ich____ _____
Los Angeles, Calif______
N ew York, N . Y _______
Philadelphia, Pa_.............
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, Ga____ ______
Baltimore, Md_....... ........
Cincinnati, Ohio_______
St. Louis, M o— ...............
San Francisco, Calif____
March
1955
March
March
-X 1956
1955
March
1956
March
1956
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
114.7
114.3
119.2
113.5
131.4
127.0
126.7
127.3
107.7
106.6
121.2
119.8
117.7
116.9
116.1
112.2
115.8
117.0
116.3
115.1
112.4
115.8
122. 5
127.6
119.6
111.2
127.2
115.3
119.7
117.4
108.3
117.7
135.4
142.4
126.4
126.6
137.5
127.5
132.3
122.8
125.0
135.4
130.6
124.2
125.4
131.0
136.0
133.0
121.3
127.6
130.1
137.3
115.3
109.2
95.8
104.3
114.9
113.1
107.9
97.2
104.6
112.4
117.5
124.1
116.1
121.1
125.5
118.1
124.7
114.5
121.0
123.5
116.8
115.2
114.3
115.7
116.8
115.3
114.9
113.4
115.6
115.6
124.7
116.4
118.1
118.7
116.4
114.7
107.6
109.0
113.5
110.9
128.8
136.5
137.2
140.4
128.2
122.8
134.4
127.4
140.3
123.5
124.5
136.8
121.1
132.2
139.3
123.6
136.8
123.8
134.8
140.8
110.0
117.1
100.7
91.6
107.6
107.2
115.7
101.0
92.7
108.7
125.8
123.5
118.4
121.9
117.5
118.0
122.6
116.1
115.0
115.2
February February February February February February February February February February February February
1955
1956
1955
1956
1955
1955
1956
1955
1956
1956
1955
1956
Feb., M ay, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio_______
Houston, Tex...................
Scranton, P a ----- --------Seattle, W ash_________
Washington, D . C ..........
115.7
116.6
111.1
116.2
113.4
114.9
115.7
111.7
116.3
113.2
122.8
128.5
121.9
119.3
117.5
114.5
119.6
111.5
116.0
111.3
138.3
127.7
120.8
135.0
122.8
131.0
120.0
119.6
130.6
118.2
122.3
125.4
128.6
124.8
130.4
119.5
123.7
128.2
128.5
129.0
115.4
112.1
120.5
110.4
106.8
116.4
109.7
118.5
107.4
104.3
120.0
122.3
116.6
128.1
129.9
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
114.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3
113.0
115.3
116.5
113.8
114.6
121.1
122.5
123.1
116.8
119.1
112.3
116.5
115.9
116.9
110.6
128.4
136.5
148.9
131.6
128.9
124.5
136.0
143.3
126. 5
125.2
135.9
124.9
113.8
133.5
124.9
133.8
125.8
121.6
138.0
123.7
107.1
115.2
118.1
100.3
119.1
107.4
115.2
115.7
99.1
115.5
118.9
121.1
126.1
121.9
120.5
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, M ass................
Kansas City, M o____
Minneapolis, M inn__
Pittsburgh, Pa_______
Portland, Oreg..............
119.1
118.8
116.1
125.9
129.8
January
1955
118.4
117.1
125.5
120.4
118.6
Apparel
M en’s and boys’
Total
March
1956
United States average..............
Monthly:
Chicago, 111_____________
Detroit, M ich__________
Los Angeles, Calif..........
N ew York, N . Y ________
Philadelphia, Pa-----------Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, Ga.........................
Baltimore, M d_____ ____
Cincinnati, Ohio________
St. Louis, M o---------------San Francisco, Calif-------
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
March
1956
Other apparel3
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
103.2
106.6
105.6
98.3
97.4
121.9
116.7
91.1
90.4
108.5
102.3
105.0
103.7
104.1
104.8
102.5
103.4
102.1
104.6
112.8
109.5
108.5
106.5
103.9
110.0
107.4
108.0
106.1
103.8
100.3
91.8
97.0
96.3
100.1
96.0
95.6
£6.2
94.9
103.0
124.6
117.9
125.4
120.8
117.2
120.5
112.7
118.0
115.8
111.0
95.1
87.3
83.3
93.9
92.0
92.9
87.4
82.7
93.3
92.2
110.7
103.7
105.3
104.0
105.3
108.4
102.7
103.4
104.1
103.1
111.5
102.6
104.6
105.8
106.0
110.9
101.2
103.8
107.6
104.9
105.0
99.5
100.0
96.4
100.4
102.2
99.5
98.8
96.7
98.7
128.7
121.1
129.2
123.0
123.2
123.2
116.7
123.0
119.0
116.3
91.5
94.9
88.6
95.6
89.1
91.0
94.4
86.2
96.0
87.8
February
1955
February
1956
February
1955
February
1956
February
1955
February
1956
February
1955
February
1956
103.6
106.3
105.4
106.2
101.2
108.0
105.6
108.4
109.5
105.6
107.8
104.9
106.8
109.4
105.2
97.6
100.3
99.9
99.0
95.7
95.9
100.3
100.2
100.8
94.8
121.0
131.8
124.2
125.0
120.1
117.6
128.4
120.4
118.6
114.7
93.1
90.6
91.1
86.3
91.0
105.0
106.9
106.2
106.2
102.6
January
1956
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, M a ss..............
Kansas City, M o........ .
Minneapolis, M inn___
Pittsburgh, P a .............
Portland, Oreg..............
March
1956
Footwear
104.8
February
1956
Feb., M ay, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio________
Houston, T ex....................
Scranton, P a----------------Seattle, W ash.................... .
Washington, D . C ______
March
1955
Women’s and girls’
101.2
103.6
105.4
103.0
108.8
January
1955
101.7
102.7
104.7
102.1
106.0
January
1956
101.1
106.6
107.1
104.5
110.3
January
1955
103.9
106.1
108.3
103.2
110.4
January
1956
95.7
97.2
100.9
96.1
102.7
January
1955
95.6
97.0
99.3
96.0
97.8
January
1956
114.8
118.4
116.0
118.9
124.4
January
1955
112.8
114.2
113.8
115.5
120.6
January
1956
102.6
87.5
92.5
98.2
95.9
February
1955
92.7
90.7
91.5
86.8
90.1
January
1955
103.2
87.0
92.2
97.8
94.6
634
T able D-6:
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
Consumer price index1—All items and commodity groups, except food,2 by city—Con.
[1947-49=100]
Housing
C ity and cycle of pricing
Total housing
March
1956
United States average _........ _
Monthly:
Chicago, 111______ _ _
Detroit, Mich_. _______
Los Angeles, Calif______
N ew York, N . Y
_____
Philadelphia, Pa ______
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, Ga____________
Baltimore, M d__________
Cincinnati, Ohio________
St. Louis, M o_______ . . .
San Francisco, C a lif____
120.7
129.7
122.8
126.5
116.9
115.9
126.2
116.4
120.1
120.1
119.3
March
1955
119.6
128.3
122.3
B ent
March
1956
Gas and electricity
March
1955
March
1955
March
1956
Housefumishings
Household opera
tion
March
1955
March
1956
March
1955
March
1956
131.6
130.0
111.7
110.3
130.6
126.2
103.1
104.6
121.6
153.9
(4)
113. 8
114.3
116.2
110.3
134.9
123.8
(4)
135. 8
133.1
126.2
119.9
(4)
130.7
126.9
101.9
107.1
101.9
102.7
108.8
106.7
106.5
107.0
105.1
106.5
126. 7
115.2
124.8
101.8
110.5
108.9
113.6
108.8
102.3
119.4
99.9
118.3
103.8
136.3
113.3
118.7
103.8
132.5
123.3
130.3
135.0
143.5
(4)
119.5
127.2
127.2
139.6
(4)
107.6
97.5
97.4
107.4
98.5
.1
101. 7
103.9
116.4
114.9
(4)
(4)
149.4
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
123.9
115.9
117.3
119.4
115.9
135.0
126.8
(4)
(4)
(4)
132.3
125.0
(4)
(4)
(4)
122.8
March
1956
Solid fuels and fuel
oil
0)
100.1
102.2
104.3
100
March
1955
117.9
121.1
111. 8
120.8
118.4
108. 3
119.1
114.3
131.7
115. 2
129.4
125. 6
110.9
128. 5
110 9
122. 3
119 4
109.3
February February February February February February February February February February February February
1956
1955
1956
1955
1956
1955
1956
1955
1956
1955
1956
1955
Feb., M ay, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio____ ____
Houston, Tex_______ . . .
Scranton, P a ___________
Seattle, Wash ____ _____
Washington, D . C _ _____
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, Mass___________
Kansas City, M o.
____
Minneapolis, M inn______
Pittsburgh, Pa__________
Portland, O r e g ...______
121.2
122.5
125.2
116.4
121.3
115.5
123.0
115.9
January
1956
123.4
121.8
120.5
117.3
121.0
109.1
106.8
119.1
88.8
123.1
109.1
106.8
119.4
88.5
118.2
129.4
(4)
134.0
131.8
138.9
124.1
(4)
133.2
127.6
134.7
100.7
97.5
116.4
142.5
138.9
(4)
136.7
(4)
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
January
1955
120.0
129.2
(4)
144.1
(4)
130.8
(4)
140.0
(4)
129.6
107.1
124.9
124.8
125.0
107.8
111. 7
117.9
110.9
118.8
107.8
131.5
116.6
128.1
113.2
116.5
118.8
128.0
120.6
120.7
121.3
116.8
119.4
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
2 See tables D-2, D-4, D-7, and D -8, for food.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101.1
147.3
138.0
(4)
138.3
(4)
122.8
121.0
119.4
132.1
3See footnote 2 to table D-3.
4N ot available.
99.4
102.7
101.3
100.3
103. 5
105.2
114.4
128.8
109.5
116. 0
123.9
January
1956
January
1955
January
1956
106.2
104.3
103.5
103. 6
103.9
105.4
122.2
120.8
101.6
102.2
99.8
101.9
104.2
118.9
125.7
114.1
111
.8
127.0
109.9
114. 2
116.9
January
1955
116. 7
122. 5
119.2
.0
111.7
120
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
635
T able D-7: Consumer Price Index 1—Food and its subgroups, by city
[1947-49=100]
Food at home
Total food »
Total food at home
City
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Mar.
1955
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Cereals and bakery products
Mar.
1955
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Meats, poultry, and fish
Mar.
1955
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Mar.
1955
United States average*______
109.0
108.8
110.8
107.3
107.1
109.7
124.4
124.3
123.9
92.8
93.6
102.3
Atlanta, Ga____ __________
Baltimore, M d_____ ________
Boston, Mass_______________
Chicago, 111___ ___________
Cincinnati, Ohio,___________
107.9
110.2
107.6
106.3
109.6
107.9
109.9
107.6
106.8
109.5
110.0
111.7
109.0
108.3
111.7
105.6
107.4
104.9
104.1
108.0
105.9
107.2
104.8
104.7
107.7
108.2
110.3
107.6
106.6
110.7
118.9
121.3
122.1
119.0
124.2
118.8
121.3
121.9
118.9
123.8
117.9
122.0
119.1
119.2
125.1
94.3
93.7
91.1
86.2
93.1
96.2
95.0
92.5
87.6
93.9
105.3
103.7
100.0
95.4
102.8
Cleveland, Ohio____________
Detroit, M ich______________
Houston, Tex______________
Kansas City, M o___________
Los Angeles, Calif__________
106.6
111.0
106.1
104.9
111.5
106.6
110.4
106.7
104.7
111.4
108.6
113.0
110.7
106.9
112.0
104.5
109.1
104.5
102.9
108.2
104.4
108.6
105.3
102.7
108.2
107.4
111.6
109.5
105.2
110.2
119.7
119.2
117.6
120.5
128.5
119.3
119.6
117.4
120.5
128.2
120.4
120.0
118.8
120.7
127.8
89.7
91.2
89.2
87.2
93.8
91.1
91.9
89.6
88.7
94.7
99.7
100.1
100.8
96.9
101.6
Minneapolis, M inn_________
New York, N . Y ___________
Philadelphia, P a ___________
Pittsburgh, Pa_____________
Portland, Greg_____________
111.2
108.8
m .i
109.8
110.8
111.2
108.6
110.3
109.2
110.2
111.3
111.0
113.3
111.0
109.7
110.4
106.9
109.2
108.8
109.6
110.4
106.6
108.7
108.0
108.8
110.7
110.0
112.1
110.1
109.0
125.8
129.1
123.9
125.5
125.0
125.9
129.0
123.5
125.3
125.1
125.9
128.2
121.0
124.4
124.2
91.1
95.6
95.3
91.2
92.8
92.2
96.3
96.0
91.4
93.6
97.5
106.4
106.3
98.3
101.6
St. Louis, M o______________
San Francisco, C a lif ___ ____
Scranton, Pa_____________ __
Seattle, Wash.................... .........
Washington, D . O _________ _
110.7
112.1
106.1
110.9
110.0
109.7
111.7
105.4
110.2
109.9
111.8
113.1
108.7
112.4
110.9
108.2
110.7
105.3
109.8
107.9
107.3
110.3
104.5
109.0
107.8
109.2
112.3
108.6
111.9
109.5
119.4
130.6
119.1
131.5
121.6
119.2
130.5
119.5
131.5
121.8
118.9
130.7
118.6
127.5
122.3
91.8
100.0
91.1
93.1
90.6
91.4
100.7
91.2
93.5
93.0
101.3
106.2
100.9
101.7
100.1
Food at home—Continued
Dairy products
City
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Fruits and vegetables
Mar.
1955
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Other foods at home 4
Mar.
1955
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Mar.
1955
United States average_______ _____ _______
106.9
107.3
105.4
114.8
113.3
112.0
110.7
109.6
111.9
Atlanta, G a . . . ________________ _________
Baltimore, M d__________________________
Boston, Mass____________________ ______ _
Chicago, 111..
_____________________ __
Cincinnati, Ohio______________ ________
109.0
108.9
107.6
107.6
110.9
108.7
108.9
108.9
107.6
110.7
108.4
108.3
108.0
105.5
106.5
114.7
112.7
108.9
110.3
110.9
113.9
111.4
108.2
112.6
110.2
110.0
110.0
107.8
108.5
109.5
102.8
110.7
105.5
117.1
116.1
102.4
109.4
103.2
116.0
114.7
103.9
112.1
107.2
117.3
117.9
Cleveland, Ohio_____ ______ _____________
Detroit, M ich______ ___________________
Houston, Tex________ _ __________ _____
Kansas City, M o_________ ____ ____ _____
Los Angeles, Calif ______________________
101.7
104.7
104.3
107.3
102.9
102.2
104.8
109.7
107.5
102.8
99.6
102.8
108.8
108.0
102.9
109.3
127.6
113.9
108.6
118.6
107.8
124.8
113.4
107.3
115.8
105.9
124.9
116.6
103.0
115.6
114.0
112.8
109.3
104.8
109.9
113.0
111.6
108.9
102.8
110.7
116.4
114.3
109.6
105.5
111.2
Minneapolis, M inn______________________
New York, N . Y ________________ ____ . . .
Philadelphia, P a . . . ___________ __________
Pittsburgh, Pa__________________________
Portland, G reg_________________________
110.7
104.3
109.7
109.9
108.9
111.2
104.5
110.1
110.0
108.9
103.1
104.2
109.2
109.7
103.5
123.8
109.5
118.7
114.1
119.1
122.8
108.4
116.0
110.1
117.0
118.3
105.4
114.3
107.5
114.4
119.5
111.3
110.1
119.6
114.1
118.2
109.7
108.5
118. 7
111.4
121.9
113.3
112.8
120.9
109.4
St. Louis, M o___________________________
San Francisco, Calif____________ _______
Scranton, Pa________ ____________ _______
Seattle, Wash___________________________
Washington, D . O_______________________
100.2
105.7
107.6
111.1
113.3
100.4
105. 7
107.7
111. 1
113.1
91.5
104.9
107.7
108.2
122.5
121.5
111.1
122.3
114.5
120.6
120.1
107.9
119.8
113.6
118. 5
118.2
108.5
122.0
107.8
120.5
108.3
108.1
108.7
111.8
118.5
107.0
106.3
106.6
109.1
120.8
110.4
111.0
i See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes for 56 cities for total food (1935—
39=100 or June 1940=100) were published in the March 19,53 M onthly Labor
Review and in previous issues. See table D -8 for U. S. average prices for 46
cities combined.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
1 Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953.
< See footnote 3 to table D-2.
111.1
110.5
112.1
See footnote 1 to table D - 1,
636
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able D-8: Average retail prices of selected foods
Commodity
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat___ ______ _____ ..........5 pounds..
Biscuit mix 1_____________ .. ____20 ounces..
C om m eal2_________________ ______ pound.
Rice 3 ___________________ _______ do .
Rolled oats_________________ ____20 ounces..
Cornflakes4________________ ____12 ounces..
Bread...... .................................... ___ ...p o u n d ..
Sod? crackers............................... ............. ..d o ___
Vanilla cookies 8____________ ..........7 ounces..
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Beef and veal:
Round steak1 __________ ______ pound.
Chuck roast8___________ _______l.d o --Rib roast1______________ ________ do___
Hamburger_____________ __............_do___
Veal cutlets 1____________ ________ do___
Pork:
Pork chops, center cut....... ________ do___
Bacon, s lic e d ___________ ________ do___
Ham, w hole7_________ .. ________ do___
Lamb, le g 6__ ____ _________ ________ do___
Other meats:
Frankfurters____________ ................_do___
Luncheon meat, canned.. ___ 12 ounces..
Poultry:
Frying chickens:
Ready-to-cook >........... ________ do . . .
Fish:
Ocean perch fillet, frozen 8 ________ do___
Haddock, fillet, frozen 8__. — _____ do___
Salmon, pink___________ ..16-ounce can..
Tuna fish, chunk 7 ®.._6- to 6t£-ounce can..
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh ( grocery)________ _______ quart..
M ilk, fresh (delivered)_______ ________ do___
Ice cream ...________________ ...................p in t..
Butter___ __________________ ______ pound..
Cheese, American process____ ______ *_do___
Milk, evaporated........................ 14^-ounce can..
All fruits and vegetables:
Frozen fruits and vegetables:
Strawberries....................... ____10 ounces.
Orange juice concentrate.. _____ 6 ounces..
Peas, green_____________ ____ 10 ounces..
Beans, green___________ ........ .......do____
Fresh fra its and vegetables:
A pples................................. .............p o u n d ..
B ananas______________ ________ do___
Oranges, size 200........ ........ ............. .dozen ..
Lemons________________ _______ pound..
Grapefruit*____________ _________ each..
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
53.1
26.8
12. 5
17.2
19.2
21.8
17.7
27.6
23.8
53.0
26.9
12.5
17.2
19.2
21.8
17.6
27.5
23.8
54.1
27.4
12.6
17.8
19.0
22.0
17.7
27.0
23.8
81.3
44.2
64.6
37.5
110.1
83.0
45.0
65.9
37.8
112.4
91.0
52.1
71. 5
39.7
110 5
67.3
52.8
57.1
63.8
69.2
53.9
55.9
64.4
74.3
66.7
59.4
68.1
51.4
40.7
51.3
40.7
53.4
45.4
50.0
50.3
59.4
41.8
46.0
59.0
34.2
41.8
46.3
58.9
34.0
42.7
47.5
54.6
37.9
22.1
23.5
28.7
70.8
57.1
13.8
22.2
23.6
28.8
70.8
57.0
13.8
21.8
22.9
29.2
71.0
57.8
13.7
30.2
19.8
21.1
23.4
30.2
19.4
21.0
23.4
30.8
17.7
19.5
24.2
13.9
16.6
49.8
17.8
9.5
13.7
17.2
50.1
18.4
9.6
14.3
17.0
48.2
18.1
9.5
1 45 cities.
842 cities.
2 39 cities.
844 cities.
831 cities.
7 43 cities.
437 cities.
835 cities.
8 Formerly solid pack tuna, 7-oz. can, change effective August 1955.
10 Formerly No. 2Mi can, change effective April 1955.
Formerly bulk tea,
pound, change effective August 1955.
12 Unit changed to 3-pound can, effective August 1955.
n Formerly %-ounce bar. Change effective November 1955.
•Priced only in season.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Mar.
1955
Commodity
All fruits and vegetables—Continued
Fresh fruits and vegetables—Continued
Peaches*_________________ _____ pound..
Strawberries*_____________ .......... ."..pint..
Grapes, seedless*................... ______pound.
Watermelons*____________ _______ do___
P o ta to e s________________ ...1 0 pounds..
Sweetpotatoes....................... _____¡pound..
Onions.................................... .......... _.-do___
Carrots....... ............................. — ........ _do___
Lettuce...... ......................... . ______ head..
Celery___________________ ______pound..
Cabbage.._____ __________ _______ do ..
Tomatoes.___________ ____ .............. do___
Beans, green_____________ _______ do___
Canned fruits and vegetables:
Orange juice......................... .46-ounce can..
Peaches__________________ ..N o . 2y , can..
Pineapple 18________ ____ _ ___ No. 2 can ..
Fruit cocktail 10_.......... ......... „ N o . 303 can ..
Corn, cream style_________ ..........-__do___
Peas, green...... ........................ ..............do____
T om atoes*.. .................... ------------do___
Baby foods.............................. _4>£-5 ounces..
Dried fruits and vegetables:
Prunes__________ ________ _____ pound..
Dried beans______________ _______ do___
Other foods at home:
Partially prepared foods:
Vegetable soup.................... .11-ounce can..
Beans with pork_________ _16-ounee can..
Condiments and sauces:
Pickles, sweet____________ ...7 H ounces..
Catsup, tomato__________ . . .14 ounces..
Beverages, nonalcoholic:
Coffee ___________________ .1-pound can ..
Tea bags11_________ ______ package of 16..
Cola drink___
carton. 36 ounces
Fats and oils:
Shortening, hydrogenated12 ..3-pound can..
Margarine, colored 8______ ______pound..
Lard. ______ ____ _______ ............-_do___
Salad dressing____________ _______ pint .
Peanut butter...... .................. _____pound..
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar___________________ ___ 5 pounds
Corn syrup______________ ___24 ounces..
Grape jelly_________ _____ . .. 12 ounces...
Chocolate bar 13_......... ...... _____1 ounce..
Eggs, fresh__________________ ______ dozen..
Miscellaneous foods:
...3 -4 ounces..
Gelatin, flavored........... .
Mar.
1956
Feb.
1956
Mar.
1955
57.3
11.9
7.8
13.0
14. 1
13.2
7.9
42.2
26.4
54.8
11.8
7.9
14.1
13.7
13.1
8.2
32.6
32.8
54.5
15.1
7.4
13.0
17.4
15.5
7.8
34.2
22.8
36.0
34.8
33.5
26.2
17.9
21.6
15.3
9.7
35.5
34.9
33.4
26.2
17.8
21.6
15.2
9.7
32.7
33.4
39.0
40.7
17.0
21.4
15.0
9.7
35.6
16.3
35.5
16.4
32.7
18.8
14.0
14.6
14.0
14.6
14.2
14.8
26.9
22.9
26.9
22.7
28.2
22.3
99.4
23.2
32.3
96.2
23.1
32.3
94.2
40.2
32.5
90.6
28.2
18.7
34.7
53.6
88.6
28.0
18.7
34.6
53.6
35.2
29.2
21.1
35.5
53.4
52.4
23.5
26.2
4.5
59.3
52.4
23.5
26.1
4.5
59.2
52.2
23.7
25.9
4.6
60.2
8.4
8.5
8.6
N ote .— The U nited S tates average re ta il food prices appearin g
in table D -8 are based on prices collected m onthly in 46 cities fo r
use in th e calculation of the food com ponent of the r e v i s e d Con
sum er P rice Index. Average re ta il food prices fo r each of 20 large
cities are published m onthly and are available upon request.
P rices for the 26 m edium -size and sm all cities a re n o t published
on an individual city basis.
637
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able D-9: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities 1
[1947-49=100]
|
Commodity group
M ar. Feb. Jan.
1956 2 1956 j 1956
Dec.
1955
Nov.
1955
Oct.
1955
Sept.
1955
Aug.
1955
July
1955
June
1955
May
1955
Apr.
1955
Mar.
1955
June
1950
112.8 *112. 4
111.9
111.3
111.2
111.6
111.7
110.9
110.5
110.3
109.9
110.5
110.0
100.2
Farm products.__......... ............................................. 86.6
Fresh and dried produce.......................... ......... 106.5
Grains............................ ......... ............................ 84.5
Livestock and poultry......................................... 67.5
Plant and animal fibers__________ _________ 105.5
Fluid m ilk______________________________ 90.7
Eggs............................................- ....................... 85.0
Hay and seeds.____ ______________________ 82.5
Other farm products............ ................................ 143.7
86.0
98.2
82.9
67.7
105.7
94.0
81.3
80.4
145.8
84.1
105.0
81.5
63.0
101.9
93.9
85.9
78.9
139.7
82.9
95.6
82.7
59.3
100.8
94.4
99.2
77.6
139.1
84.1
102.6
79.8
62.2
100.9
95.0
98.9
75.8
140.1
86.8
92.9
82.4
71.8
99.1
95.1
92.6
75.9
145.4
89.3
102.1
81.4
75.5
100.8
93.6
103.0
75.1
146.2
88.1
99.5
78.6
75.5
102.9
91.8
95.4
81.6
138.6
89.5
98.7
86.7
79.4
103. 8
89.0
78.7
85.6
137. 6
91.8
104.7
90.3
83.1
103.4
87.0
74.4
88.1
143.2
91.2
118.7
92.4
78.4
103.4
87.4
71.5
88.7
138.3
94.2
120.9
91.0
84.0
102.7
90.3
77.9
89.9
142.3
92.1
104.4
92.2
79.9
102.9
90.5
82.2
93.1
143.0
94.5
89.8
89.6
99.8
107.3
81.6
70.6
87.6
122.4
Processed foods______________________________ 99.2
Cereal and bakery products. .............................. 115.4
Meats, poultry, fish........................................... 74.6
99.0
115. 4
98.3
115.1
98.2
115.2
98.8
115. 1
101.5
114.4
101.9
115. 1
87.5
104.3
106.8
109.6
176.6
63.7
56.8
66.7
80.1
98.1
86.3
107.8
105.0
110.1
173. 7
61.6
60.7
70.9
81.3
99.5
91.4
104.6
104.5
110.4
171.9
69.0
68.9
77.1
83.7
101.4
85.7
104 0
104.1
110.3
179.8
69.5
66.9
73.2
82.2
101.2
102.5
116.8
101.6
116.5
88.5
106.0
104.6
110.7
171.9
69.8
64.4
74.9
83.8
100.5
103.9
117.6
102.1
118.3
75.3
107.2
107.9
109.4
176.6
58.7
57.6
67.2
77.4
97.9
81.6
105.0
107.4
110.0
183.8
69.7
57.5
68.0
79.7
98.3
103.1
117.6
75.7
106.1
108.1
109.4
176.6
59.1
61.3
69.4
78.7
98.1
77.8
105.9
107.7
109.7
176.6
65.6
57.2
67.4
77.8
97.4
100.2
114.8
76.1
106.1
*108. 9
109.3
183.8
64.2
67.0
73.9
80.4
97.7
86.0
106.9
104.7
110.8
180.2
72.9
63.7
71.1
82.1
100.9
83.3
107.2
104.8
110.8
180.4
68.0
63.5
70.9
S2.1
100.8
102.4
90.0
98.0
94.7
136.9
63.9
67.9
67.4
79.2
106.6
All commodities other than farm and foods............. 121.0 *120. 6
120.4
119.8
119.4
119.0
118.5
117.5
116.5
115.6
115.5
115.7
115.6
102.2
96.0
Textile products and apparel................ ...................... 95.9
Cotton products___________________ ________ 94.1 *94.3
Wool products_____________ _______________ 102.1 *102. 7
Synthetic te x tile s ._________________________ 84.4 *84. 8
Silk products.............................................................. 119.5 119.5
99.7
99.5
Apparel.______________________________ ____
71.6
Other textile products_________________ _____ 72.0
95.7
93.8
102.6
84.2
120.5
99.5
71.4
95.6
93.7
102.8
84.8
120.6
71.3
95.6
93.2
102.8
85.8
120.8
99.0
72.5
95.4
92.8
102.8
86.1
123.7
98.7
71.6
95.4
92.5
103.0
86.7
126.8
98.6
72.1
95.3
91.7
103.9
86.7
128.7
98.6
72.9
95.3
91.0
105.0
86.8
126.8
98.6
74.3
95.2
90.6
105.5
86.6
124.0
98.6
74.4
95.0
90.3
106.1
86.9
123.2
98.0
76.4
95.0
90.4
106.0
87.2
122.8
9S.0
76.3
95.3
90.8
106.1
87.5
121.1
98.3
76.6
93.3
90.0
105.3
91.3
88.8
92.7
96.3
97.7
Hides, skins, and leather products..............................
Hides and sk in s....................................................... 58.3
90.9
Leather___________________________________
Footwear__________________________________ 116.5
Other leather products......... ................................... 98.0
97.1
58.2
89.9
115. 8
*98.1
96.7
56.6
89.5
115. 7
97.7
96.7
61. 1
88.4
115.4
96.7
96.4
60.2
87.7
115.4
96.2
95.3
62.3
86.1
113. 5
96.0
94.0
60.9
85.1
111.4
96.0
93.8
58.9
85.0
111.4
96.3
93.7
58.2
85.1
111.4
96.5
92.9
55.7
83.8
111.4
95.0
92.9
53.3
85.0
111.4
95.0
93.2
56.9
83.6
111.5
95.9
92.2
50.7
82.1
111.5
95.7
99.1
94.3
98.2
102.7
95.2
Fuel, power, and lighting materials---- ------ --------Coal..............................................................................
Coke______________________________________
Gas............................... ...............................................
Electricity__________ _____________________
Petroleum and products.............. ...........................
110.9 *111.2
110.1 109.9
145.4 145.4
122.0 *122.0
94.3
94.3
116.8 117.5
111.0
109.9
145.4
121.1
94.3
117.2
109.3
109.4
138.8
115.5
93.8
115.6
108.6
109.0
138.8
110.8
94.3
115.0
108.0
108.7
138.8
109.3
94.3
114.2
108.0
108.1
137.2
107.8
95.5
114.0
107.2
102.2
137.4
106.8
96.6
113.0
106.4
101. 5
133.4
108.9
96.1
111.6
106.8
100.6
133.4
110.4
97.2
111.5
107.0
100.4
133.4
111.0
97.8
111.5
107.4
102.3
133.4
113.1
97.8
111.5
108.5
105.1
132.4
116.6
99.5
111.7
102.4
104.8
115.6
94.8
101.3
103.1
Chemicals and allied products__________________
Industrial chemicals________________________
Paint materials---- -------------------------------------Drugs and pharmaceuticals_________________
Fats and oils, inedible.- .........................................
Mixed fertilizer. __________________________
Fertilizer materials_________________ ________
Other chemicals and products----------------------
106.5
120.0
119 1
101.4
91.9
55.0
107.9
113.0
102.3
106.4
119.9
119 1
100.4
*92.0
54.4
108. 2
113.0
102.3
106.3
120.0
117 0
98.6
92.6
55. 6
108.2
113.1
102.3
106.6
119.4
115 8
97.4
92.3
56.6
107.9
112.3
104.5
106.6
119.3
115 0
97.1
92.3
57.6
108. 5
112.3
104.6
106.5
118.9
115.0
97.4
92.3
58.2
108. 5
112.3
104.5
106.0
118.2
114. 8
97.6
92.4
55.8
108. 5
112.0
104.0
105.9
118.1
114. 8
97.6
92.4
54.6
108.9
112.1
104.0
106.0
118.2
114.8
97.1
92.8
55.9
108.9
111.7
103.9
106.8
117.8
114.8
96.9
93.0
53.8
108.8
111.0
107.6
106.8
117.6
114. 8
97.0
93.2
53.2
108.8
113.1
107.6
107.1
118.0
114.8
96.2
93.2
55.2
108.8
113.5
107.6
106.8
117.5
114.0
95.9
93.1
55.4
108. 9
113.6
107.6
92.1
96.3
98.0
86.8
91.3
48.8
101.2
98.5
91.1
Rubber and products.................................................. .
Crude rubber______________________________
Tires and tubes. __________________________
Other rubber products........... ................ ................
146.2
149. 4
151. 8
137.9
147.1
153.5
151.8
137.9
148.4
160.0
151.8
137.8
151.0
168.3
151.8
139.6
150.6
166.8
151.8
139.4
147.8
165.0
147.2
137.9
151. 7
176.4
147.2
141.4
148.7
170.3
147.2
137.1
143.4
159.2
142.3
134.7
140.3
149.6
142.3
132.3
138.0
142.4
142.3
130.4
138.3
143.8
142.3
130.3
138.0
142.8
142.3
130.3
109.5
129.0
106.1
103.6
Lumber and wood products____________________
Lumber_______________________ ___________
Millwork__________ ____________________ . . .
Plywood ....................................................................
127.9
129.8
128.9
107.5
126.7
128.2
129.1
107.5
126.3
127.6
129.2
107.5
125.1
126.4
128.8
105.7
125.0
126.4
127.9
105.9
125.4
126.8
128.2
106.1
125.7
127.1
128.2
106.1
125.1
126.4
128.3
105.7
124.1
125.1
128.3
105.7
123.7
124.7
128.3
105.6
123.5
124.2
129.3
105.6
122.4
122.9
129.3
104.8
121.4
121.8
128.7
104.8
112.4
113.5
110.9
101.7
Pulp, paper, and allied products..................................
Woodpulp_________________________________
W astepaper......................... ...................................
Paper__ _____ _____________________________
Paperboard__________________ ____________ _
Converted paper and paperboard............... .........
Building paper and board.......................................
126.8
116.8
142.6
136.2
130.6
122.7
133.3
125.4
116. 8
142.6
135.0
130.7
120.6
133.3
124.8
116.8
133.9
134.6
130.7
119.9
133.3
123.6
114.2
133.9
132.6
130.3
119.2
133.3
123.2
114. 2
133.9
131.7
130 1
119. 0
133.3
122.8
114.2
120.3
131.2
129.7
118.9
133.3
120.5
113.8
129.1
131.0
129.5
114.3
132.7
119.7
113.8
129.1
130.5
128.0
113.2
132.7
119.0
113.8
125.9
130.7
126.1
112.3
129.7
118.3
113.8
104.7
129.2
126.0
112.3
129.7
117.7
113.8
92.7
128.9
126.0
111.7
129.7
117.4
113.8
89.4
128.0
126.0
111.5
129.7
116.8
110.0
89.4
128.0
125.7
111.5
129.7
95.9
90.6
79.0
103.3
97.2
93.2
106.3
Metals and metal products_____________________
Iron and steel............................... - .........................
Nonferrous metals....................................................
Metal containers. ____________ ____ _______ _
Hardware_________________________________
Plumbing equipment_______________________ !
Heating equipment------------------------------------- j
Structural metal products___________________|
Nonstructural metal products_______________ 1
146.3
149.2
161.5
137.9
152.8
133.1
117.1
129.8
132.7
*145.1
!*149.1
*157.1
137.9
151.6
133.1
117.1
128.8
*132. 5
145.1 143.9
149.4 147.2
156.6 155.8
137.9 137.9
151.5 151. 6
133.1 1 133.1
117.3 117.1
128.7 128.0
132.2 i 132.2
142.9
146.0
153.9
138.0
151.6
133.1
117.4
127.6
132.1
142.4
145.7
153.9
132.8
151.3
129.4
117.3
127.4
131.3
141.9
145.0
154.2
132.8
147.8
128.1
117.2
127.0
130.8
139. 5
144.9
145.0
132.8
146.1
128.1
116.0
126.5
129.3
136.7
143.1
139. 5
131.4
144.9
123.2
113.6
123.8
127.0
132.6
135.8
137.8
131.4
144. 5
123.2
113.5
118.7
126.0
132.5
135.6
137.8
131.4
144.4
123.3
113.5
118.8
125.8
132.9
136.4
138.3
131.6
144.4
123.3
113.6
118.5
125.8
131.9
136.2
134.3
131.6
144.4
123.0
113.6
117.9
125.9
108.8
113.1
101.8
109.0
111. 1
103.2
102.0
100. 1
113.2
All commodities_____________________________
Dalrv products and Ice cream...............................
Canned, frozen, fruits and vegetables...... ...........
Sugar and confectionery____________________
Packaged beverage materials-----------------------Animal fats and oils________________________
Crude vegetable oils...............................................
Refined vegetable oils ____________________
Vegetable ell end products.....................................
Other processed foods_______________________
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
106.1
108.6
109.6
192.8
63.0
73.9
80.4
84.4
97.4
99. 1
96.8
96.5
638
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able D-9: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities 1—Continued
[1947-49 -100]
Mar.2 Feb.
1956
1956
Jan.
1956
Dec.
1955
N ov.
1955
Oct.
1955
Sept.
1955
Aug.
1955
July
1955
June
1955
M ay
1955
April
1955
Mar.
1955
Machinery and motive products.—______________
Agricultural machinery and equipm ent______
Construction machinery and equipment—........
Metalworking machinery and equipment____
General purpose machinery and equipment— .
Miscellaneous machinery........ ...............................
Electrical machinery and equip m ent--.............
Motor vehicles__________________ _________
134.7
126.2
143.6
151.6
142.4
134.0
133.6
129.0
*133.9
126.8
143.5
*151.2
141.7
133.7
*133. 2
*127. 5
133.3
126.8
143.2
150.7
141.4
133.6
132.4
126.7
133.0
126.5
143.1
148.5
141.5
133.3
132.1
126.7
132.5
126.1
142.4
148.0
140.4
133.5
131.4
126.5
131.4
126.7
142.1
147.2
138.6
133.1
130.7
124.7
130.0
126.3
140.5
146.9
136.7
132.0
130.6
122.0
128.5
122.4
138.2
146.7
134.8
130.2
127.7
122.0
127.5
121.5
134.7
145.5
132.7
127.4
126.7
122.0
127.1
121.5
134. 7
142.7
131.8
127.0
126.5
122.0
126.7
121.5
134.3
139.5
131.2
127.1
126.5
122.0
126.3
121.5
134.1
137.1
131.0
126.8
126.4
121.9
126.1
121. 5
133.8
136. 9
130.4
126.8
126.4
121.5
106.3
108.3
108.1
108.8
107.0
105.0
102.1
106.7
Furniture and other household durables_________
Household furniture. ______________________
Commercial furniture_______________ ____ _
Floor coverin g________________________ ____
Household appliances__ _____ ______________
Television and radio receivers .......... .............. ...
Other household durable g o o d s . ____ _______
118.2 *118. 2
117.5 117.3
138.3 138.3
130.5 130.5
105.6 *105. 7
93.3 *93.3
139.3 *139. 2
118.0
117.4
137.3
130.5
105.6
93.1
138.6
117.3
116.5
137.1
129.3
105.8
93.1
136.7
117.2
116.4
137.1
128.7
106.3
92.8
136.0
116.9
115.6
137.1
128.7
106.1
92.7
135.5
116.4
115.2
136.2
128.0
106.2
92.6
134.1
116.0
114.3
134. 3
126.8
106.6
92.1
134.1
115. 5
113.1
130.0
126. 7
106.5
93.1
133.1
115.2
112.9
129.8
126.2
106.4
93.2
132.4
115.1
113.1
128.6
125.1
106.5
93.3
131.9
115.1
112.8
128.6
125.0
107.3
93.1
131.9
115.1
112.7
128.6
124.4
107. 2
93.1
132.0
103.1
101.8
106.2
109.1
100.1
(8)
106.8
Nonmetallic minerals—structural—______________
Flat glass_________________ ______ _________
Concrete ingredients.............. ........................... .
Concrete products........ ............................................
Structural clay products_____ ______________
Gypsum products . . _______ ____ __________
Prepared asphalt r o o f i n g . ________________
Other nonmetallic minerals_________________
127.6 *127.1
131.1 131.1
130.0 129.9
121.1 121.1
145.9 145.6
127.1 127.1
104.9
99.6
121.4 123.0
127.0
131.1
129.7
121.1
145.3
127.1
99.6
122.1
125.4
131.1
126.0
120.2
144.6
122.1
101.0
122.1
125.2
131.1
125.6
120.2
144. 5
122. 1
101.0
122.0
126.8
133.0
125.6
120.2
144.3
122.1
114.4
122.8
126.4
131.1
125.3
119.8
143.9
122.1
114.6
122.8
126.1
131.1
125.3
118.6
142.9
122.1
114.5
122.5
125.3
131. 1
125.0
118.3
141.3
122.1
110.8
122.5
123.7
126.0
124.9
118.3
137.3
122.1
106.7
122.4
123.2
124.9
124.7
118.2
137.0
122.1
105.8
121.0
122.3
124.9
124.8
118.2
136.8
122.1
98.5
119.2
121.9
123.9
124.1
118 2
136. 5
122. 1
98.8
119.2
105.4
105.6
105.7
104.5
110.5
102.3
98.9
105.7
Tobacco manufactures and bottled beverages..___
Cigarettes_______________________________ _
Cigars------- --------- -------- ------------- ---------------Other tobacco products..__________________
Alcoholic beverages___________________ ____ _
Nonalcoholic beverages...........................................
121.7
124.0
104.2
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
104.2
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
104.2
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
104. 2
122. 5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
104.2
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
104.2
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
103.9
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.7
124.0
103.9
122.5
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103 7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103 7
121.4
114.7
148.1
101.4
102.8
100.6
103.3
100.9
100.8
Miscellaneous__________ . . _________ _________ 88.2 *88.7
Toys, sporting goods, small arms____________ 115.8 115.8
Manufactured animal feeds_________________
67.2
68.2
Notions and accessories_____________________
93.8
92.5
Jewelry, watches, photo equipment......... ........... 104.8 *104. 8
Other miscellaneous____________ ____ _____ _ 123.1 *123. 3
89.6
115.8
69.9
92.5
104.4
123.9
88.8
115.0
68.8
91.0
104.3
124.0
88.0
114.3
67.8
91.0
104.3
122.9
91.5
113.8
74.7
91.0
104.3
122.3
90.3
113. 6
72.5
91.0
104.3
122.2
89.8
113.4
71.7
91.0
104.3
121.5
90.8
113.1
73.9
91.0
103.7
121.2
89.1
113.2
70.8
92.9
103.0
121.1
91.3
113.2
75.0
92.9
103.0
120.8
94.0
113.2
80.1
92.3
103.0
121.0
95.6
113.2
83.0
92.3
103.1
120.6
Commodity group
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). The revised index has
been computed back to January 1947 for purposes of comparison and analysis.
Prices are collected from manufacturers and other producers. In some cases
they are secured from trade publications or from other Government agencies
which collect price quotations in the course of their regular work. For a
more detailed description of the index, see A Description of the Revised
Wholesale Price Index, M onthly Labor Review, February 1952 (p. 180), or
reprint Serial No. R. 2067.
June
1950
96.9
104.8
93.7
88.7
96.6
105.4
Beginning with the final wholesale price index for January 1955, the index
weights are based on an average of the dollar value of primary market trans
actions in calendar years 1952 and 1953. Previously, the weights were based
on the dollar value of transactions in 1947. The weight revision does not
affect the comparability of the indexes.
2 Preliminary.
» N ot available.
•Revised.
T able D-10 : Special wholesale price indexes 1
[1947-49 = 100]
1956
1950
1955
Commodity group
All foods.. ........ .........................
All fish___________________
Special metals and metal products..............................
Metalworking machinery____ ______ ________
Machinery and equipm ent____ ____________
Agricultural machinery (including tractors)
Total tractors. ____________ ______
Steel mill products- ______________
Building materials........... ..................................
Soaps___ ________ ______
Synthetic detergents______________________
Refined petroleum products__
East Coast petroleum___________ ______
Mid-continent petroleum___________ __ .
Gulf Coast petroleum_______ _____ ______ _
Pacific Coast petroleum_____________________
Pulp, paper and products, excl. bldg, paper______
Bituminous coal, domestic sizes. .
Lumber and wood products, excl. m illw o r k ......
All commodities except farm products_____ ___
1 See footnote 1, table D -9.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Mar.2 Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
Apr.
Mar.
98.9
113.1
141.5
158.1
137.7
126.0
129.2
158.2
130.4
98.7
91.1
115.9
112.2
116.2
118.8
114.0
126.6
113.9
127.9
117.2
98.0
122. 3
140.1
157.3
136.8
126.7
129.2
157.0
129.4
99.0
91.1
116.2
113.8
114.8
119.3
117.8
124.6
116.7
126.0
116.5
98.0
112.6
139.3
152.6
136.4
126.3
129.3
156.0
128.3
98.8
91.1
114.3
113.0
111.9
117.2
117.8
123.3
116.3
124.6
116.0
99.0
112.0
138.5
151.6
135.7
126.0
128.9
155.8
128.1
99.1
91.1
113.7
110. 9
111. 2
117. 2
117.8
123.0
116.0
124.7
115.8
99.3
107.4
137.7
150. 1
135.0
126.6
129.1
155. 7
128.7
98.9
91.1
112.8
110.1
110.4
117.2
115.1
122. 5
115. 7
125.1
115.7
101.5
109.2
136.7
149.4
134.3
126.2
127. 7
155.2
128.5
97.0
91.5
112.7
109.2
110.4
117.2
115.1
120.2
114.6
125.4
115.5
101.4
111.7
134.8
149.1
132.0
122.0
123.9
155.2
127.4
97.0
91.5
111.5
108.3
110.4
117.2
107.7
119.4
108.7
124.7
114.7
101.5
103.5
132. 7
148.0
130. 5
121.2
122.6
155.0
125.7
97.0
91.5
109.9
105.7
109.3
115.5
106.3
118.8
106.3
123.5
114.1
102.4
103.7
129.8
147.1
129.8
121.2
122.7
145.9
124.1
97.0
91.5
109.9
105.7
109.4
115.5
106.3
118.0
103.6
123.1
113.5
101.6
98.1
129.7
144.2
129.2
121.2
122.5
145.9
124.1
97.0
91.5
109.9
105.7
109.7
115.5
105.4
117.4
102.8
122.7
113.1
102. 5
98.7
130.0
143.0
128.7
121.1
122.5
145.9
123.4
97.1
91.5
109.8
106.1
107.5
117. 7
105.4
117.1
102.7
121.5
113.3
100.8
100.7
129.2
143.2
128.6
121.1
122.4
145.8
122.8
98.5
91.5
110.1
106.1
107.5
118.5
105.4
116.5
111.8
120.5
113.1
98.0
113.7
*140. 3
*158.0
*137.4
126.7
129.2
158.2
*129. 6
99.0
91.1
116.6
114.1
116.0
119.4
117.1
125.2
*116. 6
126.4
*116. 8
2 Preliminary,
'Revised.
June
95.0
92.4
108.3
109.8
106.1
108.4
107.5
114.9
107.5
80.9
82.9
102.1
98.1
101.8
109.7
94.1
95.6
106.8
112.6
101.2
639
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able D - l l : Indexes of wholesale prices, by economic sectors
[1947-49 = 100]
1950
1955
1956
Commodity group
June
Mar.1 Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
All commodities.—......................................- .................. 112.8 *112.4
111.9
111.3
111.2
111.6
111.7
110.9
110.5
110.3
109.9
110.5
110.0
100.2
*93.3
80.7
115.2
91.5
77.8
115.8
89.9
75.8
114.9
89.9
77.2
112.5
93.2
82.7
111.8
94.9
84.9
112.9
93.8
83.4
112.8
95.1
86.5
110.6
96.2
89.7
107.7
94.7
87.7
106.8
97.3
91. 2
108.0
96.1
89. 2
107.6
99.5
95.8
106.2
115.2
114.8
115.5
114.8
112.2
111.5
112.6
112.5
110.2
107.1
106.1
107.4
107.1
106.3
129.7
112.4
111.9
113.2
126.0
110.1
109.7
110.7
125.6
108.2
107.8
108.7
125. 6
107.4
107.1
107.9
125.3
106.6
106.4
107.1
125.3
102.5
102.1
103.0
125.0
102.8
102.4
103.4
124.9
102.9
102.5
103.5
124.7
102.9
102.5
103.5
124.8
104.6
104.1
105.5
124.1
107.7
107.2
108.5
105.7
102.8
102.8
102.9
Crude materials for further processing----------------Crude foodstuffs and feedstufEs. -------------------Crude nonfood materials except fuel---------------Crude nonfood materials, except fuel, for manu
facturing________ _______ . . . .
... - ...
Crude nonfood materials, except fuel, for construct,ion
_
_________________________
Crude fuel
___ ______________________
Crude fuel for manufacturing------ -----------------Crude fuel for nonmanufacturing industry------
93.4
80.8
115.5
130.0
112.9
112.4
113.7
129.9
*112.7
*112.2
*113.5
Intermediate materials, supplies and components...
Intermediate materials and components tor
manufacturing___
_______ ____ _______
Intermediate materials for food manufacturing.
Intermediate materials for nondurable manu
facturing____ _ . . . . ------- ----------Intermediate materials for durable manufac
turing
_ __ _____ ________________
Components for manufacturing------- ------ -----Materials and components for construction-------Processed fuels and lubricants------------------------Processed fuels and lubricants for manufac
turing------------- -------------- . ----------- . . .
Processed fuels and lubricants for nonmanu
facturing industry________________________
Containers, nonreturnable— _________ . . . ----______
______________________
Supplies
Supplies for manufacturing-------------- --------Supplies for nonmanufacturing industry--------Manufactured animal feeds. _____________
Other supplies___________________ _______
120.9
Finished goods (goods to users, including raw
foods and fuels)____________ _______________
Consumer finished goods______ _______________
Consumer foods__ _________________________
Consumer crude foods_______________ ____ Consumer processed food s.. --------------------Consumer other nondurable___ _____________
Consumer durable goods___ ________________
Producer finished goods------------------ ------Producer goods for manufacturing industries..
Producer goods for nonmanufacturing indus
tries...........................................................................
l Preliminary.
•Revised
"
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
120.3
120.0
119.4
119.1
119.1
118.6
117.6
116.8
115.7
115.7
115.7
115.4
101.1
122.5 *121.9
96.7
98.0
121.3
95.3
120.9
94.8
120.7
94.9
120. 5
95.6
120.1
95.5
119.0
97.1
118.2
99.2
117.1
100.0
117.0
99.0
116.9
98.9
116.3
98.4
100.3
90.4
104.3
104.1
103.7
103.6
103.3
103.1
102.8
102.8
102.4
102.4
102.5
102.2
94.2
145.0
137.9
129.9
105.8
144.7
137.5
129.0
104.6
144.2
137.1
128.7
104.3
144.2
135.9
128.9
103.7
143.7
135.0
128.7
103.8
141.9
131.3
127.7
103.7
140.1
129.1
125.9
102.4
137.2
128.2
124.2
102.9
137.0
128.3
124.0
102.9
137.0
128.0
123.4
102.6
135.9
127.4
122.7
103.6
110.2
104.0
106.7
99.5
104.3
146.6 *145.7
139.2 *138.4
131.1 *130.3
106.0 106.2
104.8 *104.9
104.5
103.1
102.7
102.0
102.2
102.2
101.0
101.6
101.7
101.5
102.6
98.4
108.1 108.5
126.8 125. 5
109.4 109.1
132.0 131.3
99.2 *99.1
68.2
69.3
117.3 *116.4
108. 2
125.1
109.3
131.1
99.5
71.2
115.9
107.2
124.1
108.9
131.4
98.7
69.7
115.5
107.0
124.1
108.4
131.2
98.0
68.4
115.2
106.5
122.5
109.8
130.8
100.3
75.1
114.8
106.6
119.9
108.7
131.4
98.5
73.1
113.1
106.3
119.2
107.9
129.9
97.9
72.2
112.8
104.7
118.3
108.3
129.4
98.8
74.3
112.8
105.1
118.4
106.7
126.3
97.8
71.8
112.9
104.9
118.3
107.1
124.7
99.3
75.8
112.8
104.4
118.3
108.1
123.2
101.4
81. 5
112.7
105.2
118.2
108.9
123.2
102.6
84. 5
112.8
101.5
99. 6
99.1
105.4
96.4
93.4
98.0
112.3
106.8
98.4
96.8
98.9
109.6
119.2
134.7
137.9
*112.0
106.5
98.0
93.6
99.0
*109.7
*118. 5
*134.1
*137.2
111.8
106.4
98.0
98.6
98.1
109.5
118.3
133.3
136.3
111.5
106.1
98.3
98.8
98.4
108.7
118.1
132.9
135.6
111.6
106.4
99.4
101.8
99.2
108.4
117.9
132.4
135.1
111.3
106.2
95.8
100.8
107.9
116.9
131.7
134.0
111.5
106.8
102.1
102.6
102.3
107.8
115.7
130.3
132.3
110.9
106.4
101.6
98.8
102.4
107.5
115.5
128.7
131.5
110.5
106.2
101.5
90.7
103.6
107.3
115.3
127.4
130.3
110.6
106.5
102.1
90.9
104.2
115.1
127.1
129.8
110.2
106.1
101.2
95.1
102.4
107.3
115.1
126.7
129.1
110.6
106.6
102.3
99.4
103.1
107.5
115.2
126.4
128.6
110.2
106.2
100.7
94.4
102.0
108.0
115.2
126.1
128.2
99.7
98.0
95.7
81.9
98.3
98.0
103.5
106.2
106.3
131.9 *131.6
130.8
130.7
130.1
129.8
128.7
126.5
125.1
124.9
124.9
124.7
124.5
106.1
99.9
107.4
N ote.—For a description of these indexes, see New BLS Economic Sector
Indexes of Wholesale Prices, Monthly Labor Review, December 1955
(p. 1448)
640
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
E: Work Stoppages
T able E -l: Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes 1
Number of stoppages
Workers involved in stoppages
Man-days idle during month
or year
Month and year
Beginning in
month or year
1935-39 (average)-.
1947- 49 (average)..
1945...................... .
1946-................... .
1947.......................
1948- .............. .
1949.......................
1950-................... .
1951 ................. .
1952 ................. .
1953— ..............
1954..............
1955 2...... ..............
1955: January 2__
February 2- .
March 2____
A pril2____
May 2_____
June 2_____
July 2_____
A ugust2___
September 2.
October 2__
November 2_
December 2_
1956: Ja n u ary 3- ,,
February 3__.
M arch 3___
2 ,8 6 2
3, 573
4, 750
4. 985
3, 693
3 ,4 1 9
3 ,6 0 6
4, 843
4 ,7 3 7
5 ,1 1 7
5 ,0 9 1
3, 468
4 ,3 2 0
Beginning in
month or year
In effect during month
1 ,1 3 0 , 000
2, 380j 000
3, 470, 000
4, 600, 000
2 ,1 7 0 , 000
1, 960| 000
3, 030, 000
2, 410 , 000
2, 220, 000
3, 540, 000
2, 400, 000
1, 530’ 000
2 ,6 5 0 , 000
Number
1 6 ,9 0 0 000
Percent of estimated work
ing time
n 27
39 700 000
46
38, 000 000
' 47
1 43
116 000 000
34, fioo
34, lo o j
50, 500,
3 8 800
22, 900
5 9 ,1 0 0
28 300
22, non
28, 200,
non
000
000
000
000
000
000
non
000
229
255
310
352
432
506
464
496
453
431
242
150
322
347
435
497
616
734
718
740
717
654
451
303
49, 000
92, 000
1 6 4 ,0 0 0
2 1 1 ,0 0 0
177, 000
4 8 7 ,0 0 0
6 3 7 ,0 0 0
2 3 6 ,0 0 0
2 3 4 ,0 0 0
2 1 4 ,0 0 0
8 4 ,0 0 0
61, 000
69, 000
122, 000
2 1 2 ,0 0 0
308, 000
324, 000
593, 000
776, 000
3 8 4 ,0 0 0
381, 000
292, 000
201, 000
1 7 8 ,0 0 0
386, 000
610. 000
1, 680, 000
2 ,7 3 0 , 000
2 ,8 2 0 , 000
3, 380, 000
3 ,3 2 0 , 000
3, 0 6 0 ,0 0 0
2, 7 7 0 ,0 0 0
2 ,4 7 0 ,0 0 0
2, 6 3 0 ,0 0 0
2, 3 4 0 ,0 0 0
250
250
250
350
350
350
85, 000
70, 000
50, 000
1 9 0 ,0 0 0
1 9 0 ,0 0 0
1 7 5 ,0 0 0
2, 0 0 0 ,0 0 0
2, 2 0 0 ,0 0 0
2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
1 All work stoppages known to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its
various cooperating agencies, involving six or more workers and lasting a
full day or shift or longer, are included in this report. Figures on “workers
involved” and “man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for as long as one
shift in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not measure
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
In effect during month
41
37
59
44
23
57
26
21
! 26
.0 4
.0 7
.1 8
.3 1
.3 2
.3 6
.3 9
.3 1
.3 0
.2 7
.2 9
.25
.22
.2 5
.21
the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or industries whose
employees are made idle as a result of material or service shortages.
2 Final.
^Preliminary.
641
F : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
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
Apr.2 Mar.
Total new construction ».
Private construction.-------- ----------- ----------.........
Residential building (nonfarm)................... —
New dwelling units___________________
Additions and alterations............................
Nonhousekeeping *................. ....................
Nonresidential building (nonfarm) 5------------Industrial......................................................
Commercial_________________________
Office buildings and warehouses_____
Stores, restaurants, and garages--------Other nonresidential building................ .
Religious________ ____ - .....................
E ducational...................................... .
Social and recreational....... ...... ............
Hospital and institutional8.................
M iscellaneous...................................... .
Farm construction...............................................
Public utilities__________________________
Railroad____________________________
Telephone and telegraph______________
Other public utilities__________________
All other priv ate7_______________________
Public construction__________________________
Residential building *______________ _____ _
Nonresidential building (other than military
facilities)_____________________________
Industrial___________________________
E ducational..--------- -------------------------Hospital and institutional-------------------Other nonresidential---------------------------Military facilities9 ______________________
Highways___ j ____ ______________________
Sewer and water----------- ------ ------------------Conservation and development.
All other public 11.........................
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Total
$3,250 $2, 980 $2, 703 $2,847 $3,177 $3,617 $3,953 $4,086 $4,101 $4,044 $3, 881 $3,606 $3,283 $42,250
2,333 2,197 2,021 2,124 2,410 2,632 2, 765 2,844 2,858 2, 829 2, 730 2, 547 2, 367 30, 250
1,207 1,112
987 1,080 1,283 1,422 1, 508 1,561 1,587 1, 590 1,544 1,430 1,319 16, 600
885
980 1,160 1,280 1,360 1,410 1,435 1,430 1,380 1,270 1,190 14,990
1,065
' 995
1,273
106
133
133
127
119
119
116
110
70
92
72
' 110
87
337
27
23
31
33
33
32
32
32
30
31
32
30
30
7,624
563
592
668
633
686
719
714
717
650
662
683
655
646
2,403
184
184
199
190
205
218
213
225
223
226
226
225
236
3, 039
214
236
259
277
286
305
303
269
296
251
251
253
257
1) 131
85
89
90
95
99
102
105
110
105
107
96
100
98
129
1,908
147
169
182
187
201
200
162
186
146
161
151
155
2,182
165
172
184
192
195
198
196
196
176
188
172
170
173
736
54
58
62
66
68
69
68
67
55
58
63
53
53
499
40
39
36
41
45
43
45
45
41
43
39
40
40
239
17
19
22
23
23
21
22
21
18
20
18
17
19
351
28
30
30
31
31
29
30
31
26
27
25
25
24
357
26
29
31
31
30
32
31
34
33
35
37
33
37
114
1, 400
131
141
148
137
150
112
94
83
83
94
86
105
4,465
357
378
396
421
407
415
420
351
388
329
295
303
351
28
340
29
30
31
33
34
32
29
30
30
25
27
32
55
700
60
60
65
65
65
60
55
60
60
55
55
65
274
3,425
289
306
311
321
323
298
323
215
267
239
221
254
161
14
16
16
16
14
12
11
11
7
7
8
10
8
916 12, 000
985 1,188 1,242 1,243 1,215 1,151 1,059
682
723
767
783
917
261
22
22
23
21
22
22
22
21
20
20
18
20
18
4,225
361
374
382
387
372
380
353
318
293
287
303
279
322
720
71
71
68
64
51
43
43
35
33
28
33
31
35
2,442
202
211
217
220
221
223
212
200
195
187
186
190
205
329
28
28
30
32
32
32
25
28
23
20
23
19
25
734
64
60
67
71
74
70
76
58
52
50
45
47
57
1,300
98
106
120
122
129
133
134
115
85
106
87
79
97
4,100
270
375
430
480
500
485
510
355
200
160
170
200
280
1,085
88
99
96
104
105
100
89
97
82
92
80
77
102
279
16
27
20
31
35
36
30
25
21
23
30
25
38
595
48
53
56
56
56
54
49
52
42
34
43
38
46
155
13
13
14
14
15
15
16
13
11
10
10
10
14
i Joint estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of
Labor, and the Business and Defense Services Administration, U. S. Depart
ment of Commerce. Estimated construction expenditures represent the
monetary value of the volume of work accomplished during the given period
of time. These figures should be differentiated from permit valuation data
reported in the tabulations for building permit activity (tables F-3, F -4,
and F-6) and the data on value of contract awards reported in table F-2.
9 Preliminary.
* Includes major additions and alterations.
* Includes hotels, dormitories, and tourist courts and cabins.
8 Expenditures by privately owned public utilities iar nonresidential
building are included under “ Public utilities.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1955
1955
1956
« Includes Federal contributions toward construction of private nonprofit
hospital facilities under the National Hospital Program.
7 Covers privately owned sewer and water facilities, roads and bridges, and
miscellaneous nonbuilding items such as parks and playgrounds.
• Includes nonhousekeeping public residential construction as well as
housekeeping units.
.
,
.
• Covers all construction, building as well as nonbuilding (except for
production facilities, which are Included in public industrial building).
» Covers primarily publicly owned airports, electric light and power
systems, and local transit facilities.
11 Covers public construction not elsewhere classified, such as parks, play
grounds ,and memorials.
642
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
T able F-2: Contract awards: Public construction, by ownership and type of construction 1
Value (in millions)
Ownership and type of construction »
1956
Feb.
Jan.
1955
Dec.
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
1955
1954
Total
Total
All public construction.,____________ $646. 0 $805.8 $931. 5 $660.4 $677.4 $740.4 $723.5 $709. 5 $1,103.0 $817.3 $784.2 $778.0 $507.0 $8, 953.8 $8, 259.2
Federally owned___________________
Residential building____________
Nonresidential building____ . . .
Educational________________
Hospital and Institutional___
Administrative and general...
Other nonresidential building.
Airfield building........ .........
Industrial_______ ____ _
Troop housing_______ _
Warehouses_____________
All other_______________
Airfields____________ ___________
Conservation and developm ent...
Highway____ _____________ ____
Electric power_________________
All other federally owned________
State and locally ow ned..___________
Residential b u ild in g ... ______
Nonresidential building_________
Educational________________
Hospital and institutional.....
Administrative and general...
Other nonresidential building.
Highway______________________
Sewerage systems_____________ _
Water supply facilities__________
Utilities______ _________________
Electric power............................
Other utilities____ _____ ____
All other State and locally owned.
117.5
12.7
39.4
0
.3
4.1
35.0
7.2
6.1
9.0
1.3
11.4
17.1
28.0
7.9
5.5
6.9
528.5
22.0
186.0
145.1
9.4
17.4
14.1
234.3
30. 5
26.7
20.0
5.7
14.3
9.0
112.6
3.0
47.4
.2
5.5
2.2
39.5
11.9
9.6
10.9
1.2
5.9
15.3
40.4
1.9
2.0
2.6
693.2
10.5
254.9
192.8
35.5
10.3
16.3
246.3
114.6
29.1
29.1
15.4
13.7
8.7
180.0
33.5
76.6
10. 9
.7
6.1
58.9
4.9
28.0
6.3
4.7
15.0
24.6
23.9
3.8
8.9
8. 7
751.5
11.7
286.7
236.1
13.4
23.2
14.0
320.7
53. 2
35.2
32.4
11.9
20.5
11.6
107.2
2.6
39.5
1. 4
.3
4.1
33.7
4.3
15.0
3.5
2.3
8.6
15.3
24.6
2.4
3.5
19.3
553.2
14.3
192.7
139.3
10.5
13.8
29.1
229.9
24. 7
58.8
26.2
18.5
7.7
6.6
98.7
.1
36.4
.1
1.1
3.6
31.6
3.4
18.7
2.8
2.8
3.9
9.2
42.5
4.2
2.6
3.7
578.7
18.7
230.6
165.8
19.9
27.3
17.6
215.1
35. 6
3.3
20.9
36.8
1.8
16.6
1.5
2.9
14.0
4.8
49.1
6.3
.7
2.5
611.3
17.7
208.2
159.7
16.9
13.2
18.4
242.1
65 8
35.7
37.0
39.4
29.2
15.4
13.8
13.8
24.2
9.7
14.5
16.3
40.3
21.1
19.2
11.5
1 Prepared jointly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT. S. Department
o' Labor and the Business and Defense Services Administration, U. S.
Department of Commerce. Includes major force account projects started,
principally by TVA and State highway departments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
129.1
.1
65.6
4 fi
60.6
1.3
36.6
2
47.8
1.2
28.3
327.2
12.7
240.3
120.8
.8
67.5
125.9
.1
79.4
141.9
0
100.2
78.2
8.3
30.0
4.0
2.4
1.2
1.4
30.0
.4
10.3
3.1
9.6
6.6
3.6
8.9
4.8
1.8
3.6
662.9
27.5
219.0
146. 2
14.0
35.5
23.3
282.0
43 2
24.9
1.5
10.4
.6
7.8
4.6
3.1
9.4
4.5
.5
.8
661.7
18.1
284.9
215.7
15.5
22.5
31.2
255.8
38 7
26.5
28.0
4.7
23.3
9.7
44.2
9.1
186.1
28.7
90.6
8.6
25.8
32.4
18.4
29.6
10.4
3.3
12. 5
775.8
19.4
262.1
182.8
19.4
27.7
32.2
349.7
4Q 1
27.3
57.5
36.7
20.8
10.7
3.0
4.7
59.4
10.0
19.4
5.8
6.3
17.9
9.7
26.9
4.8
5.6
5.5
696.5
27.2
251.7
186.2
26.9
18.2
20.4
238.8
6.7
3.5
68.0
10.6
22.4
11.0
6.4
17.6
18.6
14.7
5.6
3.2
4.3
658.3
14.5
246.6
199.7
15.7
14.0
17.2
268.7
5.8
4.6
89.7
17.5
48.6
6.3
7.5
9.8
16.2
12.2
6.0
4.3
3.0
636.1
16.5
260.7
206.0
10.6
24.5
19.6
248.3
.4
1.9
27.4
4.9
10.5
.6
6.3
5.1
10.6
20.8
2.9
3.1
2. 5
428.8
16.6
183.9
137.6
12.2
15.1
19.0
161.0
27.1
102.3
85.0
17.3
12.0
26.8
43.8
34.2
9.6
11.6
28.2
29.0
2.0
27.0
9.4
24.0
8.2
3.9
4.3
7.0
1, 499. 9
60. 7
845.2
1,371.1
3.9
811.4
77. 5
72.9
66.1
38.8
680. 7
684.8
102.8
90.9
297.3
334.8
53.8
68.7
83.9
82.3
142.9
108.1
153.1
156.4
207.4
268.7
58.5
62.2
38.8
66.8
71.6
66.3
7,453.9 6, 888.1
' 210.1
’ 254.6
2,851.4 2,870.7
2,107. 2 2,077.9
195.3
246.4
263.0
253. 5
285.9
292.9
2, 933. 5 2, 684. 7
393.6
433.8
247.4
186.4
129.6
292.7
197.4
105.3
92.1
115.3
2 Types not shown separately are included in the appropriate “other”
category.
F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
643
T able F-3: Building permit activity: Valuation, by private-public ownership, class of construction,
and type of building 1
Valuation (in millions)
Class of construction, ownership, and
type of building
1956
Jan.
D ec.2
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
$1,179.1
1,055. 7
123.3
$1,087.1
952.2
134.9
$1,322. 8
1, 202. 9
119.8
$1, 543.0
1,412.6
130.4
$1, 633.5
1,515.2
118.2
$1,793.7
1,630.8
162.9
642.2
634.6
624.9
581.3
13.8
5. 1
24.7
9.7
7.6
423.2
136.4
6.7
2.8
9.8
53.2
64.0
150.3
107.9
17.5
24.9
6.0
79.9
19.3
18.4
12.9
113.6
604.4
595.0
583.2
544.4
11.6
4.3
22.9
11.8
9.5
387.1
118.5
4.7
4.1
9.5
33.4
66.8
131.0
94.3
13.1
23.6
6.2
59.5
26.2
31.5
14.1
95.6
735.9
722.4
718.6
674.7
14.5
5.7
23.6
3.8
13.5
468.7
154.8
6.7
3.2
9.9
64.4
70.6
159.5
109.4
16.3
33.7
12.6
93.4
19.6
15.8
13.1
118.1
930. 2
917.9
903.0
844.4
14.3
6.8
37.5
15.0
12.3
462.7
141.2
6.4
8.1
12.3
32.5
82.0
159.7
90.5
39.4
29.8
20.0
80.2
19.7
20.6
21.2
150.2
1,011.0
1,000.0
990.9
928.7
15.4
6.9
39.9
9.1
10.9
477.8
149.4
6.7
5.7
12.7
43.1
81.2
171.3
108.7
30.2
32.4
23.7
77.7
13.6
24.7
17.3
144.7
1,118.3
1,101.1
1,082.9
1,015.8
18.7
6.1
42.3
18.2
17.1
526.0
195.4
7.5
8.5
14.5
52.1
112.8
172.9
106.1
26.3
40.6
20.9
68.4
29.7
23.4
15.2
149.4
Feb.
All building construction............................................... $1,297.1
Private____________ __________ ____________
1,175.1
Public..........................................................................
122.0
New residential b u ild in g ........................ .....................
N ew dwelling units (housekeeping only)............
Privately owned............ ........................... .........
1-fam ily___________ ______________
2-family____________________________
3- and 4-family_______________ ______
5-or-more family___ ________________
Publicly owned___________________ _____
Nonhousekeeping buildings_________________
New nonresidentiai building_____ ______ ____ ____
Commercial buildings.............................................
Amusement buildings_________________ _
Commercial garages__________ ____ ______
Gasoline and service stations__________ . .
Office buildings.. . _____________________
Stores and other mercantile buildings...........
Community buildings................... .........................
Educational buildings_____ ____________
Institutional buildings_________ ____ ____
Religious buildings_________________ ____
Garages, private residential__________________
Industrial bu ildin gs... ___________ __________
Public buildings.._ ______________ __________
Public utilities buildings____________________
All other nonresidentiai buildings.........................
Additions, alterations, and repairs_______________
1955
750.8
740.8
733.1
672.8
16.4
5.7
38.2
7.7
10.1
430.3
145.4
5.7
4.1
11.1
51.2
73.2
153.9
110.8
14.0
29.0
6.5
77.1
10.8
14.3
22.3
115.9
1 These statistics on building construction authorized by local building
permits measure building activity in all localities having building-permit
systems—rural nonfarm as well as urban. Such localities (over 7,000) in
clude about 80 percent of the nonfarm population of the country, according
to the 1950 Census. The data cover both federally and nonfederally owned
projects. Figures on the amount of construction contracts awarded for
Federal projects and for public housing (Federal, State, and local) in permit«
Issuing places are added to the valuation data (estimated cost entered by
builders on building-permit applications) for privately owned projects;
July
1955
1954
Total
Total
$1,653. 4 $18, 918. 4
1, 534. 7 17, 250. 8
1, 667. 6
118.7
1,024. 5
1,016.4
1,007. 5
954.2
16.8
6.5
30.1
8.9
8.1
478.1
178.5
9.8
6.8
11.3
61.2
90.4
153.6
97.4
18.0
38.2
18.9
66.7
23.9
20.3
16.2
150.8
11,685.6
11,525. 3
11,376.6
10, 636.1
208.0
84.0
448.6
148.7
160.4
5,585.1
1,854.1
99.4
66.7
140.0
553.0
994.9
1, 941.1
1, 239.1
306.5
395.5
187.6
833.4
304.9
273.1
190.9
1,647. 6
$16,485.8
14,805.4
1,680. 4
9,991.8
9,855. 6
9,696.3
8,917.0
211.1
87.6
480.7
159.3
136.2
5,024.1
1, 591. 4
97.6
60.1
119.9
454.1
859.6
1,875.3
1,177. 7
336. 2
361.5
166.4
662.3
318.1
209.4
201.1
1,469.9
construction undertaken by State and local governments is reported by
local officials. No adjustment has been made in the building-permit date
to reflect the fact that permit valuations generally understate the actual
cost of construction, nor for lapsed permits or the lag between permit issuance
or contract-award dates and start of construction. Therefore, they should
not be considered as representing the volume of building construction started.
Components may not always equal totals because of rounding.
2Revised.
T able F-4: Building permit activity: Valuation, by class of construction and geographic region1
Valuation (in millions)
1956
Class of construction and geographic region
Feb.
All building construction3. . . ....................................... $1, 297.1
Northeast____________ ______ ____ __________
266.8
North Central___________________ _____ _____
331.5
South______________ _______________________
352.8
W est..................... ........................................................
346.0
N ew dwelling units (housekeeping only)...................
Northeast ____________________________
North C entral.____ _____________ __________
South________ _______ ______ _______________
W est___________________ ______ ____________
N ew nonresidentiai buildings___________________
Northeast____ _______ ____ ____ _____________
North Central________ ________ ________ „
South. ______________________________ .
W est_______________________________ ______
Additions, alterations, and repairs... ______ ______
Northeast _______________________________
North Central_______________________ . . . ..
S o u th .._______________ ____ _______________
W e s t_______ ______ ________ _______________
1See table F-3, footnote 1.
2 Revised.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
740.8
145.2
191.6
197.1
206.8
430.3
96.3
108.1
121.6
104.3
115.9
23.4
29.2
32.8
30.6
1955
Jan.
Dec.2
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
$1,179.1
214.0
283.8
328.8
352.4
$1,087.1
236.7
283.2
293.6
273.6
$1,322. 8
316.0
385.8
313.4
307.6
$1, 543.0
333.5
493.8
363. 5
352.2
$1, 663. 5
356.9
559.8
367.6
349.2
$1,793.7
337.7
607.2
422.2
426.5
634.6
114.8
157.7
174.2
187.9
423.2
77.4
97.2
116.7
131.9
113.6
20.5
27.8
36.1
29.2
595.0
131.6
145.7
160.2
157.4
387.1
81.2
112.1
103.7
90.1
95.6
21.8
23.8
26.1
23.9
722.4
158.5
214.0
173.2
176.8
468.7
128.2
138.9
103.9
97.7
118.1
26.5
28.5
34.9
28.4
917.9
208.6
281.3
203.1
224.9
462.7
86.3
168.3
116.0
92.1
150.2
36.6
42.3
38.7
32.6
1,000. 0
211.0
349.4
212.9
226.8
477.8
112.3
164.7
114.8
86.0
144.7
32.6
41.9
35.5
34.6
1,101.1
221.5
376.0
239.5
264.2
526.0
82.6
186.9
132.7
123.8
149.4
30.1
41.3
41.7
36.3
2 Includes new nonhousekeeping residential building, not shown separately.
July
1955
1954
Total
Total
$1,653. 4 $18,918.4
4,125. 0
377.1
509.4
5, 707. 2
381.5
4,660.1
385.4
4, 426.1
$16,485.8
3,663. 9
4,838.1
4,144.7
3,839.1
11, 525. 3
2,496. 9
3, 486.6
2, 696.1
2,845. 7
5, 585.1
1, 232. 3
1,744. 4
1,452. 6
1,155. 7
1, 647. 7
364.8
447.9
451.1
383.9
9,855.6
2,159.1
2,905.8
2,339.5
2, 451. 2
5,024.1
1,149. 6
1,493.0
1,374.9
1,006. 6
1,469.9
338.6
404.1
391.9
337.3
1,016. 4
237.2
315.4
214.1
249.7
478.1
106.7
145.8
124.0
101.6
150.8
32.0
46.0
40.7
32.1
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, MAY 1956
644
T able
F-5: Building permit activity: Valuation, by metropolitan-nonmetropolitan location and S tate1
Valuation (in millions)
State and location
1955
1956
Jan.
Dec. *
N ov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
M ay
All States___________________
Metropolitan areas8______
Nonmetropolitan areas------
1,179.1
930.5
248.6
1,087.1
869.9
217.2
$1,322.8
1,027. 5
295.3
$1,543.0
1, 210. 2
332.8
$1,633. 5
1, 275. 4
358.1
$1,793.7
1,433. 0
360.7
$1,653. 4
1,322. 4
331.0
$1, 965.1
1, 578. 7
386.4
$1,867.1
1,481.3
385.8
Alabama____________________
Arizona ____________________
Arkansas________ __________
California________ _________
Colorado____________________
13.8
11.0
3.4
241.7
19.1
10.0
15.7
2.9
192.5
15.9
12.1
12.8
4.1
217.9
20.7
14.1
12.0
4.9
249.6
26.0
17.8
11.1
3.7
237.5
22.7
13.6
15.8
6.4
296.6
24.4
13.4
11.2
4.0
263.8
27.9
16.2
13.3
4.4
283.8
24.1
15.1
14.2
4.0
289.7
25.8
Connecticut................... ................
D elaw are_______ __________
District of Columbia-------------Florida ____________________
Georgia_____________________
16.6
5.9
2.7
61.9
18.5
22.1
2.2
1.8
51.6
12.5
29.0
3.5
1.4
57.0
30.3
23.9
6.3
6.2
67.6
16.2
34.1
7.5
7.8
57.4
21.9
30.6
3.6
3.3
76.8
28.6
31.3
8.1
4.9
56.8
28.8
36 8
6.2
15.0
69.5
23.7
Idaho ______________________
Illinois
__________________
Indiana ____________________
Iowa
___________________
Kansas.------- ------------------------
1.3
77.5
19.9
5.8
9.8
2.3
59.5
19.0
7.3
7.7
3.1
81.2
32.8
12.2
10.9
3.2
99.7
30.2
17.4
30.0
4.1
135.3
40.9
15.3
12.1
3.2
137.7
29.7
16.9
13.7
3.0
109.2
38.2
16.2
12.9
Kentucky___________________
Louisiana___________________
M a in e _______ - _____________
M aryland.. _ _______________
M a ss a c h u s e tts ------ -------------
6.4
23.9
1.8
23.5
24.7
24.9
16.0
2.5
32.1
24.3
10.8
19.4
3.1
30.6
29.1
13.0
21.2
3.3
30.8
43.2
17.4
24.5
2.8
37.4
40.8
22.8
25.4
2.9
41.3
35.9
Michigan____________________
M innesota___________________
Mississippi__________________
M issouri __________________
Montana____________________
52.1
11.2
3.8
17.4
1.2
59.4
14.3
3.2
19.9
2.3
71.8
25.9
3.0
22.6
2.1
109.1
32.0
3.9
26.5
3.8
109.9
43.5
3.9
33.9
5.3
Nebraska____________________
Nevada ____________________
New Hampshire_____________
New Jersey__________________
New Mexico--------------------------
3.1
3.7
1.1
48.7
7.2
7.0
7 4
1.7
48.7
5.5
5.2
6.3
2.6
63.7
4.7
8.5
5.1
2.8
76.1
5.9
New York___________________
North Carolina______________
North Dakota_______________
Ohio
_________________
Oklahoma-----------------------------
77.7
15.1
.4
65.6
10.4
92.9
13.5
.5
66.5
8.7
113.0
13.0
2.2
87.9
7.8
O regon_____________________
Pennsylvania........................... .
Rhode Island________________
South Carolina__________ ____
South Dakota------------ ----------
10.5
40.4
2.7
5.9
2.2
6.4
40.2
4.0
5.8
.9
Tennessee___________________
Texas
____________________
____________________
U tah
Vermont____________________
Virginia........................................ -
16.8
87.4
32.2
.4
25.0
Washington........................... .......
West Virginia......... ................. —
Wisconsin___________________
W yoming........ ...............................
23.0
4.4
18.8
1.3
1954
Total
Total
$1, 841.1 $18,918.4
1,464.8 15,090. 5
376.3
3,827. 9
$16, 485.8
13,180. 7
3,305.1
14.3
15.1
6.5
304.6
26.1
166.2
165.8
54.3
3,065.0
280.6
135.8
145.1
77.4
2, 569.5
245.3
38.3
5.3
5.4
59.5
22.6
39.7
7.1
2.7
60.9
19.7
359.1
62.0
87.5
746.9
275.5
320.4
49. 6
F 76.0
650.9
267.8
4.0
127.7
38.9
23.2
34.1
4.0
146.5
40.4
18.9
14.7
4.1
131.8
31.4
19.4
17.9
36.5
1,261.6
380.4
180.1
195.4
30.5
986.7
340.6
141.4
168.8
17.5
19.9
2.4
39.2
46.9
17.7
28.6
2.7
62.5
47.1
17.0
25.7
2.4
52.3
45.3
15.7
25.7
2.9
48.3
42.8
189.2
292.6
29.8
494.4
445.1
170.8
218.6
30.2
406.4
393.0
124.3
45.9
4.3
33.7
4.8
101.1
33.7
4.0
30.5
4.8
117.5
50.3
6.3
34.9
3.1
111.3
44.3
4.7
23.4
6.3
115.9
51.7
3.6
33.0
4. 4
1,128.0
402.8
50. 2
336.4
41.7
1,010.2
358.1
62.4
304.6
39.7
8.3
4.6
3.2
77.0
7.1
7.7
3.8
6.7
64.7
7.6
7.2
6.0
6.3
85.2
5.9
10.6
7.7
3.4
82.3
9.1
11.5
8.3
3.6
79.6
8.6
19.0
5.3
5.0
83.1
10.3
100.7
75.3
41.2
832.3
85.7
78.0
82.0
27. 6
687.7
72.3
115.3
15.1
2.8
91.1
8.7
113.1
16.5
5.0
115.1
9.7
116.5
18.8
3.5
146.0
14.9
121.6
18.8
3.2
111. 1
12.9
172.4
18.8
6.1
132.6
14.2
154.8
21.2
4.8
121.6
12.1
148.6
18.6
5. 8
116.0
20.1
1,485.1
216.0
35. 6
1,210. 5
148.9
1,416. 2
182. 2
29. 8
985.8
137.4
8.1
70.3
4.5
6.5
1.9
10.4
65.3
3.1
6.6
4.3
14.9
81.9
3.4
9.8
3.6
17.2
74.3
4.1
7.0
4.3
16.2
76.6
3.7
6.7
4.4
15.9
107.5
5.4
6.4
3.5
18.9
82.7
4. 5
8.2
4.2
14.2
77.1
5.2
6.7
5.2
157.2
872.1
49.0
94. 5
36.9
150.9
734.8
44. 7
67.3
32.7
14.2
62.6
4.9
.3
28.3
14.6
65.9
9.2
.7
29.3
16.0
83.0
9.3
.6
43.0
15.5
76.2
8.0
.5
33.5
22.6
87.5
15.0
2.0
39.8
20.5
88. 1
9.3
3.2
32.5
21.9
89.8
16.8
.6
54.9
20.3
97.9
12.9
1.3
51.2
21.7
91.6
11.5
.9
45.3
219.5
1,024. 6
118.7
11.3
470.4
209.9
946. 4
105.1
9.3
420.9
20.0
3.2
21.3
.7
21.8
4.0
31.3
.9
25.7
6.9
42.3
1.2
32.6
7.0
37.0
1.4
36.1
5.4
43.9
2.0
34.3
5.4
41.5
2.9
36.9
7.5
47.5
1.8
40.3
12.1
47.3
2.2
33.4
5. 8
43.8
1.6
381.0
67.4
438.8
18.6
375.5
65.1
401. 5
23.2
i See table F-3, footnote 1.
> Revised.
i Comprised of 168 Standard Metropolitan Areas used in 1950 Census,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Apr.
1955
F : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
645
T able F-6: Number of new permanent nonfarm dwelling units started, by ownership and location,
and construction co st1
Number of new dwelling units started
Period
Total
1950 4____________ _________ ________
1951__________________________
1952__________________________
1953______________________________________
1954______________________________________
1955 8 . . _______ ______________________
1953: First quarter__________
January _______________________
February.. _____ _______
M arch_____________
Second quarter___ ____
April................. ................
M ay .... .............................
June______ ___ ____
Third quarter.......................
July...................................
August..___ ________
September....................... .
Fourth quarter....................
October___ ________
November__________
December___________
1954: First quarter________ ..
January____________
February___________
M arch__ _________
Second quarter........... ........
April_______ _______
M a y __ ____________
June___ ___________
Third quarter_________
July...................................
August__ __________
September_____ ____
Fourth quarter________
October......... ........... ........
November__________
December............ ............
1955: First quarter_________
January_____ ____ __
February______ . . . ..
March_____________
Second quarter________
April______________
M ay___ ____ ______
June ______________
Third quarter......... .............
July................... ............ .
August_____________
SeDt.ember... . . . .
Fourth quarter 8 ______
October__ ________
November _________
December8 ___ ____
1956: First quarter... _______
Ja n u a ry 7
February 7______ ___ _
March 7________ . . .
Privately Publicly
owned
owned
1,396,000
1, 091, 300
1,127,000
1,103, 800
1, 220. 400
1,328,900
257, 100
72,100
79,200
105,800
324,300
111, 400
108, 300
104, 600
285,000
96,700
93,200
95,100
237, 400
90,100
81, 500
65,800
236, 800
66, 400
75,200
95, 200
332, 700
107, 700
108, 500
116, 500
346, 000
116,000
114, 300
115, 700
304, 900
110, 700
103, 600
90, 600
291, 300
87, 600
89,900
113. 800
404,400
132,000
137, 600
134,800
362,200
122, 600
124, 700
114,900
271, 200
105, 800
89,200
76, 200
1,352,200
1, 020,100
1,068, 500
1,068, 300
1. 201. 700
1,309,500
238, UK)
68,200
73,800
96,100
315,000
107, 400
105, 600
102,000
280, 700
96, 400
92, 200
92,100
234,500
90,100
79,900
64, 500
232,200
65,100
73, 900
93,200
326, 500
106, 500
107, 400
112,600
339, 300
112, 900
113,000
113, 400
303, 700
110, 500
103,300
89, 900
288,000
87, 300
87, 900
112. 800
397,000
130, 500
135,100
131,400
357, 800
121,900
122,300
113,600
266, 700
104,800
88, 400
73, 500
74. ono
78,000
96,000
73. 000
76,800
94, 400
Metro Nonmetro NorthNorth
politan
politan
South
places
places 1 east Central
43,800 1,021,600
71,200
776, 800
58, 500
794, 900
35, 500
803, 500
18.700
896, 900
19,400
975,800
19, 000
184, 400
3,900
51,300
5, 400
56, 300
9, 700
76, 800
9,300
238,100
4,000
80, 400
2,700
81,100
2,600
76,600
4,300
207, 800
300
71,500
1,000
67,300
3,000
69,000
2,900
173, 200
63, 800
TO
1,600
59,500
1,300
49, 900
4,600
174, 300
1,300
49, 700
1,300
53, 500
2,000
71,100
6,200
244,000
1,200
79, 400
1,100
77,100
3,900
87, 500
6,700
252, 800
3,100
87, 500
1,300
82, 600
2, 300
82, 700
1,200
225, 800
200
80, 400
300
75, 700
700
69,700
3,300
221. 800
300
68,100
2,000
66,900
1,000
86. 800
7,400
295, 400
1.500
96,800
2,500
99, 700
3,400
98,900
4,400
263,300
700
88, 300
2,400
91,500
1,300
83,500
4,500
195,800
1,000
76, 500
800
64,600
2,700
54,700
1,000
1,200
1,600
53. 400
55,900
68, 800
1The data shown here do not include temporary units, conversions,
dormitory accommodations, trailers, or military barracks. They do Include
prefabricated housing, if permanent.
These estimates are based on (1) monthly building-permit reports (adjusted
for lapsed permits and for lag between permit issuance and the start of con
struction), (2) continuous field surveys in nonpermit-issuing places, and
(3) reports of public construction contract awards.
Beginning with January 1954 data, the estimating techniques for the pri
vately owned segment of the housing starts series were revised to combine
(1) a monthly reporting system expanded to include almost all buildingpermit-issuing localities (accounting for nearly 80 percent of total nonfarm
population), with (2) a newly designed sample of counties that permits more
efficient operations and a greater degree of accuracy than previously. The
new series is continuous with statistics for earlier dates except that the urban
and rural-nonfarm distribution shown previously is replaced by metro
politan-nonmetropolitan and regional estimates. Data on type of structure
(1-family versus rental-type structures) are continued from the old to the
new series, and are available on request.
The error in the total private nonfarm estimate due to sampling in the
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•înanuLmieu. uuuati uui
(in thousands)
Location s
374, 400
(*)
314, 500
(3)
332,100
(J)
300, 300
(3)
323, 500 243, 100
353,100 273,100
72, 700
20,800
( 3)
22, 900
(3)
29.000
(»)
86,200
31.000
(3)
27, 200
(3)
28,000
(3)
77.200
25.200
(3)
25,900
(3)
26,100
(3)
64,200
26, 300
(3)
22,000
(3)
15,900
(3)
62,500 47, 400
16, 700 13, C00
21,700 13, 300
24,100 21,100
88, 700 67,300
28, 300 21, 700
31, 400 21,600
29, 000 24,000
93,200 72, 500
28, 500 25,300
31, 700 24, 800
33,000 22, 400
79,100 55, 900
30, 300 21,600
27, 900 19,000
20,900 15,300
69. 500 53,100
19, 500 16, 000
23,000 13, 500
27. 000 23,600
109,000 89, 700
35, 200 28,600
37, 900 30,300
35, 900 30. 800
98, 900 75,300
34, 300 27, 000
33,200 24,900
31,400 23. 400
75, 400 55, 500
29, 300 23, 500
24,600 17, 700
21, 500 14, 300
20.600
22,100
27, 200
(8)
(8)
(8)
West
(J)
(3)
(3)
(»)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(s)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(»)
(3)
3
(’)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(>)
(3)
325, 800 359. 700 291.800
356,000 389, 000 310, 800
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
52, 700 77,600
13, 300 22,500
16,200 26,100
23, 200 29,000
98, 400 90, 900
31,100 29,300
32, 900 30,000
34, 400 31,600
97,800 99, 900
33, 300 32,200
32, 600 31,700
31,900 36, 000
76,900 91, 300
30, 100 31,800
26, 800 31,500
20,000 28,000
63.400 95, 900
15,600 30,600
19,700 32,400
28,100 32, 900
116,600 109,600
37,300 35, 700
40, 000 37, 400
39,300 36, 500
108,000 99,400
35, 600 32, 700
38,000 34, 800
34. 400 31.900
68,000 84, 000
29, 400 28, 500
23,000 27, 800
15, 600 27, 700
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(*)
(8)
(«)
(3)
(3)
(>)
59,100
17,600
19,600
21,900
76,100
25,600
24,000
26, 500
75, 800
25, 200
25, 200
25, 400
80, 800
27,200
26, 300
27, 300
78. 900
25, 400
24,300
29. 200
88, 500
30, 400
29.900
28, 200
79, 500
27,300
27,000
25, 200
63, 700
24, 400
20,700
18,600
(«)
(8)
(8)
Total
Privately
owned
$11, 788, 595 $11, 418, 371
9, 800, 892
9; 186,123
10, 208, 983
9; 706; 276
10; 488; 003 10,181, 185
12, 478, 237 12, 309, 200
14; 544,647 14; 345; 829
2,346, 213
2,183, 710
641, 703
610 344
720; 234
674, 399
984, 276
898, 967
3,083, 256
3,000,120
1, 057, 899
1,022, 836
1,027, 221
1,001, 693
998,136
975, 591
2, 777, 607
2, 739, 268
941, 943
938. 871
911,681
902 501
923, 983
897,896
2, 280, 927
2,258,087
883, 455
882,838
777, 479
764 774
619; 993
610 475
2, 240, 448
2,199; 446
618, 313
605 951
701, 934
690, 760
920,201
902 735
3, 454, 571
3,398, 898
1,106, 809
1,095, 557
1,137, 562
1,128, 751
1,210,200
1,174, 590
3, 590, 366
3, 528, 471
1,213,311
i; 182; 830
1,186,019
1,175, 766
1,191,036
1,169 875
3; 192; 852
3,182, 385
1,160, 300
1,158, 338
1,083, 449
1,080, 578
949,103
' 943; 469
3.076! 198
3, 043, 959
892, 794
890, 092
954,570
934,585
1, 228. 834
1. 219 282
4,416,285
4,349,159
1, 434, 395
1, 42L 309
1, 502,901
1, 479. 773
1, 478,989
1, 448,077
4,025,441
3,981.182
1,372, 150
1, 363, 092
1,369,948
1,346; 848
1,283,343
1 271 24?
3,026, 723
2, 971, 529
1,178; 809
1,168, 229
993, 986
985 891
853, 928
817, 409
806. ] 52
858, 955
1,072, 560
795 700
844, 800
1,057, 280
Publicly
owned
$370, 224
614, 769
502, 707
306, 881
169, 037
198, 818
162, 503
31, 359
45, 835
85, 309
83,136
35, 063
25, 528
22, 545
38, 339
3, 072
9,180
26,087
22, 840
617
12, 705
9, 518
41,002
12, 362
11,174
17, 466
55,673
11, 252
8, 811
35,610
61,895
30, 481
10, 253
21,161
10, 467
1,962
2,871
6, 634
32, 239
2,702
19,985
9,552
67,126
13,086
23,128
30, 912
44, 259
9, 058
23.100
12.101
55,194
10, 580
8.095
36, 519
39, 887
10. 452
14,155
15,280
nonpermit segment is such that for an estimate of 100,000 starts the chances
are 19 out of 20 that a complete enumeration of all nonpermit areas would
result in a total private nonfarm figure between 98,000 and 102,000. For
metropolitan-nonmetropolitan or regional components, the relative error
is somewhat larger.
3 Data by urban and rural-nonfarm classification for periods before January
1954 are available upon request. Annual metropolitan-nonmetropolitan
location data not available before 1950; monthly figures not available before
1953; regional data not available before January 1954.
3 Private construction costs are based on permit valuation, adjusted for
understatement of costs shown on permit applications. Public construction
costs are based on contract values or estimated construction costs for in
dividual projects.
4 Housing peak year.
8 Revised.
11Less than 50 units.
7 Preliminary.
Not yet available.
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