Full text of Monthly Labor Review : October 1950, Vol. 71, No. 4

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NOV 2 1950

Monthly Labor Review
UNITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR

L a w r e n c e R. K l e in ,

•

PUBLIC LIBRARY

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Chief, Office of Publications


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CONTENTS
Special Articles
429 New Housing in Metropolitan Areas
433 Regional Differences in Jobs, Income, and Migration, 1929-49
438 Trends in Pattern of Working Life, 1900 to 1975

Summaries of Reports and Studies
443
445
449
453
457
460
464
466
470
473
478
484
487
489
490
491

Family Expenditures: San José, Costa Rica, 1949
Japanese Labor in 1950
ILO Report on Venezuelan Unions and Working Conditions
Defense Production Act of 1950: Terms and Early Action
Federal Social Security Act Amendments of 1950
State Minimum Wages: Legislative Changes, 1949-50
Woolen and Worsted Textiles: Earnings in May 1950
Cotton and Rayon Textiles: Earnings in April 1950
Salaries of Office Workers: Los Angeles, Calif., March 1950
Wage Chronology Supplements
Work Injuries in the United States, 1949
State Workmen’s Compensation Legislation in 1950
Extent of Workmen’s Compensation in the United States, 1948
FSA Conference on Aging, August 1950
Meeting of Committee on Employ the Handicapped Week, 1950
Summary of Industrial Relations Activities

Departments
hi

494
498
500
507

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

October 1950

Vol. 71

No. 4

This Issue in B rief. . .

credit by requiring specified amounts as down
payment and limiting extension of terms.
Twenty years of change have reduced the
economic disparities existing between different
States and geographic areas of the country. The
effects of these changes are described in R egional
D ifferences

R elatively little departure from local custom
has occurred in the construction of American
homes during the past 5 years. This is disclosed
in the report of N ew H ousing in M etropolitan
A reas (p. 429), which summarizes surveys made
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the
way in which the postwar house is evolving. The
studies of new construction of 1-family houses in
15 major metropolitan areas enable one to deter­
mine regional differences and how well new hous­
ing is meeting the needs and preferences of the
American consumer.
T rends in P attern of W orking L ife , 1900-75
(p. 438) is the third of a series of five articles on
the Tables of Working Life for Men. It indicates
that a 20-year-old male worker in 1975 will prob­
ably have an average life expectancy more than
10 years greater than in 1900. But because of the
trend toward earlier retirement, only a portion of
this gain is likely to be added to his working-life
years. On the basis of prewar trends, the average
period of life which he can expect to spend in re­
tirement may rise from less than 3 years (for white
males) in 1900 to as high as 10 years by 1975.
If the more favorable 1947 pattern of labor-force
participation continues, however, he can expect
about 7 years in retirement and a correspondingly
greater gain in the period of working life.
The new law, giving the President broad discre­
tionary powers to curb inflation and spur defense
production is described in D efense P roduction
A ct of 1950: T erms and E arly A ction (p. 453).
Enacted September 8, the legislation authorizes
the President to control credit, allocate strategic
materials, and if he deems it necessary to fix ceil­
ings on wages and prices and to ration consumer
goods. Within a matter of hours after approving
the legislation, the President exercised some of
the powers it vested in him. An Economic Stabili­
zation Agency was created and the defense coor­
dinator was named. The Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System immediately reim­
posed Regulation W, which regulates consumer
ii


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in

J obs, I ncome,

and

M igration,

1929-49 (p. 433). On the average, United States
citizens are still better off in the North and West
than elsewhere. But sharper percentage gains
in employment and income for the South and
Southwest have narrowed the differences. Manu­
facturing has grown rapidly in the South; increased
farm profits have raised living standards in
agricultural regions; and large numbers of people
in the poorer areas have migrated to seek new
opportunities, especially in the North and on
the Pacific Coast.
Social and economic problems created by the
rapidly increasing proportion of older people in
the Nation’s population were the chief concern
of more than 800 experts on old age who met
in Washington August 13-15. Their meeting is
reported in FSA C onference on A ging, A ugust
1950 (p. 489). Another Washington meeting con­
vened on August 9 to “ enlist the widest possible
public interest in additional employment opportu­
nities for the physically handicapped.” It is
described in M eeting of C ommittee on E mploy
the H andicapped W eek , 1950 (p. 490).
Organized labor’s role in the economy of Japan
has gained recognition on a par with manage­
ment’s, and protective labor legislation and labor
administration agencies have become an accepted
part of the worker’s daily life. These facts are
highlights of a report to the International Labor
Organization summarized in J apanese Labor in
1950 (p. 445). Also summarized in ILO R eport
on V enezuelan U nions and
tions (p. 449) are the findings

W orking C ondi­

of an ILO Mission
which visited Venezuela at the request of the
Government. The Mission concluded that free­
dom of association is incomplete in Venezuela and
reported that protective legislation is progressive
but largely dependent upon trade-unions for en­
forcement. The Mission cited action taken by
the Venezuelan Government after the survey was
made as “an important step, though only a step”
toward the re-establishment of constitutional guar­
antees essential to the free functioning of the tradeunion movement.

The Labor Month
In Review

T he defense program continued to be the major
influence on the economy during September. Al­
though the military situation in Korea was much
improved, a large-scale program of defense prepa­
rations appeared certain for an indefinite period.
Familiar evidences of inflation such as rising
prices and wage rates, shortages of critical materi­
als and in some instances of manpower, were more
apparent. Several steps were taken by Govern­
ment agencies, under the authority of the Defense
Production Act, to maintain orderly production of
defense material and to discourage price increases.
The National Production Authority ordered busi­
nessmen to limit their inventories of certain materi­
als in short supply, and established priorities for
defense orders. Consumer credit was somewhat
restricted by the Federal Reserve Board and
building construction credit was sharply curtailed.
The new income tax law became effective, increas­
ing taxes on individuals about 20 percent.
More Wage Increases

New wage raises, many of them negotiated out­
side contracts currently in effect, continued in
large numbers throughout September and early
October. The wage-increase movement, which
received a strong impetus through the adjustments
made by General Motors and Chrysler in August,
spread rapidly to other automobile plants and into
other industries, particularly metal working, tex­
tile, petroleum, and maritime.
Effects on wage rates of the inflationary tend­
encies in the economy engendered by the rearma­
ment program were strikingly demonstrated in
the cotton-textile industry. In early July, the
Textile Workers Union (CIO) had decided against
reopening major contracts for wage discussions,
although no increases had been received since 1948.
In September, however, without the formality of a
contract reopening, the union requested wage in­
creases in the light of changed economic conditions.


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The unionized mills in New England agreed to the
union’s request for an interim adjustment and
raised wages, typically by 10 percent. A large
number of the nonunion cotton-textile mills in the
South, employing approximately 100,000 workers,
granted wage increases of about 8 cents an hour.
Late in September, the American Woolen Co. also
raised its wages.
Many of the recent union agreements have
adopted some features or modifications of the
General Motors contract of last May. A growing
number of contracts are providing for periodic
wage adjustments in accordance with changes in
the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumers’ price
index. A few of the agreements also provide
annual additions to the basic wage rates for the
duration of the contract.
Labor Market Tightening

One of the most serious impacts of the expand­
ing defense program on an economy already
utilizing most of its manpower is a growing demand
for labor and the possibility of shortages in certain
areas or occupations. In that respect, the current
situation, with less than 2 % million unemployed,
may present greater problems than the beginning
of the defense program before World War II,
when there was a pool of 8 million jobless.
Reports received by the United States Employ­
ment Service indicate that, as a result of expand­
ing job opportunities, almost all areas of heavy
unemployment showed gains in employment
between July and August. Only 11 areas are now
classified “E,” those having substantial unem­
ployment. This compares with 43 such areas in
January and 14 in July. The Census Bureau’s
report on the labor force for September indicates
some further decline in unemployment. The
estimate of 2.3 million jobless was a 21-month
low. Some of the job seekers left the labor force to
return to school, but most of the reduction was
because of improved labor market conditions.
Total employment in early September was 61.3
million, the highest on record for that season of
the year, according to the Census Bureau’s report.
This was about a million less than were employed
in August, due almost entirely to the withdrawal
from the labor force of students returning to school.
Nonagriculturai employment declined to 53.4 mil­
lion in September, but was well above all previous
in

IV

THE LABOR MONTH IN REVIEW

September levels. Employment in agriculture
was about 7.8 million, slightly under last year’s
level.
Office of Defense Manpower

On September 29, Secretary of Labor Tobin
issued a general order establishing an Office of
Defense Manpower within the Labor Depart­
ment. Certain advisory committees to the Secre­
tary on defense manpower were also set up by the
general order. The action was taken pursuant to
the President’s Executive order of September 9,
giving the Secretary of Labor responsibility for
matters relating to labor supply in the defense
program.
The Office of Defense Manpower will develop
plans, policies, and programs for meeting defense
manpower requirements and will coordinate the
defense manpower activities of the various bureaus
and offices of the Department of Labor.
Price Advance Continues

Prices of industrial commodities increased gen­
erally during September. The wholesale price
index for the month is estimated to have advanced
about 2 percent from the August level to approxi­
mately 169.5 percent of the 1926 average. All
major groups of commodities were higher in Sep­
tember with the sharpest advance in textiles and
chemicals.
Commodities traded on organized exchanges and
spot markets generally reacted rapidly to the news
from Korea. The better military situation and
the prospect of an earlier ending of the conflict
caused a decline in some commodity prices during
the second half of the month. The general price
situation, however, remained inflationary.
The consumers’ price index for September is
not expected to show much change from the Au­
gust level, 173.0 of the 1935-39 average. Seasonal
declines in the prices of some foods, particularly
fresh produce, have balanced gains in other com­
modities and services which consumers buy, such
as apparel, housefurnishings, and fuels.
AFL Convention

International as well as domestic issues affect­
ing labor were reviewed at the sixty-ninth annual


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convention of the American Federation of Labor
meeting in Houston, Tex., September 18 to 23.
The AFL’s International Labor Relations Commit­
tee report was adopted by the delegates. The
report suggested that the United States lead a
movement within the United Nations to eliminate
‘‘every vestige of colonialism and imperialist
practice.” The convention also reiterated its sup­
port of the Marshall Plan, President Truman’s
Point Four Program, and approved a proposal for
a permanent United Nations security force.
The convention adopted an economic program
which opposed a wage freeze, but favored over-all
controls including those over prices. Real wages
should be raised through giving workers the bene­
fits of increased productivity, the report of the
Executive Council stated.
Delegates heard Maurice J. Tobin, Secretary of
Labor, who urged that unions exercise self-restraint
in their wage demands to avoid price and wage
controls.
Harmony at NLRB

The disagreement between the National Labor
Relations Board and its General Counsel, Robert
N. Denham, over the administration of the TaftHartley Act, culminated with Mr. Denham’s
resignation, effective September 18.
In his letter of resignation to the President,
Mr. Denham asserted that he had been applying
the Taft-Hartley Act “in accordance with its
provisions and the clear intent of Congress in the
over-all picture of the legislative history of the
law.” President Truman, in answering Mr.
Denham, said that the situation “is largely due to
the fact that the Taft-Hartley Act itself creates
an administratively unworkable arrangement,
which invites confusion and conflict between the
General Counsel and the Board.”
Harmony at the agency appeared to be restored
in early October when the new General Counsel,
George J. Bott, accepted the Board’s policies
relating to its jurisdiction. At the same time,
Mr. Bott acknowledged the Board’s authority in
two other areas where friction had developed.
These were the Board’s right to pass on the
General Counsel’s appointment of officers in
charge of field offices and its right to direct the
Counsel’s court action to enforce Board orders.

New Housing In Metropolitan Areas
Structural Characteristics of New 1-Family Houses
Started in 15 Large Metropolitan Areas,
July-December 1949

R elatively little departure from local custom
in the construction of American homes has oc­
curred during the 5 postwar years, 2 of which
were marked by optimum building conditions.
This conclusion is evident from surveys of new
construction now being conducted by the Labor
Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in 15 of
the Nation’s major metropolitan areas. From
these surveys, one can determine the way in which
the postwar house is evolving, regional differences,
and how well new housing is meeting the needs and
preferences of the American consumer.
Of the metropolitan areas of the Northeast, the
Bureau is surveying Boston, New York-Northeast­
ern New Jersey, Philadelphia-Camden, Pittsburgh,
and Washington, D. C.; in the Middle West, Chi­
cago, Cleveland, and Detroit; in the South, At­
lanta, Dallas, and Miami; and in the West, Denver,
Los Angeles, San Francisco-Oakland, and Seattle.
Data for Denver were not available for this re­
port, which is the first of several that will inter­
pret the results of the Bureau’s studies.
One of the few signs of a postwar trend is the
marked shift to the 1-story home in communities
of the Northeast such as New York, Pittsburgh,
and Washington, D. C. Previously 1%- and 2story houses predominated in these areas. Now,
however, the 1-story home is built in these com­
munities more frequently than any other style.
In Philadelphia, the 1-floor plan is much more
prevalent in new homebuilding than ever before.
The New York area’s new-trend 1-story houses
will undoubtedly become the 1%-story houses of
tomorrow, because most of them have an expan­
sion attic in which one or more rooms may be


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built. They are similar to the prevailing style of
new houses in the Boston area, where the 1-story
plan is supplemented by an attic suitable for later
finishing into additional living space.
Another trend is the diminishing importance of
the row house in areas such as Philadelphia and
Washington, D. C., where row houses predominate
in many residential neighborhoods. In Philadel­
phia, detached houses significantly outnumbered
the row house among new 1-family homes started
during the last half of 1949. Practically no row
houses are being started in Washington, although
in 1947 two-fifths of the single-family homes
standing were row houses, some of them built just
before Pearl Harbor. This shift undoubtedly
reflects a change in taste and custom, as well as
extensive building on outlying sites where land is
relatively cheap.
Size and General Characteristics

The surveys indicate that, generally, new
houses are small. In the areas studied, the aver­
age recently built house has 5 rooms and less
than 1,000 square feet of livable floor space.
Even in places such as Dallas and Los Angeles,
where the spacious rambler and ranch house
originated, the houses are small. In these two
areas, three-fourths of the new 1-family houses
under way in the last half of 1949 have less than
1,000 square feet of floor space. A fourth of the
homes in Los Angeles and two-fifths in Dallas
have less than 800 square feet.
The 6-room house, the expressed preference of
40 percent of the families interviewed in consumer
surveys near the end of World War II, is being
429

430

NEW HOUSING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS

realized by substantially less than this percentage
of new home owners in most areas studied by the
Bureau. Two exceptions are Philadelphia and
San Francisco, where a commodious 6-room house
(having at least 1,000 square feet of floor space) is
quite prevalent on the new housing market. The
Philadelphia new homes are of solid masonry,
with brick exterior and plaster interior walls, hot
air central heat, a basement and often a garage,
but no fireplace. Many are row houses. Phila­
delphia homes are about equally divided between
1- and 2-story dwellings. By contrast, the San
Francisco house is a 1-story building of frame
construction, with stucco or wood exterior and
Chart 1.— One-Fam ily Houses Started
(W ith Community Sewage Disposal)

MONTHLY LABOR

country, or houses of the same general kind in
various locations, will be one of the later contri­
butions of the Bureau’s studies.
Exterior Construction

The seriousness of the recent sharp rise in lumber
prices and of the threatened scarcity is intensified
by the widespread use of frame construction in
housing. Wood framing is almost the only type
of construction encountered in 11 of the large
metropolitan areas under survey. In most of
these 11 areas, wood is commonly used for the
exterior facing also.
Brick veneer is found to some extent in almost
all the areas, but only in Pittsburgh is it the lead­
ing exterior facing. A number of the new houses
in the New York, Detroit, and Washington areas
are of asbestos shingle on frame. Almost all the
late 1949 homes in Los Angeles and about half in
San Francisco are of stucco on frame.
Where masonry construction predominates, as
in Philadelphia, Washington, and Chicago, brick
is the chief exterior facing material, usually on
cinder block. In Miami, however, almost all the
new houses are of stucco on masonry.
The most popular exterior housing materials in
each of these areas today are generally the same
materials that were popular 20 years ago. Climate
and the greater availability of some materials over
others explain this consistency only to a limited
extent. Perhaps the most forceful influence is
local custom, which gains considerable strength
from the risk involved in marketing as expensive a
commodity as a house. The predominant kinds
of construction in an area are perpetuated, it
seems, because to use others might prevent a
ready and profitable sale.
New Materials and Equipment

wall board interior walls, floor or wall furnace,
no basement or utility room, but almost always
with a garage and often with a fireplace. Infor­
mation on differences in the construction costs of
these dissimilar houses in different parts of the


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The Bureau’s studies, however, show that even
though exterior construction is to a large extent
unvarying in each area, new or different materials
and equipment are coming into acceptance. In
over half the areas in the survey, steel window
frames have become relatively common in 1-

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

NEW HOUSING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS

family house construction, although wood was
almost universally used in earlier years. Three
out of four of the new houses started in the last
half of 1949 in the Miami area and nearly one out
of two in the Washington area have steel sash.
Wall board often replaces plaster for interior wall
construction. It is used almost exclusively in the
San Francisco-Oakland area, and is found in more
than half the new homes in the New York and
Seattle areas.
The relatively new radiant-panel type of heat­
ing is being installed in many homes in localities
where central heating is common. A fifth of
the new 1-family houses started in the last half of
1949 in the Boston area and about a sixth in the
New York area had panel heating. There are
substantial numbers of new houses with this kind
of heating system in the Pittsburgh, Chicago, and
Cleveland areas also.

431

The Large House

During the latter half of 1949, homebuilders
were emphasizing construction of moderate-priced
houses for middle income families. Attempts to
Chart 2.— O ne-Fam ily Houses Started
(W ith Basements)

Heating

Climate is the most important influence, of
course, in determining the general kind of heating
system used in various parts of the country.
Where the winters are severe, central heat is uni­
versal, but in the South and Southwest, floor or
wall furnaces or space heaters are more generally
used. Floor or wall furnaces are especially preva­
lent in the new housing of the San Francisco and
Los Angeles areas. In Seattle, where the winters
are cool but moderate, about as many new houses
are equipped with central heat as without it.
Among the central heating systems, hot-air reg­
ister installations are by far the most numerous.
In Boston, however, hot-water and steam radiator
systems are important also, and in New York hotwater radiator systems predominate.
Where central heating is general, a basement
or utility room, but usually a basement, is also
provided. A striking departure from prewar
building practices is the substitution of a utility
room for a basement in about a fourth or more of
the new houses in the Cleveland and Chicago
areas, and in two-fifths of the houses in Washing­
ton. An even greater departure is the lack of a
utility room as well as basement in many of the
new homes in the New York area (20 percent
among houses started July-December 1949) and
in the Boston area (10 percent). The heating
systems in such cases are located either in the
kitchen or in a closet or alcove off the kitchen.

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pare costs resulted, for example, in basementless
homes, wider use of wallboard instead of plaster
where building codes permitted, and concentration
on small, compact floor plans.
On the other hand, many spacious and costly
homes were also built—a large number in metro­
politan areas where incomes are relatively higher
than in other parts of the country. In the Phila­
delphia, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland areas,
about 10 percent of the new homes started in the
6-month period had 1,400 square feet of floor space
or more. Six-room houses were fairly common
among the new homes under way in 11 areas.
Houses having 6 rooms and a few with more, com­
prised at least a third of the total in Cleveland,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and
Washington. Many of these spacious homes have
only one bathroom. This fact shows a compromise
with the fairly elaborate standards for the costlier
American house.

432

NEW HOUSING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS

Garages

Having a garage, just as having 2 bathrooms,
is not necessarily associated with having a rela­
tively large and expensive house. In some areas
garages seldom accompany the new house. This
is more true of Detroit, oddly enough, than of
any of the other areas in the study. In Wash­
ington, too, garages are quite uncommon in new
homebuilding. In some areas, such as San Fran­
cisco and Los Angeles, almost every new house
has a garage.
Community Services

The tremendous volume of postwar homebuild­
ing has imposed heavy burdens on local commun­
ity services. Community water supply, however,
has apparently kept pace, even though construc­
tion has been primarily on the outskirts of the
central metropolitan cities; almost all the new
houses in the areas surveyed had city water. The
communities have evidently not been able to do
as well in providing sewage disposal. Nearly
half the new homes in the New York-Northeastern

A 5-man commission has been appointed by the
President to study the problems of migratory
labor in the United States. Subjects to be con­
sidered by the Commission are (1) extent of
illegal migration of foreign workers into the United
States, and whether law enforcement measures to
eliminate illegal entry should be improved; (2)
social, economic, educational, and health con­
ditions among migratory workers within the
country, and the responsibilities being carried by
Federal, State, county, and municipal authorities
to alleviate undesirable conditions; (3) migration
into the United States by alien workers for
temporary employment, and whether such workers


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New Jersey metropolitan area, for example, had
individual disposal systems (usually a septic tank).
Most of the homes not served by community plants
were in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. In the
Boston area, where nearly 90 percent of the new
houses started in the last half of 1949 were outside
the city limits, about 60 percent were not attached
to a community sewage disposal system.
The Bureau’s studies of housing characteristics
are continuing. Information revealing current
changes in the kinds of houses being built will soon
be available. Although the highlights briefly re­
lated here refer only to 1-family houses, the surveys
cover apartment construction also. Detailed tab­
ulations of the results of the studies both for
single-family and apartment dwellings will appear
in a forthcoming supplement to the Bureau’s
monthly journal Construction. These data present
an important set of materials, along with studies
of the community, with which to analyze the
housing market and understand and meet local
and national housing problems.
—D orothy K. N ewman
Division of Construction Statistics

are now required to supplement the domestic
labor supply. A report with recommendations is
to be made to the President not later than Decem­
ber 15, 1950.
Members of the Commission are Maurice T.
Van Hecke (chairman), North Carolina University
law professor; Robert E. Lucey, Catholic arch­
bishop, San Antonio, Tex.; Paul Miller, chief of
University of Minnesota extension service; William
Leiserson, former chairman of the National
Mediation Board; Peter H. Odegard, University
of California political science professor.
Immigration and Naturalization Service, Monthly

Review, July 1950.

Regional Differences
in Jobs, Income, and
Migration, 1929-49

T he net effect of 20 years of economic change
has been to reduce somewhat the disparities which
existed between the different States and geographic
areas of the country in 1929. Extreme differences
in economic well-being which were visible in
different parts of the country at the end of the
prosperous 1920’s had been greatly reduced by
1949, though they had by no means disappeared.
All parts of the country share in a higher economic
level than in 1929; but New York is not as far
above the average, Mississippi is not as far below.1
People are still better off, on the average, in
the North and West than elsewhere, but sharper
percentage gains in other regions have narrowed
the difference. Manufacturing activity has grown
rapidly in the South; increased farm profits have
raised the level of living in agricultural regions;
and large numbers of people in the poorer areas
have migrated in search of greater opportunities,
especially to the North and the Pacific Coast.
Manufacturing Activity

The bulk of manufacturing activity is still
located in the North and East. But the newer
centers have expanded most, and are gaining on
the older ones. These changes are discussed in
the article, Regional Shifts in Industry and Popu­
lation, 1899-1949, in the Monthly Labor Review
for July 1950 (p. 106).
Between 1939 and 1947 all of the relatively
large increases in factory jobs, of 80 percent and
more, occurred in States west of the Mississippi.
Although many of these increases were on so small
a base as to be inconsequential, the big percentages
in Texas and California represented 117,000 and
259,000 more jobs, respectively, in 1947 than in
906024— 50-------2


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1939. Outside the North, only those two States
increased their number of factory jobs by more
than 100,000.
California definitely altered its relative indus­
trial position during these years. Having 3%
percent of the Nation’s manufacturing jobs in 1939
(about the same as Indiana or North Carolina),
it accounted for over 6 percent of the 4 million
jobs that were added thereafter. The increases
were in aircraft manufacture, machinery, and
metals, as well as in the State’s older specialty,
food products. By 1947, California had risen to
eighth place in number of factory workers. The
first seven States were all in the North.
An 88-percent increase in jobs in the Southwest
region is largely attributable to the develop­
ments in Texas. Among the industries in that
State which more than doubled their employment
were machinery, transportation equipment, metals
and metal products, and chemicals.
The special industrial strength of the Southeast
is in the light consumer goods, a type of manufac­
ture that is most important in peacetime. Other
manufactures have been expanding, however, and
activities are more diversified than formerly. For
example, textiles, which in 1939 employed 39
percent of the region’s manufacturing workers,
had only 31 percent of the 1947 total.
Although none of the older industrial States
made percentage gains commensurate with those
in the West, the number of manufacturing pro­
duction jobs added in 10 large Northern States
amounted to two-thirds of the total national in­
crease between 1939 and 1947. The industries
essential to war, to postwar reconstruction, and
to the production of consumer durable goods are
located primarily in the North, and it is there that
they expanded. The North also accounted for
the large increases in most other industry groups,
and rises of hundreds of thousands of jobs are
recorded from Massachusetts to Wisconsin.
The Northern States from Maine to Wisconsin
(except for Vermont, Maryland, and West Vir­
ginia) were the only ones which had more than 100
manufacturing production workers per thousand
of their population in 1947. The Carolinas and
Maryland reported about 90 factory workers per
thousand. All other State averages were below
the United States average of 83 per thousand pop­
ulation. West of the Mississippi only seven States
(four along the river and the three on the coast)
433

434

JOBS, INCOME, AND MIGRATION, 1929-49

had even half as many such workers per thousand
as the Nation. Thus—despite a sharp percentage
rise in manufacturing industry in the Southwest
and Northwest regions—these areas depend largely
on other types of activity than manufacturing.
Agricultural Prosperity

Increased agricultural prosperity and the inter­
regional migration of population have contributed
heavily to economic changes.
Unlike trade and services, government, etc., in
which differences from State to State are moder­
ate, agriculture furnished anywhere from 1 to 35
percent of the income payments in different
States during 1949. Some Southeastern States
drew more of their 1949 income from farming than
from manufacture; in others, the reverse was true.
Except for Arkansas and Mississippi, the
amount that the Southeastern States received
from farming was not above 16 percent of their
total income payments. In most of the North­
west, on the contrary, agriculture in 1949 brought
in from a fifth to as much as a third of the income.
In preceding years, the proportion was still
greater. In the Southwest as well as the North­
west, agriculture is of greater importance than
manufacture. Therefore, the States most affected
by the sharp fluctuations characteristic of agricul­
ture are in these two regions.
National farm income, a ready indicator of
developments in agriculture, dropped during the
drought and depression of the 1930’s but increased
faster than other types of income owing to the war
and postwar rise in production and prices. Agri­
culture by 1947 therefore supplied a larger share
of a much expanded income total. The heavily
agricultural States naturally gained most.
The Northwest received a larger share of the
national agricultural income in 1947 than in 1929.
During and just after World War II demand was
heavy for grains and livestock, the chief products
of the Plains, and prices of these commodities rose
sharply. Expenditure per unit of product is
generally less, and costs fall relatively faster with
expanding production in the Plains than farther
east. Among the advantages are the economical
use of heavy machinery, the nearness of livestock
to sources of feed, and the tendency of labor costs


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MONTHLY LABOR

to be lower, away from large industrial concentra­
tions. Thus, when war created great demand for
agricultural products the Plains profited most,
and the Par West, though less exclusively agri­
cultural, also gained. The East and Southeast
received a smaller relative share of the national
agricultural income after the war than in 1929.
Conditions changed from 1947 to 1949. Farm
prices dropped and costs mounted, and the North­
western States lost more farm income than others.
The Southwest made a recovery by 1949 from a
sharp relative decline in the previous year, and
the two regions together averaged a somewhat
larger share of the national agricultural income
in 1949 than in 1929. However, agricultural
history furnishes little reason for regarding recent
changes as indicative of permanent trends. The
flow of agricultural income will no doubt con­
tinue to shift its course as well as its volume.
Migration Trends

Thus between 1929 and 1949 the economic base
was changing. Somewhat greater shares of the
Nation’s agricultural income payments went to
parts of the West, and manufacturing shifted to
some degree to the Southeast and the Far West.
Naturally, the people were also moving. Many
moved great distances. Between 1935 and 1940,
an eighth of the population changed their county
of residence. From 1940 to 1946, about the same
percentage moved, but they moved farther—threeChart 1.— N e t Interstate M ig ra tio n
1 9 3 0 - 4 0 and 1 9 4 0 - 4 9

JOBS, INCOME, AND MIORATION, 1929-1,9

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

fifths of them from one State to another. The
rate of migration continued very high during the
postwar boom.
Fourteen States gained migrants from 1930 to
1940, and also from 1940 to 1949—gained, that is,
whether economic activity was at a low or a high
level (chart 1). Nine of these States were in the
North; the others were Florida and four in the
Far West. States that lost by migration during
both periods stretch from Pennsylvania and West
Virginia through the Appalachians and the South­
east (except Florida and Louisiana) and up across
the plains to Montana. The Northwest region as
a whole lost people steadily.
Movements in the Southeast and the Southwest
varied more with general economic activity. In
the 1930’s, when opportunities were limited else­
where, no very large numbers migrated out of the
Southeast; in the 1940’s, migration losses of this
region were even greater relatively than those of
the Northwest. The Southwest, on the contrary,
with its wartime combination of industrial growth
and agricultural gains, lost fewer people in the
1940’s than previously. By 1949, the South and
Northwest together had a net migration loss equal
to more than a tenth of their 1930 population
(table 1).
T a ble 1.—Net

migration, 1930-1,9
1930-49

Region

1930-40

1940-49
Number

United S ta te s _____ __

As percent
of 1930
population

-4 6 , 518 +1, 488, 000 +1, 441, 000

N ew England___ _____
+446, 000
+448, 000
+1,879
+454, 000
Middle A tlan tic.. . ___ +405, 453
+859, 000
+502,000
Central. ___________ __ -131,343
+633, 000
S o u t h e a s t . . . . _ _____ -636,085 - 2 , 333, 000 - 2 , 969,000
Southwest____ . . .
-425, 986
-255,000
-681, 000
-557, 701
-573, 000 -1,131, 000
Northwest_____________
Far W e s t... __________ +1, 297, 265 +3,119, 000 +4,416, 000

5.5
2.8
1.5
11.6
7.5
15.3
53.3

Source: 1949 population and migration figures used in this table and else­
where in the article are unofficial estimates made by the U. S. Bureau of the
Census, taking into account the preliminary counts of the 1940 census of
population. State totals and migration estimates for 1949, adjusted to 1950
census final counts and making use of more refined methods, will not be pre­
pared and released by the Census Bureau until some time in 1951.

The regional totals conceal great differences
between States. On the whole, however, the
industrial areas, plus Florida and the Far West,
have tended to attract migrants from agricultural
and mining regions; and this has occurred to some
extent irrespective of national economic activity.
The migration losses did not necessarily mean
reduced population in the regions concerned; in

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435

most of the States with out-migration the excess
of births over deaths more than offset the losses
by migration. From North Dakota to Oklahoma
and Arkansas, however, the States actually lost
population, or just held their own, between 1929
and 1949. In the 1940’s, Kentucky and Mississippi
also lost population. The Northwest region as a
whole gained 5 percent in the 20 years ending in
1949 (compared with a national increase of 21
percent). The Southeast, owing chiefly to its
high birth rate, gained about 20 percent. The
industrial North, with a lower birth rate but a net
in-migration, gained some 17 percent. The Far
West gained nearly 75 percent.
Income Payments

Since 1929, per capita incomes have risen
greatly. (Allowance must be made, however, for
changes in the value of money; the Bureau of Labor
Statistics consumers’ price index was 38 percent
higher in 1949 than in 1929.) How have differ­
ent parts of the country shared in this rise? (See
chart 2.)
In 1929, a good year, average income payments
per person the country over amounted to $680.
However, variations between States were wide.
Residents of New York State averaged $1,125 per
capita compared with $252 (plus a small allowance
for undervaluation of rural living) in South
Carolina.
Twenty States in 1929 had per capita incomes
averaging less than 80 percent as high as the na­
tional average. (See the two lightest shadings in
Chart 2.— Per Capita Income Payments by State,
Percent Increase, 1 9 2 9 - 4 9

436

JOBS, INCOME, AND MIGRATION, 1929-49

the 1929 map, chart 3.) They included all of the
Southeast, most of the Southwest, and 5 of the
Northwest States. By 1949 the per capita income
in each of these 20 States had risen much more
than the national average. The areas that stood
high in 1929—the industrial North and the West
Coast—gained by smaller percentages (table 2).
The 12 States in which 1929 per capita incomes
were 10 percent or more above the national level
had experienced a below-average increase by 1949.
(Nevada is an exception.)

MONTHLY LABOR

Chart 3.— Per Capita Income Payments by State
( A s Percent of N ational Average)

T a ble 2 .-—Per

capita income payments as percent of United
States average in selected years, 1929-49
Region

1929

1939

1947

1949

United States_______ ____ ____

100

100

100

100

N ew England . _________
Middle Atlantic __________
Central.
__________ _____

123
136
106

126
132
105

106
116
105

105
118
106

Southeast________________
Southwest...................
N orthw est.. ______
Far W est_______________ .

SI
68
79
127

66
72
78
128

67
83
103
127

66
88
96
121

Comparison of chart 3 with chart 1 shows some
correspondence between 1929 levels of income and
migration experience during the next 2 decades.
People tended in general, though not in all cases,
to leave the poorer- for the higher-income States.
To the extent that the population of the former
was too great for their developed natural and
industrial resources, this process helped to raise
income levels for people remaining in these States.
Conversely, where people flooded into a highincome State faster than they could be absorbed,
they diluted income there.2
The relatively greater improvement at the lower
end of the income scale has diminished the dif­
ference between the richer and the poorer States.
The range in per capita income payments no
longer extends so far above or below the national
average.
Indexes ( United States average=100)

Highest State
Lowest State.
Extreme range,
p o in ts... __

__ __
_ .
in percentage
...


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1929

1949

165
37

132
48

128

84

Un d e r 5 0

5 0 *7 9

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

8 0 *1 0 9

1 1 0 *1 3 9

Sourctt

1 4 0 and O ver

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

JOBS, INCOME, AND MIGRATION, 1929-p

In 1929, only New York State had income pay­
ments more than 40 percent above the national
average; six of the Southeastern States were less
than half as high as the average (chart 3). By
1949, the latter income group had been reduced
to one State, Mississippi, and no State had in­
come payments averaging as much as 40 percent
above the national level. The number of States
with average income payments considerably above
or below the national average in different years
are as follows:
Number of States
1929

140 percent or more of the
United States average______
Under 50 percent of the United
States average--------------------

1
6

19S9

4

1949

0
4

Safety committeemen of the United Steel­
workers of America (CIO) in the Pittsburgh area
completed a series of seven informal sessions on
plant environmental health. The series was
developed at the request of the national safety
and health director of the steelworkers union to
serve as a pilot study for the extension of such
training to safety committeemen in other areas.
Subjects covered were environment and health,


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Southwest and Northwest States have done better.
Growing industrialization plus higher farm in­
comes, for a population which in many States
increased little or none, resulted in 1949 per capita
payments (except for New Mexico) within a
dozen percentage points above or below the
national average. The Northwest in 1949 aver­
aged 96 percent as high as the national level, less
than in immediately preceding years, but a con­
siderable rise from 1929 and 1940.
The three northern regions, though they have
not lately increased per capita incomes as rapidly
as have the less industrial areas, remain outstand­
ing in industrialization and in the income level
that usually accompanies industrialization.

1

All income levels are higher now, but the extremes
are not so far apart as they were in 1929.
The Southeast has profited by manufacturing
expansion and by better farm prices. Because of
emigration, its population has not recently in­
creased very fast. As a result, per capita income,
though still below the national average, is climbing
toward it.
Nevertheless, the Southeast (except Florida)
is still behind, with average income payments less
than 80 percent as high as the Nation. The

437

— M a r io n H a y e s

Bureau of Labor Statistics
i Regional boundaries, which follow the scheme originated by Dr. Howard
W. Odum (in American Regionalism) and used by the National Income
D ivision of the U. S. Department of Commerce, appear in the maps. The
N ew England and Middle Atlantic regions together are referred to as the
Northeast; these two plus the Central region, as the industrial North.
1 California’s recent experience appears to present such a case. Agricul­
ture in the State cannot be expanded at will. Industrial expansion from
1939 to 1947 was one of the greatest in the country, but by 1949 the number
of manufacturing jobs was scarcely larger than in 1947. In these circum­
stances, the 10-percent increase in population from 1947 to 1949 spelled diffi­
culty—specifically, unemployment, and a decline from a level of income pay­
ments a third above the national per capita average to no more than a fourth
above. Such a level hardly suggests depression, however, and is certainly
high enough to furnish a continued attraction.

dusts in industry, the hazards of solvents, medical
and engineering control methods, atmospheric
pollution, general public health, and a local union
program. The series was given by the Division
of Industrial Hygiene of the U. S. Public Health
Service and the Bureau of Industrial Hygiene,
Pennsylvania State Health Department.
—Industrial Hygiene Newsletter (U. S. Public Health
Service), June 1950.

Trends in Pattern
of Working Life,
1900 to 1975

on the ages of retirement and on the average ex­
pectation of working life.
The present article deals first with the short
term changes during the past decade, as revealed
by a comparison of abridged Tables of Working
Life for 1940 and 1947. These changes, as well as
the longer trend in decades prior to 1940, serve as
the basis for alternative projections of working-life
expectancy for the year 1975.
Abridged Tables, 1940 and 1947

E ditor ’s N o t e : T h is is the th ir d i n a se r ie s o f
jiv e a r tic le s d e s c rib in g the T a b le s o f W o r k in g
L if e , w h ich f o r m the b a sis f o r a c o m p a r is o n o f
the w o rk life a n d life e x p e c ta n c y o f m e n in the
U n ite d S ta te s . T h is a rtic le a n a ly z e s p a s t a n d
p r o s p e c tiv e tre n d s i n w o r k -life e x p e c ta n c y f o r
the y e a r s 19 0 0 to 1 9 7 5 . P r e v io u s a r tic le s i n the
se rie s have s u m m a r iz e d m a jo r f in d i n g s o f the
s tu d y a n d have p o r tr a y e d the p a tte r n o f w o r k ­
in g life f o r m e n u n d e r 1 9 JjO c o n d itio n s . S u b ­
se q u e n t a rtic le s w ill d e sc rib e the a p p lic a tio n s
o f the T a b le s to o c c u p a tio n a l s tu d ie s a n d w ill
d efin e the s ta tis tic a l te c h n iq u e s e m p lo y e d .

A 20-year-old male worker in 1975 will probably
have an average life expectancy more than 10
years greater than his counterpart had in 1900;
however, because of the trend toward earlier
retirement, only a portion of this gain is likely to
be added to his working life years. On the basis of
prewar trends, the average period of time he can
expect to spend in retirement may rise from less
than 3 years (for white males) in 1900, to as high as
10 years by 1975. If, however, the more favorable
1947 pattern of labor force participation continues,
he can expect about 7 years in retirement and a
correspondingly greater gain in the period of
working life.
These striking trends in the pattern of working
life result from the interplay of many factors—in­
cluding the downtrend in mortality rates, changes
in the extent of employment opportunities for
older persons, the effects of social security, and
employer and employee attitudes regarding the
age of retirement. Short term changes in labor
market conditions have also had a marked effect
438


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In order to measure the effects of changes in
mortality and in labor market conditions since
1940, an abridged Table of Working Life for all
males was constructed on the basis of 1947 experi­
ence ; a comparable abridged table is also shown for
1940 (see table 1). These tables differ in form
from the more detailed Tables of Working Life
since they present data for 5-year age groups
rather than for single years.1 Thus, the 1947 sta­
tionary population, aged 10-14, of 475,284 (table
1) represents the probable number who would be
living within these attained ages, assuming 100,000
male live births annually (or 500,000 in a 5-year
period), and the stated conditions of mortality.
The 1947 table indicates pronounced increases
in the labor force potential of the male population
as compared with 1940. Increases in the station­
ary labor force are shown for each age interval.
Sharp gains were recorded among the teen-age
youth and, to a lesser extent, among the older men.
Thus, under 1947 conditions, the stationary popu­
lation could anticipate 4,163,000 man-years in
the labor force—9 percent more than the corre­
sponding total (3,826,000) under 1940 conditions.2
This striking gain was due to the combined
effects of the increase in life expectancy and to
the increased rates of labor force participation
by youths and older men.
L o w e r A g e o f L a b o r F orce E n tr y . A marked
reduction in the average age of entry into the
labor force occurred between 1940 and 1947.
Under 1940 conditions, about 43 of every 100 boys
aged 10-14 could expect to begin work careers in
the following 5-year interval. This may be com­
pared with an entry rate of 44 per 100 for youths
who were 15-19 years of age in 1940. In 1947,
the 5-year entry rate for boys 10-14 years old
rose to 52 per 100, while fewer entries occurred

PA TTE R N OF WORKING LIFE, 1900 TO 1975

at the later ages than under 1940 conditions.
The earlier average age of entrance into the
postwar labor force, compared with 1940, was due
in part to the after effects of World War II.
During wartime the long term trend toward
longer schooling had been interrupted. Millions
of youths left school early to enter the armed
forces or to take civilian jobs, while many others
took part-time jobs after school hours. Although
many youths left the labor market after VJ-day,
reconversion of the labor force did not bring a
T a b l e 1 . —A bridged

table of working life, males, 1940 1
and 194-7

Number living of
100,000 born alive—

In labor force
Age in­
terval

In
popu­
lation

0)

(2)

N um ­
ber

Per­
cent
of
pop­
ula­
tion

(3)

(4)

(W ithin age interval)

Separations from
Average
number of
the labor force
remaining
(per 1,000 in labor
Acces­
years of—
force)
sions
to the
labor
force
(per
Labor1,000 Due Due Due to
force
in pop­ to
par­
to
retire­ Life
all
ula­ causes
death ment
tici­
tion)
pation

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(Between successive age
intervals)

(9)

(10)

(At begin­
ning of age
interval)

1940
10-14
15-19___
20-24___
25-29___
30-34___
35-39___
40-44___
45-49___
50-54___
55-59___
60-64___
65-69___
70-74___
75 a n d
o v e r ...

461,865
458.100
452, 589
445, 845
438, 014
428, 373
415,611
398, 028
373, 582
340, 970
299, 545
248, 456
189, 583

6,196
205, 229
405, 067
429, 795
425. 750
413, 808
398,155
376, 933
346, 684
305,850
241,134
150, 316
75,833

(2)
44.8
89.5
96.4
97.2
96.6
95.8
94.7
92.8
89.7
80.5
60.5
40.0

232, 278

44,830

19.3

431.0
441.6
68.0
7.9

8.2
12.0
14.9
17.6
28.0
37.8
53.3
80.2
117.8
211.6
376.7
495.5
576.4

8.2
12.0
14.9
17.6
21.9
29.7
42.1
60.8
85.9
115.7
148.9
191.8
262.4

6.1
8.1
11.2
19.4
31.9
95.9
227.8
303.7
314.0

51.3
46.8
42.4
38.0
33.7
29.6
25.5
21.8
18.3
15.1
12.2
9.6

45.8
41.3
36.8
32.3
28.0
23.8
19.8
16.0
12.4
9.2
6.8
5.6

4.1
8.1
11.2
19.3
24.6
45.4
206.1
312.6
285.5

52.6
48.0
43.5
39.0
34.5
30.2
26.0
22.1
18.6
15.3
12.4
9.9

47.4
42.8
38.2
33.6
29.1
24.8
20.7
16.9
13.2
9.7
7.0
5.9

1947
10-14
15-19___
20-24___
25-29___
30-34___
35-39___
40-44___
45-49___
50-54
55-59___
60-64___
65-69___
70-74___
75 a n d
o v e r ...

475 284
$12, 525
468, 041
462, 739
456, 917
449, 323
438, 330
422,149
398,186
365,102
322,102
267, 931
204,978

18, 320
259,889
421, 237
447, 931
445, 494
436, 293
422,112
401,886
371, 508
331, 878
278, 618
179, 782
89, 575

(2)
55.0
90.0
96.8
97.5
97.1
96.3
95.2
93.3
90.9
86.5
67.1
43.7

263,826

60, 944

23.1

524.1
346.7
67.2
6.9

5.8
9.5
11.3
12.6
20.7
32.5
47.9
75.6
106.7
160.5
354.7
501.8
544.3

5.8
9.5
11.3
12.6
16.6
24.4
36.7
56.3
82.1
115.1
148.6
189.2
258.8

1 Labor force data for 1940 have been adjusted to allow for a revision in
Census Bureau enumeration procedures introduced in July 1945. The re­
sulting values are comparable with those shown in the abridged table for
1947, but may not be compared directly with the detailed table for 1940,
appearing in the M onthly Labor Review of September 1950, p. 325.
2 In accordance with current Census definitions, only persons 14 years of
age or over are enumerated in the labor force. No meaningful percentage
of the population in the labor force could therefore be computed for the age
interval 10-14 years.


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439

complete return to the prewar work pattern.
Many young people who had acquired wartime
work experience preferred to remain in the postwar
labor market. In addition, over a half million
17- to 19-year-old youths were still in the armed
forces in April 1947, some of whom might other­
wise have been in school.
The changed employment situation also was
important in reducing the average age of labor
force entry. In April 1940, job opportunities for
inexperienced youths were limited. About a third
of all male youths, 17-18 years of age, who were
in the labor force were reported as unemployed,
and relatively few boys attending school had op­
portunities for part-time employment after school
hours. Thus, of 3,870,000 boys 14-17 years old
enrolled in school at the time of the 1940 Census,
only 240,000 (6 percent) were employed. In 1947,
with jobs generally available and unemployment
near the frictional level, over a fifth of the 14- to 17year-olds enrolled in school were also employed.3
The labor force potential
of the population was also increased between 1940
and 1947 by a reduction in the age-specific rates of
labor force separation. The 5-year labor force
separation rates declined at all ages up to 65, with
the drop most pronounced for men 55-59 years
of age.
Reduced mortality was a major factor in the
decline. Probabilities of separation due to death
were lower at all age intervals in 1947 than in
1940. Although the decline in mortality contin­
ued a long term trend, the great medical advances
of recent years and the pronounced rise in living
standards resulted in a particularly favorable
mortality record. Thus, between 1939 and
1947, deaths due to pneumonia and influenza
had dropped from 75.7 to 43.1 per 100,000 popu­
lation, largely because of extensive use of chemo­
therapy and antibiotics. The tuberculosis death
rate also declined sharply, largely resulting from
the improved standard of living among low-income
families and the increased facilities for treatment
and detection of the disease.4
A decline in the proportion of men retiring from
the labor force before their late sixties also con­
tributed significantly to the over-all reduction
in separation rates. The probability of men
workers 55-59 years of age retiring in 5 years
dropped by more than 50 percent—-from 96 per
L a te r A g e a t S e p a r a tio n .

440

PATTERN OF WORKING LIFE, 1900 TO 1975

1,000 in 1940 to 45 per 1,000 in 1947. A slight
decline was also recorded for the 60-64 group,
while the proportion of retirements among men
aged 65-69 was somewhat higher in 1947 than in
1940.
The higher level of job opportunities in the
postwar period appears to have been a major
factor in the shift of the retirement pattern. Dur­
ing the war years, age barriers to employment
were generally lifted, and many older workers who
had previously dropped out of the labor force re­
turned to gainful employment. With the con­
tinuance of high employment after the war, many
men in their late fifties and sixties remained at
work in preference to retiring.5 Higher postwar
wages and prices also contributed to later retire­
ment. Under most public and private old-age
pension programs, benefit levels were generally
based on earnings during a period of years pre­
ceding the date of retirement. With the sharp
postwar rise in living costs, retirement on pensions
became relatively less attractive as an alternative
to continued employment.
T h e I n c r e a s e i n W o r k - L if e E x p e c ta n c y . The fore­
going changes increased significantly both the
longevity and the working-life span of the Ameri­
can male worker between 1940 and 1947. In
1947, a 20-year-old male worker could expect to
live an additional 48.0 years, or 1.2 more years
than in 1940, and could look forward to an ad­
ditional 42.8 years in the labor force, a gain of
1.5 years over 1940. Since the increase in total
life expectancy was matched by the lengthening
of the work-life span between 1940 and 1947,
there was no significant change in the number of
years which the average young male worker could
expect to spend in retirement.

Long-Term Trends in Work-Life Expectancy

The significance of recent changes in the pattern
of working life can best be interpreted from the
perspective of long term trends. Basic data for
development of detailed tables of working life
for years prior to 1940 are not readily available
on a comparable basis. Estimates of average
working-life expectancy for white men in 1900,
however, have been prepared at selected age


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MONTHLY LABOR

intervals and are shown in table 2 and chart 1.
These estimates are not strictly comparable with
those shown here for 1940 and 1947, because the
mortality experience was limited to white men in
the 11 States where death registration was re­
quired in 1900. However, the comparisons with
1940 are probably sufficiently reliable to indicate
the broad trends over this period.
Under 1900 conditions of mortality and of labor
force participation (table 2), a young white man,
at age 20, had an average additional life span of
42.2 years, and a working-life expectancy of 39.4
years. He could expect, therefore, to be outside
of the labor force for 2.8 years. Between 1900
and 1940, the life expectancy of a white male, at
age 20, increased by 5% years. His average worklife expectancy, however, increased by only 2}{
years. Therefore, the gap between total life
expectancy and working-life expectancy had
widened to more than 5% years—about double the
length in 1900 (see chart).
T a ble 2. —Average

number of remaining years of life, in
labor force and in retirement, white males: 1900 and 1940:
total males: 1940, 1947, and 1975
Average number of years of life
remaining
Year
Total

In labor
force 1

In retire­
ment

At age 20
White males:
1900 i________________
1940___________________
Total males:
1940____________________
1947 _________________
1975 (A) *____________
1975 (B) 2_____________

42.2
47.7

39.4
42.0

2.8
5.7

46.8
48.0
52.7
52.7

41.3
42.8
42.8
45.9

5.5
5.2
9.9
6.8

A t age 40
White males:
1900 i........ ................
1940__________________
Total males:
1940________________
1947 ______________
1975 (A) 2____________
1975 (B) 2_____________

27.7
30.1

24.5
24. 2

3.2
5. 9

29.6
30.2
33.9
33.9

23.8
24.8
24.5
27.2

5.8
5. 4
9.4
6.7

A t age 60
White males:
1900 i_______________
1940_____________
Total males:
1940____________
1947_____________
1975 (A) 2_______
1975 (B) 2__________

14.3
15.1

11.5
9.2

2.8
5 9

15.1
15.3
16.8
16.8

9.2
9.7
7.9
10.5

5.9
5.6
8. 9
6.3

1 Mortality data based on records of 11 original States requiring death
registration.
J A: Assumes continued decline in labor force participation rates for men,
55 years and over, based on 1920-40 trends. B: Assumes labor force partici­
pation rates at 1947 levels.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

The contrast is equally striking for those men
who survived until age 60. While the life expect­
ancy of a 60-year-old white man rose by almost 1
year from 1900 to 1940, his average working-life
expectancy actually dropped more than 2 years,
owing to the trend toward earlier retirement.
Thus, both comparisons indicate a pronounced
widening in the expected period of retirement in
the course of the four decades.
If this trend resulted simply from a preference
for retirement and an increased financial ability
to retire, it would not indicate any serious social
problem. The weight of the evidence, however,
lies in the opposite direction. A number of factors
reduced the opportunities of older workers for
gainful employment. There was a steady shift
of employment opportunities from agricultural to
nonagricultural industries and from small familytype establishments to large-scale business enter­
prises. Modern industry, with its more rigid
and impersonal standards, its emphasis on speed
and its tendency to set arbitrary age limits for
hiring and retirement, offered relatively fewer op­
portunities for gainful employment at advanced
ages. And superimposed on these long term
trends was the mass unemployment of the 1930’s,
which caused many older men to abandon the
search for work, even though they were still cap­
able of a productive role in the economy.
This long term trend contrasts sharply with the
experience between 1940 and 1947. As summar­
ized in the preceding section, the shift from a de­
pression to a full-employment economy was ac­
companied by increased labor force participation
of men in their late fifties and sixties. As a result,
despite the marked increase in longevity, the
average period outside the labor force did not
widen from 1940 to 1947.
On the basis of both the prewar trend and the
more recent experience during the current decade,
alternative patterns of working life for the future
may be projected. Two estimates of work-life
expectancy have been prepared for the year 1975.
The first assumes 1940 labor force participation
rates for the younger adult age groups and a con­
tinued downtrend in the proportion of workers
among men 55 years and over, based on the rates
of decline in the period 1920-40. The second
alternative is based on the maintenance of the
1947 rates of labor force participation.


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441

PATTERN OF WORKING LIFE, 1900 TO 1915

Under both assumptions, the estimates of life
expectancy are based on a continued favorable
trend in mortality, consistent with recent forecasts
of the population published by the United States
Bureau of the Census.6 Under 1975 conditions,
the 20-year-old man could expect to live to be
almost 73 years, compared with 68 years in 1947 ;
at age 60, his average lifetime would be extended
to almost 77 years—1% years above the 1947 level.
Average Remaining Years of L ife in La b or Force
and in Retirement
MALE

W ORK ER S, AGE 20

A T BEGINNING O F Y E A R O F A G E

(A)
(B)
Based on
Based on
Prewar Trends 1947 Patterns
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

* WHITE WALES,DEATH REGISTRATION STATES

Under the first alternative of progressively
earlier retirement, the average work-life expect­
ancy of the 20-year-old male worker would be the
same in 1975 as in 1947—slightly under 43 years.
The average life expectancy in retirement would
widen, however, to almost 10 years, as compared
with 5 years in 1947 and less than 3 years (for
white males) in 1900.
The contrast at age 60 is also pronounced. Of
an average future lifetime of almost 17 years, the
60-year-old worker could expect to continue in the
labor force for only about 8 years, and would have

442

PATTERN OF WORKING LIFE, 1900 TO 1975

to provide for about 9 years in retirement. The
prospect would, therefore, be for a progressive
decline in the work-life span and a further length­
ening of retirement.
The second alternative, based on the 1947 rates
of labor force participation, produces quite dif­
ferent results. The gain in total longevity would
be added mainly to the period of productive life.
At age 20, the average working-life expectancy
would be increased by more than 3 years as com­
pared with 1947, and the span of retirement would
be raised by 1% years. At age 60, the future worklife span instead of declining would increase by
almost a full year as compared with 1947.
These comparisons do not, of course, allow for
all of the factors which may influence the relative
economic burden of old-age dependency. Changes
in the age structure of the population, for example,
will play an important role, and will be influenced
by future trends in the birth rate and by future
immigration, as well as by the increase in life
expectancy. The prospective cost of old-age
pensions and related programs will also be affected
by changes in coverage, eligibility, benefit amounts
and in other provisions of these programs. Changes
in average earnings and of productivity will also
significantly affect the relative cost of programs
for the aging.


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These comparisons do, however, focus attention
on one of the pivotal aspects of the problem of oldage dependency. Individually and collectively,
vital decisions will be made in the coming decades
as to the disposition of the later years of life
between retirement and continued productive
activity. These decisions will have important
repercussions on the size of the Nation’s labor
force, the national income, and on the prospective
standards of living of the American population.
— H a r o ld W ool

Division of Manpower and Productivity
i The rates of labor force participation shown in the 1947 table were based
on a special tabulation of the Census Bureau’s M onthly Report on the Labor
Force for April 1947. Because of sample limitations, the development of
estimates by single years of age was not feasible.
1 This total represents the cumulative number in the stationary labor force,
obtained by a summation of column 3 in the abridged table.
8 Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census, School Enrollment of the Civilian
Population: April 1947, table 6 (Series P-20, No. 12).
4 Source: Federal Security Agency, Vital Statistics of the United States,
1947, part I, table X . An analysis of recent changes in longevity appears in
the Statistical Bulletin of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., January 1950.
8 In 1947, there were about 842,000 men, 65 years or over, entitled to bene­
fits, but who had continued in covered employment, according to the Bureau
of Old Age and Survivors Insurance of the Social Security Administration.
6 Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census, Forecasts of the Population of the
United States, 1945-75 (pp. 10-16), 1947. (The Census Bureau “ low mor­
tality’’ projection for 1975 was selected since it was most consistent with the
mortality experience between 1945 and 1949.)

Summaries of Studies and Reports

Family Expenditures:
San José, Costa Rica, 1949
H o u s in g accounts for a smaller proportion (8
percent) of the family expenditures of wage earn­
ers and white-collar workers in San José, Costa
Rica, than it does in other Latin American coun­
tries for which data are available.1 Food and
clothing expenditures account for 45 and 18 per­
cent, respectively. These facts are evident from
a study 2made in September 1949 by the National
Bank of Costa Rica and the National Statistical
Office. Representatives of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, operating under the United States pro­
gram for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation with
the American Republics, acted as statistical con­
sultants.
Designed to derive expenditure weights for a
revision of the official cost-of-living index of San
José, the survey covered 258 representative fam­
ilies of workers in that city. Of these, 203 were
wage-earner families with an average size of 5.4
persons and 55 were white-collar families with an
average size of 4.6 persons.3 The number of
children under 12 in the two groups were 1.9 and
1.2, respectively.
Although not designed specifically for the pur­
pose, the study gives some indications of differ­
ences in spending patterns between wage-earner
families and white-collar families in San José.
Average expenditures for the former were 113.05
colons 4 and for the latter 195.70 colons. On the
average, families of white-collar workers with their
higher total expenditures demoted a much smaller
proportion of the total amount spent to food
(38 percent) than did the families of wageearners (47 percent). Clothing required 20 per­
cent of the total expenditures of white-collar
families as compared with 17 percent of those
incurred by wage earners. Other categories on


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which white-collar families spent proportionately
more than wage-earner families were housing,
medical care, and recreation.
Income and Expenditures of All Families

The median earnings of each family’s chief
earner were 60 colons a week with a range from
8.00 to 297.72 colons. The average total weekly
family earnings were 96.66 colons with a range
from 8.00 to 442.05 colons. Weekly expenditures
per family ranged from 27.63 to 465.78 colons, the
average being 130.67 colons.
The excess of expenditures over family income
from earnings was partially made up from sources
other than earnings (e. g., pensions and income
from investments). In addition, there ^ere many
reports of spending beyond income.
The amount spent per family increased mark­
edly as income increased, but the percent distri­
bution of these expenditures also changed as
income increased (see table 1). In each higher
income class, clothing, household furnishings and
equipment, medical care, recreation, and quotas
payable to unions and toward social security took
not only larger amounts per family, but also a
larger percent of total expenditures. On the other
hand, food, fuel, light, and refrigeration, tobacco,
and transportation took a larger amount of money
per family, but represented a smaller percent of
expenditures. Items not showing a consistent
variation with income were housing, household
operation, personal care, education, and gifts and
contributions.
Although the percentage of expenditures de­
voted to food and housing was low as compared
with other Latin American countries, the per­
centage devoted to clothing was relatively high.
Food, clothing, and housing (including fuel, light,
and refrigeration) accounted for over 70 percent
of total expenditures in every income class.
443

444

FAMILY EXPENDITURES: SAN JOSÉ, C. R.

T a b le 1.—Average

weekly expenditures by 258 families in
San José, Costa Rica, September 1949
Families with average weekly
earnings of—

Item of expenditure

Number of families- _______ _
Average family size____________
Average weekly expenditures___

All fami­
lies

258
5.2
0130.67

Under 60
colons

60.00 to
99.99
colons

100 colons
and over

87
4.7
<F76.16

86
4.9
0109. 73

85
6.0
0207.64

Percentage distribution
Food______________________ . .
Clothing______ ______________
Housing, including water_______
Fuel, light, and refrigeration____
Other household operation______
Furnishings and equipment........_
Transportation ______________
Medical care__________________
Personal care__________________
Recreation_____ __ _ __________
Tobacco _____________________
Education____________________
Gifts and contributions to persons outside the family_____
Social Security payments and
union dues____ _____________
Miscellaneous item s___________
All expenditures_________

44.6
18.0
7.6
3.7
3.6
2.3
2.5
5.0
2.3
4.8
1.1
.8

51.1
13.8
8.2
4.9
3.2
1.7
2.9
4.1
2.0
3.4
1.4
.4

45.7
17.3
8.8
3.9
2.7
1.8
2.6
4.9
2.5
4. 5
1.2
1.0

41.5
20.1
6.8
3.1
4.2
2.8
2.3
5.4
2 3
5 4
10
8

1.4

1.0

1.0

1. 7

1.9
.4

1.4
.5

1. 7
.4

2 2
.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Housing and Household Operation

Even including the cost of fuel, light, and re­
frigeration, the families surveyed spent only 11
percent of their total expenditures on housing.
This low percentage is due partly to the small
size of dwelling units, the mild climate which per­
mits a cheaper type of housing than is possible in
colder regions, and Government control of rents
since 1939. Twenty-one families received a
house as a gift or a part of salary and therefore
paid no rent. Home owners’ expenses were low.
Few had assessments high enough to require the
payment of property taxes. The only housing
expense for many of the home owners was a small
charge for water, sewerage, and street lights.
Median size of the houses was three rooms (see
table 2). Electricity was in 90 percent of the
houses, and water was available to 97 percent.
Fifty-five percent of the families had either the
sole use or shared use of a flush toilet, and 88
percent either had or shared bathing facilities.
The percent of families having light, water, bath,
and flush toilet increased with income.
Three-fourths of the total expenditures for fuel,
light, and electricity were for electricity (39 per­
cent) and charcoal (37 percent). Some wood and
kerosene were also used. Fuel purchases were
almost entirely for cooking.

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MONTHLY LABOR

Household operation accounted for almost 4
percent of total family expenditures. Over half
the expenditures in this group were for laundry
and for washing and cleaning supplies. Decidedly
greater expenditures for household operation by
families with earnings of 100 colons and over per
week than by families with earnings below 100
colons are explained by the greater number of
families in the top income class who have domestic
servants. Of the 29 families with servants, 23
were in the highest of the 3 income groups. Only
9 of the 258 families had telephones, 7 of which
belonged to families of white-collar workers in the
top-earnings category.
T a b l e 2. —Housing

facilities of 258 families in San Jos6f
Costa Rica, September 1949
Families with average weekly
earnings of—

Item

Number of families_________ _
Average size of f a m ily ...___ _
Median number of room s..

All
families

258
5.2
3

Under
60
colons
87
4.7
3

60.00 to
99.99
colons

100 colons
and
over

86
4.9
3

85
6.0
5

Percent of families
Families having—
Rented dw elling.__ . . .
Owned dwelling______ _
Dwelling as gift or salary__
Families having—
Electricity________
Water............
..........
Sole use of bathroom ...
Shared bathroom_______
Sole use of flush toilet.
Shared flush toilet__ _
Sole use of other type to ilet..
Shared use of other type toilet.

62.4
29.5
8.1

62.0
25.3
12.7

67.5
24.4
8.1

57. 7
38.8
3.5

89.5
96.9
57.8
30.2
40.7
14.3
24.4
22.1

79.3
93.1
34.5
43.7
19.5
14.9
27.6
35.6

94.2
98.8
58.1
33. 7
34.9
19.8
23.3
24.4

95.3
98.881 2
12. 9
68.2
8.2
22. 4
5.9

Food

The amount spent per family and per person for
each food group increased with family earnings.
The percentage of expenditures devoted to the
groups—meat, poultry and fish, dairy products,
eggs, and fruits—increased with income; however,
for fats and oils, sugar and sweets, cereals and
bakery products, vegetables, and nonalcoholic
beverages, the percentage declined with increased
income (see table 3).
Among the most important items of expenditure
in the food group are beef, which accounted for 70
percent of all meat, poultry, and fish purchases;
fresh milk and butter among dairy products;
beans, potatoes, and platanos (large cooking
bananas) among vegetables. The variation in
importance of these expenditures between income
classes was not great, except for beef which repre-

FAMILY EXPENDITURES: SAN JOSÉ, C. R.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

sented 82 percent of all meat, poultry, and fish
purchases for the lowest income groups and 64
percent in the highest.
T a b l e 3. — Weekly

expenditures for food by 258 families in
San José, Costa Rica, September 1949
Families with average weekly
earnings of—
Item

N um ber of families___________
Average size of fam ily--------------Average expenditures for food
and alcoholic beverages---------Average expenditures for food
eaten at home—. ____ _________

All
families

258
5.2

Under
60 colons

60.00 to
99.99
colons

100 colons
and
over

87
4.7

86
4.9

85
6.0

(?58. 23

C38.88

(750.15

^86.21

^54.92

^37.28

(747.14

^80.86

Percentage distribution—Food eaten at home
Meat, poultry, and fish________
Dairy products________________
Eggs------------------- ------------------Fats and oils...................... ..............
Sugar and sweets______ _______ Cereals and bakery products____
V egetables__________ _______
Fruits____ ____________________
Beverages, nonalcoholic -- ____
Condiments____ _____ _________

14.1
16.4
2.4
5.0
8.4
25.1
17.3
2.6
6.5
2.2

11.2
13.6
.9
5.2
10.6
28.4
18.5
1.7
7.8
2.2

13.6
14.4
1.8
5.1
8.9
27.4
17.4
2.4
6.7
2.3

15.8
19.0
3.3
4.8
7.2
22.1
16.7
3.3
5.8
2.0

All food eaten at home____

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Clothing

Eighteen percent of total family expenditures
were for clothing, including yard goods and the
expense for dressmaking and clothing upkeep
(see table 4). A high percentage of expenditures
for clothing is to be expected in San José. The
midday is warm, and the evenings are cool enough
to require the use of coats and sweaters both
outdoors and indoors because the houses are
T a b l e 4. —Per

capita clothing expenditures (except for
infants) of 258 families in San José, Costa Rica
Item

Men and
boys 12
and over

Boys 2
to 12

Women
and girls
12 and
over

Per capita annual expenditures..

^358.36

^100. 57

f 268.01

Girls, 2
to 12

P101. 96

Percentage distribution

Shirts
Drp.ssp.s, suits, skirts, blouses__
Coats, jackets, sweaters________
Hats, caps, headscarves________
Underwear___ ___ _______ . . .
Nightwear, bathrobes---------. . .
H o s ie r y .------- ------------- ----------Footwear_____________________
Yard goods______ . . . ------------Making of clothing, buttons, etc.
Accessories and miscellaneous___
Cleaning and repairing----- ------ Total annual expenditures.
i Less than 0.1 percent.


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38. 5
14.0

27.0
11.1

4.6
.8
5.0
2.3
5.0
15.0
2.5
.8
6.2
5.3

7.6

100.0

5.0
1.7
6.4
21.5
10.5
1.8
3.8
3.6

7.8
12.9
.3
10.1
1.2
12.4
17.8
25.0
5.1
5.2
2.2

10.5
7.9
.2
4.1
.7
8.7
27.9
30.6
4. 5
2. 5
2.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

0)

445

unheated. Much of the clothing and many
textiles are imported and subject to duty and are
high priced relative to locally produced articles.
The annual per capita expenditure on women’s
clothing was 268.01 colons, compared with the
expenditure on men’s clothing of 358.36 colons.
Per capita expense was greater for men than for
women in every earnings group in both whitecollar and wage-earner families.
The most important item of clothing expendi­
tures for men and boys was “ suits and trousers”
which accounted for 38 percent of such purchases.
For women and girls, the largest clothing expense
(35 percent) was for materials and dressmaking.
Footwear was the most important finished product
purchased. As very few women in San José wear
hats, expenditures for this item were very small.
—T homas F. M osimann and M arion H. G illim

International Statistical Studies Branch
i Yearbook of Labor Statistics, 1947-48, International Labor Office, Geneva
(summary data from 9 studies); Estudio Sobre Las Condiciones de Vida de
179 Familias en la Ciudad de Guatemala, Dirección General de Estadística,
Guatemala, 1948.
s The study was conducted by Sr. Rodrigo Bolafios Sánchez under the
direction of Lie. Luis Manuel García V., Director General of Statistics,
Detailed results are available upon request to the Dirección General de
Estadística, San José, C. R.
s The distinction between wage-earner and white-collar families was based
on the occupation of the head of the family or the chief earner. The whitecollar group includes families of office workers, accountants, bank clerks,
clerks in stores, etc. The wage-earner group consists mainly of families of
skilled and unskilled manual workers.
* The approximate rate of exchange of the colon at the time of the survey
was 8 to the U. S. dollar.

Japanese Labor in 19501
workers have continued to improve
their position during the past year, according to a
report presented to the International Labor Con­
ference of 1950. Labor’s role in the economy of
Japan has gained recognition on a par with that
of management. Protective labor legislation and
labor administration agencies have become an
accepted part of the worker’s daily life. The
workers now demand protection and service as
their right. These gains and the direction the
labor movement has taken indicate that Japanese
labor will go forward and be able to defend itself
from either totalitarian or reactionary pressure,
the author states.

J apanese

446

JAPANESE LABOR IN 1950

General Labor Conditions

Relative wage-price stability has been achieved
as a result of the economic stabilization program
introduced in December 1948, but the wage struc­
ture remains complex. This complexity, together
with other economic and political factors, still
deter the Japanese Government from establishing
minimum wages. However, real wages have
risen in the past year. From March 1949 to
March 1950, manufacturing wages increased 14
percent in Tokyo but consumer prices dropped 9
percent, restoring real wages to 77 percent of
those of the prewar period.
Since the war ended in 1945, Japan has been
confronted with an increasing volume of surplus
labor. This has not been manifest in large num­
bers of totally unemployed seeking work because
of two characteristics of Japan’s social relations,
namely, family support of needy relatives and
employers’ paternalism in keeping workers on
payrolls even when they are not needed for pro­
duction. During the past year, both of these
channels of absorption showed signs of saturation.
Families were finding it impossible to assume the
responsibility for feeding extra mouths. Em­
ployers have been forced to lay off substantial
numbers of workers, particularly in industries
competing in international markets, under the
economic-stabilization program since December
1948. Consequently, since mid-1949, the number
of workers seeking employment or work relief
through public agencies has increased, the number
of job openings in private industry has decreased,
and paid industrial employment has remained
virtually stationary.2 This contrasts with the
earlier postwar period labor-market conditions.
The Japanese Government has acted with fore­
sight and provided public programs to protect
workers from serious distress resulting from un­
employment, the report under review adds.
Thus, the immediate unemployment problem
arising in the course of economic adjustment has
been kept in hand.
All important phases of the public manpower
and employment program are operating effec­
tively. Prior to June 1949, Japan had in oper­
ation: free public employment offices; public
vocational training centers; unemployment insur­
ance for regular workers; restrictions against use
of intermediaries in placement of workers; a

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MONTHLY LABOR

national labor-market analysis program; and
placement of unemployed workers on general
public works projects. Several new activities
were undertaken during the past year, thereby
giving Japan a well-rounded program in the man­
power and employment field. The new programs
are extension of unemployment insurance to casual
laborers; initiation of a work-relief program to
counteract serious unemployment; provision for
school placement service operated in conjunction
with the Public Employment Security Offices;
and training within industry for supervisors.
Emphasis has been continued on programs
aimed at reducing the influence of labor bosses
(i. e., labor contractors or intermediaries3). Al­
though the labor-boss system, thriving on the
exploitation of a backward labor force, has a long
tradition and is very deeply entrenched, progress
is being made toward its elimination. It is esti­
mated that a half-way mark has been reached in
freeing the 2.5 million workers formerly under
boss control; about 200,000 of these workers were
freed by action of the Public Employment Se­
curity Offices between March 1949 and March
1950.
The Trade-Union Movement

Far-reaching developments during the past
year were listed as (a) the gain of control of the
labor movement by anti-Communist forces; and
(b) the complete realignment and reorganization
of trade-union federations, strengthening labor’s
position through a unified front, more concrete
organizational structures, and more responsible
leadership.
The Japanese labor movement has been continu­
ously confronted with attempts by Communist
and minority groups to use it as an instrument to
gain political power and to disrupt economic
recovery of Japan. Rank-and-file union members
sympathetic to radical elements have always been
a small group. However, at times, well-organized
minorities in many unions have managed to supply
leaders and spokesmen who involved the unions
in other than proper union activities and occasion­
ally precipitated tense situations.
Two Communist-dominated trade-union federa­
tions, namely the National Congress of Industrial
Unions (Sanbetsu) and the National Liaison Coun­
cil of Labor Unions (Zenroren), largely supplied

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

JAPANESE LABOR IN 1950

this antidemocratic leadership. The National
Congress of Industrial Unions, one of the two
leading federations of labor unions that emerged
after the war, was organized in mid-1946. At the
peak of its influence it was supported by more than
1.25 million workers from 19 national industrial
unions. The National Liaison Council of Labor
Unions, affiliated with the World Federation of
Trade Unions, was organized early in 1947. It
was sponsored primarily by the National Congress
of Industrial Unions, with the purported objective
of unifying the Japanese labor front, and for a
brief period was supported by most leading labor
groups.
The struggle between the Communist and antiCommunist factions led moderate labor leaders
to start the so-called “ democratization” movement
in late 1948, in a concerted effort to overcome the
growing Communist minority control of unions.
This movement speedily gained momentum and
by late 1949 was supported by more than 4
million unionists, or some two-thirds of organized
workers. Thus, the major portion of Japanese
labor decisively shifted to moderate leadership.
Most of the membership which supported the
movement initially was composed of dissidents,
of the National Congress of Industrial Unions
and of the National Liaison Council of Labor
Unions and of several large independent industrial
unions which previously had been significantly
Communist-dominated. Another large labor group
which later joined in this movement was the
General Federation of Japanese Trade Unions
(Sodomei). This was the first federation of labor
unions organized after the war (i. e., in 1946)
by leaders of the Japan Federation of Labor
Unions, also known as Sodomei, which existed
prior to the war.
The newly realigned majority of Japanese labor
sent five delegates to the inaugural convention of
the International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions in London and later affiliated with it.
Three of the Japanese delegates were elected to
committees of the Confederation.
Both the success of the moderate element in
winning the support of the majority of organized
workers and participation in the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions stimulated a
unification movement. Its union leadership dedi­
cated to democratic principles, the General Coun­
cil of Japanese Trade Unions (Sohyogikai) was

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447

formed on a provisional basis, with plans for
formal inauguration in July 1950.4 This new
council currently is composed of some 20 major
national industrial unions and federations repre­
senting nearly 4.5 million workers, according to
the report under review. The primary reasons
for unification and centralization were to further
effective resistance against totalitarian ideas and
tactics and to strengthen labor’s effectiveness in
collective bargaining on a uniform basis through
negotiations at the national level. In order to
carry out these objectives, the council’s consti­
tution permits its development into a strongly
knit federation with some degree of authority over
its constituents. It also asserts that it is to be an
instrument through which the existing chaotic
structure of the Japanese labor-union movement
is to be simplified, and strong national industrial
unions are to be built.
Unification was given further impetus by the
decision of the General Federation of Japanese
Trade Unions (the largest labor organization,
representing over 848,000 workers) in May 1950
to dissolve and to have its components affiliate
directly with the council. Supporting the coun­
cil’s objectives, elements of the General Federa­
tion of Japanese Trade Unions pledged themselves
to engage in organizational activity to consolidate
its industrial national unions with other related
industrial organizations. Communist minorities
continue to exist in some of the large unions
affiliated with the general council, but currently
the democratic elements maintain control of their
unions.
Communist groups not affiliated with the Gen­
eral Council, faced with a unified anti-Communist
labor front, also undertook to unify and to
strengthen their forces. In April 1950, the Na­
tional Congress of Industrial Unions, with a
membership of some 250,000 (a fifth of the peak
total) decided to dissolve and to amalgamate its
components with the National Liaison Council of
Labor Unions.5 The Liaison Council was to be
reorganized—i. e., converted from the loosely
organized liaison council into a federation of
labor unions as the left-wing counterpart of the
General Council.
Total trade-union membership had declined to
6,251,000 in 32,634 unions at the beginning of
1950 from the maximum membership of slightly
over 6,700,000 in some 36,200 local unions in

448

JAPANESE LABOR IN 1950

May 1949. Major reasons cited for the decline
are: revision of the Trade Union Act to exclude
supervisory and managerial personnel from union
membership; personnel retrenchment, both in
Government and private enterprises; and loss of
leadership and disinterest in trade-union activi­
ties, especially by workers in small establishments.
Current membership represents slightly over half
of the paid industrial work force.
Labor Relations

Collective bargaining has gained general ac­
ceptance in labor-management relations, not­
withstanding that many procedures and nego­
tiating processes are still not fully understood.
All workers except some 1,600,000 national and
local government employees have the legal right
to negotiate formal collective-bargaining con­
tracts. As of January 1 , 1950, 23,805 local unions
with 4,651,000 union members were covered by
formal agreements, representing over 60 percent
of the local unions and 80 percent of the union
members eligible to negotiate formal collective­
bargaining contracts.
During 1949, employers tended to insist on
considerably lower standards in collective-bargain­
ing agreements than formerly with respect to
working conditions, workers’ prerogatives, and
wages. This was due partly to the employers’
attempt to regain some of the concessions they
had made when first confronted with their changed
postwar status and partly to the prevailing tight
economic conditions. Gradually in the process
of negotiation, employers’ and workers’ rights
were being defined. The general trend in contract
provisions is toward longer-term agreements,
inclusion of specific grievance machinery, arbitra­
tion of disputes and contract interpretation, and
a moratorium on work stoppages.
Labor-relations adjustment machinery has come
into common use as an instrument in labormanagement relations. During the past year, the
central and prefectural labor-relations commissions
were strengthened through revisions of the Labor
Relations Adjustment Law and the promulgation
of the Public Corporation Labor Relations Adjust­
ment Law. The central and prefectural commis­


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MONTHLY LABOR

sions have been instrumental in preventing or
adjusting all major disputes during the year as
well as in assisting in the adjustment of nearly
all others.6
Although labor-management disputes were wide­
spread, labor, under prevailing economic pressures
and anti-Communist leadership, actually quit
work in few instances. During 1949, man-days of
idleness due to work stoppages numbered 4,327,000
(about a tenth of 1 percent of total available work­
ing time) and involved 1,236,000 workers.
Labor Legislation and Administration

No new basic legislation was enacted during
the past year, but most of the labor laws and imple­
menting ordinances underwent some revision in
order to clarify ambiguous sections, make certain
provisions more effective, to fill in gaps, or to
provide for new conditions. The most significant
of these were :
(1) Revision of the Trade Union Law to require
that union constitutions include certain minimum
provisions to secure democratic operation of union
affairs, and to prohibit financial support of unions
by employers.
(2) Revision of the Labor Relations Adjust­
ment Law to clarify definitions of proper acts of
dispute, to extend the functions of the Central
Labor Relations Commission, and to make the
law consistent with legislation enacted subsequent
to its passage.
(3) Promulgation of the Public Corporation
Labor Relations Adjustment Law to govern ad­
justment of disputes in Government-operated
enterprises.
(4) Extension of the Unemployment Compen­
sation Law to cover casual workers.
(5) Addition of provisions to the Employment
Security Law providing special placement service
to new school graduates.
(6) Revision of the enforcement and safety and
sanitation regulations under the Labor Standards
Law to simplify record-keeping and reporting re­
quirements for employers and to amend safety and
sanitation standards.
(7) Enactment of the Emergency Unemploy­
ment Counter-Measures Law to provide for work

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

VENEZUELAN WORKING CONDITIONS

relief projects to meet any extended unemploy­
ment that might develop.
The Ministry of Labor and its operational agen­
cies gained significantly in maturity and effective­
ness, the report here reviewed states, as labor,
management, and the general public made in­
creasing demands on their services. Despite re­
duction in personnel, all units handled greatly in­
creased work loads through more efficient proce­
dures and better trained staff.
Employers and workers are becoming more
fully cognizant of their responsibilities and rights
under the Labor Standards Law. To cite a single
example, trade-unions actively support the law
and seek the assistance of the Labor Standards
Bureau in correcting violations. Both tradeunions and individual workers, without fear of
reprisal, filed more than 27,000 complaints in
1949, which the Bureau investigated.
Child labor in large establishments is virtually
nonexistent, and small and medium-size establish­
ments are becoming increasingly aware of the
child-labor restrictions. The many feudalistic
practices, which were part and parcel of the prewar
employer-employee relationship in Japan, such as
indentured labor, restrictions on the life of workers
living in dormitories, and general exploitation of
women and young workers, are rapidly becoming
extinct. Gains have been less satisfactory in
improving the safety and sanitary conditions
prevailing in working places, primarily because
of the lack of materials and the poor financial
condition of many employers.
1 Condensed from a Report to the Thirty-Third Session of the International
Labor Organization presented in June 1950 by Robert T. Amis, Director of
Labor, Economic and Scientific Section, General Headquarters, Supreme
Command for the Allied Powers, Tokyo.
' 1,
J Editor’s Note: According to the M onthly Labor Force Survey of the
Japanese M inistry of Labor, the number of totally unemployed persons in
Japan numbered 500,000 in April 1950—the highest recorded since the Survey
was started in August 1947. Excluded are 255,000 on work relief. In M ay
1950 total unemployment had dropped to 430,000, compared with 440,000
in M ay 1949.
8 For a description of the contract labor system, see the M onthly Labor
Review for January 1949 (p. 47).
* Editor’s Note: The inauguration took place on July 12,1950.
* Editor’s Note: This Council was dissolved and its leaders purged by order
of the Attorney General’s Office on August 30,1950.
6 Editor’s Note: Arbitration awards to employees of Government corpora­
tions have not been carried out in several important instances because no
funds were appropriated for this purpose, and money could not be obtained
w ithin the budgetary limits prescribed by the economic stabilization
program.


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449

ILO Report on Venezuelan Unions
and Working Conditions
R ecommendations for action to strengthen the
Venezuelan labor movement and to improve
social insurance and related measures have been
made by an International Labor Office (ILO)
Mission which visited the country in mid-1949.
The investigation was made at the invitation of
the Venezuelan Government to obtain “ complete
and impartial information concerning social prob­
lems, general conditions of work in the different
industries, the scope of the benefits and protection
afforded to workers under the legislation in force
and (under) the National Government, and the
development and functioning of trade unions . .
This invitation followed charges of infringement of
freedom of association, made to the ILO earlier in
the year by the Venezuelan Confederation of
Labor (CTV).1 In its report,2 which is here
summarized, the Mission concluded that “ Freedom
of association in Venezuela is far from being
complete.” The report provides detailed infor­
mation on the current disorganization of the
country’s trade-union movement and the resultant
dangers to Venezuelan protective labor legisla­
tion—progressive but largely dependent upon the
trade-unions for enforcement. Venezuelan Gov­
ernment action taken after the Mission’s departure
is cited in the report as “ an important step,
though only a step, towards the re-establishment
of the constitutional guarantees without which the
trade-union movement cannot function freely.”
In the course of the investigation (July 22 to
August 30, 1949) the Mission talked with labor,
management, and Government officials in the most
populous and industrial areas. Every facility
necessary for making the investigation was granted
to the Mission except permission to talk with
certain imprisoned trade-union leaders.
The Mission called attention to (1) the country’s
political instability; (2) the comparatively recent
industrial development; (3) the preponderant role
of the petroleum industry in the Venezuelan
economy. The Labor Code of July 16, 1936, as
amended in 1945 and 1947, incorporates many of

450

VENEZUELAN WORKING CONDITIONS

the constitutional labor provisions.3 Based on
petroleum industry conditions, it has been criti­
cized as too advanced for industry, in general.
The Military Junta, at the time of its coup in
November 1948, announced that it would continue
both the Labor Code and the “ progressive”
sections of the 1947 constitution, as modified by
various supplementary regulations.
Trade-Union Position

Neither public authorities nor industrial circles
dispute the extent of the repressive measures
against trade-union leaders, according to the
Mission. However, the trade-unionists believe
these measures were intended to destroy their
movement, while the Government maintains
that the trade-union movement was involved
merely because of its close connections with the
Democratic Action Party. The Minister of
Labor “assured the Mission that he was perfectly
aware that in Venezuela freedom of association, in
the strict sense of the word, did not exist as in the
highly developed countries of Europe and North
America and that this situation would continue
until the trade-union movement followed a normal
course, as in the countries just mentioned, inde­
pendent of political parties.”
Basic labor regulations conform to most of the
principles of the ILO’s Convention concerning
freedom of association and protection of the right
to organize.4 The Code permits the closed shop
and, though protecting union autonomy, carefully
regulates union operation. Qualified labor organ­
izations may register and “represent their mem­
bers with a view to insuring the enforcement of
the (Code) provisions,” conclude collective agree­
ments, etc. Registration may be canceled, sub­
ject to a final court decision, for activities incom­
patible with legitimate trade-union objects; politi­
cal activity in pursuit of that aim was interpreted
as legitimate, provided the “pursuit of political
objectives” was not the organization’s sole pur­
pose. An organization can be legally dissolved
only for affiliation with a national or international
political association or party.
In November 1948, 1,014 trade-unions were
registered, grouped in State and industrial federa­
tions—an extraordinary advance, in the Mission’s
opinion, since the labor movement’s beginning in
1936. Four-fifths of organized labor belonged to

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MONTHLY LABOR

the CTV, first effective Venezuelan confederation,
which was formed in November 1947 by 17 State
and 7 industrial federations, almost all of which
favored collaboration with the Democratic Action
Party Government.5 A number of CTV leaders
were elected to the Venezuelan legislative body.
Worker organizations grew more rapidly than em­
ployer organizations, occasioning some lack of
equilibrium in industrial relations, according to
the Mission.
Between November 1948 and February 1949,
the Military Junta adopted the following four
measures:
(1) Certain constitutional guarantees were sus­
pended by decree until such time as “ the circum­
stances in respect of which (the decree) was issued
have ceased to exist.” 6 This enabled the Govern­
ment to control union correspondence, documents,
funds, publications, and meetings; search union
offices and members’ homes; and exile, arrest, or
restrict movements of union officers without legal
check. The authorities informed the Mission that
suspension of the other constitutional guarantees
implied the suspension of the right to strike also.
(2) The judiciary system was revised. Because
of the extremely important part played by the
courts in registration and dissolution of labor
organizations, this action created the “ danger of
the very existence of the trade-union movement
being at the mercy of the public authorities,”
according to the Mission.
(3) The CTV and its affiliated federations were
dissolved. According to a Government spokes­
man, this “ artificial framework” was set up by the
Democratic Action Party (dissolved in December
1948) through persecution of independent organi­
zations and continued to be its political instru­
ment. Though local unions were not dissolved
and the few unaffiliated organizations were not
affected, the dissolution had “ the most serious
consequences” for the trade-union movement, the
Mission stated.
(4) Local unions were required to elect new
committees of management, with current officials
declared ineligible to hold office. Union meetings,
originally completely prohibited, were permitted
for the sole objects of re-electing the committees
and examining financial accounts. Meetings,
however, required prior approval by the public
authorities—often subject to delay—and were
under police or labor inspectorate supervision,

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

VENEZUELAN WORKING CONDITIONS

which in many instances amounted to interference.
Many unions (especially in country districts)
could not comply with the detailed meeting re­
quirements. Also important, in the Mission’s
opinion, was the impracticability of federating the
legally recognized unions; State federations were
not opposed by the Government but were beset
by the same difficulties encountered by unions.
Establishment of a new central confederation was
not authorized.
Minimum Conditions of Employment

Legal minimum standards, immediately appli­
cable to all workers, include limitation of working
hours to 8 daily or 7 nightly and 48 and 42 weekly,
respectively; provision of 2 weeks’ paid annual
leave; protection of employment of women and
young persons; conditions of hygiene and safety;
protection of wage payments; and profit sharing
(distribution to workers of 10 percent of the annual
net profits up to a maximum of 2 months’ wages
per wage earner). Because these minimum employ­
ment standards had not been questioned, the Mis­
sion devoted little discussion to them.
However, the Labor Code regulations concern­
ing the individual contract require that notice or
equivalent wages, a long-service bonus, and a
“ leaving grant” be given to workers for unjustified
dismissal or “ indirect dismissal” (adverse employer
modification of employment conditions). On this
subject, the Mission noted: “ The particularly
extensive protection which Venezuelan workers
enjoy against all forms of unjustified dismissal is
certainly one of the most characteristic features of
Venezuelan social legislation.” In the investiga­
tion of worker charges concerning violation of col­
lective agreement and Code dismissal provisions,
the Mission reported extensive employer criticism
of long-service and “leaving” grants. Employers
held that (1) calculation based on the worker’s
current wage alone is an unwarranted burden in
view of the regular wage rate increases in recent
years; (2) workers increasingly tended to provoke
dismissal, thereby disorganizing industry and in­
creasing labor turn-over; and (3) employers might
be obliged to refuse future wage increases (because
of their cumulative effect), with extensive social
conflicts as a result.


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451

Collective Bargaining

In assessing the effect of the Military Junta’s
measures on the application of collective agree­
ments, the Mission stated that the system, while
not directly restricted, “ appears to have been pro­
foundly modified” and further improvements
through collective agreements have become “ ex­
tremely difficult, if not impossible. * * * Only
the re-establishment of the right to organize and
other fundamental guarantees would * * *
render the system of collective bargaining fully
effective.”
Heretofore, collective agreements have been of
outstanding importance in Venezuela. Under the
Code, an employer must conclude a collective
agreement if so requested by a worker organiza­
tion or group, which may make the request when
at least 75 percent of the members so demand.
The number of agreements registered declined
sharply in early 1949, and only a small number of
expiring agreements were renewed (many were due
to expire in 1949 and 1950). The authorities in­
formed the Mission that collective agreements
would continue in force even if not renewed. If
this is correct, the Mission observed, conditions
are at least stabilized. However, the Code en­
trusts supervision of the application of collective
agreements first to the trade-unions, second to the
labor administration, and finally to special labor
courts, and the question arises whether isolated
trade-unions, unsupported by a federation or con­
federation, can make full use of their legal rights.
The Code provides for compulsory conciliation
and voluntary arbitration by bipartite boards,
representing the parties concerned. However, the
Mission reports that “ the conciliation and arbitra­
tion procedure, insofar as it continues to operate,
no longer offers to the worker the same guarantees
as under normal conditions * * * the risk of
a strike or lock-out has disappeared and the very
machinery for negotiation prescribed by the Code
is in danger of becoming paralyzed, even though
the text of the Code remains unchanged.”
Social Insurance and Medical Facilities

The Mission noted considerable current effort
to insure the efficient working and gradual ex­
pansion of social insurance. The act of June 14,

452

VENEZUELAN WORKING CONDITIONS

1940, established compulsory sickness, maternity,
and industrial injuries insurance (excluding agri­
cultural, home, and domestic workers). Benefit
provisions generally conform to the principles
fixed in international labor Conventions, according
to the Mission, except that the administrative wage
limitation set in 1944 remains unrevised in spite of
the subsequent cost-of-living and monetary wage
rise. The act is to be applied gradually, an area
at a time. In July 1949, only about 10 percent of
all employees were covered by the law, although
subsequently it was extended to several important
municipalities. The Mission noted that further
extension is conditioned by Venezuela’s current
lack of adequate facilities for a public health
service. No general insurance is provided for
other contingencies.7
Industrial hygiene and safety, maintenance of
medical services for workers and their families,
and workmen’s compensation are also provided
for by the Code. According to workers, there are
many deficiencies in existing medical facilities.
The Mission noted the complexity of the problem
but believed that the combined efforts of the
Government, employers, and workers could con­
siderably improve the present situation.
Labor Inspection Service

The Mission found that the national labor in­
spector, 26 inspectors, and 110 commissioners have
achieved a great deal but have had insufficient
time and facilities to overcome all the difficulties
encountered. They are responsible not only for
application of legal employment standards and
collection of industrial census data but also for
many union and labor relations operations.
Owing to the scattered population, inadequate
communications, illiteracy, small and dispersed
industry, etc., the task is particularly difficult.
Finally, technical training of inspectors and com­
missioners is inadequate and they are obliged to
rely on the help of the technicians and experts of
the establishments supervised—“clearly a delicate
and abnormal position,” says the Mission.
Subsequent Government Action

On November 23, 1949, some 3 months after the
Mission’s departure, the Government re-estab­
lished—insofar as they do not prejudice public


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MONTHLY LABOR

peace—inviolability of correspondence and the
home, freedom to travel and change domicile, and
the right not to be placed in solitary confinement
or held in custody if a final judicial decision has
declared invalid the reasons for arrest. In addi­
tion, all political prisoners, trade-union leaders
included, were liberated and all adults were given
the right to vote in general elections to be held
shortly. Suspension of the other constitutional
guarantees (including the right to strike or lock­
out) and prohibition of industrial federations and
confederations remained in force.
Recommendations of Mission

Employers should endeavor without delay to
set up free and representative employers’ organi­
zations, “the absence of which constitutes a regret­
table gap in the country’s social structure” in the
Mission’s opinion. Trade-union officials could
enhance union effectiveness by drawing a clearer
demarcation between purely trade-union and
political activities ; regrouping and centralizing the
numerous small unions; establishing or improving
research services; and strengthening union admin­
istrative structure to avoid dependence on public
authorities for solution of certain material ques­
tions, e. g., trade-union offices.
Both employers and unions should cooperate
with the Government in establishing unem­
ployment and old-age insurance, improving the
seriously insufficient technical instruction and
vocational training, etc. Moreover, the tradeunion movement increasingly should work to
improve housing and reduce illiteracy. The possi­
bilities of creating a system of consumers’ coopera­
tives as well as production cooperatives (both
agricultural and industrial) should be explored.
As for Government action, the Mission sug­
gested :
(1) Promotion of healthy trade-unionism by
permitting re-election of former trade-union com­
mittee members, union meetings without previous
Government sanction, formation of national feder­
ations and confederations, and strikes and lock-outs
within the limits laid down by the labor law;
(2) Encouragement to economic and social
collaboration between free, strong, and inde­
pendent employer and worker organizations;
(3) Legal prolongation of collective agreements
pending renewal by free negotiations;

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950

(4) Improvement of social insurance and related
measures by raising the wage ceiling which limits
compulsory sickness and maternity insurance
coverage, revising wage class specifications so that
contributions and benefits will be closely related
to wages paid, building up a trained medical staff
and medical facilities (possibly financing needed
construction by loans from industrial injuries
insurance funds), coordinating and developing
specific programs for the health services of the
Venezuelan Social Insurance Institute and of the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, examining
methods of overcoming the scarcity of qualified
doctors and auxiliary medical personnel and securing
their better geographical distribution, continuing
preparation for extending existing social insur­
ance measures to all the country, studying prob­
lems involved in establishing old-age, invalidity,
death, and other social insurance measures (in­
cluding relation to Labor Code provisions concern­
ing dismissal, long-service, and death compensa­
tion), and examining possible improvements in
agricultural workers’ social security status (par­
ticularly public health services);
(5) Improvement of labor inspection service by
bettering selection and training of inspectors,
assuring inspectors adequate remuneration and
employment stability by law, recruiting new
female inspectors and hygiene and safety spec­
ialists, introducing stricter specialization (includ­
ing consideration of transfer of dispute duties to
specialized bodies), and making available to
inspectors necessary technical or material facilities;
and
(6) Development of an effective employment
service and vocational training system on which
the Mission formulated no further recommenda­
tion. As a result of the Minister of Labor’s keen
interest, negotiations had already begun for an
ILO mission to assist the Venezuelan Government
in setting up an adequate employment service.
1 The CTV charged the Venezuelan worker delegation to the 1949 and 1950
International Labor Conferences was not representative. The Credentials
Committee seated the delegate in 1949, in the absence of satisfactory evidence,
but refused to admit him in 1950.
* The M ission’s report, Freedom of Association and Conditions of Work in
Venezuela, International Labor Office, Geneva, 1950, was released on August
21.

3 In principle, the Code applies to all industries, but special regulations take
into account the special problems of agricultural workers. The Mission
reported that dissolution of the Agricultural Workers’ Federation under the
M ilitary Junta had particularly serious repercussions on agricultural employ­
ment and cited various other indications that the agricultural worker’s
economic position was considerably below that of other workers.


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453

Defense Production Act of 1950:
Terms and Early Action
discretionary powers to curb inflation
and to spur defense production were accorded to
the President of the United States under the De­
fense Production Act of September 8, 1950 (Pub­
lic Law 774). This law authorizes the President
to exercise certain controls over credit, produc­
tion, and distribution of materials. He may fix
ceilings on wages and prices and ration consumer
goods, when he feels that such steps are justified.
Defense spending is to be doubled to an annual
rate of $30 billion, according to the President,
who said in an address to the country on Septem­
ber 9: “This cannot be achieved on the basis of
business as usual * * * The danger the free
world faces is so great that we cannot be satisfied
with less than an all-out effort by everyone
* * * We must raise the money to pay the
cost of our increased defense efforts * * * we
must prevent inflation. * * * To the extent
that we finance our defense effort out of taxes
now, we will avoid an enormous increase in the
national debt. * * * We will [alsoj help to
hold down prices.”
Consumer credit controls were announced on
the day that the law became effective and a num­
ber of administrative appointments followed
shortly afterwards, including that of defense
coordinator. These actions and the terms of the
emergency legislation are discussed in the present
article.

B road

Legislative Provisions

The Defense Production Act is divided into
seven titles, two of which deal with price and wage
stabilization and the settlement of labor disputes,
all of which are here summarized.
4 For discussion, see M onthly Labor Review for September 1947 (p. 261).
3 Available information indicates that the Democratic Action Party had
placed every obstacle in the w ay of the rival labor group opposing such
collaboration.
6 The Mission points out that the Democratic Action Party which preceded
the Military Junta suspended constitutional guarantees from the time of its
coup in October 1945 until the adoption of the constitution on July 5, 1947,
by a Constituent Assembly set up as a result of free elections. The President
of the current “ Provisional Government” stated it would give way to a
freely elected Government “ when an atmosphere of serenity and national
agreement has been re-established.”
1 Certain categories of public employees and employees of some private
undertakings have provident funds providing old-age, invalidity, and death
benefits.

454

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950

In order to meet
the objective of stabilization, the law empowers
the President to encourage and promote voluntary
action by business, agriculture, labor, and con­
sumers.
However, if the title’s objectives cannot be ful­
filled by voluntary action, the President may
issue regulations and orders establishing a ceiling
or ceilings on prices of any material or service
(broadly construed) and shall at the same time
issue regulations and orders stabilizing wages,
salaries, and other compensations in the industry
or business producing the material or performing
the service. A ceiling may be established on an
individual basis only when the President finds
that (1) the price of the material or service has
risen or threatens to rise unreasonably above the
prevailing price from May 24, 1950, to June 24,
1950; (2) the increase will materially affect the
cost of living or the national defense; (3) the ceil­
ing is necessary to the purposes of the defense
production law; (4) it is practicable to impose the
ceiling; and (5) the ceiling will be equitable to all
concerned.
In stabilizing prices and wages in an industry,
the President shall issue regulations prohibiting
increases in wages, etc., which he believes would
require increased price ceilings or would impose
hardships or inequities on sellers operating under
the price ceiling.
When price ceilings have been established over
“a substantial part of all sales at retail and mate­
rially affecting the cost of living, the President (i)
shall impose ceilings on prices and services gen­
erally, and (ii) shall stabilize wages, salaries, and
other compensation generally.”
Due consideration must be given by the Presi­
dent to comparable prices, rentals, commissions,
margins, rates, fees, charges, and allowances, and
to comparable salaries, wages, or other compen­
sation which are representative of those prevailing
from May 24, 1950, to June 24, 1950, inclusive, or
at the date nearest that time when they were rep­
resentative. Among the other considerations to
be taken into account is, of course, the national
effort to achieve maximum production.
Regulations and orders issued shall take pre­
cedence over any other obligation, except that the
President shall make appropriate provision to
prevent hardships and inequities to sellers who
have bona fide contracts, in effect when an order
P r ic e a n d W a g e S ta b iliz a tio n .


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MONTHLY LABOR

is issued, for future delivery of materials in which
seasonal demands or normal business practices
require contracts for future delivery. In addi­
tion, no wage, salary, or other compensation may
be stabilized below the May 24-June 24 level,
or be in conflict with the terms of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938, the Labor Management
Relations Act of 1947, or any other Federal,
State, District of Columbia, Territory, or possession
law. Similarly, ceilings are prohibited for any
agricultural commodity below the highest of a
variety of prices (for example, parity, and the
highest price from May 24 to June 24, 1950).
The authority granted by the title on pricewage stabilization is inapplicable to prices or
rentals for real property; fees for professional
services; rentals for materials for publication and
books, etc.; rates for underwriting insurance;
rates charged by any common carrier or other
public utility; and margin requirements on any
commodity exchange.
If imposed by the President, price-wage controls
are to be administered through a new independent
agency created for that specific purpose. Provi­
sion is made for appeal of decisions and for punish­
ment by fine or imprisonment, or both, for any
person who willfully violates the terms of this
title.
Regarding labor
disputes, the act states the intent of Congress to
be the establishment of effective procedures for
the settlement of labor disputes affecting national
defense. This is to insure effective price-wage
stabilization and the maintenance of uninterrupted
production. Here again, primary reliance is to be
placed upon voluntary effort of the parties in set­
tling their differences by negotiation and collective
bargaining and by making full use of mediation
and conciliation facilities in order to effect a
settlement in the national interest. To this end,
the President may (1) initiate voluntary confer­
ences between management, labor, and such
persons as he may designate to represent the
public, and (2) take such action as may be agreed
upon in any such conference and which is appro­
priate to carry out the provisions of the title on
labor disputes.
The President may designate such persons or
agencies as he deems appropriate to carry out the
provisions thus laid down. However, in any
S e ttle m e n t o f L a b o r D is p u te s .

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950

conference held to settle disputes, due regard
-must be given to conditions established by prevail­
ing collective-bargaining practice which will be fair
to labor and management alike, and will be
consistent with the stabilization policies estab­
lished by the Defense Production Act. No action
shall be taken that is inconsistent with the FLSA
and other applicable law.
When
he deems it necessary, the President is authorized
to require performance under contracts or orders
(other than employment contracts) which he
deems necessary or appropriate to promote the
national defense and to allocate materials and
facilities in a manner to promote the national
defense. In order to prevent hoarding, no person
shall accumulate in excess of reasonable business,
personal, or home-consumption demands, or, for
the purpose of resale at prices in excess of those
prevailing, materials which have been designated
by the President as scarce, etc. The President is
to order published in the Federal Register, and in
other appropriate manner, every such designated
material.
Provision is made for the President to requi­
sition equipment, supplies, or component parts
thereof, or their use, if needed. This need must
be immediate and other means must be exhausted
before the President may exercise the right of
requisitioning. He is required to determine com­
pensation promptly (subject to appeal in the Court
of Claims) and to return the property to the
owner at a fair price, or dispose of it otherwise,
when the defense need is ended.
P r io r i tie s , A llo c a tio n s , a n d R e q u is itio n in g .

C a p a c ity . Production and deliveries
or services under Government contracts may be
expedited by the President by authorizing the
Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Commerce and such other Federal procurement
agencies for the national defense as he may desig­
nate (so-called “ guaranteeing agencies’’) to guar­
antee loans through any public or private financing
institution (including any Federal Reserve bank)
in connection with the carrying out of defense
production.
The President may provide for loans to private
business enterprises in order to expedite the ex­
pansion of capacity, the development of tech­
nological processes, and for a number of other

P r o d u c tiv e


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455

constructive purposes. He may provide for
purchases of strategic materials for Government
use or for resale. Procurement power thus
granted includes the transport and storage, pro­
cessing, and refining of the materials.
Existing Federal departments, agencies, offi­
cials, or corporations may be utilized for the fore­
going purposes, or the President may create new
agencies (other than corporations) which he deems
to be appropriate. Any of these agencies may
borrow from the Treasury of the United States
such sums as are needed, provided that the total
amount borrowed does not exceed $600 million in
loans outstanding at any one time. Authority is
given for an appropriation not to exceed $1.4
billion, as may be necessary.
C o n su m e r a n d R e a l E s ta te C r e d it. The Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is
authorized to exercise consumer credit controls in
accordance with and to carry out the provisions
of Executive Order No. 8843 (August 9, 1941)
until the President determines that such controls
are no longer needed (in no event, beyond June 30,
1951).
The President may prescribe regulations with
respect to real estate construction credit, covering,
for example, maximum loan or credit values and
minimum down payments. “ New construction”
means any structure or any major addition or
major improvement to a structure, which was not
begun before 12 o’clock meridian, August 3, 1950.
G en era l P r o v is io n s . Congress laid down the policy
that small-business enterprises should be encour­
aged to make the greatest possible contribution to
the objectives of this act.
Whenever the President finds that the alloca­
tions he has authorized will result in significant
dislocation of normal civilian distribution, he is
obliged to make the allocation, so far as practicable,
on the basis of the share received by any business
under normal conditions (i. e., during any repre­
sentative period before June 24, 1950) and with
due regard to new business.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, the
President may delegate any power or authority
conferred upon him by this legislation to any officer
or agency of the Government, including new agen­
cies. (The President is authorized to create the
latter, other than corporate agencies.)

456

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950

The President may during the life of the act and
for 2 years thereafter obtain information, inspect
books, etc., at his discretion, in order to ascertain
the enforcement of the act itself and orders issued
thereunder. If in his judgment any person has
engaged in or is about to engage in acts or prac­
tices in violation of any provision of this law, he
may apply to the appropriate court for a restrain­
ing order.
The President may consult at his discretion with
representatives of industry, business, financing,
agriculture, labor, and other interests, with a view
to encouraging them to enter voluntary agree­
ments (with his approval) and programs to further
the act’s objectives. No act or omission under
this legislation—if requested and approved by the
President, pursuant to such a voluntary agree­
ment or program—shall be construed as in viola­
tion of the antitrust laws or the Federal Trade
Commission Act.
For the purpose of carrying out the priorities
and allocations provisions, the authority here
granted may be delegated to a single Government
official.
The Attorney General is directed to make or to
request the Federal Trade Commission to make
surveys, for the purpose of determining any factors
that tend to eliminate competition or to foster
monopolies. He must submit to Congress and the
President a report setting forth his findings and
recommendations within 90 days of the effective
date of this legislation, and at other future dates.
Penalities are listed for the use of confidential
information in direct and indirect speculation on
any commodity exchange and for aiding others so
to speculate.
The Joint Committee on Defense Production is
established, to consist of five representatives each
of the Senate and House of Representatives Com­
mittees on Banking and Currency. The stated
function of this committee is to make a continuous
study of the programs authorized by the Defense
Production Act, and to review progress under its
terms. Either the committee or any duly au­
thorized subcommittee may hold hearings and
subpena witnesses, if necessary.
Provisions of the act are applicable to the
United States, its Territories and possessions, and
the District of Columbia. The titles covering


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MONTHLY LABOR

priorities and allocations, requisitioning, produc­
tive capacity and supply, and general provisions
are to terminate on June 20, 1952, but are to
remain effective after June 30, 1951, only to the
extent necessary in carrying out defense contracts
entered into by the Government prior to that
date. The titles dealing with price and wage
stabilization, labor disputes, and consumer and
related credit terminate on June 30, 1951. How­
ever, Congress has reserved the power to terminate
the act and any agency created under its terms at
an earlier date.
Persons who engage in a strike against the
Government or who belong to an organization
which advocates the overthrow of the United
States Government are barred from employment
under the law. A signed affidavit shall be con­
sidered prima facie evidence that the person
making the affidavit does not fall in either of the
the foregoing categories. Any employee who
accepts salary or wages but contravenes these
provisions commits a felony.
Administrative Action

The machinery for the economic mobilization
of the country was immediately set in motion after
President Truman had signed the Defense Pro­
duction Act. In accordance with the general
provisions of the law, on September 9 the President
named W. Stuart Symington, Chairman of the
National Security Resources Board, as defense
coordinator to administer all controls, defense
production, expansion, and economic mobilization.
C o n s u m e r C r e d it C o n tro l. The Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve Board had announced on
September 8 that installment buying restrictions
would be reimposed 10 days later, September 18
(Regulation W). The Board ordered a down
payment of at least one-third on automobiles with
no more than 21 months to pay and 15 percent on
home appliances with 18 months to pay. Articles
costing less than $100 are exempt from these
restrictions. Although the provision of the Defense
Production Act to control the issuance of private
credit for housing construction was delegated to
the Federal Reserve Board by the President, no
action had been taken by the end of September.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

1950 AMENDMENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

By Executive Order No.
10161 of September 9, an independent Economic
Stabilization Agency was created to plan and
develop price and wage stabilization policies; to
effect voluntary anti-inflationary measures; and to
impose wage and price controls when necessary.
This agency will be headed by a stabilization ad­
ministrator. Under him will be a Director of
Price Stabilization and a Wage Stabilization
Board, composed of 3 members each of the public,
labor, and management. This board is to make
recommendations concerning the planning and
development of wage stabilization policies.
In the same Executive order, the President
delegated the priorities, allocations, and requisition
functions conferred upon him by the Defense Pro­
duction Act to various agencies: for fuels and
electric power, Secretary of the Interior; for food
and the distribution of farm equipment and fer­
tilizer, Secretary of Agriculture; for rail and truck
transportation, Interstate Commerce Commission;
and all other materials and facilities, Secretary of
Commerce. A National Production Authority was
created within the Department of Commerce on
September 11 to carry out the functions assigned
to the Secretary of Commerce.
The President also delegated the power to
develop and promote measures for the expansion of
productive capacity and materials necessary for
national defense to the Departments of the Army,
the Navy, the Air Force, Commerce, Interior, and
Agriculture, and the General Services Adminis­
tration.
The formulation of plans for meeting defense and
essential civilian labor needs was assigned by the
President to the Secretary of Labor. The Secre­
tary is also authorized to draw up a list of “critical”
occupations, and together with the Secretary of
Defense and the Director of Selective Service,
formulate policies pertaining to the induction and
deferment of personnel for the armed services.
In another Executive Order (No. 10160) of
September 9, the President ordered all persons
engaging in trade or business during the period
from May 24, 1950, to June 24, 1950, to keep
records of cost and price data. As already stated,
this is the base period that will be used to deter­
mine wage and price ceilings when they become
necessary.

A g e n c ie s ’ P o w e r s D e fin e d .

906024— 50----- 3


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457

Federal Social Security Act
Amendments of 1950
e m p h a s is was placed upon strengthening
the old-age and survivors insurance (OASI) sys­
tem in the amendments to the Social Security
Act, approved on August 28, 1950.1
In addition, the new law, originally drafted by
the House Ways and Means Committee, modified
by the Senate and revised by conference com­
mittee action, changed certain provisions of existing
law dealing with State programs relating to public
assistance; unemployment insurance; and maternal
and child health, crippled children, and child
welfare.
The 1950 legislation is an attempt to restore
emphasis on providing social security through in­
surance rather than through assistance.2 New
provisions reflect, in some measure, numerous
recommendations made in 1948 by the Advisory
Council on Social Security to the Senate Commit­
tee on Finance for the improvement of the old-age
and survivors insurance and public assistance
programs.3

M ajor

Briefly, nearly
10 million additional workers—2 million on a
voluntary basis—will become eligible for coverage
under the OASI program on January 1, 1951.
Primary benefits were raised more than threefourths, on the average, for those who have
already retired. An even more liberal benefit
schedule was adopted for those retiring in the
future. These new rates constitute the first
major increase in benefit scales since the Social
Security Act was originally adopted in 1935.
Eligibility requirements for retirement were also
liberalized.
O ld -A g e a n d S u r v iv o r s I n s u r a n c e .

O th er P r o g r a m M o d ific a tio n s . The new law author­
ized the usage of Federal funds on a matching
basis in connection with State programs of public
assistance for needy persons 18 years old or over
who are permanently and totally disabled. The
Federal share of expenditure for the disabled needy
is the same as the expenditure made for the needy
aged. It also authorized an appropriation of $50

458

1950 AMENDMENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

million for the current fiscal year, as well as future
appropriations, to cover this new program.
The aid to dependent children program is
strengthened by a provision by which the Federal
Government matches a share of the expense of
upkeep of the relative with whom a dependent
child lives—up to a maximum of $27 monthly.
As of mid-1952, the States, in determining the
need for assistance to the blind, must disregard
earned monthly income up to $50.
The new law allows the Federal Government to
assume a share of the cost of payments to recipi­
ents of old-age assistance, aid to the blind, and
aid to the permanently and totally disabled living
in public medical institutions (with certain excep­
tions). The Federal Government also shares in
direct payments for medical or remedial care to
practitioners instead of payment by the recipient
of public assistance, as formerly; but the law
continues to limit the amounts that can be in­
cluded for this purpose to those that are within
the monthly maximums on individual payments.
A responsible State authority must be desig­
nated for maintaining standards in private or
public institutions if any inmates receive old-age,
blind, or disabled assistance. Various other
standards are prescribed.
Provisions of the law relating to public assistance
programs and old-age and survivors insurance are
extended to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
(with limitations in public assistance aid).
Substantial increases in Federal appropriations
are authorized for programs of maternal and child
health services, services to crippled children, and
child welfare services.
Under the amendment to the Federal Unemploy­
ment Tax Act (included in the law under discus­
sion) the power of the Secretary of Labor is
restricted in determining whether State laws
meet certain minimum Federal standards. Failure
to meet these preclude (1) grants of Federal
funds for administration of State unemployment
laws, and (2) the crediting of tax paid by em­
ployers under State unemployment laws against
the Federal unemployment tax. The provisions
of the Social Security Act which expired December
31, 1949, authorizing Federal advances to States
whose accounts in the unemployment trust fund
were threatened with depletion, are made appli­
cable until January 1, 1952.


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OASI Amendments

The amended Social Security Act strengthens
appreciably the old-age and survivors insurance
system.
The 7,650,000 workers who are
to be covered by OASI compulsorily on January 1,
1951, and the 2,050,000 persons who may volun­
tarily obtain coverage are distributed as shown in
the accompanying tabulation.
A d d e d C overage.

Group i

Compulsory coverage:
Estimated number
Nonfarm self-employed____________ 4, 700, 000
Agricultural workers_______________
850, 000
Domestic workers in private hom es._ 1, 000, 000
350, 000
“Employee” defined_______________
Federal civilian employees (not under
a retirement system )_____________
200, 000
Employees outside the United States.
150, 000
Workers in Puerto R ico2 and the
Virgin Islands----------------------------400, 000
“Voluntary” coverage:
Employees of nonprofit organizations.
600, 000
State and local government em­
ployees 3------------------------------------- 1, 450, 000
1 Source: Congressional Record, Aug. 16, 1950 (p. 12819). Casual labor for
which no estimate was given is covered by definition in the new law.
1 The legislature of Puerto Rico must pass an enabling law to make this
coverage effective.
3 Excludes a small number of compulsorily covered transit workers.

All of the foregoing groups were necessarily
defined by the Congress; some definitions follow:
N o n f a r m s e lf-e m p lo y e d (specified occupations
excluded) are those who receive at least $400 net
income a year from self-employment.
A g r ic u ltu r a l w o rk e rs must have been employed
without interruption for at least 3 months by one
employer, and continue to be employed by him
thereafter for at least 60 full days in a calendar
quarter, earning a minimum of $50 quarterly.
D o m e s tic w o rk e rs must be employed in the priv­
ate home by a single employer for at least 24 days
in a quarter and receive a minimum of $50 wages
for the period. (Domestics in farm houses may be
covered only as agricultural workers.)
C a s u a l la b o r not performed in the course of the
employer’s trade or business is that which involves
a worker at least 24 days a quarter, is rendered
for one employer, and for which the worker receives
cash wages of at least $50 in that quarter.
E m p lo y e e is defined as being a person engaged
in a relationship which common law precedents
declared to be that of employee; but the amend­
ment specifically includes persons in the following

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

1950 AMENDMENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

occupations who were not considered employees
at common law: full-time, life-insurance or whole­
sale salesmen; agent- or commission-drivers distrib­
uting specified food products, laundry, or dry
cleaning; and industrial home workers earning
at least $50 in a quarter and working under em­
ployer specifications, if the work is subject to
State regulations.
F e d e ra l c iv ilia n e m p lo y e e s include employees
of the Federal Government or wholly owned cor­
porations or specified instrumentalities of the
United States who are not covered under any
retirement system.
E m p lo y e e s o f n o n p r o fit o r g a n iz a tio n s are eligible
if the employer elects to come under coverage and
holds a referendum among employees in which
two-thirds vote in favor of the plan. The mini­
mum coverage is for 10 years. Ministers and
members of religious orders are excluded.
E m p lo y e e s o f S ta te a n d lo c a l g o v e rn m e n ts may
be covered by agreement between the State and
the Federal Government. Public employees cov­
ered by an existing retirement system are excluded
unless State statutory authority exists making
such system supplementary to OASI.
Currently retired workers were granted
an average increase in primary benefits of 77%
percent, under a revised schedule of payments
effective for September 1950. These increases
range from 50 percent for the highest paid benefit
groups to about 100 percent for low-benefit groups.
The minimum primary monthly benefit of the
insured worker was increased from $10 to $20, and
the maximum from $46 to $68.50. Some of the
changes in benefit payments are shown below:
B e n e fits.

Primary benefit1
Old

New

$10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
46

$20. 00
30. 00
37. 00
46. 50
54. 00
59. 20
64. 00
68. 50
68. 50

i Source: Public Law 734, 81st Cong., sec. 215 (c) (1).
* For computing maximum benefits.

Under the revised schedule, the average primary
benefit of about $26 a month for a retired insured

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worker was increased to about $46. The maxi­
mum family benefit of $85 was raised to $150
(but not to more than 80 percent of the average
monthly wage).
A new benefit formula was provided for persons
retiring in the future which requires at least 6
quarters of coverage after 1950.
The new benefit formula is 50 percent of the
first $100 of average monthly wages, plus 15
percent of the next $200 (based on a maximum
wage base of $3,600 a year instead of $3,000 as in
the current provisions).4
Benefits based on the new formula are to be
paid only after April 1952. Persons becoming
eligible for OASI before that date will be entitled
to the increased benefits provided for those already
retired.
Eligibility requirements for fully insured status
were greatly liberalized: Quarters of coverage5
are required for half the number of quarters
elapsing between the end of 1950 (formerly 1936)
and retirement. Moreover, quarters of coverage
earned before 1951 may be counted toward the
coverage requirement. For instance, a person
aged 62 years or over on the effective date of the
law 6will be fully insured for benefits at age 65,
provided he has acquired at least 6 quarters of
coverage at any time. Thus, many persons
already 65 years of age or over may draw retire­
ment benefits and the newly covered groups may
qualify much more quickly. It was estimated
that about 500,000 additional persons will be
paid benefits in the first year of operation.
Coverage requirements for various age groups
under both previous and new provisions are shown
in the following table:
Quarters of coverage required to be fully insured 1
Quarters of
coverage

Average monthly wage 1

$40. 00
60. 00
74. 00
93. 00
126. 60
161. 30
195. 00
250. 00
250. 00

459

Age attained in
first half of 1951

76 years or over__
75 years________
74 years_____ ___
73 years . .
72 years_________
71 years_________
70 years
69 years________
68 years__
____
67 years__ _ ___
66 years ._
65 years_________

Previ­
ous re­
quire­
ment
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28

Quarters of
coverage

New
re­
quire­
ment
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

Age attained in
first half of 1951

Previ­
ous re­
quire­
ment

64 years_________
63 years_________
62 years_________
61 years____ _____
60 years_________
59 years_________
58 years_______ _
57 years_______
56 years________
55 y e a r s ___ _____
50 years_________
45 years or under..

1 Source: Congressional Record, August 16, 1950 (p. 12821).

30
32
34
36
38
40
40
40
40
40
40
40

New
re­
quire­
ment
6
6
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
30
40

460

1950 AMENDMENTS: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

Benefit payments to dependents and survivors
have also been liberalized. Dependent husbands
aged 65 years or over of retired or deceased women
workers are now eligible as beneficiaries. They
are to receive a half of the primary benefit of the
insured wife, and three-fourths as widowers.
The wife of a retired worker may receive benefits
at any age if she has a child under 18 years of age.
In some instances, a divorced wife caring for a
child may receive a mother’s survivorship benefit.
The benefit for the first child of a deceased
worker’s family is increased from one-half to
three-fourths of the primary benefit, as are those
of dependent parents. A lump-sum payment
equal to 3 times the monthly benefit is authorized
for the family of a deceased worker. Previously,
lump-sum payments were made only when a
survivor was not immediately eligible for monthly
payments.
The maximum annual earnings credited for
benefits and subject to contribution was raised
from $3,000 to $3,600, as of January 1, 1951.
World War II veterans are credited with $160
monthly wages for time spent in service if benefits
are not payable to them under another Federal
retirement system.
The new law permits the retired worker to
earn $50 a month in wages in covered employment
or self-employment without loss of right to his
retirement benefit (instead of less than $15, for­
merly) and entirely removes restrictions against
supplementary earnings after he reaches age 75.
The tax rate for employers and em­
ployees, respectively, remains at 1% percent of tax­
able wages for the calendar years 1950-53 (previ­
ously 1950 and 1951). It then rises by a half
F in a n c in g .

1 Public Law 734, 81st Cong., 2d sess.
3 See Public Social Security Programs in the United States, 1949-50, U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 982, Wash­
ington, 1950; also M onthly Labor Review, June 1948 (p. 641) and January
1949 (p. 53).
s Recommendations for Social Security Legislation. Reports to the Sen­
ate Committee on Finance from the Advisory Council on Social Security.
(Sen. Doc. 208, 80th Cong., 2d sess.), Washington, 1949.
4 Current benefits are based on previous provisions: 40 percent of the first
$50 of average wages, plus 10 percent of the next $200 (based on a maximum
wage base of $3,000 a year), and for the calendar year 1950 only, also the over­
all increase of 1 percent formerly allowed for each year of coverage. The total
is then increased according to the conversion tabulation shown in part above.
* A quarter of coverage is a calendar quarter w ith $50 or more in wages, or
a minimum of $100 net income from self-employment. Workers are able,
under the new law, to combine wages earned as employees and net income
from self-employment.
6 A number of effective dates are given, covering various sections of the law.


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MONTHLY LABOR

percent in 1954, 1960, and 1965, and remains
pegged at 3 ){ percent in 1970.
The tax rate on the net income of the self-em­
ployed is computed at 1% times the employee’s
rate. Thus, it will be 2% percent for the calendar
years 1951-53; 3 percent in 1954-59; 3% percent in
1960-64; 4% percent in 1965-69; and 4% in 1970
and thereafter. (The self-employed are to com­
bine reports of net income with annual income tax
reports.)
The additional cost of financing World War II
veterans’ wage credits is to be borne by the old-age
trust fund.
Among the fiscal adjustments made by the
amendments is the repeal of the provision which
authorized appropriations from the United States
Treasury for sums which might be required to
finance the benefits and payments of the OASI
program.

State Minimum Wages:
Legislative Changes, 1949-50
A n appropriate milestone for evaluating prog­
ress in State minimum-wage regulation is provided
by the October 1949 amendment of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, increasing the Federal hourly mini­
mum wage to 75 cents, effective January 25, 1950.
During the decade when the Federal minimum
wage was not increased beyond 40 cents, the States,
under their flexible wage-board-type laws, con­
tinued to make basic revisions in wage orders, and
gradually established minimum wages more nearly
adjusted to changes in the cost of living.
By June 30, 1950, approximately 70 minimumwage rates had become effective since VJ-day in
15 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico. Practically all were established by the wageboard process. During this entire period, only
4 wage orders, 3 in one State, established mini­
mum wages below 40 cents an hour. Half of the
orders in this period set minimum wages of 60
cents or over, 6 set 70 cents or higher.

Major Legislation

July 1949 through June 1950, the period here
dealt with, was an “off” year, legislatively speak-

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

STATE MINIMUM-WAGE CHANGES

ing, for only 11 States convened their legislatures
in regular session. Seven of these States had
existing minimum-wage laws: California, Ken­
tucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
New York, and Rhode Island. The other four—
Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Vir­
ginia—failed to adopt any minimum-wage laws
at their legislative sessions. This was a continua­
tion of the status quo, inasmuch as only three such
laws—those of Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii—were
adopted subsequent to the effective date of the
Fair Labor Standards Act in October 1938.
Several States continued their efforts to improve
the effectiveness of their existing laws. In
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, this action
occurred in 1949 legislative sessions which con­
tinued into the period under study. It took the
form of amendments to establish statutory rates.
Massachusetts set a minimum rate of 65 cents an
hour, effective January 1, 1950; New Hampshire,
a minimum rate of 50 cents for experienced
workers, and 35 cents for inexperienced (less than
6 months), effective July 28, 1949. In both these
States, the statutory rate became applicable to
men as well as to women. A previous amend­
ment to the Massachusetts minimum-wage law,
effective September 11, 1946, had provided that
the statute itself, as well as every wage order and
regulation under it, should apply to men. The
amendment to the basic New Hampshire statute
did not state expressly that it applied to men, but
the term “ any employees” used in the section
on rates was interpreted by the Attorney General
in a formal written opinion as being applicable to
men as well as to women and minors.
Occupational coverage, however, differs in the
two States. The Massachusetts statutory rate
applies to all occupations covered by the basic
minimum-wage law (i. e., all except domestic
service and agricultural labor) except as the
Minimum Wage Commission sets a lower wage by
wage order. In New Hampshire, the amendment
establishing the statutory rate exempts household,
domestic, or farm labor (occupations also exempt
from the basic minimum-wage law); outside
salesmen; and employees of restaurants, hotels,
inns, cabins, and summer camps for minors.
The latter group of occupations is not exempt
from the basic law, and the Attorney General
has ruled that the Labor Commissioner may
continue to establish minimum wages for women

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461

and minors in these and other occupations not
exempt from the basic law by the usual wageboard procedure, but any wage hereafter fixed in
this way may not be less than the statutory rate.
In both States the amendments had the initial
effect of bringing under coverage groups not pre­
viously subject to industry wage orders. In New
Hampshire, in spite of the occupations excepted
from the statutory rate, the amendment brought
the benefits of minimum-wage coverage to a
greater number of such groups than in Massa­
chusetts. When the New Hampshire legislation
became effective, the State already had wage
orders in effect covering the following trade and
service industries: laundry, restaurant, dry clean­
ing, beauty parlor, and retail, but Massachusetts
had postwar orders covering these and four addi­
tional occupations.
Adoption of the statutory-rate amendments in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire is significant
from the standpoint of future progress and prob­
able developments in this field. A statutory rate
with immediate coverage, in addition to wageboard authority to increase that rate, has long
been a goal of unions, State labor commissioners,
and civic organizations. Because Massachusetts
and New Hampshire were the first States to adopt
amendments which preserve the wage-board pro­
cedure and at the same time fix a flat rate in the
law, their two recent amendments must be re­
garded as major steps forward in the State mini­
mum-wage field.
Establishment of minimum wages by statute
rather than by wage order is not a new develop­
ment. At the time the two recent amendments
were adopted, 6 jurisdictions—Arkansas, Nevada,
South Dakota, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico—
already had such rates fixed by statute. The
practice of setting such rates dates from early
minimum-wage history—Utah, 1913; Arkansas,
1915; Arizona, 1917; and Puerto Rico, 1919.
However, in all of the laws previous to the
recent amendments in Massachusetts and New
Hampshire (with the exception of the Arkansas
law) the rate was static; the law did not authorize
the Labor Commissioner to study the relation of
wages to changes in the cost of living and to
establish separate industry minimums by wage
order.
Experience under these recent amendments will
be required in order to indicate (1) the extent to

462

STATE MINIMUM-WAGE CHANGES

which the wage-board procedure will be used or
needed, and (2) the extent of the wage board’s
authority in setting wages higher than the statu­
tory rate or in the coverage of such rates. The
Massachusetts statute, for example, makes the
statutory rate of 65 cents effective “ unless the
Commission has expressly approved or shall ex­
pressly approve the establishment and payment
of a lesser wage.” This raises the question of
whether the Commission has authority to set a
minimum higher than 65 cents. Recent wageboard activity in Massachusetts has not yet
tested the effect of this rate as a possible ceiling
to wage-board action.1 In New Hampshire the
statutory rate amendment directs the Labor
Commissioner to readjust minimum wages for
women and minors under wage orders, in line with
the statutory rate. The Attorney General, inter­
preting this provision, has ruled that the Commis­
sioner may issue wage orders for women and
minors, but that such orders do not cover men in
the occupations exempt from the application of
the statutory rate. This raises the question as
to whether the amendment permits any wage
orders applicable to men to be issued.
Since Massachusetts and New Hampshire were
the first States to enact statutory rates subsequent
to the effective date of the Federal Fair Labor
Standards Act in 1938, their action permits certain
comparisons with the Federal law. Both State
rates are lower than the existing Federal 75-cent
minimum, which may be explained, in part, by
the fact that both were adopted not only before
the new Federal rate became effective, but before
Congress acted on the measure. A second con­
sideration is that the State amendments did not
set a basis for overtime as is done under the
Federal act. A third difference is the point
already discussed, i. e., the two States have pre­
served their wage-board procedure.
Other Legislation

California appropriated $9,725 to its Depart­
ment of Industrial Relations for an investigation
of the cost of living for women and minors in
relation to the minimum-wage law. This appears
to be the first such study under California State
Labor Department auspices. A limited cost-ofliving study covering San Francisco has been pre­
pared periodically by the University of California,
but no survey has been made regularly on a

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MONTHLY LABOR

State-wide basis nor has any official State survey
been made.
An amendment to the Massachusetts law, ap­
proved April 17, 1950, effective July 16, requires
employers to keep employee records for 2 years
instead of 1, thus extending the period during
which inspections may be made and violations
determined by the Massachusetts Commission.
A New York amendment, approved April 5 and
effective July 1, 1950 provides that a wage board
established under the minimum-wage law shall
continue in existence for 2 years following the
date of its formation, unless previously dissolved
by the Commissioner. It also stipulates that the
Commissioner may dissolve a wage board which
fails to submit a report on time, and appoint a
new board. A Rhode Island amendment approved
and effective April 26, 1950, provides that the
Director of Labor or the Minimum-Wage Com­
missioner shall bring all actions and prosecutions
for violations of the minimum-wage law.
Wage Orders

Since the wage-board process involves a certain
amount of time, the effect of the Federal amend­
ment in influencing State minimum wages was not
immediately apparent in the orders issued for the
period July 1949 through June 1950. But both
the increase in rate and the reduction in coverage
of the Federal law emphasize, in different ways,
the importance of State action in the minimumwage field.
During the period covered, 11 minimum-wage
orders became effective in 7 States and 1 Terri­
tory—California, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
North Dakota, Rhode Island, Washington, Wis­
consin, and Puerto Rico. In addition, in Massa­
chusetts, three orders which had been directory
became mandatory. As has been customary
since the adoption of the Federal Act in 1938, the
State minimum-wage orders in the period under
study related largely to intrastate activities,
particularly in the trade and service industries.
North Dakota was the only State, during the
12 months covered, that established a revised
rate for manufacturing, the principal industry to
which the Federal minimum wage applies. This
action followed the pattern increasingly adopted
by other States during the period 1947-49, when
the cost of living rapidly increased, and the Fed­
eral rate was static at 40 cents. Within the last

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

STATE MINIMUM-WAGE CHANGES

few years, three other jurisdictions have revised
their manufacturing wage orders: California, 1947;
District of Columbia, 1948; Oregon, 1948. These
orders were made applicable to all types of manu­
facturing within the States. In 1947, New York
also revised its order for the confectionery segment
of manufacturing. Kentucky and Wisconsin es­
tablished increased rates for manufacturing occu­
pations in 1947, by the revision of their all­
occupation orders.
These State manufacturing orders became
effective before the recent increase in the Federal
rate, and their minimum wages are lower than
those which Congress ultimately adopted. (The
one exception is the District of Columbia manu­
facturing and wholesaling order which fixed a
basic weekly minimum of $30 for a workweek of
32 to 40 hours.) Consequently, the State mini­
mum wages have been superseded, in the main,
by the increased Federal rate. The rate estab­
lished by the North Dakota manufacturing order
is 55 cents an hour, more than a third above the
40-cent Federal rate in effect at the time the State
order was issued.
However, the State manufacturing orders also
cover, in addition to interstate manufacturing,
many processes which are largely intrastate; e. g.,
the revised North Dakota order effective Septem­
ber 1, 1949, as well as the preceding one, specifi­
cally includes, in addition to general coverage, the
work performed in dressmaking shops, wholesale
millinery shops, workrooms of retail millinery
shops, garment alteration, art needlework, fur
garment making, and millinery workrooms in
mercantile stores.
In the 12 months under study, the industry or
occupation to which principal attention was given
by States was that of public housekeeping or one
of its branches, i. e., restaurants. Of the orders
that became effective in this period, 3 covered
such work. The Connecticut restaurant order,
effective May 15, 1950, established a guaranteed
wage of $28 for a workweek of 40 to 48 hours for
nonservice employees. Meals are to be furnished
in addition to wages, or 65 cents paid for each
meal not furnished. An employee working 5
hours or less must receive 1 meal, and if more
than 5 hours, 2 meals, or must be paid for any
meal not furnished.
The Rhode Island wage order for restaurants
and hotel restaurants, effective June 1, 1950,

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463

established 60 cents an hour plus meals for non­
service employees, for a workweek of over 24 and
up to 45 hours. If meals are not furnished, the
employee must be paid an additional 10 cents an
hour for each hour of working time. As in the
previous order, employees working 5 hours or
more are entitled to 2 meals a day; less than 5
hours, to 1 meal a day; and if on a split shift, 1
meal for each consecutive period of hours worked.
The public housekeeping order in Washington
State effective January 23, 1950, established a
minimum-wage rate of 65 cents an hour without
distinction as to service and nonservice workers.
Instead of requiring meals to be furnished or paid
for, this order permits a deduction of 40 cents for
each meal eaten during an employee’s work shift
and a further deduction for lodging provided by
employer—$3.50 for a single room and $2.50 for a
double room.
Washington, with four orders, was the most ac­
tive State in issuing wage orders during the period.
The orders and their effective dates were: Amuse­
ment and recreation, November 28, 1949; public
housekeeping, January 23, 1950; beauty culture,
February 13, 1950; and laundry, dry-cleaning, and
dye works, June 5, 1950. Each of these orders
established a minimum wage of 65 cents an hour;
the working-conditions standards provided in all
the recent Washington orders, include a 30minute lunch period, a 10-minute rest period in
each 4 hours, and adequate sanitary and safety
conditions. The Washington public housekeeping
order repeated the prohibition of the earlier order
on work after midnight for women elevator opera­
tors, and specifically prohibited women’s employ­
ment as bellhops.
Washington was the only State to issue an order
for the amusement and recreation industries in the
period covered. This is a comparatively new field
for State minimum wages, and Washington was
the third State to cover it by an individual indus­
try order. Other States with such orders are Cali­
fornia and Massachusetts. In a fourth State, New
York, the establishment of minimum wages for
this industry is in process.
Minimum rates were also established by wage
orders that became effective during the year
July 1949 through June 1950, as follows: Massa­
chusetts—clerical, technical, and similar occupa­
tions—65 cents an hour for experienced employees,
60 cents for inexperienced (800 hours in the occu-

464

EARNINGS: WOOLEN AND WORSTED TEXTILES

pations); and Puerto Rico—wholesale trade—50
cents per hour up to 44 hours per week and twice the
employee’s regular rate thereafter. The California
motion picture order and the Wisconsin canning
order did not set minimum wages, but established
general standards governing conditions of work.
Following custom in State minimum-wage regu­
lations, other orders issued in this period also fixed
various standards to safeguard the minimum wage.
The most usual type of provision related to the
purchase and upkeep of uniforms. One of the
more effective of such regulations is included in
the Rhode Island restaurant and hotel-restaurant
occupations order, which requires an employer
who does not furnish and/or launder uniforms to
pay the employee $1 a week in addition to wages.
The Connecticut restaurant occupation order re­
quires uniforms to be supplied and laundered
without cost to the employee; the Massachusetts
clerical order requires the employer to furnish
uniforms and prohibits any deduction for them;
the Washington State orders prohibit the employer
from requiring the employee to contribute to the
purchase or maintenance of uniforms, equipment,
or tools.
Regulations designed to reduce the over-all
length of the workday, which are frequently es­
tablished in State wage orders, are contained in
two orders that became effective in this period:
the Connecticut restaurant occupation order re­
quires $1 a day additional to be paid to the
employee on any day on which the spread of
hours exceeds 12; the Rhode Island restaurant
and hotel-restaurant occupations order requires
an additional 50 cents to be paid on any day on
which the spread of hours exceeds 10, or there is
more than one interval off duty. Because mini­
mum-wage laws in these States cover men as well
as women, wage-order provisions serve to give
men workers the benefits of some working-hour
standards.
Under accepted wage-order practice in these two
States, the four Washington wage orders and the
North Dakota order for manufacturing estab­
lished regulations governing sanitary conditions,
such as ventilation, toilets, and washrooms, as well
as certain safety standards.
—A lice A ngus and L oretta S ullivan
Legislative Division, Women’s Bureau
1 Recommendations of the wage board for the persona] services industry
in September 1950 proposed a rate of 70 cents for certain classes of workers.


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MONTHLY LABOR

Woolen and Worsted Textiles:
Earnings in May 1950 1
L oom fixers had the highest earnings among
selected occupations in woolen and worsted textile
mills in May 1950, averaging from $1.58 to $1.79
an hour in three New England areas and $1.81
in the Philadelphia area. In Virginia-North
Carolina, the other area studied, fixers on worsted
looms earned, on the average, $1.46 an hour and
those on woolen looms, $1.28.
In the New England area mills, which repre­
sented almost 85 percent of the total woolen and
worsted employment in the 5 areas studied,
worsted weavers averaged from 2 to 6 cents an
hour more than woolen weavers. Men weavers
generally had an earnings advantage over women,
ranging from 1 to 9 cents an hour in New England
and amounting to 20 cents in the Philadelphia
area. The wage level of women worsted weavers
in the Lawrence, Mass., area, exceeded that of men
by 1 cent an hour. Average hourly earnings of
weavers varied from $1.36 to $1.61 in the Northern
areas, compared with levels of $1.12 for woolen
weavers and $1.28 for worsted weavers in the
Virginia-North Carolina area.
Woolen card finishers and card strippers in
Virginia-North Carolina mills averaged 97 cents
and were the only groups of workers studied whose
hourly earnings levels were below $1. Average
earnings of workers in the same occupations in the
Northern areas ranged from $1.10 to $1.42 an hour.
Cloth menders were among the highest paid
women workers in the woolen and worsted industry
and earned, on the average, $1.43 an hour in the
Philadelphia area and from $1.17 to $1.54 in New
England. Their earnings in Virginia and North
Carolina averaged $1.08 on woolen cloth and $1.18
on worsted cloth. Yarn winders, also a numeri­
cally important group of women workers, had
hourly earnings averaging from $1.05 to $1.28.
Of the 3 New England areas studies, wage
levels were lowest in northern New England.
In 12 of 21 occupations for which data are pre­
sented for all 3 areas, average earnings were
highest in Lawrence, Mass. The top averages in
the other 9 jobs were recorded for Rhode Island
mill workers. In general, earnings of workers on
worsted production exceeded those of workers on

>

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

E A R N IN G S: W OOLEN AND W O RSTED

T a b l e 1 . — Straight-time

average hourly earnings 1for selected
occupations in the woolen and worsted textile industry in
specified areas, May 1950
N ew England
Occupation and sex

VirPhil­ ginia
North­
adel­ and
Law­ ern Rhode phia, North
Is­
Pa. Caro­
rence, New
Mass. Eng­ land
lina
land

Plant Occupations—Men
Card finishers, woolen_______________ $1.16
1.14
Card finishers, w orsted... _ _ _
1.25
Card strippers, woolen___________
1.18
Card strippers, worsted__ ______
Comber tenders, worsted_____ _____ _ 1.22
Doffers, spinning frame, woolen______
(*)
Dyeing-machine tenders, cloth, woolen 1.18
Dyeing-machine tenders, cloth, worsted- 1.23
1.19
Fuller tenders, woolen___
Fuller tenders, worsted_____
(3)
Janitors (excluding machinery cleaners) - 1.10
Loom fixers, woolen______ _
1.71
1.79
Loom fixers, worsted
1.52
Machinists, maintenance.. . .
Spinners, frame, Bradford system _____ 1.27
1.22
Spinners, frame, w oolen.1.55
Spinners, mule, French system.
Spinners, mule, woolen
1.59
Truckers, hand (including bobbin boys) 1.13
Weavers, woolen 4
1.56
1.54
Box looms, automatic.
Box looms, nonautomatic
(3)
Plain looms_____ _
(3)
1.60
Weavers, worsted 4. -Box looms, automatic.
1.61
Box looms, nonautomatic.
(3)

$1.10
0)
1.18
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.12
1.20
1.13
1.14
1.07
1.58
1.58
1.39
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.49
1.08
1.45
1.50
1.21
1.45
1.47
1.39
(3)

$1.38
(J)
1.25 $1.18
1.42
(J)
1.34 1.24
1.30 1.12
(3)
(3)
1.18
(3)
1.28
(3)
1.19
(»)
1.29 1.32
1.13 1.08
1.70
00
1.75 1.81
1.53 1.64
1.23
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.49
(3)
1.12 1.04
1.55
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(’)
(3)
(3)
1.61 1.54
1.63 1.59
1.53 1.50

$0. 97
(3)
.97
(3)
(3)
1.01
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

1.28
1.46
1.29
(3)
1.02
(3)

1.19
(3)
1.12
1.09
(3)
(3)
1.28
(3)
(3)

Plant Occupations—Women
Battery hands.- . ___
Comber tenders, worsted
Doffers, spinning frame, 'Bradford
system ______. . .
Menders, cloth, woolen
Menders, cloth, worsted
Spinners, frame, Bradford system
Spinners, frame, French system
Spinners, frame, w oolen.. .
Weavers, woolen 4. ___ :
Box looms, automatic
Box looms, nonautomatic
Plain looms______
Weavers, worsted 4.
Box looms, autom atic..
Box looms, nonautomatic.
Winders, yarn, woolen 4_
Cone and tube, high speed, nonautomatic______
Filling, automatic____
Winders, yarn, worsted 4
Cone and tube, high speed, nonautomatic_____ .
Cone and tube, slow speed, nonau to m a tic___ . . .
Filling, a u to m a tic ..____ ______
Filling, nonautomatic____________

1.08
(3)

(3)
(3)

1.14
1.18

(3)
1.10

1.15
1.17
1.54
1.22
(>)
1.43
1.55
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.61
1.63
(3)
1.28

1.08
1.21
1.38
1.15
(3)
1.16
1.36
1.44
1.24
1.52
1.40
(3)
(3)
1.16

1.06
1.25
1.49
1.17
1.30
1.22
(3)
(3)

(3)

(3)
1.56
(3)
(3)
1.12

1.00
(3)
1.43
1.06
(3)
1.10
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.34
1.27
1.31
(2)

(3)
(3)
1.25

(3)
1.16
1.11

1.11
(3)
1.19

(3)
1.05

(»)
(»)
(3)

1.27

(3)

1.18

1.04

(3)

1.24
1.25
1.23

(3)
1.16
(3)

(3)
1.25
1.23

1.01
1.05
1.08

(3)
(3)

1.12
1.13
1.14

1.09
1.02
.97

1.08
1.09
1.22

1.17

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)
1.08
1.18

(3)
(3)

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

(>)
(3)

(3)

Office Occupations—Women
Clerks, payroll...... ..................
Clerk-typists____ _ . _______________
Stenographers, general____________ . .

1.21
(3)

1.14
1.10
1.25

1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
2 Included with data presented for workers engaged in worsted manu­
facturing.
2 Insufficient data to permit presentation of an average.
4 Includes data for workers not shown separately.
Note: The Bradford and French systems are two methods of spinning
worsted yarns. The Bradford system (also known as the English system)
provides for the spinning of yarns from long fibers; yarns are smooth and
even, have a considerable amount of twist and are used extensively in weav­
ing men’s suitings. The French system provides for the spinning of yarns
rom shorter fibers; the yarns are soft, have high elastic properties, and are
used in fine women’s wear, neckties, and hosiery.
Nonautomatic looms are looms on which weavers change filling bobbins
by hand; otherwise, these looms are fully automatic. On automatic box and
plain looms, filling bobbins are changed automatically.
906024— 50-

4


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TE XTILES

465

woolen production. Area averages of men worsted
weavers in New England were from 2 to 6 cents
an hour higher than those of woolen weavers.
Differences for worsted cloth menders were much
greater with area advantages of 17, 24, and 37
cents an hour, respectively, in northern New
England, Rhode Island, and Lawrence, Mass.
Of the three women’s office occupations studied,
general stenographers, whose hourly earnings were
highest in all areas except northern New England,
averaged from 97 cents in the latter area to $1.25
in Virginia-North Carolina. Earnings of payroll
clerks and clerk-typists exceeded $ 1 an hour in all
the selected areas and varied from $1.02 to $1.21.
Mills employing 50 percent of the workers in the
Philadelphia area and from 80 to about 90 percent
in the New England areas reported a minimum job
rate of $1.05 an hour. In the Virginia-North
Carolina area, approximately two-fifths of the
workers were employed in mills having an 81-cent
minimum and a fourth in mills with a 94-cent
minimum. A minimum of 75 cents was applicable
to 7 percent of the workers in Philadelphia, 4 per­
cent in Virginia-North Carolina, and 2 percent in
northern New England.
In general, average earnings changed slightly
from May 1949, the date of the previous study, to
May 1950. Some fluctuations, however, are
typical in an industry in which incentive workers
comprise a large segment of the labor force. In­
centive earnings are affected by changes in work
flow and pattern styles and other related factors.
For about three-fifths of the occupations for which
comparisons could be made, average earnings were
either identical or changed less than 2 percent
during the 1-year period.
Related Wage Practices

A weekly schedule of 40 hours was applicable
to more than 9 of every 10 mill workers in the
New England and Philadelphia areas. Such a
workweek was also in effect for half of the men
and two-thirds of the women in the Virginia-North
Carolina area. Other workers in the latter area
had a schedule of 48 hours a week in May 1950.
Second-shift employment varied by area but
generally represented between 20 and 30 percent
of the mill force. In the northern areas, from 3
to 9 percent of the workers were employed on the
third shift, contrasted with 16 percent in VirginiaNorth Carolina. The large majority of workers

466

EARN IN G S: COTTON AND R A YO N TE X TILE S

received premium pay for late-shift work. In the
North, the most common differentials were 4 cents
an hour for work on the second shift and 7 cents
on the third shift. Premium payments for shift
work varied by mill in the Virginia-North Carolina
area, typical differentials were 2 and 2.5 cents for
second shifts and 5 cents an hour for third shifts.
Six paid holidays a year were provided plant
workers by mills employing from slightly more
than half the total force in Virginia-North Carolina
to nearly all in the Lawrence, Mass., area. Paid
vacations of 1 week after a year’s employment and
2 weeks after 5 years were typically received by
woolen and worsted textile mill workers. Paid
holiday and vacation provisions were more liberal
for office workers. Six holidays a year were most
common but fairly good proportions of woolen
and worsted office workers (from 23 to 68 percent)
in the northern areas received 7, 8, or 9 paid
holidays annually. Nearly half of the office
workers in the Philadelphia area and about twothirds or more in the other areas studied received
2-week paid vacations after 1 year’s service.
Life insurance plans, in which employers partici­
pated by paying part or all of the costs, were re­
ported by mills employing 70 percent or more of
both plant and office workers in each of the areas
studied. More than five-sixths of the workers in
the New England woolen and worsted mills and
from about a third to three-fourths of the office
and plant workers in the other two areas were
covered by hospitalization and surgical plans.
Medical plans had not been widely adopted by
May 1950 but were most common in New England,
applying to slightly less than three-fifths of the
mill workers in the Lawrence and Rhode Island
areas. Retirement pension plans were reported
by mills employing 44 percent of the plant force
in Virginia-North Carolina, 9 percent in northern
New England, and 5 percent in Rhode Island.
The coverage of office workers in these areas
varied from 12 to 62 percent; approximately a
fourth of the Lawrence area office workers were
provided with retirement pension benefits.
—Charles R ubenstein

Division of Wage Statistics
1Data were collected by field representatives under the direction of the
Bureau’s regional wage analysts. More detailed information on wages and
related practices ineach of the selectedareas is available onrequest.
The study included woolen and worsted textile mills employing 21 or more
workers. Approximately 86,000 workers were employed in mills of this sire
in the 5 areas studied.


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MONTHLY LABOR

Cotton and Rayon Textiles:
Earnings in April 1950 1
A minimum job rate of 97 cents an hour was most
prevalent in cotton and rayon textiles in New
England and the Middle Atlantic States in April
1950. The 97-cent minimum was an established
practice of virtually all cotton mills studied in
New England. In rayon textiles, this rate was
applicable in mills employing 93 percent of the
workers in northern New England, 61 percent in
southern New England, 37 percent in ScrantonWilkes-Barre, and 25 percent in AllentownBethlehem, Pa.
Varying proportions of mills in all southern
areas reported a 75-cent minimum as the mini­
mum job rate; the total employment in these
mills ranged from 9 percent of the cotton work­
ers in the Statesville, N. C., area to 59 percent
in east central Alabama. In rayon textiles, mills
having the 75-cent minimum employed from 29
percent of the rayon workers in the Greenville,
S. C., area to 65 percent in the Winston-Salem High Point, N. C., area. In southern cotton
mills, a 94-cent minimum rate was applicable to
over half the mill workers in the Charlotte, N. C.,
area, to about a third in northwest Georgia, and
to more than two-fifths of the workers in the
Statesville area. This rate was found to a much
lesser degree in southern rayon. Nearly threefourths of the rayon workers in the Greenville,
S. C., area were covered by a minimum rate of
87 cents and about a third in western Virginia by
a rate of 90 cents.
The relationship between minimum job rates
and average earnings of workers in the lesserskilled occupations was closer in the North 2 than
in the South. For example, janitors, hand
truckers, and battery hands in northern cotton
mills earned, on the average, from 97 cents to
$1.03 an hour. In the South, where the 75-cent
minimum was an established policy of many mills,
cotton workers in these occupations had average
hourly earnings varying from 88 cents to $1.01.
For the same occupations in rayon, northern
workers averaged from 92 cents to $1.03 an hour,
and southern workers from 90 cents to $1.
Loom fixers were the highest paid among the
selected occupations. In cotton mills, they aver­
aged from $1.48 to $1.50 an hour in the North and

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

mills and from $1.29 to $1.32 in rayon mills.
Women weavers averaged from 1 to 5 cents an
hour more than men in one cotton and two rayon
areas. In Fall River-New Bedford cotton and
in Greenville, S. C., rayon, area earnings levels
of men and women weavers were identical. In
the other areas, earnings of men weavers exceeded
those of women by amounts varying from 1 to 10
cents an hour.
Among women workers, the earnings levels of
ring frame spinners, the largest group studied in
cotton textiles, ranged from $1.09 to $1.13 in the
North and from $1.01 to $1.08 in the South.
Women yarn winders, numerically the most
important group studied in the rayon industry,
earned, on the average, from $1.01 to $1.16 in
northern and from $1.04 to $1.07 in southern mills.

from $1.38 to $1.42 in the South. In rayon tex­
tiles, the corresponding ranges were from $1.49 to
$1.62 and from $1.48 to $1.56. Wage levels of
these workers were below $1.50 an hour in all
southern cotton areas, Connecticut and Rhode
Island cotton mills, and in rayon textiles in
northern New England and the Charlotte, N. C.,
area.
The lowest paid among the occupations studied
were janitors, who as a group earned less than $1
an hour in all areas. In cotton textiles, area
levels varied from 88 to 98 cents an hour; in
rayon, from 90 to 99 cents.
Hourly earnings of men weavers in the North
ranged from $1.27 to $1.36 in cotton and from
$1.30 to $1.41 in rayon. Southern workers in this
occupation averaged from $1.21 to $1.27 in cotton
T able

467

E A R N IN G S: COTTON AND R A YO N T E X T IL E S

1.— Cotton-textile industry: Straight-time average hourly earnings1for selected occupations, specified areas, April 1950
South

N ew England
Connecti­
cut and
Rhode
Island

Fall RiverN ew
Bedford,
Mass.

Plant occupations
Men:
Hard grinders
_____
Card tenders __
_ _______
Comber tenders _ _
_ _______ _____
Doffers, spinning frame _ _ ___ _____ .
Inspectors, cloth, machine
________
Janitors (pvnlniiing1manhinery olftanftrs)
_ __
Loom fixers3 _
_ ______________ ______
Jacquard looms
. _______ ___ ______
Plain and dobby looms __ - - - __________
M achinists, maintenance
__ _ ______ -Slasher tenders
_ „ _______ ______
Slubber tenders
. ______ -Truckers, hand (including bobbin boys) _________
Warper tenders, high speed
. . __________
W eavers3
_
___ ____
Box looms __ _ ___
_ _ ________ ___ Dobby looms
_
_____
_____ Jacquard looms _
_ _ _ __________
Plain looms _
_ _ __________

$1.28
1.14
1.20
1.27
(2)
.98
1.48
(2)
1.47
1.37
1.31
1.29
1.03
(2)
1.28
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.25

$1.28
1.10
1.17
1.24
(2)
.97
1.50
(2)
1.49
1.42
1.36
1.26
.98
(2)
1.27
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.26

$1.28
1.10
(2)
1.19
(2)
.97
1.50
1. 58
1.49
1.39
1.34
1.33
1.00
(2)
1.36
1.36
1.43
1.36
1.35

$1.20
.97
1.01
1.05
1.04
.89
1.40
1.41
1.39
1.31
1.26
1.15
.93
1.10
1.27
1.28
1.26
1.27
1.26

Women:
Battery hands . . .
_
- _________
Comber tenders_____ _
_ _
____________ Doffers, spinning frame _
_______ _____ _
Inspectors, cloth, machine
______ ___ -Spinners, ring frame
___- - - ___
Twister tenders, ring frame
. _ ____________
Warper tenders, high speed
_____ . . __
Warper tenders, slow speed
- ____- . .
W eavers3 _______ __ _
_ ________________
Box looms
- ___
D obby looms
___ -Jacquard looms
________
Plain looms. _
__
. ________
Winders, y a rn 3
. . . .
. . . ______
Automatic spooler_____________
____ _
Cone and tube, automatic__________
____ _
Cone and tube, high speed non autom atic_____
Cone and tube, slow speed nonautomatic___ -.
Filling, automatic_________________________ . .
Filling, nonautomatic__________________ ______

1.00
1.17
(2)
1.01
1.11
(2) j
1.14
(2) „
1.27
(2)
(2)
(2) ,
1.27
1.21
1.12
(2)
1.24
(2) „
1.07
(2)

1.00
1.15
(2)
1.03
1.09
(2)
1.10
1.04
1.27
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.26
1.11
1.10
(2)

1.01
1.20
1.16
1.03
1.13
1.10
1.16
(2)
1.29
1.19
1.36
1.30
1.29
1.13
1.16

.97
.96
1.08
1.08
1.01
.95
1.07
(2)
1.21
1.24
1.23
1.21
1.18
.97
1.04

( 2)

( 2)

1.13
(2)
(2)

1.06
(2)
(2)
1.13

Office occupations
Women:
Clerks, payroll_______________ ________
______
Clerk-typists___________________________ _______
Stenographers, general___
_______ . . .

1.14
1.09
1.20

1.07
(2)
1.14

1.06
1.03
1.07

Occupation and sex

i Excludes premium pay for overtime and night work.
3 Insufficient data to permit presentation of an average.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Northern
New
England

( 2)

Charlotte,
N . C.

East
central
Alabama

$1.29
1.04
(2)

1.15
(2)
.88
1.40
(2)
1.40
1.32
1.18
1.19
.95
1.16
1.21
(2)
(?)
1.35
1.20
.97
(2)
(2) .99„
1.08
(2)
1.10
(2)
1.20
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.19
1.03
1.03
1.05

.93

( 2)

(2)
(2)
1.00

(2)
(2)
(2)

1.14
(2)
1.14

1.15
1.01
1.35

Green villeSpartanburg, S. C.

North­
west
Ga.

$1.31
.99
1.17
1.12
1.03
.91
1.38
(2)
1.38
1.37
1.10
1.18
.94
1.08
1.26
(2)
1.31
(2)
1.24

$1.30
1.00
(2)
1.16
(2)
.93
1.39
(2)
1.39
1.37
1.23
1.17
.97
(2)
1.21
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.21

.95

1.01
(2)
(2)
1.01
1.06
(2)
1.12
(2)
1.26
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.04
1.10
1.12
. 97
(2)
(2)
(2)

(2)
(2)

.95
1.02
1.01
1.02
(2)
1.21
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.21
1.01
1.02
( 2)

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

1.17
1.10
1.18

3 Includes data for workers not shown separately.

1.16
1.10
1.19

States­
ville,
N . C.

$1.19
1.00
1.04
1.09
(2)
.89
1.42
(2)
1. 41
1.37
1.26
1.12
.94
1.12
1.23
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.21
.96
(2)
(2)

(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

(2)
(2)

1.07
1.01
1. 00
1.22

1. 20
. 99
1.16
.97
1.07

(2)

1.04
.99
1.06

468

EARN IN G S: COTTON AND RAYO N TE X TILE S

Battery hands recorded the lowest earnings
among women workers in most of the areas studied.
Their earnings levels in both cotton and rayon
textiles varied from 95 cents to $1.01 an hour.
Area differentials in occupational averages of
cotton workers were greater in the South than
in the North. Of 15 occupations for which data
were available for all areas studied, area differ­
ences of 5 cents or less were recorded for 3 occu­
pations in the South compared with 11 in the
North. The differences in averages for 6 of the
occupations in the North did not exceed 2 cents,
1 occupation, card grinders, having an average
of $1.28 in all three areas. In contrast, 8
occupations in the South showed area differen­
tials of at least 7 cents an hour. An inverse
relationship in area differentials existed in rayon

MONTHLY LABOR

textiles. Of 9 occupations for which data are
presented for all areas, only 1 in the North and
4 in the South showed differences of 5 cents an
hour or less.
In both cotton and rayon textiles, hourly
earnings of women office workers in southern
mills were generally higher than those in northern
mills. Average earnings in the South ranged
from $1.02 to $1.21 an hour for payroll clerks,
from 93 cents to $1.17 for clerk-typists, and from
$1.06 to $1.35 for general stenographers. In the
North, workers in these occupations averaged
from 86 cents to $1.14, from 98 cents to $1.09,
and from $1.04 to $1.20, respectively.
Comparisons of hourly earnings in mill jobs
in April 1950 with those reported in similar studies
in April 1949 show relatively little change, other

Table 2. Rayon, nylon, and silk textile industry: Straight-time average hourly earnings1 for selected occupations, specified
areas, April 1950

N ew England

Occupation and sex

Middle Atlantic

Northern
N ew
England

Southern
N ew
England

$1.22
1. 07
1.23
(3)
. 97
1.49
(3)
(3)
1. 49
1.36
1. 41
.98
(3)
(3)
1. 35
(3)
1.36
(3)
1. 36

(3)
$1. 14
1.30
1.16
.99
1. 50
1.52
(3)
1. 50
1.43
1.42
1.03
1.27
(3)
1.30
1.32
1.29
1.36
1.30

(3)
(3)
(3)
$1.22
.97
1.62
1.63
1.70
1.60
1. 58
1.20
1.00
1.25
1.30
1.41
1.47
1.38
(3)
(3)

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
$0. 92
1. 51
1.49
1. 51
1.53
1.45
1.29
.94
1.24
(3)
1.33
1.28
1.38
(3)
1.25

1.00
1.23
1. 02
1.14
1.04
1.09
1.06
(3)
1.31

1.37
1.12
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.14
1.12

1.01
1.12
1.04
1.10
1.08
1.08
1.16
1.27
1.31
1.35
1.30
1.39
1.32
1.16
1.42
(3)
1.12
(3)
1.07
1.16

(3)
(3)
1.03
(3)
1.07
1.09
1.23
1.23
1.31
1.36
1.29
(3)
(3)
1.05
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.10
.98
1.03

(3)
(3)
1.01
(3)
.97
1.00
1. 23
1.16
1.28
1.24
1.29
1.37
1.23
1.01
(3)
(3)
1.05
1.04
.94
(3)

1.07
1.02
1.16

1.04
1.00
1.12

Allentown- ScrantonBethleWilkeshem, Pa. Barre, Pa.

South

Charlotte,
N . C.

Greenville,
S. C.

$1.18
1.00
1.14
(3)
.90
1.48
(3)
(3)
1.49
1.32
1.17
.93
(3)

$1.31
1.01
1.15
(3)
.91
1.56
(3)
(3)
1.55
1.35
1.21
.98
(3)
(3)
1.32
(3)
1.31
(3)
(3)

(3)
(3)
(3)
$1.07
.92
1.52
(3)
(3)
1.53
1.43
1.30
.97
(3)
1.18
1.32
1.28
1.32
(3)
(3)

.99
1.04
.94
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
«
1.04
(3)
1.02
1.08
(3)
1.01
(3)

.98
(3)
1.06
1.06
1.07
(3)
1.06
(3)
1.32
(3)
1.32
(3)
(3)
1.06
1.02
(3)
1.06
(3)
1.02
1.07

.98
(3)
1.02
(3)
1.12
1.02
1.11
(3)
1.30
1. 29
1.32
(3)
(3)
1.06
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.04

1.18
1.17
1.07

1.21
1.10
1. 21

Western
Virginia

WinstonSalem-High
Point,
N . C.2

Plant occupations

Men:
Card grinders_______________
Card tenders_______________
Doffers, spinning frame__________ I. ..
Inspectors, cloth, machine___
Janitors (excluding machinery cleaners)„
Loom fixers 4_________________
Box looms_____________ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Jacquard looms_________ ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Plain and dobby looms_____
Machinists, maintenance________
Slasher tenders_____________ Z.ZZZZZZZ!
Truckers, hand (including bobbin boys)
Warper tenders, high speed________
Warper tenders, slow speed...
Weavers 4_______________
Box looms________ zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Dobby looms_________ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Jacquard looms__________
Plain looms____
" .....
Women:
Battery hands____________ ____
Doffers, spinning frame__ Z_IZZZIZZZZZZZZZZI
Inspectors, cloth, machine_________
Spinners, ring frame__________ Z
Twister tenders, ring frame__
Uptwisters_________
___
Warper tenders, high speed.Z.Z..ZZZZZZZZ
Warper tenders, slow speed
Weavers 4_________________
Box looms_______ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZ
Dobby looms__________ZZZZZZZ
Jacquard looms____ _____ ZZZZZ......
Plain looms_____________ ZZZZ Z
Winders, yam 4_____________ZZZZZZZZZZ
Automatic spooler___________Z""Z "
Cone and tube, automatic______ ZZZZZZ
Cone and tube, high speed, nonautomatic.
Cone and tube, slow speed, nonautomatic
Filling, automatic_______________
Filling, nonautomatic_________ Z
Office occupations
Women:
Clerks, payroll......................
Clerk-typists___________
Stenographers, general______

(3)

1.27

(3)

1Excludes premiumpay forovertime andnight work.
In previous studies this areawas knownas “Greensboro-Burlington, N. C.”

1


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.86
(3)
(3)

1.01
.98
1.04

(3)

1.29
(3)
1.29
(3)
(3)
.95
(3)

(3)
(3)
(3)
$1.12
.91
1. 54
(3)
(3)
1.54
1.39
1.36
.97
1.13
1.11
1.32
(3)
1. 29
(3)
(3)
1. 00
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

1.02
.93
(3)

3Insufficient data to permit presentation of anaverage.
4Includes data for workers not shown separately.

1.10
1.04
1. 08
1.36
1.36
1.07

1.09
1.08

1.13
1. 02
(3)

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

E A R N IN G S: COTTON AND RAYO N T E X T IL E S

than those typical in industries which use incen­
tive methods of wage payments. Earnings of
incentive workers usually fluctuate from one
period to another and are affected by changes in
individual productivity and other related factors.
In over a fourth of the occupations for which
comparisons could be made in cotton textiles and
a sixth in rayon manufacture, average earnings
showed no change during the 1-year period. In
general, job averages showed more increases than
decreases but, for the most part, the differences
were less than 3 percent.
Related Wage Practices

A scheduled workweek of 40 hours was common
among northern cotton and rayon mills and
covered most of the workers employed in each of
the selected areas. In the South, the 40-hour
week was predominant in 3 of 5 cotton areas and
2 of 4 rayon areas. The majority of cotton
workers in northwest Georgia and rayon workers
in the Charlotte, N. C., and Winston-Salem-High
Point areas had a weekly schedule of 48 hours in
April 1950.
Second- and third-shift operations are common
in cotton and rayon textiles. Approximately 30
percent of all workers studied were employed on
the second shift; third-shift employment varied by
area and in the North ranged from 7 to 22 percent
and in the South from 18 to 27 percent of the labor
force. Second-shift workers received no differ­
entials in any of the cotton areas or in 3 of the
8 rayon centers. About 85 percent of the secondshift workers in the Allentown-Bethlehem area
received a night-work premium, 5 percent being
the most common differential paid. Small pro­
portions of rayon workers (ranging from 0.6 to 2.3
percent of the total plant force) in 2 northern and
2 southern areas also received additional payments
for work on the second shift. Nearly all cotton
and rayon mills in New England operating third
shifts had provisions for the payment of a 7-cent
hourly premium. In the South, a 5-cent differen­
tial was almost universal for third-shift workers
in all rayon areas and in 3 of the 5 cotton areas.
Six paid holidays a year were generally provided
plant workers in New England cotton and rayon
mills. Paid holidays were not granted to rayon
workers in mills employing from about 15 to 30
percent of the workers in southern New England
and the Allentown-Bethlehem and Scranton
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469

Wilkes-Barre areas. In the Pennsylvania mills
having such provisions, the number of paid holi­
days ranged from 3 to 7 annually. Textile workers
in some southern areas received 1 or 2 paid holi­
days a year. Such benefits were provided for
nearly half of the cotton workers in northwest
Georgia and from about 5 to 15 percent of the
labor force in each of 2 cotton and rayon areas.
Paid-holiday provisions were more liberal for
office workers. In the North, virtually all such
workers received specified holidays with pay,
the number of days a year ranging from 4 to 11.
Southern office workers received from 1 to 7
holidays annually. Paid holiday benefits were
not granted to more than half the office workers in
east central Alabama and the Statesville area cot­
ton mills, nor to smaller proportions in the other
southern textile areas studied, except WinstonSalem-High Point where all office workers in rayon
mills received such benefits.
Paid vacations of 1 week after 1 year’s service
were generally received by mill workers in both
the North and South. Two-week vacations after
5 years’ employment were granted to most of the
cotton-mill workers in northwest Georgia and to
a majority of the rayon workers in the two Penn­
sylvania and three of the four southern areas.
Most of the office workers in New England received
paid vacations of 2 weeks after a year’s service.
Southern mills employing most of the office workers
in two of the five cotton areas and three of the four
rayon areas provided for similar benefits. With few
exceptions, clerical workers in other textile mills
received a 1-week paid vacation after a year’s
employment.
Life-insurance and hospitalization plans, for
which employers paid part or all of the costs,
covered the large majority of textile-mill and
office workers in the areas studied. In only one
area, Greenville-Spartanburg (cotton), was less
than 50 percent of the plant force employed in
i Data were collected by field representatives under the direction of the
Bureau’s regional wage analysts. More detailed information on wages and
related practices in each industry and area presented here is available on
request.
The textile studies covered mills with 21 or more workers. Approximately
178,000 workers were employed in cotton mills of this size in the 3 N ew Eng­
land and 5 southern areas studied. The study in the rayon industry included
2 areas in N ew England, 2 in Pennsylvania, and 4 in the South, representing
a total employment of about 68,000 workers.
The rayon industry referred to in this report also includes the production
of nylon and silk yarns and fabrics.
a For purposes of this and other comparisons, the two Pennsylvania areas
in rayon textiles are included in the North.

470

S A L A R IE S OF OFFICE W O R K E R S , L O S A N G E L E S

mills having such plans. Health benefits, such
as accident and sickness, medical, and surgical
benefits, were generally more common in the
North than in the South. Retirement-pension
plans were reported by mills employing a third
or more of the workers in all southern rayon areas
except Greenville, S. C. In the other textile
areas studied, there were either no pension plans
or the coverage related to only small proportions
of workers.
—C harles R ubenstein

Division of Wage Statistics

Salaries of Office Workers :
Los Angeles, Calif., March 1950 1
Office work, exclusive of that in small establish­
ments and governmental agencies, employed more
than 130,000 persons in the Los Angeles area dur­
ing March 1950. Fully a third of these workers
were employed in offices of manufacturing con­
cerns and another third were concentrated in the
finance, insurance, and real estate group of indus­
tries. The remainder were distributed among
hundreds of offices in the trade and service in­
dustries and in transportation, communication,
and other public utilities. Motion-picture pro­
duction located in the area required only 3 per­
cent of the office workers in Los Angeles. Women
outnumbered men in office work in all except man­
ufacturing offices. These estimates are based
on a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of salaries
paid in selected office occupations in the Los
Angeles area.2
The 22 jobs studied accounted for about 46,000
office workers, or more than a third of the total
office employment in industries within the scope
of the Bureau’s survey. In terms of training and
experience involved, the jobs studied ranged from
office girl or clerk assigned to routine typing or
filing work to bookkeeper. Women outnum­
bered men in nearly all of the jobs studied and
accounted for five-sixths of the aggregate employ­
ment in these jobs.
Average weekly salaries of women office workers
in 12 of the 22 job categories studied were at the

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR

$47-$52 level in March 1950. General stenog­
raphers, the largest group in office work, averaged
$50.50, as did accounting clerks. Switchboard
operators and key-punch operators averaged $50
and $47, respectively. Average weekly salaries
above $60 were recorded for secretaries ($60.50)
and hand bookkeepers ($64). Class B typists
averaged $38, or $2 a week more than class B file
clerks, the lowest-paid job group in the survey.3
Among routine office jobs, average salaries
were about the same for men and women. In
jobs involving acquisition of skills or knowledge
of office procedures, however, men held a salary
advantage of $10 or more a week. Among 8
classifications of men office workers, average
salaries ranged from $76.50 for hand bookkeepers
to $39 for office boys. Accounting clerks and
order clerks, the 2 largest job groups, averaged
$62 and $65.50, respectively.
Salary levels varied among the 6 broad industry
divisions covered in the study. The greatest
earnings advantage indicated was that for office
workers employed in the service industry division,
largely dominated by motion-picture production.
Illustrative of the generally higher pay level
prevailing in the motion-picture industry, secre­
taries averaged $76 and general stenographers
averaged $65, or about 30 percent more than the
average pay for these jobs in all other industries
combined. An exception to this well-defined
differential was noted in the case of beginning
job levels. Office boys in the motion-picture
industry, for example, averaged $40.50 as com­
pared with a $39 weekly figure recorded for other
workers in this category.4
Higber-than-average salaries were also paid in
most jobs in wholesale trade and in offices of
manufacturing establishments. Lower weekly
salaries in the finance, insurance, and real estate
group were at least partly offset by average week­
ly work hours that were below the general level
for the community as a whole.
These interindustry differences in pay levels,
together with pay differences among establish­
ments in the same industry as well as rate varia­
tions reported in individual establishments, tend
to account for the wide variation of salary rates
noted in individual occupations. Among all
industries as a group, the highest and lowest
salaries paid differed by $40 or more in a majority
of the jobs. The salary range of the middle 50

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

m

S A L A R IE S OF OFFICE W O R K E R S , L O S A N G E L E S

Salaries 1 and weekly scheduled hours of work for selected office occupations in Los Angeles, Calif., by industry division, March
1950

Sex, occupation, and
industry division *

Average—
EstiMemated
dian 3
num­
week­
Week­
Week
ber
Hour­ ly
ly
of
iy
sal­
ly
work­ sal­ sched­
ary
uled
rate
ary
ers
hours

Salary
range of
middle 50
percent of
workers

Bookkeeping-machine operators, class B 4------Manufacturing------ -Finance, insurance, and
real estate___________

696 $76. 50
223 72. 50
125 73 00
98 72.00
175 84. 00

40.0 $1.91 $75. 00 $64.00-$85.00
40.5 1.79 71.00 65. 00- 80. 50
40.5 1.80 75. 00 64. 00- 84. 00
40.5 1.78 69. 00 65. 50- 71. 50
40.0 2.10 85.00 80. 50- 89. 00

54

88.50

43.5

2.03

85.00

80. 50- 97.00

112

68. 00

40.0

1.70

63.50

57. 50- 69.00

119
55

50.00
54. 50

40.5
40.0

1.23
1.36

55.00
55.00

44. 00- 55. 50
55. 00- 55. 50

38

42. 00

40.0

1.05

42. 50

37. 00- 45. 00

Clerks, accounting---------- 2,119
Manufacturing________ 1,068
760
Durable goods______
308
Nondurable goods___
326
Wholesale trade----------Retail trade, except de95
partment stores_____
Finance, insurance, and
168
real estate----- ---------Transportation, com­
munication, and other
80
public utilities______
382
Services______________

62. 00
61.00
60. 00
63. 00
57.50

39.5
40.5
41.0
39.5
40.0

1.57
1.51
1.46
1. 59
1.44

60.00
60.00
60.00
59. 50
57. 50

54. 0055. 0056. 0055.0047. 50-

Clerks, general4________
Manufacturing................
Wholesale trade_______
Finance, insurance, and
real estate_______ -Services_____________

69. 00
65. 50
64. 50
71.00
66.00

73.50

42.0

1.75

74.50

65. 00- 86. 50

48.50

39.5

1.23

49. 50

42. 50- 54. 00

57.50
72.50

40.0
36.5

1.44
1.99

56. 00
70.00

52.00- 63. 50
62. 50- 80.00

811
291
179

62. 00
64. 00
58. 00

40.5
40.0
40.0

1.53
1.60
1.45

60.00
65. 00
58. 00

52.00- 72. 00
54. 00- 72.00
54.00- 60.00

164
55

54. 00
75. 00

38.0
40.5

1.42
1. 85

48.50
76.50

45. 00- 66. 00
69. 50- 81. 50

Clerks, order 4 ____
M anufacturing____ __
Wholesale trade_______

1,456
309
1,068

65.50
61.50
67.00

40.0
40.0
40.0

1.64
1.54
1.68

63. 50
61.00
64. 00

57.00- 74. 00
52. 00- 69. 00
57. 50- 75.00

Clerks, payroll4----- -------Manufacturing-----------Durable goods______
Nondurable goods___
Retail trade, except department stores_____
Services_____________

386
260
186
74

66. 50
60.50
58. 50
65. 50

40.5
40.0
40.5
39.5

1.64
1.51
1.44
1.66

65.00
58. 00
56. 50
71.00

55. 5052. 0050. 5058.00-

26
72

78.00
85.50

44.5
40.0

1.75
2.14

82.50
88.00

82. 50- 84. 50
80. 00- 91.00

Clerk-typists........................
Office boys 4____________
Manufacturing............ - Durable goods______
Nondurable goods___
Wholesale trade------- Finance, insurance, and
real estate___________
Transportation, com­
munication, and other
public utilities______
Services______________

122
761
146
43
103
115

50. 50
39. 00
42. 00
46. 50
40.00
41.00

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0

1.26
.98
1.05
1.16
1.00
1.03

52. 50
39.00
42.00
48.00
40. 50
40. 50

48.0034. 5038.0042.0036. 5039.00-

234

37.00

39.5

.94

37.00

34. 50- 39.00

86
171

39. 50
38.00

39.0
40.0

1.01
.95

34. 50
37. 50

32. 50- 43. 50
31.00- 40.00

76.00
70. 50
65. 00
72.00

53. 00
42.00
43.00
50.00
43.00
42.00

Women
Billers, machine (billing
m achine)4. . _______
M anufacturing_______
Durable goods______
Nondurable goods----Wholesale trade_______
Billers, machine (bookkeeping machine) 4—
Manufacturing..............
Retail trade, except department stores_____
Bookkeepers, hand___
Manufacturing- .......... __
Durable goods. ____
Nondurable goods..
Wholesale trade........... .

Salary
range of
middle 50
percent of
workers

Women—Con.

M en
Bookkeepers, hand 4------Manufacturing________
Durable goods______
Nondurable goods----Wholesale trade_______
Retail trade, except department stores-------Finance, insurance, and
real es State......................

Sex, occupation, and
industry division 3

AverageE sti­
Memated
dian 3
num­
Week­
week­
ber Week­
Hour­ ly
ly
of
ly
sal­
sched­ ly
work­ sal­
ary
uled
rate
ary
ers
hours

508
178
121
57
212

48. 00
46. 50
46.00
47. 50
49. 50

40.0
40.0
40.0
39.5
40.0

1.20
1.16
1.15
1.20
1.24

46.00
48. 50
46.00
48. 50
44. 00

42.0039.0039.0048.0042.00-

155
42

47.00
51.00

40.5
40.0

1.16
1.28

47. 00
50.00

42.00- 50.00
48.00- 50. 00

48

45.00

41.5

1.08

43.00

42. 50- 45.00

769
248
137
111
192

64. 00
65. 50
69.00
61.00
65.00

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.5

1.60
1.64
1.73
1.53
1.60

60.50
64.00
64.00
60. 00
60. 50

53.0058.0063. 5054.0050.00-

Seefootnotes at end of table,

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

53.00
50.00
52.00
50.00
55.00

Bookkeepers, hand—Con.
Retail trade, except department stores...........
Finance, insurance, and
real estate__________
Transportation, com­
munication, and other
public utilities______
Services______ ________

54 $60. 50

Bookkeeping-machine operators, class A 4_____
Manufacturing_______
Durable goods______
Nondurable goods___
Wholesale trade_______
Finance, insurance, and
real estate.............. .......
Bookkeeping-machine operators, class B 4_____
Manufacturing________
Durable goods______
Nondurable goods___
Wholesale trade_______
Retail trade, except department stores... . . .
Finance, insurance, and
real estate__________

40.5 $1. 49 $61. 50 $50.00-$63. 50

104

63. 50

39.5

1.61

60.00

46.00- 69.00

63
108

55.00
67.00

40.5
39.5

1.36
1.70

55.00
69.00

46.00- 64.00
55.00- 70.00

478
168
92
76
209

57. 50
61.00
58.00
64.00
56. 50

40.0
39.5
40.0
39.0
40.0

1.44
1.54
1.45
1.64
1.41

57.50
58.00
53.50
64. 50
54. 00

51.0053.0052.0058.0051.00-

59

51.50

39.5

1.30

48. 50

48. 50- 57. 50

1,687
312
147
165
502

47.00
51.00
47. 50
54. 50
54.00

40.0
39.5
40.0
39.5
40.0

1.18
1.29
1.19
1.38
1.35

45. 50
50.00
47.50
55.00
55.50

41. 5044. 0041.5047. 5048.00-

63. 50
65.00
70 00
65. 00
63. 50

53.00
55. 50
50.00
62.00
57.50

62

49.00

40.5

1.21

48.50

46.00- 53.00

760

40. 50

40.0

1.01

41. 50

38.00- 42.50

51.50
50.00
48.00
51.50
51.00

40.0
40.5
40.0
40.5
40.0

1.29
1.23
1.20
1.27
1.28

49.50
48.00
47.00
50.50
49.50

46.0044.0045.0043. 0046.00-

54.50

40.5

1.35

55.00

46.00- 63.50

49.00
55.50

40.0
38.0

1.23
1.46

48. 00
57.50

42.00- 55.00
48.00- 62.00

Clerks, accounting______ 3, 859
1,013
M anufacturing............
700
Durable g o o d s .. . ___
313
Nondurable goods___
840
Wholesale trade____ . .
Retail trade, except de418
partment stores_____
Finance, insurance, and
732
real estate___ _______
Transportation,commu­
nication, and other
351
public utilities______
505
Services______________

50. 50
52. 50
52.00
54. 50
52.50

39.5
40.0
40.0
39.5
40.5

1.28
1. 31
1.30
1.38
1.30

48. 50
53.50
52.00
54.00
52.00

43.5046. 5047.0046. 0045.00-

46.50

40.5

1.15

46.00

40.00- 52.00

42. 50

39.0

1.09

42.50

40. 50- 45.00

49.00
60.00

40.0
38.0

1.23
1.58

48.00
55.00

43. 00- 54.00
45.00- 69. 00

516
123
107

45.00
47.50
45.50

40.0
40.0
40.0

1.13
1.19
1.14

44.00
46.00
46.00

40. 50- 47.00
42.00- 56.00
41. 50- 50. 00
31.00- 54.00

Calculating-machine op­
erators (Comptometer
type) 4_______________ 1,987
653
Manufacturing________
238
Durable goods______
415
Nondurable goods----738
Wholesale trade_______
Retail trade, except de317
partment stores____
Transportation,commu­
nication, and other
164
public utilities______
93
Services_____ _______

Clerks, file, class A 4____
Manufacturing-----------Wholesale trade----- . . .
Retail trade, except department stores_____
Finance, insurance, and
real estate___________

57.50
55.00
52.00
58. 50
53.00

56.00
57.00
56. 50
60. 50
57. 50

28

43.00

40.5

1.06

47.00

185

41.50

39.5

1.05

41. 50

38.50- 44. 00

Clerks, file, class B 4------- 2,214
240
Manufacturing-----------255
Wholesale trade----------Retail trade, except de32
partment stores-------Finance, insurance, and
real estate___________ 1, 345
94
Services______________

36.00
43.00
39.00

39.0
40.0
40 0

.92
1.08
.98

35.00
44. 00
38. 50

31.00- 39.00
40. 00- 46. 00
37.00- 40. 00

41.50

41.5

1.00

38.00

35. 00- 52.00

33. 00
39. 50

38.5
39.0

.86
1.01

32. 50
37.00

30.00- 35.50
31. 50- 42. 50

3, 863
1,377
1,243
134
850

48. 00
51. 00
51.00
53.00
49. 00

39.5
40.0
40.0
40.5
40.0

1.22
1.28
1.28
1.31
1.23

47. 50
52. 00
52. 00
52. 50
46. 00

42. 0048. 0048. 0047. 5046.00-

92 | 46.00 | 40.0

1.15

46.00

32.00- 60.00

Clerks, general__________
M amifaeturing. _ _____
Durable goods______
70.00
Nondurable goods----73. 50
Wholesale
trade_______
75.00
Retail trade, except de70.00
|
partment
stores..........
81.00

|

54. 00
56. 00
56.00
57. 50
50. 00

472

S A L A R IE S OF OFFICE W O R K E R S , L O S A N G E L E S

MONTHLY LABOR

Salaries 1 and weekly scheduled hours of work for selected office occupations in Los Angeles, Calif., by industry division March
1950— Continued
Average-

Esti-

Sex, occupation, and
industry division 2

Me­
dian 2
num­
week­
ber Week Week
Hour­ ly
ly
of
ly
sal­
work­ sal­ sched­ ly
uled
rate
ary
ers
ary
hours

Salary
range of
middle 50
percent of
workers

W om en—

1,033 $40. 50

37.5 $1.08 $39.00 $37.00-$44. 00

253
258

53. 50
52.00

40.5
39.0

1.32
1.33

54.00
52. 00

47.00- 59. 00
44.00- 57.50

585
85
279

51.50
54. 50
54. 00

41.5
40.0
40.0

1.24
1.36
1.35

50. 00
56. 00
53.00

46. 60- 56. 60
46. 00- 60. 00
48. 50- 58. 00

Clerks, payroll__________ 1,145
Manufacturing............ ...
461
Durable goods______
270
Nondurable goods___
191
Wholesale trade_______
209
Retail trade, except department stores_____
114
Finance, insurance, and
real estate......... ............
63
Transportation, com­
munication, and other
public utilities______
137
Services........................
161

53.50
53. 50
50. 00
58.00
53. 00

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.5

1.34
1.34
1.25
1. 45
1.31

52. 00
52.50
52. 00
63. 00
52.00

46. 0044. 0042. 5051. 0048. 50-

53.50

40.5

1. 32

52.00

46. 00- 61. 50

49. 50

39.5

1.25

46. 00

45. 00- 52. 00

51.50
58. 00

40.5
40.0

1.27
1. 45

51.00
46.00

46.00- 56. 00
43. 00- 71. 00

44. 50
47. 50
47. 50
47.50
43. 50

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.5

1.11
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.07

44.00
47. 50
47. 00
47. 50
44. 00

40. 0044. 0044. 0041. 0040. 00-

42.50

40.0

1.06

38. 00- 45. 00

41.00

39.5

1.04

38.00- 44. 00

43. 50
51.50

40.0
40.0

1.09
1.29

40. 50
50. 00

37. 00- 48. 50
43. 50- 59. 00

47. 00
51. 50
50. 50
59.00
47.50

40.0
40.0
40.0
39.0
40.0

1.18
1.29
1.26
1.51
1.19

46. 00
50. 00
50. 00
60.00
46. 00

41. 5046. 5046. 5050. 0046. 00-

41.00

39.5

1.04

40. 50

38.00- 44. 00

Clerks, order <_________
Manufacturing. _____
Wholesale trade _____

C lerk -typ ists..................... 3, 699
M anufacturing.......... .
1,199
Durable goods______
908
Nondurable goods___
291
Wholesale trade_______
636
Retail trade, except department stores_____
103
Finance, insurance, and
real estate_________ . 1,201
Transportation, com­
munication, and other
public utilities______
268
Services.............................
292
Key -punch operators *___ 1,346
Manufacturing________
364
Durable goods______
321
Nondurable g o o d s...
43
Wholesale trade_______
176
Finance, insurance, and
real estate________ ..
374
Transportation, com­
munication, andother
public utilities.............
50
Services______________
339

60. 00
63. 00
54. 00
66. 00
57. 50

48.00
51. 00
50. 00
51. 00
47. 00

51. 50
56. 00
55. 50
62. 50
48. 50

51.00
47. 00

40.0
39.5

1.28
1.19

50. 50
42. 50

49.00- 53. 50
41. 50- 56. 50

607
122
92

38. 50
42. 50
41.50

40.0
40.0
41.0

.96
1.06
1.01

37. 00
42.00
40. 00

33. 50- 43. 00
40.00- 46. 00
37.00- 48. 50

46

36. 00

39.5

.91

33.50

31. 00- 38. 00

188

34. 50

39.5

.87

33.50

31. 00- 35. 50

96
63

42. 50
35. 50

40.0
39.5

1.06
.90

Secretaries______________ 3,977
Manufacturing________ 1,412
Durable g o o d s .. . ___ 1,007
Nondurable goods.. .
405
Wholesale trade... .
602

60.50
60. 00
58. 50
64.00
57. 50

40.0
40.0
40.0
39.5
40.5

1.51
1.50
1.46
1.62
1.42

Office girls______________
Manufacturing______
Wholesale trade_____
Retail trade, except department stores
Finance, insurance, and
real estate_______ _
Transportation, com­
munication , and other
public utilities______
Services_________ . .

37. 00- 47. 00
31.50- 37. 50
57. 50

52.0055. 0054. 0058.0052. 00-

67.00
62. 00
62. 00
68. 00
61. 50

L 'O .J lU l. U Y C t t U l l D .

2 The study covered representative manufacturing and retail-trade estab­
lishments (except department stores) and transportation (except rail­
roads), communication, heat, light, and power companies with over 100
workers; and establishments with more than 25 workers in wholesale trade,
finance, real estate, insurance, and selected service industries (business serv-

percent of the workers in an earnings array,
however, amounted to $10 or less in half of the
women’s jobs. The dispersion of rates in men’s
jobs was substantially greater.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Salary
range of
middle 50
percent of
workers

Con.
Secretaries—Con.

Women—Con.
Clerks, general—Con.
Finance, insurance, and
real estate__________
Transportation, com­
munication, and other
public utilities........ .
Services............................

Sex, occupation, and
industry division 2

Average—
Esti­
Memate«
dian
num­
week­
ber Week Week
Hour
ly
ly
of
ly
sal­
work­ sal­ sched­ ly
uled
rate
ary
ers
ary
hours

partaient stores.

real estate......... .
Transportation, com­
munication, andother
public utilities.......
Services................ .
Stenographers, general... Manufacturing...
Durable goods.
Nondurable goods_
Wholesale trade____ Retail trade, except de­
partment stores........_

Finance, insurance, and
real estate......
Transportation, com­
munication, andother
public utilities.
Services..........
Switchboardoperators_
Manufacturing........
Durable goods____
Nondurable goods__
Wholesale trade........ .
Retail trade, except de­
partment stores___
Finance, insurance, and
real estate..............
Transportation, com­
munication and other
publicutilities. .......
Services....... ...... ....
Switchboard operator-re­
ceptionists *_____
Manufacturing____
Durable goods____
Nondurable goods__
Wholesale trade.......
Retail trade, except de­
partment stores___
Finance, insurance, and
real estate______
Services.... ........... .
Transcribing-machineop­
erators, general *___
Wholesale trade.........
Finance, insurance, and
real estate....... ..............

Typists, class A
Manufacturing..
Wholesale trade.
Services_____
Typists, class B*...... .
Wholesale trade.........
Finance, insurance, and
real estate_______
Transportation, com­
munication, andother
public utilities____

97 $62. 50

40.0 $1.56 $63. 50 $57.00-$67. 00

711

55.00

39.5

1.39

53.00

50. 50- 57. 50

439
716

57. 00
71.00

40.0
39.5

1.43
1.80

54. 00
71.00

48. 50- 63. 50
63. 00- 78.50

6,283
1,669
1,182
487
1,052

50. 50
51.50
51.00
52. 50
49. 50

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.5

1.26
1.29
1,28
1.31
1.22

49. 50
51. 00
50.50
52. 00
48. 00

45. 0048.0048. 0048. 0046. 00-

54. 00
54. 00
54. 00
56. 00
52.00

312

51.00

40.5

1.26

50. 50

45.00- 56.00

1,833

45. 50

39.5

1.15

45.00

42. 00- 48.50

517
900

49. 00
59. 50

40.5
39.0

1.21
1.53

49. 00
60. 00

42. 50- 56. 00
52. 50- 66. 00

1,150
307
112
195
183

50. 00
51.50
52. 00
51.50
51.00

39.5
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0

1.27
1.29
1.30
1.29
1.28

48. 50
54. 00
54.00
51.00
48.00

44. 0045. 5048. 0045. 0044.00-

40.00- 53.50

55. 50
55. 50
54. 00
55. 50
61.00

58

46.50

41.0

1.13

45. 00

229

44. 00

39.0

1.13

43.00 141.50- 46. 00

184
189

47. 00
56. 50

40.0
37.5

1.18
1.51

46. 00
59. 50

44.00 -52. 00
50.00- 66. 00

1,473
500
291
209
480

47.50
48. 00
47. 00
49. 00
50.00

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.5

1.19
1.20
1.18
1.23
1.23

47. 00
49. 50
48. 00
50.00
48.00

42. 5044.0042. 5045.0046.00-

52. 00
52.00
49. 50
52. 00
53.00

112

47. 00

40.5

1.16

46. 00

40. 50- 52. 00

212
153

40. 50
48.00

39.5
40.0

1.03
1.20

40. 50
46. 00

37. 00- 44. 00
44.00- 56.00

572
159

47. 00
49. 50

40.0
40.5

1.18
1.22

47. 00
49. 50

42. 50- 49. 50
48. 50- 50.00

251

44.50

39.0

1.14

43.00

39.00- 46.00

944
221
90
127

44.00
48. 00
46. 50
51.00

39.0
40.0
41.0
40.0

1.13
1.20
1.13
1.28

44.00
48. 00
48.00
48. 50

37. 0046. 5043. 0046. 00-

1,490
263

38.00
42. 50

39.0
40.0

.97
1.06

37.00
43.50

34. 50- 42.00
41. 50- 45.00

757

35.00

38.0

.92

34.50

32. 50- 37.00

267

40.00

39.5

1.01 38. 00

36.00- 43. 00

48. 50
50.00
48. 50
60.00

ice, such professional services as engineering, architectural, accounting, audit
mg, and bookkeeping firms; motion pictures; and nonprofit membership
organizations).
^
2Value above and belowwhich half of workers’salaries fell.
*Includes data for industry divisions not shownseparately.

None of the men and comparatively few of the
women workers in the jobs studied were paid a
salary of less than $30 a week in March 1950.
With the exception of file clerks (class B), a

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

sixth of whom received less than $30 weekly, such
lower rates were recorded for only a small per­
centage of office girls, typists, and stenographers.
Salaries in Los Angeles offices were, in general,
slightly higher in March 1950 than in January
1949, when a similar Bureau study was made.5
Average weekly pay for most of the jobs increased
from 2 to 5 percent during the 14-month period.

Wage Chronology
Supplements1
E ditor’s N ote.—

The

W age

C h ro n o lo g y

S e r ie s w a s in tr o d u c e d to re a d e rs o j the M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w i n the D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 8 is s u e .
T h u s j a r , 1 0 ch ro n o lo g ies have a p p e a r e d . T h e
jo llo w in g s u p p le m e n ts s u m m a r iz e the ch a n g es

Work Schedules

p u t in to effect i n the U n ite d S ta te s S te e l C o r p .,

About five-sixths of the women office workers
in Los Angeles were scheduled to work a 40-hour
week in March 1950. Shorter schedules, generally
calling for a 37}^-hour week, were in effect for a
fourth of the women office workers in the service
industries and in the finance, insurance, and real
estate division. On an all-industry basis, less
than 3 percent of the women worked more than
40 hours.
A 5-day workweek was scheduled for virtually
all women office workers in four of the six industry
divisions. About a fifth of the workers in retail
trade were required to work 5% days and a third
of the office workers in the finance, insurance,
and real estate group worked at least 5K days
a week.
—Toivo P. K anninen
Division of Wage Statistics

1
Information was collected from 229 establishments in the Los Angeles
Metropolitan Area (Los Angeles and Orange Counties), and workers were
classified on the basis of uniform job descriptions.
* The industrial coverage and minimum size of establishment included in
the survey are summarized in footnote 2 to the accompanying table.
The 1950 program of office clerical studies also included surveys in Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, N ew York,
Oklahoma City, and Providence. Moreover, salary information for office
workers will be incorporated in community wage reports covering Buffalo,
San Francisco-Oakland, and Philadelphia. See June-September 1950 issues
of the M onthly Labor Review for previous reports.
8
Salary data refer to salaries for the normal workweek, excluding overtime
pay and nonproduction bonuses but including any incentive earnings and
cost-of-living adjustments. Hom s refer to scheduled workweeks in effect
for office workers. The employment in each occupation in the accompanying
table refers to estimated total employment in all establishments within the
scope of the study.
< Office workers in motion-picture production are covered by union agree­
ments. Among other industries, union coverage is concentrated for the most
part in offices of manufacturing and public-utility establishments. About
a fifth of the office workers within the scope of the study were employed in
establishments that operated under terms of a union agreement covering
office workers.
* For a report on the 1949 study in Los Angeles, including a summary of
supplementary benefits provided office workers, see M onthly Labor Review,
June 1949.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

473

W AG E CHRONOLOGY SU PPLEM ENTS

A rm our &

C o ., a n d S w if t &

C o. sin c e the

ch ro n o lo g ies d e a lin g w ith th ese c o m p a n ie s w ere
p u b lis h e d . S u p p le m e n ts to oth er ch ro n o lo g ies i n
the se rie s w i ll a p p e a r i n f o r th c o m in g is s u e s o f
the R e v ie w .

Wage Chronology No. 3:
United States Steel Corp. 2
Supplement No. 2
agreements of July 16, 1948, between the
steel-producing subsidiaries of the United States
Steel Corp. and the United Steelworkers of Amer­
ica (CIO), which were to have expired on April
30, 1950, were reopened by the union for negotia­
tion on wages and social insurance in May 1949.
At the same time, the union requested the com­
pany to negotiate on the matter of pensions.
Agreement on a pension plan and social-insurance
benefits was reached on November 11, 1949.
Existing wage scales and related wage practices,
as shown in the chronology, were continued
without change.
Basic agreements were extended to December
31, 1951, with a provision permitting either party
to open the contracts for wage negotiations 60
days prior to December 31, 1950. The agreement
covering pensions and social insurance continues
in effect until December 31, 1951. The company
is free, thereafter, to take any action it deems
advisable with reference to pension provisions.
As long as no modification or change is made, the
agreement will continue in effect until October
31, 1954.

T he

474
Effective
date

MONTHLY LABOR

W AG E CHRONOLOGY SU PPLEM ENTS

Applications, exceptions, and other
related matters

Provisions

INSURANCE BENEFITS PLAN
Mar. 1, 1950_ Program of contributory social-insurance benefits established.1
Total cost, including administrative expenses, 5 cents a man­
hour. One-half of cost to be borne by employees, amount of
each employee’s contribution to depend on insurance pro­
vided.2
The plan provides:
Life insurance—Group term insurance from $2,000 to $4,500.
Reduced to $1,250 upon retirement after age 65 and con­
tinued without cost to employee. No reduction until age 65
in event of retirement on disability pension before that age.
Accident and sickness benefits— $26 a week up to 26 weeks for any
1 disability due to nonoccupational accident or sickness.
Benefits for accident start on 1st day, for sickness on 8th day.
Benefits for maternity disability limited to 6 weeks.
Hospitalization— National Blue Cross 70-Day Plan covering
employees and dependents.

Benefits apply only during active em­
ployment. In case of lay-off: Acci­
dent, sickness, and hospitalization
coverage continues until end of month
following month in which lay-off
occurred; life insurance continues in
force for 3 months if employee pays
share of premiums.

PENSION PLA N
Mar. 1, 1950. Noncontributory pension plan established. All employees
with at least 15 years of continuous service eligible for pen­
sions upon reaching 65 and thereafter or upon being per­
manently incapacitated. Amount of monthly payment:
1 percent of employee’s average monthly earnings during 120
calendar months immediately preceding retirement multi­
plied by number of years of continuous service. Pension
payments as computed by formula reduced by primary bene­
fits to which employee is entitled under Federal Old Age and
Survivors Insurance or other public pensions. Minimum
pension including public pension—$100 a month after 25 or
more years’ service; pro rata amount for from 15 to 25 years’
service. Minimum pension upon permanent incapacitation—
$50 a month up to age 65 and standard minimum there­
after. Entire cost borne by company.

Pension payments may be reduced by
any severance allowance paid at time
of retirement.

1 A contributory group life-insurance plan and various voluntary plans
financed by employees were previously in effect.
» Schedule of benefits and employee contributions, in addition to the
National Blue Cross 70-Day Hospitalization Plan, is as follows:

Standard hourly wage
rate

Less than $1.29_____
$1.29 but loss than $1.57___
$1.57 but less than $1.86
$1.86 but less than $2.15___
$2.15 but less than $2.43...
$2.43 and over .

Life in­
surance

$2. 000
2, 500
3,000
3, 500
4,000
4,500

Accident
Employee’s
and
monthly cost
sickness
insurance
(weekly
No de­ With de­
benefits) pendents pendents
$26
26
26
26
26
26

$2.90
3.15
3. 35
3. 60
3.80
4.05

$4.15
4 40
4. 60
4.85
5.05
5.30

Wage Chronology No. 6: Armour & Co.3
Supplement No. 1
multiplant agreements between Armour
& Co. and the United Packinghouse Workers of
America (CIO) and the Amalgamated Meat Cut­
ters and Butcher Workmen of North America
(AFL) were extended by agreement beyond the

T he


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

August 11, 1949, expiration date. New contracts
were negotiated in November 1949 (UPWA) and
in December 1949 (MCBW). These contracts
provided for a reopening by either party on the
question of a general wage adjustment after
February 15, 1950, and termination on August 11,
1950.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

Effective date

WAGE CHRONOLOGY SUPPLEMENTS________________________________ 475

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

Provisions
GENERAL

Oct. 31, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).

W AGE CHANGES

Previous spread of 2.5 cents between
job rates increased to 3 cents. In­
creases ranged from 0.5 cent an hour
in job-class one step above the base
or unskilled-labor class to 15 cents
in highest classification.

Dec. 5, 1949 (M CBW ).

GUARANTEED

Plant location

Increase (cents
per hour)
M en
Women

Atlanta, Ga_ ____
_
234
2)4
Birmingham, Ala__ __
__ _
2)4
2)4
Fargo, N. Dak_.
-----__
2)4
2)4
Fort Worth, Tex---------____
2
2
Fort Worth (Ratliffe), Tex__
2
2
Grand Forks, N. Dak__
2)s
2)4
Green Bay, Wis_ _ —
___
_
2)4
2)4
Huron, S. Dak----__
234
2)4
Lexington, K y____
_
2)4
2)4
Memphis, T e n n _ __
_
2)4
2)4
Oklahoma City, Okla _
2
2
_
— 1
Tifton, G a __ __
Increases in some rates, including common-labor
rate, in San Francisco plant.
T IM E

36-hours’ pay guarantee applicable to first 5 days
worked by employee in week instead of entire week
as before.

Nov. 23, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).

P A ID

Nov. 28, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).

In addition to job-rate increases, the following inter­
plant adjustments were made:

V A C A T IO N S

Length-of-service requirement for 3week vacation reduced to 15 years
for men and continued at 15 years for
women.
P A ID SIC K L E A V E

Oct. 31, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).

Length-of-service requirement for immediate sick
benefits reduced. Thus: 1 to 5 years of continuous
or accumulated service—one-half wage starting on
8th day of absence; 5 or more years—one-half wage
starting on 1st day of absence.

Sick-leave provisions amended to in­
clude benefits for disability due to
pregnancy up to maximum of 8 weeks.

D E L A Y T IM E

Nov. 23, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Piece-work employees compensated at base rate for
lost time in excess of 15 minutes a day resulting
from delays caused by mechanical breakdown,
waiting for material, etc.

Delays of less than 4 minutes’ duration
not counted in day’s total.

476

WAGE CHRONOLOGY SUPPLEMENTS

Effective date

MONTHLY LABOR

Applications, exceptions, and other
related matters

Provisions

SEPARATION ALLOWANCE »
Nov. 23, 1949 (UPWA
and MCBW).

Employees permanently separated as result of force
reduction arising out of department or unit closing
eligible for following allowance:
Continuous service

Not applicable to employees separated
through gang reductions, or those
refusing other employment.

Weeks of pay

1 year
1
2 years
1)4
3 years.
2
4 years
2%
5 years
_
3
6 years
3)4
7 years . . .
. 4 ) 4
8 years
_
. . .
5>2
9 years
_ _ _ 6)4
10 years __ __
. . . .
7)4
Over 10 years__________7)4 plus 1)4 weeks for each
year above 10.
MALE

U N SK IL L E D

Plant location

Baltimore, Md_
Chicago, 111 __
Columbus, Ohio.
Denver, C o lo ..
East St. Louis, 111
Eau Claire, Wis__
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jersey City, N. J
Kansas City, Kans
Mason City, Iowa
Milwaukee, Wis
New York, N. Y __________________
North Bergen, N. J
Peoria, 111
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Reading, Pa
Sioux City, Iowa __
South Omaha, Nebr
. . .
South St. Joseph, Mo
South St. Paul, Minn _
_ _
1

(C O M M O N L A B O R ) H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S

Effective
date, Oct.
31, 1949
$1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150

Established policy incorporated in union agreements with some changes.

Wage Chronology No. 7:
Swift & Co.4
Supplement No. 1
three master contracts between Swift &
Co. and the United Packinghouse Workers of
America (CIO), the Amalgamated Meat Cutters

T he

* See M onthly Labor Review, July 1949. Reprinted in the Wage Chro­
nology Series, Vol. I, U . S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin No. 970.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Plant location

Los Angeles, Calif.
Portland, O r e g __
San Francisco, Calif
Spokane, Wash_____

Effective
date, Oct.
31, 1949
$1. 250
1. 200
2 1. 290
1. 200

Fargo, N. Dak _
Grand Forks, N. Dak
Green Bay, Wis. _
Huron, S. Dak
__

1.
1.
1.
1.

Fort Worth, Tex . __
Fort Worth (Ratliffe), Tex
Oklahoma City, O kla..

1. 125
1. 125
1. 125

Atlanta, Ga_
Birmingham, Ala
Memphis, Tenn__
Lexington, Ky
Tifton, Ga__ __

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

150
150
150
150

090
090
070
070
035

» Effective December 5,1949.

and Butcher Workmen of North America (AFL),
and the National Brotherhood of Packinghouse
Workers (CUA) were extended by agreement
beyond the August 11, 1949, expiration date. In
October 1949, new contracts were negotiated.
These provided for a reopening, by either party, on
the question of a general wage adjustment after
February 15, 1950, and termination on August 11,
1950.

477

WAGE CHRONOLOGY SUPPLEMENTS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

Applications, exceptions, and other
related matters

Provisions

Effective date

GENERAL WAGE CHANGES
Sept. 12, 1949 (UPWA,
MCBW, and NBPW ).

Previous spread of 2.5 cents between job rates
increased to 3 cents. Increases ranged from
0.5 cent an hour in job-class one step above
the base or unskilled-labor class to 15 cents
in highest classification.

In addition to job-rate increases, the follow­
ing interplant adjustments were made:
Increase (cents
per hour)
Plant location

.
Atlanta, Ga _ ____ __
Dallas, Tex__ __ __
_
Evansville, Ind--- ------- --- .
Fort Worth, Tex_________
Marshalltown, Iowa_______
Montgomery, Ala__ __ _
Nashville, Tenn ___ _ ._
Ocala, Fla__ __________ . .
Perry, Iowa _ _ ----- _
Watertown, S. D ak_____ .
Winona, Minn____
__ —

M en

2)4
2

2%
2
2 )4
2

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

Women

2 )4
2
2%
2

2%
2

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

Increases in some rates, including commonlabor rates, in South San Francisco plant.

Dec. 5, 1949 (MCBW)

PAID VACATIONS
Jan. 1, 1950 (UPWA,
MCBW, and NBPW ).

Length-of-service requirement for 3-week va­
cation reduced to 15 years for men and
continued at 15 years for women.

PAID SICK LEAVE
Sept. 12, 1949 (UPWA,
MCBW, and NBPW ).

Length-of-service requirement for immediate
sick benefits reduced. Thus: 1 to 5 years
of continuous or accumulated service—onehalf wage starting on 8th day of absence;
5 or more years—one-half wage starting on
1st day of absence.

Benefits for disability due to pregnancy pro­
vided for maximum of 8 weeks.

SEPARATION ALLOWANCE i
Oct. 24, 1949 (UPWA,
MCBW, and NBPW ).

Employees permanently separated as result
of force reduction arising out of department
or unit closing eligible for following allow­
ance:
Continuous service

1
2
3
4
5
6

Weeks
of pay

vear__ _
_1
years __
1)4
years
2
years
2)4
years.
_
3
years.
. ._
_ 3)4
7 years.
._
4 }4
8 years.
.
5)4
9 years._
__
6)4
10 years _
__ . 7)4
Over 10 years 2__ .
7)4 plus l}i weeks for
each year above 10.

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Not applicable to employees separated
through gang reduction or eligible for
company pension benefits, or those refus­
ing other employment.

478

WORK INJURIES IN UNITED STATES, 1949
MALE

Plant location

Baltimore, Md_____
Cambridge, Mass____________
Chicago, 111 _ ___ _________ __
Chicago, 111. (Hammond plant)____
Chicago, 111. (Omaha Packing Co.) _
Cleveland, Ohio_______
Columbus, Ohio _
Denver, Colo __
__
Des Moines, Iowa__ __
Harrisburg, Pa__ ______
Harrison-Kearny, N. J
Jersev City, N. J _ _ __
Kansas City, Kans
Milwaukee, W i s . __
National City, Ill__ __
_
_ _
Newark, N. J _____ __
New Haven, Conn. _
...
New York, N. Y __ ___
Omaha, Nebr__
St. Louis, M o ___
St. Paul, Minn____
Sioux City, Iowa . . .
Somerville, M a s s __
South St. Joseph, Mo__

U N SK IL L E D

(C O M M O N L A B O R ) R A T E S

Effective
date, Sept.
12, 1949
$1. 150
1. 150
1 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150
1. 150

1 Established policy incorporated in union agreements with some changes.
* Plant covered for first time by 1949 agreement (M C B W ).

Work Injuries in the
United States, 19491
rates 2 in manufacturing and
in most nonmanufacturing industries continued to
decline during 1949. For the first time, the
average rate for all manufacturing returned to the
low level of prewar years. The substantial
decrease in frequency of work injuries was offset,
in part, however, by an increase in severity of the
cases reported, as measured by average days of
disability per case. As a result the severity rate,3

I njury-frequency

1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Wage Statistics.
» See M onthly Labor Review, February 1949. Reprinted in the Wage
Chronology Series, Vol. I, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics, Bulletin N o. 970. Supplement N o. 1 was included in the basic
chronology.
3 See M onthly Labor Review, Tune 1949. Reprinted in the Wage Chro­
nology Series, Vol. I, U . S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin No. 970.


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MONTHLY LABOR

Effective
date, Sept.
12, 1949

Plant location

Springfield, Mass____
Los Angeles, Calif
North Portland, Oreg
South San Francisco, Calif
Spokane, Wash_____ _

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

150
250
200
290
200

Evansville, Ind __ _
Marshalltown, Iowa
Ogden, Utah 3___
Perry, Iowa
____
Scottsbluff, Nebr __
Watertown, S. Dak__ _
Winona, Minn _

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

150
150
125
150
125
150
150

Dallas, Tex
Fort Worth, Tex

1. 125
1. 125

Atlanta, Ga___ __
Lake Charles, La__
Montgomery, Ala
Moultrie, G a . _____
Nashville, Tenn.
Ocala, Fla___
San Antonio, Tex
_

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
__ __

090
015
035
035
090
1 . 000
1. 065

* Effective December 5,1949.

which reflects both frequency and severity of
injuries, declined only moderately.
Injury-Frequency Rates

For manufacturing as a whole
there were on the average 15 injuries for each
million employee-hours worked—a decrease of
12.8 percent from the 1948 average of 17.2. This
decrease is somewhat less than had been indicated
by preliminary reports. Nevertheless, it repre­
sents the greatest improvement achieved in any
single year since 1938, when the all-manufacturing
rate dropped 15.2 percent from the level of the
preceding year. The 1949 average compares very
favorably with prewar rates of 15.1 for 1938; 14.9
for 1939 (the lowest recorded for any year in the
Bureau’s 24-year injury-rate series); and 15.3 for
M a n u f a c tu r in g .

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

WORK INJURIES IN UNITED STATES, 19P

1940. This return to prewar levels presents a
sharp contrast with the substantially higher
injury rates prevailing during the war period.
Only 1 of the 18 major manufacturing groups—
ordnance and accessories, for which the rate rose
from 5.1 to 6.6—recorded a significant increase in
injury-frequency rates from 1948 to 1949. One
industry group showed a decrease of less than 1
full frequency-rate point; the 16 others recorded
decreases of from 1.0 to 3.9 points.
Only 8 of the 149 individual manufacturing
classifications for which comparable data were
available showed significant increases, 28 recorded
little change, and 113 reported decreases of 1 or
more frequency-rate points. In this latter group,
the rates of 22 decreased by 5 or more points.
The iron and steel products group showed the
greatest improvement—a drop of 3.9 frequencyrate points from 1948 to 1949. Of the 26 separate
industry classifications in this group, 10 dropped
5 points or more, 13 declined 1 to 5 points, and 3
showed little change from the preceding year.
The rate for iron foundries decreased from 39.7
injuries per million man-hours to 29.0; vitreousenameled products, from 25.1 to 16.6; plate fabri­
cation and boiler-shop products, from 33.4 to
25.1; stamped and pressed metal products, from
21.6 to 14.0; steel foundries, from 30.5 to 23.1;
and steel springs, from 20.8 to 13.6.
Marked decreases in injury-frequency rates also
occurred in boatbuilding and repairing (from 48.2
to 40.0), textile machinery (from 20.9 to 13.6),
breweries (from 35.5 to 28.4), and wooden con­
tainers (from 42.6 to 35.6).
Based on percent of change in contrast with
change in frequency-rate points, the explosives
industry made the best record. Its injury-fre­
quency rate dropped 58 percent (from 4.3 in 1948
to 1.8 in 1949). The millinery industry’s rate
decreased 49 percent (from 7.5 to 3.8); and the
automotive electrical equipment rate dropped 41
percent (from 16.2 to 9.5).
Average injury rates for individual industries
reflect changes in composition of the industries as
well as in the level of safety prevailing at different
times. Hence, achievements in the advancement
of safety may best be measured by comparing the
records of identical establishments which con­
tinued in the same type of operations during suc­
cessive periods. Considering only those establish­
ments for which comparable reports were available

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479

Chart 1.— Injury-Frequency Rates in Manufacturing
(19 3 8 to 1 949)

for the 2 years, the explosives industry still recorded
the greatest percentage decrease in injury-fre­
quency rates (49 percent). In bookbinding,
however, reports from identical establishments in
the 2 years showed a 43-percent decrease, com­
pared with only a 17-percent drop in the industry
averages. The rate for identical establishments
in the textile machinery industry dropped 42
percent, as compared with 35 percent in the indus­
try averages. In the manufacture of plastic
materials, the rate in identical establishments
declined 37 percent, compared with a decrease of
25 percent for all reporting establishments. These
comparisons, based upon reports from the same
establishments in each period, give a better indi­
cation of the trend of safety in continuing opera­
tions; whereas, the injury-frequency rates based
upon all reports received in each year give the
truest picture available of the current incidence
of work injuries in the industry as a whole.
In some industries, although the injury-fre­
quency rates based upon all reports received

480

W O R K I N J U R I E S I N U N I T E D S T A T E S , 1949

increased from 1948 to 1949, a comparison of rates
based upon reports from the same establishments
each year showed the reverse. Listed below are
the more important instances:
Percent change in injuryfrequency rates, 1948-49
A ll establishments
surveyed

Industry:
Compressed and liquefied gases__
Paving and roofing materials___
Hats, except cloth and millinery.

+52
+29
-f- 32

Identical
establish-

ments

—4
—26
—1

A comparison of injury-frequency rates over the
past 4 years gives a better indication of the progress
individual industries have made in safety work
since the 1946 postwar peak. During this period,
the explosives industry recorded a decrease of 68
percent (from 5.7 in 1946 to 1.8 in 1949); rubber
tires and tubes, 54 percent (from 12.9 to 5.9);
plastic materials, except rubber, 52 percent (from
9.9 to 4.8); and aluminum and magnesium prod­
ucts, 50 percent (from 24.8 to 12.5). Iron found­
ries showed the greatest decrease in terms of
frequency-rate points, dropping 18.3 points, or 39
percent (from 47.3 in 1946 to 29.0 in 1949).
Breweries reduced their average injury-frequency
rate by 16.9 points (from 45.3 to 28.4, or 37 per­
cent); mattresses and bed springs, by 16.1 points
(from 34.6 to 18.5, or 47 percent).
In spite of a general improvement in the injuryfrequency record of most manufacturing indus­
tries, a number still had relatively high rates.
Logging had a rate of 92.2 injuries per million
man-hours—the highest in manufacturing. The
only other comparable rates were found in mining,
and only one of the mining rates—that for goldsilver (93.8)—was higher than the logging rate.
Other manufacturing industries with high injuryfrequency rates in 1949 were sawmills, 55.6;
integrated saw and planing mills, 47.6; planing
mills operated separately from sawmills, 38.1;
structural clay products, 36.8; cut stone and cutstone products, 36.6; and wooden containers, 35.6.
Manufacturing industries with the best safety
records in 1949 were explosives, with an injuryfrequency rate of 1.8; synthetic rubber, 2.3;
synthetic textile fibers, 3.6; electric lamps (bulbs),
3.7; millinery, 3.8; women’s and children’s cloth­
ing, 4.1; radios and phonographs, 4.4; communica­
tion equipment other than radio, 4.7; and plastic
materials other than rubber, 4.8.


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MONTHLY LABOR

The injury-frequency record
for nonmanufacturing industries showed less
improvement between 1948 and 1949 than that for
manufacturing. Of the 54 nonmanufacturing
classifications (exclusive of mining) for which
comparable data were available, 25 recorded
significant decreases and 15 showed little change;
but 14 reported significant increases.
The principal construction industries—general
building contracting, highway and street construc­
tion, and other heavy construction—recorded
moderate increases in injury-frequency rates from
1948 to 1949. Among the special contracting
trades rates fluctuated widely, four showed in­
creases of over 5 frequency-rate points, and four
recorded decreases of 5 points or more. Struc­
tural-steel erection and ornamental ironwork
had the highest rate (48.6) among the construction
industries for which data were available. (Wreck­
ing and demolition work, which ranked highest
in 1948, was not sufficiently represented in the 1949
study to warrant presentation of the rate.)
Highway and street construction had a rate of
45.5; plastering and lathing, 42.7; heavy construc­
tion, other than highway and street, 41.8; and
general contracting, 40.8 injuries per million man­
hours. The lowest rate reported among the con­
struction industries was 17.8 for painting, paperhanging, and decorating. The next lowest rate
was 27.1 for terrazzo, tile, marble, and mosaic
work. For electrical work the rate was 28.3;
for carpentering, 29.3; and for masonry, stone
setting, and other stone work, 29.4.
Of the other 39 nonmanufacturing classifica­
tions, 14 showed little change, 6 reported increases,
and 19 decreases from 1948 to 1949. Decreases
of more than 5 frequency-rate points were
recorded for streetcar operations (from 20.7 to
14.3), miscellaneous repair services (from 31.1 to
25.7) , and for filling stations (from 10.0 to 4.8).
Other industries showing large percentage drops
in injury rates were transportation not elsewhere
classified (43 percent, from 9.1 to 5.2), eating
and drinking places (28 percent, from 14.9 to
10.7) , and medical and other professional services
(25 percent, from 5.3 to 4.0). None of the in­
creases amounted to as much as 5 frequency-rate
points. However, amusements and related serv­
ices had an increase of 26 percent (from 8.4 to
N o n m a n u ja c tu r in g .

10 .6 ).

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

WORK INJURIES IN UNITED STATES, 19Jf9

As in previous years, stevedoring had the
highest injury-frequency rate among the nonmanu­
facturing industries—66.7. This was a slight
increase over the rate of 62.3 reported for 1948.
Outstandingly low injury-frequency rates were
reported for radio broadcasting and television
(1.7), insurance (2.1), telephone (2.3), banks and
other financial agencies (2.4), medical and other
professional services (4.0), retail apparel and
accessories (4.4), filling stations (4.8), and dry
cleaning (4.9).
Preliminary reports of the U. S. Bureau of
Mines indicate continuation of the improvement
in safety records of most mining industries which

481

was noted in the 1948 report. The important
coal-mining group showed a drop of 1.6 frequencyrate points from the revised 1948 to the prelimi­
nary 1949 figures.4 The injury-frequency rate for
bituminous-coal mines decreased from 57.4 to
55.6, but that for anthracite mines changed only
slightly, from 76.6 to 76.0. Other decreases were
recorded by gold-silver ore dressing mills (from
51.8 to 30.4), copper mines (from 40.4 to 33.1),
and granite quarries (from 47.8 to 42.1).
Major increases in injury-frequency rates were
confined for the most part to the relatively small
mining industries. Miscellaneous ore dressing
mills showed an increase from 39.7 in 1948 to 52.5

Chart 2.— Injury-Frequency Rates and Severity Averages
(M a jo r Manufacturing Groups, 1949)

A verag e Days

I4 0

I2 0

I0 0

Lout per Disabling Injury

80

60

40

20

Injury-Frequency Rates
0

I0
Lumber

M

^ z /z i^ /z ^ /^ ^ i

Furniture
Stone, Cloy, and Glass
Food Products

V/////'.S//z'y//y//V////A

Paper Products
Iron and Steel
All

Manufacturing

Machinery, except
Electric
Nonferrous Metals
Miscellaneous
Manufacturing
Leather
Transportation
Equipment
Textiles
Rubber
Chemicals
Printing and
Publishing

V zZ'ZZ W 'f f i Z '- y S y Z /z 's. '// ÿ / / / / / / \ Eléctrica I Machinery |
Apparel

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LA80R
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

20

30

40

50

60

482

WORK INJURIES IN UNITED STATES, 191fi

in 1949; miscellaneous metal mines, from 61.7 to
71.8; slate quarries, from 42.3 to 51.1; and goldsilver mines, from 88.2 to 93.8.
An outstanding record was established by
copper ore dressing mills. Their injury-frequency
rate was reduced from 26.0 in 1946 to 13.9 in 1949,
or 47 percent. Copper mines reduced their rate
36 percent (from 51.7 to 33.1); and gold-silver ore
dressing mills, 30 percent (from 43.3 to 30.4).
The injury-frequency rates of most mining
industries were still relatively high compared with
those for manufacturing industries.5 Gold-silver
mining had the highest rate of any industry
recorded for 1949—93.8 injuries per million man­
hours—followed by lead-zinc mines with a rate
of 88.5.
Iron ore dressing mills reported the lowest
injury-frequency rate (13.3) in the mining group.
Cement quarries had a rate of 13.6; copper ore
dressing mills, 13.9; and iron mines, 21.3.
Injury Severity
M a n u f a c tu r in g . The injury-severity rate 3 for all
manufacturing decreased slightly, from 1.5 to 1.4,
from 1948 to 1949. This was due entirely to the
relatively large decrease in the injury-frequency
rate, which counteracted a 12-percent increase in
the average days lost per case. The proportion of
deaths and permanent-total disabilities6 (0.4
percent), remained about the same as in 1948, but
the proportion of permanent-partial disabilities 6
increased from 4.7 percent in 1948 to 5.4 in 1949.
The proportion of temporary-total disabilities
decreased conversely. The average number of
days lost for each temporary disability case in­
creased from 16 to 17. The average days charged
for each permanent-partial disability increased
from 925 days per case to 943. These factors all
combined to increase the severity average7from 83
to 93 days per case.
Although there was a steady improvement in the
injury-frequency rate during the past 3 years, the
average days lost or charged per case increased.
The average in 1946 was 82, and in 1947, 73 days
per case. It is evident from comparison of the
trends in injury frequency and in average days
lost per case that the injuries which occurred dur­
ing 1949 were of a slightly more serious nature and
involved somewhat longer periods of disability.


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MONTHLY LABOR

Much of the decrease in the frequency of injuries
took place among the less serious cases.
Of the 105 industries for which such data were
available, 71 showed decreases in the proportion
of temporary disabilities and a corresponding
increase in the proportion of deaths and/or perma­
nent disabilities. An increase between 1948 and
1949 in average days lost or charged per case was
noted in 62 separate industry classifications.
Relatively large proportions of reported injuries
were fatalities and/or permanent-total disabilities
in the following industries: cement mills, excluding
quarries, 2.5 percent—fatalities only; iron and
steel, 2.0; copper smelting, 1.5—fatalities only;
logging, 1.5; ordnance and accessories, 1.5; petro­
leum refining, 1.4—fatalities only; and engines and
turbines, 1.4 percent. The proportion of perma­
nent-partial disabilities was high in electrical
appliances (14.0 percent), motor-vehicle parts
(13.9), stamped and pressed metal products (13.2),
carpets, rugs, and other floor coverings (11.9),
and aircraft manufacturing (11.3).
Iron and steel recorded the highest severity
average of any manufacturing industry (269
days per case). In this industry 10.0 percent
of the injuries reported were permanent-partial
disabilities, and 2.0 percent were fatalities or
permanent-total disabilities. The temporary
cases averaged 53 days’ disability per case.
Other manufacturing industries with high severity
averages were ordnance and accessories (215 days
lost or charged per case); aircraft manufacturing
(205); breweries (190); logging (190); morticians’
supplies (181); stone, clay, and glass products not
elsewhere classified (179); batteries (169); car­
pets, rugs, and other floor coverings (163); and
electrical appliances (161 days).
The highest severity rate among the manufac­
turing industries (18.0) was found in logging. In
this industry there is not only a high frequency
of injuries but they tend to be more serious than
those in most other industries. Of all injuries
reported in logging, 1.5 percent resulted in death
or permanent-total disability. This may be com­
pared with the rate of 0.4 percent for all manu­
facturing. An average of 2,346 days was charged
for each permanent-partial disability case, whereas
the average for all manufacturing was 943 days.
Temporary cases were disabled for an average of
23 days, compared with 17 days for all manufac-

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

483

WORK INJURIES IN UNITED STATES, 1949

Injury frequency and severity rates and injuries by extent of disability, by major industry groups, 1949
[All reporting establishments]

Industry group

Manufacturing: All industry groups.._____________
Apparel and other finished textile products______
Chemicals and allied products _________ _______
Electrical machinery, equipment, and supplies___
Food products______ ________________________
Furniture and finished lumber products ______
Iron and steel and their products_______ ________
Leather and leather products. ______________ .
Lumber and timber basic products________ . . .
Machinery, except electric_____________________
Nonferrous metals and their products___________
Ordnance and accessories, ____________________
Paper and allied products ____ _______________
Printing and publishing. __________ _________
Rubber products__ _____ . __________________
Stone, clay, and glass products_________________
Textile and textile-mill products________________
Transportation equipment_____________________
Miscellaneous manufacturing______________ . . .
Nonmanufacturing:
Communication 8 8_ . ______. . . . . . . . . ______
C onstruction 8 . _______
. . . ...
_____
Transportation 88 . . . . . . . . .
..
______
Heat, light, and pow er 8______________________
W aterworks8. . .
.
.
...
. . . .
Personal services__________ . ___________ _____
Business services___________________ _ _______
Educational services___________________________
Fire departments_____________________________
Police departments____________________________
Trade________________________ _______________
M ining : 9
C oalm ines_____________________ _____________
Metal m ines_______________________ . ______
Nonmetal mines______________ _____________
Quarries___ . . _____________________________
Ore dressing (mills and auxiliaries)______________

Number
of
estab­
lish­
ments
report­
ing

Percent of disabling
injuries resulting
in — 2
Average Employee- Number
of
Death Perhours
number
dis­
maand
worked
of em­
abling perma­
nentployees 1 (thousands) injuries
nent- partial
total
disa­ disa­
bility bility
15, 570,505
419, 936
1,102, 706
1,121,511
1,164, 451
428,176
2,604,673
310,552
310,141
1,861,865
372, 285
61, 683
624,380
484,972
341,531
490, Oil
1,292,903
2, Oil, 914
566,808

205, 001
2,702
10, 034
7,327
23, 719
9,891
37, 793
3,367
14,978
25,495
5,314
406
10,048
4,004
3,255
9,354
13, 471
18, 293
5,550

0.4
.3
.5
.3
.4

4,647
757
1,916
3,567
809
24
1,379
2,714
280
1,555
2,437
900
1, 227

7,945,193
233, 507
540,457
570,695
569,102
217, 401
1,355,424
167,198
155,042
950, 283
182,935
31,148
299,881
246,683
184,132
243,457
688,372
1,023,149
286,327

530
4,443
1,301
604
159
2,981
2,667
195
209
151
8,930

574,580
(7)
214, 236
366,979
8,442
151,969
182,433
134,096
30,872
20,145
358,530

1,059,145
430,375
506, 082
758,351
17,565
322,485
356,089
226,358
101, 071
48,307
740, 419

2,372
17,116
10,634
12,007
479
2,893
1,452
1,725
3,249
1,330
9,036

.7

(9)
(«)
(9)
(9)
(9)

482,800
68,300
12, 300
54, 961
16,600

650,030
143,770
27,380

38,358
6 , 714
1,150
4,134
777

34,026
2,135
2, 055
1,054
4,358
2,212

111,686

35,290

.2
.6
.2
.6
.2

.3
1.5
.4
.1

.5
.5
.2
.6
.1

.8

.4
1.5
.2

.3
.5
.3
.9

5.4
1.7
3.9
8.2

3.8
6.8

6.3
4.5
4.1
5.9
6.8

8.9
5.4
3.2
7.5
3.4
5.2
8.0

5.3
.3
3.2
3.1
2.8

1.3
1.4
1.8

.8

1.7
.4
.7

.3

1.8

io 1.5
io 1.1

io . 9
io 1.3
io .9

(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)
(f)

Temporarytotal
disa­
bility
94.2
98.0
95.6
91.5
95.8
93.0
93.1
95.3
95.3
93.9
92.9
89.6
94.2
96.7
92.0
96.1
94.6
91.4
94.6
99.0
96.0
96.5
95.7
98.5
98.3
97.7
98.0
98.7
98.5
97.9
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

Average days lost
or charged per
case 2

Injury rates

PermaAll nentdisa­ parbili­
tial
ties 3 disa­
bility

Fre­
quen­ Sever­
ity 2
cy

Temporarytotal
disa­
bility

15.0
6.5
9.4
6.5
18.9

1.4
.3
.9
.7
1.4
1.9

943
898
942
843
1, 214
836
849
885
1,368
889
853
1,192
732
799
1,069
1,077
1,164
796
759

22

15.6

13
19
17
15

10.2

55.5
14.2
13.3

7.0

22

6.6

1.8

16
14
16
16
17
23

16.0
9.7
19.6

1.4
.4
1.3

12

10.3

86

1,622
1,386
1,445
1,427
1.192
1,5)8
1,288
1,624
1,800
2,911

49

1,110

18
14
19
15
14
13
14
13
15
16
13

93
45
80
103
85
81
111

62
113
80
91
215
78
45
125
84
87
120

59
67
100

85
147
41
51
66

58
76

(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

17

4

11

16
16
14
13

O')
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

22.8

8.2

10.1
10.1

1.6
.6
1.2

.9

2.2
.8
1.1
.8

2.2

.1

39.8

3.9

21.0

1.8

15.8
27.3
9.0
4.1
7.6
32.1
27.5
12.9

2.3

59.0
46.7
42.0
37.0
22.0

1 .1

.5
.3
.4
2.5
2.4
.6

(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)
(7)

1
Reports in this survey secured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics include
all employees. Reports compiled by the Bureau of Mines, U. S. Depart­
ment of the Interior (see footnote 9), exclude office personnel and employees
in stores or affiliated operations not directly connected with mining or re­
fining.
8 Based on reports which furnished details regarding the resulting disabili­
ties, constituting approximately 60 percent of the total sample.
* Each death or permanent-total disability is charged with a time loss of
6, 00 0 days.
4
The frequency rate is the average number of disabling injuries for each
million employee-hours worked. The severity rate is the average number
of days lost for each thousand employee-hours worked. The standard timeloss ratings for fatalities and permanent disabilities are given in Method
of Compiling Industrial Injury Rates, approved by the American Stand­

ards Association, 1945. Injury rates for all-manufacturing, for each manu­
facturing and mining group, and for the trade group have been computed
from the rates of individual industries by the application of weights based
upon estimates of total employment in each industry; ratesforother industry
groups are based on the unweighted totals of all reports received.
5 Primarily reported by company instead of establishment.
8 Includes telephone, radio, and television only.
7 N ot available.
8 Does not include railroads and other interstate transportation.
9 Compiled by the Bureau of Mines, U . S. Department of the Interior;
data represent preliminary estimated industry totals, based on average of
80 percent coverage of all mining industries.
10 Fatalities only.

turing combined. The resulting average of days
lost or charged for all disabling injury cases in
logging was 190, more than twice as great as the
average of 93 for manufacturing industries in
general.
Most high severity rates in other industries can
be accounted for by either a high frequency rate,
or high severity average, or both. Integrated
saw and planing mills had a severity rate of 6.3,
a frequency rate of 47.6, and an average of 126
days lost per case. Breweries had a severity rate
of 5.5, a frequency rate of 28.4, and an average of
190 days per case. Sawmills operated separately

from planing mills had a severity rate of 3.7 and
a frequency rate of 55.6, with an average of 69
days per case. Other manufacturing industries
with high severity rates were veneer mills (6.4)
and cut stone and cut-stone products (4.0).


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For all construction, the aver­
age severity rate was 3.9, in comparison with 1.4
for all manufacturing. This, however, represents
a substantial improvement over the rate of 5.0
recorded in 1948. Most of this improvement was
due to a decrease in the proportion of fatalities
and permanent-total disabilities from 1.2 percent
N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g .

484

STATE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION, 1950

to 0.8, and of permanent-partial disabilities from
4.0 to 3.2 percent of the cases reported. Average
days lost or charged per case dropped from 135
in 1948 to 100 in 1949. Structural-steel erection
had the highest severity rate in the construction
group (13.6), as well as the highest frequency rate
(48.6). In this industry 1.5 percent of the reported
cases were fatalities or permanent-total disabilities
and 8.5 percent were permanent-partial dis­
abilities. An average of 279 days were lost or
charged per case. Other construction industries
with high severity rates were terrazzo, tile,
marble, and mosaic work (8.3); painting, paper­
hanging, and decorating (7.6); heavy construction
other than highway and street construction (5.5);
and highway and street construction (4.7).
Stevedoring was the only other nonmanufac­
turing industry with a high injury-severity rate
(13.4). In this industry 10.1 percent of the cases
reported were permanent-partial disabilities, with
an average time charge of 1,360 days per case.
Temporary cases averaged 32 days disability per
case. The severity average was 201 days per case,
which, coupled with a high frequency rate, resulted
in the high severity rate. The electric-light and
power industry had a severity average of 189 days
per case, but a low frequency rate brought the
severity rate down to 2.6.
The proportion of fatalities in mining was
relatively high. In coal mining, 1.5 percent of
the cases reported were fatalities; in metal mining,
1.1 percent; in nonmetal mining, 0.9; in quarry­
ing, 1.3; and in ore-dressing mills, 0.9. Some
individual industries indicated even higher per­
centages of fatalities. Of all cases reported, 3.9
percent in cement quarries and 3.6 percent in
iron ore-dressing mills resulted in death.

MONTHLY LABOR

State Workmen’s Compensation
Legislation in 1950
L egislative action in the field of workmen’s
compensation was limited during 1950. Only 19 1
State legislatures met in which amendments could
have been introduced. Twelve of these amended
existing laws in one or more respects: In 5 (Ken­
tucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey,
and Rhode Island) major improvements were
enacted; in the other 7 States (Georgia, Idaho,
Louisiana, Michigan, New York, South Carolina,
and Virginia) im portant, but less extensive,
changes were made. The latter affected such pro­
visions as coverage, hernia cases, and rehabilita­
tion and created interim legislative committees to
study the workmen’s compensation law.
Kentucky

The Kentucky amendments included increased
death, disability, and medical benefits and im­
provements in certain administrative provisions.
Maximum weekly death benefits were increased
from $20 to $23 and the total maximum amount
permitted to individual beneficiaries was raised
from $8,000 to $8,500. Maximum weekly benefits
for temporary or permanent-total disability were
increased from $21 to $24 and total benefits for
such a disability from $9,500 to $10,000. Per­
manent-partial disability benefits were raised from
a maximum weekly amount of $18 to $21 and the
total maximum amount from $8,100 to $8,600.
The former maximum limit of $800 for medical
benefits was increased to $2,500.
The list of disabilities to be classified specifically
in the law as permanent-total was enlarged to

—R obert S. B arker

Industrial Hazards Branch
1 The detailed tables on which this article is based will be presented in a
forthcoming bulletin.
3 The injury-frequency rate is the average number of disabling work injuries
for each million employee-hours worked. A disabling work injury is an
injury arising out of and in the course of employment, which results in death
or any degree of permanent impairment, or makes the injured person unable
to perform a regularly established job, open and available to him, throughout
the hours corresponding to his regular shift on any one or more days (including
Sundays, days oil, or plant shutdowns) after the day of injury.
1 The severity rate is the average number of days lost, because of disabling
work injuries, per 1,000 employee-hours worked. The computations of days
lost include standard time charges for fatalities and permanent disabilities,
as given in M ethod of Compiling Industrial Injury Rates, approved by the
American Standards Association, 1945.
4 See U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Industry Surveys, Health and Safety


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Statistics, No. HSS392, Employment and Injuries in the Mineral Industries,
1949, Washington, August 29, 1950, for revised injury statistics for 1945 to
1948 and preliminary data for 1949.
5 In making comparisons of injury rates between mining and other indus­
tries, one should bear in mind that the rates for mining are based upon the
experience only of those employees engaged at the mining operations, and
exclude office workers, whereas the rates for other industries include the man­
hours and injury experience of office workers and others not exposed to actual
operating hazards of the industry concerned.
8 A permanent-total disability is an injury, other than death, which perma­
nently and totally incapacitates an employee from following any gainful occu­
pation. A permanent-partial disability consists of the complete loss in one
accident of any member or part of a member of the body, or any permanent
impairment of functions of the body or part thereof to any degree less than
permanent-total disability.
7 The severity average is the average number of days lost per case, including
the actual time lost because of temporary-total disabilities and the standard
time charges for deaths and permanent impairments.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

STATE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION, 1950

include loss of one hand and one eye and loss of
one foot and one eye. Disabilities previously
classified as permanent-total include: The total
permanent loss of sight in both eyes, the loss of
both feet at or above the ankle, the loss of both
hands at or above the wrist, a loss of one hand and
one foot, an injury to the spine resulting in per­
manent and complete paralysis of both arms or
both legs, or of one arm and one leg, and an injury
to the skull resulting in incurable insanity or
imbecility.
Two changes affecting the administration of the
law were adopted. One provides that the act
shall be construed liberally on questions of law and
that the rule of law requiring strict construction
of statutes shall not apply to this act. The other,
designed to insure adequate administrative funds,
provides that only when the net surplus in the
maintenance fund exceeds $150,000 (instead of
$100,000) at the end of the fiscal year is the 2
percent payroll tax assessed against self-insurers
to be canceled during the following year.
Massachusetts

The Massachusetts legislature eliminated the
restrictions relating to cases involving silicosis
and other occupational pulmonary dust diseases.
Such cases were made subject to the same provi­
sions as other injuries, with the exception of a
$5,000 total maximum limit for silicosis in cases
arising in the granite industry. Previously,
benefits for silicosis and other occupational pulmo­
nary dust diseases were limited to a total amount
of $4,000. These benefits were denied unless the
disease was due to the nature of the employment in
which the employee was engaged for a period of
180 days or more and unless disability resulted
within 3 years after the last exposure to hazards
likely to cause the disease. It was also required,
under certain conditions, that to be eligible for
benefits, the worker must be exposed to inhalation
of harmful dust over a period of not less than 5
years during the 10 years immediately preceding
the date of total disability.
To study the problems of rehabilitating injured
industrial workers and to assist in handling cases
requiring such services, a Rehabilitation Com­
mission was established in the Department of
Industrial Accidents but independent of its super­

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485

vision or control. The commission is composed of
the Chairman of the Industrial Accident Board
and the Commissioner of Education as ex-officio
members and five other members appointed by
the Governor, with the consent of the council, for
6-year terms. One member must be a physician,
one an employee, one an employer, one a repre­
sentative of a casualty insurance company, and
one a person who has undergone a rehabilitation
training program. Among the specific duties of
this commission are the establishment of a list
of physicians available to render competent re­
habilitation services for injured industrial workers
and the issuance of certificates of qualification to
rehabilitation facilities which meet certain stand­
ards. Rehabilitation facilities are defined to in­
clude medical, surgical, hospital, prosthesis, voca­
tional, educational, and physical restoration serv­
ices. The commission is also authorized to
designate qualified physicians to serve as impartial
rehabilitation examiners for the Department of
Industrial Accidents in cases requiring rehabilita­
tion services. Employers are required to furnish
rehabilitation services by a qualified physician or
rehabilitation facility, the expenses of which are to
include cost of travel for the injured worker and
cost of his board and room when necessary.
Maximum weekly benefits for a widow without
children were increased from $15 to $20 and the
provision for an additional allowance of $5 for
each child under the age of 18 years was retained.
The total maximum amount allowed in such cases
was raised from $7,600 to $10,000. The defini­
tion of children as dependents under the act was
enlarged to include any children of the injured or
deceased worker conceived but not bom at the
time of the worker’s injury. Compensation for
such children was made payable from the date of
birth.
Another amendment to the workmen’s compen­
sation law authorized the payment from a special
fund of the expense of printing records and briefs
in cases in which the employee appeals from a
decree of the superior court. For an employee
to qualify, the superior court must certify that
the appeal raises a substantial question of law.
The Massachusetts Legislature authorized the
Joint Committee on Ways and Means to study the
possible coverage of farm laborers and domestic
servants under the law.

486

STATE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION, 1950

Mississippi

During 1950, the first changes were made in the
Mississippi law since it had become effective in
January 1949.
Public agencies were authorized to elect cover­
age for their employees under one of the new
amendments.
The minimum weekly benefit for death or dis­
ability was increased from $7 to $10.
Restrictive provisions relating to hernia cases
were liberalized to permit the employee a reason­
able time rather than 48 hours in which to notify
the employer of the injury. The amendment
provides that the injury shall have required the
attendance of a physician within 5 days, instead
of within 48 hours.
The medical aid provision was expanded to
include the furnishing of artificial members where
needed.
Attorneys’ fees for appearances before the
Workmen’s Compensation Commission were lim­
ited to a maximum of 25 percent of the total com­
pensation award. This limitation does not apply
to fees awarded for additional services by any
superior court. The commission retains authority
to approve any claim for legal services or for any
other services rendered in respect to an award for
compensation.
The provisions relating to the establishment of
the commission to administer the law were
amended to require that one member be a lawyer
with at least 5 years of active practice in Missis­
sippi. The chairman was specifically designated
as the administrative head of the commission.
New Jersey

Maximum weekly benefits were increased from
$25 to $30 to become effective on January 1, 1951,
under an amendment to the New Jersey law.
Another amendment eliminated the special
provisions restricting the payment of benefits for
hernia cases. The only special requirement re­
tained relates to the notice to be given to the
employer in cases of traumatic hernia. Such
notice must be given within 48 hours, instead of
24 hours, not including Sundays, Saturdays, or


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MONTHLY LABOR

holidays. The eliminated restrictions had re­
quired proof that the hernia was immediately
caused by such sudden effort or severe strain that
the employee was compelled to quit work immedi­
ately and that there was such physical distress
that the attendance of a licensed physician was
required within 24 hours after the occurrence of
the hernia.
To coordinate the handling of claims under
the workmen’s compensation law with those
received under the temporary disability benefit
law, provision was made in New Jersey for estab­
lishing procedures to avoid duplication of pay­
ments under both laws.
Rhode Island

Coverage was extended under the Rhode Island
workmen’s compensation law by removing the
exemption for employees who earn more than
$3,000 per year.
An amendment was adopted affecting the
method of determining the earning capacity in
permanent-partial disability cases. It authorizes
the Director of Labor, the Chief of Workmen’s
Compensation Division, and the hearing officers
to fix the dollar value of weekly earning capacity
of injured workers if there are no actual earnings
on which to compute the compensation. The
worker is to receive 60 percent of the difference
between his average weekly wages before injury
and the earning capacity so established after
injury, subject to the weekly maximum of $18.
The time limit for bringing suits in occupational
disease cases has been extended to 24 months
from the date of disablement, instead of the date
of contraction of disease. Also removed was a
former provision which barred compensation for
an occupational disease unless contracted in the
same employment with the same employer by
whom the worker was engaged at the time of his
disablement.
Under another amendment, an injured worker
must be given an exact copy of any paper, report,
or agreement concerning compensation which
he is requested to sign.
The legislature commended the State Depart­
ment of Labor for its achievement in the preven-

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION, 19Jf8

tion of industrial injuries which permitted a reduc­
tion of 24.5 percent in workmen’s compensation
insurance rates as of April 1, 1950. This reduc­
tion in insurance rates was accomplished together
with an increase in maximum weekly benefits
of approximately 40 percent in 1949 for permanenttotal and temporary-total disability.
Other States

In the other seven States which made changes
in their workmen’s compensation laws, coverage
was extended in four. Georgia included coopera­
tive corporations engaged in rural electrification.
In Idaho, members of the Idaho National Guard
were given the benefits of the workmen’s com­
pensation law. Policemen who are not elected
officials of municipalities were included among
those eligible for compensation under the Louisiana
workmen’s compensation law. New York ex­
tended coverage to members of certain volunteer
fire companies.
Among the other amendments adopted in these
seven States were provisions for legislative com­
mittees to study workmen’s compensation laws.
An interim committee of three members of the
senate was established for this purpose in Michi­
gan. South Carolina continued the life of the
committee established in 1949 to study the cost
of workmen’s compensation insurance rates.
Virginia amended its provisions regarding hernia
cases. It authorized the Industrial Commission
in case of operation for compensable hernia to
enter an award covering the cost of hospital and
medical attention. This was to be done without
regard to the date when such attention was given.
To facilitate the rehabilitation of injured work­
ers, maintenance benefits for rehabilitation pur­
poses were increased from $15 to $20 per week in
New York.
—B ruce A. G reene
Bureau of Labor Standards
i Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massa­
chusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, N ew Hampshire, N ew Jersey,
N ew York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Wash­
ington, and Wyoming.


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487

Extent of Workmen’s Compensation
in the United States, 1948
T hree out of four nonagricultural wage and
salary workers in the United States were covered
by State or Federal systems of workmen’s com­
pensation in an average month in 1948, according
to recent estimates of the Social Security Adminis­
tration.1 This represented a total of 34 to 35
million workers who were protected against em­
ployment injuries2 as compared with 24 to 25
million in 1940.3
Workmen’s compensation payments (including
medical and hospital benefits) more than doubled
between 1940 and 1948—rising from $256 million
to $536 million. Increased coverage, the rise in
wage rates on which benefits are based, and the
liberalization in cash and medical benefits account ed
for the rapid increase in payments during this
period.
Total compensation payments in 1948 were 10
percent above those in 1947. Only Maine,
Rhode Island, and the Bureau of Employees’
Compensation, which administers the Federal
compensation laws, showed a decrease in benefit
payments (2, 11, and 6 percent, respectively).
Compensation Costs

The cost of workmen’s compensation to em­
ployers was estimated at 1 percent on a payroll
of $100-$103 billion in 1948, and at 1.2 percent
on a payroll of $35-$36 billion in 1940.
Of the average dollar spent by employers in net
insurance premiums in 1948, 53 cents were paid
back in workmen’s compensation payments.
The State insurance funds paid out a considerably
higher proportion of their premium income in
benefits in 1948 than did the private insurance
companies—69 percent as against 45 percent.
Sixty-two percent of total workmen’s compensa­
tion payments were made by private insurance
companies, while only 23 percent were made by
State funds and 15 percent by self-insurers.4

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION, 191,8

Over the decade 1939-48, benefit payments of
private carriers increased more than did those of
the other two types of insurers. During this
period, private companies wrote a total of $4.8
billion in net premiums and paid out $2.2 billion
in “losses” (benefits)—a ratio of about 47 percent.
Types of Benefit Payments

Of the $536 million paid out in workmen’s com­
pensation in 1948, about a third was spent for
medical care and hospitalization; the other twothirds constituted cash compensation for wage
losses of injured or deceased workers.5
Payments to survivors (including a small but
unknown amount of lump-sum funeral benefits
and of payments to the State where there were no
dependents) increased much more slowly between
1939 and 1948 than payments to nonfatally in­
jured workers—reflecting a decline in the pro­
portion of fatal work injuries. Thus, in 1948,
14 percent of nonmedical payments were for
fatalities, as compared with 20 percent in 1939.
Workmen’s compensation payments, by type of benefit,
1939-1,8
[In millions]
Type of benefit
Year

1939_______
1940_______
1941_______
1942_______
1943_______
1944_______
1945_______
1946_______
1947_______
1948 2______

Total

$235
256
291
330
356
387
411
435
487
536

Medical
and hos­
pitalization
$85
95

100
108
112
120

125
140
160
175

Compensation for wage loss
Total
$150
161
191

Disability

$120

222

244
267
286
295
327
361

129
157
186
206
227
244
251
281
311

Survivor 1
$30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
50

1 Includes a small but unknown amount of lump-sum funeral benefits and
of payments to the State when there were no dependents.
5 Preliminary.

Proportion of Wage Loss Compensated

The objective of the majority of workmen’s
compensation laws was to provide weekly pay­
ments ranging from three-fifths to two-thirds of
wages for total occupational disability. “ To a
great extent in recent years,” the report points
out, “ the liberality of these proportions—and even
of the fairly common proportion of 50 percent—■
has been nullified by the statutory maximum
on the dollar amount of weekly benefits.”


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MONTHLY LABOR

In 1939, half the workmen’s compensation laws
provided weekly maximum benefits of less than
$20; $25 was the highest amount payable under
the State laws. “ These maximums were high
enough, however,” the study states, “ so that in
virtually every State the worker receiving the
average weekly wage * * * could receive the
proportion of his wage loss specified in the statute.”
By 1948, in spite of increases, the average worker
could receive the maximum percentage benefit pro­
vided by law in only a few States.
A number of States raised their maximum week­
ly benefits in 1949 so that more than three-fourths
of workmen’s compensation laws provided maxi­
mum weekly benefits (including allowances for
dependents) of $25 or more. But had these liberal­
ized laws been in effect in 1948, only two more
States would have been added to the group having
maximum dollar amounts high enough to permit
the statutory percentage of wages to be effective
for workers with average wages.
Under the legislative dollar maximums in effect
on October 1, 1949, an unmarried worker with an
average 1948 wage would have received, under
more than half the workmen’s compensation laws,
a benefit amounting to less than 50 percent of his
wage, according to the Social Security Administra­
tion.
“ Workmen’s compensation programs, despite
limitations in their coverage and the proportion of
wage loss that they compensate,” observes the
study, “ provide important protection for a large
segment of the working population.” [This is
particularly true in view of the full medical
benefits provided under most of these laws.] The
first of the social insurances to be adopted in this
country, workmen’s compensation, “ plays a signifi­
cant role in any evaluation of the scope and char­
acter of protection afforded by social security
programs.”
1 Workmen’s Compensation: Coverage, Premiums, Payments, by Dorothy
McCamman, Division of Research and Statistics, Office of Commissioner,
Social Security Administration. {In Social Security Bulletin, Washington,
D . C., July 1950, pp. 3-10, 24.)
The Social Security Administration emphasizes the difficulties involved in
making such estimates. These figures are very rough due to the wide varia­
tions in coverage under the various laws. They are arrived at principally by
actuarial computations based on insured payrolls.
The proportion of workers covered by workmen’s compensation is based
on total employment in an average week of 1948 of about 45 million nonagricultural wage and salary workers; interstate railroad workers and unpaid

2

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

FSA CONFERENCE ON AGING

FSA Conference on Aging,
August 1950
S ocial and economic problems created by the
rapidly increasing proportion of older people in
the Nation’s population brought over 800 experts
on old age together in Washington, D. C., August
13-15, 1950. They met at the first National Con­
ference on Aging, sponsored by the Federal Secu­
rity Agency, to study the varied implications of an
older population.
Representing business, labor, government, med­
icine, education, religion, and other groups inter­
ested in problems of the aged, the delegates
assembled in 10 discussion groups to consider such
questions as employment, income, health, com­
munity life, housing, and other aspects of aging.
They made the following proposals:
1. That a National Council on Aging be set up
to handle the multiple social problems of long liv­
ing and act as a clearing house for information on
improving conditions for the older population.
(Several delegates suggested a special Government
agency for old folk, similar to the U. S. Children’s
Bureau in the FSA.)
2. That a National Institute of Gerontology
and Geriatrics be established in the U. S. Public
Health Service, similar to the Institutes on Cancer
and Heart Diseases, to encourage and coordinate
medical research on aging processes.
3. That age be abandoned as the single deciding
factor in retirement, and that a gradual system of
family workers are excluded because these groups are not within the scope of
workmen’s compensation legislation.
Quite commonly workmen’s compensation laws exempt agricultural,
domestic, and casual labor, as well as employers who have fewer than a
specified number of employees.
» Although all States except Mississippi had workmen’s compensation
laws in 1940, no coverage is included for Arkansas, since its law (passed in
1939) did not take effect until the end of 1940. Mississippi, the last State to
adopt workmen’s compensation, enacted its law in 1948 (effective in 1949).
In addition to the 48 State laws [and those of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto
Rico], Federal acts cover Federal Government employees, private employees
in the District of Columbia, and longshoremen and harbor workers. Esti­
mates in the original article are for the continental United States only.
4 M ost laws permit insurance with private insurance companies. In 7 of
the 18 States that have State insurance funds, employers are required to use
the State fund exclusively; in the other 11 States, the choice between the
fund and a private carrier is optional. Under all but a few acts, an employer
may qualify by giving proof of ability to carry his own risk.
s This compensation excludes some other direct costs to the employer for
occupational injuries, such as those resulting from a time loss shorter than the
compensation waiting period.

9060 2 4 — 50—

5


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489

retirement be worked out to replace a sharp cut­
off date.
4. That all American workers be covered by
old-age insurance benefits, not doles or old-age
assistance programs.
5. That a broad education system be set up for
“ senior citizens,” perhaps to include a country­
wide network of colleges; and that those educa­
tional facilities now available for the old folk be
broadened to induce greater interest among older
persons in attending classes.
Government Reports on the Aged Population

In calling the Conference, the FSA pointed out
that the number of persons aged 65 and over has
almost quadrupled in the past 50 years, while
the total United States population has only
doubled. The FSA also highlighted the facts
that average life expectancy has increased about
17 years in the past half-century, and that heart
diseases and cancer combined cause more than
55 percent of the deaths among those 65 and older.
Fewer than 3 percent of the older population live
in institutions, it was disclosed, and more than
four-fifths live with some member of their family.
Of almost 11% million persons 65 and over in 1948,
about 3% million had no money income of their
own. Of the 7}i million with some money income,
almost a third made less than $500. The long­
time trend in the relative number of workers
among older persons has been downward. About
2,349,000 men and 593,000 women 65 and over
are actually employed.
In reports prepared especially for the Confer­
ence, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that
the gap between total life expectancy and workinglife expectancy will have tripled between 1900
and 1975, and the Bureau of Employment Security
reported that 6 percent of job applicants seeking
work through public employment offices, during
an April 1950 survey, were 65 and over.
President Truman told the delegates that “ we
cannot be satisfied with merely extending normal
life expectancy.” In a message read to the
Conference by Oscar R. Ewing, Administrator
of the FSA, the President said: “ The real
problem is to enable the older men and women
among us to make full and happy use of their

490

EMPLOY THE HANDICAPPED WEEK, 1950

added years. The great gift which medical science
and an increasingly healthy society have given us
should not be more years on the shelf, but more
years of productive activity.”
He suggested that older persons continue
working at their regular jobs if they want to.
There is a need for “ imaginative thinking” about
the special problems of health, housing, and
recreation that older people face, the President
stated, and a need for improving the financial
condition of the aged by making the social security
system more satisfactory. “ As we increase the
opportunities for our older citizens to stand on
their own feet, and live out their lives in selfrespect, free from fear and want, we shall be help­
ing to fulfill the promise of our free society,” the
President declared.
Speaking at a Conference dinner, Mr. Ewing
referred to the Korean war as an emergency that
might create a new manpower shortage. In this
instance, he said, the Nation will have to rely
heavily on the productive capacity of its older
workers, as it did during World War II.
Mr. Ewing asserted that the needs of older
people will continue to press for attention no mat­
ter what the crisis in world affairs. He called the
problem of aging a long-range one with enormous
complexities, and said:
We must continue to study how best we can provide
some measure of genuine financial security for older
workers who can no longer earn a living. We must
redouble our research into the causes of chronic disease
and do everything possible to lighten the burden which
now rests so heavily on our old people. We must take
steps to see that adequate medical care is provided for
all elderly people who are unable to meet the heavy
expenses of such care. We must see that the whole
matter of living arrangements for these older people is
worked out in some practical manner. And we must
devise ways and means by which we can maintain an
alert interest in the business of living—in terms of
recreation, hobbies and creative interests, community
and church activities. For one of the values in our
democracy is the essential well-being of all our citizens.
And we must make sure that these values have lifelong
meaning—for the elder citizens of today, and for the
elder citizens of tomorrow.

John L. Thurston, FSA’s Assistant Adminis­
trator for Program, greeted the delegates, stating
that older people are “ assets to our society and its
economy”—not “ problem children.” He said that
adjustment to aging is primarily a responsibility of
the individual, but that creation of an environment

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MONTHLY LABOR

in which older people may adjust to aging will call
for “ changing attitudes on the part of many
individuals and many social groups.”
Alvin Johnson, director of New York City’s New
School for Social Research, in a major address to
the Conference, criticized the tendency to look
upon retirement pensions as cure-alls for the
problem of aging. He said retirement plans reduce
the mobility of labor by making it inexpedient for
a man to shift from one job to another for fear of
losing his pension rights. They also produce a
“ damping down of energy and initiative in men
approaching the age of compulsory retirement.”
His advice:
We can apply part of the engineering talent now
concentrated upon technological problems to map out,
in each institution and in each business enterprise,
plans for directing its aging personnel toward functions
less dependent on physical elasticity and more upon
mental and moral steadiness and reliability. Be gen­
erous, indeed, with retirement pensions for disability;
permit those working over age to accumulate addi­
tional benefits for the eventual time of disability. But
let us have no dated retirement; no pensions without
disability.

Meeting of Committee on Employ
the Handicapped Week, 1950
T h e problem of the physically handicapped must
be attacked through accident prevention, preven­
tive medicine, and improved rehabilitation pro­
grams, President Truman told his Committee on
National Employ the Physically Handicapped
Week, at their sixth annual meeting, August 9,
1950, in Washington, D. C.
They met to plan the 1950 observance of Na­
tional Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,
set for October 1-7, “ to enlist the widest possible
public interest in additional employment oppor­
tunities for the physically handicapped.”
“ We must improve our skills and increase our
efforts for rehabilitating those who are disabled,”
said the President. “This requires us to improve
our programs for better medical care, for provid­
ing education and training, individual counseling,
and specialized job placement. Through these
activities we can conserve the human resources

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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

of our country. Through them we can strengthen
and improve our most valuable asset—the lives
of our citizens. The expenditures which we make
on such programs are returned to us many times
over in the productive lives of those who are bene­
fited.”
The President wished his Committee success in
this year’s campaign for the employment of the
physically handicapped. “ Nothing is more im­
portant in the rehabilitation of the disabled than
the final step—the acceptance, by employers and
the public, of the physically handicapped as nor­
mal members of a productive society,” he said.
“ That is our goal. And it is only through the
efforts of individuals and organizations repre­
sented on this Committee, and on State and mu­
nicipal committees, that this goal can be reached.”
Governor Okey L. Patteson of West Virginia,
who addressed the meeting, described the goal
of the Committee as “ helping the handicapped to
become taxpayers instead of tax consumers.” He
said the appeal to employ the physically handi­
capped should not be considered an emotional one.
“ It is really sound business,” he stated, “ because
‘ability’ and not ‘disability’ counts on a job; and
business and labor surveys show that the handi­
capped worker is just as productive and depend­
able in his work habits and attendance record.”
Secretary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin told the
delegates that the Department of Labor recog­
nizes the possibilities of labor force expansion
which lie in the unused skills of jobless handi­
capped workers. He said:
“ The great and real value of handicapped work­
ers was strikingly demonstrated in World War II
for the first time. As manpower shortages became
more and more acute, greater and greater use was
made of the handicapped. Handicapped job place­
ments jumped from 27,700 in 1940 to 297,000 in
1945. Altogether, 877,000 handicapped workers
were recruited and placed during the war. Those
handicapped workers did an outstanding job.
They proved they were dependable, safe, and pro­
ductive.
“ Hundreds of thousands of employers learned
through necessity the worth of handicapped work­
ers. They carried this knowledge into their post­
war operations. In the 5-year period after the
war, local employment offices placed almost a
million handicapped workers.”

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491

Summary of
Industrial Relations Activities
N e w contracts embodying wage increases ac­
celerated the rising wage trend during September.
The wage movement, beginning in the automobile
industry, affected other industries during the
month.
Cost-of-living escalator clauses fre­
quently accompanied wage increases.

Railroads

The settlement of the dispute between the
Switchmen’s Union (AFL) and 10 Western and
Midwestern railroads on September 1 may clarify
the complex labor-management situation in the
railroad industry. There were no immediate
developments, however, in the dispute between
the major railroads and the Conductors’ and
Trainmen’s unions, which led to seizure in
August.1
The 3-year switchmen’s agreement provided
for a wage increase of 23 cents an hour effective
October 1, 1950, and of 1 cent an hour for each
point of increase in the BLS Consumers’ Price
Index after it reaches 174. Although the parties
agreed on a 5-day week in principle, they stip­
ulated that it should not be adopted for at least a
year. At that time, adoption of the 5-day week
will depend upon “ the desires of the employees
and the manpower situation.”
During the month, a Presidential emergency
board recommended that 16 short-line railroads
grant their nonoperating employees a 40-hour
workweek, with the same pay as for the 48-hour
week, plus a 7-cents-an-hour increase. The Board
suggested that these recommendations should not
apply to the 3 short-line railroads which were not
financially able to bear the added cost.
Automobiles

The Ford Motor Co. and the United Automo­
bile Workers (CIO) agreed to a new 5-year agree­
ment to replace the 2%-year contract signed in
October 1949 (which provided for a wage reopen­
ing after January 1, 1951).
The new contract, retroactive to September 1,
1950, provided an hourly wage increase of 8 cents
for about 110,000 workers, and an addi­
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

improvement factor and Consumers’ Price Index
escalator clauses followed the General Motors
pattern. Other provisions of the new contract in­
cluded noncontributory pensions of $125 a month,
including social-security benefits; liberalized acci­
dent and disability payments; increased paid-up
life insurance; and 3-week annual vacations for
employees with 15 years’ service.
Five-year contracts negotiated by KaiserFrazer Corp. and Mack Trucks, Inc., with the
UAW (CIO) in September followed, in general,
the formula for cost-of-living wage adjustments
and annual wage improvement factors established
in the General Motors agreement.
The Kaiser-Frazer agreement provided for an
immediate wage increase of 12 cents an hour for
16,000 production employees and an additional 5
cents for skilled and foundry workers. Of the
12-cent increase, 8 cents represented a cost-ofliving adjustment, and 4 cents was the first of
four annual wage-improvement adjustments. The
Mack Truck agreement provided for wage in­
creases averaging 7 cents an hour for production
workers—ranging from 4 cents on the base rate of
incentive workers to 18 cents for employees in
skilled trades.
A 5-year contract was negotiated by Studebaker Corp. and the UAW-CIO, increasing wages
9 cents an hour effective September 1. It contains
a cost-of-living wage adjustment clause similar to
the General Motors-UAW formula.
Steel

The United Steelworkers of America (CIO)
announced on September 22 that it would seek
wage increases for 750,000 union members em­
ployed by 1,400 companies in the steel industry.
The union requested immediate voluntary wage
increases, or the reopening of existing contracts
for wage negotiations on October 9. (Current
agreements permit wage-reopening negotiations
after November l.2) The Inland Steel Co. was
the first of the major steel producers to agree to
discuss the need for earlier contract reopening.
The union requested the NLRB on September
25 to conduct elections among 88,000 steelworkers
in 17 plants of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp.
The union announced that it hoped to obtain the
union shop throughout the steel industry by 1951.
Current agreements in the basic steel industry
have maintenance-of-membership arrangements.

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MONTHLY LABOR

Electrical Products

Approximately 35,000 workers, represented by
the International Union of Electrical, Radio and
Machine Workers (CIO), were involved in strikes
beginning August 30 at General Electric Co.
plants in 5 Eastern States. Union plans to extend
the strike to other GE plants across the Nation
were abandoned on September 4 after Cyrus S.
Ching, director of the Federal Mediation and Con­
ciliation Service, advised the parties that the
threatened work stoppages at 116 of the company’s
plants might seriously threaten national defense.
The existing stoppages continued, however, until
September 15, when a new 1-year contract was
negotiated.
This contract increased wages by 10 cents an
hour—5 cents effective July 1, 1950, and 5 cents
effective September 15, 1950. A cost-of-living
escalator clause provides for a 1-cent increase in
wages for every 1.14 increase in the BLS Con­
sumers’ Price Index, the first adjustment to take
place on March 15, 1951. A contributory pension
plan provides minimum payments of $125 a month,
including social-security benefits, for retiring
workers with 25 years’ service. Employees are
to receive an extra paid holiday and liberalized
hospital and insurance benefits.
The United Electrical Workers (Ind.) and the
General Electric Co., on September 17, agreed on
a contract similar in most respects to the IUE
(CIO) contract. The UE, however, refused any
escalator clause. Three wage reopenings during
the 2-year term of its agreement are provided.
The Westinghouse Electric Corp. offered to
increase wages 8 cents an hour, pay minimum
pensions of $100 a month, including social-security
benefits, and to contribute 2}i cents an hour for
social-insurance benefits. This offer was rejected
by the International Union of Electrical Workers
(CIO) and the United Electrical Workers (Ind.).
The IUE-CIO contended that the proffered
pension plan compared unfavorably with those in
the electrical and other industries and that some
proposed provisions would require speed-up in
operations and loss of incentive pay.
Textiles

The United Textile Workers (CIO) announced
its intention of obtaining wage increases for its
members in northern textile mills. Union leaders

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

contended that, although current contracts do not
expire until next year, employers are morally
obligated to increase wages immediately because
of current economic changes.
The major agreement negotiated by the union
during September granted more than 20,000
workers in 22 northern cotton mills a 10-percent
wage increase effective September 18 and con­
tinuing to March 15, 1951, when existing con­
tracts expire. Textron, Inc., and the union agreed
on a new 3-year contract raising wages by 10
percent effective October 1, and by 5 percent on
September 30, 1951, and on September 28, 1952.
Three large rug manufacturers—Alexander Smith
& Sons, Bigelow Carpet Co., and A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc.—granted a 10-cent hourly wage in­
crease effective October 1 to 14,000 employees,
although current contracts with these firms did
not permit wage reopenings until June 1, 1951.
The union requested the woolen and worsted
branches of the industry to raise wages 20 cents
an hour immediately. Existing contracts do not
expire until February 1, 1951.
Other Stoppages

The International Harvester Co. strike which
began in late August was partially settled on
September 18. Under an agreement reached with
the Farm Equipment Division of the United Elec­
trical, Radio and Machine Workers Union (Ind.)
wages of 27,000 FE members were increased by 10
cents an hour. The union agreed not to strike
during the life of the 2-year contract. A similar
wage-increase offer was rejected on September 13
by the UAW (CIO), which represents 23,000
workers in 8 plants, who continued on strike.
Production of farm equipment was also affected
by a work stoppage which began on September 1
at plants of John Deere and Co. in Illinois and
Iowa. Approximately 13,000 idle workers, repre­
sented by the UAW (CIO) sought a wage increase
of 15 cents an hour. The strike continued through
the end of September.
Among recent disputes which have seriously
curtailed production in the soda ash branch of the
chemical industry, the first settlement terminated
a 6-day strike on September 10 of Wyandotte
Chemical Co. employees in Detroit, Mich., mem­
bers of District 50, United Mine Workers of Amer­


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493

ica (Ind.). A second tentative agreement on Sep­
tember 17 covered the Syracuse Solvay Process
plant.
Strikes were also ended at plants of the Solvay
Process Division of the Allied Chemical and Dye
Corp. in Detroit, and Baton Rouge, and at the
Diamond Alkali Co. in Painesville, Ohio. They
began in June and July.
Other Developments

The Amalgamated Clothing Workers (CIO) and
the United States Clothing Manufacturers Associ­
ation, representing about 90 percent of the men’s
clothing manufacturers in the Nation, began wage
negotiations on September 16. The ACW has not
asked for an industry-wide wage increase since No­
vember 1947 but is now requesting a 15-percent
wage raise for about 150,000 men’s clothing
workers, to compensate for the increase in the cost
of living.
The International Ladies Garment Workers
Union (AFL) directed its constituent organizations
to seek a 15 percent increase in wages for over 400,000 members. This is to be done under wage­
reopening clauses of existing contracts or by re­
questing voluntary increases from employers.
The International Longshoremen’s Association
(AFL) and the New York Shipping Association
reached a tentative wage agreement on Septem­
ber 22. Base pay for longshoremen is increased
12 cents an hour.
Northern bituminous-coal operators, who ac­
count for about 34 percent of the Nation’s softcoal production, completed the establishment of
a united organization to negotiate with the UMWA
(Ind.).3 On September 21, Harry B. Moses, pres­
ident of the H. C. Frick Coal Co. for the past 13
years, was elected president of the organization.
Initially the association will consist of a group
of soft-coal mine operators from Ohio, central
and western Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia. A division among western mine oper­
ators prevented their accepting an invitation to
affiliate with the new organization. The Southern
Coal Producers Association was not invited to
participate.
i See M onthly Labor Review, September 1950 (p. 366).
J Under current basic steel contracts, any wage changes would not become
effective until January 1, 1951.
s See M onthly Labor Review, August 1950 (p. 244).

Recent Decisions
of Inte re st to La b o r 1
Wages and Hours 2
Enforcement— Contempt; Restitution of Wages. An em­
ployer was held 3 by the Federal District Court for Puerto
Rico to be in contempt of an injunction to prevent violation
of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Minimum wage, over­
time compensation, and record-keeping provisions of regu­
lations of the Wage and Hour Administrator concerning
homework in the needlework industry, and a wage order
applicable to such industry, were involved.
The Court ordered the employer to purge himself of
contempt by paying his employees the balance of wages
due them under the act for the 2-year period prior to
institution of the contempt proceedings. He was also
ordered to compensate the Secretary of Labor for the
cost of investigating, instituting, and maintaining the
proceedings by paying the Treasurer of the United States
$150 plus costs and expenses.
Portal Act—Good Faith.

A Federal district court held 4
that an employer could not raise the “good faith” defense
of section 9 of the Portal-to-Portal Act in a suit for over­
time compensation under the FLSA, when his conduct
was clearly not in conformity with a regulation of the
Wage and Hour Division. The fact that he had relied on
a contrary regulation by the War Department was held
immaterial.
Section 9 relieves an employer from liability for minimum
wages and overtime compensation under the FLSA for an
act or omission prior to May 14, 1947, provided his
action was in good faith, in reliance upon and in conformity
with a regulation of an agency of the United States.
A wartime munitions plant had been operated by the
employer for the Federal Government under a cost-plusfixed-fee contract. A recent Supreme Court decision5
held employees in such plants to be covered by the FLSA.
The court held that the employer was relieved of lia­
bility for liquidated damages under the FLSA by section
11 of the Portal Act on the ground that, in classifying the
employees as exempt, he had acted in good faith and had
reason to believe that he was not violating the FLSA.
Evidence was held to show that he had tried to obey
regulations of both the War Department and the Labor
Department.

Labor Relations
Free Speech—Picketing for Closed Shop.

Peaceful picket­
ing is not protected by section 8 (c) of the amended

494

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National Labor Relations Act (the so-called “free speech”
clause), when it is part of an attempt to cause an employer
to discriminate in hiring in favor of a union, the National
Labor Relations Board held.5
Various unions picketed a building project because an
employer was hiring nonunion men and had not acceded
to the unions’ demand that union members be hired. Un­
fair-labor-practice charges brought by the employer under
section 8 (b) (2) of the amended NLRA were dismissed by
the trial examiner on the ground that the picketing con­
stituted the “expression of views or opinion” protected by
section 8 (c).
The trial examiner relied on a statement in an earlier
Board opinion.7 That opinion had held that section 8 (c)
did not protect peaceful picketing in furtherance of a
secondary boycott, and in dictum “assumed” that 8 (c)
did limit other subsections of section 8 (b).
Reversing the trial examiner, the Board pointed out that,
since the Board opinion referred to, several decisions8 of the
United States Supreme Court had clearly indicated that
the rule protecting picketing established in Thornhill v.
Alabama 9 was not so broad as had been assumed. In one
decision, the Court had held that peaceful picketing to
cause discrimination in hiring contrary to a State’s public
policy was not protected as free speech under the Federal
Constitution.
Reassessing its prior views in the light of these recent
decisions, the Board held that nothing in the amended
NLRA or its legislative history indicated that Congress
intended to go beyond the protective scope of the first
amendment to the Constitution in exempting picketing
from the prohibitions in section 8 (b) of the act.

Free Speech—Picketing and Blacklist to Enforce Secondary
Boycott. A court of appeals upheld,10 for a second time,11
the constitutionality of section 8 (b) (4) (A) of the
amended NLRA, prohibiting secondary boycotts. This
court also held that picketing and circulation of a blacklist
against the secondary employer did not constitute the ex­
pression of views or opinion protected by section 8 (c)
(the “free speech” provision) of the amended NLRA.
The court enforced an order of the NLRB 12 against a
union to cease picketing and blacklisting a local builder
who was using materials furnished by a manufacturer of
prefabricated houses with whom the union had the pri­
mary labor dispute. The manufacturer did over $200,000
worth of business a year. About 90 percent of its pur­
chases were from, and 50 percent of its sales were to,
persons outside the State.
Picketing and blacklisting by the union, the court
stated, did not constitute an expression of views or
opinions within the meaning of section 8 (c).
It was contended by the union that the local builder
was an “ally” of the manufacturer and that as a result the
illegal objective, i. e., “forcing or requiring any employer
* * * to cease doing business with any other person,”
was absent. The court saw no merit in this proposition,
as it found that the requisite elements of alliance were
lacking and that the two concerns had only the business
relationship of buyer and seller.

c

D E C I S I O N S OF I N T E R E S T TO L A B O R

Interference—Solicitation of

Striking Employees. The
NLRB held 13 that an employer’s solicitations of individual
strikers to return to work constituted interference in viola­
tion of section 8 (a) (1) of the amended NLRA. The fact
that he had no duty to bargain with the union represent­
ing the strikers was ruled immaterial, since the solicitations
were found by the Board to be part of a pattern of illegal
opposition to the union, prohibited by the act. The em­
ployer had threatened to fire union leaders if a strike were
called, and to discharge employees if they did not return
within 3 days. Inducements to return offered by the em­
ployer included higher wages than those prevailing before
the strike.
Interference— Union Activities in “Company” Town. Em­
ployers in a "company” town violated the act, the Board
ruled,14 by prohibiting the holding of union meetings any­
where on their property, causing peace officers to arrest
or threaten to arrest persons attempting to hold such
meetings, and bringing court proceedings to enjoin meet­
ings.
The usual right of a person to resort to a court, the
Board held, did not apply when such process was invoked
in bad faith, as in cases of malicious prosecution. In this
case, the Board pointed out, the employer’s motive in
bringing suit was not to prevent destruction to his prop­
erty, but to prevent a union meeting. The courts had
previously held 15 that a company owning the only avail­
able meeting place in a town could not discriminatorily
prevent a union from holding meetings there. In the
instant case, the Board did not require a showing of dis­
criminatory treatment, as the company denial to organizers
of the sole area of access to employees had been held by
the Supreme Court to be violative of the act.
All the property available for meetings in the town was
owned by the company. It chose to treat union organizers
as trespassers, and each of the first three times the union
tried to hold open-air meetings, one of the managers asked
the sheriff to prevent it. The results were the arrest of
organizers on one occasion, a threat to arrest on two other
occasions, and restriction of the union’s use of the streets
to a car with a loud-speaker, which was closely followed
by company supervisors.
Subsequently the company secured an injunction in a
State court against the holding of union meetings on their
property except with their consent, which action was held
violative of the act, one Board member dissenting. The
Board’s order affecting this aspect of the case was some­
what novel. It directed the company to apply to the
State court for a dissolution of that court’s injunction
decree.
Interference—Distribution of Union Literature. A Federal
court of appeals held 18 that a company which on two
occasions prohibited distribution of a union newspaper on
company property had not committed an unfair labor
practice, as an article in the newspaper had held up certain
supervisors to ridicule and was calculated to disrupt dis­
cipline in the plant.
On September 26, 1947, upon organization of a super­
visors’ association at the plant, the newspaper published
an article calling it a “scab” association and quoted Jack

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495

London’s definition of a “scab.” In 20 issues, the company
president was referred to as a “vulture.” When, on
October 31, copies of an issue containing articles holding
the president up to further ridicule were being distributed
by union representatives on company property, the plant
guard ordered them off the premises and stated that the
company had forbidden distribution of union literature
on its property. A similar incident occurred when, 2
months later, an attempt was made to distribute an issue
of the paper which asked members to submit suitable
music for doggerel verse lampooning the president.
The NLRB ruled that the company’s prohibition of
distribution of the paper constituted interference with
union activities. It pointed out that the company had
not shown that the discipline of employees was under­
mined, and that the union had been allowed to distribute
equally scurrilous articles without hindrance prior to the
above incidents.
On the company’s petition, the court of appeals set
aside the Board’s order. The fact that the newspaper’s
distribution had not actually destroyed discipline in the
plant, it held, did not bar the company from preventing
such distribution. The company’s action, the court
stated, was a reasonable attempt to protect its own prop­
erty and to preserve discipline, and could not be held to
be an unfair labor practice.
There was no evidence, said the court, other than the
hearsay statement of the guard, that the company had
prohibited distribution of proper union literature, or that
its prohibition extended to other than scurrilous articles.
That the company did not warn the union that dis­
tribution of the paper would be prohibited was held to be
immaterial, since no such duty existed in the case of
defamatory literature. Prohibition of the distribution of
such literature was held not to curtail any right of union
members to free speech.

Consumer Boycott as “Concerted Activity.” The NLRB
held 17 that a “consumer” boycott of a company’s prod­
ucts by striking employees was protected “concerted ac­
tivity.” While stating that not all concerted activity was
protected by section 7, the Board pointed out that the
exceptions were confined to activities involving violence
or similar conduct or objectives inconsistent with some
Federal statute. The company also sought to justify its
refusal to reinstate the strikers who had engaged in the
boycott, on the ground that the “consumer” boycott was
disloyal. The Board rejected that defense.
A strike had been called when the employer withdrew
recognition of the union because of its failure to comply
with the filing and non-Communist affidavit provisions of
the amended NLRA. About 1 month thereafter, a boy­
cott was started and the union attempted to enlist support
from other locals. In less than 3 weeks after the boycott
began, the union voted to abandon the strike, and em­
ployees returned to work. However, the company refused
to reinstate members of the union’s executive board. The
boycott was continued for a few weeks longer, then formal
notification of its abandonment was sent by the union to
the company.
In the meantime, shortly before commencement of the
boycott, an independent union had filed a representation

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D E C I S I O N S OF I N T E R E S T TO L A B O R

petition with the Board. That union executed a consent
election agreement with the employer, and was certified
on the day on which the notice of discontinuance of the
first union’s boycott was given to the employer.
An attempt was made by the company to justify its
discharge of the executive board members of the striking
union on the ground that they were attempting to compel
the employer to recognize one union while another union’s
representation petition was pending. This, the company
claimed, violated the neutrality which the NLRA required
that it maintain during pendency of representation pro­
ceedings. The Board held that the employer’s recognition
of the union would not necessarily have violated the law,
since it was possible that each union might have been
recognized on a members-only basis or that prior to recog­
nition the rival union’s petition might have been with­
drawn or dismissed.

Jurisdictional Disputes. Application of section 10 (k) of
the amended NLRA, which authorizes the Board to hear
and determine jurisdictional disputes between two or
more unions over the assignment of work tasks was ruled
upon 18 by the NLRB.
An employer engaged in tanning and wool processing
employed production and maintenance workers repre­
sented by a local of the International Fur and Leather
Workers Union, and truck drivers represented by a local
of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Raw
material was moved between buildings in the employer’s
plant on a spur railroad, with a locomotive operated by a
maintenance employee, a member of the fur workers union.
On June 10, 1949, the employer discontinued use of the
locomotive and replaced it by a truck converted into a
power-driven cab. A truck driver was assigned to drive
the cab, but was replaced by a maintenance employee
when the fur workers union protested that its contract
with the employer required that one of its own members
do the work. (The contract provided that when a depart­
ment or employees therein were displaced by new machin­
ery, employees with the greatest length of continuous
service on the operation displaced should be given prefer­
ence in employment on such machinery, if they were capa­
ble of operating it.) In conformity to an award resulting
from an arbitration instituted by the teamsters, the job
was again reassigned—to a teamster’s member. The fur
workers were not present at the hearing. The fur workers
then refused to unload intraplant trailers.
The Board held that it had jurisdiction to hear this
dispute. Section 10 (k) authorizes such a hearing when
it is charged that any person has engaged in an unfair
labor practice within the meaning of section 8 (b) (4) (D)
and when an investigation has shown there is reasonable
cause to believe that the charge is true. Section 8 (b)
(4) (D) prohibits strikes or boycotts to force the assign­
ment of certain work to one group of employees rather
than another, unless conformity to a Board order or cer­
tification is the object of such action. The fur union’s
advice to the employer that its members would refuse to
handle company goods was held to bring the case within
the jurisdictional requirements of section 10 (k).
On the ground that the contractual provisions concern­
ing operation of new machinery replacing former machinery

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was applicable, the Board determined the dispute in favor
of the fur workers. The teamsters were unable to show
that truck drivers had ever operated the old machinery.
In view of past practices and the lack of representation of
the fur workers, the arbitration award to the contrary
was held not to be controlling.

Decisions of State Courts
Kansas— Union’s Bylaw Inducing Breach of Contract. A
union’s imposition of penalties on members if they work
for a certain employer without going through procedures
required by the union’s bylaws, cannot be enjoined, the
Kansas Supreme Court held 19—even though threats of
such penalties induced union members to break their con­
tracts with the employer.
A radio station sought replacements for former em­
ployees known as the “Ark Valley Boys,” who performed
a hillbilly” act. The employer had gone to considerable
expense in advertising the “Ark Valley Boys.” The local
musicians union was unable to fulfill the employer’s re­
quest for replacements, so the employer secured members
of the same national union from another State. When
these members sought to transfer their membership to the
local union, it refused to accept them and threatened to
fine them $1,000 each if they performed over the station.
The employer asked the trial court to restrain the local
union from interfering with performance of contracts
which these members had made, and from interfering with
their membership in the national union. The local union
was shown not to have complied with a State law requiring
registration of union agents. A temporary restraining
order was granted. Shortly thereafter, the union complied
with the registration law. A motion by the employer to
make the injunction permanent was denied by the lower
court. This decision was sustained by the State supreme
court.
In reaching this decision, the supreme court pointed to
the bylaws and constitution of the national union, which
prohibited a member who transferred his union card to a
local from accepting steady engagements for 3 months
thereafter without the local’s consent. The members
had testified that this rule was customarily disregarded,
but the court held that they had not given sufficient evi­
dence to show that the custom was firmly and universally
established. Without such evidence, the court stated, a
custom could not be said to overrule a written constitu­
tion or bylaw.
The court refused to interfere with the internal affairs
of a voluntary association such as this union, merely
because the enforcement of the union’s rules indirectly
induced breach of a contract. It pointed out that no
direct action had been taken by the union against the em­
ployer. That membership in the union was a condition
of employment was held immaterial.
One judge dissented, on the ground that the union’s
violation of the registration law prevented it from justify­
ing its action by reliance on its constitution and bylaws.
He thought that the fine of $1,000 threatened to be imposed
on the transferred members was inequitable, unreasona­
ble, and without authority in the bylaws.
New York— Union Monopolies, Blacklist.

A union did

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

D E C I S I O N S OF I N T E R E S T TO L A B O R

not violate the State antimonopoly law, the New York
Court of Appeals held,20 by refusing to supply laborers to
an employer in an industry in which the union controlled
the labor supply in the area. However, the court inti­
mated that, if proved, the union’s alleged attempts to
coerce workers not affiliated with the union to refuse to
work for the employer and allegedly false statements
about the employer were unlawful.
The union controlled the supply of stone carvers in the
New York City area. It refused to furnish workers to
the employer, on the grounds that prices were getting too
cheap in the industry and that it would not furnish labor
to subcontractors. The employer sought an injunction
on the grounds that he was not a subcontractor and that
the union was violating the antimonopoly law. The trial
court granted the injunction, but was reversed by the
appellate division.
The decision of the appellate division was upheld by the
court of appeals, which pointed out that the antitrust law
expressly exempted labor unions from its provisions. The
union and its members were held to be merely exercising
their lawful right to refuse to work.
Attempts to coerce other workers into refusing to work
for the employer were not finally passed upon by the
court of appeals, which refused to enter a judgment on
this point, since the appellate division had not specified
whether it had reversed the trials court’s findings that the
union had engaged in such activities. The case was
remanded to permit clarification of the findings of fact.
Two judges dissented from the remand. They thought
that the evidence only showed that the union had adopted
a legitimate policy of not supplying employees to sub­
contractors, who as a class, in its opinion, depressed labor
standards. In enforcing this policy the dissenters found
the union merely made its position known to other em­
ployers in the trade and informed its members that to
accept such employment would result in expulsion.

Rhode Island— Check-Off;

Wage Payment Law. The
Supreme Court of Rhode Island held 21 that a check-off
agreement was invalid under Rhode Island law, and could
not be enforced against employees working in that State.
A State wage-payment law, which was held to prohibit
the check-off, was held not to be in conflict with the
National Labor Relations Act.
A local of the United Office and Professional Workers
Union representing industrial insurance agents, entered
into a collective-bargaining agreement under which union
dues were to be checked off. The contract extended to
October 1, 1948, when it was to be automatically renewed
for a year unless notice was given in writing by either
party. Employee-members’ authorizations for the em­
ployer to check off their dues were revocable after October
1, 1948, or succeeding anniversaries of that date, upon
appropriate notice. In May 1947, because of a dispute
with its international, the local union seceded, and its
charter was revoked by the international. Over 30 em­
ployees later resigned from the union and when their
request to the employer to discontinue the check-off was
denied, brought suit to prevent the employer from deduct­
ing union dues from the wages.
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A State wage-payment law required every employer to
pay wages in full in lawful money, and prevented private
agreements that would set aside this rule. This law was
held to prevent the check-off of union dues, in spite of a
provision in another statute excepting the check-off from
application of the law prohibiting assignment of wages of
hospital employees. The court held that the exception
was limited to hospital employees and not generally appli­
cable to wage assignments.
The employees in question were engaged in interstate
commerce. However, the court held that the amended
NLRA did not mention the check-off as a subject of
collective bargaining. Holding that an employer could
not be compelled under that act to bargain over the check­
off, the court said that the State law could not be said to
conflict with any Federal policy. When the Federal
Government had not occupied the field, a State could make
reasonable regulations as to labor relations even though
they might affect interstate commerce.
One judge dissented, on the ground that the resigning
employees, a minority in the union, could not revoke a
collective-bargaining agreement, and that the Labor
Management Relations Act, taken as a whole, was in­
tended to regulate bargaining over the check-off.
1 Prepared in the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor.
The cases covered in this article represent a selection of the significant
decisions believed to be of special interest. N o attem pt has been made to
reflect all recent judicial and administrative developments in the field of
labor law or to indicate the effect of particular decisions in jurisdictions in
which contrary results may be reached, based upon local statutory provi­
sions, the existence of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts
to the issue presented.
2 This section is intended merely as a digest of some recent decisions in­
volving the Pair Labor Standards Act and the Portal-to-Portal Act. It is
not to be construed and may not be relied upon as interpretation of these
acts by the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division or any agency of
the Department of Labor.
8Tobin v. Barreda (U. S. D . C., Puerto Rico, July 26,1950).
4Hoffman v. Todd & Brown, Inc. (U. S. D . C. N . D . Ind., June 21, 1950).
5 Powell, U. S. Cartridge Co. (See M onthly Labor Review, July 1950, p. 133).
6In re Denver Building and Construction Trades Council, et al. (90 N L R B
No. 224, Aug. 7, 1950).
7In re United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, et al. (Klassen &
Hodgson, Inc.) (81 N L R B 802). See M onthly Labor Review, April 1949
(p. 441).
s Giboney v. Empire Storage and Ice Co. (336 U. S. 490), see M onthly Labor
Review, June 1949 (p. 671); International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. Hanke
(339 U. S. 470); Building Service Employees International Union, Local 262 v.
Gazzam (339 U. S. 532); Hughes et al v. Superior Court (339 U. S. 460), see
M onthly Labor Review, July 1950 (p. 134).
« 310 U. S. 88.
i« N L R B v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America (C. A.
10th Cir., Aug. 14, 1950).
ii United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners v. Sperry (170 F. (2d) 863
C. A. 10th Cir., 1948). See M onthly Labor Review, January 1949 (p. 71).
u Cited fr. 7, above.
is In re W. T. Rawleigh Co. (90 N L R B No. 271, Aug. 17, 1950).
u In re W. T. Carter and Brother (90 N L R B No. 257, Aug. 22, 1950).
is N L R B v. Stowe Spinning Co. (336 U. S. 226). See M onthly Labor Re­
view, April 1949 (p. 439).
18 Maryland Drydock Co. v. N L R B (O. A. 4th Cir., July 29, 1950).
17 In re Hoover Co. (90 N L R B No. 201, Aug. 1, 1950).
is In re Local 26, International Fur and Leather Workers Union (90 N L R B
N o. 188, July 27, 1950).
1» Radio Station K F H v. Musicians Association, Local 297 (Kansas Supreme
Ct„ July 8, 1950).
so Rockette & Parzine Corp. v. Campo (N. Y . Ct. of App. July 11,1950).
si Chabot v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America (Rhode Island Supreme
Ct., Aug. 4, 1950).

Chronology of
Recent Labor Events

August 13, 1950
A 3-da y c o n f e r e n c e o n a g i n g , sponsored by the U. S.
Federal Security Agency, was held in Washington, D. C.
(Source: Conference on Aging Program, Aug. 13, 1950;
for discussion, see p. 489 of this issue.)

August 17
T h e N a t i o n a l L a b o r R e l a t i o n s B o ar d , in the case of

W. T. Rawleigh Co. and Margaret Mason et al., ruled that
a n employer violated the NLRA by soliciting individual

strikers to return to work, even though they had no legal
bargaining representative. Such solicitation, the Board
held, was part of a pattern of antiunion conduct. (Source:
Labor Relations Reporter, vol. 26, No. 35, Aug. 28, 1950,
26 LRRM p. 1421.)

August 21
I t w a s a n n o u n c e d that the United Packinghouse Workers
of America (CIO) and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butcher Workmen of North America (AFL) had
jointly won wage increases of 11 cents an hour from Armour
& Co. The unions negotiated separately, but conferred
on their demands and settled jointly. (Source: CIO
News, Aug. 21, 1950, p. 2; for discussion, seep. IV, MLR,
Sept. 1950.)

August 22
o f N e w Y o r k (CIO) ended a
10-week strike against The New York World-Telegram
and Sun on terms that included a guaranteed “maintenance
of membership” and a management promise to freeze all
jobs during the first year of a 2-year contract. (Source:
The Guild Reporter, Aug. 25, 1950, p. 1.)

T h e N e w s p a p e r G uild

August 25
T h e C h r y s l e r C o r p . voluntarily granted 93,000 employees
a 10-cent-an-hour wage increase. This action was apart
from the contract signed between the company and the
United Automobile Workers (CIO) last May 6 after a
102-day strike (see Chron. item for May 6, 1950, MLR,
June 1950). (Source: CIO News, Sept. 4, 1950, p. 2;
for discussion, see p. IV, MLR, Sept. 1950.)
On September 4, the Ford Motor Co. signed a 5-year
contract with the UAW-CIO providing for an 8-cent

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hourly wage increase for 110,000 workers, cost-of-living
adjustments, $125 monthly pensions, and annual increases
of 4 cents an hour. (Source: CIO News, Sept. 11, 1950;
for discussion, see p.IV , MLR, Sept. 1950.)

August 27
T h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e A rm y took over control and oper­
ation of the Nation’s railroads at the direction of President
Truman. The seizure averted a Nation-wide strike on
August 28 by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
(Ind.) and the Order of Railway Conductors (Ind.), who
refused to accept the recommendations of a Fact-Finding
Board created by the President under the Railway Labor
Act (see Chron. item for June 15, 1950, MLR, August
1950). (Source: White House Release, Aug. 25, 1950;
for discussion, see p.IV , MLR, Sept. 1950).
On September 1, 10 railroads and the Switchmen’s
Union of North America (AFL) accepted the recommen­
dations of a Presidential Fact-Finding Board in a contro­
versy that had precipitated “threat of direct Government
action” (see Chron. item for June 15, 1950, MLR, Aug.
1950). In addition to an 18-cent hourly wage increase,
the agreement included cost-of-living adjustments, a
delay in the adoption of the 5-day week for at least 1
year, and an additional 5 cents an hour in return for a
3-year moratorium on changes in wages and rules.
(Source: White House Release, Sept. 1, 1950; for discus­
sion, see p. IV, MLR, Sept. 1950.)
T h e NLRB ordered W. T. Carter & Brother of Camden,
Tex., to withdraw or seek modification of a State court
injunction which it had obtained to prevent its employees
from holding meetings in a town owned entirely by the
company. (Source: NLRB Release R-337, Aug. 27,
1950.)

August 28
P r e s i d e n t T r u m a n signed the Social Security Act Amend­

ments of 1950 (Public Law 734), extending old-age and
survivors insurance to another 10 million persons and in­
creasing existing benefit payments. (Source: White
House Release, Aug. 28, 1950; for discussion, see p. 457 of
this issue.)

August 29
T h e CIO completed the expulsion of 11 unions for proCommunism by revoking the charters of the International
Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, the National
Marine Cooks and Stewards Union, and the International
Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (see Chron. item for
June 15, 1950, MLR, Aug. 1950). (Source: CIO News,
Sept. 4, 1950, p. 3.)

September 6
P r e s i d e n t T r u m a n signed the General Appropriation Act
of 1951, the first consolidated appropriation for the depart­
ments and agencies of the Federal Government for the
fiscal year 1950-51 (Public Law 759). (Source: White
House release, Sept. 6, 1950.)

CHRONOLOGY OF LABOR EVENT8

September 8
r u m a n signed the Defense Production Act
of 1950, authorizing him to curb inflation and to promote
defense production. The Federal Reserve Board immedi­
ately announced that installment and other credit controls
would go into effect on September 18. (Source: White
House release, Sept. 8, 1950 and Federal Register, vol. 15,
No. 176, Sept. 12, 1950, p. 6118.)
On September 9, the President designated the chairman
of the National Security Resources Board to coordinate
the administration of these powers and created an economic
stabilization board to effect voluntary anti-inflationary

P r esid en t T

Activities of the National Women’s Trade
Union League were terminated on June 15, 1950.
The league was founded in 1903, “at a time when
working women and the labor movement had few
sympathetic supporters,” but it “successfully
pioneered in labor education for working women,
in establishing industrial standards * * * in
industrial hygiene * * * in interpreting * * *
problems of women wage earners and of the tradeunion movement. * * *”
The secretary-treasurer of the organization, in
announcing its disbanding, explained that it was
“and should be” a self-liquidating organization;
that although its task was not done, much of it


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action and to impose wage and price controls when neces­
sary. (Source: White House release, Sept. 9, 1950.)
On September 10, the Secretary of Commerce announced
the establishment of a National Production Authority to
handle priorities, allocations, and inventory controls for
industrial items. (Source: Journal of Commerce, Sept. 11,
1950; for discusson of the above actions, see p. 453 of this
issue.)
T h e International Longshoremen’s Association (AFL)
announced that it would refuse to handle all cargoes com­
ing from the U. S. S. R. (Source: New York Times, Sept.
9, 1950.)

had been taken over by the labor movement and
by other groups which the league had helped to
form. An enormous opportunity existed, she
added, for women in the trade-union movement
“to participate directly in the implementation”
of the program to which the league had been
dedicated for so many years.
The league’s original records were presented to
the Library of Congress, and its unusual collection
of papers on women in industry was distributed
among various archives.
—U. S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau,
Facts on Women Workers, Washington, D. C.,
June 30, 1950.

Publications
of Labor Interest
E ditor’s N ote.—Correspondence regarding the publications to which
reference is made in this list should be addressed to the respective publishing
agencies mentioned. Where data on prices were readily available, they have
been shown with the title entries.

Special Reviews
The New Society'. The Anatomy of the Industrial Order­
l y Peter F. Drucker. New York, Harper & Brothers,
1950.

356 pp.

$5.

The Future of Democratic Capitalism.

By Thurman W.
Arnold and others. Philadelphia, University of
Pennsylvania Press, 1950.
112 pp. (Benjamin
Franklin Lectures, Second Series, 1949.) $2.
Since World War II, thinkers in the United States have
been examining more intensively than ever before the
foundations of our modern social order. The war created
a new world of which the outstanding characteristics are
the rise to world power of revolutionary communism in
Soviet Russia, emergence of democratic socialism in
Western Europe, and the flowering of democratic capi­
talism in the United States. The two powerful, dynamic
forces are Soviet Russia and the United States, with
Europe representing at the moment the battleground of
two conflicting ideas of the future. Europe represents the
older, more mature civilization, but it will have to move
toward either the East or the West in the solution of its
basic social and economic problems.
Peter Drucker looks at the new society and comes to the
startling conclusion that “the world revolution of our
time is ‘made in the United States of America’ * * *.
The true revolutionary principle is the idea of mass pro­
duction.” This industrial revolution has reached its
peak in the United States, but it is occurring in other parts
of the world as well. It is the disturbing factor which is
creating maladjustments, upsetting governments, and
destroying social orders in various parts of the world.
Yet this powerful force, when harnessed properly to social
needs, can create an economy of abundance and a high
standard of living for all people.
The important problem is the development of new
institutions which will make the new mass production
principle operate effectively in a free industrial society.
Mr. Drucker charges the United States, as the most highly
developed industrial country in the world, with responsi­
bility for solving this problem. The United States has
already achieved unquestioned leadership in technology.
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The task ahead of us is to develop the social and political
institutions which are necessary to turn this technology
into a preserver and not a destroyer of the social order.
Mr. Drucker’s conclusion is that we are going to have an
industrial society in any event; whether it is to be free
or slave “will depend primarily on the relationship of the
State to enterprise and plant community.” He presents
some suggestions concerning the way in which free enter­
prise and effective government can exist side by side.
The University of Pennsylvania lecturers are also
concerned about the future of the free society. These
men look at the problem from a variety of points of view.
Thurman Arnold believes that the most important
economic principle is the preservation of competition.
He regards the decline of productivity in Europe and some
of the present difficulties in the United States as due to
lack of devotion to the competitive idea. He, like Mr.
Drucker, deplores the tendency to rush to the government
for complete security— “Our new mass production cannot
exist without the markets which are created by recognizing
that the security and welfare of every individual is a
natural right * * * yet human selfishness and desire
for profit are the dynamic force which will take this idea
out of the church and put it to work in the market place.”
Mr. A. A. Berle, Jr., centers his attention upon the rise
to power of the giant corporation. Like Mr. Drucker, he
clearly recognizes that the significance of the corporation
is not the plant or the property rights but the organiza­
tion which makes it a going concern. And Mr. Berle also
recognizes that large corporations, and even near-monop­
olies, may be necessary in certain fields of production.
But he has no fear for the future of democracy as long as
faith and belief in democracy guide the people of a country.
The economic structure does not govern man; it is man’s
ideas which will govern the structure.
Concern for these ideas of men is expressed by Morris
Ernst in his speech on the preservation of civil liberties.
A free society can exist only so long as there is a completely
free market for ideas. Truth will prevail if it has a reason­
able chance of being heard, but the “big lie” can win if
there is no chance to oppose it. Mr. Ernst is deeply
concerned about newspapers and publishers, the radio,
and other forms for the expression of opinion. He has
no patience with censorship— “Let us keep faith, faith
that the American people are more likely to be right than
any governors, kings or presidents that ever ruled any
people anywhere in the history of man.”
Lloyd Garrison sketches the place of organized labor in
a free society, presenting objectively the management,
the labor, and the government points of view on critical
issues in industrial relations. Mr. Garrison does not
believe that organized labor in this country will in the
near future move to the formation of a labor party such
as that in Britain. Nor does he think that labor in this
country now is likely to move in the direction of socialism.
Finally, Sir Alfred Zimmern discusses the international
community in a peaceful world. It is his contention that
the foundations of an international community already
exist. There are five realms of international activity—the
political, the regional, the social, the functional, and the
economic. In all these fields beginnings have been made

501

P U B L IC A T IO N S OF L A B O R IN T E R E S T

in international cooperation. But “mankind is not moving
toward uniformity. The trend today is all in the other
direction, toward diversity.” Sir Alfred Zimmern there­
fore endeavors to sketch in outline an international form
of organization which could become an effective instrument
of government for the international community which
now exists.
In the world today there is ample ground for dismal
pessimism as to the outlook for our present society and
for all mankind. Yet all these students of social and
economic problems who express their ideas in these two
books maintain a hope and a faith in the successful solu­
tion of the problems of our time. They look forward to a
happy future in a free society.
— E wan C lague.

Cooperative Movement

Arbitration

Cooperation in Canada, 1949—Eighteenth Annual Sum­
mary. By J. E. O’Meara. Ottawa, Department of

Compulsory Arbitration of Labor Disputes in Public Utili­
ties. By Harold S. Roberts. (In Labor Law Journal,
Chicago, June 1950, pp. 694^704; also reprinted.)

Review of Labor Arbitration Awards on Jurisdictional
Grounds. By Eugene F. Scoles. (In University of
Chicago Law Review, Chicago, Summer 1950, pp.
616-633. $1.75.)

Die Schlichtung von Kollektiven Arbeitsstreitigkeiten in der
Schweiz. By Kurt Waldner. Bern, A. Francke,
1949. 215 pp., bibliography. (Staatswissenschaftliche Studien, Neue Folge, Band 4.)
Study of the arbitration of collective labor disputes in
Switzerland.

Benefit Plans
Employee Benefit Plans, Nation-wide Survey, Twelve Metro­
politan Areas. Chicago, Research Council for Eco­
nomic Security, 1950. 42 pp., charts. (Publication
No. 69.) 75 cents.
Summary of surveys of employee benefit plans made by
the Council in 1948-49 in 12 large cities, mainly in the
Midwest. Indicates degree of financial participation by
employers and employees.
Separate reports were published by the Council for each
of the 12 cities.

Negotiated Health and Welfare Plans— Text of SO Agree­
ments, with Editorial Summary. Washington, Bureau
of National Affairs, Inc., 1950. 230 pp. $4.50.

Sickness and Accident Benefits in Union Agreements, 1949.
Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 1950. 4 pp. (Serial No. R. 1998;
reprinted from Monthly Labor Review, June 1950.)
Free.

Welfare Plans and Collective Bargaining.

Washington,
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Em­
ployer-Employee Relations Division, 1950. 43 pp.,
bibliography.


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

New Aids for Cooperative Housing. By Warren J. Lockwood. (In Insured Mortgage Portfolio, Federal
Housing Administration, Washington, Second Quarter
1950, pp. 6-8. 15 cents.)
Discussion of the aids provided for cooperative housing
groups under the National Housing Act of 1950, and
regulations adopted to carry out the provisions.

The Birth of a Movement: Reminiscences of a Cooperator.
By George Keen. [Brantford, Ont., the Author,
1950?] 62 pp.
Account of the development of the cooperative move­
ment in Canada, by the long-time secretary of the Cana­
dian Cooperative Union.

Agriculture, Marketing Service, 1950.
processed.

19 pp., illus.;

Report of the 80th Annual Cooperative Congress, Scar­
borough, [England], May 2—5, 1949. Manchester,
Cooperative Union, Ltd., [1949?]. 583 pp.
Contains not only the proceedings of the congress of
the Cooperative Union, but also much detailed statistical
information (as of 1948) on the cooperative movement of
Great Britain.

Literature on Cooperation in India—A Brief Reference List.
By Florence C. Bell. Washington, U. S. Department
of Agriculture, Farm Credit Administration, Coopera­
tive Research and Service Division, August 1949.
41 pp.; processed.

Employment and Unemployment
Recent

Unemployment

Trends— Changes

Since

1948.

Washington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 1950. 12 pp., map, charts. (Serial
No. R. 1997; reprinted from Monthly Labor Review,
June 1950.) Free.

Stabilizing the Economy: The Employment Act of 1946 in
Operation. (In American Economic Review, Evans­
ton, 111., May 1950, pp. 144^190. $2.)
Three papers and discussion at 62d annual meeting
of American Economic Association, New York, December
27-30, 1949.

Arbejdshfsheden, 1948.

Copenhagen, Statistiske Departement, 1950. 51 pp. (Statistiske M e d d e l e l s e r ,
4.Rsekke, 137.Bind, 2.Hsefte.)
Report on unemployment in Denmark in 1948. Trans­
lations in French of table of contents and text of tables are
provided.

Disoccupazione de Emigrazione.

By Enzo Cataldi. (In
II Diritto del Lavoro, Rome, March-April 1950,
pp. 53-82.)
A study of unemployment in Italy, its causes, remedies,
and relationship to emigration.

502

P U B L IC A T IO N S OF L A B O R IN T E R E S T

Handicapped Workers
Performance— The Story of the Handicapped.

Washington,
President’s Committee on National Employ the
Physically Handicapped Week, August 1950. 13
pp., illus. Free.
Second number of a monthly periodical being published
by the President’s committee.

MONTHLY LABOR

and summarized for earlier years. The article continue?
the series of annual reports as published in earlier year?
Revisions of the series of income payments by State, fo.
conformity with the revised national series, are still in
progress.

National Income Statistics of Various Countries, 1938-1948.

mittee on National Employ the Physically Handi­
capped Week, 1950. 28 pp. Free.
For use in connection with National Employ the Physi­
cally Handicapped Week, October 1-7, 1950, and in the
year-round program, this pamphlet brings together infor­
mation on handicapped workers and efforts in their behalf
by governmental and private agencies.

Lake Success, N. Y., United Nations, Statistical
Office, 1950. 249 pp., bibliographies. $3.50 ($2.50,
paper), International Documents Service, Columbia
University Press, New York.
The second issue of the series on national income sta­
tistics. The present volume covers 32 countries. For
information regarding countries for which no new data
have become available, reference must be made to the
first issue. Efforts were made to adjust the estimates in
accordance with a proposed standard definition of national
income. A new chapter has been added to facilitate
international comparisons.

Rehabilitation of the Disabled 45 Years of Age and Over,
Fiscal Years 1949 and 1948. Washington, Federal

Medical Group Practice in the United States, VI: Income of
Physicians. By Marcus S. Goldstein. {In Journal

Security Agency, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation,
[1950]. 13 pp.; processed. (Administrative Service
Series, No. 58.)

of the American Medical Association, Chicago, April
8, 1950, pp. 1049-1052. Reprints of article are avail­
able free from U. S. Public Health Service, Washing­
ton.)

To Reclaim and Utilize the Nation’s Human Resources:
National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,
October 1-7, 1950. Washington, President’s Com­

Guides for Vocational Rehabilitation of the Deaf and the
Hard of Hearing. Washington, Federal Security
Agency, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1950.
26 pp.; processed. (Rehabilitation Service Series
No. 120.)
Committees’ reports of the first Institute for Special
Workers for the Aural Disabled, Washington, November
28-December 2, 1949.

Utilizing the Handicapped in Industry. By Jean Spencer
Felton, M.D. (In Journal of Rehabilitation, Wash­
ington, July-August 1950, pp. 21-23.)

Income
The Income of Society: An Introduction to Economics.

By
Elizabeth Ellis Hoyt. New York, Ronald Press Co.,
1950. 753 pp., charts. $4.50.
An introductory textbook with emphasis not so much
on economic theories as on conditions and policies affect­
ing the creation, distribution, and use of income and the
relation of income to standards of living.

1950 Survey of Consumer Finances, Part III: Distribution
of Consumer Income in 1949. {In Federal Reserve
Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, Washington, August 1950, pp. 948-965; also
reprinted.)

State Income Payments in 1949. By Charles F. Schwartz
and R. E. Graham, Jr. {In Survey of Current Busi­
ness, U. S. Department of Commerce, Office of Busi­
ness Economics, Washington, August 1950, pp. 11-24,
map, charts. 25 cents, Superintendent of Docu­
ments, Washington.)
State and regional distributions of total and per capita
income payments and of income payments by type, in­
cluding wages and salaries, are analyzed in detail for 1949


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Industrial Accidents and Accident Prevention
Annual Report on Industrial Accidents in Illinois: Part I,
Industrial Injuries Reported in 1949 to the Illinois
Industrial Commission, Compensable under the Work­
men’s Compensation and Occupational Diseases Acts.
[Chicago], Illinois Department of Labor, Division
of Statistics and Research, 1950. 63 pp., charts; proc­
essed.
This statistical report focuses attention on the causes
of injury-producing industrial accidents in the State.

Accident Hazards and Costs in Service Industries, [New
York State]. New York, State Workmen’s Compen­
sation Board, 1950. 93 pp., charts.
Statistics Bull. No. 5.)

(Research and

Achievements in Mine Safety Research and Problems Yet
to be Solved. By Arno C. Fieldner. Washington,
U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines,
1950. 31 pp.; processed. (Information Circular No.
7573.)

Coal-Mine Explosions and Coal- and Metal-Mine Fires in
the United States in 1949. By J. J. Forbes, W. J.
Fene, H. B. Humphrey. Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1950. 17 pp.,
charts; processed. (Information Circular No. 7572.)

Review of Dust-Allaying Practices at Working Faces in Some
Bituminous-Coal and Lignite Mines. By J. J. Forbes,
R. K. Franklin, S. T. Reese. Washington, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1950.
29 pp.; processed. (Information Circular No. 7566.)

Labor-Management Cooperation for Safety.

Washington,
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Stand­
ards, 1950. 4 pp. (Bull. No. 121.) Free.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

503

P U B L IC A T IO N S OF L A B O R IN T E R E S T

Industrial Hygiene
•k The Chemistry of Industrial Toxicology.

By Hervey B.
Elkins. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1950.
406 pp., bibliography, diagrams, illus. $5.50.
Concise treatment of industrial poisons, primarily from
the viewpoint of the plant chemist or engineer. Considers
basic properties of common toxic substances, industrial
processes in which the substances occur, degree of hazard
involved, and maximum allowable concentrations. Sug­
gests control measures, also equipment and analytical pro­
cedures for detection and measurement of atmospheric
contaminations.

Increased Use of Agricultural Chemicals Serious Problem
for Industrial Hygienists. By H. K. Abrams, M.D.
{In Industrial Hygiene Newsletter, Federal Security
Agency, Public Health Service, Industrial Hygiene
Division, Washington, July 1950, pp. 3, 4, 16.)
In the April issue of the same periodical, Dr. J. Walter
Hough discusses important organic insecticides used in
agriculture and their harmful effects, and makes suggestions
for treatment.

Health Aspects in Field Application of Parathion.

{In

Industrial Health Bulletin, Department of National
Health and Welfare, Industrial Health Division,
Ottawa, June 1950, pp. 1, 2.)
Also lists precautions for the worker against the toxic
effects of parathion, and suggestions for physicians as to
treatment.

Some Industrial Hygiene Problems in the Petroleum Industry.
By N. V. Hendricks. {In American Industrial
Hygiene Association Quarterly, Chicago, June 1950,
pp. 111-115, illus. 75 cents.)

Pneumoconiosis.

Report of Committee on Pneumoconio­
sis, American Public Health Association. {In Amer­
ican Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s
Health, New York, May 1950, Part 2—Year Book,
1949-1950—pp. 149-159, bibliography.)
Summarizes important developments in the field since
the last report of the committee, published in 1943, and
evaluates present problems. Discusses workmen’s com­
pensation status, medical techniques and progress, Federal
coal-mine inspections, and other aspects of the subject.

Q Fever in a Wool and Hair Processing Plant. By M.
Michael Sigel and others. {In American Journal of

the Nation’s Health, New York, May 1950, Part 2—
Year Book, 1949-1950—pp. 131-143, charts.)
Discusses factors affecting atmospheric comfort of
workers, and attempts to “define limits of environmental
conditions and of working time within which men can
perform safely and efficiently.”

Industry's Role in the Employment of the Diabetic. By
Joseph T. Beardwood, Jr., M.D. {In Industrial Med­
icine and Surgery, Chicago, June 1950, pp. 271-274.
75 cents.)
One of eight papers on diabetes published in the June
issue of Industrial Medicine and Surgery. Six of the
papers comprised a “seminar on diabetes in industry” at
the medical conference of the Industrial Hygiene Foun­
dation, Pittsburgh, November 16, 1949.

Industrial Relations
Basic Patterns in Collective Bargaining Contracts.

Wash­
ington, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., 1950.
Variously paged. (Reprinted from Collective Bar­
gaining Negotiations and Contracts.) Rev. ed. $2.
Based on an analysis of 400 collective bargaining
agreements.

Collective Bargaining Provisions—Hours of Work, Overtime
Pay, Shift Operations. Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1950.
109 pp. (Bull. No. 908-18.) 30 cents, Superintendent
of Documents, Washington.

Employee Participation in the Grievance Aspect of Collective
Bargaining. By Bernard Dunau. {In Columbia Law
Review, New York, June 1950, pp. 731-760.

$1.)

Management Rights: Theory Underlying Management
Rights and Analysis of Management-Rights Clauses in
Ohio Collective Bargaining Contracts. By Alton W.
Baker and Franklin S. Rawson. Columbus, Ohio
State University, Bureau of Business Research,
1950. 44 pp. (Research Monograph No. 59.)

Problems of Method in the Study of Human Relations.
By John W. McConnell. {In Industrial and Labor
Relations Review, Ithaca, N. Y., July 1950, pp.
548-560. $1.25.)

The Taft-Hartley Act and Craft Unit Bargaining. By
Benjamin Rathbun, Jr. {In Yale Law Journal,
New Haven, Conn., May 1950, pp. 1023-1039.)

Public Health and the Nation’s Health, New York,
May 1950, pp. 524-532, bibliography, chart. 70
cents.)
As a result of the study reported upon in this article,
the authors state that Q fever should be recognized as an
occupational disease. Several protective measures are
mentioned.

Mich., Detroit Public Library, 1950. 60 pp.; proc­
essed. $1.
The bibliography extends through material published
in the first 4 months of 1949.

Safety Code for the Prevention and Control of Occupational
Disease. Salem, Oreg., State Industrial Accident

Collective Agreements in the Primary Textile Industry,
[Canada]. {In Labor Gazette, Department of Labor,

Commission, 1949.

29 pp.

Thermal Standards in Industry.

Rev. ed.

Report of Committee on
Atmospheric Comfort, American Public Health Asso­
ciation. {In American Journal of Public Health and


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Labor Relations in the Automobile Industry—A Bibliog­
raphy. Compiled by Roberta McBride. Detroit,

Ottawa, May 1950, pp. 617-636, charts.

10 cents.)

Enquête sur les Modalités de Participation Ouvrière aux
Bénéfices, à la Gestion ou à la Propriété des Entreprises.
{In Revue Française du Travail, Ministère du Travail

504

P U B L IC A T IO N S OF L A B O R IN T E R E S T

et de la Sécurité Sociale, Paris, January-March 1950,
pp. 13-32.)
Report on a government survey of worker participation
in profits, management, and ownership of industrial estab­
lishments in France. Discusses systems in operation and
gives examples of each.

MONTHLY LABOR

Summary of provisions on economic, labor, and social
matters. The constitution came into force on January 26
1950.

Labor Organizations and Activities
American Labor Unions— Organization, Aims, and Power.

Industry Reports
The Cement Industry in Puerto Rico.

Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Wage and Hour and Public
Contracts Divisions, 1950. 37 pp.; processed. Free.
Report on a survey of economic conditions (including
employment and wages), and of competitive relationships
with other market areas, made in connection with wage
determinations under the Federal Fair Labor Standards
Act. Similar reports are available, from the office listed
above, on a variety of other Puerto Rican industries.

De Nederlandse Sigarenindustrie.

By A. A. G. Meijers.
Eindhoven, N. V. Lecturis, [1949?]. 118 pp., charts.
Historical review of economic and social developments
in the Dutch cigar industry.

Labor Legislation and Court Decisions

Compiled by Herbert L. Marx, Jr. New York, H. W.
Wilson Co., 1950. 240 pp., bibliography. (Reference
Shelf, Vol. 21, No. 5.) $1.75.
Compilation of articles, reprinted from different sources,
presenting varying views on the current role played by or­
ganized labor in American life. Topics considered range
from labor’s general aims to activities in the international
sphere.

American Trade Union Journals and Labor Papers Cur­
rently Received by the Department of Labor Library,
June 1950. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Library, 1950.

69 pp.; processed.

Free.

The Union Movement in Government Service. By Helen A.
Lei. {In Industrial Relations Newsletter, Vol. II,
No. 3, University of Denver, Bureau of Personnel and
Industrial Relations, Denver, Colo., Spring 1950 pp
1- 8 .)

Annual Digest of State and Federal Labor Legislation,
November 15, 1948-December 81, 1949. Washington,
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Stand­
ards, 1950. 140 pp. (Bull. No. 118.) 35 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Labor Laws and Their Administration: Proceedings of the
82d Convention of the International Association of
Governmental Labor Officials, New Orleans, September
27—29, 1949. Washington, U. S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, 1950. 141 pp.
(Bull. No. 120.) 35 cents, Superintendent of Docu­
ments, Washington.

Cases on the Law of Business Organization: Agency and
Employment Relations {Including an Introduction to
Partnership Liability). By Alfred F. Conard. Brook­

Traces the development of government workers’ unions.
A large part of the article is devoted to discussion of the
National Federation of Federal Employees (independent)

A Leader of the Garment Workers— The Biography of Isidore
Nagler. By Harry Haskel. New York, Amalgam­
ated Ladies’ Garment Cutters’ Union, 1950. 351
pp., bibliography, illus. $1.50.
The history of the cutters’ branch (Local No. 10) of the
International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union is studied
by reviewing the work in the union of its manager, Isidore
Nagler.

Disciplinary Powers of Unions.

By Clyde Summers. {In
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Ithaca, N. Y.,
July 1950, pp. 483-513. $1.25.)

Financial Reports of Labor Unions.

May 1950, pp. 477-496. $1.25.)
Review of judicial opinions and statutes— Federal and
State bearing on the legal status of closed shop agree­
ments.

By George Kozmetsky. Boston, Harvard University, Graduate School
of Business Administration, Division of Research,
1950. 280 pp. $3.50.
Examination of the financial statements of 172 inter­
national unions disclosed that while their accounting
methods indicate a high degree of detail in so far as receipts
and disbursements are concerned, they do not show clearly
all the activities of the unions, or their cost. The many
different methods of reporting assets, liabilities, income,
and expenses lead, the author states, to confusion and
misunderstanding. He also discusses the use of financial
reports by union officers in managing their unions and
formulating union policies.

Constitution of the Republic of India.

How People Make up their Minds About Unions.

lyn, Foundation Press, Inc., 1950. xxvi, 661 pp.
(University Casebook Series.) $7.
Collection of cases, statutes, essays, and editorial com­
ments, for the use of law students.

Guidebook to Labor Relations Law: Employer-Union Rela­
tions Under Federal Regulation. Chicago, etc., Com­
merce Clearing House, Inc., 1950.

301 pp.

$3.

Union Security Agreements Under the “Right to Work”
Statutes. {In Virginia Law Review, Charlottesville,

{In Industry and
Labor, Geneva, May 15, 1950, pp. 375-379. 25 cents.
Distributed in United States by Washington Branch
of ILO.)


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

By Ross
Stagner. Champaign, University of Illinois, Insti­
tute of Labor and Industrial Relations, [1950?]. 14
pp.; processed. (Lecture Series, No. 7.)

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

The Trade Union Movement in Belgium. By Léon Delsinne. (In International Labor Review, Geneva,
May 1950, pp. 492-521. 50 cents. Distributed in
United States by Washington Branch of ILO.)

Les Expériences Syndicales en France de 1989 à 1950.

By
Georges Lefranc. Aubier, Éditions Montaigne, 1950.
381 pp., bibliography. (Histoire du Travail et de la
Vie Économique.)

Occupations
How to Get and Hold the Job You Want.
Larison. New York, Longmans,
1950. 264 pp. $2.95.

By Ruth Hooper
Green and Co.,

Careers With the Armed Services.

{In School and College
Placement, Philadelphia, May 1950, pp. 47-55. $1.)

Automotive Jobs in Yourtown, U. S. A.

Detroit, Mich.,
General Motors Corporation, [1950?]. 39 pp., illus.
Contains brief descriptions of jobs and careers in local
automotive service and sales establishments.

Occupations in the Federal Civil Service: A Guide to the
Principal Categories of Jobs Filled Through the Com­
petitive System. Washington, U. S. Civil Service
Commission, 1949. 59 pp., illus. (Pamphlet No. 3.)
25 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
*

Careers for Specialized Secretaries.

By Juvenal L. Angel.
New York, Latin American Institute Press, 1950.
12 pp. 25 cents.
Other pamphlets in this series take up careers in adver­
tising, business administration, the diplomatic service,
export and import fields, personnel management, and
public relations.

Your Opportunities in Television. By Ruth Lee Harrington.
New York, Medill McBride Co., 1949.
bibliography, illus. $3.

199 pp.,

Older Workers and the Aged
Fact Book on the Employment Problems of Older Workers,
Prepared for the Conference on Aging, August 18-15,
1950, Washingon, D. C. Washington, U. S. Depart­
ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1950.
23 pp., charts; processed.
An account of the Conference on Aging is given in this
issue of the Monthly Labor Review (p. 489).

A Selective Bibliography on the Welfare of Older People ,
. . . as of July 1, 194-9. New York, Welfare Council
of New York City, 1949.

46 pp.; processed.

Young and Old: The Changing Age Pattern.

$1.

{In Monthly

Review, Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto, February
1950, pp. 1-4.)
Primarily on Canada but includes some data for several
other countries.

Pensions and Retirement Problems
Changing Concepts and Trends in Pension Planning. . . .
By Alexander R. Heron and others. New York,
American Management Association, 1950. 27 pp.
(General Management Series, No. 148.)


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505

Deciding Your Policy on Pensions.

New York, Research
Institute of America, Inc., 1950. 48 pp., charts,
forms. (Analysis No. 71.)
Includes suggestions for bargaining on pensions.

A Study of Industrial Retirement Plans, Including Analyses
of Recently Negotiated Union Agreements. New York,
Bankers Trust Co., 1950. 119 pp.
Major provisions of 217 unilateral, individual company
plans adopted or amended since 1948 are summarized,
and trends are analyzed. Eleven recently negotiated plans
are also studied.

Survey of Retirement Practices.

[New York], Equitable
Life Assurance Society of the United States, Group
Annuity Division, 1950. 15 pp.; processed.

Collectively Bargained Pension Plans in New York State.
New York, State Department of Labor, Division of
Research and Statistics, 1950. 65 pp.; processed.
(Publication No. B-40.)

How To Retire—And Enjoy It. By Ray Giles. New York,
McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1949.

268 pp.

$3.

Social Security
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund—
Tenth Annual Report, Fiscal Year Ended June 80,
1949. Washington, U. S. Government Printing
Office, 1950. 34 pp., charts. (Senate Doc. No. 151,
81st Cong., 2d sess.)
In addition to the review of the Fund’s operations in
1948-49, the report contains a statement of expected
receipts, disbursements, and beneficiaries in the next 5
years and an actuarial report on the long-range status of
the Fund.

Labor’s Stake in Social Security.

By Nelson H. Cruikshank. Urbana, University of Illinois, Institute of
Labor and Industrial Relations, [1950?]. 9 pp.
processed. (Lecture Series, No. 6.)

Objectives and Minimum Standards of Social Security.
Geneva,
(Report
national
tributed
ILO.

International Labor Office, 1950. 130 pp.
IV (1) prepared for 34th Session of Inter­
Labor Conference, 1951.1 75 cents. D is­
in United States by Washington Branch of

Social Insurance in Austria.

By Reinhold Melas. {In
Bulletin of the International Social Security Associa­
tion, Geneva, April 1950, pp. 1-27.)

Social Security in Haiti.

By Jean Lescouflair.
{In
Bulletin of the International Social Security Associa­
tion, Geneva, January-March 1950, pp. 3-8.)
Traces the history of social welfare legislation in Haiti
from the early 19th century to the Act of October 7,
1949, setting up a new social insurance system and creating:
a Social Insurance Institute to administer it.
A summary of the new act was also published in Industry
and Labor of the ILO, June 15, 1950.

Social Security in Iceland.

{In Bulletin of the Interna­
tional Social Security Association, Geneva, May
1950, pp. 1-8.)

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

506

Wages, Salaries, and Hours of Labor
Agricultural Wage Stabilization in World War II.

By
Arthur J. Holmaas. Washington, U. S. Department
of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
1950. 140 pp., bibliography, chart. (Agriculture
Monograph No. 1.) 55 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
Account of the origins, purposes, and development of
the agricultural wage stabilization program, its adminis­
trative machinery, and the attitudes of farmers and
workers, together with an evaluation of the results. A
chronology, a summary of wage-ceiling regulations, and
detailed maximum wage rates are given in an appendix.

Wages and Hours in the Building Service Industry, New
York State, October 1949. New York, State Depart­
ment of Labor, Division of Research and Statistics,
1950. Variously paged; processed. (Publication No.
B-31.)
The report states that this is the first comprehensive
survey of wages, hours, and other conditions of employ­
ment of building service workers in New York State.

[Clerical] Pay Distribution Practices, Based on Survey
Findings From 693 Companies. By A. H. Gager.
{In NOMA Forum, National Office Management
Association, Philadelphia, April 1950, pp. 8, 40.
50 cents.)

Teachers' Salaries in 13 Cities Over 500,000 Population,
[1939 to 1949-50], Chicago, Civic Federation, 1950.
10 pp.; processed.

(Bull. No. 339.)

Salary and Wage Data, Michigan Cities of More Than 10,000
Population; Hours of Work, Overtime Pay Practices,
and Holiday Pay Practices, 1949-50. Ann Arbor,
Michigan Municipal League, 1950. 31 pp.; processed.
(Information Bull. No. 61.) $1.25.
Similar data are available in Michigan Municipal
League Bulletin No. 62 for Michigan cities and villages of
from four to ten thousand population.

The Outlook for Women in Dietetics.

Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, 1950. 77 pp.,
bibliography, illus. (Bull. No. 234-1; Home Eco­
nomics Occupations Series.) 25 cents, Superintend­
ent of Documents, Washington.

The Outlook for Women in Social Case Work in a Medical
Setting. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Women’s Bureau, 1950. 55 pp., bibliography, illus.
(Bull. No. 235-1; Social Work Series.) 25 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Women in the Federal Service, Part II: Occupational In­
formation. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Women’s Bureau, 1950. 87 pp. (Bull. No. 230-11.)
25 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Your Job Future After High School.

Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, 1950. 8 pp.
5 cents, Superintendent of Documents, Washington.

Report of Proceedings of the Women’s Bureau 15th Annual
Conference of State Minimum Wage Administrators
Held in Washington, D. C., April 20-21, 1950. Wash­
ington, U. S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau,
1950. 20 pp.; processed. Free.

Miscellaneous
Economic Development Atlas—Recent Changes in Regions
and States. By Victor Roterus and Sterling March.
Washington, U. S. Department of Commerce, Office
of Domestic Commerce, 1950. 31 pp. 75 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Contains tables and charts showing changes, usually
since 1929, in such aspects of the economy as population,
relative importance of manufacturing, factory employ­
ment, average size of farms, use of farm tractors, incometax payments, and consumers’ prices.

Prewar, War, and Postwar Earnings, Hours, and Employ­
ment of Wage Earners in Ohio Industries, 1935-1946.

Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions in the Primary
Textiles Industry, [Canada], October 1949. {In Labor

By Viva Boothe and Sam Arnold. [Columbus], Ohio
State University, Bureau of Business Research, 1949.
608 pp., charts. $7.50.

Gazette, Department of Labor, Ottawa, May 1950,
pp. 719-739. 10 cents.)

European Recovery Program: Second Report of the 0. E. E. C.

Union Wage Decisions and Employment. By George P.
Shultz and Charles A. Myers. {In American Eco­
nomic Review, Evanston, 111., June 1950, pp. 362-380.
$1.50.)

Wage Incentives.

By John A. Willard. {In Factory
Management and Maintenance, New York, May
1950, pp. 100-103. 50 cents.)
One of several articles on this subject in the same issue
of the periodical. Mr. Willard gives reasons for failure
of eight incentive plans and describes fundamentals of a
good plan.

Women in Industry
American Women—A Selected Bibliography of Basic Sources
of Current and Historic Interest. Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, June 1950.
13 p p.; processed. Free.


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Paris, Organization for European Economic Coopera­
tion, 1950. 281 pp., charts.
A brief chapter on manpower gives fragmentary data
on unemployment, industrial disputes, and migration
among the countries participating in the program.

British Labor as Government and as Opposition. By Harry
W. Laidler. New York, League for Industrial Democ­
racy, [1950]. 37 pp., bibliography. 25 cents.

Employment, Productivity, and Income in New Zealand
Farming. By F. R. Bray. {In International Labor
Review, Geneva, May 1950, pp. 461-491. 50 cents.
Distributed in United States by Washington Branch
of ILO.)

Guide to Soviet Bibliographies—A Selected List of References.
Compiled by John T. Dorosh. Washington, Library
of Congress, General Reference and Bibliography
Division, 1950. 158 pp.; processed.

Current Labor Statistics
A. —Employment and Payrolls
509 Table A -l:
510 Table A-2:
513 Table A-3:
515 Table A-4:
516 Table A-5:
517 Table A-6:
518 Table A-7:
Table A-8:
Table A-9:
Table A-10:
519 Table A -l 1:

Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours
worked, and sex
Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division
and group
Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries
Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in
manufacturing industries
Federal civilian employment by branch and agency group
Federal civilian payrolls by branch and agency group
Civilian Government employment and payrolls in Washington, D. C.,
by branch and agency group
Personnel and pay of the military branch of the Federal Government1
Employees in nonagricultural establishments for selected States2
Employees in manufacturing industries, by States2
Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance pro­
grams, by geographic division and State

B. —Labor Turn-Over
520 Table B -l:
521 Table B-2:

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

Earnings and Hours
523 Table 0-1:
537 Table C-2:
538 Table C-3:
538 Table C ^ :
Table C-5:

Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees
Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1939 dollars
Gross and net spendable average weekly earnings of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1939 dollars
Average hourly earnings, gross and exclusive of overtime, of produc­
tion workers in manufacturing industries
Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas2

1 Beginning with September issue, omitted for security reasons.
2 This table is included quarterly in the February, May, August, and November issues of the Review.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

508

CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

MONTHLY LABOR

D.—Prices and Cost of Living
539 Table D -l:

Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families in large cities,|by
group of commodities
540 Table D-2: Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city, for
selected periods
541 Table D-3: Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families, by city and
group of commodities
542 Table D-4: Indexes of retail prices of foods, by group, for selected periods
543 Table D-5: Indexes of retail prices of foods, by city
544 Table D-6: Average retail prices and indexes of selected foods
545 Table D-7: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group of commodities, for selected
periods
546 Table D-8: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities

E.—Work Stoppages
547 Table E -l:

Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes

F.—Building and Construction
548 Table F -l:
549 Table F-2:

Expenditures for new construction
Value of contracts awarded and force account work started on federally
financed new construction, by type of construction
550 Table F-3: Urban building authorized, by principal class of construction and by
type of building
551 Table F-4: New nonresidential building authorized mail urban places, by general
type and by geographic division
552 Table F-5: Number and construction cost of new permanent nonfarm dwelling
units started, by urban or rural location, and by source of funds


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509

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

A: Employment and Payrolls
T

able

A -l: Estimated Total Labor Force Classified by Employment Status, Hours Worked, and Sex
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over 1 (in thousands)
1949

1950

Labor force
Aug.

J u ly 3

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.3

Oct.

Sept.3

Aug.

65,105

Total, both sexes
Total labor force3............................................
Civilian labor force.........................................
U nemployment____ _______________
Unemployed 4 weeks or less..........
Unemployed 5-10 weeks-----------Unemployed 11-14 weeks..............
Unemployed 15-26 w e ek s.............
Unemployed over 26 weeks............
E m ploym ent............................................
Nonagricultural-----------------------Worked 35 hours or more........
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours *------------W ith a lob but not at work «_
Agricultural............................ .........
Worked 35 hours or more........
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours 4.................
W ith a job but not at work »_

66, 204
64,867
2, 500
1,051
679
221
266
285
62, 367
54, 207
43,835
4, 583
1, 545
4,246
8,160
6,170
1,475
295
223

65,742
64,427
3, 213
1,514
754
249
334
361
61,214
52,774
25,072
19, 201
1,650
6,852
8,440
6,348
1,695
238
158

66,177
64,866
3,384
1,629
664
181
474
439
61,482
52, 436
43,117
5,153
1,843
2,323
9,046
6, 975
1,739
246
88

64,108
62,788
3,057
1,130
634
252
559
481
59, 731
51, 669
43,033
5,149
1,949
1,537
8,062
5,970
1,613
292
187

63,513
62,183
3, 515
1,130
686
521
705
475
58,668
51,473
41,143
6, 552
2,183
1,597
7,195
5,125
1,503
318
250

63,021
61, 675
4,123
1,229
1,143
580
722
449
57, 551
50, 877
41, 334
5, 715
2,102
1, 725
6, 675
4, 551
1,575
255
295

63,003
61,637
4,684
1, 583
1,456
547
650
448
56, 953
50,730
41, 433
6,271
2,085
1,941
6,223
4,334
1,271
300
317

62,835

63,475

64, 363

64,021

64,222

61,427
4,480
1, 956
1,171
418
542
396
56,947
50, 749
40,839
6, 251
1,974
1,686
6,198
3,979
1,459
329
431

62,045
3,489
1,399
971
302
456
361
58,556
51, 783
42, 260
6,126
2,049
1,349
6, 773
4, 778
1, 511
297
189

62, 927
3,409
1,586
771
257
460
335
59,518
51,640
36, 766
11,383
1,991
1,501
7,878
6,205
1,256
238
179

62, 576
3, 576
1,736
719
300
471
349
59,001
51,290
41,354
6,056
2,027
1,855
7, 710
5,462
1,604
365
279

62, 763
3,351
1,327
757
395
507
368
59, 411
51, 254
27,366
19,683
1,867
2, 339
8.158
6. 294
1,455
269
140

63,637
3, 689
1,484
1,020
384
473
329
59,947
61, 441
40, 407
5, 231
1,509
4, 294
8,507
6, 724
1,290
264
228

Males
Total labor force3.
Civilian labor force.........................................
U nemployment........................................
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 ».
Agricultural----------------------------Worked 35 hours or more........
Worked 15-34 hours------------Worked 1-14 hours 4------------W ith a job but not at work *.

47,132

47,000

46,718

45,614

45, 429

45, 204

45,115

45,102

45,174

45,515

45,413

46, 759

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

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

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

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

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

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

43, 769
3, 426
40,343
34, 698
29,336
2, 909
922
1,531
5, 645
4,176
942
228
298

43, 715
3,262
40,453
34,880
29,108
3,711
904
1,157
5,573
3, 817
1,094
262
399

43, 765
2,472
41, 293
35,369
30, 077
3,424
884
984
5,924
4. 497
1,017
234
177

44, 099
2,316
41,783
35, 484
26,629
6,922
870
1,064
6,299
5,335
638
152
173

43,988
2,563
41,426
35,123
29,631
3,234
901
1,359
6,302
4,896
910
247
249

44, 319
2,233
42, 085
35,521
20, 498
12,663
810
1,551
6,565
5, 465
792
179
128

17, 733

18, 301

18,848

18,608

18, 463

18, 280
1, 017
17,263
16, 414
12,183
2,702
1,165
365
849
281
494
63
12

18, 828
1,093
17, 735
16,156
10,137
4, 461
1,121
437
1,579
870
618
86
6

18, 588
1,013
17,575
16,167
11,723
2,822
1,127
496
1,408
566
694
118
30

18, 444
1,118
17, 326
15, 733
6,868
7, 020
1,057
788
1,593
829
663
90
12

46,613
45,163
2,519
42,644
35, 549
29, 277
3,080
593
2,599
7, 095
6,019
705
161
209

Females
Total labor force3.
Civilian labor force____________________
Unem ploym ent___________________
Em ploym ent--------------------------------N onagricultural........ ............. .........
Worked 35 hours or more____
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours 1-----------W ith a job but not at work *.
Agricultural___________________
Worked 35 hours or more........
Worked 15-34 h o u rs................
Worked 1-14 hours *-----------W ith a job but not at work «.

19,072
19, 049
836
18,213
16, 752
. 12,035
. 2,075
891
. 1,752
1,461
597
711
114
40

18,742
18,719
1,087
17,632
16,169
6,167
6, 439
918
2,645
1,463
559
796
76
32

19,459
19,437
1,184
18, 253
16, 220
11,594
2,548
1,087
991
2,033
944
996
84
10

18,494
18,472
927
17,545
16,072
12,173
2,320
1,075
503
1,473
631
718
106
17

i Estimates are subject to sampling variation which may be large in cases
where the quantities shown are relatively small. Therefore, the smaller
estimates should be used with caution. All data exclude persons in institu­
tions. Because of rounding, the individual figures do not necessarily add
to group totals.
* Census survey week contains legal holiday.
• Total labor force consists of the civilian labor force and the Armed Forces.


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18,084
18,063
887
17,176
16,253
11,421
3,069
1,184
580
923
234
578
67
45

17,817
17, 796
1,121
16,674
15, 987
11, 772
2, 559
1,144
511
688
171
429
67
21

17,888
17,868
1,258
16,610
16,032
12,097
2,382
1,163
410
578
158
329
72
19

17, 712
1,218
16, 494
15,869
11,731
2, 540
1,070
529
625
162
365
67
32

18, 492
18, 474
1,170
17, 303
15, 892
11,130
2,151
916
1,695
1,412
705
585
103
19

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

510

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group1
fin thousands]
1950

Annual
average

1949

Industry group and industry
Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1949

1948

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

44,939 44,062 43,952 43,311 42, 926 42,295 41, 661 42,125 43, 694 42, 784 42, 601 43,466 42, 994 43,006 44,201
962
922
947
940
939
938
595
861
940
917
593
948
956
932
981
104. C 103.2 101.9
99.9
98.5
98.4
97.9
97.7
96.6
70.2
89.3
98.1 100.2 100.1 105.1
36.6
36.1
35.4
33.8
33.9
33.6
34.0
28.8
9.4
33.1
36.6
37.1
33.7
36. 6
28. 4
28.1
27.9
28.0
27.8
27.7
27.6
27.1
26.5
26.5
26.4
26.4
27.8
27.3
20.5
19.2
20.0
19.1
19.0
18.8
18.4
18.4
17.1
17.3
18.0
19.0
20.6
21.7
Anthracite...................................................... .
73.7
75.3
76.1
76.9
75.9
75.3
75.6
76.7
76.3
76.2
75.6
75.7
77.3
80.0

Mining f_______________________________
M etal__________ ___________________
Iron...... ............................................. .........
Copper_________________ __________
Lead and zinc______________________

Bituminous-coal.............................................

416.0

Crude petroleum and natural gas pro­
duction___ ______ ______________ ____

381.8

410.9

413.1

419.0

422.9

82.6

347.7

419.7

400.9

94.3

414.7

418.3

399.0

438.2
257.5

262.0

259.2

253. 9

251.4

249.2

249.8

251.1

253.4

254.8

256.2

260.7

262.9

259.0

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

103.3

101.4

99.8

97.3

94.5

90.2

88.6

88.9

93.6

95.7

95.9

98.7

99.1

96.4

100.1

Contract construction...____ _____________

2, 589

2, 524

2,416

2, 245

2, 076

1,907

1,861

1,919

2,088

2, 244

2,313

2,341

2,340

2, 156

2,165

Manufacturing______________ ___ ____ ___

15, 385 14, 763 14, 667 14,413 14,182 14,103 13.997 13,980 14, 031 13, 807 13, 892 14,312 14,114 14, 146 15,286
7,976 7,968 7,809 7,548 7,418 7,324 7,342 7,303 7,050 6,986 7,409 7,302 7, 465 8, 315
6,787 6,699 6,604 6, 614 6,685 6,673 6,638 6,728 6,757 6,906 6,903 6,812 6,681 0 970
23.2
24.0
23.2
23.5
22.8
22.4
21.8
21.6
21.3
21.8
22.6
22.7
22.6
24.8
28.1
1,699 1, 616 1, 520 1, 461 1,432 1,420 1.409 1,432 1,491 1,539 1,631 1,703 1, 718 1, 523 1, 536
297.1 293.1 286.3 282.7 285.3 288.7 301.2 307.6 298.8 292.8 287.7 285.9 288. 6 271.2
159. 2 156.5 148.7 141. 4 136.6 134. J 132.4 133.7 136.3 142.2 149.9 156.5 146.2 147. 7
248.8 175.9 152.3 144.9 133.9 133.6 141. C 161.2 185.2 258.2 351.0 369.8 207.1 222.0
126.8 125.0 121.2 120.2 120.1 119.3 119.8 120.9 122.9 125.4 123.6 122.5 120.6 117.7
289.7 284.4 286.7 284.6 282.4 277.9 277.3 280.0 286.0 292.4 289.7 288.0 281.7 282.9
30.9
29.4
28.9
27.1
26.9
27.0
42.5
28.9
49.3
48.0
30.7
29.9
32.7
34. 5
—
89.5
88.6
90. 2
94.5
90.6
96.7
99.5 104.7 109.4 113.6 105.6
92.5
96.9 100.2
232. 2 225.7 212.8 206.0 205.1 198.2 199.2 205.4 211.3 215.0 222.4 232.6 211. 4 218.6
141.4 140. 2 135.5 134.1 135.3 133.2 132.3 135.4 139.9 142.9 142.5 140.2 137.6 141.3

Durable goods *................................. 8,282
Nondurable goods * ..___________ 7,103
Ordnance and accessories_______ ____ _
Food and kindred products..__________
Meat products__________ ___________
Dairy products_____ _____ _____ _____
Canning and preserving................ ..........
Grain-mill products...................... ............
Bakery products.......................... ..............
Sugar_________ ________ ____________
Confectionery and related products___
Beverages_________ ________________
Miscellaneous food products............ .......
Tobacco manufactures...........................
Cigarettes___ ______________ ________
Cigars_____________________ ________
Tobacco and snuff__________________
Tobacco stemming and redrying______

86

82
26.0
38.9
11.9
5. 4

82
25.4
39.5
12.0
5.1

83
25.5
39.7
12.1
5.7

83
25.5
39.3
12.4
5.5

85
25.4
40.9
12.6
5.9

88
25.5
42.3
12.7
7.4

92
26.3
42.4
12.8
10.8

94
26.8
43.2
12.9
10.7

96
26.9
45.5
12.9
10.2

99
26.9
45.7
13.1
12.9

101
27.0
45.2
13.1
16.0

98
26.9
44.3
13.1
14.1

94
26.6
44.5
13.0
10.1

100
26.6
48.3
13.7
11.2

Textile-mill products________ _______ _ 1,303
Yarn and thread m ills._____ _________
Broad-woven fabric mills.........................
Knitting mills______________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles_________
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
Other textile-mill products.................. .

1,248 1,263 1,252 1, 261 1,272 1,273 1,265 1, 274 1,272 1,256 1,220 1,179 1, 224 1,362
155.9 155.9 153.3 154. 7 158.5 159.4 157.8 157.7 156.1 153.3 148.5 141.4 149.3 177.6
602.7 611.5 602.9 602.8 604.2 600.6 597.8 604.1 601.9 594.8 577.0 559.8 581. 9 645. 7
227.3 230.4 231.6 236.1 239.8 241.1 241.7 244.7 247.8 244.8 237.0 228.7 231.4 249.0
84.8
86.3
86.4
89.9
88.3
89.5
89.3
90.0
87.3
89.5
85.4
82.6
86. 4
89. 8
58. 5
59.8
59.8
60.5
60.3
60.9
59.3
58.8
57.5
55.9
55.3
58.1
58.9
64.8
119.1 118.9 117.9 117.8 119.6 121.2 119.3 119.1 118.6 118.4 115.8 111.0 116.0 135.2

Apparel and other finished textile prod­
ucts............................................................ 1,192
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats........... —
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing......... ............................................
Women’s outerwear....... .......................
Women’s, children’s undergarments__
M illinery_____________________ _____
Children’s outerwear......... .......................
Fur goods and miscellaneous apparel...
Other fabricated textile products_____

1,091 1,090 1,091 1,119 1,174 1,180 1,146 1,156 1,144 1,199 1,198 1,155 1,136 1,162
141.0 149.0 143.2 146.0 149.2 148.9 143.5 140.7 130.6 141.5 146.5 143.5 141.5 154.4
247.0 254.4 256. 0 258.6 262.2 260.8 258. 5 264.5 269.6 270.5 264.5 253.1 257. 8 269 1
295.3 278.0 285. 2 305.2 338.9 348.2 334.9 330.1 313.7 342.2 353.1 341.1 328.6 342. 4
95. 5
98.8 101.3 105. 5 107.1 106.3 102.3 104.4 108.5 107.2 104.0
98.2
98.9
97.4
20.0
17.6
18.9
26.5
20.7
24.2
22.3
26.5
23.8
18.5
24.0
23.1
22.3
22. 9
66.6
64.8
62.6
68.4
63.6
64.5
65.6
68.5
68.2
67.9
67.3
65.8
63.4
59 5
86.6
88.8
85.4
83.6
82.6
80.0
90.0
98.4
82.8
95.5
91.1
95.9
88.2
90 1
139.4 138.8 137.9 136.9 138.4 137.9 137.3 139.1 141.7 146.8 142.2 137.9 135.8 125.6

Lumber and wood products (except fur­
niture)—............................ ...................
Logging camps and contractors......... I_
Sawmills and planing mills__________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood p ro d u cts...................
Wooden containers..................................
Miscellaneous wood products............ .

—

Furniture and fixtures_________________
Household furniture................ ..................
Other furniture and fixtures................ II

—

Paper and allied products_____ ________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills____
Paperboard containers and boxes..........
Other paper and allied products............
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

846

—

812
74.4
475.9

804
71.8
470.6

784
67.4
459.1

753
59.2
439.8

738
59.3
429.8

713
49.2
416.1

702
45.0
411.2

744
61.5
433.9

753
63.7
442.7

750
64.0
444.0

743
59.5
445.4

747
62.3
444.8

736
61. 4
431.7

812
72 8
472.9

125.3
77.0
58.9

124.3
77.7
59.5

122.0
75.5
59.9

120.2
74.4
59.8

117.2
73.2
58.8

116.8
73.0
57.7

116.7
72.6
56.8

117.4
73.7
57.1

116.3
73.0
56.9

113.4
72.2
56.7

110.1
71.7
56.7

109.4
72.0
58.1

110. 5
73.3
59.0

119. 5
81 8
65.2

362

348
248.8
99.2

349
249.1
99.5

348
248.5
99.4

347
248.8
98.6

344
247.3
97.1

341
244.9
96.1

333
238.1
95.1

332
236.8
95.5

327
232.6
94.1

327
231.2
95.7

319
223.9
95.1

305
212.3
92.5

315
220.0
94.6

348
247.0
100.9

480

406
234.8
123.5
107.3

467
235.5
124.3
107.6

459
231.8
121. 3
105.7

458
230.6
121.3
105.6

455
230.2
120. 5;
104. 71

453
229.3
120.0
103.7

451
228.4
119.8
102.5

455
229.0
123.1
102.7

458
229.3
125.6
102.8

456
228.1
124.2
103.8

448
225.6
119.4
102.9

436
219.5
114.9
101. 2

447
226.9
117.1
lb3.1

470
240. 7
121.4
107.6

T able

511

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group1—Con.
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1949

1950
Industry group and industry
July
Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied indus­
tries________________ ____ ________
Newspapers-................................................
Periodicals------------------- -----------------Books.................... .......................................
Commercial printing...............................
Lithographing.............................................
Other printing and publishing...............
Chemicals and allied products----------Industrial inorganic chem icals-.........
Industrial organic chemicals----------Drugs and medicines--------------- -----Paints, pigments, and fillers..............
Fertilizers— ........ - ...........- .....................
Vegetable and animal oils and fa ts...
Other chemicals and allied products

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1919

1948

737

738
293.8
51.9
45.8
198.8
40. 2
107.5

738
294.2
51.5
46.1
200.0
40.0
106.5

736
293.9
51.6
46.0
197.9
40.0
106.2

735
293. 5
51.5
45.3
198.9
39.9
105.7

734
291.6
52.0
45.2
199.2
40.1
106.3

732
289.5
52.1
44.8
198.5
40.1
106.7

730
285.7
52.3
45.0
200.4
40.1
106.8

739
288.6
53.0
45.2
201 5
42.2
108.1

736
288.8
52.9
45.7
198.0
42.2
108.1

735
288.2
53.2
45.5
199.2
41.6
107.7

728
286.4
53.3
45.1
195.0
40.8
107.3

719
285.2
52.7
41.5
193.1
40.2
106.3

727
282.5
53.4
44. 6
197.1
41.1
108.0

725
267.
54.
46.
197.
45.
113.

683

669
69.9
200.1
95.1
72.6
28. 5
46.7
155.8

671
73.1
198. 7
94. 2
71.5
30.3
48.1
155.0

671
71. 4
195 7
93 1
69 7
36 9
50 0
154.4

675
70.5
194.1
93.4
69.1
41.6
53.2
153.4

671
69.4
191.9
91.1
68.9
40.9
55.3
153.0

665
68.8
189.5
91.4
68.3
38.5
56.2
152.4

658
65.8
187.9
94.6
67.6
32.5
59.2
150.3

660
66.6
187.8
94.6
67.1
30.7
62.1
151. 5

662
66.3
187.0
94.1
67 6
30.3
63.4
153.5

665
67.1
185.6
93.7
67.9
31.8
64.9
153.6

654
65. 7
184.7
92.7
66.3
32.3
58.8
153.7

636
65.7
180.3
92.0
65. 8
30.4
48. 7
153.0

664
68.4
192.1
92.3
67.3
34.3
56 1
153.0

699
70.
210.
89.
70.
35.
56.
165.

240
188.9
21.2
30.3

239
188.3
21.1
30.0

236
186 2
20 7
28.6

234
185.7
20.5
27.8

241
194.8
19.7
26.9

242
195.1
19.6
26.8

242
195.4
20.2
26.3

243
195.6
20.4
27.0

245
197.3
18.7
28.7

241
1976
13.5
30.1

247
199.2
19.3
28.4

247
200. 2
19. 5
27. 7

245
198.7
19.5
27 1

250
199.
20.
30.

Products of petroleum and coal--------Petroleum refining.............................. .
Coke and byproducts................... —
Other petroleum and coal products.
Rubber products— ........
Tires and inner tu b es..
Rubber footwear_____
Other rubber products.

259

247
109.8
24.1
113.5

247
109.7
24. 2
112.7

241
108 1
23 9
108.8

238
106.6
24.1
107.4

237
106.3
24.2
106.1

230
105.8
23.6
106.2

234
105.0
24.9
104.1

234
104.3
27.0
102.7

233
103. 5
27.0
102.4

234
103.5
26.4
104.1

209
82.5
25.9
100.9

227
103.5
25. 2
98.3

234
106.6
26.4
100.5

259
121.
29.
107.

Leather and leather products.
Leather---- --------- ------------Footwear (except rubber)...
Other leather products.........

414

390
49. 5
252. 5
88.1

382
49. 6
247.1
84.9

374
49 5
240. 4
83.8

379
49.5
244.3
85.4

396
50.0
257.4
88.4

395
50.1
257.4
87.9

388
49.4
254.9
83.2

382
49.4
247.2
85.5

372
49.7
232.4
90.2

390
49.4
249.2
91.2

395
49.1
255.5
90.1

397
48.3
259. 4
89. 2

388
49.7
251.0
87.2

410
54.
260.
95.

Stone, clay, and glass products..................
Glass and glass products.........................
Cement, hydraulic____ ____ ______ _
Structural clay p r o d u cts........................
Pottery and related products..................
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products
Other stone, clay, and glass products...

531

510
130.2
42.1
84.7
55.0
94.9
103.1

511
134.4
42. 7
83.1
56.3
93. 2
101.1

501
131 7
42J2
80 2
57 6
90 0
99.4

487
128.8
41.5
76.0
57.6
86.4
97.1

478
124.8
40.6
75.5
58.0
84.0
94.7

475
123.9
41.0
75.2
57.6
83.6
94.1

469
121.7
41.7
75.2
56.1
81.4
93.2

479
122.7
42.2
77.4
57.0
85.1
94.3

477
123.2
40.6
76.6
57.6
86.1
93.1

478
123.2
40.5
78.2
57.2
86.5
92.0

482
122. 7
42.4
79.3
55.8
87.1
94.6

480
122 2
42. 5
79.5
54. 9
85.8
94. 9

484
122. 6
41.8
79.8
57.5
84.6
97.1

514
135.
40.
83.
60.
87.
105.

Primary metal industries........................ 1,260
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills______________ __________ ____
Iron and steel foundries--------------------Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous m e ta ls...................................... .
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals_____________________
Nonferrous foundries................................
Other primary metal industries.............
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance machinery and transportation
equipm ent).................................. ..........
Tin cans and other tinware_________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware----Heating apparatus (except electric) and
plumbers’ su p p lies------- --------------Fabricated structural metal products..
M etal stamping, coating, and engraving.
Other fabricated metal products--------

967

1, 375
Machinery (except electrical)................
Engines and turbines........ ..................
A gricultural machinery and tractors
Construction and mining m achinery.. .
M etalworking machinery...... ................ .
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking m achinery)............ ......
General industrial machinery________
Office and store machines and devices.
Service-industry and household ma­
chines........... ...........................................
Miscellaneous machinery parts..............
Electrical machinery...................................
Electrical generating, transmission
distribution, and industrial appa­
r a tu s ............................. ...........................
Electrical equipment for vehicles_____
Communication equipment................... .
Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products.........................
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le .


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

866

1,224
620. 7
230.5

1, 218
616.3
228.5

1,190
606.3
220.8

1,171
599.2
215.7

1,144
583.3
208.6

1,137
587.5
203.6

1,121
584.8
198.3

1,112
580 4
198.8

891

703

392.3
195.8

191.3
198. 5

1,097
572. 5
200.5

1.092
572.0
205. 5

1,101
550.4
217.0

1,247
612.
259.

54.3

55.2

54.6

54.2

54.4

54.1

51.1

49.6

46.2

47.9

51.0

50.3

52.3

55.

96.3
93.0
128.7

96.6
91.7
129.7

95.1
87.3
126.1

93.2
84.3
124.1

92.4
83.3
121.6

90.6
80.8
120.8

89.0
79.0
119.0

88.1
78.4
117.1

76.9
74.4
105.4

85.5
76.3
103.5

83.0
74.0
116.1

79.9
71.1
113.1

87 0
75.8
118.4

103.
85.
130.

925
51. 5
152.9

921
48.7
156.4

894
45. 5
154.3

876
44.6
152.5

863
43.5
151.2

851
41.8
147.3

846
41.2
145.2

841
42.1
142.9

820
43.8
139.1

829
46.4
140.2

863
48.9
137.4

843
49.4
135.2

859
45.8
142.3

976
48.
154.

147.3
202. 4
171.2
199.6

147.6
198.7
170.9
199.1

144.4
192.4
162.6
194.8

143.9
190.3
156.3
188.0

140.4
187.6
152.9
187.7

137.8
185.1
152.1
187.0

133.0
186.2
151.2
188.9

136.8
186. 2
147.0
186.1

138. 3
178.9
141.6
178.2

141.3
173.0
148.4
179.4

134.6
202. 1
151.6
188.2

124. 5
201.8
146.6
185.1

132.0
198. 5
147.9
192.4

165.
215.
172.
219.

1, 340 1,342 1,328 1,307 1,283 1,261 1,238 1,229 1,209 1,223 1,236 1,229 1,311 1,533
66. 0
72. 5
64.5
67.6
83.
65.9
66.4
70.9
68.7
66.5
66.7
72. 5
73.2
73.6
180.1 180.4 180.7 180.5 177.5 175.2 171.0 168.3 162.7 166.0 178.9 179.4 181. 3 191.
91.1
101.3
90.
5
88.8
122.
89.2
93.4
90,6
95.4
95.2
91.3
97.9
98. 9
95.9
211.0 212.6 207.2 204.5 201.6 198.4 196.7 196.0 195.6 197.9 199.1 197.4 208.7 239.
164.6 165.2 162. 7 160.8 158.7 157.1 155.9 156.6 157.0 158.8 161.5 161.8 171.8 201.
184.0 183.8 181.3 178.8 175.7 174.0 172.8 173 1 173.2 175.9 177.6 177.9 186.4 209.
86.8
90.6 109.
88.5
88.8
84.7
87.5
85.4
86.2
87.0
88.0
89.4
88.4
89.8
178.1
160.5

180.7
158.5

181. 5
156.2

175.6
152.6

169.3
149.3

163.9
147.0

155.2
143 9

149.3
142.9

139.0
138. 5

136.4
143.7

130.2
143. 5

126.0
141.3

145.4
153.2

191.
183.

820

809

800

791

779

772

762

762

750

753

734

712

759

869

313.2
70.9
298.6

307.2
69.5
295.7

306.7
67.8
289.4

303.3
66.6
287.6

300.0
65.1
283.2

298.1
65.5
279.7

294.4
65.1
276.7

294.5
64. £
275.5

289.2
59.1
275.7

289. 7
65.9
270.1

286.8
65.4
257.9

281.9
63.4
250.2

295.2
64. 5
271.1

332.
69.
312.

136.8

136.6

136.5

133.7

130.5

128.8

126.0

126.9 1 125.7

127.0

124.0

116.5

128.3

154.

512
T

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

able

MONTHLY LABOR

A-2: Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by Industry Division and Group1—Con.
[In thousands]

1950

Annual
average

1949

Industry group and Industry
Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb,

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1949

1948

Manufacturing—Continued
Transportation equipment_________ 1,337 1,301 1,308 1,269 1,122 1,100 1,091 1,197 1,112 1,112 1,208 1,240 1,224 1,212 1, 263
Automobiles........ ........................ .
885.8 894.8 862.4 720.3 698.9 689.0 797.4 703.2 697.1 789.2 810.2 807.0 ' 769 0 792 8
Aircraft and parts...........................
260. 8 257.2 253.9 253.3 252.4 251.7 251.9 252.5 252.3 255.4 258.3 252. 2 255. 6 228 1
Aircraft................................... .
173. 6 170.7 169.0 167.9 166. 5 166.1 166.8 167.0 166.8 168.8 171.2 171.7 169. 7 151. 7
Aircraft engines and parts_______
52. 9
52. 0
50.7
50.7
50.6
50.2
50.1
50.5
51.2
52.1
52.4
46.2
51.8
46.7
Aircraft propellers and parts_____
7.7
7.8
7.9
7.9
8.0
8.1
8.1
8. C
8.2
8.1
8. 2
8.0
7 4
7.9
Other aircraft parts and equipment.
26. 6
26.7
26.3
26.8
27.3
27.3
26.9
27.0
26.2
26.3
26.5
26.3
26 2
22 4
Ship and boat building and repairing.
80. 5
81.1
80.0
79.9
80.2
81.2
79.4
82.8
85.3
82.7
88.6
94.6 100. 3 140. 7
Ship building and repairing*...........
66.7
66. 6
66.2
66.7
68.3
70.0
68.9
72.3
74.8
72.4
77.9
83.3
88 2 124. 2
Railroad equipment..................... .
62.0
63. 5
61.6
58.4
59.2
60.1
60.6
64.2
65.3
68.2
71.2
59.3
76 1
84 8
Other transportation equipment....... .
11. 4
11.1
10.1
10.7
9.6
9.1
7.7
9.6
11.6
12.0
11.4
10.5
10.9
16.6
Instrumentsand related products....... . 249
243
242
238
236
234
232
233
234
234
235
233
230
238
260
Ophthalmic goods_____________
24. 6
24.8
24.8
25.0
25.1
25.1
25.1
25.2
25.6
25.8
26.0
26. 2
26 8
28. 2
Photographic apparatus..................
51. 0
50.1
49.1
48.5
48.2
48.1
48.3
48.8
49.1
49.7
49.5
50.1
52. 6
60 3
Watches and clocks.........................
27. 8
28.1
28.0
28.5
28.9
29.3
30.3
31.4
31.9
32.2
31.7
30. 6
31
4
40
Professional and scientific instruments
139.2 139.4 136.5 133.7 131.5 129.7 129.2 128.1 127.7 126.9 125.8 123.3 127.1 130.58
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.. 465
430
440
434
435
433
429
420
436
455
457
439
417
426
466
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware... —
51. 2
52. 5
52.7
52.7
53.2
54.4
54.2
56.2
57.5
57.2
54.9
52.5
60 3
55 4
Toys and sporting goods......... ........ —
71.3
71.9
70.3
69.5
67.2
63.8
61.7
66.8
76.4
76.9
70.3
72.3
68 7
80 8
Costume Jewelry, buttons, notions__
52.1
51. 4
52.7
53.1
56.5
59.4
56.7
58.4
63.5
64.5
62.9
58.1
57.7
62.3
Other miscellaneous manufacturing in­
dustries.....................................
255.3 262.7 260.0 259.8 256. 5 251.3 246.9 254.6 257.9 258.1 248.5 136.4 243.8 262.8
Transportation and public utilities____
4,099 4,058 4, 023 3,885 3, 928 3, 873 3,841 3,869 3, 930 3, 892 3, 871 3,959 3,992 3, 977 4 151
Transportation___ ____
"" 2,871 2,837 2,813 2,685 2,733 2, 682
2,651 2,676 2, 732 2,689 2,664 2, 739 2, 760 2, 754 2r934
..II]!
Interstate railroads______
1, 415 1,407 1,296 1,356 1,315 1,290 1,316 1.333 1,281 1,257 1,339 1, 375 1,366 1, 517
Class I railroads....... ...................
1, 246 1,240 1,135 1,188 1,148 1,123 1,148 1,149 1,114 1,090 1,166 1, 202 1,191 1,
327
Local railways and bus lines...........I!
148
147
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
157
158
163
Trucking and warehousing_______
586
576
562
554
550
545
540
566
571
568
555
539
547
566
Other transportation and services__
688
683
678
673
666
664
667
679
682
683
689
688
683
687
Communication_____ ______
671
662
667
659
657
654
654
657
660
665
669
685
676
686
Telephone...........................
]]’
619. 4 614.5 610.7 609.2 607.0 606.7 609.1 611.7 615.5 618.5 624.7 632.9 632.2 696
634.2
Telegraph.................................]]
46. 7
46. 7
46.9
46.9
45.7
46.2
47.1
47.7
48.2
49.4
51.6
50.1
52. 5
60.8
Other public utilities________
]' 557
554
548
541
538
537
536
536
538
538
538
544
547
537
521
Gas and electric utilities....... ......... —
528.0 522.2 515.8 512.5 511.5 510.6 511.5 513.0 513.5 513.7 518.7 521.4 512.0 497.0
Local utilities..........................IIIII]
25. 8
25. 6
25.0
25.3
25.0
25.1
24.8
24.6
24.6
24.7
24.9
25.3
24.6
23.7
Trade.________________________ 9,426 9,374 9,414 9, 326 9, 346 9, 206 9,152 9,246 10,156 9,607 9, 505 9,409 9,213 9, 438 9 491
Wholesale trade................... IIIIII
2. 560 2, 524 2,501 2,479 2,477
484 2,495 2,511 2, 542 2,538 2, 554 2, 538 2, 515 2, 522 2, 533
Retail trade.............
IIIIIIIIII! 6, 866 6, 850 6,913 6,847 6,869 6,2, 722
6,735 7,614 7,069 6,951 6,871 6, 698 6, 916 6, 958
General merchandise stores__ IIIIII]] 1, 385 1,370 1.412 1,412 1, 466 1,392 6,657
1,360 1,392 1,987 1,590 1,489 1,432 1,337 1,480 1, 470
Food and liquor stores__________ 1, 202 1, 205 1.206 1, 204 1,200 1,192 1,185
1,187 1, 217 1,208 1.200 1,192 1,181 1,198 1,195
Automotive and accessories dealers__ 744
745
731
714
706
699
700
701
717
696
688
704
692
676
634
Apparel and accessories stores..
495
498
536
533
545
519
496
513
632
560
557
486
542
554
577
Other retail trade................. HI" 3,040 3,032 3,028 2,984 2,952 2,920 2,916 2,942
3,061 3,007 3,009 3,013 3,006 3,008 3,081
Finance__________ _________
1,837 1.832 1, 826 1,812 1,803 1, 791 1,777 1,772 1,770 1, 766 1,767 1,771 1,780 1, 763 1 716
Banks and trust companies__ IIIIIIIIII
433
427
421
420
419
416
415
416
415
415
417
422
416
403
Security dealers and exchanges........ II]
61.3
60.0
59.2
58.2
57.7
57.2
56.1
55.4
55.0
55.4
55.1
55.0
55. 5
57.9
Insurance carriers and agents......Il l "
652
645
640
639
634
637
630
630
626
628
627
627
619
689
Other finance agencies and real estatellll
6S6
694
692
686
677
670
669
671
671
675
669
672
672
665
Service_____________________
4. 843 4, 848 4, 827 4, 790 4,757 4, 708 4,696 4, 701 4, 738 4, 768 4, 794 4. 833 4,836 4 781 4 799
Hotels and lodging plaeesIIIIII............
507
476
451
441
431
430
428
443
451
444
504
475
464
478
Laundries-.............. ..........
364.1 362.4 353.7 347.4 345.5 345.0 346.9 346.7 347.7 350.6 355. 8 358.0 352. 2 356.1
Cleaning and dyeing plants..IIIIIIIIII
151. 2 155. 8 150.1 146.1 141.3 139.7 141.1 142.7 144.7 147.4 146.9 144.2 146.9 149.9
Motion pictures...... ..........................
236
236
237
236
236
236
235
238
238
238
238
236
237
241
Government____________
5, 798 5,741 5, 832 5, 900 5, 915 5, 769 5,742 5, 777 6, 041 5, 783 5, 866 5, 893 5,763 5.813 5,613
Federal................IIIIIIIIIIIII
1, 841 1,820 1, 851 1,890 1.939 1,802 1,800 1,804 2,101 1,823 1,863 1,892 1,900 1.902 1, 827
State and local______HIIHIIIII11
3,957 3,921 3,981 4,010 3,976 3, 967 3,942 3,973 3, 940 3,960 4,003 4,001 3,863 3,911 3, 786
* TheBureau of Labor Statistics’ series of employment in nonagricuituri
establishments are based upon reports submitted by cooperating establist
ments and, therefore, differ from employment information obtained by house
hold interviews, such as the M onthly Report on the Labor Force (table A-11
i\S»e'ii!ra ’^portant respects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data cove
all full- anel part-time employees in private nonagricultural establishment
who worked during or received pay for, the pay period ending nearest th
loth of the month; in Federal establishments during the pay period endin
Just before the first of the month; and in State and local government durin
„ P^y period ending on or just before the last of the month, while th
M onthly Report on the Labor Force data relate to the calendar week whic
contains the 8th day of the month. Proprietors, self-employed persons
domestic servants and personnel of the Armed Forces are excluded fromth
i * j. in i . 6.
series. These employment series have been ad
Justed to levels indicated by social insurance programs data for 1947, and hav
been carried forward from 1947 bench-mark levels, thereby providing con


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

sistent series. Revised data in all except the first four columns will be iden­
tified by an asterisk (*) for the first month’s publication of such data.
1 Includes ordnance and accessories; lumber and wood products (except
furniture); furniture and fixtures; stone, clay, and glass products; primary
metal industries; fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery,
and transportation equipment); machinery (except electrical); electrical
machinery; transportation equipment; instruments and related products;
and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
3 Includes food and kindred products; tobacco manufactures; textile-mill
products; apparel and other finished textile products; paper and allied prod­
ucts; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chemicals and allied prod­
ucts; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products; and leather and
leather products.
* Data by region, from January 1940, are available upon request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
tSee t footnote, table A-3.

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950
T

able

513

A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries 1
[In thousands]
1950

Annual
average

1949

Industry group and industry
Aug.
Mining :f
M etal________________________________
Iron.................... ...................................... .
Copper.........................................................
Lead and zinc______________________

July

91. 7
33.0
25. 0
18.1

June

90.1
32.4
24.8
17.4

M ay

88.5
31.8
24.8
16. 7

Apr.

87.2
30.3
24. 8
16.6

Mar.

87.3
30.5
24.7
16. 6

Feb.

Jan.

86.9
30.2
24.7
16. 5

Dec.

8 6 .2

8 6 .1

30.4
24. 5
16.0

30. 6
24.0
16 1

Nov.

Oct.

77.9
25.4
23.4
15.0

23.4
14. 7

58.9
6 .2

Sept.

86. 6
33.2
23.3
15. 6

Aug.

88 5
33.6
23 3
16 5

1949

1948

89.0
30.4
24.3
18.1

94. 7
32 6
25 0
IQ 2

Anthracite________ ______ __ ____ _____

69.2

70. 8

71.6

70.7

72.3

71.1

71. 8

72.1

71. 6

71.1

71 2

72

Bituminous-coal______________________

357.0

385.4

387.9

393.8

398.4

60

0

322.5

392.7

375.4

72.2

389.3

394.0

373.4

413.1

Crude petroleum and natural gas production:
Petroleum and natural gas production..

129.6

127.9

124.2

123.5

123.3

123.3

122.9

123.9

124.7

126.1

128.7

131. 6

127.1

127 1

Nonmetalllc mining and quarrying_____

8 8 .8

87. 5

85.0

82.4

78.3

77.3

76.7

80.1

82.8

83.2

85.8

86 0

83 7

87

Manufacturing___________________ ______

19.4

Food and kindred products____________ 1,307
Meat products______________________
Dairy products___________ _________
Canning and preserving_____________
Grain-mill products_________________
Bakery produ cts..._________________
Sugar... . . . . . ______ ____ ________
Confectionery and related products___
Beverages__ .
______________ ___
Miscellaneous food products_____ ____ —
Tobacco manufactures________________
Cigarettes . _______________________
Cigars_____________ ____ ___________
Tobacco and snuff_______ . ........ .......
Tobacco stemming and redrying_____

79

Textile-mill products......................... .......... 1,213
Yam and thread m ills_______________
Broad-woven fabric mills____________
Knitting m ills_____ _____ __________
Dyeing and finishing textiles.. ______
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
Other textile-mill products___________
Apparel and other finished textile products____________________ ________ 1,074
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats______
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing__________________________
Women’s outerwear____ ______ _____
Women’s, children’s undergarments__
M illinery.. ______ ______ ___________
Children’s outerwear..............................
Fur goods and miscellaneous apparel.. .
Other fabricated textile products_____
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)... _____________________ _
Logging camps and contractors ______
Sawmills and planing mills______ ____
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products__________
Wooden containers__________________
Miscellaneous wood products........ .........
Furniture and fix tu res...____ __________
Household furniture_________________
Other furniture and fixtures__________
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le .


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

8

75

8

6

12.733 12,140 12,070 11,841 11,597 11, 549 11,460 11,449 11,504 11, 289 11,388 11,775 11,561 11,597 12, 717

Durable goods...... ........................... 6,884
Nondurable goods....... ....................... 5,849
Ordnance and accessories.............................

71 4

778

316

6 , 592

5,548
18.8
1,229
235.3
116. 2
220. 7
96. 5
194.4
26.1
73.5
163.0
103.5
75
23. 3
36.8
10. 5
4. 5

6,598
5, 472
18.9

6,456
5, 385
18.6

6,195
5, 402
18.3

6 , 070

5,479
17.9

5, 982
5,478
17.4

6 .0 0 0

5,449
16.9

5,961
5,543
17.1

5,719
5, 570
17.3

5,651
5, 717
18.1

6,060
5, 715
18.2

5,947
5,614
18.2

6,096
5,501
2 0 .2

6 . 909
5,808

23.9

1,142 1,090 1,065 1,060 1,055 1,078 1,139 1,185 1,273 1,340 1,350 1,172 1,197
232. 5 227. 4 223.3 228.3 231.5 243.7 251. 0 242.2 236.0 230. 4 228 5 231. 3 215 a
99.1
96.7
98.9 104.0 110.4 116 3 107. 9 111 0
95.1
114.4 108. 2 102.8
96.1
149. 5 126. 8 119.9 109.3 109.8 116. 5 135. 6 159. 8 232. 2 321. 5 339 1 180 8 1Q5 3
92.0
91.4
92.1
93.2
96.9 100. 3
93 6
95.0
98.0
95.1
92. 2
96 9
95. 3
190. 9 192. 6 191.0 190.0 187.6 186.1 189. 8 194.7 199. 4 196. 4 194 1 191. 2 195 5
22.6
22.9
22.7
24.9
44.7
43. 5
20 0
24. 8
24. 4
38.1
26. 7
25 7
28. 5
80.9
74.6
78.4
90. 5
95.3
99. 2
84.6
91. 5
85 9
73. 8
72. 7
78.7
83.0
157.3 146. 4 140.9 139.4 134.4 135.3 141.3 146.2 149.2 157. 3 164 7 150 6 161 4
99.4
98.4 100.7
99.4
98.1 101.3 106.1 108.9 107.8 105.8 103 8 108.1
103.3
75
22. 8
37.4
10. 5
4. 2

76
22. 8
37.6
10. 6
4.9

76
22.9
37.2
11.0
4.7

78
22. 7
38.7
11.0
5.1

81
22.8
40.2
11.1
6.4

85
23.8
40.3
11.3
9.7

87
24. 3
41.2
11.5
9. 5

89
24. 4
43.6
11.4
9.2

92
24. 4
43. 6
11.7
11.9

94
24. 5
43.1
11.6
14.9

91
24. 4
42.3
11. 7
12.9

87
24.1
42.4
11. 5
9. 0

93
24 2
46. 2
12. 2
10.2

1,159 1,173 1,162 1,172 1,183 1,183 1,177 1,187 1,184 1,168 1,132 1,092 1,136 1,275
145. 6 145. 9 143. 0 144.5 148.7 149.4 148. 5 148. 5 147.0 144. 4 139. 5 133. 0 140.3 168. 5
572. 6 580. 9 572. 8 572. 7 574.0 570.5 567.9 573. 9 671.8 564. 5 547.0 530.1 551. 4 615.3
208. 5 211 2 212. 8 217.9 221. 4 222.5 222.8 226. 6 229.7 226. 7 219. 2 210. 8 213. 4 231.4
80.3
78.8
79.9
80.0
75. 2
76. 7
80.0
78.0
73. 2
76. 7
80. 5
76.0
76.9
80 4
53.6
52.8
50.4
51. 2
52.4
53.0
51.8
51.3
49.7
48.1
47.5
51. 2
52. 5
57.2
97.7 102.8 121.7
105.8 106.0 104.4 104.5 106.3 107.8 105.8 105.7 105.2 105.1 102.6
977
127. 3

975
135.0

976 1,003 1,058 1,065 1,032 1,040 1,028 1,083 1,082 1,040 1,022 1,049
129.0 131.7 135.5 135.2 130.3 127.3 117.6 128.6 133.4 130.6 128.1 140.1

229 9
262. 8
86.1
17. 5
60. 5
75.6
117.5

237.1
245. 5
88.9
15. 2
58.8
77.4
116.9

238 6
253. 5
91.1
16.4
57.0
74. 4
115.8

241.3
271. 6
95.4
18.0
58.0
71.8
115.4

244.9
305.4
97.0
23. 8
62. 6
72.6
116.6

243.6
315.2
96.5
23.4
62.7
72.1
116.2

240.9
302.4
92.5
21.4
59.7
69.1
115.9

246. 8
296.1
94. 5
19. 4
58. 7
78. 7
118. 3

251.3
279. 5
98.2
15 6
60.1
84.2
121.6

252. 4
308. 3
97.5
20.9
62.8
86.4
126.1

246. 2
318. 5
94.1
21. 2
62. 3
83. 8
122.0

235. 4
306.3
88.6
20.3
61.9
79.3
117.8

239. 8
294.3
89.4
19. 5
58.0
76. 5
115. 8

250.7
308. 7
88. 7
20. 2
54.7
78.5
107.5

747
69. 2
444.1

742
67.3
440. 9

723
62. 9
429.8

692
54. 7
409.9

677
54.8
399.3

652
45.0
385.7

642
40. 9
381.1

682
57. 2
403. 5

692
59.6
412.6

689
59. 8
413.8

684
55.3
416.0

686
58. 6
414.5

676
57. 6
401.3

752
69. 5
442.0

108. 8
71.6
52.9

108. 4
72.3
53. 5

106.2
69. 9
54.0

104. 4
69.1
54.0

101. 7
67. 9
53. 5

101.2
67.6
52.4

101. 6
67.2
51.2

101. 9
68.1
51.5

100.7
67.4
51.4

98.1
66. 8
50.9

95.4
66.4
51.0

94.6
66. 6
52.1

95.7
67.9
53.1

105. 0
76.0
59.2

302
221. 4
80.7

303
221. 9
80.6

303
221.4
81.2

303
222.0
80.7

301
220. 9
79.9

297
218.2
78.7

289
211.7
77.6

289
211.0
78.1

283
206.5
76.6

284
205.6
78.3

277
198. 8
77.7

263
187.0
75.8

272
194.8
77.6

306
221 6
84.1

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

514
T

able

MONTHLY LABOR

A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries1—Continued
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1949

1950
Industry group and industry

_____
Aug.

Manufacturing—Continued
411
Paper and allied products_______ ____ . .
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills_________
Paperboard containers and boxes.......... ...........
Other paper and allied products--------- -------

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1949

1948

397
204.1
104.8
88.0

400
204.9
105.8
88.8

392
201.7
103.1
86.9

391
200.7
103.4
86.6

389
200.2
102.6
86.2

386
199.5
101.4
85.4

385
199.2
101.4
84.2

390
200.2
105.3
84.8

393
200.6
107.7
84.8

392
199. 6
106.4
85.8

384
197.0
101.9
84.8

371
190.5
97.4
83.4

382
197.6
99.6
85.2

405
210.8
104.6
89.4

Printing, publishing, and allied indus­
tries..................................... . 501
Newspapers_________ _____ _____
Periodicals_______ ________ ___
Books................. ......... ........... .......
Commercial printing__________ ___
Lithographing..... ....................... .......
Other printing and publishing------------Chemicals and allied products..... ...... 492
Industrial inorganic chemicals____ ___
Industrial organic chemicals______ ___
Drugs and medicines------------- -------Paints, pigments, and fillers.... ........
Fertilizers................................. .......
Vegetable and animal oils and fats__
Other chemicals and allied products. .

500
150.1
34.4
34.5
165.0
31.3
84.9

501
150.3
33.8
35.3
166.0
31.2
84.0

498
149.3
34.5
35.1
164.1
31.1
83.6

497
147.7
35.0
34.9
164.9
30.9
83.2

496
146.4
35.2
35.2
165.3
31.0
83.3

495
145.3
35.1
34.9
164.6
30.8
84.1

493
112.0
34.5
35 0
167.2
30.7
83.9

501
145.2
34.8
35 8
167 8
32 7
85.1

500
145.0
35.0
36.5
165.1
32.8
85.3

500
144.4
35.7
36. 5
166.1
32.5
85.0

495
143.8
35.8
36.3
162.4
31.8
84.5

486
141.4
35.6
33.9
160.7
31.2
83.5

495
141.2
36.0
36.4
164.4
31.9
85.3

501
133. 5
37.3
38.6
165.5
35.1
91.0

479
51.1
151.1
62.5
47.6
22.3
36.0
108.4

483
54.2
150.0
61.8
46.9
24.0
37.5
108.2

485
53.4
147.8
61.0
45.5
29.9
39.6
107.6

490
52.8
146.0
60.6
45.1
35.6
42.7
106.9

487
52.3
144.9
58.1
44.9
34.9
44.9
106.8

485
52.2
144.0
58.7
44.7
32.5
45.8
106.7

480
50.2
143.7
61.7
43.7
26.5
49.0
104.9

484
51.3
143.7
61.9
43.6
24.9
51.9
106.2

485
51.2
142.9
61.5
43.8
24.6
53.1
108.2

488
51.5
141.4
61.6
43.9
26.1
54.6
109.2

478
49.9
139.8
60.7
42.3
26.6
49.1
109.1

458
49.8
135.2
60 1
41.8
24.7
38.5
108.0

485
52.3
145.8
60.8
43.3
28.6
46.1
108.4

520
54.7
164.4
59.9
46.9
30.2
46.6
117.6

Products of petroleum and coal________
189
Petroleum refining____ ____ ____ ____ _____
Coke and byproducts.................... .......................
Other petroleum and coal products___

182
138.7
18.7
24.8

181
138.0
18.5
24.5

177
136.1
18.1
23.2

176
135.6
17.9
22.3

182
142.8
17.0
21.8

183
144.0
16.8
21.8

184
145.4
17.4
21.3

185
145.7
17.6
22.1

188
147.6
15.9
24.1

185
148.4
10.9
25.3

189
149.2
16.7
23.5

190
149.9
17.0
22 9

188
148.8
16.9
22.0

192
148.9
17.5
25.3

Rubber products......................................... 210
Tires and inner tubes__________ ____ ______
Rubber footwear......................................... ............
Other rubber products____________________

199
87.4
19.1
92.4

199
87.6
19.2
91.8

194
85.9
19.1
88.8

191
84.0
19.3
87.2

189
83.4
19.4
86.2

188
83.1
18.8
86.3

187
82.6
20.1
84.5

187
82.1
22.1
83.1

186
81.3
22.2
82.8

187
81.1
21.5
84.4

167
64.3
21.1
81.4

180
80.9
20.3
78.6

186
83 6
21.6
80.9

209
96.2
24.6
88.1

Leather and leather products__________
Leather____________________________
Footwear (except rubber)____________
Other leather products__________ ____

373

351
44.9
229.5
76.6

343
45.0
223.8
73.7

335
44.9
217.5
72.8

341
45.0
221.5
74.6

357
45.5
234.5
77.3

357
45.5
234.5
76.7

348
45 0
231 4
71.9

343
44.9
223.7
74.2

332
45.2
208.0
78.5

349
44.9
224.3
79.4

354
44.6
230.2
78.8

356
43 8
234 2
77.5

347
45.1
226.2
75.8

368
49.5
234.8
83.5

Stone, clay, and glass products................. 459
Glass and glass products_____________ _____
Cement, hydraulic.............................. ................
Structural clay products_____________ _____
Pottery and related products______________
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products
Other stone, clay, and glass products.

439
114.0
36.0
76.4
49.6
81.4
81.2

441
118.1
36.5
75.5
50.8
80.0
79.8

432
115.9
36.0
72.8
52.2
76.4
78.3

419
112.8
35.4
68.6
52.3
73.5
75.9

410
108.9
34.5
68.5
52.7
71.3
73.9

408
108.2
35.0
68.3
52.2
71.3
73.2

403
106 2
35.8
68.6
50.7
69.5
72.6

412
107.1
36.4
70.5
51.6
73.1
73. 7

411
107.7
34.8
69.7
52.2
73.9
72.5

411
107.5
34.8
71.0
51.7
74.6
71.1

414
106.9
36.5
72.1
50.4
74.9
72.8

412
106.6
36.7
72.1
49.7
73.5
72.9

416
106.8
36.0
72.5
52.2
72.4
75.6

448
119.6
35.5
76.5
55.5
76.4
84.6

982

978

963

955

743

559

938

932

940

512.3
177.1

510.5
172.0

506.6
172.2

324.8
169.4

130.3
171.9

498.7
173.4

497.6
177.3

476.7
188.9

536.8
230.9

Primary metal Industries______________l, 089
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills______ ____ _______________________
Iron and steel foundries........ ............ ..................
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous m etals.____________________ _____
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous m e ta ls_________ ________________
Nonferrous foundries_______ ______ ________
Other primary metal industries.........................
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transporta­
tion equip m ent)..__________ ______
Tin cans and other tinware__________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware___
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies____________
Fabricated structural metal products
Metal stamping, coating, and en­
graving------------- ----------------------- Other fabricated metal products_____

810

Machinery (except electrical)................... 1,064
Engines and tu rb in e s________ _____
Agricultural machinery and tractors...
Construction and mining machinery...
Metalworking machinery____________
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)_________
General industrial machinery................
Office and store machines and devices.
Service-industry and household ma­
chines__________________________ _
Miscellaneous machinery parts..............
See fo o tn o te a t e nd o f tab le .


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

1,055

1,051

1,026

1,007

1,083

541.9
202.6

538.0
200.6

529.3
193.5

522.5
188.1

506.9
182.1

45.1

46.0

45.5

45.2

45.4

45.3

42.5

41.2

38.3

39.4

41.8

41.4

43.3

46.8

79.5
78.8
107.2

80.3
77.7
108.3

78.9
73.5
105.1

77.1
70.7
103.3

76.5
69.8
101.2

75.0
67.8
100.0

73.7
66.0
97.9

72.8
65.9
95.8

62.6
62.4
85.0

70.0
64.1
83.5

67.2
62.0
95.1

63.8
59.5
92.4

70.6
63.3
97.1

86.0
73.2
109.1

770
46.1
128.7

769
43.4
132.8

742
40.1
130.7

722
39.0
129.2

709
38.0
127.6

698
36.3
123.7

693
35.9
121.2

688
36.6
119.3

666
38.2
115.6

677
40.6
116.3

708
43.2
113.7

688
43.6
111.4

701
39.9
118.4

812
42.2
131.6

120.0
158.5

121.7
154.6

118.6
148.5

117.7
145.8

114.0
142.7

112.3
140.6

107.4
141.5

111. 1
142.2

113.0
133.6

116.2
129.0

109. 6
155.8

99.7
155.4

106 0
152.3

137.1
168.7

148.8
168.3

148.3
167.8

140.5
163.6

134.4
155.6

131.2
155.8

130.4
155.1

129.6
157.0

124.8
1,53.7

119.8
145.8

127.2
148.0

129.8
156.1

124.9
152.5

125.8
159.0

148.6
183.8

1,032 1,034 1,022 1,003
54.6
55.5
56.0
53.4
140.8 141.1 141.5 142.4
71.7
70.5
68.4
68.3
161.7 162.9 158.3 155.4

981
51.1
139.5
68.1
152.0

960
48.9
137.4
66.5
149.2

937
48.8
133.2
64.4
146.5

929
48.0
130.6
63.7
146.4

908
48.4
125.0
62.3
145.9

922
46.7
127.8
63.7
148.0

935
49.3
139.9
62.3
149.1

927 1,001 1,203
53.9
49.0
63.9
140.4 142.4 151.7
64. 2
72.4
91.1
146.9 157.9 186.6

123.9
130.6
74.7

124.4
130.5
74.4

122.7
128.8
73.5

120.9
125.9
73.2

119.0
123.3
72.0

117.7
121.6
70.5

116.8
120.4
69.9

117.3
121.2
71.1

117.4
121.2
72.2

119.3
123.3
73.5

121.8
124.8
73.3

122.6
124.5
71.7

131.1
132.3
75.4

158.6
154.3
93.0

145.7
128.1

148.0
126.5

148.7
124.1

143.3
120.4

137.8
118.2

132.6
115.7

124.0
112.5

118.7
111.5

109.1
106.8

107.9
112.2

101.9
112.1

98.3
109.8

115.4
120.4

156.3
147.5

515

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

T able A-3: Production Workers in Mining and Manufacturing Industries1—Continued
/In thousands]
Annual
average

1949

1950
Industry group and industry

Manufacturing—Continued
Electrical m achinery...----------------------Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus _
________________________
Fleetriefll equipment for vehicles____
Communication equipment________ _
Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products_____________

Sept.

Aug.

1949

1948

552

656

210. 7
49.0
191.8

251.4
54.6
224.4

100.8

125. 6

Aug.

July

June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

665

623

615

606

595

580

573

561

559

546

548

226.5
57.2
228.7

221.5
55.9
226.5

221.5
53.7
219.9

217.1
52.5
217.2

213.0
50.9
211.6

211.4
50.7
207.3

207.8
50.4
202.5

207.6
49. 8
200.6

202.4
43.8
200.4

202. 8
50.5
193.4

110.1

110.6

110.6

108.1

104.8

103.3

100.6

100.8

99.3

101.0

97.9

90.1

899
595.3
184.9
123.4
36.1
5.3
20.1
66.6
55.4
43.5
8.6

879
575.6
184.0
122.2
36.0
5.4
20.4
66.9
56.9
44.2
8.0

872
567.1
184.0
122.4
35.7
5.4
20.5
67.6
58.5
45.4
7.5

978
675.4
184.3
122. S
35.8
5.4
20.2
66.1
57.5
46.1
6.1

896
585.1
184.0
122.7
36.0
5.4
19 9
69.0
60.5
49.9
8.1

898
582.1
183.7
122.3
36.7
5.4
19.3
71.3
62.8
50.6
10.1

986
666.1
187.9
125.4
37.6
5. 5
19.4
68.5
60. 2
53.2
10.5

1,017
686.3
190.7
127.6
37.9
5.5
19.7
74.0
65. 4
56.2
9.9

998
678.0
185.3
128.6
31.9
5.2
19.6
79.5
70. 4
46.5
8.8

987 1,031
643. 5 657.6
188. 5 166.6
126.6 111.8
37.4
33.6
4.9
5.3
19.2
16.6
85.0 123.2
75.0 109.3
69.6
61.0
9.2
14.5

Transportation equipment-------------------- 1,106
Automobiles
___________ ________
Aircraft and p a r ts _________________
Aircraft
- __________________
Aircraft engines and parts_______ _
Aircraft propellers and parts. _____
Other aircraft parts and equipment-Ship and boat building and repairing...
Ship building and repairing_______
Railroad equipment___ _____________
Other transportation equipment____ _

1,068 1,077 1, 045
753.7 763.2 736.3
188.6 186.8 185.2
126.2 125.1 124.4
36.9
36.0
37.7
5.2
5.1
5.3
19.6
19.5
19.6
68.6
67.2
67.7
55.9
55.9
55.2
48.9
47.5
48.0
9.4
9.1
9.7

531

507

200.8
49.6
182.4

196. 5
47.0
173.4

Instruments and related produ cts_____
Ophthalmic g o o d s __________________
Photographic a pp aratus.____________
Watches and clocks .
_________ ..
Professional and scientific instruments.

186

180
19.8
37.0
23.4
99.5

180
20.0
36.5
23.6
100.3

176
20.1
35.4
23.6
97.0

174
20.2
34.8
24.1
94.8

172
20.2
34.6
24.4
93.2

171
20.3
34.5
24.7
91.8

172
20.2
34.7
25.6
91.4

173
20.3
35.3
26.8
91.0

174
20.8
35.3
27.2
90.3

174
20.8
35.8
27.6
89.4

172
21.0
35.3
27.1
88.3

169
21.1
36.0
26.0
86.3

177
21. 9
38.4
26.6
90.1

200
23.8
45.4
35.0
95.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware __
Toys and sporting good s____ ______
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions___
Other miscellaneous manufacturing
industries_________________________

392

357
41.4
62.3
44.1

367
42. 5
62.8
44.4

362
42.1
61.5
43.0

363
42.0
60.6
44.7

361
42.3
58.0
48.0

356
43.7
54.5
50.0

345
43.8
52.3
46.9

361
45.4
57.4
48.2

381
46.8
67.3
53.1

383
46.8
67.8
53.8

366
44. 6
63.4
52.2

347
42. 2
61.3
48.5

354
45.0
59.8
48.3

394
4y. 6
71.5
53.9

209.4

217.5

215.2

215.4

212.9

207.5

202.2

209.5

213.8

214. 5

205.5

194.5

200.5

219.4

i Data are based upon reports from cooperating establishments covering
both full- and part-time production and related workers who worked dur­
ing, or received pay for, the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
D ata have been adjusted to levels indicated by social insurance programs for
1947 and have been carried forward from 1947 bench-mark levels, thereby
providing consistent series. Comparable data from January 1947 are avail­
able upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such requests should
specify the series for which data are desired. Revised data in all except the
first four columns will be identified by an asterisk (*) for the first month’s publi­
cation of such data.

tEmployment data for some of the mining industries have been revised:
metal, iron, copper, and bituminous-coal employment data from January
1947 forward; and lead and zinc production-worker data for 1943-46, inclusive.
The mining division total employment and the hours and earnings data were
not afiected by these revisions. Summary sheets showing employment,
hours, and earnings data, from January 1939 forward, are available upon
request.

T able A-4: Indexes of Production-Worker Employment and Weekly Payrolls in Manufacturing

Industries1
[1939 average=100]
Period
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:

Average...........................
A vera g e..____ _______
Average_____________
Average___ ____ _____
Average_____________
Average_____________
A verage.------ ------------

1See footnote 1, table A-3


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

Employ­
ment
100.0
107. 5
132.8
156. 9
183.3
178 3
157.0
147.8

Weekly
payroll
100.0
113.6
164.9
241.5
331.1
343.7
293. 5
271.1

Period
1947:
1948:
1949:
1949:

Average.......................
Average_____________
Average---------------- . .
August______________
September............. .........
October..____________
November___________
December

Em ploy­
ment
156.2
155.2
141.6
141.1
143.7
138.8
137 8
140.4

Weekly
payroll
326.9
351.4
325.3
323.0
335.1
320. 9
313.9
329.3

Period
1950: January_____________
February...--------------March_______________
April_______________
M ay_______________
June________________
July------------------------August................... .........

Em ploy­ Weekly
payroll;
ment
139.8
139. 9
141.0
141.6
144.5
147.3
148.2
155.4

329.2
330.0
333.5
337.2
348.0
361.9
367.2

516

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A-5: Federal Civilian Employment by Branch and Agency Group
E xecutive1
Y ear and month

All branches
Defense
agencies *

Total

Post Office
Department

All other
agencies

Legislative

Judicial

Total (Including areas outside continental United States)
1948
1949

..................
..................

2,066,152
2,100,407

2,055,397
2,089,151

916,358
899,186

470,975
511,083

668,064
678,882

7,273
7,661

3,482
3,595

1949: August___
September.
O ctober...
November
December.

2,094, 877
2, 081, 793
2,047,312
1, 999, 681
2, 288,367

2,083,448
2,070, 269
2,035, 748
1,988,079
2, 276,635

902, 401
886, 890
860, 286
814, 848
799, 888

491, 408
494, 087
496,038
497, 814
804,038

689,639
689, 292
679, 424
675, 417
672, 709

7,842
7, 924
7,937
7,992
7,954

3,587
3, 600
3,627
3’610
3, 778

1950: J an u ary...
February..
March___
April..........
M ay_____
June_____
J u ly ...........
August___

1, 976,093
1,970,815
1, 970, 603
2,110, 903
2, 061, 939
2,022,117
1,986, 705
2,005,398

1,964, 246
1, 959,063
1, 958,806
2, 099, 036
2,050,132
2,010, 286
1,974, 902
1,993,427

791, 048
782, 788
776, 324
773,711
775, 769
780,614
778, 745
806,029

503,106
503, 815
504, 420
503, 916
501,911
497, 394
491, 823
487,101

670,092
672,460
678,062
821, 409
772.452
732,278
704, 334
700,297

8, 063
7,986
8,048
8,102
8, 048
8,063
8,031
8,146

3,784
3, 766
3’ 749
3Í 765
3, 759
3j 768
3, 772
3,825

Continental United States
1948
1949

..................
..................

1,846,840
1,921,903

1,836.158
1,910, 724

734,484
761,362

469, 279
509,184

632,395
640,178

7,273
7,661

3,409
3,518

1949: August___
September.
O ctober...
November.
December.

1,920,248
1, 912, 227
1, 882, 859
1, 843, 246
2,134, 592

1,908,896
1,900, 780
1, 871,372
1,831, 721
2,122,937

770,034
760, 059
738,195
700, 374
688, 599

489, 562
492, 227
494,178
495, 963
801, 008

649,300
648,494
638, 999
635,384
633, 330

7,842
7,924
7,937
7,992
7,954

3,510
3,523
3| 550
3,533
3,701

1950: J an u ary...
February..
March___
April_____
M ay_____
June...........
J u ly ......... .
August___

1, 825, 245
1,820, 625
1,821,470
1,959, 746
1,910, 210
1,871,293
1,839, 447
1,861,043

1,813,475
1, 808,950
1,809, 750
1,947,956
1, 898, 480
1,859,539
1,827, 721
1,849,149

683,018
675,316
670, 546
668,180
670,049
674, 597
677,181
707,114

501, 257
501, 969
502, 571
502, 025
500, 017
495. 505
489,922
485,248

629,200
631, 665
636, 633
777,751
728. 414
689,437
660, 648
656, 787

8,063
7, 986
8,048
8,102
8, 048
8,063
8,031
8,146

3,707
3,689
3, 672
3,' 688
3, 682
3,691
3i 695
3,748

* Includes Government corporations (including Federal Reserve Banks
and mixed-ownership banks of the Farm Credit Administration) and other
activities performed by Government personnel in establishments such as
navy yards, arsenals, hospitals, and force-account construction. Data,
which are based mainly on reports to the Civil Service Commission, are
adjusted to maintain continuity of coverage and definition with information
for former periods.


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

1 Covers civilian employees of the Department of Defense (Secretary of
Defense, Army, Air Force, and N avy), National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics, the Panama Canal, Philippine AlieD Property Administra­
tion, Philippine War Damage Commission, Selective Service System,
National Security Resources Board, National Security Council, War
Claims Commission.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

517

T able A-6: Federal Civilian Payrolls by Branch and Agency Group
[In thousands]
Execiitive i
Year and month

All branches

Defense
agencies3

Total

Post Office
Department

All other
agencies

Legislative

Judicial

Total (Including areas outside continental United States)
1948..................... ...............................................
1949................................ .....................................

$6, 223, 486
6,699,270

$6.176, 414
6,647,671

$2, 660, 770
2,782,266

$1,399,072
1, 558, 741

$2,116, 572
2, 306, 664

$30,891
34,437

$16,181
17,162

August............ ..................._.
September___________ _____
October.__ ________ _____
November______ _____ ____
December.......... .......................
1950: January................................
February________ _________
March................. ...................... .
April............................. .........

574, 046
557, 436
539, 248
567, 296
610,344

569, 536
553,011
534, 992
562, 539
605, 564

239,178
230, 016
222, 221
230, 206
218,404

125, 794
125, 064
125, 164
131, 577
186,462

204, 564
197, 931
187, 607
200, 756
200,698

3, 005
2,968
2,936
3,137
3,160

1,505
1,457
1, 320
1,620
1,620

553,090
521, 041
583,186
539,430
577,915
573,659
551,510
612, 882

548,372
516, 525
578,339
534,757
573,026
568,889
546, 806
607, 971

214,670
198, 064
225,091
192,199
220,044
221,123
212,778
255, 812

132,177
131,085
133,461
131, 117
130,361
131, 202
129, 803
129.296

201, 525
187,376
219, 787
211,441
222,621
216,564
204, 225
222,863

3,148
3.083
3,222
3,232
3,246
3,214
3,206
3,277

1,570
1, 433
1,625
1,441
1,643
1, 556
1,498
1, 634

1949:

M ay____________________________
June__ ______ ___________________
July------------------------------------------August__________________________

Continental United States
1948......................................................................
1949........................................ .................. ..........

$5, 731,115
6, 234, 345

$5, 684. 494
6,183, 230

$2, 272, 001
2, 442,580

$1, 394,037
1,552,992

$2, 018, 456
2,187, 658

$30, 891
34,437

$15, 730
16, 678

August....................................................
September____ _______ ___________
October.............. ................................. .
November____ ________ _____
December..............................

532, 977
518, 493
501, 648
523, 694
573, 588

528, 509
514, 109
497, 431
518, 979
568,849

209, 583
202, 222
195, 446
196, 868
193,321

125, 321
124, 596
124, 700
131, 088
185,796

193, 605
187, 291
177, 285
191, 023
189,732

3,005
2,968
2,936
3,137
3,160

1,463
1,416
1, 281
1, 578
1,579

1950: J a n u a ry _____________ ___________
February.............................................
March_________ ____________
April........ ................ ..............
M ay_____________________ _____ _
June........... ............................................
July_____________________________
August___________ ___________ _

516,707
488,138
546,866
506, 707
541,195
536,052
516,924
574,358

512,032
483, 662
542,061
502,074
536,351
531,325
512, 261
569,493

189,825
176, 371
201,071
171,555
196, 249
196,921
191,109
231,334

131, 669
130, 599
132, 969
130,629
129, 841
130, 704
129,316
128, 809

190, 538
176, 692
208,021
199,890
210, 261
203, 700
191,836
209, 350

3,148
3,083
3,222
3,232
3,246
3,214
3, 206
3,277

1,527
1,393
1,583
1,401
1, 598
1,513
1,457
1, 588

1949:

1 See footnote 1, table A-5.
1 See footnote 2, table A-5.


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

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

518

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A-7: Civilian Government Employment and Payrolls in Washington, D. C.,1 by Branch and

Agency Group
Federal

Year and month

District of
Total
Columbia
government government

Executive 3
Total
All agencies

Defense
agencies *

Post Office
Depart­
ment

Legislative

Judicial

All other
agencies

Employment
1948_____________________ ______ _
1949______________________ _____ -

231, 239
241,812

18, 774
19,511

212, 465
222,301

204,601
214,026

68, 509
70, 461

7, 826
8.164

128, 266
135,401

7, 273
7,661

591
614

1949: August___________________ September_________________
October.......................................
November ________ ______
December...................................

244, 743
242, 426
240, 886
240, 095
244,467

19, 736
19,416
19, 504
20, 420
20,031

225,007
223, 010
221, 382
219, 675
224,436

216, 546
214, 470
212, 828
211, 064
215,840

71.246
69, 448
68,069
66,121
65,860

7, 784
7. 773
7,749
7,891
12,888

137, 516
137, 249
137,010
137,052
137,092

7,842
7. 924
7,937
7,992
7,954

619
616
617
619
642

1950: January.......................................
February....... .............. .............
March____________________
April............... ........................
M ay______________________
June............ .................................
July_______________________
August____________________

238, 935
238, 713
238,933
239, 754
240.066
238,710
239,119
240, 660

20,110
20,245
20. 168
20,011
20, 227
20,038
19, 772
19, 749

218,825
218, 468
218, 765
219, 743
219,839
218,672
219.347
220,911

210,106
209, 817
210,056
210, 980
211, 130
209, 947
210. 650
212, 037

65, 699
65, 456
65,445
65,380
65, 603
64,766
65,179
66,139

7,859
7,643
7,786
7,853
7,826
7, 742
7,715
7,669

136, 548
136, 718
136, 825
137,747
137, 701
137,439
137, 756
138,229

8,063
7,986
8,048
8,102
8,048
8,063
8, 031
8,146

656
665
661
661
661
662
666
728

Payrolls (in thousands)
1948............................................... .......
1949............... ...................................

$817, 554
906, 842

$54, 248
60, 602

$763,306
846,240

$729, 791
808,918

$233, 589
253,433

$31,298
33,488

$464,904
521,997

$30, 891
34,437

$2,624
2,885

1949: August____________________
Septem ber___________ ____
October.._________________
November_________________
December............................ .......

80,173
77, 040
73, 815
79, 552
80,004

4,185
5,379
5,187
5,526
5,503

75, 988
71, 661
68, 628
74, 026
74, 501

72, 733
68, 457
65, 458
70, 621
71, 068

23,851
20,921
20,137
21, 561
21, 274

2,760
2, 737
2,685
2,809
3,829

46,122
44, 799
42, 636
46,251
45,965

3,005
2,968
2,936
3, 137
3,160

250
236
234
268
273

1950: January.................................... .
February.....................................
March........................... ..............
April................ ................. .........
M ay_______ __________ ____
June.............................................
July_______________________
August____________________

80, 747
73,142
83,331
74,469
84,018
82,733
77, 713
85, 653

5,531
5,218
5,699
5,029
5,705
5, 590
4,192
4, 513

75, 216
67,924
77,632
69,440
78,313
77,143
73, 521
81,140

71, 787
64, 586
74,132
65,944
74, 785
73,656
70, 043
77, 554

22,673
19,387
22,744
20,416
22,607
22,186
21. 399
24,465

2,868
2,787
2, 926
2,786
2,872
2,867
2, 755
2,865

46, 246
42, 412
48,462
42,742
49,306
48,603
45,889
50,224

3,148
3,083
3,222
3,232
3,246
3,214
3,206
3,277

281
255
278
264
282
273
272
30Ö

1 Data for the executive branch cover, in addition to the area inside the
District of Columbia, the adjacent sections of Maryland and Virginia which
are defined by the Bureau of the Census as in the metropolitan area.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2 See footnote 1, table A-5.
3 See footnote 2, table A-5.

T able A - l 1 :

519

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

Insured Unemployment Under State Unemployment Insurance Programs,1by Geographic
Division and State
[In thousands]

July

June

May

April

1948

1949

1950
Geographic division and
State

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

July

Continental United States------ ------ - 1,388. 4 1,521.1 1, 700. 3 1,908.8 2,112.1 2,325. 9 2, 380. 9 2, 200. 0 2, 019.9 1,855.7 1, 885. 6 2,140. 4 2,111.2

997.1
115.5
7. 4
5.2
1.8
60.0
16.8
24.3

New England...... .......... . ........ - ............
M aine_____ ___ _____________
N ew Hampshire........ ................ .
V erm ont.. ___________________
M assachusetts.________________
Rhode Island_________________
Connecticut........ .............................

155.3
10.1
10.8
3.1
85.3
20.1
25.9

186.5
13.0
12.9
3.4
107.1
26.6
23.5

224. 6
19.6
15.6
4.0
124.8
33.6
27.0

225.1
22.7
16.3
4.6
123.6
25.9
32.0

162.5
17. 5
13 1
4.5
78.0
15. 4
34.0

181.5
19. 5
12.3
5.5
89.6
16.3
38.3

202.8
21.8
13 1
6 1
101 4
19 2
41.2

191.2
20.9
12.9
5. 5
99.2
17 1
35.6

180.9
16.9
12.2
4.0
95. 1
17.4
35.3

174.9
11.2
10.9
3.4
89.6
20.2
39.6

207.9
12.0
12.2
3.9
106 1
27.5
46.2

269.9
16.7
15.4
5. 6
137.3
33.2
61.7

281.4
16.6
15.2
5.3
146.8
37.7
59.8

Middle Atlantic_____________ _____
New York____________________
New Jersey.......................................
Pennsylvania............................ .......

478.4
311.0
60.7
106.7

495.4
307.4
68.1
119.9

481.5
269. 2
79.6
132.7

526.0
292.2
84.9
148.9

594.2
319.3
88.3
186.6

622.2
343.1
92. 1
187.0

685. 5
379 1
101.5
204.9

678.3
385.9
91.4
201.0

663. 7
378.3
84.4
201 0

637. 4
361.3
78.5
197.6

631.8
355. 5
82.1
194.2

692.9
386.4
94.5
212.0

680.4
413.7
96.7
170.0

338.2
224.2
51.3
62. 7

East North C entral..------- ------------Ohio . . . _____________________
Indiana____________ . . ____ _
Illinois_______________________
Michigan_____________________
Wisconsin_________________ --

218.4
57.5
13.1
117.5
22.0
8.3

242.4
65.0
14.5
128.6
24.6
9.7

304.0
81.6
19.2
147.6
42.7
12.9

373.4
103.5
26.7
148.1
75.9
19.2

417.6
130. 9
34.6
133.2
94.6
24.3

462.3
146.9
38.6
148.4
98.6
29.8

477.9
157.4
38.8
158. 4
89.3
34.0

510. 9
141.6
40.3
141. 1
150.7
37.2

462.0
144 9
37.1
133 4
114 5
32. 1

384.6
135.2
30.9
134.3
62.0
22.2

371.4
112.9
29.7
149.0
58.7
21.1

409.1
113.5
37.3
166.2
67.4
24.7

390.0
100.8
37.9
160.7
68.8
21.8

155.2
29.8
15.2
77.0
27. 5
5.7

West North Central---------------------Minnesota----------- ----------------Iowa____ __ __________________
Missouri_______________ ____
North Dakota---- -- --------------South Dakota_____________ ___
Nebraska____________ ___ _ Kansas................................. - ..........

49.0
10.8
4.8
25.5
.4
.4
1.9
5.2

57.4
13.1
5.1
29.7
.7
.5
2.3
6.0

77.7
23.2
6.2
34.6
2.2
1.0
3.3
7.2

101.7
32.8
8.9
39.3
3.7
1.9
5.4
9.7

124.9
37.8
13.5
44.5
4 6
2.9
8.4
13.2

140.6
40. 1
15.8
50.2
4.8
3.5
9.5
16.7

130.8
34.7
15.2
50.2
3.8
3.0
7.9
16.0

93.6
24.0
10.0
41 1
1.9
1.8
4.5
10.3

73.3
16.8
6.6
39.0
6
.7
2.2
7.4

58.7
13.8
5.0
31.5
.2
.4
1.7
6.1

58.0
15.8
5.5
29.1
.2
.4
1.7
6.3

64.6
17.3
7.3
31.9
.3
.5
1.9
5.4

64.4
16.4
7.5
32. 5
.3
.4
1.9
5 4

38.4
8.1
3. 5
21.7
.1
.2
1.1
3.7

South A tlantic___________________
Delaware_____________________
M aryland_______ ___________
District of Columbia---------------Virginia___________ __________
West Virginia ________________
North Carolina__________ _____
South Carolina________________
Georgia_______ ____ _______ . .
F lo rid a ...______________ _____

157.8
1.8
22.1
4.0
22.1
21.8
30.8
15.8
18.9
20.5

165. 5
1.9
25.3
4.1
24.1
24.1
33.7
15.4
21.1
15.8

167.7
2.3
29.1
4.6
18.9
23.4
36.7
14.8
23.2
14.7

164.0
2.7
29.3
5.9
15.7
21.8
37.3
14.4
22.8
14.1

172.2
3.5
25. 1
6.5
20.9
26.2
34. 1
15.5
25.0
15.4

181.1
3.8
29.6
6.6
21.6
27.6
32.5
15.9
26.5
17.0

180.3
3.8
31.8
5.0
20.6
28.7
30.3
15. 8
24.7
19.6

168.3
3.8
30.8
4.4
18.2
25.4
27.7
16.5
22.2
19.3

161.4
3.2
28.6
4.3
15.8
28.2
26.7
15.1
19.5
20.0

163.3
3.4
27.2
4.3
15.9
27.9
26.2
14.8
19.0
24.6

181.5
3.1
28.8
4.7
17.8
26.6
31.2
17.0
23.5
28.8

220.0
3.4
36.3
4.4
26.5
30.9
38.2
20.8
28. 1
31.4

219.7
2.6
38.6
4.4
28.2
28.7
39.8
20.5
28.4
28.5

92.8
1. 2
14.7
2.9
11.6
7.1
18.2
6.9
11.6
18.6

East South Central__________ ____ _
K entucky............................ ............
Tennessee_______ _ _________
Alabama ___ _____ ___________
M ississippi.......................................

78.8
19.4
27.3
22.1
10.0

87.4
22.3
32.6
21.9
10.6

99.5
24.8
36.8
25.4
12.5

105. 4
25.2
40.1
25.9
14.2

116.8
29.7
41.9
28.3
16.9

122.9
30.7
45.0
28.6
18.6

113.2
26. 7
42.5
27.1
16.9

100.2
25.2
37.5
25.6
11.9

101.1
26.6
35.4
30.1
9.0

97.4
25.8
31.2
31.5
8.9

98.4
25.2
33.6
29.6
10.0

114. 1
27.6
39.4
34.5
12.6

113.3
27.4
40.3
33.5
12.1

47.8
8.9
21.2
12.3
5. 4

West South Central__________ ____
Arkansas_____________________
Louisiana____ ________________
Oklahoma................................... .
T exas............. .............. .................. .

62.8
9.4
21.3
11.4
20.7

69.9
10.4
22.5
12.6
24.4

83.4
14.0
25.8
14.8
28.8

95.0
17.6
29.9
16.9
30.6

107.6
19.9
33.4
19.2
35.1

116.4
23 2
36.4
21.7
35.1

100.4
20.4
30.0
20.1
29.9

73.3
13.3
23.5
14.8
21.7

63.7
10.8
21.6
12. 7
18.6

64.2
10.3
22.5
12.2
19.2

67.8
10.1
23.1
13.0
21.6

73.8
11.0
24.3
14.5
24.0

68.2
10.3
22.3
13.2
22.4

32.4
5.1
11.1
6.6
9. $

M ountain________________________
Montana_______________ ____
Idaho____ ____________________
W yom ing____________________
Colorado_____________________
New Mexico___ ___ ___________
Arizona . __________________ _
Utah
________ _____________
N evada_________ ___________

18.6
1.9
1.7
.7
4.2
2.0
3.6
3.1
1.4

20.5
2.5
1.5
.9
4.7
2.2
3.6
3.5
1.6

27.8
4.6
3.0
1.4
5.6
2.7
4.2
4.3
2.0

37.9
8.2
5.6
2.0
5.6
3.4
4.7
5.9
2.5

53.9
11.8
9.8
3.2
7.0
4.4
5.8
8.6
3.3

65.7
13.3
12.8
3.9
8.6
5.0
7.1
11. 1
3.9

60.1
11.3
11. 7
3. 1
8.5
4.3
7.0
10.3
3.9

39. 2
6.0
7.2
1.6
6.1
3.2
5.8
6.5
2.8

29.4
3.0
3.5
.9
6.7
2.2
5.5
5.2
2.4

27.9
2.1
2.6
.7
7.4
2.0
5.6
5.5
2.0

23.5
2.0
2.3
.5
4.0
2.3
6.1
4.3
2.0

25.2
2.1
1.9
.6
4.9
2. 7
6. 7
4.4
1.9

22.2
2.2
1.6
.6
4. 6
2.3
5. 3
3.9
1.7

10.4
.8
.8
.3
2. 4
.9
2. 5
1. 7
1.9

169.4
15.6
9.6
144.2

196.1
16.5
8.3
171.3

234.2
23.9
12.3
198.0

280.4
36.0
20.6
223.8

362.7
54 3
35.0
273.4

432.9
82.6
57.1
293.2

430.1
87.4
66.8
285.9

345. 3
62.9
36.3
246.1

284. 3
48.0
27.7
208.6

246.8
36.4
21.1
189 3

245.1
30.6
17.7
196.8

270.9
31.4
18.1
221.4

271.3
25. 5
15. 2
230.6

166.7
14.8
7.5
144.4

Washington

__ _ ___________

California____________ _______ _

Average of weeks ended in specified months. Figures may not add to exact column totals because of rounding.
For a technical description of this series, see the April 1950 M onthly Labor Review (p. 382).

i

Source : U S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

520

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

MONTHLY LABOR

B: Labor Turn-Over
T able B -l: Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per 100 Employees) in Manufacturing Industries, by

Class of Turn-Over 1
Class of turn-over and year

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Total accession;
1950........... .................... ........................
1949..
..........................................
1948........... ............................................
1947........... ............................................
1940__
1945........................................................
1939 3 .................................................

3.6
3.2
4 6
6.0
8 5
7.0
4.1

3.2
2.9
3.9
5.0
6.8
50
3.1

3.6
3.0
4.0
5.1
7.1
4.9
3.3

3.5
2.9
4.0
5. 1
6.7
4 7
2.9

4.4
3.5
4.1
4.8
6.1
5.0
3.3

4.8
4.4
5 7
5 5
6 7
5.9
3.9

2 4.6
3.5
4.7
4.9
7.4
6.8
4 2

4.4
6.0
5.3
70
6.9
5.1

4.1
6 1
5.9
7.1
7.4
6.2

3.7
4.5
6.5
6.8
8.6
6.9

3.3
3.9
4.8
6.7
8.7
4.1

3.2
2.7
3.6
4.3
6.9
2.8

Total separation:
1950........................................................
1949....... ....................... ...................
1948....... ........ ...................................
1947__
_____
1946........................................................
1945........................................................
19393 ....................................

3.1
4.6
4.3
4.9
6.8
6.2
3.2

3.0
4.1
4.2
4.5
6.3
6.0
2.6

2.9
4.8
4. 5
4.9
6.6
6.8
3.1

2.8
4.8
4.7
5.2
6.3
6.6
3.5

3.1
6.2
4.3
5.4
6.3
7.0
3.5

3.0
4.3
4.6
4.7
5.7
7.9
3.3

2 3.0
3.8
4.4
4.6
5.8
7.7
3.3

4.0
5 1
5.3
66
17.9
3.0

4.2
5.4
5.9
6.9
12.0
2.8

4.1
4.5
5.0
6.3
8.6
2.9

4.0
4.1
4.0
4.9
7.1
3.0

3.2
4.3
3.7
4.5
5.9
3.5

Q uit:4
1950....... ............................................
1949______________________
1948........... .................................
1947.......................................... .
1946.............................................
1945................................
1939 3_____________ ______ ______

1.1
1.7
2.6
3.5
4.3
4.6
.9

1.0
1.4
2.5
3.2
3.9
4.3
.6

1.2
1.6
2.8
3.5
4. 2
6.0
.8

1.3
1.7
3.0
3.7
4.3
4.8
.8

1.6
1.6
2.8
3.5
4.2
4.8
.7

1.7
1.5
2.9
3.1
4.0
5.1
.7

2 1.9
1.4
2.9
3.1
4.6
6.2
.7

1.8
3.4
4.0
5.3
6.2
.8

2.1
3.9
4.6
5.3
6. 7
1.1

1.5
2.8
3.6
4.7
5.6
.9

1.2
2.2
2.7
3.7
4.7
.8

.9
1.7
2.3
3.0
4.0
.7

Discharge:
1950...................... .............................
1949........... .................................
1948...................... .................................
1947_________ ______________
1946.......................................
1945................................................
19393...................................... .........

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

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

.2
.3
.4
.4
.4
.7
.1

.2
.2
.4
.4
.4
.6
.1

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

.3
.2
.4
.4
.3
.7
.1

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

.3
.4
.4
.4
.7
.1

.2
.4
.4
.4
.6
.1

.2
.4
.4
.4
.5
.2

.2
.4
.4
.4
.5
.2

.2
.3
.4
.4
.4
.1

1.7
2.5
1.2
.9
1.8
.6
2.2

1.7
2.3
1.2
.8
1.7
.7
1.9

1. 4
2.8
1.2
.9
1.8
.7
2.2

1.2
2.8
1.2
1.0
1.4
.8
2.6

1.1
3.3
1.1
1.4
1. 5
1.2
2.9

.9
2.5
1. 1
1. 1
1.2
1.7
2.5

2 .6
2. 1
10
1.0
.6
1.5
2.5

1.8
1.2
.8
.7
10.7
2.1

1.8
1.0
.9

2.3
1.2
.9
1.0
23
1.8

2.5
1.4
.8
.7
1.7
2.0

2.0
2.2
.9
1.0
1.3
2.7

Lay-off:8
1950........... ......................................
1949........... ......................
1948......... .......................................
1947__________ _____ _
1946.......................... .................
1945....... ...........................
1939 3 ................... .......

1 Month-to-month changes in total employment In manufacturing Indus­
tries as Indicated by labor turn-over rates are not precisely comparable to
those shown by the Bureau’s employment and payroll reports, as the
former are based on data for the entire month, while the latter, for the
most part, refer to a 1 week period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
The turn-over sample is not so extensive as that of the employment and
payroll survey—proportionately fewer small plants are included. The
major Industrie? excluded are: printing and publishing; canning and pre­
serving; women’s, misses' and children’s outerwear; and fertilizers. Plants
on strike are also excluded.


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

1.0

4. 5
1.6

2 Preliminary figures.
3 Prior to 1943 rates relate to wage earners only.
4 Prior to September 1940, miscellaneous separations were Included with
quits.
8 Including temporary, indeterminate (of more than 7 days’ duration)
and permanent lay-offs.

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

B: LABOR TURN-OVER

521

T able B-2: Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and Industries 1
Separation
Total accession
Total

Quit

M ise., incl.
military

Lay-off

Discharge

Industry group and Industry
July
1950
Manufacturing
Durable goods1- . .........................................
Nondurable goods1-.
_________ ____ _
Ordnance and accessories_______________
Food and kindred products_____________
Meat products_____________________
Grain-mill products_____________
Bakery products___________________
Beverages:
Malt liquors________________, .
Tobacco manufactures__________________
Cigarettes________________________
Cigars_____________________________
Tobacco and snufl____ _____________
Textile-mill products___________________
Yarn and thread m ills____________
Broad-woven fabric mills___ _____
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber_____
Woolen and w o r ste d __________
Knitting m ills.__________________
Full-fashioned hosiery__________
Seamless hosiery______________
Knit underwear. __________
Dyeing and finishing textiles........... .
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings__
Apparel and other finished textile prod"ucts_______________________ _________
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats_____
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and
work clothing______ ____________
Lumber and wood products (except furnlture)_______________________ _______
Logging camps and contractors...,.....
Sawmills and planing mills____ .
Millwork, plywood, and prefabrlcated structural wood products____
Furniture and fixtures________________
Household fu rn itu r e ______________
Other furniture and fixtures
Paper and allied products_________ . . .
Pulp, paper, "and paperboard mills___
Paperboard containers and boxes____
Chemicals and allied products
. . .
Industrial inorganic chemicals . ...
Industrial organic chemicals
Synthetic fibers_________
Drugs and m edicin es.. ____________
Paints, pigments, and fillers...............
Products of petroleum and coal
Petroleum refining________________
Rubber products__________________
Tires and inner tubes_________
Rubber footwear________________
Other rubber products____________
Leather and leather products_______
Leather___________ ________
Footwear (except rubber)____________
Stone, clay, and class products
Glass and glass products- „
Cement, hydraulic_______________
Structural clav 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___________
See footnotes at end of table.
9060 2 4 — 50 -

-7


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

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

5.0
4.1

5.2
4.1

3.1
2.7

3.2
2.7

2.0
1.7

1.9
1.5

0.3
.2

0.3
.2

0.6
.7

0.9
.9

3. 2
5.1
6.0
4.9
3.6

3.0
5.8
6 7
4.3
4.7

1.0
3.9
4.4
3.7
3.3

1.1
3.5
4.3
2.1
3.4

.6
2.1
1.7
2.0
2.4

.6
1.8
1.8
1.4
2.1

.2
.3
.4
.4
.3

.2
.3
.4
.2
.4

.2
1.4
2.1
1.2
.6

.3
1.3
2.0
.4
.8

5.4
4.2
4.6
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.5
4.1
4.0
4.4
4.3
3.0
5.7
5.6
2.6
1.7

8.8
2.6
1.7
3. 1
2.6
3.3
3.5
3.7
3.4
6.0
2.8
2.1
3.7
3.1
1.9
2.2

4.3
2.9
1.8
3.4
4.0
2.6
2.9
2.6
2.7
2.9
3. 2
2.0
3.1
4.4
1.9
1.4

2.9
1.6
.6
1.8
2.6
2.9
3.1
2.8
2. 7
3.4
3.1
2.3
3.8
3.7
1.9
1.8

2.1
2.0
1.2
2.5
2.2
1.7
2.0
1.8
1.9
1. 1
2.0
1.6
1.5
3.8
1. 2
.7

1.6
1.1
.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.8
.9
.9

.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.3
.1
.1

1.8
.6
.3
.7
1.2
.6
.4
.4
.4
1.2
1.0
.2
1.6
.4
.5
.5

.9
.3

.2
.1
.1

.3
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1

4.3
3.4

4.5
4.9

3.3
3.4

3.4
3.1

2.3
1.5

2.1
1.2

.2
.1

.2
.2

1.7

.8

1.1
1.7

(4)

4.9

4.6

3.2

3.4

2.5

2.3

.1

.2

.6

.9

(4)

5.8
8.5
5.5

5.4
9.9
5.1

3.8
5.8
3.7

3.7
6.5
3.3

2.8
4.4
2.7

2.5
4.8
2.4

.3
.3
.2

.4
.7
.2

.5
.6
.6

.8

.2
.5
.2

3.9
5.8
5.9
5. 7
3.8
2.6
4.9
3.0
2.7
2.4
2.1
2.1
3.4
1.6
1.0
4.3
3.5
6.8
4.6
4.5
3.3
4.4
4.6
5.3
2.9
4.6
3.6
3.5

4.3
5.3
4.6
6.8
4.3
3.7
5.0
2.9
3.8
2.4
1.9
2.8
4.2
2.0
1.2
5.1
3.6
5.2
6.4
4. 2
4.1
4.2
4.5
5.1
3.5
5. 1
3.2
4.2

3.3
4.1
4.4
3.4
2.0
1.2
3.0
1.5
1.6
1.0
.9
1.4
1.6
.9
.5
2.1
1.5
2.4
2.5
2.9
2.4
3.3
2.3
2.8
1.8
2.5
2.0
2.1

3.3
4.1
4.6
2.8
2.1
1.3
2.7
1.4
1.4
1.0
.8
1.3
1.4
.9
.7
3.0
1.9
4.2
3.8
2.9
2.3
3.2
2.4
2.8
1.5
2.3
3.8
2.0

2.5
3.2
3.3
2. 7
1.5
.9
2.2
.9
1.0
.6
.4
.6
.9
.5
.2
1.5
.9
2.1
1.9
1.9
1.2
2.2
1.5
1.4
1.2
2.0
1.5
1.4

2.2
2.8
3.1
2.1
1.3
.8
1.9
.7
.9
.5
.4
.8
.8
.5
.3
1.9
1.0
2.7
2.5
1.8
1. 1
2.0
1.3
1.2
1. 2
1. 7
1.7
1.2

.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
.1
.4
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.4
.1

.4
.5
.6
.3
.3
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1

.2
.5
.6
.3
.2
.1
.3
.3
.3
.1
.2
.6
.3
.1
.1
.3
.3
.1
.3
.6

.6
.7

.3
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1

2.5
5.5
4.8
5.7
6.7

3.4
5.9
5.8
5.8
5.6

1.7
3.1
3.1
3.5
2.9

1.5
2.8
3.0
2.8
2.7

1.1
1.9
1.6
2.6
1.8

2.1

2.9

1.9

1.5

3.1
5.0

2.8
7.8

1.0
3.4

3.9

4.2

2.3

(4)

(4)

(4)

.1
.3
.1

(4)
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.2

.2
.1
.1
.3
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.2
.4
.3
.3

.9
1. 7
1.7
2.0
1.7

.1
.5
.6
.6
.4

.1
.6
.7

1.0

.9

1.2
3.5

.6
2.5

2.5

1.8

.8

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

«

.3
.7
1.1
1.2
.9
.8
1.4
1.3
.5
2.2
1.7
.7
.7

0.2
.1

0.1
.1
(4)

(4)
.1
.2
.1

.1
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1

(4)

(4)

(4)
(4)

1.0
.7

.8

.3
.4
.2
.3
.4
.2
.3
.4
.4
.2
.1
.2
.8
.7
1.3
.9
.7
.9
.8
.7
1.1
(4)
.2
1.8
.3

June
1950

(4)

(4)

.4
.1
.3
.1
.1
.3
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1

(4)

.2
.1
.1
.1
.1

.3

(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

.1
.1

(4)
(4)
(4)

.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.2
.1

(4)
(4)
(4)

.1
.1

.1
.1
.1

.1

.2
.1
.1
.1
(4)
(4)

.1
.2
.2

.1

(4)

(4)

.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1

t2

.2

.5

.2
.5
.7
.2

.5

.5

.3
.4
.5
.2
.4

.3
.2
.2
.1
.2

.2
.1
.1
.1
.1

.1

.2

.7

.3

.1

.1

.8

.1
.4

.1
.8

.2

2.0

.4

.2
.5

.1
.1

.1
.2

1.8

.2

.3

.1

.3

.2

.1

522

B: LABOR T URN-OVER

T able

MONTHLY LABOR

B-2: Monthly Labor Turn-Over Rates (Per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and Indus­
tries 1—Continued
Separation
Total accession
Total

Industry group and Industry
July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

Quit

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

M ise., incl.
military

Lay-off

Discharge
June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

July
1950

June
1950

Manufacturing—Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation
equipment)_______
________________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware___
Cutlery and edge tools___ _______
Hand tools___ ______ _____ _
Hardware____ _______________ —
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies___________
Sanitary ware and plumbers’
supplies______________ ____ Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not else­
where classified______ ___
Fabricated structural metal prod­
u cts_________ _____ ____ ________
Metal stamping, coating, and en­
graving ------ _ -----------------------Machinery (except electrical)_________ _
Engines and turbines_______________
Agricultural machinery and tractors..
Construction and mining machinery..
Metalworking machinery. ------------Machine tools---------------------------Metalworking machinery (except
machine to o ls )..______________
Machine-tool accessories_________
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)_________
General Industrial machinery...............
Office and store machines and devices
Service-industry and household ma
chines . . _______________________
Miscellaneous machinery p a r ts ... . ..
Electrical machinery-------------------------- _
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appa­
ratus.. ___________________ . . . .
Communication equipment_________
Radios, phonographs, television
acts, and equipment__________
Telephone and telegraph equip­
ment! ________ _________ .
Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products___________
Transportation equipm ent.. __________
Automobiles-------------- ----------------Aircraft and parts ...... ................ . . .
Aircraft___ ____________________
Aircraft engines and parts.......... .
Aircraft propellers and parts___
Other aircraft parts and equip­
m ent................ ......... ............ ..........
Ship and boat building and repairing..
Railroad equipm ent................ ................
Locomotives and parts___ ____ _
Railroad and streetcars______ .
Other transportation equipment____
Instrum ents and related p rod u cts............
Photographic apparatus_______ _____
Watches and clocks________________
Professional and scientific instru­
ments ____ _ ____ _________
Miscellaneous manufacturing in d u stries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware..
Nonmanufactu ring
Metal mining__________________________
Iron_______________________________
Copper______________________ ____
Lead and zinc______________________
Anthracite mining_______ ___________
Bituminous-coal mining________________
Communication:
Telephone.. _________ ___________
Telegraph. _______________________

6.2
4. 2
3. 9
2. 9
4.9

3.1
2.5
1. 8
1.3
3.4

6.4

5.3

5. 5

4.9

5.6
3.4
3.8
2.6
3.7

3. 5
3.4
1. 8
2.7
4.1

2.1
1.9
1.4
.7
2.6

2.0
1.8
1.0
1.0
2.4

0.3
.2
.2
.2
.3

3.3

3.7

2.1

2.0

.6

2.5

3.0

1.8

1.9

.4

0.5
.3
.1
.3
.4

1.0
1.2
.6
1.3
1.2

0.2
.1
.1
.1
.1

.6

.4

1.0

.2

.1

.5

.1

.4

.2

.2

0.1
.1
«

.1
.1

7.5

5.8

4.2

4.2

2.5

2.0

.7

.6

.8

1.6

.2

5.8

6.6

2.8

3.4

1.6

1.8

.4

.4

.6

1.1

.2

.1

6.8
3.8
4.3
3.4
4. 5
4. 5
4. 5

8.6
4.0
4. 8
3.9
5. 0
4.6
4. 4

4.3
2.2
4.0
3.1
2. 8
1.7
1. 5

4.7
2.4
3. 9
3. 8
2. 4
2. 2
1. 6

3.2
1.2
1.2
1. 5
1.6
1.2
1.0

3.0
1.3
1. 5
1. 8
1. 4
1.4
1.1

.5
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2

.4
.3
.4
.3
.4
.4
.2

.4
.6
2. 2
1.1
.7
.2
.2

1.1
.7
1.7
1.5
.5
.3
.2

.2
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.1

.2
.1
.3
.2
.1
.1

3.7
6.1

3.7
6.1

1.8

3.4

2.0
3. 5

1.4
2.2

1.2
2.3

.2
.5

.4
.7

.1
.6

.3
.4

.1
.1

.1

3.8
3. 8
2. 7

4.1
4.1
3.0

2.1
1. 9
1.4

2.8
2. 0
1. 4

1.2
1.0
1.0

1.2
1.1
.9

.2
.2
.2

.4
.3
.2

.5
.6
.1

1.1
.4
.2

.2
.1
.1

.1
.2
.1

2.6
4.4
4.5

2.9
4.1
4.4

2.3
2.1
2.1

2.4
1.8
2.5

1.2
1.3
1.3

1.4
1.1
1.5

.1
.3
.2

.1
.3
.2

.8
.3
.5

.7
.3
.7

.2
.2
.1

.2
.1
.1

3.0
5.6

3.2
5.2

1.6
2.3

1. 9
3.0

1.1
1.4

1.2
1.8

.1
.3

.2
.3

.2
.5

.3
.8

.2
.1

.2
.1

8.6

7.2

2.6

3.4

1. 5

1.9

.5

.4

.5

1.0

.1

.1

.7

1.0

1.6

1. 5

.5

.6

.1

.1

.8

.6

.2

.2

4.4
7.3
7.3
4.8
5.1
3.8
2.1

4.2
7.8
8.1
3.8
4.0
3.0
1.4

3.2
5.1
5.1
2.1
2.3
1.0
.7

3.5
5.2
4. 9
2.3
2.6
1.4
1.3

1.6
3.2
4.0
1.4
1. 5
.7
.5

1.9
2.9
3.6
1.4
1.6
.8
.7

.3
.4
.5
.1
.1
,i
,i

.3
.4
.5
.2
.2
.2
.1

1.2
1.3
.4
.4
.5
.1
(4)

1.2
1.7
.6
.6
.7
.3
.4

.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1

.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1

5.1
(5)
7.1
5.1
8.7
2.0
2.2
(5)
2.7

4.3
16.8
8.7
4.2
13.4
5.6
3.3
3.0
3.0

2.1
(5)
5.2
1.1
8.4
2.2
1.6
(5)
1.2

1.5
16.5
7.7
3.8
11.8
2.1
1.6
.9
1.2

1.4
(s)
.8
.3
1.1
1.6
1.0
(5)
1.0

.9
1.8
1.1
1.0
1.3
.7
1.0
.4
.8

.2

.2
.6
.3
.1
.5

.4

.2

3.9
.5
6.7
.4
.4
(5)
(4)

.4
14.0
6.0
2.4
9.7
1.2
.4
.3
.1

.1

.3
.3
.2
.1
.2
.1

2.4
5.3
3.4

3.8
5.0
2.6

1.7
2.6
2.0

1.9
3.9
2.3

1.1
1.6
1.3

1.2
2.1
1. 4

.1
.2
.1

.2
.3
.2

.3
.7
.5

.4
1.4
.6

.2
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1

4.0
1.8
5.3
4. 5
1.1
1.8

5.5
4.0
6.2
6.8
1.4
1.7

3.6
1.6
5.3
3. 4
1.7
2.3

3. 3
1. 4
3.7
3.6
1. 5
2.5

2.5
.9
4.6
2.2
.9
1.4

2.2
.9
3.0
2.7
1.2
1.2

.5

.5
.1
.1
.2

.3
.2
.2
.7
.5
.6

.4
.1
.3
.6
.2
1.1

.3
.5
.4
.1
.2
.2

.2
.3
.3
.1
.1
.1

(5)
(«1

2.4
? 7

(5)
fsi

1 See footnote 1, table B -l. Data for the current month are subject to
revision without notation; revised figures for earlier months will be indicated by footnotes.


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

0.4
.3
.2
.3
.4

1.4
1.3

(5)
rs)

1.1
.8

(')
0)

.1
.2

«

(4)
.1

(5)

(4)

(5)
f5)

.1

.1
.4
.1
.1

.1
(4)

«

«
,i
,i

(5)
(5)

! See footnote 2, table A-2.
8See footnote 3, table A-2. Printing, publishing,
and allied industries are excluded.

.1
.3

.1
0)

(5)

.4
.3
.4
.2
.1

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4 Less than 0.05.
*Not available,

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.1
.1

.1

(*)

.1

.3

.1
.2

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

523

C: Earnings and Hours
T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1
Mining
Metal
Year and month

Total: Metal
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Iron

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Coal
Copper

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

41.3 $1,412 $65. 81
39.8 1.484 63.96

Lead and zinc
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

1948: Average_____ $60. 80
1949: Average........... 61.55

42.4 $1. 434 $58. 32
40.9 1.505 59.06

1949: July...................
August.............
September___
October...........
November___
December........

58. 75
58.18
58. 96
59. 63
52. 73
62.32

39.4
39.5
39.6
40.1
35.7
41.6

1.491
1.473
1.489
1.487
1.477
1.498

56. 97
57. 32
59. 15
54. 46
38.78
58.85

38.7
39.1
39.3
35.5
26.6
40.2

1.472
1.466
1.505
1.534
1.458
1.464

59. 43
56.20
58. 27
59.20
59. 70
64.26

39.7
38.0
39.4
40.3
40. 2
42.5

1.497
1.479
1.479
1.469
1. 485
1.512

1950: January............ 63. 71
February......... 62. 81
M arch_______ 61.81
April................. 62. 90
May............ 63.11
June_________ 63. 40
July____ ____ 64.11

42.0
41.9
41.1
41.6
41.6
41.6
41.6

1.517
1.499
1.504
1.512
1.517
1.524
1.541

58. 68
59. 62
57. 57
59. 62
59.33
60.75
62.52

39.7
40.5
38.9
40. 2
39.9
40.8
41.6

1.478
1. 472
1.480
1. 483
1.487
1.489
1.503

71.96
68. 49
68. 58
68.13
69.42
69. 55
70. 27

45.4
44.3
44.3
43.9
44.5
44.3
44.0

1.585
1.546
1.548
1. 552
1.560
1.570
1. 597

45.2 $1. 456 $61. 37
42.3 1.512 64. 79

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

36.8 $1. 809 $72.12
30.2 1.880 63.28

38.0
32.6

$1. 898
1.941

61.41
59. 87
60. 34
61.95
61. 99
67.68

39.9
40.1
40.2
40.7
40.7
43.3

1.539
1.493
1. 501
1.522
1.523
1.563

66.08
42.80
59.24
75. 81
67.94
42.22

35.0
23.4
31.8
39.2
35.7
22.0

1.888
1.829
1.863
1.934
1.903
1.919

47.94
49. 51
52. 46
63. 10
68. 17
48.74

25.1
26.1
27.0
31.9
34.1
25.4

1.910
1.897
1.943
1.978
1.999
1.919

65.18
63.38
63. 45
63. 55
63. 71
63.42
63.08

42.3
41.7
41.8
41.4
41.4
40.5
39.8

1.541
1. 520
1. 518
1. 535
1.539
1. 566
1.585

44.60
40.23
80. 01
57. 25
68. 81
64.94
68.13

23.9
20.6
41.5
29.0
34.7
32.6
34.6

1.866
1.953
1.928
1. 974
1.983
1.992
1.969

47. 36
49.83
78. 75
72. 79
68.37
70.09
68.88

24.5
25.4
39.2
36.0
34.1
34.8
34.2

1.933
1.962
2. 009
2.022
2.005
2.014
2.014

Contract construction
Nonbuilding construction

Nonmetallic mining
and quarrying

Petroleum and natu­
ral gas production

Total: Contract construction
Total: Nonbuilding
construction

1948: Average............ $66.68
1949: Average_____ 71.48

40.0 $1.667 $55. 31
40.2 1.778 56.38

44.5 $1. 243 $68. 25
43.3 1.302 70.81

1949: July_________ 72. 54
August______ 70.74
September___ 72. 40
October........... 73.87
November___ 71. 20
December....... 71.52

40.3
40.1
40.4
41.2
40.0
40.0

1.800
1.764
1.792
1.793
1.780
1.788

56. 77
57.86
56.68
57. 77
55.77
55.08

43.4
44.3
43 2
44.2
42.7
42.4

1.308
1.306
1.312
1.307
1.306
1.299

1950: January_____
February____
M arch..............
April________
M ay ..................
June............ .
J u ly .................

41.8
40.0
39.8
41.2
40.0
39.9
41.9

1.824
1.797
1.781
1.806
1.772
1.782
1.815

53. 36
54. 36
55.37
58.03
59. 45
60.70
61.15

41.4
41.4
41.6
43. 6
44.4
45.2
44.8

1.289
1.313
1.331
1.331
1.339
1.343
1.365

76.24
71.88
70. 88
74. 41
70.88
71.10
76.05

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Bituminous

41.3 $1. 486 $66. 57
41.4 1.565 56.78

Mining—Continued
Crude petroleum and
natural gas production

Anthracite

Highway and street

Other nonbuilding
construction

38.1 $1. 790 $66. 61
37.8 1.874 70.44

40.6 $1. 639 $62. 41
40.9 1. 723 65.65

41.6 $1. 500 $68.67
41.5 1.583 73.66

40.0
40.5

$1,716
1.820

71.55
72.12
70. 73
72.06
70. 12
69.75

38.6
38.7
37.7
38.3
37.1
36.4

1.856
1.862
1.874
1.881
1.891
1.917

72.20
72.56
70. 82
72. 71
69 90
68.15

42.2
42.4
40.9
41.8
39.9
38.3

1.712
1.712
1.730
1. 741
1.754
1.777

68.17
68. 55
66. 75
68. 37
65. 30
60.75

43.3
43.4
41.6
42.3
40.6
37.0

1. 575
1.578
1.607
1.617
1.610
1.644

75. 21
75.69
73.81
75.83
72. 96
72.76

41.4
41. 5
40.5
41.4
39.4
39.2

1.818
1.822
1.823
3.831
1.852
1.855

68.01
66.89
68. 59
70.93
72. 74
73. 64
74.02

35.2
34.3
35.1
36.6
37.3
37.9
37.9

1.932
1.950
1.954
1.938
1.950
1.943
1.953

65.56
66. 94
68. 34
71.41
71.71
73.53
73.29

37.4
37.8
38.7
40.9
40.7
41.8
41.2

1.753
1.771
1.766
1. 746
1.762
1.759
1.779

58.43
61.96
63.68
66. 54
68.06
69.09
68.47

35.5
37.3
38.2
40.7
41.0
42.0
40.9

1.646
1.661
1.667
1.635
1.660
1.645
1.674

69.57
69. 50
70. 76
74.33
74.20
76. 71
77.15

38.5
38.0
38.9
41.0
40.5
41.6
41.5

1.807
1.829
1.819
1. 813
1.832
1.844
1.859

Contract construction —Continued
Building construction
Special-trade contractors
Total: Building
construction

1948: A verage.......... $68.85
1949: Average............ 70.95

General contractors
Total: Special-trade
contractors

37.3 $1,848 $64. 64
36.7 1.935 67.16

36.6 $1. 766 $73.87
36.2 1.855 75.70

Plumbing and
heating

Painting and
decorating

38.0 $1.946 $76. 83
37.2 2.034 78.60

39.2 $1,960 $69. 77
38.6 2. 037 70.75

Electrical work

36.3 $1. 925 $83.01
35.7 1.982 86.57

39.8
39.2

$2.084
2.211

1949: July____ ____
A u g u st...........
September___
October........ .
N ovem ber___
December____

71.28
71.95
70.69
71.80
70. 21
70.26

37.1
37.2
36.5
36.9
36.1
35.8

1.922
1.932
1.938
1.944
1. 947
1.964

67.33
68. 02
66.64
67.89
66. 34
65. 99

36.6
36.8
36.0
36.5
35.7
35.1

1.838
1.848
1.854
1.861
1.856
1.880

76.59
76. 99
75.80
76. 51
74. 81
75.15

37.7
37.8
37.2
37.5
36.4
36.5

2.032
2.036
2.040
2.041
2. 053
2.057

78.08
79.13
79. 15
80.32
78. 12
80.19

38.8
38.9
38.6
38.9
37.5
38.7

2.013
2.033
2. 052
2. 064
2.085
2.071

72.18
72.51
71.59
71.41
68.88
69.40

36.7
36.4
35.7
35.7
34.5
34.8

1.968
1.992
2.006
2.001
1.996
1.997

86.41
87. 80
85.80
86. 49
85.28
86. 85

39.2
39.7
38.8
39.0
38.2
39.2

2.202
2.210
2.210
2. 215
2.233
2.217

1950: January........ .
February.........
M arch_______
April________
M a y ................
June_________
July--------------

68. 76
67. 00
68.83
70.70
72.93
73. 74
73.96

34.8
33.7
34.5
35. 6
36.5
37.0
37.0

1.976
1.988
1.995
1. 986
1.998
1.993
1.999

63. 58
61. 60
63.80
65. 98
67.87
68.11
68.96

34.0
32.8
33.9
35.3
36.1
36.5
36.7

1.870
1.878
1.882
1.869
1.880
1.866
1.879

73.49
71.00
72. 59
74.49
76. 95
78.39
78. 29

35.5
34.3
34.9
35.9
36.8
37.4
37.3

2.070
2. 070
2. 080
2. 075
2.091
2.096
2. 099

78. 32
75. 65
78.02
78. 78
81.14
82.97
81.52

38.0
36.9
37.6
37. 8
38.4
39.1
38.6

2. 061
2.050
2. 075
2.084
2.113
2.122
2.112

67. 49
67.16
66.30
66. 61
69.06
68. 80
70.91

33.9
33. 8
33.5
34.3
35.0
34.8
35.4

1.991
1.987
1.979
1. 942
1.973
1.977
2.003

86. 88
87. 58
83. 62
84.85
86.18
86.98
85. 65

38.7
38.7
37.0
37.1
37.8
38.2
37.5

2.245
2.263
2. 260
2. 287
2. 280
2. 277
2. 284

See footnotes at end oi table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

524

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
Contract construction—Continued
Building construction—Continued
Special-trade contractors—Continued
Year and month
Other special-trade
contractors
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Plastering and
lathing

Masonry

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings hours

36.9 $1. 888 $69.61
36.1 1.979 68. 72

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

35.4 $1.969 $78. 52
33.8 2.033 80.39

Roofing and sheetmetal work

Carpentry

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

36.1 $2,175 $67.98
34.9 2. 301 67.14

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

37.9 $1. 792 $62.47
36.6 1.837 62.86

1948: Average........
1949: Average------

$69.65
71.39

1949: J u ly ..............
August..........
Septem ber..,
October........ .
N ovem ber...
Decem ber...

73.46
73.36
71.58
72. 26
70. 77
69.18

36.8
36.9
36.1
36.5
35.7
34.6

1.998
1.988
1.982
1.978
1.984
2. 001

71.47
71.36
66.31
70.60
71.68
60.92

35.1
35.3
32.9
34.7
35.0
29.8

2.037
2.021
2.015
2.035
2.047
2.044

84. 59
83.13
84.39
81.11
74. 76
77.50

36.0
35.7
36.3
35.0
32. 5
33.5

2.352
2.330
2.322
2.316
2.302
2. 311

66. 40
66.45
67.22
68. 46
69. 57
67.89

37.0
36.3
35.8
36.1
36.3
35.9

1.795
1.831
1.876
1.896
1.915
1.889

64.50
64. 53
62.95
65.96
63. 73
61.30

1950: January........
February__
M arch...........
A pril______
M a y _______
June..............
July________

67. 87
64.12
67. 76
71.44
74.46
76. 37
76.93

33.4
31.6
33.1
35.0
36.2
37.0
37.2

2. 032
2. 029
2. 047
2. 041
2.057
2. 064
2.068

61.68
54. 29
58. 00
67. 39
70.98
74.41
74.30

30.0
26.1
28.1
32. 2
33.8
35.0
34.8

2.056
2. 080
2. 064
2. 093
2.100
2.126
2.135

75. 57
75. 44
81.09
83. 66
88.86
90. 93
89.43

32.6
32.2
33.9
34. 7
35.7
36.2
35.8

2. 318
2.343
2. 392
2.411
2.489
2. 512
2.498

66. 51
58. 66
63.49
64.79
65. 58
66. 21
66.67

35.7
32.0
34.3
36.5
36.7
37.3
38.9

1.863
1.833
1.851
1. 775
1.787
1.775
1.714

58.50
53. 64
57.99
61.64
65. 05
65.66
65.67

Excavation and
foundation work

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

36.5 $1. 710 $66. 44
35.7 1. 75S 69.66

38.9
37.8

$1. 709
1.844

36.8
36.7
36.0
37.1
35.9
34.1

1.753
1.759
1.750
1.777
1.775
1.799

71.93
72. 51
70.58
72.22
69. 46
66.80

38.6
38.9
37.6
38.4
37.3
35.4

1.863
1.863
1.878
1.882
1.864
1.890

32.3
30.0
31.9
34.3
35.9
36.6
36.4

1.811
1.788
1.818
1. 797
1.812
1.794
1.804

65.57
62. 62
67.69
73. 59
74.10
75.74
74.10

34, 4
33.2
35.7
39. 1
39.0
39.8
39.0

1.906
1.886
1.896
1. 882
1.900
1.903
1.900

Manufacturing
Food and kindred products
Total: Manufac­
turing

Durable goods1

40.1 $1.350 $57.11
39.2 1.401 58.03

Nondurable goods 3

40.5 $1,410 $50. 61
39.5 1. 469 51.41

Total: Ordnance
and accessories

39.6 $1,278 $57. 20
38.8 1.325 58. 76

Total: Food and
kindred products

41.6 $1,375 $51.87
40.0 1.469 53. 58

1948: Average........ .
1949: Average........ .

$54.14
54.92

1949: July................
August......... .
Septem ber...
October____
N ovem ber...
D ecem ber...

54.63
54. 70
55. 72
55. 26
54. 43
56.04

38.8
39.1
39 6
39.7
39.1
39.8

1.408
1.399
1. 407
1.392
1.392
1.408

57.31
57.89
58.69
58.17
56.82
59.19

38.8
39.3
39.6
39.9
39.0
40.1

1.477
1.473
1.482
1.458
1.457
1.476

51. 55
51.31
52.59
52.47
52. 07
52.69

38.7
38.9
39.6
39.6
39.3
39.5

1.332
1.319
1.328
1.325
1.325
1.334

59.64
58. 44
59. 76
59.97
59.82
60. 85

40.3
39.7
40.3
40.3
40.2
40.7

1.480
1.472
1.483
1. 488
1.488
1.495

54.69
53.00
53.63
53, 83
54.16
54. 57

1950: January........ .
February___
M arch_____
April---------M a y ..............
June..............
July------------

56. 29
56.37
56. 53
56.93
57. 54
58.70
59. 21

39.7
39.7
39.7
39. 7
39.9
40.4
40.5

1.418
1.420
1.424
1. 434
1.442
1.453
1.462

59. 40
59. 47
59. 74
61.01
61.57
62.90
63.05

40.0
40.1
40.2
40.7
40.8
41.3
41.1

1.485
1. 483
1.486
1.499
1. 509
1. 523
1.534

52. 91
53. 06
53.04
52. 17
52.83
53.74
54.65

39.4
39.3
39.2
38. 5
38.9
39.4
39.8

1.343
1. 350
1.353
1. 355
1.358
1.364
1.373

60.70
60. 88
61.31
61.43
61.66
61.90
64. 52

40.2
40.4
40.6
40.6
40.7
40.7
42.2

1.510
1.507
1.510
1.513
1.515
1.521
1.529

54.94
54. 05
54. 42
54.14
54.90
56.10
56.94

Meat products

42.0 $1,235 $58. 37
41.5 1.291 57. 44

43.3
41.5

$1.348
1.384

42.2
41.7
41.8
41.7
41.6
41.4

1.296
1.271
1.283
1.291
1.302
1.318

58.02
56. 87
57.78
56.51
60.23
60.98

41.8
41.0
41.6
41.1
42.9
43.4

1.388
1.387
1.389
1.375
1.404
1.405

41.4
40.7
40.7
40.4
41.0
41.8
42.3

1.327
1. 328
1.337
1. 340
1.339
1.342
1.346

60.19
55. 99
56.14
55.64
57.10
58.19
59.57

42.9
40.4
40.3
39. 8
40.7
41.3
41.8

1.403
1.386
1.393
1.398
1.403
1.409
1.425

Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Meat packing
1948: Average-------- $59.15
1949: Average............ 58.02

Dairy products

43.4 $1.363 $52.26
41.5 1.398 54. 61

Canning and
preserving

Grain-mill products

45.4 $1.151 $42.63
44.8 1.219 43. 77

38.2 $1.116 $54. 53
38.8 1.128 56. 94

Flour and other
grain-mill products

Prepared feeds

44.3 $1.231 $57. 23
43.8 1.300 58. 91

46.3 $1,236 $51.01
44.7 1.318 54.98

45.3
46.2

$1.126
1.190

1949: July_________
August______
September___
October_____
November___
December____

58. 55
57.34
58.31
56. 89
61.03
61.99

41.7
40.9
41.5
40.9
42.8
43.5

1.404
1.402
1.405
1.391
1.426
1.425

55. 71
54. 72
55.28
54. 76
53. 95
54. 29

45.7
45.0
44.4
44.2
43.9
44.1

1.219
1.216
1.245
1.239
1.229
1.231

43.59
44. 27
44.79
45.92
41.29
43.26

39.7
40.8
40.1
40.0
37.1
36.6

1.098
1.085
1.117
1.148
1.113
1.182

59.75
57.46
58. 92
58.56
55.81
56. 76

45.4
44.0
44.3
44.4
42.8
43.1

1.316
1.306
1.330
1.319
1.304
1.317

61.13
58.70
62. 70
62. 88
57. 77
59.54

46.1
44.3
45.8
46.0
43.4
44.1

1.326
1.325
1.369
1.367
1.331
1.350

57.14
55.75
56. 57
55. 67
54. 49
54.10

47.7
46.3
47.1
46.7
45.6
45.2

1.198
1. 204
1.201
1.192
1.195
1.197

1950: January............
February____
March_______
April-----------M a y ..................
June________
July_________

61.16
56. 50
56. 92
56. 22
57. 55
58.73
59.95

43.1
40.3
40.4
39.7
40.5
41.1
41.6

1.419
1. 402
1.409
1. 416
1.421
1.429
1.441

55.67
54. 88
54. 63
54. 79
55. 02
55.80
57.25

44.5
43.8
43.7
43.9
44.3
45.0
45.4

1.251
1.253
1.250
1. 248
1.242
1.240
1.261

45.15
44. 94
44. 79
44. 32
45. 01
45. 86
47.82

38.2
37.7
36.8
36.3
37.2
38.8
41.4

1.182
1.192
1. 217
1.221
1.210
1.182
1.155

56. 46
55. 48
56. 83
55. 82
56.35
58. 65
60.83

42.9
42.0
42.6
42.1
42.4
44.0
44.6

1.316
1.321
1.334
1.321
1.329
1.333
1.364

60. 03
58.02
58. 28
56.16
57.36
58.82
62.28

44.3
43.2
43.3
42.1
42.9
43.6
45.1

1.355
1.343
1.346
1.334
1.337
1.349
1.381

53. 22
51.37
54.86
56.06
55.72
57.53
60.66

44.5
42.7
44.6
45.5
44.9
46.7
47.5

1.196
1.203
1.230
1. 232
1.241
1.232
1.277

See footnotes at end of table.


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

525

0: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours
$49.35
1948: A verage...
1949: Average............ 51.67

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Confectionery and
related products

Sugar

Bakery products

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

42.4 $1.164 $52.04
41.7 1.239 56.01

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

41.8 $1. 245 $44.00
42.4 1.321 45.12

Beverages

Confectionery

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

40.0 $1.100 $41. 46
40.0 1.128 42.63

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Bottled soft drinks

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

39.6 $1,047 $61.43
39.8 1.071 64. 21

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.9 $1,466 $46.26
41.0 1.566 48.40

44.1
43.8

$1.049
1.105

1949: J u ly .- ______
August____ September. .
October____
November
December___

52.62
51.83
52. 88
52.29
52.12
52.16

42.2
41.5
42.1
41.6
41.4
41.3

1.247
1.249
1.256
1.257
1.259
1.263

57.72
56.53
59.17
53. 71
60.82
54. 91

42.5
41.2
43.6
42.9
48.0
42.4

1.358
1.372
1.357
1.252
1.267
1.295

43.69
45.39
47.70
48. 52
45.86
45. 35

38.8
40.2
42.1
42 6
40.8
40.6

1.126
1.129
1.133
1.139
1.124
1.117

41.39
42.80
44 03
44 83
43. 44
42.98

38.9
40.0
41.3
41.7
40.9
40.7

1.064
1.070
1.066
1.075
1.062
1.056

68. 79
66. 24
64.92
64.40
63.60
63.12

42.7
41.4
40.7
40.5
40.1
39.7

1.611
1.600
1.595
1. 590
1.586
1.590

50. 69
49.88
48. 32
49. 37
48 24
46.07

44.9
44.1
43.3
45.0
43.7
42.0

1.129
1.131
1.116
1.097
1.104
1.097

1950: January_____
February____
M arch.__ __ _
April-----------M a y __ _____
June____ ____
Ju ly ________

52.07
52. 96
52. 75
52. 37
53.12
53.42
53.87

41.1
41.6
41.5
41. 2
41.6
41.9
41.6

1. 267
1.273
1.271
1.271
1.277
1.275
1.295

55. 78
55. 44
55. 92
55. 32
57.59
59.19
66.14

39.9
39. 8
40.2
39.4
41.4
42.4
45.8

1.398
1.393
1.391
1. 404
1.391
1.396
1.444

45. 59
45. 26
45.19
43. 77
45.36
46. 57
46. 21

40.2
39.7
39.4
37.9
39.1
39.6
38.8

1.134
1.140
1.147
1.155
1.160
1.176
1.191

42.75
42. 60
42. 92
41. 59
43.56
44.45
44. 20

39.8
39.3
39.2
37.6
39.0
39.3
38.4

1.074
1.084
1.095
1.106
1.117
1.131
1.151

63. 52
64.52
65.16
66. 38
66. 71
68.92
70.75

39.7
40.0
40.1
40.7
41.1
42.0
42.8

1.600
1.613
1.625
1.631
1.623
1.641
1.653

46. 67
46. 98
46. 72
47. 90
48. 64
51.13
50. 53

42. 5
42.4
41.9
42.5
43.2
44.0
43.0

1.098
1.108
1.115
1.127
1.126
1.162
1.175

Manufacturing—Continued
Tobacco manufactures

Food and kindred products—Continued
M alt liquors
1948: Average_____ $66.40
1949: Average___
69.46

Distilled, rectified,
and blended liquors

42.0 $1. 581 $54.92
41.1 1.690 57.00

Miscellaneous food
products

40.5 $1.356 $49. 74
39.2 1.454 52.17

Total: Tobacco
manufactures

42.3 $1.176 $36.50
41.9 1.245 37.25

Cigarettes

38.1 $0.958 $44.51
37.1 1.004 46. 33

Cigars

38.6 $1.153 $32.71
37.7 1.229 32.41

37.6
36.7

$0,870
.884

1949: J u ly ...............
August_____
September___
October. . .
November___
December___

75.60
72.02
69.46
69.33
67. 52
68.14

43.3
41.7
40.5
40.1
39.3
39.8

1.746
1. 727
1. 715
1.729
1.718
1.712

56.42
57.14
60.18
58. 30
62.28
56. 77

39.1
38.9
40.2
39. 5
41.3
38.0

1.443
1.469
1.497
1.476
1.508
1.494

52.33
53 04
52. 50
53. 38
53.13
53.00

42.3
42.5
42.2
42.5
42.1
42.0

1.237
1.248
1.244
1.256
1.262
1.262

38.19
38.58
38. 39
37. 86
38.46
38. 76

37.4
38.7
38.9
38 2
38.0
38.0

1.021
.997
.987
.991
1.012
1.020

48.13
48.90
47.92
46.73
47.81
48. 53

39.1
39.5
38.9
37.9
38.9
38.7

1.231
1. 238
1.232
1.233
1.229
1.254

32.13
32. 81
33. 71
33. 45
34.16
32. 60

36.6
37.2
38.0
37.8
38.0
36.8

.878
.882
.887
.885
.899
.886

1950: January_____
February____
M arch_______
April________
M a y ________
J u n e.- _____
July..................

68. 52
69. 32
70. 42
72.19
72.82
74. 95
77.38

39.7
40.0
40.1
40. 9
41.4
42.2
43.4

1.726
1.733
1.756
1. 765
1.759
1.776
1.783

59.70
58. 67
58. 45
57. 66
57. 47
59.12
59.45

39.8
38.5
39.2
38.8
38.7
39.6
39.4

1.500
1.524
1.491
1.486
1.485
1.493
1.509

53. 21
52. 65
53. 71
53.15
53.16
54. 77
56.29

41.8
41.1
41.6
41.2
41.6
42.1
42.2

1.273
1.281
1.291
1.290
1.278
1.301
1.334

39. 25
38. 48
39. 49
38. 59
39. 67
41.63
42.01

38.0
36.2
36.7
35.5
36.7
38.3
38.4

1.033
1.063
1.076
1.087
1.081
1.087
1.094

49.15
46. 96
48. 65
48. 41
47. 99
51.21
52.24

39.1
37.3
38.7
38.0
37.7
40.1
40.4

1. 257
1. 259
1. 257
1.274
1.273
1.277
1.293

33. 25
33. 87
33. 71
31. 38
34.49
35. 53
35.03

36.5
35.8
35.3
33.0
36.3
37.2
36.8

.911
.946
.955
.951
.950
.955
.952

Manufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products

Tobacco manufactures—Continued
Tobacco and snuff

Tobacco stemming
and redrying

Total: Textile-mill
products

40.0 $0. 856 $45. 59
.893 44.83
38.3

Yarn and thread
mills

39.2 $1.163 $41.49
37.7 1.189 40. 51

Yarn mills

38.1 $1.089 $41. 42
36.4 1.113 40. 55

37.9 $1. 093 $46.13
36.3 1.117 44. 48

39.6
37.5

$1.165
1.186

1.119
1 108
1.111
1.119
1.123
1.119

42.87
44. 41
45.74
47. 52
47. 76
48.40

36.3
37.6
38.5
39.6
39.8
40.3

1.181
1.181
1.188
1.200
1.200
1.201

1.118
1.128
1.127
1.126
1.135
1.133
1.142

48.16
48.16
47. 72
45. 81
45.82
46. 80
47.44

40.0
40.1
39.8
38.4
38.5
39.1
39.5

1.204
1.201
1.199
1.193
1.190
1.197
1.201

1948: Average______ $37. 21
1949: Average______ 39.10

37.7 $0. 987 $34. 24
37.2 1.051 34.20

1949: Ju ly________
August _____
September__
October______
November
December___

40.02
40.35
40.92
39.81
39. 76
41.46

37.4
38.1
38.1
37.7
37.4
38.6

1.070
1.069
1.074
1.056
1.063
1.074

36.22
36.59
34.47
33. 82
32.24
36.80

36.4
42.9
42.3
40.5
36.1
40.4

. 995
.853
.815
.835
.893
.911

43 26
44.37
45. 82
47.04
47.20
47.64

36.6
37.6
38.6
39.4
39.5
39.8

1.182
1.180
1.187
1 194
1.195
1.197

39.73
40.33
42. 07
43.00
43.46
44.08

35.6
36.5
37.9
38.5
38.8
39.5

1.116
1.105
1.110
1.117
1.120
1.116

39.84
40.33
41.88
42.97
43.46
43.98

35.6
36.4
37.7
38.4
38.7
39.3

1950: January..........
February____
M arch______
April________
M a y _______
J une ______
July.............. .

40. 69
40. 04
40. 92
41.96
40.88
43.39
44.68

37.4
36.3
36.8
37.4
35.7
38.6
39.3

1.088
1.103
1.112
1.122
1.145
1.124
1.137

37. 58
35.34
39.58
39.14
37.19
40.11
40.16

41.8
35.3
38. 5
38.0
36.5
38.6
39.1

.899
1.001
1.028
1.030
1.019
1. 039
1.027

47. 36
47. 88
47. 39
45. 51
45. 63
46. 71
47.19

39.4
39.6
39. 2
37. 8
37.9
38.7
39.0

1.202
1.209
1.209
1.204
1.204
1.207
1.210

43. 67
43. 84
42. 67
40.80
41.62
42.86
43.40

39.2
39.0
38.0
36.4
36.9
38.0
38.2

1.114
1.124
1.123
1.121
1.128
1.128
1.136

43. 60
43. 88
42. 60
40.65
41.77
43. 05
43.62

39.0
38.9
37.8
36.1
36.8
38.0
38.2

See fo o tn o te s a t e nd o f tab le .


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

Broad-woven fabric
mills

526

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products—Continued
Cotton, silk, syn­
thetic fiber <

Woolen and worsted

Knitting mills

Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly wkly.
hrly.
earn­ hours earn­
ings
ings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly wkly
hrly.
earn­ hours earn­
ings
ings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
hrly.
earn­ hours earn­
ings
ings

Year and month

1948: Average........... $44.36
1949: Average_____ 42.89

39.4 $1,126 $52.45
37.2 1.153 51.19

40.1 $1,308 $41.14
38.9 1.316 41.47

1949: July________
August............
September___
October_____
November___
December___

40.46
42 71
44.24
46 09
46. 56
47.19

35.4
37.2
38.3
39 6
39.9
40.4

1.143
1.148
1.155
1 164
1.167
1.168

52. 25
51.16
51.94
53 25
52. 51
53.37

39.7
39.2
39.5
39 8
39.6
40.1

1.316
1. 305
1.315
1 338
1.326
1.331

1950: January........ .
February____
March...... ......
April. ____ _
May________
June................
July.................

47.04
47.07
46. 88
44. 66
44.35
45.12
45.98

40.1
40.2
40.0
38.4
38.3
38.8
39.3

1.173
1.171
1.172
1.163
1.158
1.163
1.170

52. 92
52.51
51.00
50.94
51.94
53.36
53.85

39.7
39.6
38.9
38.8
39.5
40.3
40.4

1.333
1.326
1.311
1. 313
1.315
1.324
1.333

Full-fashioned
hosiery *

Seamless hosiery «

Knit outerwear

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
hrly wkly. wkly. hrly. wkly. wkly. hrly.
earn­ hours earn­ earn­ hours
earn­ earn­ hours earn­
ings
ings
ings
ings
ings
ings

37.5 $1,097 $52.85
36.8 1.127 52.09

38.8 $1,362 $30.27
37.5 1.389 31.45

35.2 $0. 860 $39.75
35.5
.886 40.96

38.0
38.1

$1,046
1.075

40.44
41.11
42. 22
43 68
43.28
42.34

36.3
37.0
37.8
38 9
38.4
37.6

1.114
1.111
1.117
1 123
1.127
1.126

50.26
51.56
52. 72
55. 02
54.86
53.15

36.5
37.5
38.2
39. 5
39.1
37.8

1.377
1.375
1.380
1 393
1.403
1.406

30. 61
31.40
31.86
33.76
33.68
33.42

35.3
35.8
36.0
37.8
37.5
37.3

.867
.877
.885
.893
.898
.896

39.93
39. 61
40. 69
42. 51
42.34
41.16

38.1
37.8
38.5
39.8
39.5
38.4

1.048
1.048
1.057
1.068
1.072
1.072

41.73
43.38
43. 55
40. 60
40. 67
41.96
42. 74

36.8
37.2
37.0
35.0
35.0
36.3
37.0

1.134
1.166
1.177
1.160
1.162
1.156
1.155

51.53
53.16
54. 25
49.02
49. 76
50. 71
52. 02

36.6
37.2
38.1
35.6
36.4
37.4
38.0

1.408
1.429
1.424
1.377
1.367
1.356
1.369

32. 92
34. 50
33. 29
31.78
31.17
33.23
33.33

36.3
36.2
34.5
32.8
32.2
34.4
34.9

.907
.953
.965
.969
.968
.966
.955

41.47
42.74
43.80
43.05
42. 75
43. 38
41.88

37.8
38.3
38.9
38.2
37.9
38.7
37.8

1.097
1.116
1.126
1.127
1.128
1.121
1.108

Manufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products—Continued
Knit underwear
1948: Average___
1949: Average__

$37. 40
36.34

1949: July............
August___
September.
October___

Dyeing and finishing
textiles

Carpets, rugs, other
floor coverings

Wool carpets, rugs,
and carpet yam

Other textile-mill
products

Fur-felt hats and
hat bodies

37.7 $0.992 $51.00
36.2 1.004 51.50

41.0 $1,244 $58.13
40.3 1.278 56.80

42.0 $1,384 $58.09
39.5 1.438 56.23

41.7 $1,393 $47.96
38.7 1.453 47.89

39.7 $1,208 $49.17
38.9 1.231 49.21

36.5
35.3

$1.347
1.394

December..

36 00
36.85
38.85
38. 78
37. 71
37.07

36.0
37.0
38.7
38 7
37.6
37.0

1.000
.996
1.004
1.002
1.003
1.002

48.76
50.59
52. 31
52 69
52.91
53.84

38.7
39.9
40.8
41 2
41.3
41.9

1.260
1.268
1.282
1.279
1.281
1.285

53.78
54.14
56.10
57.26
58.57
59. 99

37.9
38.1
39.2
39 0
40.7
41.4

1.419
1.421
1.431
1. 435
1.439
1.449

51.98
53.24
55.40
57.31
58.67
60. 58

36.4
37.1
38.1
39.2
40.1
41.1

1.428
1. 435
1.454
1 462
1.463
1.474

47.66
47 48
49. 56
48. 87
48.18
49.64

38.5
38.6
39.9
39.6
39.2
40.1

1,238
1.230
1.242
1. 234
1.229
1.250

52. 58
50. 41
49.49
45. 55
45.86
50.55

87.4
36.4
35.5
33.3
32.9
35.7

1.412
1.385
1.394
1.368
1.394
1.416

1950: January__
February..
March____
A p ril.........
May...........
June_____
July............

37.29
38.42
38. 40
35. 71
35.26
36. 30
38. 31

36.7
37.3
37.1
34.5
34.0
34.9
36.8

1.016
1.030
1.035
1.035
1.037
1.040
1.041

52.03
53.37
52.42
50.89
49. 25
51.22
50. 71

40.3 1.291
41. 5 1.286
40.7 1.288
39.6 1.285
38.3 1.286
39.8 1.287
39.4 1.287

60. 44
60. 80
60. 99
59.15
60. 61
60. 94
59. 59

41.4
41.5
41.6
40.4
41.2
41.4
40.4

1.460
1. 465
1. 466
1.464
1.471
1.472
1.475

61.41
61.62
61.81
60. 48
61.68
61.99
59. 54

41.3
41.3
41.4
40.4
41.2
41.3
39.8

1.487
1.492
1.493
1.497
1.497
1.501
1.496

49. 80
50.91
49. 75
49. 29
49.95
51.23
51.68

40.0
40.6
39.8
39.4
39.8
40.5
40.6

1.245
1.254
1. 250
1.251
1.255
1.265
1.273

53. 44
53.03
44.84
40.02
48. 72
52.69
51.39

37.5
37.4
32.9
29.0
34.6
37.0
36.5

1.425
1.418
1.363
1.380
1.408
1.424
1.408

November.

Manufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products
Total: Apparel and
other finished tex­
tile products
1948: Average__
1949: Average__

$42. 79
41.89

1949: July............
August.......
September.
October__
November..
December..
1950: January__
February..
March____
A p ril........
May______
June______
July............

Men’s and boys’
suits and coats

Men’s and boys’ fur­
nishings and work
clothing

Shirts, collars, and
nightwear

Separate trousers

36.2 $1.182 $50.11
35.8 1.170 46. 67

36.6 $1. 869 $33.20
34.7 1.345 33.30

36.2 $0.917 $33.50
36.2
.920 33.37

36.1 $0.928 $35.31
36.0
.927 34.91

41.03
41.95
44. 01
42 63
40.38
41.82

35.4
35. 7
36.8
36.5
35.7
35.9

1.159
1.175
1.196
1.168
1.131
1.165

44.93
44.96
47.90
46. 20
44. 48
46.64

34.4
33.5
35.4
34.3
32.9
34.7

1.306
1.342
1.353
1.347
1.352
1.344

33.03
32.80
33. 87
34.35
33.82
33. 82

36.1
36.4
36.9
37 5
36.8
36.8

.915
.901
.918
.916
.919
.919

32.68
32.02
33. 21
34 30
34.78
34. 52

34.8
35. 7
36.3
37 4
37.6
37.2

.939
.897
.915
.917
.925
.928

42. 70
44. 48
43. 50
40. 80
41.27
41.81
43. 31

36.0
36.7
36.4
35.2
35.7
35.8
36.3

1.186
1. 212
1.195
1.159
1.156
1.168
1.193

47. 72
49. 88
50.81
47.46
48. 92
49. 24
49. 58

35.4
37.0
37.5
35.5
36.7
36.8
37.0

1.348
1.348
1.355
1.337
1.333
1.338
1.340

33.63
35. 64
35. 62
35. 00
35. 29
35. 51
35. 57

36.2
36.4
36.2
35.5
35.9
36.2
36.3

.929
.979
.984
.986
.983
.981
.980

33.43
35.19
35.40
35.02
34.81
34.65
34. 75

35.6
36.2
36.2
35.7
35.7
35.5
35.6

.939
.972
.978
.981
.975
.976
.976

See footnotes at end of table.


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

Work shirts

35.7 $0.989 $26. 49
35.7
.978 27.44

85.7
35.5

$0.742
.773

33.56
34.63
35.79
34 13
33.60
34.14

35.4
35.7
36.6
35 4
34.6
35.3

.948
.970
.978
.964
.971
.967

27.60
27.33
28.19
28.27
28.22
27.58

35.7
36.1
36.7
27.1
36.7
35.4

.773
.757
.768
.762
.769
.779

36. 47
39.26
39.77
39.33
39. 81
39. 52
38.70

36.8
37.9
38.2
38.0
38.1
38.0
37.5

.991
1. 036
1.041
1.035
1.045
1.040
1.032

27.80
30. 55
30. 43
29.75
31.18
30. 53
30. 95

35.6
35.4
35.3
34.0
35.8
35.3
35.7

.781
.863
.862
.875
.871
.865
.867

527

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con;
Manufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
Year and month

Women’s outerwear
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Women’s dresses

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

35.1 $1. 46 7 $48. 72
34.7 1.432 47.20

1948: Average_____ $51.49
1949: Average_____ 49. 69

Household apparel

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

Women’s suits, coats, Women’sand children’s Underwear and night­
wear, except corsets
undergarments
and skirts

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

34.8 $1. 400 $31. 59
34.4 1.372 32.23

36.1 $0. 875 $70. 60
36.5
.883 66.38

35.0 $2. 017 $35. 32
33.8 1.964 35.79

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

36.6 $0.965 $34.12
36.6
.978 34.08

36.3
36.1

$0. 940
.944

1949: July________
August.........September___
October .......
November___
December___

48.51
50. 40
53. 13
49. 49
45.80
49.13

33.9
34.4
35.8
34.2
33.6
34.5

1.431
1.465
1.484
1. 447
1.363
1.424

42.66
46. 21
50. 20
46.98
44. 99
47.40

33.2
34.1
35.4
33.7
33.3
34.5

1.285
1.355
1.418
1.394
1.351
1.374

30.71
30. 85
33.08
31.45
31.90
31.23

85.1
35.3
37.8
35.9
36.5
35.9

.875
.874
.875
.876
.874
.870

66.05
67. 61
69. 73
64.88
58.33
63.67

34.1
34.3
35.2
33.0
30.6
33.3

1.937
1.971
1.981
1.966
1.908
1.912

34.52
35. 48
37.24
38.10
37. 45
36. 36

36.0
86 8
38.0
38.6
38.1
36.8

.959
.964
.980
.987
.983
.988

32. 25
33.54
35.82
36. 25
36.27
34. 45

34.9
86. 1
37 7
38. 2
88.1
36.0

.924
.929
950
.949
.952
.957

1950: January.........
February-----March.. ___
April
------May...... ..........
June________
July_________

50. 86
52.63
49. 67
46.06
45. 57
45. 50
49. 42

35.0
35. 9
35.4
34.5
34.6
33.7
34.8

1.453
1.466
1.403
1.335
1.317
1.350
1.420

48.30
48. 89
49.37
49. 44
48. 71
45. 49
45.26

34.9
35.4
35.8
35. 7
35.3
33.9
34.6

1.384
1.381
1.379
1. 385
1.380
1.342
1.308

31.38
34. 95
35. 53
34.99
35.31
32.60
32.14

35.1
37.1
37.4
36.6
36.4
33.5
33.2

.894
.942
.950
.956
.970
.973
.968

66. 97
69. 83
60. 70
51.19
50.13
58.28
66.13

34.7
35.5
32.6
29.1
29.7
34.0
35.4

1.930
1.967
1.862
1.759
1.688
1.714
1.868

36. 58
37. 52
37. 87
36. 22
36.15
36. 25
37.03

36.8
37.0
36.8
35.2
35.2
35.4
36.2

.994
1.014
1.029
1.029
1.027
1.024
1.023

34. 78
36.03
35. 68
34. 09
33.69
34.32
35. 51

36.5
36.5
36.0
34.3
34.1
34.6
35.8

.953
.987
.991
.994
.988
.992
.992

Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except
furniture)

Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued

Children’s outerwear

Millinery

1948: Average........... $50. 22
1949: Average........... 53. 55

34.8 $1. 443 $36. 72
35.3 1.517 37.06

Fur goods and mis­
cellaneous apparel

36.5 $1.006 $42. 21
36.3 1.021 42.05

Other fabricated
textile products

36.7 $1.150 $38. 49
36.0 1.168 39. 74

Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex­
cept furniture)

38.0 $1.013 $51. 38
38.1 1.043 51.72

Logging camps and
contractors

41.5 $1.238 $60. 26
40.6 1. 274 61.31

38.7
39.1

$1. 557
1.568

1949: July..................
A ugust............
September__
October.......... .
Novem ber---December___

51.35
54. 40
64.40
53. 68
43. 81
50.35

84.6
86.1
39.8
35.6
29.5
34.7

1.481
1.607
1.618
1.508
1. 485
1. 451

37.09
37. 38
38.18
37.75
36. 89
37.07

86.8
36.9
37.1
36.9
36.6
36.2

1.008
1.013
1.029
1.023
1.008
1.024

42.18
42.54
44.35
45.31
43.85
43. 57

35.0
36.3
37.3
38.4
37.7
36.8

1.205
1.172
1.1S9
1.180
1.163
1.184

39.61
39. 77
40 86
40 62
38. 73
39. 36

37.8
38.2
38.8
39.1
87.9
37.7

1.048
1.041
1.053
1.039
1.022
1.044

50.75
52.87
52.83
54.17
52. 48
52.66

39.4
40 7
40.7
41.7
41.0
41.3

1.288
1. 299
1.298
1.299
1.280
1.275

80.20
67 16
64.08
65.00
61. 58
62.13

37.6
41.1
40.0
40.6
89.2
39.8

1.601
1.634
1.602
1.601
1.671
1.561

1950: January...........
February____
M arch-...........
A p r il,............
M ay.................
June.............. .
July................

55.11
64. 36
62. 56
44. 91
46.06
50.10
50. 79

36.4
40.2
39.2
30.7
31.7
33.2
33.7

1.514
1. 601
1.596
1.463
1.453
1.509
1.507

38. 25
40.28
38. 76
35. 97
37. 46
37.83
39. 05

36.5
37.3
36.5
35.3
36.4
36.1
36.6

1.048
1.080
1.062
1.019
1.029
1.048
1.067

40.23
40. 50
40. 76
39.33
41.70
42. 59
44.10

35.6
36.1
36.1
34.9
35.7
35.7
36.6

1.130
1.122
1.129
1.127
1.168
1.193
1.205

40.99
40. 84
40. 32
39.81
40. 77
42.47
42.95

38.2
38.1
37.4
37.1
37.4
38.4
38.8

1.073
1.072
1.078
1.073
1.090
1.106
1.107

48.02
50. 55
52. 24
53.36
54.38
56.63
56.49

39.2
39.8
40.4
40.7
40.7
41.7
41.2

1.225
1.270
1.293
1.311
1.336
1.358
1.371

50.23
54. 86
62.94
65.31
67.37
68. 96
71.60

37.4
37.6
38.4
39.2
39.7
40.0
41.1

1.343
1.459
1.639
1.666
1.697
1.724
1. 742

Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)—Continued

Sawmills and planing Sawmills and planing
mills, general *
mills
1948: Average____ $51.83
1949: Average_____ 52.37

41.5 $1. 249 $51. 87
40.6 1. 290 53.06

Mlllwork, plywood,
and prefabricated
structural wood
products

41.4 $1. 253 $54. 95
40.6 1.307 55.06

Wooden containers

Mlllwork

43.3 $1,269 $53. 40
41.9 1.314 54.23

Wooden boxes, other
than cigar

43.2 $1. 236 $41. 57
42.2 1.285 41.90

41.4 $1.004 $42. 39
40.6 1.032 42. 48

42.1
41.0

$1.007
1.036

1949: July.—....... .
August_____
September___
October...........
November___
December.......

51.25
53. 53
53.35
54. 54
52. 89
52.31

39.3
40.8
40.6
41.6
41.0
40.8

1.304
1.312
1.314
1.311
1.290
1.282

51.88
54.14
54.04
55.29
53.63
53.04

39.3
40.8
40.6
41.6
41.0
40.8

1.320
1.327
1.331
1.329
1.308
1.300

52.74
54.19
55.66
57.68
56.18
58. 87

40.2
41.3
42.1
43.3
42-4
44.2

1.312
1.312
1.322
1.332
1.325
1.332

53.19
53. 71
54.91
50. 51
55.94
57.82

41.2
41.7
42.4
43.4
42.9
44.1

1.291
1.288
1.295
1.302
1.304
1.311

42.40
42. 03
43. 04
43. 38
42.02
43. 37

40.3
39.8
40.6
41.2
40.4
41.3

1.052
1.056
1.060
1.053
1.040
1.050

43.31
42.91
43 89
44 73
42.92
43.95

40.9
40.1
41.1
41.8
40.8
41.7

1.059
1.070
1.068
1. 070
1.049
1.054

1950: January-.........
February____
M arch _____
April- _____
May________
June________
July..... ............

47.38
50. 59
51.85
53.10
54.19
56. 59
56. 07

38.3
39.4
40.1
40.5
40.5
41.7
40.9

1.237
1. 284
1.293
1.311
1.338
1.357
1.371

47.77
51.17
52.31
53.73
54.86
57.46
56.93

38.0
39.3
39.9
40.4
40.4
41.7
40.9

1.257
1.302
1.311
1. 330
1.358
1.378
1.392

56.14
57. 04
57.74
59.00
59. 25
61.17
59. 75

42.4
42.5
42.9
43.0
43.0
43.6
42.8

1.324
1.342
1.346
1.372
1.378
1.403
1.396

56.07
55. 76
56. 49
57. 56
57.83
59.96
58.93

42.9
42.4
42.7
42.7
42.9
43.7
43.3

1.307
1.315
1.323
1.348
1.348
1.372
1.361

41.27
42. 82
42. 85
43.81
44. 47
46.12
47. 01

39.8
39.5
39.6
39.9
40.1
40.6
40.7

1.037
1.084
1.082
1.098
1.109
1.136
1.155

41.94
43. 05
43. 30
44.87
44. 79
46. 65
48.10

40.4
39.9
40.2
41.2
40.9
41.5
41.9

1.038
1.079
1.077
1.089
1.095
1.124
1.148

See footnotes at end of table.


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

528

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

M ONTHLY LABO R

T able 0-1: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees x—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood
products (except
furniture)—Con.
Y ear and month

Miscellaneous wood
products

Furniture and fixtures

Total: Furniture and
fixtures

Household furniture

Wood household fur­
niture, except up­
holstered

Wood household fur­
niture, upholstered

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Mattresses and bedsprings

i

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1948: Average____
1949: Average____
1949: July.................
A ugust_____ September__ October_____
November__ December___ 1950: January____ _
February___ March______ April.............. M ay................
Jun e............... July.................

$44.06
44.16

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.0 $1. 049 $48. 99
40.7 1.085 49.48

41.1 $1.192 $46. 76
40.1 1.234 47.04

40.8 $1.146 $43.84
39.8 1.182 43.68

41.2 $1.064 $50.33
40.0 1.092 50.18

40.1 $1. 255 $50. 85
38.9 1.290 51.69

40.1
39.7

$1. 268
1.302

43.02
43.52
43.96
45.14
44.96
44. 54

39.4
40.0
40.0
41 0
40.8
40.9

1,092
1.088
1.099
1.101
1.102
1.089

47 86
49.69
50. 72
51 42
50. 72
52. 50

38.6
40.4
41.0
41.7
41.2
42.2

1.240
1.230
1.237
1.233
1.231
1.244

44.80
47 23
48. 74
49. 74
48. 86
50.88

38.0
40.3
41.1
41.9
41.3
42. 4

1.179
1.172
1.186
1.187
1.183
1.200

41.06
43.17
44.17
46.15
46.60
47.10

37.7
40.2
40.9
42.3
42.4
42.7

1.089
1.074
1.080
1.091
1.099
1.103

46.87
49.82
52 07
53. 83
55. 53
57.68

36.7
39.2
40 3
41. 5
42.1
43.3

1.277
1.271
1.292
1.297
1.319
1.332

51.21
53.94
57 13
54.18
45. 97
53.85

39.7
41.4
42.6
41.2
36.4
40.7

1.290
1.303
1.341
1.315
1.263
1.323

43.85
44. 69
44.91
45.33
44. 89
46.10
45. 86

40.3
40.3
40.5
40.8
40.3
41.2
40.8

1.088
1.109
1.109
1. I ll
1.114
1.119
1.124

51.13
52. 29
52.17
51.67
51.50
52.46
52.28

41.1
41.7
41.7
41.3
41.2
41.7
41.0

1.244
1.254
1. 251
1. 251
1. 250
1.258
1.275

49.36
50. 87
50.70
49. 85
50.14
50. 67
49. 53

41.2
41.9
41.9
41. 2
41.4
41.6
40.5

1.198
1. 214
1.210
1. 210
1.211
1.218
1.223

46.08
46.70
47. 21
46.40
47.17
47.45
46.15

41.7
42.0
42.3
41.5
42.0
42.1
40.7

1.105
1.112
1.116
1.118
1.123
1.127
1.134

52.78
54. 95
54.60
54.42
54.42
54.40
53.01

40.2
41.5
40.9
40. 7
40.7
40.6
39.8

1.313
1.324
1.335
1.337
1.337
1.340
1.332

54.54
57. 43
57. 03
54. 28
53.97
55. 65
53. 78

40.7
41.8
41.6
40. 0
39.8
40.8
39.2

1.340
1.374
1.371
1. 357
1.356
1.364
1.372

Manufacturing—Continued
Furniture and fixtures—Continued

Other furniture and
fixtures
1948: Average____
1949: Average____

$54. 59
55. 47

1949: July.................
August............
September___
October_____
November__
December.......
1950: January_____
February___
March______
April......... .
M a y ...............
Jun e...............
July.................

Printing, publishing,
and allied industries

.Paper and allied products

Total: Paper and allied products

Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills

Paperboard containers and boxes

Other paper and allie d products

Total: Printing, publishing, and allied
industries

41.7 $1. 309 $55. 25
40.7 1.363 55.96

42.8 $1. 291 $59.88
41.7 1.342 59. 83

44.0 $1. 361 $50. 96
42.4 1. 411 52. 45

41.7 $1. 222 $49. 48
41.2 1. 273 51.07

41.3 $1.198 $66. 73
40.6 1.258 70.28

39.3
38.7

$1.698
1.816

55.44
55.94
55 91
55 91
55. 90
56. 65

40.2
40.8
40.9
41.2
41.1
41. 5

1.379
1.371
1.367
1.357
1.360
1.365

55. 57
56.26
57.64
58.36
58.31
58. 09

41.1
41.8
42 6
43.1
43.0
42.9

1.352
1.346
1.353
1.354
1.356
1.354

59.65
60.32
61.06
62. 10
62.09
62. 09

41.8
42.6
43.0
43.7
43.6
43.6

1. 427
1.416
1.420
1.421
1.424
1.424

51.63
53.00
55.30
56. 20
56.20
55. 21

40.4
41.5
42.9
43.5
43.5
42.9

1.278
1.277
1.289
1. 292
1.292
1.287

50.90
50. 82
52. 49
52 54
52.11
51.99

40.4
40.3
41.3
41.4
41.0
41.1

1.260
1.261
1.271
1.269
1.271
1.265

70.45
70.69
72. 02
71. 22
70.91
72.27

38 6
38.5
39.1
38.6
38.6
39.3

1. 825
1.836
1.842
1. ®45
1.837
1.839

56.13
56. 28
56.14
56. 52
55.41
57. 59
59. 73

41.0
41. 2
41.1
41. 5
40. 8
42.1
42.3

1.369
1.366
1.366
1. 362
1.358
1.368
1.412

57.56
57.80
58. 06
58.20
58.08
60. 08
61.32

42.2
42. 5
42.6
42.3
42.3
43.1
43.4

1.364
1. 360
1.363
1.376
1.373
1.394
1.413

61.62
61. 71
61.89
62. 42
61. 82
64.08
65. 77

43.0
43.4
43.4
43. 2
43.2
43.8
44.2

1.433
1. 422
1.426
1.445
1.431
1.463
1.488

53.57
54.17
54. 77
54.03
54. 74
56. 75
57.70

41.4
41.7
42.0
41.4
41.5
42.7
42.9

1.294
1. 299
1.304
1.305
1.319
1.329
1.345

62.69
53. 03
53.20
53.27
53. 35
54. 59
55.19

41.2
41.4
41.5
41. 2
41.2
41.8
42.0

1.279
1.281
1.282
1.293
1.295
1.306
1.314

70.49
70. 75
72.14
72.18
72.64
72. 72
72.45

38.5
38.2
38.6
38. 6
38.7
38.7
38.6

1.831
1. 852
1.869
1. 870
1.877
1.879
1.877

Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied industries—Continued
Newspapers

Periodicals

Books

Commercial printing

Lithographing

Other printing and
publishing

1948: Average.......... $74. 00
1949: Average.......... 78. 37

37.6 $1. 968 $69. 55
37.3 2.101 70. 21

40.6 $1.713 $57. 43
38.9 1.805 61.07

38.7 $1. 484 $66. 33
38.6 1. 582 69. 44

40.3 $1.646 $64.15
39.7 1.749 69.17

39.5 $1. 624 $59. 93
39.3 1.760 62.66

39.3
38.7

$1. 525
1.619

1949: July......... ........
A ugust...........
September___
October_____
November___
December.......

78.02
77.80
80.14
80. 06
79.05
81. 50

37.1
36.8
37.5
37. 5
37.2
38.1

2.103
2.114
2.137
2.135
2.125
2.139

70.21
70.90
74. 20
71.00
70. 21
70. 67

38.6
39.0
40.0
38.8
38.6
38.7

1.819
1.818
1.855
1.830
1.819
1.826

60.87
63.30
65.17
62. 48
61.05
61.83

38.5
39.1
40.3
39.0
37.8
38.5

1. 581
1. 619
1. 617
1. 802
1. 615
1 . 606

70.05
69.66
70.22
69 84
69.36
71.17

39.8
39.6
39 9
39.5
39.3
40.3

1.760
1.759
1.760
1.768
1.765
1.766

67.75
71.22
73. 71
73 12
72.36
70.89

38 3
39.5
40.7
40. 6
40.7
40.6

1.769
1.803
1.811
1.801
1.778
1.746

62.89
63.24
63. 09
62. 05
63.73
64.59

38.7
38.4
38.8
37 7
39.0
39.6

1.625
1.647
1.626
1. 646
1.634
1.631

1950: January_____
February____
M arch........... .
April.................
M a y ..................
June..................
July.............. ..

76. 43
76.38
78. 42
79. 88
81.05
80. 58
79.28

36.5
36.3
36.8
37.1
37.3
37.1
36.6

2.094
2.104
2.131
2.153
2.173
2.172
2.166

69.94
72.15
74.12
72.41
71.60
71.98
72.44

38.6
39.3
39.7
39.1
38.6
39.1
39.2

1.812
1.836
1.867
1. 852
1.855
1.841
1.848

61.76
60. 50
62. 79
64.05
64. 33
64.19
63.53

38.1
37.3
38.5
39.2
39.3
39.5
39.0

1. 621
1. 622
1. 631
1. 634
1. 637
1 . 625
1 . 629

70.80
70.70
71.56
70. 88
71.68
71.83
71.83

40.0
39.3
39.6
39.4
39.8
39.6
39.6

1. 770
1.799
1.807
1. 799
1.801
1.814
1.814

69.03
70. 07
71.34
71. 58
71.74
72. 44
72. 71

38.5
38.8
39.2
39. 2
39.7
39.8
39.8

1. 793
1.806
1.820
1. 826
1.807
1.820
1.827

64. 48
64. 77
65.16
64. 54
63.39
64. 09
64.92

39.2
38.9
38.9
38. 9
38.3
38. 7
39.2

1.645
1.665
1.675
1. 659
1.655
1. 656
1.656

See footnotes at end of table.


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

T able

529

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Chemicals and allied products

Year and month

Total: Chemicals
and allied products
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Industrial inorganic
chemicals

Avg. Avg.
Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$56. 23
58.63

1949: July......... ......
August ____
Septem ber...
October____
N ovem ber...
Decem ber...

59.44
58. 77
59. 66
59. 51
59. 43
59. 78

40.6
40.5
41.4
41.7
41.5
41.6

1.464
1.451
1.441
1.427
1.432
1. 437

1950: January____
February___
M arch..........
April............. .
M a y ..............
June_______
Ju ly_______

60. 05
59. 96
60.09
60. 56
61.18
62. 24
62.84

41.3
41.1
41.1
41.2
41.2
41.3
41.1

1.454
1.459
1.462
1.470
1.485
1. 507
1. 529

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Plastics, exce] )t synthetic rub 3er
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Synthetic rubber

41.4 $1. 419 $62.88
40.4 1.494 66.74

40.4 $1. 428 $58. 75
39.5 1.540 60. 36

64.00
63.20
64.96
64. 55
64.68
64. 99

40.3
40.1
40.7
40.8
40.6
40.8

1.588
1. 576
1.596
1.582
1. 593
1.593

61.50
60.68
62.33
62.20
62. 44
62. 75

39.3
39.2
39.8
39.9
40.0
40.2

1.565
1.548
1.566
1. 559
1.561
1. 561

59.78
59. 56
62.45
62.13
61.80
61.55

39.8
40.0
41.3
41.2
40.9
40.9

1.502
1.489
1.512
1.508
1.511
1. 505

68. 21
67. 62
67.97
68. 99
67. 78
68.27

64. 64
65.12
65.48
65. 77
65.85
65.16
66.82

40.2
40.7
40.8
40. 9
40.7
39.9
40.3

1.608
1.600
1.605
1. 608
1.618
1.633
1.658

63. 63
62.64
62. 56
63.12
63.91
64. 96
66.10

40.3
40.0
40.0
40.1
40.5
40.7
40.6

1.579
1.566
1.564
1. 574
1.578
1.596
1.628

63. 84
61.96
62.36
62.53
63.37
65.28
66.07

42.0
40.9
41.0
41.0
41.2
41.9
42.0

1.520
1.515
1.521
1.525
1.538
1.558
1.573

68.48
68. 22
68.93
70. 96
70. 48
70. 66
72. 42

Synthetic fibers

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

40.9 $1. 519 $57. 69
40.6 1.574 60.83

41.5 $1. 355 $62.13
41.0 1.430 63.90

1948: Average.......
1949: Average____

Industrial organic
chemicals

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

39.9 $1. 576 $53. 05
39.8 1.677 55. 20

39.5
38.6

$1. 343
1.430

39.0
39.8
39.7
40.7
40.2
40.3

1.749
1.699
1.712
1.695
1.686
1.694

55.13
54.02
55. 96
55.63
56.20
56.37

38.1
37.7
38. 7
38.9
39.3
39.5

1.447
1. 433
1. 446
1.430
1.430
1.427

39.7
40.2
40.5
41.4
41.0
40.7
40.3

1.725
1.697
1.702
1. 714
1.719
1.736
1.797

56.45
55.99
55.97
56.52
57.35
57. 73
58.23

39.2
39.1
39.0
38. 9
¿9. ö
39.3
38.9

1.440
1.432
1.435
1.453
1.452
1. 469
1.497

Manufacturing—Continued
Chemicals and allied products—Continued
pigments, and
Drugs and medicines Paints, fillers
$53. 71
56. 60

1949: J u ly ..............
August..........
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem ber..
D ecem ber...

56.40
56. 32
56.96
57.16
57.51
57. 21

40.0
40.0
40.4
40.6
40.7
40.6

1.410
1.408
1.410
1.408
1.413
1.409

1950: January____
February___
M arch_____
April---------M a y ............
June----------J u ly ..............

57. 37
58.04
58. 53
58. 67
58. 75
59. 25
58.29

40.6
40.7
40.9
40.8
40.8
41.0
39.9

1.413
1. 426
1.431
1.438
1.440
1.445
1.461

47.4 $1.063 $57.90
47.2 1.083 60. 67

42.0
40.9

$1. 569
1.627

1.503
1.492
1. 504
1.504
1.502
1.509

67.56
66.79
68.30
68. 97
67.20
67.56

40.8
41.1
41.7
41.9
41.0
40.7

1.656
1.625
1.638
1.646
1.639
1.660

1.524
1.520
1.526
1.521
1. 519
1.533
1.540

68.14
68. 51
69.50
68. 88
68.74
70.04
70.28

40.9
41.1
41.2
40.9
40.7
41.2
41.1

1.666
1.667
1.687
1. 684
1.689
1.700
1.710

41.5 $1.020 $50. 39
41.6 1.075 51.12

59.31
59. 51
60.88
60.90
60. 43
60. 80

40.9
41.1
41.5
41.4
41.0
41.0

1.450
1.448
1.467
1.471
1.474
1.483

46.87
45. 21
44.99
43.66
43.20
44. 76

42.3
41.1
40.9
40.8
40.3
41.1

1.108
1.100
1.100
1.070
1.072
1. 089

52.69
52.30
51.02
51.08
51. 24
50. 86

44.5
44.7
48.0
49.5
49.7
49.0

1.184
1.170
1.063
1.032
1.031
1.038

61.32
61.02
62.12
62. 57
61.58
62.02

40.8
40.9
41.3
41.6
41.0
41.1

61.21
61.98
62.38
62.89
63.53
64. 82
64.81

41.0
41.4
41.7
41.9
42.3
42.9
42.5

1.493
1.497
1.496
1. 501
1.502
1.511
1.525

44.80
44. 40
44.84
46.44
47. 92
49. 51
49.23

40.8
40.7
41.1
41.8
41.6
42.1
41.9

1.098
1.091
1.091

49.89
50.71
50.82
51.57
52. 82
53.58
54.73

47.2
45.2
44.5
44.3
44.2
43.6
43.3

1.057
1.122
1.142
1.164
1.195
1.229
1.264

62. 79
62. 62
62. 87
62. 82
62. 28
63.62
63.60

41.2
41.2
41.2
41.3
41.0
41. 5
41.3

1.111

1.152
1.176
1.175

Soap and glycerin

41.3 $1. 402 $65.90
40.8 1.487 66. 64

42.2 $1. 384 $42. 33
41.0 1.458 44.72

40.6 $1. 323 $58. 40
40.4 1.401 59. 78

1948: Average____
1949: Average___

Vegetable and animal Other chemicals and
allied products
oils and fats

Fertilizers

Manufacturing—Continued
Rubber products

Products of petroleum and coal
Total: Products of
petroleum and coal

Petroleum refining

$69. 23
72.36

1949: July...............
August____
Septem ber..
October____
N ovem ber..
December...

73.59
72.38
74.47
74.09
72.12
71.74

40.7
40.3
41.1
41.0
40.0
39.9

1.808
1.796
1.812
1.807
1.803
1.798

73.79
1950: January.......
71.64
February__
71.54
M arch..........
April........... . - 73.85
M a y ............ . . 73.28
June____ . . . . 74.42
76.31
J u ly ______

40.7
39.8
39.7
40. 8
40.6
41.0
41.7

1.813
1.800
1.802
1.810
1.805
1.815
1.830

See footnotes at end of table.

9 0 6 0 2 4 — 50 ------- 8


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

Other petroleum and
coal products

Total: Rubber
products

44.1 $1. 374 $56.78
42.9 1.426 57. 79

Tires and inner tubes

39.0 $1. 456 $62.16
38.3 1.509 63.26

37.2
36.4

$1.671
1.738

1.520
1.507
1.514
1.512
1.508
1.506

64.45
62. 32
69. 95
64.83
63. 91
64.79

36.6
36.0
39.1
37.3
36.9
37.3

1.761
1.731
1. 789
1.738
1.732
1.737

1.536
1.528
1.519
1.544
1.566
1.562
1.585

67.70
67. 22
65. 26
69.23
74.60
72. 00
74.17

38.4
38.3
37.4
39.0
41.1
40.0
40.2

1.763
1, 755
1. 745
1. 775
1.815
1. 800
1.845

40.3 $1. 788 $58. 56
40.2 1.874 61.07

39.7 $1. 475 $60. 59
39.3 1.554 61.18

76.60
75.10
77.11
76.13
75.44
74. 83

40.4
39.8
40.5
40.3
40.0
39.7

1.896
1. 887
1.904
1.889
1.886
1.885

61.47
60. 79
61.43
61.50
57.09
61.11

39.2
39.4
39.1
39.5
36.2
39.4

1.568
1. 543
1.571
1.557
1.577
1.551

62.03
63.26
67.43
67- 36
62.36
59.14

43.9
44.3
46.6
45.7
42.8
41.3

1.413
1.428
1.447
1.474
1.457
1.432

58.37
57. 72
61.01
59. 57
57. 91
59.04

38.4
38.3
40.3
39.4
38.4
39.2

77.41
74. 84
74.88
77.11
75.73
76.82
78.93

40.7
39.6
39.6
40.5
39.9
40.2
41.0

1.902
1. 890
1.891
1. 904
1.898
1.911
1.925

61.93
61.17
58.90
62.60
61.85
62. 73
63.32

39.8
39.8
38.1
40.0
39.8
39.7
39.6

1.556
1.537
1.546
1. 565
1.554
1.580
1. 599

58.56
58. 94
60.00
63.00
67. 44
69.26
70.81

41.3
41.3
41.9
43.3
45.2
46.3
46.8

1.418
1.427
1.432
1.455
1.492
1.496
1.513

60. 52
59.90
59.70
61.76
64. 52
64.35
65.46

39.4
39.2
39.3
40.0
41.2
41.2
41.3

40.7 $1. 701 $72.06
40.4 1.791 75. 33

1948: Average.......
1949: Average___

Coke and byproducts

530

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con;
Manufacturing—Continued
Rubber products—Continued
Year and month

Rubber footwear
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Leather and leather products

Other rubber products Total: Leather and
leather products
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn
hour»
ings

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Footwear (except
rubber)

Leather

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

1948: Average_____ $51.75
1949: Average....... . 48. 94

41.8 $1. 238 $52. 47
38.6 1. 268 54.38

40.3 $1. 302 $41. 66
40.1 1.356 41.61

37.2 $1.120 $53.26
36.6 1.137 54.11

1949: July_________
August______
September.......
October______
November___
December.......

48. 84
48. 78
51 71
49 81
50. 51
50. 23

38.7
38.9
40.4
39.1
39.9
39.8

1.262
1.254
1 280
1.274
1.266
1.262

54.11
55 46
56.50
57.06
54.04
55.66

40. 2
40.6
41.3
41.5
39.5
40.9

1.346
1.366
1.368
1.375
1.368
1.361

41. 74
42.00
41.99
41.72
40.08
42.03

37.0
37.2
36.8
36.5
35.1
37.1

1.128
1 129
1.141
1.143
1.142
1.133

1950: January......... .
February____
M arch.............
A pril.. ______
M a y ........ .........
June..................
July-------------

45.87
43.06
51.04
50. 36
50. 20
52.28
52. 35

35.7
34.2
40.0
39.5
39.4
40.4
39.6

1.285
1.259
1.276
1. 275
1.274
1.294
1.322

57. 04
56.43
56.16
57. 13
57.92
59. 59
59.81

41.3
41.1
40.9
41.1
41.7
42.5
42.6

1.381
1.373
1.373
1.390
1.389
1.402
1.404

42.90
44. 08
44.15
41. 96
41.56
43.87
44.69

37.7
38.1
37.9
35.8
35.4
37.4
38.1

1.138
1.157
1.165
1. 172
1.174
1.173
1.173

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Other leather products

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

39.6 $1. 345 $39. 71
38.9 1.391 39.35

36.6 $1. 085 $40. 49
35.9 1.096 41.10

37.7
37.5

$1.074
1.096

53.19
54. 34
54. 76
55.09
54. 50
55.50

38.1
38.9
39.0
39.1
38.9
39.5

1.396
1.397
1.404
1.409
1. 401
1.405

39.93
40.04
39. 74
38.61
36. 40
39.20

36.8
36.7
36 0
35.1
33.3
36.2

1.085
1.091
1. 104
1.100
1.093
1.083

40.70
40. 83
41. 46
42. 72
41.66
42.29

37.1
37 6
38.0
38. 8
37.8
38.2

1.097
1 086
1.091
1 101
1.102
1.107

55.34
55. 29
54. 89
54. 44
55. 00
56. 57
56. 65

39.0
39.1
38.9
38.5
38.9
39. 7
39.7

1.419
1.414
1.411
1. 414
1.414
1.425
1.427

40.77
42. 22
42.15
39.18
38.48
41.10
42. 49

37.4
37.8
37.4
34 7
34.2
36.6
37.7

1.090
1.117
1.127
1.129
1.125
1.123
1.127

42. 21
42.90
43. 73
42. 75
42.58
44. 20
44. 27

38.1
38. 2
38. 7
37. 5
36.9
38.2
38.3

1.108
1.123
1.130
1.140
1.154
1.157
1.156

M anufacturing—Contlnued
Stone, clay, and glass products
Total: Stone, clay,
and glass product*
1948: Average..
1949: Average..

$53. 46
54. 45

Glass and glass
product*

Glass containers

Pressed and blown
glass

Cement, hydraulic

Structural clay
produet*

40.9 $1. 307 $54.06
39.8 1.368 56. 71

39.2 $1. 379 $52.05
39.0 1.454 53.80

39.7 $1.311 $47.61
39.3 1.369 50.30

38.8 $1. 227 $54.76
38.6 1.303 57. 49

41.9 $1.307 $49. 57
41.6 1.382 49.73

40.4
39.0

$1.227
1.275

1949: July.............
August____
September Octoher . . .
November.
December..

52 94
54. 17
54. 73
55. 51
55. 28
55.65

38.7
39 6
39.6
40.4
40.0
40.3

1.368
1.368
1.382
1.374
1.382
1.381

55.22
56.08
55. 89
57.04
57.19
58.16

37.9
39.0
38.2
39.5
39.2
39.7

1. 457
1.438
1.463
1. 444
1.459
1.465

54.12
53.58
51.59
54.81
54.62
54. 23

39.3
39.6
37.3
40.3
39.9
39.5

1.377
1.353
1.383
1.360
1.369
1.373

47.80
49.15
50.53
50.62
51.28
51.63

36.6
38.1
38. Ö
39.0
38.7
39.5

1.306
1.290
1299
1.298
1.325
1.307

58.07
58.36
59.16
59. 40
57.66
57.81

41.1
41.6
41.6
42.1
41.1
41.5

1.413
1.403
1.422
1.411
1.403
1.393

48. 86
49. 51
50.04
49.83
49. 59
49. 92

38. 5
M 8
39.0
38. 9
38.5
39.0

L 269
1. 278
1.283
1. 281
1.288
1.280

1950: January___
February...
March........
A pril..........
M ay............
June............
July______

55. 32
55. 56
55. 70
56. 56
57. 28
58.16
58. 45

39.8
40.0
40.1
40. 4
40.8
41.1
40.7

1.390
1.389
1.389
1. 400
1.404
1. 415
1.436

59. 31
59.36
59.35
59. 58
59. 78
59. 86
60. 44

39.7
40.0
40.1
40.2
40.5
40.2
39.3

1.494
1.484
1.480
1.482
1.476
1.489
1.538

55.28
54.93
54. 79
55. 42
54. 98
55. 57
55.23

39.6
39.6
39.7
40.1
40.4
40.5
39.2

1.396
1.387
1.380
1.382
1.361
1.372
1.409

51.39
50.90
51.29
49. 87
50.96
50. 27
49. 99

38.9
39.0
39.3
38.6
39.2
38.4
37.7

1.321
1.305
1.305
1. 292
1.300
1.309
1.326

57. 55
57.73
57.47
58. 88
59.13
60.27
61.30

40.9
41.5
41.2
41. 7
41.7
42.0
41.7

1.407
1.391
1.395
1.412
1.418
1. 435
1.470

49.52
49. 37
49.90
52.37
53.27
54.21
54.12

38.6
38.6
38.8
40.1
40. 2
40.7
40.6

1. 283
1.279
1.286
1.306
1.325
1.332
1.333

Manufacturing—Continued
Primary metal Indus­
tries

Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Brick and hollow
tile
1948: Average...
1949: Average__

$49.05
49. 57

1949: July______
August . .
September.
October ...
November.
December.
1950: January__
February..
March........
April...........
M ay............
J u n e ..........
J u ly ............

Pottery and related
products

Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster products

Concrete products

Other stone, clay, and Total: Primary meta]
glass product*
Industries

42.5 $1.154 $49. 46
41.8 1.186 48. 85

38.7 $1.278 $56. 49
36.4 1.342 57. 77

44.8 $1. 261 $56. 92
43.8 1.319 59.31

44.4 $1. 282 $55.10
43.8 1.354 54. 72

41.0 $1.344 $61.03
39.2 1.396 60.78

40.1
38.3

$1.523
1.587

48.93
50 40
50 68
51.36
50.53
49. 39

41.5
42 6
42.3
42.8
42.0
41.4

1.179
1.183
1.198
1.200
1.203
1.193

42. 55
46.84
46. 82
50. 71
50.97
51.16

31.9
34.9
35.1
37.7
37.7
37.7

1.334
1.342
1.334
1.345
1.352
1.357

57.77
59.50
60.30
60.26
59.85
60.12

43.8
44 6
44 8
44.9
44.5
44.7

1.319
1.334
1.346
1.342
1.345
1.345

60.60
61.39
62.62
61.51
57. 98
58.11

44.3
44.2
44.7
44.8
42.6
42.7

1.368
1.389
1. 401
1.373
1.361
1.361

5176
53.0»
55.37
55. 34
55.01
55. 36

37.9
38.6
39.1
39.5
39.1
39.4

1.392
1.391
1.416
1.401
1.407
1.405

58.63
59 45
60. 42
58.35
57. 48
62.92

36.9
37.6
37.6
37.5
36.4
39.4

1.589
1.581
1.607
1.556
1.579
1.597

47.81
47.14
48.26
51.27
54.16
54.58
54. 58

41.0
40.5
41.0
42.3
43.4
43.7
43.7

1.166
1.164
1.177
1. 212
1.248
1.249
1.249

48.99
50.00
50.37
50. 26
50. 46
48. 57
49.62

36.1
36.9
37.2
36.9
37.1
35.3
35.8

1.357
1.355
1.354
1. 362
1.360
1.376
1.386

58.16
58.55
59.13
59. 76
60. 75
62. 43
62. 69

43.6
43.6
43.9
44.1
44. 7
45.4
45.1

1.334
1.343
1.347
1.355
1.359
1.375
1.390

56.80
55. 71
57.48
59. 25
60.20
61.52
61.24

42.2
41.3
42.2
43.5
44.3
45.4
44.6

1.346
1.349
1.362
1.362
1.359
1.355
1.373

55.33
55. 69
55. 75
56. 22
58. 07
59. 99
59. 88

39.3
39.3
39.4
39.4
40.3
41.6
41.1

1. 408
1. 417
1.415
1.427
1.441
1.442
1.457

63 79
63. 48
62.40
65.00
65. 57
66. 50
66.99

39.5
39.6
38.9
40.4
40.5
40.8
40.7

1.615
1.603
1.604
1.609
1.619
1.630
1.646

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.


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

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

531

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Primary metal Industries—Continued

Year and month

Blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling
mills
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ing*

1948: Average_____ $62. 41
1949: Average_____ 63.04

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Iron and steel
foundries

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

39.5 $1. 580 $58. 45
38.3 1.646 55. 09

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hily.
earn­
ings

Gray-iron foundries

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

40.7 $1. 436 $57. 46
37.2 1.481 54. 38

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Malleable-iron
foundries
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

40.9 $1. 405 $59.19
37.5 1. 450 54.30

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Steel foundries

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

40.4 $1. 465 $59. 93
35.7 1. 521 56.73

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

P rim ary sm e ltin g
and refining of nonferrous metals
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn.
ings

40.6 $1. 476 $58. 22
37.3 1.521 60. 36

41.0
40.4

$1.420
1.494

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1949: July___ ____
August.......... .
September___
October............
November___
December____

59.88
61 33
62 07
55.90
56. 48
64.65

36.4
37 6
37.1
34.0
34.4
39.3

1.645
1.631
1.673
1. 644
1.642
1.645

53. 62
53. 50
54. 39
54. 80
53.83
57. 22

36.3
36 2
36.6
36.9
36.3
38.3

1.477
1 478
1. 486
1 485
1 483
1. 494

52.63
53 00
55.04
55. 96
54.31
57. 25

36.4
36.6
37.8
38.3
37.3
39.0

1.446
1.448
1.456
1.461
1.456
1.468

53.49
53 50
54.01
52. 32
51.14
57. 41

35.1
35 2
35.0
34.4
33.6
37.4

1.524
1 520
1.543
1.521
1.522
1.535

55.57
54 50
53.41
53.99
54.66
56.61

36.8
35 9
35.0
35.4
35.7
37.0

1.510
1.518
1.526
1.525
1.531
1.530

59 00
58 39
59 24
59.87
58. 43
59.60

39.1
39 4
39 6
40.7
39.4
40.3

1.509
1.482
1.496
1.471
1.483
1.479

1950: January_____
February____
M arch______
April________
M ay ________
June_______ .
July_________

65.83
64. 81
61.84
66. 08
65.86
66.46
67.83

39.3
39.3
37.5
40.0
39.7
39.7
39.9

1.675
1.649
1.649
1. 652
1.659
1.674
1.700

58.17
59.11
60.33
62. 37
63.19
64.88
64.41

38.7
39.2
39.9
40.9
41.3
42.1
41.8

1. 503
1. 508
1. 512
1. 525
1.530
1.541
1.541

57. 74
58. 91
59. 81
62.03
63. 24
64.19
63.74

39.2
39.7
40.3
41.3
44.8
41.2
41.2

1.473
1. 484
1.484
1.502
1.513
1.514
1.547

59. 25
59.25
61.70
63. 25
63. 28
65.71
64.33

38.3
38.6
39.6
40.6
40.8
41.8
41.0

1.547
1.535
1.558
1.558
1.551
1.572
1.569

57. 75
59.83
60.61
62. 79
63.30
65.84
65.45

37.6
38.7
39.1
40.3
40.6
41.7
41.5

1.536
1.546
1. 550
1. 558
1. 559
1.579
1.577

62.07
60.24
61.13
61.61
61.98
62.58
62. 72

41.3
40.4
40.7
40.8
40.8
40.9
40.1

1.503
1.491
1.502
1.510
1.519
1 530
1.564

Manufacturing—Continued
Primary metal Industries—Continued
Prim ary sm elting
and refining of
copper, lead, and
sine
1948: A verage.......... $57.14
1949: Average........... 58.99

Primary refining of
aluminum

40.9 $1.397 $58. 95
40.1 1.471 61.95

B olling, drawing,
and alloying of
nonferrous metals

41.4 $1. 424 $57.81
41.3 1.500 58. 05

B olling, drawing,
and alloying of
copper

40.2 $1. 438 $60. 42
38.7 1.500 59. 29

B olling, drawing,
and alloying of
aluminum

40.8 $1,481 $53. 88
38.5 1.540 56.21

Nonferrous foundries

39.1 $1,378 $59 96
38.9 1. 445 60. 92

40.0
39.0

$1.499
1.562

1949: July_________
August______
September___
October_____
November____
December____

57. 77
56 76
57 51
57. 47
66.12
57.82

38.8
39 2
39.2
40.3
39.0
40.1

1.489
1. 448
1.467
1.426
1.439
1.442

61.10
61 92
62.23
64. 45
64.83
61.87

41.2
40 9
41.1
42.4
40.8
40.6

1.483
1 514
1.514
1.520
1.589
1.524

56. 36
58 89
59.65
61.84
63. 57
62.28

37.9
39.0
39.5
40.5
41.2
40.6

1.487
1.510
1.510
1. 527
1.543
1.534

57.42
61 26
61.96
64.69
65. 44
66. 32

37.8
39 6
40.0
41.1
41.8
42.0

1.519
1. 547
1. 549
1.574
1.573
1.579

55.02
55. 48
55.83
57.41
58. 56
54.67

38.0
38 0
38.4
39.4
39.8
37.7

1. 448
1. 46C
1. 454
1.457
1 471
1.450

60. 57
60 14
61. 50
62.33
51 93
63.20

38.8
38 6
39.3
39.5
39.1
39.9

1. 561
1.558
1.565
1.578
1.584
1.584

1950: January_____
February____
M arch_______
April________
M a y ......... .......
June_________
July...................

61.35
59. 00
59. 79
60. 38
60. 29
61.44
61.49

41.4
40.3
40.7
40.8
40.6
40.8
39.8

1.482
1.464
1.469
1.480
1.485
1.506
1. 545

61.16
61.66
62. 25
62.03
62.73
62. 76
63.38

40.8
41.0
40.9
40.7
41.0
41.1
41.1

1.499
1.504
1.522
1.524
1.530
1.527
1.542

61.97
63.29
64. 29
64.29
66.63
67. 75
67.55

40.5
41.1
41.4
41.4
42.2
42.8
42.3

1.530
1.540
1.553
1. 553
1.579
1.583
1.597

64.53
66.30
66. 96
67. 61
70.72
72.26
73. 33

41.1
41.7
41.9
42.1
43.2
43.9
44.2

1.570
1.590
1.598
1.606
1.637
1.646
1.659

57.37
57. 91
59.54
58. 53
58.73
58.39
56. 95

39.4
39. 8
40.5
40.2
40.2
40.3
38.9

1. 456
1.455
1.470
1.456
1.461
1.449
1.464

62. 73
62. 29
63. 04
64. 03
65.36
66.64
65.12

39.6
39.5
40.1
40.5
40.9
41.6
40.8

1.584
1.577
1.572
1.581
1.598
1.602
1.590

Manufacturing—Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and
transportation equipment)

Primary metal Industrie*—Continued

Other primary metal
industries

Iron and steel forg­
ings

Wire drawing

Total- Fabricated met­
al products (except
ordnance, machin­
ery and transporta­
tion equipment)

40.5 $1. 535 $56. 68
39.2 1.624 57.82

T in cans and other
tinware

40.6 $1,396 $54.07
39.6 1.460 56.24

40.8 $1. 646 $65.16
39.1 1.620 63.18

40.8 $1. 597 $62.17
38.2 1.654 63.66

61.88
61.65
62. 52
62.93
60.97
65.97

38.2
38.1
38.4
38.8
37.8
40.5

1.620
1.618
1.628
1.622
1.613
1.629

61.28
60 37
60.13
60.06
59. 42
64.01

37.5
36.9
36 4
36.4
36.1
38.4

1.634
1.636
1. 652
1.650
1.646
1.667

61.26
61. 26
63. 34
66.67
64. 55
69.34

38.0
38.0
39.0
41.0
39.6
42.0

1.612
1.612
1.624
1.626
1.630
1.651

57. 61
58 13
59. 25
58. 51
56.88
59. 66

39.3
39.6
40.2
40.1
39.2
40.5

1.466
1 468
1. 474
1.459
1.451
1.473

59.34
51.13
59.00
55.58
53.19
57.16

65. 44
67. 28
67.23
67. 61
69.68
70.52
70.47

40.0
40.8
40.4
40.8
41.6
41.9
41.7

1.636
1.649
1.664
1. 657
1.675
1.683
1.690

64.89
66. 94
68.75
68.80
72. 94
72.38
73.39

38.6
39.4
39.9
40.0
41.8
41.6
41.7

1.681
1.699
1.723
1.720
1.745
1.740
1.760

68.05
71.06
68. 82
69. 89
70.39
72. 93
72.46

40.6
42.2
40.7
41. 6
41.6
42.4
42.5

1.676
1.684
1.691
1.680
1.692
1.720
1.705

59. 93
59. 68
59.64
60. 56
60. 89
62. 68
62. 71

40.3
40.3
40.3
40.7
40.7
41.4
41.2

1.487
1. 481
1.480
1.488
1.496
1.514
1.522

56.76
56.80
56. 98
58. 77
59. 20
60. 78
64.29

1948: A v e r a g e 1949: A verage...

$63. 08
63. 34

1949: July_____
A ugust___
September.
October
November..
December.
1950: January...
February..
M arch___
April.........
M ay_____
June..........
July............

See fo o tn o te s a t end o f tab le.


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

Cutlery, hand tools,
and hardware

40.9 $1,322 $54. 22
40.4 1.392 54. 82

40.8
39.3

$1.329
1.395

42.6
42.6
41.2
39.5
38.1
40.8

1.393
1.435
1.432
1.407
1.396
1. 401

54.33
53.37
55.18
53. 40
54.41
56.84

38.7
38 2
39.3
38.5
39.2
40.4

1.404
1.397
1.404
1.387
1.388
1. 407

40.4
40.2
40.3
40.7
41.0
41.6
43.0

1.405
1.413
1.414
1.444
1.444
1.461
1.495

57. 55
58. 20
58.83
58. 79
57.57
60.65
59. 54

40.5
40.7
41.2
41.2
40.6
41.6
40.7

1.421
1.430
1.428
1. 427
1.418
1. 458
1.463

532
T able

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

M O N TH LY LA BO R

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)—Continued

Year and month

Cutlery and edge tools

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Hand tools

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Heating apparatus
(except electric)
and plumbers’ sup­
plies

Hardware

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Sanitary ware and
plumbers’ supplies

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

1948: Average_____ $51.13
1949: Average_____ 50.84

41.3 $1. 238 $56.07
40.0 1.271 54. 54

40. 9 $1.371 $54. 26
38.6 1.413 56.28

40.4 $1.343 $57. 53
39.3 1.432 57.04

40.2 $1. 431 $60.40
38.7 1.474 59.79

1949: July_________
August______
September___
October.......... .
November___
December___

49.68
49. 87
52.26
52.51
53. 12
50. 89

39.3
39.3
40.8
40.8
41.5
40.1

1.264
1.269
1.281
1.287
1.280
1.209

52.25
51.78
52.82
54. 03
53. 44
55.04

37.4
36.8
37.3
38.4
37.9
38.9

1.397
1.407
1.416
1.407
1.410
1.415

56. 67
55. 22
56. 88
53. 35
54. 89
59.20

39.0
38.4
39.5
37.6
38.6
40.8

1.453
1.438
1.440
1.419
1.422
1.451

54.85
57.63
59. 56
61.23
59. 32
60. 39

37.7
39.5
40.3
41.4
40.0
40.5

1.455
1.459
1.478
1.479
1.483
1. 491

1950: January_____
February____
M arch..........
April.................
M ay________
June________
July_________

50. 79
51.22
53. 07
53. 49
52.16
54. 50
50.89

39.9
40.3
41.2
41.4
40.5
41.6
39.3

1.273
1.271
1.288
1.292
1.288
1.310
1.295

55. 92
55. 87
56.77
57. 32
58.20
59.24
59. 80

39.3
39.1
39.7
40.0
40.5
40.8
40.9

1.423
1.429
1. 430
1.433
1.437
1.452
1.462

60.19
61.04
61.15
60.71
58. 87
63.17
62.12

41.0
41.3
41.6
41.5
40.6
42.0
41.3

1.468
1.478
1.470
1.463
1.450
1.504
1.504

59.23
59. 59
60.20
60. 76
61.30
62. 07
63.16

39.7
39.7
40.0
40.0
40.3
40.7
41.2

1.492
1.501
1.505
1.519
1.521
1.525
1.533

Oil burners, nonelec­
tric heating and
cooking apparatus,
not elsewhere clas­
sified

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ w kly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

40.4 $1. 495 $55.80
38.5 1. 553 55. 45

40.0
38.8

$1.395
1.429

58. 64
59. 25
60. 14
63. 73
64. 56
65.20

38.3
38.5
38.6
40.8
41.2
41.5

1. 531
1.539
1. 558
1.562
1.567
1.571

53. 05
56. 82
59.45
60.01
56. 24
57.15

37.6
40.1
41.2
41.7
39.3
39.8

1.411
1.417
1. 443
1. 439
1.431
1. 436

62.24
63. 54
63. 86
63.91
63.91
65. 55
67. 55

40.0
40.5
40.6
40.4
40.4
41.2
41.7

1.556
1.569
1. 573
1.582
1. 582
1. 591
1.620

57.14
56. 76
57.62
58. 63
59.30
59. 52
59. 54

39.6
39.2
39.6
39.8
40.2
40.3
40.7

1.443
1.448
1.455
1.473
1.475
1.477
1.463

Manufacturing—Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance machinery, and transportation equipment)—Continued
Fabricated structural
metal products

Structural steel and
ornamental metal­
work

1948: Average............ $58.17
1949: Average_____ 59.90

41.2 $1. 412 $57. 68
40.5 1.479 60. 91

1949: July............. .
August_____
September___
October...........
November___
December........

59. 32
59.83
60. 59
59. 43
57.89
60.85

40.0
40.4
40.8
40.5
39.3
40.7

1.483
1.481
1.485
1.468
1.473
1. 495

1950: January_____
February____
March_______
ApriL__ _____
M a y ......... .......
June________
July................ ..

60.30
59. 81
60. 38
61.31
61.66
62.50
61.55

40.2
39.9
40.2
40.6
40.7
40.9
40.2

1.500
1.499
1.502
1.510
1.515
1.528
1.531

Boiler-shop products

Sheet-metal work

Metal stamping, coat­ Stamped and pressed
ing, and engraving
metal products

41.2 $1.400 $58. 79
41.1 1. 482 59. 78

41.2 $1. 427 $56.64
40.2 1.487 57.60

40.6 $1.395 $56.66
39.7 1.451 5a 54

40.1 $1.413 $58.39
39.5 1. 482 60. 30

40.3
39.7

$1.449
1.519

60.13
62.32
62.31
60. 97
57.95
63.34

40.3
41.8
41.9
41.7
39.5
42.2

1.492
1.491
1.487
1. 462
1.467
1.501

59. 75
59.10
60. 71
59. 82
58.97
59.18

40.1
39.8
40.5
40.2
39.5
39.4

1.490
1.485
1.499
1.488
1.493
1. 502

58. 25
57. 70
58. 32
55.41
57.98
58.28

39.9
39.6
40.0
38.8
40.1
40.0

1.460
1.457
1. 458
1.428
1.446
1.457

58.08
60.06
60. 78
58. 97
56. 38
60.18

38.8
39.8
40.2
39.9
38.8
40.2

1.497
1.509
1.512
1.478
1.453
1.496

59. 69
61.88
63.02
60. 61
57. 82
62.18

38.9
40.0
40.5
39.9
38.7
40.4

1.532
1. 647
1.656
1.519
1.494
1.539

61.51
61.01
61.43
62. 09
62. 25
63.29
60. 01

41.2
40.7
40.9
41.2
41.2
41.5
39.4

1.493
1.499
1. 502
1.507
1.511
1.525
1. 523

58. 62
58. 45
58. 79
59. 77
59. 60
61.18
61.38

38.9
39.1
39.3
39.9
40.0
40.6
40.7

1.507
1.495
1.496
1.498
1.490
1.507
1.508

58.93
58.89
58. 39
58. 76
60. 40
60. 05
61.53

39.9
40.2
39.8
40.0
40.7
40.3
41.1

1.477
1.465
1.467
1.469
1.484
1.490
1.497

61.02
60.67
60. 63
61.19
61.55
64.44
64.89

40.2
40.5
40.5
40.9
40.6
41.9
41.7

1. 518
1.498
1.497
1.496
1.516
1.538
1.556

63.37
62. 35
62.59
62.92
63. 55
66.43
66.91

40.7
40.7
40.8
41.1
41.0
42.1
41.9

1.557
1.532
1.534
1.531
1. 550
1.578
1.597

Manufacturlng—Continued
Fabricated
metal
products (except
ordnance, machin­
ery, and transporta tio n e q u ip ­
ment)—Con.
Other fabricated
metal products

Machinery (except electrical)

Total: Machinery
(except electrical)

machin­
Engines and turbines Agricultural
ery and tractors

Agricultural machin­
ery (except tractors)

Tractors

1948: Average............ $56.88
1949: Average_____ 58.38

40.4 $1.408 $60. 52
39.5 1.478 60.44

41.2 $1. 469 $63. 50
39.5 1.530 63.13

40.6 $1.568 $60.59
38.9 1.623 61.11

40.5 $1. 496 $62.05
39.3 1.555 61.86

40.5 $1. 532 $58. 62
39.2 1.578 59.93

40.4
39.3

$1.451
1.525

1949: July............... .
August.............
September___
October...........
November___
December___

59.05
57.92
59.15
59.85
57. 51
60. 56

39.6
39.0
39.7
40.3
39.2
40.7

1.495
1.485
1.490
1.485
1.467
1.488

59. 67
59. 86
60.44
60. 21
59. 21
61. 30

39.0
39.1
39.3
39.2
38.5
39.7

1.530
1.531
1.538
1.536
1.538
1.544

61.72
62.93
62. 56
62.15
61. 81
63.84

38.1
38.8
38.5
38.2
37.9
39.0

1.620
1.622
1.625
1.627
1.631
1.637

62.09
61.00
61.39
61 23
57.61
60.96

39.7
39.1
39.1
39.4
37.0
38.9

1.564
1.560
1.570
1.554
1.557
1.567

63.68
62. 25
61.69
61.39
58.02
61.22

40.1
39.3
38.8
39.0
39.7
38.6

1.588
1.584
1. 590
1. 574
1.581
1.586

60.13
59. 48
61.03
60. 70
57.00
60. 48

39.2
38.9
39.5
39.7
37.4
39.3

1.534
1 529
1.545
1.529
1.524
1.539

1950: January...........
February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
J u n e ..............
July_________

61. 51
60. 47
59.14
61.16
62.43
64.15
63.68

40.6
40.5
39.8
40.8
41.1
41.9
41.7

1. 515
1.493
1.486
1.499
1.519
1.531
1.527

61.57
62.55
63. 34
64. 33
65.09
65. 69
66.31

39.8
40.3
40.6
41.0
41.3
41.5
41.6

1.547
1.552
1.560
1.569
1.576
1.583
1.594

63. 88
63. 69
63.96
68. 72
68. 79
68.70
68.03

39.0
39.0
39.0
41.0
40.8
40.7
39.9

1.638
1.633
1.640
1. 676
1.686
1.688
1. 705

61.58
63. 24
62. 92
62. 96
63.88
63.88
63.88

39.1
40.0
39.6
39.7
40.1
40.2
40.1

1.575
1.581
1.589
1.586
1. 593
1.589
1.593

61.92
64.28
63. 92
64.68
65. 49
65.16
65.08

38.8
40.2
39.7
40.1
40.4
40.5
40.3

1.596
1.599
1.610
1.613
1.621
1.609
1.615

60. 91
61.93
61.66
60.68
61.77
62.28
62.37

39.4
39.8
39.5
39.1
39.7
39.9
39.8

1.546
1.556
1.561
1.552
1. 556
1.561
1.567

See footnotes at end of table.

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

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950
T able

533

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued

Year and month

Construction and
mining machinery

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Metalworking
machinery

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

Machine tools

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

1948: Average.......... $60. 33
1949: Average........... 58. 74

42.1 $1.433 $62.94
39.8 1.476 61.11

1949: J u ly ........... ...
August______
September___
October_____
November___
December___

56.97
57.00
57.11
57.07
55.90
59. 34

38.6
38.8
38.8
38.8
37.9
40.2

1.476
1.469
1.472
1.471
1.475
1.476

59.10
59.87
60.37
60.41
59.44
61.73

38.3
38.6
38.9
38.8
38.4
39.7

1.543
1.551
1.552
1.557
1.548
1.555

1950: January..........
February........
M arch...........
April...............
M ay________
June________
Ju ly ................

60.28
61.36
62. 36
63. 11
63. 70
65.44
65. 49

40.4
40.8
41.3
41.6
41.8
42.8
42.5

1.492
1.504
1.510
1.517
1.524
1.529
1.541

61.42
63.86
65.10
67.21
68. 57
69.93
71.07

39.4
40.6
41.1
41.8
42.3
42.9
43.1

1. 559
1. 573
1.584
1.608
1.621
1.630
1.649

42.1 $1.495 $61. 57
39.5 1.547 59.15

Metalworking ma­
chinery (excep t
machine tools)

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Machine-tool acces­
sories

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

42.2 $1.459 $62.98
39.3 1.505 61.85

42.1 $1. 496 $65. 21
39.8 1.554 64.16

57.00
58.32
58.06
57.64
57. 34
59. 92

37.9
38.6
38.4
38.2
38.1
39.5

1.504
1.511
1. 512
1.509
1.505
1.517

59. 64
60.22
60.26
61.50
59. 48
62. 53

38.7
39.0
39.0
39.5
38.2
39.8

1.541
1. 544
1. 545
1.557
1.557
1.571

59.66
61.86
63.00
64. 69
65. 46
66. 62
66. 76

39.2
40.3
40.8
41.6
41.8
42.3
42.2

1.522
1.535
1.544
1. 555
1.566
1.575
1.582

61.94
66.17
67.10
68. 95
69. 69
70.46
71.62

39.3
41.2
41.6
42.2
42.6
43.2
43.3

1.576
1.606
1.613
1.634
1.636
1.631
1.654

Special-industry ma­
c h in e r y (e x c e p t
metalworking ma­
chinery)

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.8 $1. 560 $60.62
39.7 1.616 60.57

42.3
40.3

$1.433
1.503

62.38
62. 09
65. 27
64. 85
63.38
64.08

38.7
38.0
39.8
39.3
39.1
39.9

1.612
1.634
1.640
1.650
1.621
1. 606

60.02
59.67
60.30
59.88
59.97
61.72

39.8
39.7
39.8
39.5
39.4
40.5

1.508
1.503
1.515
1.516
1.522
1.524

63.64
65.37
66.95
69. 56
72. 25
74.38
76. 82

39.6
40.6
41.1
41.8
42.8
43.7
44.2

1.607
1.610
1.629
1.664
1.688
1.702
1.738

61.45
61.80
62.26
62. 65
63. 55
63.83
63.60

40.4
40.5
40.8
41.0
41.4
41.5
41.3

1.521
1.626
1.526
1.528
1.535
1.538
1.540

Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
General industrial
machinery

Office and store ma­
chines and devices

Computing machines
and cash registers

41.1 $1. 496 $66. 54
39.5 1.583 67.87

1948: Average_____ $59. 78
1949- Average............ 59. 53

41.2 $1.451 $61.49
39.5 1.507 62. 53

1949: July_________
A u g u s t ...___
September___
October______
November___
December____

58.16
58.39
59.00
59.72
58.29
59.96

38.8
38.9
39.1
39.5
38.5
39.5

1.499
1.501
1.509
1.512
1.514
1.518

62.45
60.87
62.69
62.53
62. 77
64.32

39.3
38.6
39.5
39.5
39.5
40.0

1.589
1.577
1. 587
1.583
1.589
1.608

1950: January_____
February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay________
June________
July--------------

60.04
59 93
60. 93
62.01
63. 89
64. 63
65.92

39.5
39.4
39.9
40.4
41.3
41.3
41.8

1.520
1.521
1. 527
1. 535
1.547
1. 565
1.577

63.84
63.64
63.16
63.60
63.96
64. 44
66.14

39.8
39.9
39.8
40.1
40.1
40.4
40.9

1.604
1.595
1.587
1.586
1.595
1.595
1.617

Typewriters

Service-industry and Refrigerators and airhousehold machines
conditioning units

41.2 $1.615 $55.65
39.9 1.701 56. 04

41.1 $1.354 $58.98
39.0 1.437 60.66

67. 86
67.15
67.93
67.89
67.91
69.97

39.5
39.5
39.7
39.7
39.6
40.4

1.718
1.700
1.711
1.710
1.715
1.732

56.23
54. 08
56. 74
56.85
56.41
56.44

39.1
37.9
39.4
39.7
39.2
38.9

1.438
1.427
1.440
1.432
1.439
1. 451

69. 60
68.84
68.05
68. 56
69. 20
69. 58
71.16

40.3
40.0
39.7
40.0
40.3
40.5
40.8

1.727
1.721
1.714
1.714
1.717
1.718
1.744

55.77
56.41
56.47
57.41
58.19
58. 33
60. 32

38.7
39.2
39.3
39.7
40.1
40.2
41.2

1.441
1.439
1.437
1.446
1.451
1.451
1.464

40.4 $1.460 $58.29
39.7 1.528 59. 98

39.9
39.0

$1.461
1.538

62. 58
62.48
63.71
60.99
60.49
62. 61

40.9
40.6
41.1
39.5
39.2
40.5

1.530
1.539
1.550
1.544
1.543
1.546

62.78
62.91
64.14
59. 32
58.01
61. 76

40.4
40.2
40.7
38.2
37.5
40.0

1.554
1.565
1.576
1.553
1.547
1.544

63.24
63.87
66.14
65.88
67.20
67. 31
67. 04

40.8
41.1
42.1
41.8
42.4
42. 2
41.9

1.550
1.554
1.571
1.576
1.585
1.595
1.600

62.16
63. 65
66.12
66. 29
68. 50
68.02
67. 67

40.1
40.7
41.9
41.8
43.0
42.3
41.8

1.550
1.564
1.578
1.586
1. 593
1.608
1.619

Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued

Miscellaneous ma­
chinery parts

1948: Average-------- $57.62
1949: Average—........ 57.59

Machine shops (job
and repair)

40.1 $1.437 $58. 77
38.6 1.492 58. 70

Electrical machinery

Total: Electrical
machinery

Electrical generat­
ing, transmission,
distribution, and
industrial appara­
tus

Motors, generators,
transformers, and
industrial controls

40.2 $1.462 $55.66
39.0 1.505 56.96

40.1 $1.388 $58.34
39.5 1.442 59.61

40.4 $1.444 $59. 55
39.5 1.509 61.30

Electrical equipment
for vehicles

40.4 $1.474 $56.77
39.7 1.544 59.16

39.7
39.1

$1.430
1,513

1949: July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____

55.20
57.29
57.37
58.08
58. 50
59.45

37.2
38.5
38.4
38.9
39.0
39.4

1.484
1.488
1.494
1.493
1.500
1.509

58.36
58.31
56. 44
56.81
55.39
59.67

38.8
39.0
37.7
38.1
37.1
39.7

1.504
1.495
1.497
1.491
1.493
1.503

56.00
56.73
57.88
57.97
57.36
58.63

38.7
39.1
40.0
40.4
40.0
40.6

1.447
1.451
1.447
1.435
1.434
1.444

59.24
59. 74
60. 22
59.89
59.67
61.67

39.0
39.3
39.8
39.9
39.7
40.6

1.519
1. 520
1.513
1.501
1.503
1.519

61.23
61.62
62.16
61.51
61.06
63. 57

39.4
39.6
40.1
40.1
39.7
40.8

1.554
1.556
1.550
1.534
1. 538
1.558

60.97
62.79
62.90
59.95
52.65
57.90

39.9
40.8
40.9
39.7
35.1
38.5

1.528
1.539
1.538
1.510
1.500
1.504

1950: January..........
February____
March............
April________
M ay........ .........
J u n e ... ------July_________

59.64
61.18
62.01
63.05
62. 42
63.07
65.12

39.6
40.3
40.5
41.1
40.8
40.9
41.8

1.506
1.518
1. 531
1. 534
1.530
1. 542
1.558

59. 86
60. 79
60.42
61.92
62.72
63.91
64. 97

39.8
40.1
39.8
40.6
41.1
41.5
41.7

1.504
1. 516
1.518
1.525
1.526
1.540
1. 558

58.44
58.26
58. 44
58.71
59.28
58. 58
59. 64

40.5
40.4
40.5
40.6
40.8
40.4
40.6

1.443
1.442
1.443
1.446
1.453
1.450
1.469

60.46
60.04
60.51
60. 97
61.85
61.95
63. 32

40.2
40.0
40.1
40.3
40.8
40.7
40.8

1.504
1.501
1.509
1.513
1.516
1.522
1.552

62.02
61.16
61. 79
62. 65
63.19
63. 02
64.47

40.3
40.0
40.1
40.6
40.9
40.5
40.7

1.539
1.529
1.541
1. 543
1.545
1. 556
1.584

60.19
61.38
63. 73
64.78
69.12
64. 56
64. 34

39.7
40.3
41.3
41.9
43.8
41.2
40.8

1.516
1.523
1. 543
1.546
1.578
1.567
1.577

See footnotes at end of table.


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

534

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

T able

M O N TH LY LA BO L

C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Transportation equipment

Electrical machinery—Continued
Communication
equipment

Year and month

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Radios, phonographs,
television sets, and
equipment
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

appliances,
Telephone and tele­ Electrical
lamps, and miscel­
graph equipment
laneous products

Avg.
Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
hours
ings

40.7 $1,463 $56. 08
39.3 1. 563 56.52

Total: Transporta­
tion equipment
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Automobi’

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

40.2 $1,395 $61. 58
39.5 1.431 64.95

39.0 $1,579 $61.86
39.2 1.657 65.97

38. 4
38.9

$1,611
1.696
1.704
1 703
1.716
1.689
1.686
1.713

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Av?.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1948: Average............ $52 10
1949: Average............ 53. 56

39.8 $1,309 $48. 53
39.5 1.356 50. 68

39.2 $1,238 $59 54
39.5 1.283 61.43

1949: July_________
A ugust.............
Septem ber...
Ortoher ____
November___
December____

51.54
52.20
54. 44
55. 66
55.69
55.69

37 9
38 3
40.0
41.2
41.1
41.1

1 360
1 363
1.361
1.351
1. 355
1.355

47.78
48 60
52.12
53 46
53. 52
53. 52

37.5
38.0
40. 5
41.6
41.3
41.3

1. 274
1.279
1.287
1.285
1.296
1.296

60 68
61. 54
61.90
62 33
62. 92
63.12

38.8
39 2
39.1
39 4
39.5
39.5

1. 564
1. 570
1.583
1.582
1 593
1. 598

55.13
55. 77
56.79
57 67
57 71
58.26

39.1
39.3
39.8
40.3
40.3
40.4

1.410
1.419
1. 427
1.431
1.432
1.442

66.27
65.90
67. 13
64 75
61 92
65.31

39.9
39.7
40.1
39.1
37.3
38.9

1.661
1.660
1.674
1.656
1. 660
1.679

68. 67
67 78
69.33
65. 87
61 03
65. 44

40.3
39 8
40. 4
39.0
36 2
38.2

1950: January_____
February.........
March_______
April________
M a y _______
June................
July_________

55. 56
55.32
54. 82
54. 23
53. 77
54.15
54. 59

41.0
40.8
40.7
40.5
40.1
40.2
40.5

1. 355
1.358
1.347
1. 339
1.341
1.347
1.348

53.05
52. 62
52. 54
52.21
51.82
52.14
52.46

41.0
40.6
40.6
40.6
40. 2
40.2
40.6

1.294
1.296
1.294
1.286
1. 289
1.297
1.292

63.68
63.63
62. 92
63. 75
64. 23
64. 84
64.64

39.7
39.5
39.2
39.4
39.6
39.9
39.8

1.604
1.611
1.605
1.618
1.622
1.625
1.624

59.09
58.78
58. 68
60.34
60. 60
57. 80
60.24

40.5
40. 4
40.3
40.8
41.0
39.7
40.4

1.459
1.455
1.456
1.479
1.478
1.456
1.491

68.12
66.58
67. 46
70. 46
69. 62
72.37
72.24

40.5
39 7
40.2
41.3
41.0
42.0
41.9

1. 682
1.677
1.678
1.706
1.698
1. 723
1.724

70.14
67.64
69. 08
73. 77
71.66
75.72
75. 06

40.9
1.715
39.6 ' 1.708
40.4
1.710
42.2
1. 748
41. 4
1. 731
42.9
1.765
42.6
1.762

Manufacturing—Continued
Transportation equipment—Continued
Aircraft and parts

Aircraft engines and
parts

Aircraft

1948: Average_____ $61.21
1949: Average_____ 63.62

41.0 $1. 493 $60. 21
40.6 1.567 62. 69

41.1 $1. 465 $63.40
40.5 1. 548 65. 24

1949: J u ly ...............
A u g u s t.____
September. __
November__
December.......

62.08
62 07
63. 58
63 67
66 69
66.41

39.9
40 2
40 6
40. 5
41 5
41.2

1.556
1.544
1.566
1 572
1. 607
1.612

60.78
61.46
62 26
62 42
66 15
66.16

39.7
40 3
40. 4
40. 3
41 5
41.3

1 531
1.525
1.541
1. 549
1 594
1.602

63. 80
61 66
65. 72
64 64
68. 62
67.16

39.7
39.4
41.0
40. 2
42.1
41.0

1.607
1 565
1.603
1 608
1.630
1.638

1950: January____
February___
March_______
April________
M ay________
June________
July_________

65. 20
65. 69
65 29
64. 96
65. 61
65. 20
66.38

40.7
40.7
40.5
40.3
40.8
40.6
41.1

1.602
1.614
1.612
1.612
1.608
1.606
1.615

64. 63
65.00
64. 36
64. 24
64. 68
64.31
64.67

40.7
40.6
40.3
40.2
40.6
40.5
40.7

1.588
1.601
1.597
1.598
1.593
1.588
1.589

65.00
66.34
66.99
66.10
68.35
67.85
71.84

40.1
40.7
41.1
40.7
41.6
41.5
43.2

1.621
1.630
1.630
1.624
1.643
1.635
1.663

Aircraft propellers
and parts

40.9 $1. 550 $62 13
40.7 1.603 66.83

Other aircraft parts
and equipment

Ship and boat build­
ing and repairing

39 7 $1. 565 $63 59
41.0 1.630 65. 08

41 0 $1.551 $60 68
40.4 1.611 61. 67

38.7
38.0

$1,568
1.623

69.88
66. 42
68.60
65. 73
64 27
67. 53

42.2
40.9
41.4
40. 5
39.6
41.3

1.656
1.624
1. 657
1. 623
1 623
1.635

65.37
65.98
66 83
69.17
67.90
67.16

40.3
40.6
40.8
42 1
41.2
41.2

1.622
1 625
1.638
1. 643
1.648
1. 630

61 94
60.05
61.00
59 11
56.97
62. 86

38.4
37.3
37.7
36 4
34.8
38.4

1.613
1.616
1.618
1 624
1. 637
1.637

68.88
70.18
66. 65
67.06
63.85
67. 25
71.87

42.0
41.6
40.2
40.3
39.1
40.2
42.2

1.640
1.687
1. 658
1.664
1.633
1.673
1.703

67.40
67.81
67. 97
67.06
67. 73
68. 51
69. 29

40.9
41.0
40.8
40.4
40.9
41.1
41.0

1.648
1.654
1.666
1.660
1.656
1.667
1.690

61.46
61.16
62. 53
62.08
63. 21
62.54
63.40

37.8
37.5
38.2
37.9
38.4
38.3
38.1

1.626
1.631
1. 637
1.638
1.646
1.633
1.664

Manufacturing—Continued

Shipbuilding and re­
pairing
1948: Average_____ $61.22
1949: Average........... 61. 88

Transportation equipment—Continued

Instruments and re­
lated products

Locomotives and
parts

Total: Instruments
and related products

Railroad equipment

38.7 $1. 582 $62. 24
37.8 1.637 63. 54

40.0 $1,556 $63.80
39.2 1.621 65. 47

Railroad and street­ Other transportation
cars
equipment

39.6 $1,611 $60. 82
39 3 1.666 61. 70

40.2 $1,513 $5« 14
38.9 1.586 57.60

40.8 $1. 425 $53. 45
39.7 1. 451 55.28

40 1
39.6

$1,333
1.396

1949: July..................
August ...........
September.. _
October ........
N ovem ber___
December____

62.16
60 14
61 24
59 33
57 06
63. 31

38.3
37.1
37 5
36 2
34 5
38.3

1.623
1.621
1.633
1.639
1.654
1. 653

60. 32
62.05
61.84
62. 49
63 16
63.39

37.7
38.4
38.1
38.5
38 3
38.7

1.600
1.616
1. 623
1 623
1.649
1.638

63.65
66. 62
64. 44
65.07
6«. 48
65.56

39.0
38.8
38.7
39.2
39.2
39.4

1.632
1. 717
1.665
1.660
1.696
1.664

58.23
59 93
59 87
60.06
59. 75
61.18

36.9
38.1
37 7
37.8
37.3
38.0

1.578
1. 573
1.588
1.589
1 602
1.610

54.94
58 46
62. 85
63 11
59.99
55. 43

39.3
40.4
41.9
42.1
40.1
38.2

1.398
1. 447
1.500
1.499
1 496
1.451

54.37
54. 25
55. 26
56 08
56. 52
56. 84

39.0
39.0
39.5
39.8
40.0
40.0

1.394
1 391
1.399
1.409
1.413
1.421

1950: January...........
February........
March_______
April.................
M ay____ ____
June_________
July...................

61.74
61.55
63. 30
62. 57
64.02
63.19
64.00

37.6
37.3
38.2
37.6
38.2
38.0
37.8

1.642
1.650
1. 657
1.664
1.676
1.663
1.693

61.60
64 89
64. 21
64. 52
64.99
64. 60
64. 44

38 0
39 4
39.2
39 2
39.8
39.2
39.1

1.621
1.647
1.638
1.646
1.633
1.648
1.648

63.29
67.48
67.42
67. 46
68.59
67.86
68.64

38.9
40.0
40.2
402
40.9
39.5
40.4

1.627
1.687
1.677
1.67S
1.677
1.718
1.699

59. 77
62.07
60. 93
61.19
61.02
61.62
60.18

37.1
38.7
38.2
38.1
38.5
39.0
37.8

1.611
1.604
1. 595
1.666
1.585
1.580
1.592

58. 67
60.03
58. 13
58 58
60. 22
61.25
60.17

41.0
40.4
39.2
39.5
40.2
41.0
40.3

1.431
1.486
1.483
1.483
1.498
1.494
1.493

56.49
56. 86
57. 40
57. 52
58.34
59.41
59.25

39.7
39.9
40.0
40.0
40.4
41.0
41.0

1.423
1.425
1.435
1.438
1.444
1.449
1.445

See footnotes at end of table.


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

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

& E V IE W , O CTO BER 1950

535

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Em ployees1—Con.
Manufacturing—Continued
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

Instruments and related products—Continued

jiflnd month

j. ‘

Ophthalmic goods
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

1948: Average____ $45. 54
1949: Average........... 47.04

Photographic appa­
ratus

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

39.7 $1.147 $58.64
39.6 1.188 59. 91

Watches and clocks

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

Total: Miscellaneous Jewelry, silverware,
Professional and
indus­ and plated ware
scientific instruments manufacturing
tries

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

40.5 $1. 448 $48. 84
39.7 1.509 49. 53

40.1 $1. 218 $54. 78
39.0 1.270 57.01

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

40.1 $1. 366 $50. 06
39.7 1.436 50.23

40.9 $1. 224 $57. 25
39.9 1.259 55.06

43.6
41.4

$1. 313
1.330

1949: July.................
August. ___
September___
October____
November___
December___

46. 57
45. 47
47.64
47. 60
47.80
48.20

39.1
38.6
39.9
40.0
40.1
40.2

1.191
1.178
1.194
1.190
1.192
1.199

58. 84
58. 73
59. 72
60.26
62. 27
62.40

39.2
39.1
39.6
39.8
40.7
40.6

1.501
1.502
1.508
1. 514
1.530
1. 537

48.15
48.43
49. 75
50. 69
51.18
50.23

38.0
38.5
39.3
39.6
39.8
39.0

1.267
1. 258
1. 266
1.280
1.286
1.288

56.13
56.43
56. 97
58.17
57. 99
68. 67

39.2
39.3
39. 4
39.9
39.8
40.1

1.432
1. 436
1.446
1. 458
1. 457
1.463

48. 75
48. 51
50. 57
51. 44
51 70
52.23

39.0
38.9
40.2
40.7
40.9
40.9

1.250
1.247
1. 258
1.264
1. 264
1. 277

50. 00
50.13
54. 79
60. 29
61. 28
59.69

38 2
38.5
41.6
44. 2
44.6
43.6

1.309
1.302
1.317
1. 364
1.374
1.369

1950: January_____
February____
March___ ___
April___ ____
M ay...
June.
____
July_________

46. 88
47.60
47.15
47 63
49. 74
51. 29
51.17

39.2
39.6
39.0
39.2
40.6
41.3
41.0

1.196
1.202
1.209
1.215
1.225
1.242
1.248

61.60
61.95
62. 23
63. 05
63. 21
63.49
63.40

40.0
40.1
40.2
40.6
40.7
40. 7
40.8

1.540
1.545
1. 548
1.553
1.553
1. 560
1.554

49.86
50.18
50. 57
50.01
49. 97
51.96
50.98

38.8
38.9
38.9
38.5
38.2
39.6
38.8

1.285
1.290
1.300
1.299
1.308
1.312
1.314

58. 64
58. 71
59. 55
59. 59
60. 42
61.21
61.13

40 0
40.1
40.4
40.4
40.8
41.3
41.5

1. 466
1.464
1.474
1.475
1.481
1.482
1.473

51.78
51.62
51.82
51.94
52. 47
52. 48
52.72

40.2
40.2
40.2
40.2
40.3
40.4
40.4

1.288
1.284
1.289
1. 292
1.302
1.299
1.305

55. 52
55.93
57. 25
56 16
56. 40
56.10
56.73

41.9
41.4
42.0
41.2
41. 5
41.4
41.5

1.325
1.351
1.363
1.363
1.359
1.355
1.367

Manufacturing—Continued

Transportation and
public utilities

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries—Continued
Jewelry and find­
ings
1948: Average......... $50. 47
1949: Average_____ 51.33

Silverware and
plated ware

Toys and sporting
goods

Costume Jewelry,
buttons, notions

41.2 $1. 225 $62.38
40.8 1.258 58. 30

45.4 $1. 374 $47. 24
42.0 1.388 47.00

40.1 $1.178 $45. 36
39.1 1.202 46. 06

Other miscellaneous
manufacturing in­
dustries

Class I railroads 4

40.0 $1.134 $50.39
39.3 1.172 51.20

40.7 $1.238 $60.34
40.0 1.280 61.73

46.1
43.5

$1.309
1.419

1949: July________
A ugust_____
September___
October_____
November __
December___

48. 56
48.11
51 09
54.19
54. 44
54.44

37.8
38.8
41.1
42.7
42. 7
42.1

1.289
1.240
1. 243
1.269
1. 275
1.293

50. 94
51.88
57 53
65.85
67 23
64.13

38.5 1.323
38.2 1. 358
41.6 1.383
45.6 1 444
46 3 1.452
45.0 1.425

44.76
45.67
47.60
48.36
49. 45
47.08

37.8 1.184
38.8 1.177
39. 7 1.199
40.3 1.200
40. 8 1. 212
39.1 1.204

46.49
43.88
45.90
47. 48
46 18
46.93

39.4
37.5
39.2
39. 5
39.3
39.5

1.180
1 170
1.171
1.202
1. 175
1.188

50. 24
50.11
51.75
51 55
51.77
53.35

39. 4
39.3
40.3
40. 4
40.6
41.2

1. 275
1.275
1.284
1.276
1. 275
1.295

60 37
62 64
60 98
58 98
61 60
61.45

44.1
46. 4
39.6
38.3
40.0
39.9

1 369
1 354
1 540
1.537
1. 543
1. 547

1950: January_____
February____
March „
April___- ___
M ay_____ - June___ ___
July

51.91
51.31
52. 09
51.89
52. 50
51.68
51.34

41.0
40 4
40.6
40.1
40. 7
40. 5
40.2

1.266
1.270
1.283
1.294
1.290
1.276
1.277

58.40
60 21
61.42
59. 74
59. 57
59. 82
61.17

42.6
42.4
43.1
42.1
42.1
42.1
42.6

48.06
48.47
49. 24
49. 88
49.84
49.18
49.42

39.3
39.6
39.9
39.9
40.0
39.6
39.6

1.223
1.224
1. 234
1.250
1.246
1.242
1.248

47. 24
47.24
47. 63
47.54
47. 58
47. 46
48. 57

39.4
39.3
39.2
38.9
39.0
38.9
39.2

1.199
1.202
1. 215
1.222
1.220
1. 220
1.239

52.83
52. 59
52. 46
52. 55
53. 45
53.82
53.81

40.3
40.3
40.2
40.3
40.4
40.8
40.7

1.311
1.305
1.305
1.304
1.323
1.319
1.322

61 69
62 37
63. 73
61.69
61.75
64.19

39.8
39.8
41.6
39.9
40.2
41.9

1.550
1. 567
1.532
1.546
1.536
1.532

See footnotes at end of table.


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

1.371
1.420
1.425
1.419
1.415
1.421
1.436

536

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Transportation and public utilities—Continued
Communication
Year and month

Local railways and
bus lines i

Switchboard oper­
ating employees »

Telephone

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Line construction,
installation, and
maintenance em­
ployees 10

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

1948: Average___________________ ______ $61. 73
1949: Average_________________________ 64.61

46.1 $1. 339 $48. 92
44.9 1.439 51.78

39. 2 $1. 248
38.5 1.345

1949: July— ................... ..............................
August__________ ____ ________ _
September_____________________
October___________________ _____
November................ ..........................
December................. ............. ..............

65. 21
64.46
64. 55
64.31
64.17
65.10

45.1
44.7
44.3
44.2
44.1
44.5

1.446
1.442
1.457
1. 455
1.455
1.463

51.90
51.57
52.61
63.29
54.40
52.49

38.5
38.4
38.6
38.7
38.8
38.4

1.348
1. 343
1. 363
1.377
1.402
1.367

44.81
44.23
45.37
46.35
48. 04
44.42

37.0
36.8
37.1
37.2
37.3
36.5

1. 211
1.202
1.223
1.246
1.288
1.217

69. 06
69. 22
70.10
70.35
71.35
70.89

41.6
11.6
41.7
41.6
41.7
41.8

1950: January____________ _____
February. _____ _______________
March______________ _____ _____
A p r il............ ............................ ..........
________ _______
M a y __
June_______________________ ____
July........................................................

65.11
65.22
65. 53
65.90
66. 56
67.35
67.18

44.2
44.4
44.4
44.5
44.8
45.2
44.7

1.473
1.469
1.476
1.481
1.486
1.490
1.503

53.13
53.69
52. 98
53.44
53.72
54.31
55.04

38.5
38.6
38.5
38.7
38.9
39.1
39.4

1.380
1.391
1.376
1.381
1.381
1.389
1.397

44.58
45.82
45. 03
46.19
46.20
46.61
47. 77

36.3
36.8
36.7
37.4
37.5
37.8
38.4

1.228
1.245
1.227
1.235
1.232
1.233
1.244

72. 46
72. 33
70. 55
70. 76
71.48
72.28
72. 74

42.3
42.2
41.6
41.6
41.8
42.0
42.0

$60. 74
63.99

1949: July_____
August__
September
October...
November.
December1950: January...
February..
March.......
April____
May_____
June..........
July_____

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Rfi

44 7
44 7

$1 348
1 40fi

1.660
1.664
1.681
1.691
1.711
1.696

63. 97
63. 64
62.83
62.97
62.05
62.23

45.4
45.1
44.5
44.5
43. 7
43.7

1.409
1.411
1.412
1.415
1.420
1.424

1.713
1.714
1. 696
1.701
1.710
1.721
1.732

62.84
62.97
62. 93
64.13
65.38
64.21
64.13

44.1
44.1
44.1
44.6
45.4
44.9
45.0

1.425
1.428
1.427
1.438
1. 440
1.430
1.425

Trade

Other public utilities

1948: Average__
1949: A v era g e-

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

f\9.

Transportation and
public utilities—
Continued

Retail trade
Wholesale trade

Gas and electric
utilities

Telegraph 11

Retail trade (except
merchandise
eating and drink­ Generalstores
ing places)

Department stores
and general mail­
order houses

41.8 $1. 453 $55. 58
41.5 1.542 57.55

40.9 $1.359 $43. 85
40.7 1.414 45.93

40.3 $1. 088 $33. 31
40.4 1.137 34.87

36. 6 $0. 910 $37. 36
36.7
.950 39.31

37.7
37.8

$0.991
1.040

64.02
63.92
64. 75
65. 72
65.03
66.04

41.3
41.4
41.4
41.7
41.5
41.8

1.550
1.544
1.564
1. 576
1.567
1.580

58.18
57.10
57. 35
58. 36
57. 86
58.20

40.8
40.7
40.7
40.9
40.6
40.9

1.426
1.403
1.409
1.427
1.425
1.423

46.95
46. 87
46.58
46.06
45. 63
45.83

40. 9
40.9
40. 5
40.4
40.1
40.7

1.148
1.146
1.150
1.140
1.138
1.126

35. 86
35. 75
35.17
34. 65
34. 30
36.12

37.2
37.2
36.6
36.4
36.3
38.1

.964
.961
.961
.952
.945
.948

39. 79
39. 58
39. 48
38.90
38.75
42.12

38.0
37.8
37.6
37.4
37.4
39.7

1.047
1.047
1.050
1. 040
1.036
1.061

66.09
65.08
64. 81
65.17
65.17
66.15
66.89

41.7
41.4
41.2
41.3
41.3
41.5
41.6

1.585
1.572
1. 573
1.578
1.578
1.594
1.608

58.14
58.27
58. 56
58. 79
59.11
59.80
60. 90

40.6
40.3
40.3
40.1
40.4
40.6
40.9

1.432
1.446
1.453
1.466
1.463
1.473
1.489

46.58
46.26
46. 26
46. 47
46.94
48.09
49.02

40.4
40.4
40.3
40.2
40.4
41.0
41.4

1.153
1.145
1.148
1.156
1.162
1.173
1.184

35.68
35.44
35. 04
34. 66
35.49
36. 53
37.41

36.9
36.8
36.5
36.1
36.4
37.2
37.9

.967
.963
.960
.960
.975
.982
.987

40. 21
39.85
39. 57
39.83
40.82
41.89
42.79

37.9
37.7
37.4
37.4
37.8
38.4
38.9

1.061
1.057
1.058
1.065
1.080
1.091
1.100

Trade—Continued
Retail trade—Continued
Food and liquor
stores
1948: Average__
1949: A verage-

$47.15
49.93

1949: July..........
August__
September.
October...
November.
December1950: January__
February—
March........
April......... .
M ay.........
June_____
July...........
See footnotes

at

end of


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

table.

Automotive and aceessories dealers

Other retail trade
Apparel and accèssories stores

Furniture and appliance stores

Lumber and hardware supply stores

40.3 $1. 170 $56. 07
40.2 1.242 58.92

45 4 $1 235 $39.60
45.6 1.292 40. 66

36.6 $1. 085 $51.15
36.7 1.108 53.30

42.7 $1. 198 $49. 37
43.4 1.228 51.84

43.5
43.6

$1.135
1.189

51.13
51.00
50.57
50. 25
50. 37
50. 54

41 1
41.0
40.2
40. 3
40. 1
40.3

1. 244
1. 244
1. 258
1. 247
1. 256
1.254

59. 83
59. 55
59. 51
59. 39
58. 78
58.26

45. 6
45. 6
45. 5
45.9
45.6
45.8

1. 312
1.306
1.308
1.294
1.289
1. 272

40. 37
40. 52
41.66
40.15
40.26
41.22

36.5
36.8
37. 1
36.6
36.5
36.8

1.106
1.101
1.123
1.097
1.103
1.120

52.78
52. 82
53.37
53. 38
54. 32
56. 70

43. 3
43.4
43.6
43 4
43.7
44.4

1.219
1.217
1.224
1.230
1.243
1.277

52.34
52. 40
52.18
52.96
51.79
52.16

43.8
44.0
43.7
44.1
43.3
43.5

1.195
1.191
1.194
1. 201
1.196
1.199

50.68
50.85
50. 76
50.93
50.81
51.78
52. 91

40.0
40.1
40.0
40.1
40. 1
40.9
41.5

1.267
1.268
1.269
1.270
1.267
1.266
1.275

58.72
57. 76
59. 22
60.36
60. 50
61.88
W . 30

45.8
45.3
45.8
45.8
45.9
45.8
4*. 8

1. 282
1.275
1. 293
1.318
1.318
1.351
1.38?

41.07
40.07
39. 64
40.17
40.37
40. 96
40. 74

36.7
36.9
36.5
35.9
36.5
36.8
36.9

1.119
1.086
1.086
1.109
1.106
1.113
1.104

54.81
53.25
53. 30
54.21
54.89
55. 93
56.03

43.6
43.4
43.3
43.4
43.6
43.9
43.6

1.257
1.227
1.231
1.249
1.259
1.274
1.285

51.58
51. 72
51.89
52.84
54.08
55.14
55. 54

43.2
43.1
43.1
43.6
43.9
44.4
44.5

1.194
1.200
1.204
1.212
1.232
1.242
1.248

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

537

T able C -l: Hours and Gross Earnings of Production Workers or Nonsupervisory Employees 1—Con.
Finance 12

Service

Banks
and
trust
com­
panies

Secu­
rity
dealers
and ex­
changes

Insur­
ance
carriers

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

1948: Average___ _____ ________
1949: A verage...................... ...........

$41.51
43. 64

$66. 83
68. 32

$54. 93
56.47

$31. 41
32.84

1949: July-__........ ....................— A u gu st--,.......................... ..
September____ __________
October_________________
November_______________
December_____ __________

43.80
43.10
43.62
43.94
43.96
43.95

65.70
65.30
67. 29
71.25
72. 54
74.12

56.70
55.54
55.33
56.04
55. 89
56. 52

1950: January_________________
February_______________
March__________________
April __________________
M ay______ ________ ____
J u n e ___________________
July......................... ................

45.29
45. 52
45. 37
45.83
45. 54
45. 38
46. 22

75. 78
77. 61
80.08
83. 53
82. 70
80. 96
81.52

57. 78
57.68
57.19
58.16
58. 02
57.75
58.64

Year and month

Hotels, year-round 18

Laundries

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

44.3
44.2

$0. 709
.743

$34. 23
34.98

32.90
32.93
32.90
32. 84
33.13
33. 24

44.1
44.2
44.1
44.2
44.0
43.8

.746
.745
.746
.743
.753
.759

33.06
33. 51
33.07
33.26
33. 34
33.28
33.23

43.9
43.8
43.8
44.0
44.1
43.9
43.9

.753
.765
.755
.756
.756
.758
.757

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1These figures are based on reports from cooperating establishments
covering both full- and part-time employees who worked during, or received
pay for, the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month. For mining,
manufacturing, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing plants industries, the
data relate to production and related workers only. For the remaining
industries, unless otherwise noted, the data relate to nonsupervisory em­
ployees and working supervisors. All series, beginning with January 1947,
are available upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such requests
should specify the series desired. Data for the two current months are
subject to revision without notation; revised figures for earlier months will be
identified by an asterisk (•) for the first month’s publication of such data.
2 Includes ordnance and accessories; lumber and wood products (except
furniture): furniture and fixtures; stone, clay, and glass products; primary
metal industries; fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery,
and transportation equipment); machinery (except electrical); electrical
machinery; transportation equipment; instruments and related products;
and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
8 Includes food and kindred products; tobacco manufactures; textile-mill
products; apparel and other finished textile products; paper and allied prod­
ucts; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chemicals and allied prod­
ucts; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products; and leather and
leather products.
<Data by region, North and South, from January 1949, are available uponrequest.
1 Data by region, South and West, from January 1949, are available upon request.
* These averages are based on reports summarlred in the M-300 report
prepared by the Interstate Commerce Commission, and relate to all hourly

Cleaning and dyeing
plants

Motion
picture
produc­
tion and
distribu­
tion 12

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

41.9
41.5

$0. 817
.843

$39. 50
40.71

41.1
41.2

$0. 961
.988

$92. 27
92.17

35.03
34. 27
34. 69
34. 57
34. 23
34. 77

41.5
40.8
41.2
41.1
40.9
41.2

.844
.840
.842
.841
.837
.844

40.43
38.63
41.28
40.15
39 96
40. 47

41.0
39.5
41.7
41.1
40.9
41.0

.986
.978
.990
.977
.977
.987

95. 52
92. 65
92.26
94. 38
91. 54
93. 39

35.15
34.39
34. 56
34.85
35. 74
36. 50
35.86

41.5
40.8
41.0
41.0
41.7
42.1
41.6

.847
.843
.843
.850
.857
.867
.862

40. 75
39. 26
40.40
40. 48
43. 69
44.28
42. 06

41.2
39.9
40.6
40.4
43.0
43.2
41.4

.989
.984
.995
1. 002
1.016
1.025
1.016

87.82
88.94
91.01
91.23
94.09
94. 75
91.28

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

rated employees who received pay during the month. M ost executive,
professional, and supervisory personnel are excluded. Switching and ter­
minal companies are excluded. The annual average data include retro­
active pay when such payments are made. M onthly data do not include
retroactive payments. Beginning with September 1, 1949, data reflect the
following changes for nonoperative employees (about two-thirds of the total):
(1) scheduled weekly hours were reduced from 48 to 40; (2) hourly rate» were
adjusted to maintain the former weekly earnings for 48 hours; (3) an additional
wage increase of $0.07 an hour was granted.
7 Data include privately and municipally operated local railways and bus­
lines.
®Through M ay 1949 the averages relate mainly to the hours and earnings
of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Beginning with
June 1949 the averages relate to the hours and earnings of nonsupervisory
employees. Data for June comparable with the earlier series are $51.47,
38.5 hours, and $1.337.
9 Data include employees such as switchboard operators, service assistants,
operating-room instructors, and pay-station attendants.
>« Data include employees such as central office craftsmen; installation and
exchange repair craftsmen; line, cable, and conduit craftsmen; and laborers.
71 Data relate mainly to land-line employees, excluding employees com­
pensated on a commission basis, general and divisional headquarters per­
sonnel, trainees in school, and messengers.
72 Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not
available.
I! Money payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips, not included.

T able C-2: Gross Average Weekly Earnings of Production Workers in Selected Industries, in Current
and 1939 Dollars 1
Manufacturing Bituminous-coal
mining

Current 1939 Current 1939 Current
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
Avpragfi
$23. 86
29.58
Average_________
43. 82
Average__________
Ayprap’p.
54.14
Average..................... 54.92

1949* July
Ali gust
Sppt.pm hp.r
October__________

Laundries

Year and month

Year and month

1939:
1941:
1946:
194£*
1949:

Manufacturing Bituminous-coal
mining

Laundries

54. 63
54. 70
55.72
55.26

$23. 86
27.95
31. 27
31. 43
32.28

$23. 88
30.86
58. 03
72.12
63.28

$23. 88
29.16
41.41
41. 87
37.20

$17. 69
19.00
30. 30
34. 23
34. 98

$17. 69
17.95
21.62
19. 87
20.56

32. 23
32. 21
32. 66
32.60

47. 94
49. 51
52. 46
63.10

28. 28
29.15
30. 75
37.22

35.03
34. 27
34. 69
34. 57

20. 66
20.18
20. 33
20.39

1 These series indicate changes in the level of weekly earnings prior to and
after adjustment for changes in purchasing power as determined from the
Bureau’s Consumers’ Price Index, the year 1939 having been selected for the
basePeriod Estimates of World War II and postwar understatement by the


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

Current 1939 Current 1939 Current 1939
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars

1939
dollars

1949: November________ $54. 43
December______ _ 56.04

$32.09
33. 26

$68.17
48. 74

$40.19
28. 92

$34. 23
34. 77

$20.18
20.63

56.29
56. 37
56.53
56. 93
57. 54
58.70
59. 21

33.52
33. 65
33. 65
33.82
33.92
34.28
34.12

47.36
49. 83
78. 75
72.79
68. 37
70.09
68.88

28. 21
29. 75
46. 87
43. 25
40.31
40.93
39. 69

35.15
34.39
34. 56
34. 85
35. 74
36.50
35. 86

20. 93
20. 53
20. 57
20. 71
21.07
21.32
20.66

1950: January__________
February_________
March__________
April_____________
M ay____ ________
June2____________
J u ly 2- - ---------------

Consumers’ Price Index were not included. See the M onthly Labor R eview,
March 1947, p. 498. Comparable data from January 1939 are available
upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 Preliminary.

538

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C-3: Gross and N et Spendable Average Weekly Earnings of Production Workers in Manufactur­
ing Industries, in Current and 1939 Dollars 1
Gross average
weekly earnings

N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Worker with
no dependents

Period
Index
Amount (1939=
100)

Worker with
3 dependents

111.7
199.1
190.5
181.5

$25.41
39.40
37.80
37.30

$25.06
30.81
29.04
27.81

$26.37
45.17
43.57
42.78

$26.00
35.33
33.47
31.90

1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949|

100.0
105.6
124 0
153.6
180.8
193.1
186 0
183. 7
209. 4
226 9
230.2

23.58
24.69
28.05
31.77
36.01
38.29
36 97
37. 72
42. 76
47. 43
48.09

23.58
24. 49
26. 51
27.11
28. 97
30.32
28 61
26. 92
26.70
27.54
28.27

23.62
24. 95
29 28
36. 28
41.39
44.06
42. 74
43. 20
48. 24
A3.17
53. 83

23.62
24.75
27.67
30.96
33.30
34.89
33.08
30. 83
30. Í2
30.87
31.64

Average......................
Average___________
Average___________
Average.- ________
Average____ ______
Average___________
Average—.......... .........
Average ________
Average___________
Average___________
Average—...................

23.86
25.20
29. 58
36.65
43.14
46.08
44 39
43. 82
49.97
54.14
54. 92

Worker with
no dependents

Period

Cur­
Cur­
1939
1939
rent
rent
dollars dollars dollars dollars

1941: January___________ $26 64
1945: January............. ......... 47. 50
July_____ _________ 45. 45
1946: June____________
43.31

>Net spendable average weekly earnings are obtained by deducting from
gross average weekly earnings, social security and income taxes for which
the specified type of worker is liable. The amount of income tax liability
depends, of course, on the number of dependents supported by the worker
as well as on the level of his gross income. Net spendable earnings have,
therefore, been computed for 2 types of Income-receivers: (1) A worker with
no dependents: (2) A worker with 3 dependents.
The computation of net spendable earnings for both the factory worker with
no dependents and the factory worker with 3 dependents are based upon the

Net spendable average weekly
earnings

Gross average
weekly earnings

Index
Amount (1939=
100)
104Q* Jn]y
Sepi em b er..............
October. ..............
November..........
December..... ..........

Cur­
Cur­
1939
rent 1939
rent
dollars dollars dollars dollars

$.54 63
54. 70
55. 72
55. 26
54. 43
56. 04

$229.0
229. 3
233.5
231.6
228.1
234.9

$47.84
47. 90
48. 75
48. 37
47.67
49.02

$28.22
28. 21
28. 57
28. 53
28 10
29.09

$53.58
53.64
54 50
54 II
53. 41
54. 77

$31.61
31.59
31 94
31 92
31. 49
32.50

56. 29
56.37
56.53
56.93
57. 54
58. 70
59. 21

235. 9
236.3
236. 9
238.6
241.2
246.0
248.2

48. 94
49.00
49.13
49. 46
49. 95
50.90
51.32

29. 15
29. 25
29.24
29. 39
29. 45
29. 73
29. 57

54.70
54. 7
54. 90
55.23
55. 74
56. 73
57.16

32. 58
32. 69
32.68
32. 81
32. 86
33.13
32.94

February.
Maroh
April_____________
July 2 _______

Worker with
3 dependents

_

gross average weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing
industries without direct regard to marital status and family composition
The primary value of the spendable series is that of measuring relative
changes in disposable earnings for 2 types of income-receivers. That series
does not, therefore, reflect actual differences in levels of earnings for workers
of varying age, occupation, skill, family composition, etc. Comparable
data from January 1939 are available upon request to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
2 Preliminary.

T able C-4: Average Hourly Earnings, Gross and Exclusive of Overtime, of Production Workers in
Manufacturing Industries 1
Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime

Period
Gross
amount

1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:

Durable
goods

Index
Am ount (1939=
100)

Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average .
Average___
Average

$0.729
.853
.961
1.019
1. 023
1.086
1.237
1. 350
1.401

$0. 702
.805
.894
.947
2 .963
1.051
1.198
1.310
1.367

1949: July_______
A ugust. _ __

1.408
1.399

L 376
1.366

Gross

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

110.9 $0. 808 $0. 770 $0. 640
127.2
.947
.881
.723
141.2 1.059
.976
.803
149.6 1.117 1.029
.861
152.1 1.111 2 1.042
.904
166.0 1.156 1.122 1.012
189.3 1.292 1. 250 1.171
207.0 1.410 1.366 1.278
216.0 1.469 1.434 1.325
217.4
215.8

1.477
1.473

1.447
1.440

1.332
1.319

Period

$0. 625
. 698
. 763
. 814
2 .858
. 978
1.133
1.241
1.292

1949: September-..
October.
N ovem ber.._
D ecem ber.. .

$1.407
1.392
1.392
1.408

$1.369
1.353
1.357
1.368

1950: January____
February___
M arch........ .
April____ . .
M ay____ ..
June 3.._ _.
July 3______

1.418
1.420
1.424
1.434
1.442
1.453
1.462

1.380
1.382
1.385
1.392
1.399
1.403
1.412

1.298
1.286

Durable
goods

Excluding
overtime

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

i Overtime is defined as work in excess of 40 hours per week and paid for at
time and one-half. The computation of average hourly earnings exclusive of
overtime makes no allowance for special rates of pay for work done on holi­
days. Comparable data from January 1941 are available upon request to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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

Manufacturing

Gross
am ount

Index
A m ount (1939=
100)

Gross

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross

$216. 3 $1. 482 $1.444 $1,328
213.7 1.458 1.419 1.325
214.4 1.457 1.425 1.325
216.1 1.476 1.435 1.334
218.0
218.3
218.8
219.9
221.0
221.6
223.1

1.485
1.483
1.486
1.499
1. 509
1.523
1. 534

1.445
1.442
1.443
1.449
1.459
1.465
1.478

1.343
1.350
1.353
1.355
1.358
1.364
1.373

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

$1.290
1. 287
1. 289
1.296
1.307
1.316
1.319
1.323
1.324
1.325
1.332

2 Eleven-month average. August 1945 excluded because of VJ-holidav
period.
1 Preliminary.

539

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

D: Prices and Cost of Living
T able D - l: Consumers’ Price Index 1 for Moderate-Income Families in Large Cities, by Group of
Commodities
(1935-39“ 100]
Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration 1
Year and month

All items

Food

Apparel

Rent
Total

1913: Average - . ___________
1914: July
_________________
1918:
1020*
1929:
1932:

December_____________
______________
June
Average _______________
Average________________

Housefurnishlngs

Gas and
electricity

Other
fuels

Ice

M Iscellaneous•

70.7
71.7

79 9
81.7

69.3
69.8

92.2
92.2

61.9
62.3

(4)
(4)

ft
(4)

(4)
(4)

59.1
60.8

50.9
52.0

118.0
149 4
122.5
97.6

149 6
185 0
132 5
86.5

147 9
209 7
115.3
90.8

97.1
119 I
141.4
116.9

90.4
104 8
112. 5
103.4

£>
(4)
(4)
(4)

(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

(4)
<4)
(4)
(4)

121.2
169.7
111.7
85.4

83.1
100.7
101.7

100.2
100 0
100. 4
104 1
100.3
105.1

101.3
100.6
100 5
107 3
100 2
116.8

100.7
100.4
101.1

0
5
7
2
8
1

98.9
99 0
98 0
97 1
97 5
96.7

99.1
95.2
101 9
108.3
105.4
113.1

108.5
108 0
108 2
108.3
(')

105.4
107 7
109 8
110.3
111.4

96.7
96.1
95 8
95 0
95. 2

115.1
120.7
126.0
128 3
131.0

110.0
114.2
115.8
115.9
115.8

122.2
125.6
136.4
145.8
146.0

110.9
115.8
121.3

160 2
157.2
171.0

108.6
108.6
(•)

112.4
110 5
114.8

92.4
92.1
91. 8

136.9
133.0
142.6

115.9
115.1
117.9

159.2
156.1
171.0

128.8
132.5

193.8
206.9

185.8
191.2

111. 2
115.4

121.1
127 8

92.0
92.6

156.1
171.1

125.9
129.8

184.4
191.4

139.9
144.4

171.2
171.4

210.2
205.0

198.0
200.4

117.4
119.5

133.9
137.8

94.3
95.3

183.4
191.3

135.2
138.4

195.8
198.6

149.9

1949' Average________________
Anvnst 15 _____________
September 15___________
October 15 ___________
November 1 5 ._________
December 15___________

169.1
168 8
169.6
168. 5
168 6
167.5

201.9
202 6
204 2
200. 6
200.8
197.3

190. 1
187 4
187 2
186 8
186 3
185 8

120. S
120 8
121.2
121 5
122 0
122.2

137.5
135.8
137.0
138. 4
139.1
139.7

96.7
97 1
97 1
97 0
97 0
97.2

187.7
183.1
185.9
188 3
190 0
191.6

141.7
141.1
141.5
145. 6
146 6
145.5

189.0

154.6
154.8
165.2
155.2
154.9
155. 6

1950* January 15 ____________
February 15____________
M areh 15 _____________
_____________
April 15
M ay 15. _____________
June 15 ______________
July 15_________________
August 1 5 _____________

166.9
166. 5
167 0
167.3
168.6
170.2
172.5
173.0

196.0
194 8
198.0
196.6
200.3
204.6
210.0
209.0

185. 0
184 8
185 0
185. 1
185. 1
185.0
184.7
185.9

122.6
122 8
122.9
123. 1
123. 5
123.9
124.4
124.8

140 0
140. 3
140.9
141. 4
138.8
138. 9
139.5
140.9

96.7
97.1
97.1
97. 2
97.1
97.0
97.0
97.0

193.1
193 2
194 4
195.6
189 1
189.4
190.9
194.4

145.5
145 5
146 6
146.6
146.6
146.6
146.6
147.4

184.7
185. 3
185.4
185. 6
185. 4
185.2
186.4

100 5
100 3
101 7
106 3
101 2
114.8

104.3
104 3
104 6
106 2
105 0
108.2

124.2
129 7
138 8
145 9
146 4

139 3
133 3
152.2

159.6
145.6
187.7

1947: Average ______________
December 15____________

159.2
167.0

1948: Average.. ____________
December 1 5 ___________

1939: Average _______________
August 15______________
1940: Average________________
1941: Average _ ____________
January 1 . . ____________
December 15 _ - ________

99 4
98 6
100 2
105 2
100 8
110.5

95.2
93 5
96.6
105 5
97 6
113.1

1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:

116.5
123.6
125 5
128 4
129.3

123 9
138 0
136 1
139 1
140.9

1945: Average.. _____________
June 15 _______________
November 15___________

Average _____ _________
Average____________ ___
A verage.. ___________ Average _ _____________
August 1 5 _ ___ _________

•

i The “ Consumers’ price index for moderate-income families in large cities,”
formerly known as the “ Cost of living index” measures average chances in
retail prices of selected goods, rents, and services weighted by quantities
bought in 1934-35 by families of wage earners and moderate-income workers
in large cities whose Incomes averaged $1,524 in 1934 36
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin 699, Changes in Cost of Living in Large
Cities in the United States, 1913-41, contains detailed description of methods
used in constructing this index. Additional information on the consumers
price index is given in a compilation of reports published by the Oihce of
Economic Stabilization, Report of the President’s Committee on the Cost
Mirneographed tables are available upon request showing indexes for each
of the cities regularly surveyed by the Bureau and for each of the major
groups of living essentials. Indexes for all large cities c o n blued are available
since 1913. The beginning date for series of indexes for individual cities


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

99
97
99
102
100
104

185. 6
185.2
185 4
185.4

101.8
107.7

124.5

155.1
155.0
154 8
155.3
IdU, A
158.1

varies from city to city but indexes are available for most of the 34 cities since
World War I
, ,
, „
, . „.
,
1 The group index formerly entitled "Fuel, electricity, and ice Is now des­
ignated “ Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration”. Indexes are comparable with
those previously published for “ Fuel, electricity, and ice.” The subgroup
“ Other fuels and ice" has been discontinued; separate indexes are presented
for “ Other fuels” and “ Ice.”
,
. ..
> The miscellaneous group covers transportation (such as automobiles
and their upkeep and public transportation fares); medical care (including
professional care and medicines); household operation (covering supplies and
different kinds of paid services); recreation (that is, newspapers, motion
pictures, and tobacco products); personal care (barber- and beauty-shop
service and toilet articles); etc.
‘ Data not available.
»Rents not surveyed this month.

MONTHLY LABOR

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

540

T able D -2: Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City,1 for Selected Periods
[1935-39=100]
City

Aug. 15, July 15, June 15, M ay 15, Apr. 15, Mar. 15, Feb. 15, Jan. 15, Dec. 15, N o v .15, Oct. 15, Sept.15, Aug. 15, June 15, Aug. 15,
1949
1949
1949
1950
1949
1949
1946
1939
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950

Average__________________

173.0

172.5

170.2

168.6

167.3

167.0

166.5

166.9

167.5

168.6

168.5

169.6

m 8

133.3

98.6

Atlanta, Qa_____ ____ ____
Baltimore, M d___________
Birmingham, Ala_________
Boston, M ass____________
Buffalo, N . Y _____________
Chicago, 111_______________
Cincinnati, Ohio__________
Cleveland, Ohio---------------Denver, Colo_____________
Detroit, M ich...........- ...........Houston, T ex_____________

176.6
0
177.7
168.4
0
180.2
174.4
176.0
(2)
175.1
177.9

(2)
0
175.7
168.4
172.0
179.2
173.4
0
169.5
176.2
175.1

0
174.3
171.1
166.2
0
176.4
171.2
0
0
174.2
173.1

169.3
0
169.0
163.3
0
175.3
169.7
170.1
0
171.4
172.4

0
0
167.7
162.3
166.3
172.9
167.3
0
165.7
169.5
171.9

0
170.1
168.4
162.0
0
172.9
167.9
0
0
168.3
172.9

168.3
0
166.4
160.7
0
172.0
167.2
168.7
0
168.1
172.0

0
0
166.9
161 5
164.8
172.3
167.7
0
164.5
168.5
172.8

0
170.9
168.4
162.7
0
173.2
167.8
0
0
169 1
173.2

170.5
0
170.5
164.0
0
175.3
168.3
170.3
0
169.8
173.3

0
0
170.3
164.1
167.4
174.4
168.7
0
164.6
168.7
172.0

0
174.0
171.8
165.4
0
175.8
170.8
0
0
170.4
171.4

172.3
0
171.1
163.8
0
174.4
168.8
171 6
0
169.9
170.4

133.8
135.6
136.5
127.9
132.6
130.9
132.2
135.7
131.7
136.4
130.5

98.0
98.7
98.5
97.1
98.5
98.7
97.3
100.0
98.6
98.5
100.7

Indianapolis, Ind-------------Jacksonville, Fla__________
Kansas City, M o ......... .........
Los Angeles, Calif . ---------Manchester, N, H ------- .
Memphis, Tenn....................Milwaukee, W is---------------Minneapolis, M inn---------Mobile, Ala______________
New Orleans, La--------------New York, N . Y __________

(2)
(2)
(2)
169.1
(2)
(2)
175.7
(2)
(2)
178.7
168.0

175.1
0
166.1
168.2
173.1
0
0
0
0
0
170.0

0
176.7
0
166.7
0
169.9
0
169.2
167.4
0
167.0

0
0
0
166.7
0
0
170.9
0
0
171.5
165.4

170.9
0
161.1
166.9
167.1
0
0
0
0
0
164.5

0
174.8
0
165.9
0
169.4
0
167.1
166.2
0
164.0

0
0
0
166.1
0
0
167.6
0
0
170.6
163.7

170.6
0
160.6
166.9
167.1
0
0
0
0
0
163.7

0
175.5
0
165.4
0
170.8
0
167.4
167.4
0
164.9

0
0
0
166.6
0
0
168.4
0
0
173.3
165.8

172.1
0
161.1
166.5
169.3
0
0
0
0
0
165.9

0
176.5
0
167.1
0
172.7
0
168.3
169.2
0
167.5

0
0
0
166.8
0
0
166.9
0
0
173.8
166.8

131.9
138.4
129.4
136.1
134.7
134.5
131.2
129.4
132. 9
138.0
135.8

98.0
98.5
98.6
100.5
97.8
97.8
97.0
99.7
98.6
99.7
99.0

Norfolk. Va._ . ----------------Philadelphia, P a ....................
Pittsburgh, Pa-----------------Portland, Maine__________
Portland, Oreg____________
Richmond, Va______ _____
St. Louis, M o------------------San Francisco, Calif_______
Savannah, Ga __________
Scranton, Pa ------- -----------Seattle, Wash. . . .................
Washington, D . 0 _______

177.2
172.3
176.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
171.8
175.2
168.9

0
171.5
174.9
0
179.2
168.1
0
0
177.2
0
0
0

0
169.7
173.4
164.5
0
0
169.7
173.1
0
0
0
0

170.9
167.1
172.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
167.3
171.8
165.2

0
166.0
170.1
0
174.8
161.9
0
0
170.9
0
0
0

0
166.0
169.5
163.7
0
0
167.4
172.3
0
0
0
0

167.1
165.1
169.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
163.7
171.6
» 163.7

0
165.9
169.9
0
173.8
161.8
0
0
169.1
0
0
0

0
167.3
170.3
162.8
0
0
167.8
171.5
0
0
0
0

168.2
168.6
171.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
166.3
171.6
166.2

0
168.9
171.1
0
173.6
164.9
0
0
173.4
0
0
0

0
169.6
172.3
164.9
0
0
168.9
173.0
0
0
0
0

170.2
168.7
172.4
0
0
0
0
0
0
169.5
170.8
166.0

135.2
132.5
134.7
128.7
140.3
128.2
131.2
137.8
140.6
132.2
137.0
133.8

97.8
97.8
98.4
97.1
100.1
98.0
98.1
99.3
99.3
96.0
100.3
98.6

• The Indexes are based on time-to-time changes in the cost of goods and
services purchased by moderate-income families in large cities. They do not
indicate whether it costs more to live in one city than in another.
>Through June 1947, consumers’ price indexes were computed monthly for


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

21 cities and In March, June, September, and December for 13 additional
cities; beginning July 1947 indexes were computed monthly for 10 cities and
once every 3 months for 24 additional cities according to a staggered schedule
* Corrected.

T

able

541

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

D -3: Consumers’ Price Index for Moderate-Income Families, by City and Group of
Commodities1
[1935-39 = 100]
Fuel, electricity, and refrigeration
Apparel

Food

Housefurnishings

Rent

City

Miscellaneous

Gas and electricity

Total

15, July 15,
Aug. 15, July 15, Aug. 15, July 15, Aug. 15, July 15, Aug. 15, July 15, Aug. 15, July 15, Aug. 15, July 15, Aug.
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
1950
Average...........................

209.0

210.0

185.9

184.7

124.8

124.4

140.9

139.5

97.0

97.0

189.3

186.4

158.1

156.2

Atlanta, Qa_________
Baltimore, M d_______
Birmingham, Ala____
Boston, M ass.................
Buffalo, N . Y ________
Chicago, IU___.......... .
Cincinnati, Ohio_____
Cleveland, Ohio_____
Denver, Colo.................
Detroit, M ic h .............
Houston, Tex................

212.3
221.2
204.9
202.2
206.3
218.6
213.2
218.1
210.9
205.2
219.2

205.0
223.9
201.9
204.2
208.0
218.0
212.9
219.4
208.6
210.6
212.1

194.4
(0
194.8
175.1
(>)
192.2
184.6
186.2
0)
181.6
197.3

(0
0)
193.6
174.1
176.8
190.4
183.6
(>)
182.5
181.0
195.3

128.0
(2)
168.3
119.9
(2)
143.3
116.5
129.8
(2)
130.5
147.1

(2)
(2)
167.1
119.6
125.9
143.0
116.2
(2)
127.3
130.4
147.1

149.3
152.0
134.8
155.3
149.8
134.7
149.2
147.9
112.9
152.3
98.4

146.9
150.9
132.1
3153.1
149.2
133.0
146.7
147.0
112.9
149.6
98.4

83.4
127.8
79.6
116.6
110.0
83.5
101.9
105.6
69.2
89.2
81.8

83.4
126.0
79.6
4 116.6
110.0
83.5
101.9
105.6
69.2
89.1
81.8

195.7
(0
179.8
186.2
(')
171.3
182.4
170.2
0)
206.6
186.0

(')
(0
179.5
179.2
184.1
169.7
177.9
(0
207.7
201.0
184 2

161.7
(')
152. 2
154.9
0)
160.1
157.7
156.5
0)
171.7
160.2

(')
(»)
150.6
153.9
161.0
158.5
156.4
0)
151.7
170.9
159.4

Indianapolis, Ind..........
Jacksonville, F la-------Kansas City, M o .........
Los Angeles, Calif........
Manchester, N . H ____
Memphis, Tenn__........
Milwaukee, Wis_..........
Minneapolis, M inn__
Mobile, A la_________
N ew Orleans, La..........
N ew York, N . Y .........

211.6
218.3
194.4
203.8
206.2
220.2
212.6
201.4
212.4
225.6
203.5

205.5
213.5
196.1
204.1
207.1
212.0
213.8
198.3
205.3
218.3
209.9

(’)
(>)
(0
181.3
0)
(«)
185.8
(0
(0
198.4
184.2

180.8
0)
179.2
181.5
175.3
(>)
(>)
0)
0)
0)
183.6

(2)
(2)
(2)
133.5
(2)
(2)
139.8
(2)
(2)
117.3
109.0

134.8
(2)
129.5
132.4
116.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
109.0

159.6
147.6
128.8
100.1
152.2
140.3
144.7
139.0
129.2
113.1
142.0

157.2
147.6
128.6
100.1
152.2
140.3
143.1
» 138. 8
129.3
113.1
141.1

86.6
100.5
66.8
95.5
95.7
77.0
99.0
78.9
84.3
75.1
101.9

86.6
100.5
67.6
95.5
95.9
77.0
99.0
«78.9
84.5
75.1
101.9

0)
(>)
0)
185.3
0)
0)
190.6
C1)
(')
191.6
177.4

178.2
(')
179.4
181.9
196.2
0)
(')
(>)
0)
(')
175.9

0)
(>)
(>)
154.2
0)
0)
152.9
0)
0)
146.2
162.4

163.5
0)
157.6
152.0
149.1
(0
«
(>)
(>)
(0
161.2

Norfolk, Va__________
Philadelphia, P a ...........
Pittsburgh, P a_______
Portland, M aine_____
Portland, Oreg.............
Richmond, V a .........
St. Louis, M o________
San Francisco, C a lif...
Savannah, Q a ..............
Scranton, P a ..................
8eattle, W a s h .............
Washington, D . C........

217.3
206.1
212.5
197.1
226.1
204.2
221.9
219.9
221.6
207.4
212.6
206.0

211.7
205.9
213.2
199.1
225.0
201.7
223.8
217.1
214.8
211.0
211.3
207.0

180.1
181.7
215.1
0)
0)
0)
(')
(0
(0
194.8
184.9
209.6

(0
181.3
214.0
(')
183.1
184.2
(>)
(')
183.8
(0
0)
(0

124.2
122.4
122.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
115.6
127.1
107.5

(2)
121.8
122.9
(2)
130.8
126.7
(2)
(2)
129.8
(2)
(2)
(2)

159.5
145.2
138.8
149.3
132.7
147.0
137.3
86.8
152.4
149.6
131.5
146.0

159.5
142.4
137.1
147.7
131.5
147.0
135.5
86.8
152.3
148.6
130.9
144.2

106.4
104.2
103.3
105.6
93.8
109.4
88.4
76.5
108.6
98.3
91.7
105.5

106.4
104.2
103.3
105.7
91.9
109.4
88.4
76.5
108.6
98.3
91.7
105.5

190.5
196.4
192.9
(0
(>)
0)
0)
(>)
(')
172.1
193.1
199. 5

0)
193.2
190.1
0)
184.4
194.4
0)
«
190.8
(>)
(>)
0)

157.1
153.6
156.3
0)
0)
(0
(>)
«
0)
146.8
163.0
161.6

0)
152.4
150.0
0)
160.2
147.2
0)
(')
159. 2
0)
0)
(0

i Prices of apparei, housefurnishings, and miscellaneous goods and services
are obtained monthly in 10 cities and once every 3 months in 24 additional
cities according to a staggered schedule.
* Rents are surveyed every 3 months in 34 large cities according to a stag­
gered schedule.


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

s Corrected index: M ay 149.7; June 151.2.
4 Corrected index: M ay 116.7; June 116.6.
s Corrected index.

542

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING
T

able

MONTHLY LABOR

D -4: Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods,1 by Group, for Selected Periods
[1935-39-100]

Year and month

Cere­
als Meats,
All
and
poul­
foods bakery try.
prod- and Total
ucts
fish

1923:
1926:
1929:
1932:
1939:

Meats
Beef
and
veal

Pork

Fruits and vegetables

Lamb

Chick­
Fish
ens

prod­
ucts

Eggs

13fi 1
141 7
143 8
fi2 3
91.0
90.7
93,8

Average______ 124.0
Average______ 137.4
Average............ 132.5
Average______ 86. 5
95.2
Average_____
August______
93. 5
1940: Average______ 96.6

105.5
115.7
107.6
82.6
94.5
93 4
96.8

101.2
117.8
127.1
79.3
96.6
95. 7
95.8

96.6
95.4
94.4

101.1
99 6
102.8

88.9
88.0
81.1

99.5
98.8
99.7

93.8
94 6
94.8

101.0
99.6
110.6

129 4
127 4
131 0
84 9
95.9
93.1
101.4

1941: Average______
December____
A verage..........
Average______
Average______
Average______
August______

105.5
113.1
123.9
138 0
136.1
139 1
140.9

97.9
102.5
105.1
107.6
108.4
109.0
109.1

107.5
111.1
126.0
133.8
129 9
131.2
131.8

106.5
109.7
122.5
124.2
117.9
118.0
118.1

110.8
114.4
123 6
124 7
118.7
118.4
118.5

100.1
103 2
120.4
119 9
112 2
112.6
112.6

106.6
108.1
124 1
136 9
134. 5
136. 0
136.4

102.1
100.5
122.6
146. 1
151 0
154.4
157.3

124.5
138 9
163.0
206.5
207.6
217. 1
217.8

112.0
120 5
125. 4
134 6
133.6
133.9
133.4

1946: Average.......... . 159.6
June.................. 145. 6
N ovem ber___ 187.7

125.0
122.1
140.6

161.3
134.0
203.6

150.8
120.4
197.9

150.5
121.2
191.0

148.2
114.3
207.1

163.9
139.0
205.4

174.0
162.8
188.9

236 2
219.7
265.0

165.1
147 8
198.6

1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:

1947: Average_____

Total Fresh

Canned

Dried

Bever­
ages

Fats
and
oils

Sugar
and
sweets

1fi€) 6
1fiQ 0

173 5

94.5
92.4
96.5

95.1
92.8
97.3

92.3
91.6
92.4

93 3
90.3
100.6

95 5
94 9
92.5

87 7
84 5
82.2

100 6
Qfi 6
96.8

112.2
138.1
136.5
161.9
153.9
164.4
171.4

103.2
110.5
130.8
168 8
168.2
177.1
183.5

104.2
111.0
132.8
178.0
177.2
188.2
196.2

97.9
106.3
121.6
130.6
129 5
130.2
130.3

106.7
118.3
136.3
158.9
164. 5
168.2
168.6

101.5
114.1
122 1
124 8
124 3
124 7
124.7

94 0
108 5
119 6
126 1
123 3
124 0
124.0

106.4
114 4
126 5
127 1
126 5
126 6
126.6

168.8
147.1
201.6

182.4
183.5
184.5

190.7
196.7
182.3

140. 8
127.5
167.7

190 4
172. 5
251.6

139.6
125. 4
167.8

152.1
126 4
244.4

143. 9
136 2
170.5

193.8

155.4

217.1

214.7

213.6

215.9

220.1

183.2

271.4

186.2

200.8

199.4

201.5

166.2

263.5

186.8

197.5

180.0

1948: Average______ 210.2

170.9

246.5

243.9

258.5

222.5

246.8

203.2

312.8

204.8

208.7

205.2

212.4

158.0

246.8

205.0

195.5

174.0

1949: Average______
August______
September___
October........ .
November___
December____

201.9
202. 6
204 2
200.6
200 8
197.3

169.7
169.4
169.7
169.1
169.2
169.2

233.4
239. 5
243.6
235.1
229.1
223.2

229.3
237 3
242.0
233.1
226 4
220.0

241.3
246.3
249.9
248 2
248. 5
245.2

205.9
221 9
227.6
207.7
189 7
178.3

251.7
247.8
254. 7
246. 1
242.0
236.1

191.5
191.5
192. 5
184 6
184 5
179.5

314.1
308.9
311.9
306.8
300 6
299.0

186.7
184.9
186.3
186.7
186.4
186.2

201.2
222.2
232.6
227.8
207 8
178.0

208.1
201.9
199.8
194 5
202 0
198.2

218.8
211 4
209.0
202 3
212 7
208.0

152.9
149. 7
148.0
147.0
146.2
145.1

227.4
229. 6
230.1
228. 5
224 7
224.3

220.7
208 8
211. 0
213 8
265. 3
292.5

148. 4
144 0
148 3
144 6
139 7
136.7

176.4
176 5
176 8
177 5
178 9
178.8

1950: January_____
February..........
March_______
April________
M ay...... ...........
June____ _
J u ly .................
A ugust----------

196.0
194. 8
196.0
196. 6
200.3
204.6
210. 0
209.0

169.0
169.0
169.0
169.3
169.6
169.6
171.3
175. 5

219.4
221.6
227.3
227.9
239.5
246. 7
256.0
257.5

217.9
220.5
224.5
224.8
239.9
248.4
259.0
258.5

242.3
241.9
244.5
245.8
260.0
270.5
278.7
279.4

177.3
184.0
188.9
185.9
204.2
210.4
227.7
225.7

234. 3
238.6
246.7
252.1
262.7
268.6
269.3
267.5

158.9
165.1
180.4
187.5
183.8
184.6
189.4
202.2

301.9
293.7
302. 5
297.4
293.2
295. 3
296.6
302.5

184.2
183.6
182.4
179.3
177.8
177.1
179.5
182.7

152. 3
141.1
150.2
150.5
144.4
149.1
164.3
183.1

204.8
199.1
195. 2
200.5
206. 5
217 2
220.8
194.7

217.2
210.0
204.8
211.8
219.6
233.4
238.3
202.9

143.3
142.6
142.8
142.6
142.6
143.2
143.0
146.0

223.9
222. 4
222. 5
223.4
224.7
225.1
224.6
228.5

299. 5
304.5
311. 6
307.6
299. 2
295.6
304. 4
328.8

135. 2
133. 5
134. 2
135. 2
137. 3
139.6
141.3
158.9

178 9
178.0
176 9
175 2
174. 6
174 3
176 0
187.7

1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics retail food prices are obtained monthly
during the first three days of the week containing the fifteenth of the month,
through voluntary reports from chain and independent retail food dealers.
Articles included are selected to represent food sales to moderate-income
families.
The indexes, based on the retail prices of 50 foods, are computed by the
flxed-base-weighted-aggregate method, using weights representing (1) rela­
tive importance of chain and independent store sales, in computing city aver­
age prices; (2) food purchases by families of wage earners and moderate-


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

income workers, in computing city indexes; and (3) population weights, in
combining city aggregates in order to derive average prices and indexes for all
cities combined.
Indexes of retail food prices in 56 large cities combined, by commodity
groups, for the years 1923 through 1948 (1935-39= 100), may be found in Bulle­
tin No. 965, “ Retail Prices of Food, 1948,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S.
Department of Labor, table 3, p. 7. Mimeographed tables of the same
data, by months, January 1935 to date, are available upon request.

T

543

D: PRICES ÄND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950
able

D -5: Indexes of Retail Prices of Foods, by City
[1935-39-100]

City
United States_____________

Aug.
1950
209.0

Aug.
1939

July
1950

June
1950

M ay
1950

Apr.
1950

Mar.
1950

Feb.
1950

Jan.
1950

Dec.
1949

Nov.
1949

Oct.
1949

Sept.
1949

Aug.
1949

June
1946

210.0

204.6

200.3

196.6

196.0

194.8

196.0

197.3

200.8

200.6

204.2

202.6

145.6

93.5

141.0
152. 4
147. 7
138.0
139.1

92.5
94.7
90. 7
93.6
93.2

Atlanta, Ga ___________
Baltimore, M d. _______
Birmingham, Ala________
Boston, Mass . . ________
Bridgeport, Conn--------------

212.3
221.2
204.9
202.2
210.0

205.0
223.9
201.9
204.2
212.6

197.5
218.7
195.0
198.4
206.8

194.7
211.0
193.1
191.7
201.8

192.6
206.1
189.6
188.4
197.8

193.8
206.5
189.8
187.7
197.0

190.0
205.0
184.5
184.8
192.5

192.5
206.6
186.4
186.6
195.5

194.7
208.1
190.5
189 5
197.0

197.7
211.9
197.2
193.2
200.3

199.9
211.5
197.2
193.7
198.2

206.9
216.4
201.9
197.1
204.8

203.9
215.4
199. 8
194.6
201.1

Buffalo, N . Y _______
Butte, M ont. ___________
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1______
Charleston, S. O .....................
Chioago, 111-----------------------

206.3
212.5
222.3
199.3
218.6

208.0
209.1
215.6
193.5
218.0

203.2
206.9
212.1
189.4
211.1

195.9
201.3
208.6
186.7
208.2

193.3
198.5
202.3
185.2
201.5

193.0
195.9
201.9
186.1
201.5

189.6
194.8
201.0
183 3
198.6

189.8
194.1
200.3
185.3
199.9

189.3
194.1
200.3
187.9
202.2

193.2
199. 8
203. 4
189.2
208.3

195.1
200.2
201.2
190.5
206.5

198.2
201.4
205.2
193.0
212.1

199.5
200. 8
203.9
193.9
209.2

94.5
140.2
94.1
139. 7
148.2 —
95.1
140.8
92.3
142.8

Cincinnati, Ohio___ _____
Cleveland, Ohio__________
Columbus, Ohio__________
Dallas, T ex___________ ___
Denver, Colo-------------------

213.2
218.1
194. 2
213.8
210.9

212.9
219.4
192.9
207.9
208.6

206.9
213.7
186.3
202.0
207.0

202.9
206.3
183.3
199.8
203.8

196.7
203.1
179.1
196.3
198.6

197.9
201.6
179 0
196.3
198.9

196.8
201.8
177.7
197.6
196 2

197.4
202.6
177.2
198.4
196 8

197.3
203.2
179.3
201.9
196.2

198.7
206 0
180.8
205.0
200.2

199.7
209.2
183.6
204.8
I960

205.4
211.1
187.9
207.0
200.2

201.6
210 4
186.2
206.3
199.1

141.4
149.3
136. 4
142.4
145.3

90.4
93. 6
88.1
91.7
92.7

Detroit, M ich____________
Fall River, Mass ___
TTnnatnn, Tex
Indianapolis, Ind_______ „
Jackson, M iss.1. ____

205.2
205.8
219.2
211.6
212.2

210.6
210.0
212.1
205.5
205.5

205. 2
203.4
207.3
199.5
200.0

198.7
197.2
205.5
197.1
199.7

194.2
193.7
205.1
192.6
198.0

190.8
192.3
208.3
193.0
196.7

190.4
190.7
205.6
191.2
196.1

191 8
191.9
207.7
192.3
199.9

193.4
193.8
210.5
194.5
204.5

195.5
198.1
212.7
196.9
206.5

192.4
198.7
212.4
198.9
204.4

197.4
201.7
212.2
200.5
206.0

197.2
201.2
211.6
199.3
205.5

145.4
138.1
144.0
141.5
150.6

90.6
95.4
97.8
90.7

Jacksonville, Fla_________
Kansas City, M o___ ______
Knoxville, Tenn.L. ______
Little Rock, Ark . . . . . .
Los Angeles, C a lif ------------

218.3
194.4
238.8
211.9
203.8

213.5
196.1
228.8
205.5
204.1

207.0
190.1
223.7
201.0
200.3

202.7
187.3
220.5
197.4
199.8

200.0
184.0
217.5
194.6
200.6

201.2
183.2
217.3
194.5
197.7

198.7
182.7
216.1
194.5
198.3

200.7
183.6
216.7
196.4
201.4

202.8
184.5
220.0
197.0
197.2

206.9
186.9
223.3
198. 8
200.5

205.9
186.0
223.6
198.2
200.6

208.5
190.7
227.3
201.4
202.8

206.0
187. 2
226.5
201.6
201.7

95.8
150.8
91.5
134.8
165. 6 —
94.0
139.1
94.6
154.8

Louisville, Kv _ _______
Manchester, N . H _______
Memphis, Tenn-------- -------Milwaukee, Wis . ____
Minneapolis, M inn...............

199.2
206.2
220.2
212.6
201.4

199.8
207.1
212.0
213.8
198.3

194.1
200.9
206.4
207.6
194.9

188.9
197.5
204.3
203.9
192.2

183.4
192.1
201.3
197.6
187.9

184.2
193.1
202.7
198.2
188.1

183.1
189.9
202.2
196.6
188.3

183.7
191.6
203.1
196.3
189.1

185.0
192.9
206.9
196.1
188.7

188.3
195.5
210.2
199 3
192.0

189.7
197.2
209.7
199.4
191.1

194.3
203.3
213.0
203.7
192.8

192.4
202.1
214.3
200.0
190.1

135.6
144.4
153.6
144.3
137.5

92.1
94.9
89. 7
91.1
95.0

Mobile, Ala_____________
Newark, N . J ______.
New Haven, Conn. ____
New Orleans, La_. ______
New York, N. Y ----- ---------

212.4
202.2
203.2
225.6
203.5

205.3
206.5
206.3
218.3
209.9

201.1
203.2
201.3
211.6
204.3

199.5
197.2
195.7
209.3
200.1

199.1
193.4
191.5
209.3
197.1

198.6
192.0
191.1
207.9
195.7

194.8
190.3
189.6
206.9
195.3

196.4
192.4
190.6
209.6
195.9

201.3
196.1
193.1
211.7
198.8

203.6
198.6
» 198. 4
213.2
201.5

204.8
198.2
197.9
210.0
201.0

207.0
201.2
198.3
215.6
205.8

206.6
198. 5
194.2
214.4
204.1

149.8
147. 9
140.4
157. 6
149. 2

95.5
96.6
93. 7
97.6
95.8

Norfolk, V a _____ ____
Omaha, Nebr_____ _____
Peoria, 111_______________
Philadelphia, Pa................
Pittsburgh, P a .....................

217.3
204.4
226.8
206.1
212.5

211.7
201.6
226.2
205.9
213.2

207.0
199.1
220.4
201.5
209.1

202.2
197.3
214.3
194.6
205.9

197.0
190.8
208.8
191.5
200.5

197.9
190. 4
208.2
191.9
198.7

195.0
188.9
206.9
189.5
198.8

194.8
189.8
205.9
191.3
199.7

198.0
190.9
206.5
193.5
200.8

200.8
194 7
210.0
196. 8
205.4

203.5
195.7
211.9
197.9
204.8

208.9
197. 9
214.4
199.9
208.0

206.1
196. 4
214. 9
198. 3
207. 9

146.0
139. 6
151.3
143. 6
147.1

93.6
92.3
93.4

188.4
207.8
205.2
195.0
193.5

189.7
209.7
207.0
197.4
193.7

193.8
211.1
210.9
202.4
198.1

194.8
211.6
209.0
200. 7
198.6

138.4
158.4
144.9
138. 4
142. 5

95.9
96.1
93. 7
92. 2
92.3

—

92 . 5

Portland, M aine_____ . .
Portland, Oreg___________
Providence, R. I _________
Richmond, Va__________
Rochester, N . Y -------------- -

197.1
226.1
215.7
204. 2
200.8

199.1
225.0
216.5
201.7
204.5

193.5
219.4
210.6
197.0
198.8

189.7
217.2
204.9
192.0
195.1

187.8
213.0
200.2
188.2
189.6

190.8
211.1
199.4
190.5
191.0

186.7
211.8
197.4
188.5
190.0

187.3
210.4
198.3
188.3
190.7

187.2
206.3
201.3
191.3
192.0

St. Louis, M o____________
St. Paul, M in n ___________
Salt Lake City, U tah____
San Francisco, Calif. _____
Savannah, Ga....... ..................

221.9
195.8
207.9
219.9
221.6

223.8
194.3
201.3
217.1
214.8

212.4
192.7
201.8
214.3
209.6

208.4
190.4
198.4
213.2
205.5

202.5
186.9
195.1
212.9
200.5

204.5
187.5
196.5
211.6
200.9

202.9
186.8
199.4
212.2
197.1

204.6
186.4
198 7
214.3
197.0

206. 2
186 0
196.6
210.1
201.8

208.6
187.9
202.0
212.9
207.1

207.5
187.5
202.6
213.1
208.2

211.6
190.3
203.1
213. 7
218.3

210.6
188. 8
201.0
209. 9
212. 5

147.4
137.3
151. 7
155,5
158. 5

93.8
94.3
94.6
93.8
96.7

Scranton, Pa. ______ _____
Seattle, W a s h ____________
Springfield, 111.___________
Washington, D . O________
Wichita, Kans.1___________
Winston-Salem, N . O.*.........

207.4
212.6
222.6
206.0
220.2
206.3

211.0
211.3
223.5
207.0
216.6
200.7

205.1
208.6
214.3
204.1
210.4
197.5 ]

199.6
206.8
209.0
198.4
207.6
192.9

192.6
205.2
202.0
193.3
204.2
191.5

193.5
204.2
201.5
193.6
206.8
191.8

191.0
205.6
201.4
193.6
205.1
188.6

192.4
205.8
200.9
194.4
205.9
191.0

193.2
203.1
201.6
196. 1
207.8
196.3

198.1
207.4
204. 4
202. 6
210.9
197. 8

200.9
205.0
204.7
200.1
211.2
197.5

208.3
208.0
209.6
203.8
211.8
200.6

206.1
205. 5
210.1
203. 5
211.9
20G. 6

144.0
161.6
1ÖG. 1
.145. 5
154. 4
145.3

92.1
94.5
94.1
94.1

i June 1940=100.
* Estimated Index based on half the usual sample of reports,
prices for New Haven.


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R e m a in in g re p o r ts lo s t in th e m a ils.

I n d e x for D e c e m b e r 15 r e fle c ts th e correct le v e l of food

544

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING
T

able

MONTHLY LABOR

D -6: Average Retail Prices and Indexes of Selected Foods
Indexes 1935-39=100

Commodity

C e r e a ls a n d b a k e r y p ro d u c ts:
C ereals:
F lo u r , w h e a t ..................... .5 p o u n d s .
C orn fla k e s____________ 11 o u n c e s .
C orn m e a l__________________p o u n d .
R ic e 1....................................... .......... d o . . .
R o lle d o a ts *___________20 o u n c e s .
B a k e r y p rod u c ts:
B r e a d , w h i t e .............................. p o u n d .
V a n illa c o o k ie s ____________. . . d o . . .
M e a ts , p o u ltr y , a n d fish:
M e a ts :
B eef:
R o u n d s t e a k .......................d o . . .
R ib r o a s t . . ............................. d o . . .
C h u c k r o a s t____________ d o . . .
H a m b u r g e r »........................d o . . .
V eal:
C u t l e t s ...................................... d o . . .
P ork:
C h o p s ___________________ d o . . .
B a c o n , s lic e d ___________ d o . . .
H a m , w h o le ____________ d o . . .
S a lt p o r k ................................ d o . . .
L am b:
L e g ............................................. d o . . .
P o u lt r y _______________
d o ...
F r y in g c h ic k e n s: *
N e w Y o r k d ressed 1____ d o ____
D r e s s e d a n d d r a w n 7___ d o ____
F ish :
F ish (fresh , fr o z e n ) * ................ d o ____
S a lm o n , p in k *______1 6-ounce c a n .
D a ir y p ro d u c ts:
B u t t e r ..................................................... p o u n d ..
C h e e s e ...............................
. d o ___
M ilk , fresh ( d e l i v e r e d ) . . . ...........q u a r t ..
M ilk , fr e sh (g r o c e r y )...........................d o ___
M ilk , e v a p o r a te d .......... 1 4 ^ -o u n c e c a n ..
E g g s: E g g s , fr e s h ........................................d o z e n ..
F r u its a n d v e g e ta b le s:
F r e sh fru its:
A p p le s _____________________ p o u n d ..
B a n a n a s ______________________ d o ___
O ranges, size 200___________ d o z e n ..
F r e sh v e g e ta b le s:
B e a n s , g r e e n .......................
p o u n d ..
C a b b a g e -____________________ d o ____
C arrots_____________________ b u n c h ..
L e t t u c e ______________________ h e a d ..
O n io n s ________
p o u n d ..
P o t a t o e s - ....................................................16 p o u n d s ..
S p in a c h ____________________ p o u n d ..
S w e e tp o ta to e s ________________ d o ___
T o m a to e s " ___________
. d o ____
C a n n e d fru its:
P e a c h e s ...............................N o . 2A c a n ..
P in e a p p le .......................................... d o ___
C a n n e d v e g e ta b le s:
C o r n ____________________ N o . 2 c a n . .
T o m a t o e s ........................ . . N o . 2 c a n ..
P e a s '* ..................................N o . 303 c a n ..
D r ie d fr u its : P r u n e s ...................... p o u n d . .
D r ie d v e g e ta b le s : N a v y b e a n s ..d o ___
B e v e r a g e s: C o ffe e ...........................................d o ___
F a t s a n d oils:
L a r d ...............................................................d o ___
H y d r o g e n a te d v e g . s h o r te n in g 'A d o ___
S a la d d r e s s i n g .................................. . . p i n t . .
M a r g a r in e ................................
p o u n d ..
U n c o lo re d '•________
d o ____
C o lo re d '7. _ ...............
. d o ____
S u g a r a n d sw e ets:
S u g a r .-------------6 p o u n d s ..

Aug.
1950

July
1950

June
1950

M ay

Apr.
1950

M ar.

1950

Feb.
1950

Jan.

1950

1950

Dec.
1949

N ov.
1949

Oct.
1949

Sept.
1949

Aug.
1949

192.5
177.0
202.9
95.1
145.9

190.6
176.9
188.5
91.9
145.6

190.4
176.3
180.6
92.8
145.5

190.1
176.7
178.7
92.6
145.8

189.2
176.6
175.9
92. 5
145.8

188.2
176.7
175.8
92.2
146.2

187.7
177.3
175. 8
92.4
146.2

187.3
177.8
177.7
92.2
146.4

186.6
177.9
178.2
93.5
146.7

186.3
177.7
178.2
94.1
147. 4

184.8
177.3
179.8
98.4
148.0

184.2
177.8
182.2
103.3
148.1

183.6
178.0
182.4
106.1
148.4

171.0
196.8

166.1
192.8

163.9
191.1

164.1
191.1

164.1
189.6

163.9
189.6

163.9
190.0

163.8
189.9

164.0
190. 6

164.1
190.4

164.1
190.1

164.2
193.2

164.1
191.3

(«)

293.8
272.0
293.0
197.0

297.1
272.5
292.2
188.8

288.7
264.4
281.1
181.5

275.3
255.2
265.1
176.1

256.1
241.4
249.9
167.4

252.9
239.4
248.9
166.2

249.2
237.0
245.7
164.6

252.1
238.5
245.1
164.6

257. 5
242.1
254.5
165.7

262.2
244.2
260.3
166.8

260.8
243.7
261.3
166.8

269.2
241.7
253.8
168.0

264.7
237.8
248.1
167.2

102.7
97.4
97.1
(*)

82.1
92.7
90.7

93.2

277.8

275.3

271.3

264.8

258.4

262.1

261.4

255.8

248.3

250.8

252.1

254.6

252.6

101.1

254.0
181.9
236. 7
178.4

270.3
171.6
230.4
164.5

244.8
162.1
216.0
160.3

239.4
157.5
206.9
152.5

207.3
154.2
193.5
148.3

210.6
155.0
198.0
152.2

201.4
154.6
195.2
149.9

186.9
154.7
192.5
153.2

182.7
160.8
194.2
169.0

201.6
170.7
195.1
181.8

228.3
183.9
208.5
176.1

264.0
177.6
233.0
171.3

253.6
173.5
232.7
169.5

90.8
80.9
92.7
69.0

271.7
202.2

273.6
189.4

272.9
184.6

266.9
183.8

256.2
187.5

250.6
180.4

242.4
165.1

238.1
158.9

239.9
179.5

245.8
184.5

250.1
184.6

258.7
192.5

251.7
191.5

95.7
94.6

279.4
337.5

275.8
325.5

274.1
325.3

270.6
327.8

276.0
328.2

281.2
332.1

265.1
345.6

272.2
355.9

267.1
359.8

266.4
367.9

268.4
385.7

260.1
428.8

254.4
434.1

98.8
97.4

197.8
228.3
167.4
169.8
177.6
183.1

195.5
226.3
164.1
165.5
173.8
164.3

195.4
226.2
160.1
161.6
174.1
149.1

196.0
227.7
160.5
162.5
174.1
144.4

197.5
228.9
161.7
165.0
174.4
150.5

200.6
230.1
165.4
168.4
174.9
150.2

201.5
230.7
166.9
169.7
174.8
141.1

201.8
231.1
167.9
170.2
175.1
152.3

201.9
232.2
171.1
173.4
175.7
178.0

201.3
232.4
171.3
174.2
178.1
207.8

200.4
232.2
172.3
175.6
176.3
227.8

200.1
230.2
169.8
174.1
177.3
232.6

198.5
228.6
169.8
174.6
177.5
222.2

84.0
92.3
97.1
96.3
93.9
90.7

240.7
263.2
173.1

347.0
268.4
181.8

307.5
272.2
172.6

260.0
274.8
167.9

221.9
274.8
173.2

206.0
278.5
177.1

187.7
278.3
176.3

178.6
273.1
156.5

174.9
273.9
146.8

165.8
277.9
167.3

165. 0
273.9
195 3

184.7
271.4
183.4

192.1
275.0
200.1

81.6
97.3
96.9

142.6
140.0
180.2
151.7
174.8
204.2
(10)
216.0
116.0

164.3
157.1
195.2
140.7
197.0
217.4
(10)
196.4
217.9

153.9
173.0
181.5
167.5
186.3
220.6
(i°)
207.4
212.8

211.4
172.4
178.3
189.5
161.2
208.9
(10)
218.5
153.8

201.8
167.4
175.5
158.8
143.8
199.5
0°)
210.2
177.2

180.4
178.2
177.0
155.8
155.5
195.4

219.2
169.6
184.3
170.9
184.8
195.6

245. 9
164.0
206.8
158.3
220.9
195.3

('«1

209.5
141.4

205.5
157.4

195.8
175.4

198.1 137 4
143.0 147.9
219.9 202.0
222.9 199.7
204.9 191.9
194.1 196.0
(10)
(" )
182.6 183.0
168.8 >*100.0

156.4
168.1
197.0
254.7
179.3
208.4
206.8
206.1

154.1
176.3
191.3
209.3
160.3
222. 1
193.0
270.8

61.7
103.2
84.9
97.6

(10)

274.9
173.9
202.6
220.1
216.9
196.5
('»)
205.6
165.3

( 4)

(*)

151.4
174.9

142.4
172.8

140.0
171.9

138.4
171.9

138.6
173.1

139. 4
173.9

140.1
173.6

141.8
174.2

148.2
175.2

149.8
177.0

152.4
179.4

165.6
180.9

158.3
183.0

92.3
96.0

139.3
163. 5
114.9
238.5
209.3
328.2

137.6
161.2
112.7
236.0
203.4
303.9

138.4
161.7
114.3
237.5
202.4
295.1

137.3
161.7
113.6
236.6
202.7
298.6

138.8
159.9
114.7
234.9
201.9
307.0

139.7
159.3
114.8
232.9
202.9
311.0

142.1
157.7
114.0
231. 7
204.3
303.9

144.1
158.2
113.1
232.5
206.9
298.9

149. 8
157.8
112.5
231.8
209.0
291.9

152.4
158.4
112.6
230.7
211.7
264.8

153.1
158.4
112.8
232.0
219.2
213.4

155.1
158.8
112.3
231.3
224.4
210.6

155.3
161 4
112.9
230.2
224.7
208.4

92.5
89.8
94.7
83.0
93.3

157.7
165.7
146.7
173. 8

118.8
156.9
142.2
163.7
(16)
(4)

115.9
155.2
142.2
161.3
(16)
(4)

112.6
151.7
140.5
160.8
(16)
(4)

109. 5
148.6
139.1
160.2
(!6)
(4)

110.6
147.4
137.7
156.6
(10)
(4)

110. 0
146.3
138.0
154. 4
(10)
(4)

113.1
148.8
138.3
155.3
(16)
(4)

114.2
154.3
138.6
156.1
(16)
(4)

119.3
158.5
139.3
157 9
(16)
(4)

130.4
159.1
140.9
161 0
(16)
(4)

133.9
159.3
142.6
171.8

65.2
93.9
(*)
93.6

(4)

129.4
158.9
139.3
163.0
(16)
(4)

176.9

175.2

175.4

176.1

177.8

178.8

179.8

179.7

179.8

178.4

177.7

177.4

95.6

128.6

' July 1947=100.
2 Index not computed.
3 February 1943=100.
* Not priced in earlier period.
5 New specifications introduced in April 1949, in place of roasting chickens.
6 Priced in 29 cities.
7 Priced in 27 cities.
8 1938-39=100.
•Average price not computed.


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

Aug.
1939

(10)

('« )

86.8

91.9
118.4
115.7
(4)

88.6

'• Discontinued October 1949.
" October 1949=100.
11 First inclusion in retail food price index.
■» No. 303 can fancy grade peas introduced in April 1950, in place of N o. 2
can standard grade peas.
14 Formerly published as shortening in othercontainers.
15 Priced in 19 cities.
18 Priced in 56 cities prior to August 1950.
'7 Priced in 37 cities.

545

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

T able D -7: Indexes of Wholesale Prices,1 by Group of Commodities, for Selected Periods
f1926 =*100]

M is­
cella­
neous
com­
modi­
ties

80.2
77.9
178.0
173.7
94.0

56.1
56.7
99.2
143.3
94.3

93.1
88.1
142.3
176.5
82.6

68.8
67.3
138 8
163.4
97.5

74.9
67.8
162.7
253.0
93.9

69.4
66.9
130.4
157.8
94.5

69.0
65.7
131.0
165. 4
93. 3

70.0
(15.7
129.9
170.6
91.6

71.4
90.5
89.6
94.8

73.9
76.0
74.2
77,0

75.1
86.3
85.6
88.6

64.4
74.8
73.3
77.3

55.1
70.2
66.5
71.9

59.3
77.0
74.5
79.1

70.3
80.4
79.1
81.6

68.3
79.5
77.9
80.8

70.2
81.3
80.1
83.0

99.4
103.3
103.8
103.8
103.8

103.2
107.8
110.2
111.4
115.5

84.4
90.4
95.5
94.9
95.2

94.3
101.1
102.4
102.7
104.3

82.0
87.6
89.7
92.2
93.6

83.5
92.3
100.6
112.1
113.2

86.9
90.1
92.6
92.9
94.1

89.1
94.6
98.6
100.1
100.8

88.3
93.3
97.0
98. 7
99.6

89.0
93. 7
95.5
96.9
98.5

84.0
84.8

104.7
104.7

117.8
117.8

95.2
95.3

104.5
104.6

94.7
94.8

116.8
116.3

95.9
95.5

101.8
101.8

100.8
100. 9

99.7
99.9

116.3
109.2
131.6
141.7

90.1
87.8
94.5
108.7

115.5
112.2
130.2
145.0

132.6
129.9
145.5
179.7

101.4
96.4
118.9
127.3

111.6
110.4
118.2
131.1

100.3
98.5
106.5
115.5

134.7
126.3
153.4
165.6

110.8
105.7
129.1
148.5

116.1
107.3
134.7
146.0

114.9
106.7
132.9
145.5

109.5
105. 6
120. 7
135. 2

149.8

134.2

163.6

199.1

135.7

144.5

120.5

178.4

158.0

159.4

159.8

151.0

118.6
119 6
117.6
115.9
115.8
115.2

145.3
142.9
142.9
143.0
143.4
144.2

112.3
109 8
109.6
109.0
109.7
110.7

163.9
161.3
162.0
160.4
160.4
159.5

150.2
147.9
147 8
145.3
145.1
144.7

151.2
149.4
150.1
149.1
148.2
147.9

152.4
150. 6
151. 2
150.3
150. 3
150.1

147 3
145.0
145.3
145.6
145.0
145.4

115.7
115.2
116.3
117.1
116.4
114.5
118.1
122.3

144.7
145.2
145. 5
145.8
146. 6
146.9
=148.7
153.9

110.0
110.0
110.7
112.6
114.7
o 114.7
119.0
124.0

159.8
162.4
162.8
162.5
166.3
167-7
175.8
179.0

144.8
144.3
144.1
143.9
145.6
c 148. 4
=152.9
158.9

148.2
149.1
148.9
149.4
152.2
153.5
158.0
161.0

150. 5
151.1
151.0
151. 2
153. 7
155. 2
159. 7
163.6

145 8
145.9
146.1
146. 4
147.6
148.8
151. 5
155.3

Build­
ing
mate­
rials

61.3
55.7
114.3
159.8
83.0

90.8
79.1
143.5
155.5
100.5

56.7
52.9
101.8
164.4
95.4

54.9
69.7
67.8
73.8

70.3
73.1
72.6
71.7

80.2
94.4
93.2
95.8

108.3
114.8
117.7
117.5
116.7

84.8
91 8
96.9
97.4
98.4

76.2
78.4
78 5
80.8
83.0

106.2
106.4

118.1
118.0

100.1
99.6

148 9
140.1
169 8
181.2

130.7
112.9
165. 4
168.7

137.2
122.4
172.5
182.4

188.3

179.1

188.8

Foods

Tex­
tile
prod­
ucts

71.5
71.4
150. 3
169.8
104.9

64.2
62.9
128.6
147. 3
99.9

68.1
69.7
131.6
193.2
109.1

57.3
55.3
142 6
188.3
90.4

64.8
77 1
78.0
78.6

48.2
65.3
61.0
67.7

61.0
70.4
67.2
71.2

72.9
95.6
92.7
100.8

1941: Average—
December.
1942: Average—
1943: A verage...
1944: Average —

87 3
93 6
98 8
103.1
104.0

82. 4
94. 7
105 9
122. 6
123.3

82.7
90.5
99.6
106.6
104.9

1948: A v e r a g e August___

105. 8
105.7

128.2
126.9

1946: Average—
June.........
November.
1947: A v e r a g e -

121 1
112. 9
139. 7
152.1

1948: Average........ -

165.1

Farm
prod­
ucts

Average__
July--------November.
M ay...........
Average.—

69 8
67 3
136 3
167. 2
95.3

1932: A verage...
1939: A v e r a g e A ugust___
1940: A v e r a g e -

Year and month

1913:
1914:
19181920:
1929:

1949: Average___
August___
September.
October__
November.
December..

155. 0
152 9
153 5
152. 2
151. 6
151.2

165. 5
162.3
163.1
159.6
156.8
154.9

161.4
160. 6
162.0
159.6
158.9
155.7

180.4
178.9
181.1
181.3
180.8
179.9

140.4
138.1
139 0
138.0
138.0
138.4

131.7
129.6
129.9
130.6
130.2
130.4

170.2
168.2
168.2
167.3
167.3
167.8

193.4
188.3
189.4
189. 3
189. 6
190.4

1950: January.
February
M arch..
April___
M ay___
June___
July____
A ugust..

151 5
152 7
152 7
152 9
155 9
157 a
162 9
166.3

154. 7
159.1
159. 4
159.3
164. 7
165 9
176 0
177.5

154.8
156.7
155.5
155.3
159.9
162.1
171.4
174.6

179.3
179.0
179.6
179.4
181.0
182.6
o 187.1
195.2

138.5
138.2
137.3
136.4
136.1
136.8
o 142.6
149.4

131. 4
131.3
131.5
131.2
132.1
132.7
133.4
134.4

168.4
168.6
168.5
168.7
169.7
o 171.9
c 172. 4
173.8

191.6
192.8
194.2
194.8
198,1
202.1
e 207.3
213.5

i BLS wholesale price data, for the most part, represent prices in primary
markets. They are prices charged by manufacturers or producers or are
prices prevailing on organized exchanges. The weekly index is calculated
from 1-day-a-week prices; the monthly index from an average of these prices.
M onthly indexes for the last 2 months are preliminary.
The indexes currently are computed by the fixed base aggregate method,
with weights representing quantities produced for sale in 1929-31. (For a
detailed description of the method of calculation see “ Revised Method of
Calculation of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Wholesale Price Index,” In
the Journal of the American Statistical Association, December 1937.)
Mimeographed tables are available, upon request to the Bureau, giving
monthly indexes for major groups of commodities since 1890 and for subgroups
and economic groups since 1913. The weekly wholesale price indexes are


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

All
com­
modi­
ties
ex­
cept
farm
prod­
ucts
and
foods *

Chem­ Houseicals
furand
nishallied
tng
prod­ goods
ucts

Fuel Metals
and
and
light­ metal
ing
mate­ Prod­
ucts 1
rials

Hides
and
leather
prod­
ucts

All
com­
modi­
ties *

All
com­
Semi- M anu­ modi­
fac­
Raw
manu­
ex­
tured ties
mate­
fac­
cept
prod­
tured
rials
farm
articles ucts 1 prod­
ucts 1

available in summary form since 1947 for all commodities; all commodities
less farm products and foods; farm products; foods; textile products; fuel and
lighting materials; metals and metal products; building materials, and
chemicals and allied products. Weekly indexes are also available for the
subgroups of grains, livestock, and meats.
i Includes current motor vehicle prices beginning with October 1946. I he
rate of production of motor vehicles in October 1946 exceeded the monthly
average rate of civilian production in 1941, and in accordance with the an­
nouncement made in September 1946, the Bureau introduced current prices
for motor vehicles In the October calculations. During the war, motor
vehicles were not produced for general civilian sale and the Bureau carried
April 1942 prices Toward in each computation through September 1946.
« Corrected.

546

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING
T

able

MONTHLY LABOR

D -8: Indexes of Wholesale Prices,1 by Group and Subgroup of Commodities
[1926 = 100]
1950

1949

1946

1939

Aug.

June

Aug.

Group and subgroup
Aug.

July

June

M ay

All commodities2________

166.3

162.9

157.3

155.9

152.9

152.7

Farm products__________
Grains.. _____ ______
Livestock and poultry..

177.5
165.9
176.0
167.7
173.5
169.3
217.3
215.8
197.5
243.8
222.4
242.5
77.2
90.2
87.6
145.0
151.8
155.2
91.3
103.8
109.8
162.1
171.4
174.6
141.8
135.9
148.0
151.2
145.6
154.9
140.5
137.0
132.0
223.7
240.7
240.2
241.4
260.1
258.3
91.5
97.9
103.5
145.1
133.1
154.1
195.2 c 187.1
182.6
191.3 C185.8
184.8
202.1
219.3
237.7
180.6
185.3
192.3
143.1
143.1
148.5
149.4 o 142.6
136.8
145.0
143.8
144.8
206.8 » 190.7
173.8
101.2
97.7
99.2
41.3
39.9
40.7
65.6
49.3
60.3
148.3
157.5 » 150. 7
181. 5
164.5
168.5
134.4
132.7
133.4
142.1
140.1
141.0
192.5
192.1
191.9
225. 6
225.6
225.6
67.0
0
(3)
«87.3
88.3
0
116.8
113.9
115.5
173.8 c 172.4 « 171.9

164.7
172.3
194.6
218.5
79.6
143.7
85.4
159.9
138.0
146.0
139.2
217.1
234.0
90.0
130.9
181.0
185.0
194.4
179.3
143.1
136.1
143.8
172.0
97.7
39.9
49.3
146.2
164.6
132.1
139.2
192.6
225.6
66.6
87.2
112.6
169.7

159.3
169.6
178.0
197.9
84.0
144.2
90.7
155.3
141.1
145.9
137.6
200.6
214.7
89.9
129.3
179.4
184.3
187.2
179.1
143.1
136.4
144.2
172.8
97.7
39.9
49.1
146.1
165.8
131.2
142.6
193.4
225.6
67.8
86.8
109.5
168.7

159.4
165.4
180.3
199.7
89.7
144.2
94.6
155.5
144.8
145.6
134.9
200.0
213.6
92.7
129.8
179.6
184.3
1904
177.9
143.1
137.3
143.5
176.5
98.0
39.9
49.1
146.3
166.9
131.5
141.9
198.5
224.7
67.9
88.3
108.6
168.5

145.3
147.5
170.4
172.3
185.4
170.6
175.3
185.3
133.0
156.3
163.7
122.2
213.5
167.8
135.5
356.6
142.1
140.9
146.2
163.7
122.2
191.6
178.4

143.9
146.2
o169.7
172.3
185.4
170.6
175.1
185.2
133.0
150.6
c 156.4
116.7
«207.3
o 167.4
135.3
« 338.0
138.6
138.6
141.3
c 156.4
116.7
191.6
177.2

« 143.7
« 146. 0
« 169.4
172.2
185.4
170.4
175.1
185.2
133. 0
148.4
156.3
116.5
202.1
164.3
134.9
322.6
137.7
138.5
139.5
156.3
116.5
191.6
175.0

143.7
146.0
168.5
171.8
184.9
170.1
175.1
185.2
133.0
136.3
156.4
116.6
198.1
163.9
134.9
310.8
136.8
138.5
137.6
156.4
116.6
191.6
172.7

143.4
145.8
168.9
171.7
184.7
170.1
175.1
185.2
132.7
128.9
154.7
0
194.8
163.4
134.9
299.4
136.7
138.5
137.3
154.7
(s)
191.6
172.0

143.1
145.6
169.0
171.7
184.7
170.0
175.1
185.2
132.8
127.2
151.9
(!)
194.2
163.3
134.9
295.9
138.2
138.5
140.5
151.9
0
191.6
172.2

143..1
145.7
168.8
1/1.7
184.7
170.0
175.6
185.7
133.0
128.1
148.7
(5)
192.8
163.2
134.9
292.1
139.0
138.5
142 2
148.7

122.3
121.9

118.1
119.3

114.5
117.3

116.4
116.5

117.1
116.4

135.0
112.0
103.0
141.7
153.9
163.1
144.3
124.0
73.9
205.6
163.9
165.5
154.5
201.5
106.1
125.4
130.4

129.1
« 110.0
«103.0
125.7
« 148.7
« 156.1
« 141.0
119.0
« 68. 7
240.5
159.9
152.8
152.0
203.1
78.4
®121.7
0 122.0

122.7
108.4
103.3
111.9
146.9
154.2
139.4
« 114.7
67.0
213.2
155.6
146.6
150.3
186.9
63.4
« 120.7
122.1

122.3
116.8
103.3
122.2
146.6
154. 1
138.9
114.7
65.8
235.5
155.4
146. 5
150.3
184.8
58.4
120.5
122.8

122.0
117.4
103.5
127.5
145.8
152.6
138.8
112.6
65.0
215.6
155.4
146.5
150.3
185.0
48.7
120.3
122.9

Livestock______
Poultry___________
Other farm products___
E g g s'..........................
F ood s..............
Dairy products______ .
Cereal products..
Fruits and vegetables
Meats, poultry, fish...
Meats . . .
____
Poultry__________
Other foods______
Hides and leather products..
S h o es..
.
Hides and skins._.
leather____ _
Other leather products..
Textile products..

Clothing.. .
Cotton goods____
Ho*iery and underwear.
Rayon and nylon
Silk_____
Woolen and worsted___
Other textile products...
Fuel and lighting materials.
Anthracite . .
Bituminous coal
Coke..
Electricity........ ..............
Gae....... .
Petroleum and products
Metals and metal products *.
Agricultural machinery,
and equipment
Farm machinery___
Iron and steel.. ____ ”
Steel mill products__
Semi-finished
Finished
Motor vehicles
Passenger cars...
Trucks__
Nonferrous metals.
Plumbing and heating”
Plumbing...
Building materials
Brick and tile
Cementf . . .
Lumber
Paint, paint materials
Prepared naint
Paint materials
Plumbing »nd heating
Plumbing. _
Structural steel
Other bldg, materials...
Chemicals and allied prod­
ucts___
Chemicals
Drug and pharma­
ceutical materials
Fertilizer materials
Mixed fertilisers
Oils and fats...........
Housefurnishing goods
Furnishings
Furniture..
Miscellaneous
Tires and tubes............
Cattle feed
Paper and pulp..............
Paperboard
Paper...................
Wood p u lp ...
Rubber, crude
Other miscellaneous___
Soaps and detergents __

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

152.7

151.5

151.2

151.6

152.2

153.5

152.9

112.9

75.0

159.1
161.3
179.9
200.6
81.4
144.9
87.3
156.7
147.5
144. 8
138.2
201.6
216.3
86.8
129.6
179.0
184.3
188.2
176.6
143.1
138.2
143.1
178.4
98.6
39.9
50.1
147.2
170.3
131.3
139.3
196.7
223. 7
69.6
87.4
109.4
168.6

154.7
160.2
170.5
192.0
66.7
142.6
86.0
154.8
148.8
144.3
134.3
194.5
208.3
83.1
131.0
179.3
184.3
189.0
177.6
143 1
138.5
143.9
178.7
98.5
39.6
50.1
147.0
171.7
131.4
139.3
196.2
222.2
68.9
85.0
109.4
168.4

154.9
160.9
167.0
187.0
71.1
145.0
99.1
155.7
154.4
144.6
132.4
193.5
206.5
88.6
132.6
179.9
184.3
192.8
178.1
141.1
138.4
144.0
178.4
98.4
39.6
49.9
146.9
171.5
130.4
139.3
194.1
222.2
69.6
87.2
108.5
167.8

156.8
156.4
169.6
188.3
0
148.2
132.5
158.9
154.7
144.6
130.7
198.9
212.9
0
139.6
180.8
184.3
199.5
177.0
141.1
138.0
144.2
177.9
98.4
39.6
49.5
146.0
169.0
130.2
139.3
192.4
222.2
70.3
88.3
108.5
167.3

159.6
155.3
177.7
197.6
0)
148.8
147.5
159.6
154.6
144.6
128.0
205.0
219.6
0
137.4
181.3
183.4
205.6
176.5
141.1
138.0
144.6
176 5
98.4
39.6
49.2
145.1
175.6
130.6
139.1
191.2
222.2
70.1
87.8
109.9
167.3

163.1
156.4
186.6
207.5
0
149.8
158.3
162.0
153.5
143.7
126.9
215.1
230.4
0
137.8
181.1
183.8
204.8
175.5
141.1
139.0
144.8
174.8
98.4
39.6
49.2
150.4
181.5
129.9
138.6
190.5
222.2
68.9
89.3
109.1
168.2

162.3
1.50.4
186.3
206.6
0
150.1
146.4
160.6
152.7
142.8
130.3
210.7
224.4
0
136.5
178.9
183.8
194.5
173.7
141.1
138.1
144.8
170.2
98.4
39.6
49.2
152.6
180.9
129.6
135.9
188.8
222.0
68.5
88.9
109.7
168.2

140.1
151.8
137.4
143.4
0
137.5
97.3
112.9
127.8
101.7
186 1
110.1
116 6
0
98.1
122.4
129. 5
121. 5
110.7
115.2

61.0
51.6
66.0
67.7
0
60.1
47.6

87.8
106.1
132.8
133.5
67.2
79.6
64.0
112.2

67.2
67.9
71.9
58.6
737
78.1
0
60.3
92.7
100.8
77.2
84.0
97.1
67.5
81.5
65.8
61. 6
28.5
44. 3
75.5
63.7
82.6
72.1
96.0
104.2
75.8
86.7
51.7
93.2

143.0
145.6
165.4
167.6
178.1
166.3
176.7
186.7
134.7
129.2
154.6
0
190.4
161.9
134.5
285.2
139.6
138.5
143.4
154.6
0
185.2
169.2

143.1
145.7
163.4
163.9
173.4
162.7
176.7
186.7
134.9
131.7
154.6

143.6
146.3
163.3
163.9
173.2
162.7
177.0
187.0
135.0
131.5
154.6

143.8
146.4
164.0
164.8
180.6
162.7
177.1
187.0
135.3
135. 7
154.6

191.6
171.1

143.0
145.7
167.3
171.1
182.2
169.7
176.5
186.7
133.8
128.6
151.7
(5)
191.6
163.6
134.8
287.5
139.0
138.5
142.2
151.7
(5)
191.6
170.6

(5)
189.6
161.9
134.5
283.5
140.1
138.5
144.6
154.6
0
178.8
168.6

0
189.3
161.8
134.5
282.0
141.4
138.5
147.2
154.6
0
178.8
168.1

0
189.4
161.8
133.0
279.8
144.1
138.5
153. 0
154.6
0
178.8
168.9

143.9
146.4
163.8
166.0
190.7
162.7
177.2
187.0
135.7
135.9
154.7
0
188.3
161.5
133.0
277.4
144.0
138.5
152.8
154.7
0
178.8
167.3

104. 5
104.9
110. 1
112.2
108.9
112.8
185 6
142.8
104.3
99.2
106.0
0
129.9
121.3
102.6
176.0
106.6
99.3
120.9
106.8
0
120.1
118.4

93.5
94.7
95.1
98.6
96.0
99.0
82.5
95.6
77.4
74.6
79.3
0
89.6
90.6
91.3
90.1
82.1
92.9
71.8
79.3
0
107.3
89.5

116.3
115.4

115.2
114.7

115.7
114.7

115.2
114.3

115.8
115.0

115.9
115.3

117.6
117.2

119.6
117.8

96.4
98.0

74.2
83.8

121.9
117.3
103.5
125.6
145.5
152.2
138.6
110.7
64.3
193.7
155.5
147.3
150.3
184.3
41.3
120.4
122.9

121.4
116.9
103.5
120.9
145.2
151.8
138.4
110.0
64.3
177.3
155.6
147.3
150.5
183.8
41.1
120.4
123.0

121.5
117.4
104.6
122.7
144.7
151.5
137.8
110.0
64.3
179.3
155.9
147.3
151.0
183.8
39.1
120.5
123.1

121.6
117.9
106.5
118.2
144.2
151.2
137.0
110.7
64.3
192.3
156.0
147.5
151. 0
183.8
37.8
121.1
126.5

123.0
118.3
107.0
118.3
143.4
149.9
136.8
109.7
62.5
184.9
156.5
147.1
151.0
189.7
35.4
121.2
126.6

123.1
120.2
107.1
115.6
143.0
149.2
136.7
109.0
60.7
182.1
156.5
146.4
151.0
190.5
34.8
121.2
127.0

125.0
120.4
108.2
118.4
142.9
149.1
136.6
109.6
60.6
190.3
156.5
146.4
151.1
190.5
37.2
121.2
127.0

125.0
121.8
107.9
130.3
142.9
149.1
136.6
109.8
60.6
197.9
156.8
146.2
151.4
190.5
35.6
121.1
126.3

109.4
*2.7
86.6
102.1
110.4
114.5
108.5
98.5
65.7
197.8
115.6
116.6
107.3
154.1
46 2
101.0
101.3

77.1
65.5
73 1
40.6
85.6
90.0
81.1
78.3
59.5
68 4
80 0
66 2
83.9
69 6
84 9
81.3
78.9

(»)

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

109.2
120.3
139 4
75.8
80.2
0
112.7
112.3

in DeMmh£Ìn0te
See ^otnote 2, table D -7. «N ot available. « Index basied on old »cries not available. Revised series first used in index
in December.
» Index based on old series not available. Revised series first used in index in M ay 1950.
« Corrected.
» Revised,
t Revised indexes for dates prior to August 1949 available upon request.


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

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

547

E: WORK STOPPAGES

E: Work Stoppages
T able E - l: Work Stoppages Resulting From Labor-Management Disputes 1
Workers Involved In stoppages

Number oi stoppages
M onth and year

Beginning
In month or
year

In effect dur­
ing month

Beginning
In month or
year

2,862
4, 750
4,985
3,693
3, 419
3,606

1949: August----September.
October__
November.
December.

365
287
256
197
170

643
536
475
388
323

134, 000
507, 000
570,000
56,600
45, 500

1950: January
February ».
March *___

225

340
325
400
550
650
650
650
800

185.000
75.000
80.000
160.000
325, 000
260,000
225.000
350.000

April1___

M ay 1____
June *..........
J u ly » ____
August * ...

260
400
450
425
425
560

i All known work stoppages, arising out of labor-management disputes,
involving six or more workers and continuing as long as a full day or shift
are included in reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures on “work­
ers involved” and “man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for one or


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

Number

Percent of
estimated
working time

16.900.000
38,000,000
116,000,000
34, 600,000
34.100.000
50,500, 000

0. 27
.47
1.43
.41
.37
.59

232.000
603, 000
977, 000
914, 000
417.000

2.140.000
6, 270,000
17, 500, 000
6, 270,000
1.350.000

.27
.87
2.49
.93
.19

300.000
515, 000
530.000
300, 000
500.000
400.000
400.000
465.000

2, 600,000
7,850, 000
3,750, 000
3.150.000
3,000, 000
2, 750,000
2.900.000
2.900.000

.38
1.27
.49
.47
.40
.36
.41
.35

1,130,000
3, 470, 000
4 600, 000
2,170, 000
1,960, 000
3,030, 000

1935-39 (average)
1945............. - ........
1946..
.........
1947..
.........
1948........................
1949...................... .

210

In effect dur­
ing month

Man-days idle during month
or year

,

more shifts in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not
measure the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or indus­
tries whose employee? are made idle as a result of material or service shortages.
* Preliminary estimates.

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

548

MONTHLY LABOR

F: Building and Construction
T able F - l: Expenditures for New Construction 1
[Value of work put ln place]
Expenditures (ln millions)
Type of construction

1949

1950
1 "S
1 “

Aug.3 July 9 Jun e3 M a y 3 Apr.3 Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

1949

1948

Total

Total

Total new construction 4------- --------------- $2, 794 $2,771 $2,675 $2, 535 $2, 283 $1,989 $1,750 $1,618 $1,712 $1,852 $2,044 $2,177 $2, 214 $22, 594 $21,572
Private construction___________________ 2,059
Residential building (nonfarm)______ 1,294
New dwelling u n its........................ - 1,190
Additions and alterations................
87
Nonhousekeeping 5............................
17
Nonresidential building (nonfarm)8. . .
351
Industrial...........................................
101
Commercial. ________________
120
Warehouses, office and loft
buildings___________ ____ _
39
Stores,
restaurants,
and
garages----------------------------81
Other nonresidential building........
130
Religious____________ _____
38
E d u ca tio n a l.............. ................
28
Social and recreational.. . . . .
23
Hospital and institutional7. . .
29
Miscellaneous______________
12
Farm construction_________________
106
301
Public utilities____________ ______ _
Railroad_______________________
30
Telephone and telegraph_______
43
Other public utilities____________
228
7
All other private 8. ____ ____________
Public construction . . ------------------------735
Residential building 9_______ ______
29
Nonresidential building (other than
military or naval facilities)________
209
Industrial19_______ _____ _______
20
Educational______________ _____
105
Hospital and institutional_______
40
44
Other nonresidential____________
12
Military and naval facilities_________
H ig h w a y s____ _____ ______ ______
310
Sewer and water___________________
60
Miscellaneous public service enter17
prises 11_________________________
Conservation and development______
90
All other public 1J. ___________ ___ _
8

2, 050
1,286
1,180
90
16
332
90
113

1,997
1,253
1,145
93
15
324
83
117

1,883
1,171
1,065
92
14
306
78
110

1,690
1, 035
940
82
13
275
73
92

1,313
741
675
55
11
249
69
77

1,262
717
655
51
11
252
70
77

1.298
742
680
51
11
257
69
79

1,401
806
730
61
15
267
68
86

1,484
837
750
72
15
270
68
88

1,506
832
740
76
16
264
68
84

1,513
809
715
78
16
262
69
83

16, 204
8, 290
7,280
825
185
3, 228
972
1,027

16,665
8,580
7,500
925
155
3.621
1,397
1,253

35

32

28

26

24

25

27

28

28

27

24

23

321

352

78
129
38
26
24
29
12
116
305
30
45
230
11
721
27

85
124
35
24
23
30
12
113
296
29
45
222
11
678
24

82
118
33
23
21
30
11
108
285
28
42
215
13
652
28

66
110
31
21
19
29
10
100
267
27
41
199
13
593
28

52
103
28
20
17
28
10
88
253
26
40
187
11
506
28

52
103
28
21
17
27
10
79
235
21
38
176
9
437
28

50
105
29
22
18
26
10
75
209
16
32
161
9
356
26

51
109
31
23
20
25
10
74
216
22
30
164
9
414
35

58
113
32
24
21
24
12
75
246
23
37
186
7
451
34

61
114
34
24
21
23
12
87
283
29
40
214
7
560
36

60
112
33
24
22
22
11
104
299
29
40
230
7
671
41

60
110
33
23
23
20
11
127
308
30
40
238
7
701
40

706
1,229
360
269
262
202
136
1,292
3, 316
352
533
2.431
78
6,390
359

901
971
251
253
224
126
117
1,397
3,002
379
713
1,910
65
4,907
156

204
19
102
39
44
11
305
58

196
18
98
37
43
10
275
56

191
16
94
39
42
10
250
55

187
17
90
40
40
8
210
54

178
13
87
40
38
9
145
52

170
11
84
40
35
8
100
49

154
7
79
38
30
9
55
46

155
7
80
37
31
9
90
49

158
9
80
40
29
12
117
49

179
11
82
44
42
14
184
51

215
11
85
48
71
16
233
56

218
11
90
48
69
15
255
57

2,056
177
934
477
468
137
2,129
619

1,301
196
618
223
264
158
1,856
535

18
90
8

18
91
8

17
92
9

15
82
9

13
73
8

11
62
9

10
49
7

12
56
8

13
60
8

16
71
9

22
80
8

25
81
10

203
792
95

185
629
87

1 Joint estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of
Labor, and the Office of Industry and Commerce, U. S. Department of Com­
merce. Estimated construction expenditures represent the monetary value
of the volume of work accomplished during the given period of time. These
figures should be differentiated from permit valuation data reported in the
tabulations for building authorized (tables F-3 and F-4) and the data on
value of contract awards reported in table F-2.
The estimates shown in this table represent extensive revisions in the
series as published prior to July 1950, primarily to include segments of ex­
penditures formerly omitted because of inadequate source data. The
entire revised series (showing data annually from 1915, and monthly from
1939) is available on request.
* Preliminary.
* Revised.
• I n c lu d e s m ajor a d d itio n s a n d a lte r a tio n s.
• I n c lu d e s h o te ls , d o r m ito r ie s, a n d to u r is t co u r ts a n d ca b in s.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1,483
882
800
70
12
249
70
76

6 Expenditures by privately owned public utilities for nonresidential
building are included under ‘‘Public utilities.”
7 Includes Federal contributions toward construction of private nonprofit
hospital facilities under the National Hospital Program.
* Includes privately owned sewer and water systems, roads and bridges,
and miscellaneous nonbuilding items such as parks and playgrounds.
9 Includes nonhousekeeping public residential construction as well as
housekeeping units.
10 Represents primarily expenditures to construct facilities under the atomic
energy program.
11 Covers primarily airports and publicly owned electric light and power
systems and local transit facilities.
11 Includes publicly owned parks and playgrounds, memorials, etc.

T

able

549

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

F-2: Value of Contracts Awarded and Force Account Work Started on Federally Financed
New Construction, by Type of Construction1
Value (in thousands)
Conservation and
development

Building

Period

Total
new
con­
struc­
tion 9

Nonresidential
Air­
ports *
Total

$442, 782
$1,478,073
h
561, 394
1, 533, 439
0
344, 567
990,410
0
676, 542
1, 609, 208
0
1, 586, 604 $4, 753 669, 222
2,316. 467 137, 112 1, 537,910
5, 931. 536 499, 427 4, 422,131
7, 775, 497 579,176 6, 130, 389
2, 506, 786 243, 443 1. 698,079
1, 297, 602 110, 872 875,002
902, 265 41,219 617.001
1,450, 312 15,068 564, 743
1, 298, 015 25,075 278,698
1,722,157 55, 577 358,809
1,937,110 49,317 638,628

1935.
1936.
1937.
1938.
1939.
1940.
1941.
1942.
1943.
1944.
1945.
1946.
1947.
1948.
1949.

892
1, 586
5, 675
3, 850
5,634
4, 930
5, 251
6, 616
8,142
3, 678
3, 792
5,531

14,684
47,132
66, 262
10, 245
26, 538
43, 918
17, 405
13, 770
27,699
44. 369
21,751
25,036

1949: January_____
February____
March..............
April________
M ay________
June________
July_________
A ugust......... .
September___
October_____
November___

94, 454 5, 520
242
98, 637
176, 245 4,288
131.007 4, 212
238,444 7, 232
296, 661 12, 262
140, 007 4, 81f
233,211 3, 385
173,519 1,902
102, 474 3,4i;
79(
116,346
136,105 1,252

37,817
42, 397
38, 304
31.620
51, 993
114, 534
35, 218
95.088
79. 526
35, 576
25 964
50, 591

1950: January-------February____
March______
A pi il..............
M a y ...........
June9...............
J u ly » ..............
A ugust10..........

122, 600

4,383
2,89!
7, 997
5, 556
3,258
3,066
2,926
(8)

42. 805
34. 865
26, 584
43, 310
43,407
98,715
42,952
12,574

1948: January...
February..
March___
April____
M ay_____
June_____
July..........
A u g u st...
October.
December.

119, 951
165, 435
149, 480
161,316
120, 771
146, 665
147, 509
136, 447
134, 778
146, 999
118,263
174, 543

111.61;

203, 33'
135,352
201,40'
303,44(
141,696
105, 20;

Total

Ad­
minis­
trative
and
Veter­ Other gen­
eral !
ans

$7,833 $434, 949
0
63,465 497,929
0
17, 239 327, 328
0
31,809 644, 733 0
231, 071 438,151
0
244,671 1. 293, 239
0
322, 248 4, 099, 883
0
549,472 5, 580, 917
0
375, 471 1,322. 608
0
101, 491 773,511
0
53,133 563,868
0
445, 647 119,096 $14,664
51,309 227,389 47, 750
8, 355 350, 454 1,424
30,317 608^ 311 1,041

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$14, 281
101,992
263, 296
353, 671

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$9, 032 $5. 249
96. 140 5,852
168,616 94,680
123.967 229, 704

14, 535
46, 272
66,202
9,683
26,075
43,128
17,133
13, 651
27,633
43, 584
19,377
23i 181

306
164
257
12
468
92
6
4
31
0
84
0

8,945
41, 781
59, 417
5, 773
21, 783
19, 201
11,887
10,453
18,711
36,316
11,830
17,199

8,626
41,557
56. 214
5,049
20,044
13,876
1,697
872
13, 287
6,498
436
460

319
224
3,203
724
1, 739
5, 325
10,190
9, 581
5, 424
29,818
11,394
16, 739

37,716
40, 427
36, 531
28’ 721
45| 748
99| 579
34 397
95, 039
79.080
34, 904
25, 955
50, 214

148
635
0
18
30
0
10
140
0
0
60
0

8, 192
12, 651
26, 663
21.352
23, 649
64. 985
22, 756
43. 544
56,125
15, 004
16. 600
42,150

428
5,477
9,612
1, 204
1,045
14,814
202
25, 492
26. 500
8,737
7,387
23,069

7, 764
7,174
17,051
20,148
22, 604
50, 171
22, 554
18, 052
29. 625
6,267
9 213
19, 081

42, 719
34, 738
25, 548
42, 503
42, 298
95,213
42j 342
12; 541

144
138
20
70
0
1,430
'616
171

27. 477
30. 676
19, 901
35, 797
27, 558
41,655
31,177
5, 729

19,328
17, 302
14. 391
21, 459
13, 299
7,629
8,007
69

R esi­
den­
tial

149
860
60
562
463
790
272
119
66

785
2,374
1,855
101

1,970
1,773
2, “
6,245
14,955
821

Hos pltal an d
ins titution al
Total

Educa­
tional 4

1 Excludes projects classified as “ secret” by the military, and all con­
struction for the Atomic Energy Commission. Data for Federal-aid pro­
grams cover amounts contributed by both the owner and the Federal
Government.. Force-account work is done, not through a contractor, but
directly by a government agency, using a separate work force to perform
nonrnaintenance construction on the agency’s own properties.
9 Includes major additions and alterations.
• Excludes hangars and other buildings, which are included under
“ Other nonresidential” building construction.
< Includes educational facilities under the Federal temporary re-use
educational facilities program.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Other
nonresidential

Total

Rec­
lama­
tion

River,
har­
bor,
and
flood
control

High­
ways

All
other4

$438, 725 $158,027 $280. 698 $381,037 $215, 529
0
0
189, 710 73, 797 115,913 511, 685 270, 650
0
0
133,010 59,051 73, 959 360, 865 151, 968
0
0
303,
874 175, 382 128. 492 372, 238 256. 554
0
0
225, 423 115, 612 109.811 355, 701 331, 505
0
0
197,
589 69,028 128. 561 364,048 79. 808
0
0
199, 684 41.880 157.804 446, 903 363, 391
0
0
217,795
150,708 67,087 347, 988 500,149
0
0
155, 737 101. 270 54,467 161,852 247, 675
0
0
66. 679 45, 736 111,805 87, ,508
112,415
0
0
(81
72,150 30, 765 41,385 100, 969 70. 926
0
$9. 713 $80,438 290, 163 149,870 140, 293 534,653 45, 685
32, 550 45,097 307, 695 75, 483 232,212 659, 645 26, 902
29, 926 55, 808 494,871 147, 732 347,139 767,460 45, 440
88, 856 164, 743 501, 937 189,183 312, 754 690, 469 56, 759
1,974 3,310
1,735 2, 592
1,229 5,299
1,871 2,027
1,869 1,955
9, 735 14,100
1.413 3, 827
1,054 2,140
3,184 5, 707
3,312 3,956
891 6, 572
1,659 4,323

54,115
65,119
22, 439
84, 888
10, 495
24, 564
41,947
22, 505
29, 191
37, 158
35. 409
67,041

4,876
1, 229
6,639
56, 984
4, 738
8,887
1,327
4, 269
2,959
19, 371
13. 895
22, 558

49,239
63,890
15. 800
27, 904
5. 757
15, 677
40. 620
18, 236
26, 232
17,787
21,514
44, 483

47, 696
50,194
51, 582
58, 247
75,645
68, 569
76, 428
91,310
65,975
55. 747
51,972
74,095

2,564
1,404
3. 522
4,086
2, 459
4,684
6, 478
2,246
3, 771
6,047
5. 339
2,840

4, 368
4,422
8,121
6,402
8,411
24,030
9. 6i;
50, 386
22, 417
15, 567
3,987
7,019

15,141
24,032
84, 342
39, 899
89, 536
80, 530
22,115
52, 304
25,059
12,914
42,186
13,879

7, 596
3,083
22, 546
18, 778
61,537
26, 603
6. 822
12, 375
14, 559
1,091
5. 677
8,516

7, 545
20, 949
61, 796
21,121
27, 999
53, 927
15, 293
39, 929
10, 500
11, 823
36, 509
5, 303

34, 465
29,000
41, 646
52. 099
83, 769
80, 348
75. 448
79, 020
63,035
49. 910
38, 100
63. 629

1,511
2, 966
7,665
3,177
5, 913
8,987
2,408
3,414
3,997
661
9,306
6, 754

8,149 12, 805 2,293 25, 578
13, 374 1,052 2, 872 25, 537
5,510 3, 457 2 ,17( 101,266
14,338 2, 364 4. 362 19, 063
14, 259 2,47' 12, 266 67.47;
76,898
34, 026 25,187 26,94:
23,170 2,172 8,377 13,474
7,465
5,660 1,014 5,62'

17, 933
7,087
69, 797
2, 763
7,726
43,620
10, 531
715

7, 645 40, 998
18, 450 42, 357
31, 469 61,026
16.300 63, 453
59, 747 80, 618
33, 278 110,963
2, 94C 77,869
6, 75C 83,152

8,836
6, 955
6, 460
3,970
6, 648
13, 798
4, 475
2,012

25,008
22, 719
1,747
949
13, 658
10, 564
2,018
969
538
4 ,33S
5, 308
1, 045

« Includes post offices, armories, offices, and customhouses. Includes con­
tract awards for construction at United Nations Headquarters hi New
York City, the principal awards having been for the Secretariat. Building
(January 1949: $23,810,000), for the Meeting Hall (January 1950: $11,238,000),
and for the General Assembly Building (June 1950: $10,704,000).
• includes electrification projects, water-supply and sewage-disposal
system s, forestry projects, railroad construction, and other types of
projects not elsewhere classified.
i Included in “ All other.”
* Unavailable.
9 Revised.
i° Preliminary.

550

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

MONTHLY LABOR

T able F-3: Urban Building Authorized, by Principal Class of Construction and by Type of Building1
Number of new dwelling units—House­
keeping only

Valuation (In thousands)
N ew residential building
Period

Privately financed

Housekeeping
Total all
classes 1

Publicly Nonfinanced housedwell­
keeping
ing ‘
units
M ulti­
family 4

Privately financed dwelling units
Total

1942................................. $2, 707, 573 $598, 570
1946___________ _____
4, 743, 414 2,114, 833
1947................................... 5, 561, 754 2, 892,003
1948..................... ............. 6, 971, 576 3, 422, 937
1949 «_________ _____ _ 7,379, 899 3, 717, 215

1-famlly

2-fam­
ily 8

$478,658
1,830, 260
2, 362,600
2, 745, 219
2,839, 222

$42,629
103.042
156, 757
181, 493
132,332

New nonresi­
dential
building

Additions,
altera­
tions,
and
repairs

Total

1-fam-

Uy

$77,283 $296,933 $22,910 $1, 510,688 $278, 472 184,892 138, 908
181,531 355, 587 43,369 1,458, 602 771,023 430,195 358,151
372,646
35,177 29,831 1, 712, 817 891. 926 503,094 393, 720
496, 225 139,326 38. 034 2.366, 730 1,004, 549 516,179 392, 532
745,661 285, 419 39, 727 2, 400,693 936,845 574,190 412,656

2-fam­
ily »

fam­
ily *

15,747 30, 237
24,326 47, 718
34,105 75, 269
36, 306 87,341
26, 415 135,119

Pub­
licly financed

95, 946
98,310
5,100
15,113
32,140

1949: July........................
August_________
September .........
October...... ..........
N ovem ber_____
December______

598,943
683, 898
722, 056
678, 510
619,910
559, 540

307. 631
368,133
401,433
376, 556
353, 262
276,820

231,617
278, 286
302, 265
297, 200
292, 227
218, 851

8, 711
11,004
12,119
13, 893
10, 626
9, 838

67,303
78, 843
87,049
65, 463
50, 409
48,131

22,342
12,889
17,825
18, 987
18, 482
10, 350

3,937
3, 074
3,144
3, 635
2, 662
4,669

181,367
207,335
215,605
196,076
181,081
212, 214

83,666
92, 467
84,049
83, 286
64, 423
55, 487

48, 425
57,051
C3,316
57, 320
52,357
43,363

34,324
40,340
43, 982
41, 794
41, 562
31,349

1,765
2, 282
2,316
2,747
2,095
1,984

12,336
14, 429
17,018
12, 779
8,700
10,030

2,791
1,507
2,116
2,254
2,037
1,287

1950: January.................
February______
March____ . . .
April_____ _____
M a y ___ _______
June 7__________
July 8____ ______

558, 374
572, 464
855, 618
920, 983
1,062, 337
1,011,211
1,063, 206

315, 529
352, 248
545, 665
577, 757
643, 989
613,848
597,322

243,446
283,164
442, 035
482, 238
534,758
518,377
512,342

11,354
11, 888
21,040
17, 778
20, 000
15,421
17,406

60, 729
57,196
82, 590
77, 741
89, 231
80,050
67,574

8, 564
1,506
9, 197
13, 591
27,995
6,209
41,155

2,421
2, 971
9, Oil
4, 725
31,184
5,092
7,935

166, 233
156, 049
205, 704
237,412
258,355
273,149
305,145

65, 627
59, 690
86, 041
87, 498
100, 814
112,913
111, 649

49,128
52, 818
79, 408
81, 207
88, 642
82,862
79, 540

36,041
40,200
59, 785
63, 478
69. 377
66,877
64, 572

2,287
2,377
4,209
3,203
3, 859
2,828
3,130

10, 800
10, 241
15,414
14. 526
15, 406
13,157
11,838

868
177
1,135
1,626
3,268
677
4,490

1 Building for which building permits were issued and Federal contracts
awarded in all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken
in some smaller urban places that do not Issue permits.
The data cover federally and nonfederally financed building construction
combined. Estimates of non-Federal (private and State and local govern­
ment) urban building construction are based primarily on building-permit
reports received from places containing about 85 percent of the urban popula­
tion of the country, estimates of federally financed projects are compiled from
notifications of construction contracts awarded, which are obtained from other
Federal agencies. Data from building permits are not adjusted to allow for
lapsed permits or for lag between permit issuance and the start of construc­
tion. Thus, the estimates do not represent construction actually started
during the month.


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Urban, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, covers all incorporated
places of 2,500 population or more in 1940, and, by special rule, a small num­
ber of unincorporated civil divisions.
1 Covers additions, alterations, and repairs, as well as new residential and
nonresidentisi building.
3 Includes units in 1-famlly and 2-familv structures with stores.
* Includes units in multifamily structures with stores.
3
Covers hotels, dormitories, tourist cabins, and other nonhousekeeping
residential buildings
i Totals for 1949 include revisions which do not appear in data shown
for January through December. Revised monthly data will appear in a
subsequent issue of the M onthly Labor Review.
7 Revised.
8 Preliminary.

T able F-4:

551

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950

New Nonresidential Building Authorized in All Urban Places,1 by General Type and by
Geographic D ivision3
Valuation (in thousands)

Geographic division and
type of new nonresi­
dential building

1949

1950
J u ly 4

June «

May

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Dec.

Jan.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

1949 »

1948

Total

Total

$196,076 $215,605 $207,335 $181,367 $2,400,693 $2, 366,730
All types......................... $305,145 6273,149 $258.355 $237,412 $205,704 $156,049 $166,233 $212,214 $181,081
6,683
113,834
148,039
7,178 12,194 10,192
6, 467
New England........ . 18, (500 12, 586 17,078 15, 648 10,377 17,552 17,361 13,095 35,105
434,807
35,337 33,335 37, 961 28, 468
393,374
32,
357
20,195
57,807
47, 290 45,928 41,984 32,117 25, 617
Middle Atlantic__
491, 550
511,794
61,510 63,794 59,853 68, 708 47, 228 28, 422 23,663 39,623 29,005 50,274 46,910 41,852 38, 795
East North Central
173,152
203, 495
6,977 15,094 15, 327 14,153 34, 351 17,666 17,824
25,806 32, 526 24,910 22,186 15,939 10. 674
West North Central
269, 427
306, 418
37,634 31,827 33j 230 28, 515 26,591 22,332 23, 464 21,362 24,630 25,963 23,330 19,614 19, 536
South Atlantic.......
8,279
129, 686
100, 715
8,027 13,155 16,638
9,124 11, 748
16,081 12, 568
9,264 10,483 10,637 10, 506 12, 586
East South Central
269, 915
274,663
39, 552 33,130 27, 795 22, 864 22,513 16,080 23,529 16,894 18,419 24,130 19, 598 29,701 30, 554
West South Central
7,676
6,847
102,
208
5,344
10,
256
83,458
13,
789
3,078
10,478
5,740
6,971 16,307
9, 518
7,310
9, 413
Mountain...............
348,780
412,108
49, 258 3i; 272 36,931 29, 921 30,496 24, 548 23,219 28, 737 26, 591 25,670 22, 476 27,033 24,381
Pacific.....................

Industrial buildings
New England-........
Middle Atlantic__
East North Central
West North Central
South Atlantic __
East South Central
West South Central
Mountain...............
Pacific......... ...........
Commercial buildings T_
New England____
Middle Atlantic...
East North Central
West North Central
South Atlantic.

29,604
1,282
10,972
7,005
2,223
1,297

West South Central
Mountain...............
Pacific....... .............
Oommunlty buildings *.
New England.........
Middle Atlantic...
East North Central
West North Central
South Atlantic.......
East South Central

16,006

24, 575
928
3,927
9j 077
1,109
3’ 298
417
1,411
l ' 420
2,990
97,177
4' 767
16, 498
20, 683
8, 813
13 016
5 662
12 645

3 948
12 542

3 425
11 608

5,9,55

10 694

17’346
26 077
R 196
9 0 ? 197
7 ’ g9Q
18 7 Q6
3 871
17^ 074
16* 397

.

6 437
12’ 940
2 4 ’ 783
18* 696
9 ’ 034
6’ 668
1 4 ’ 177
9’ 099

10* 311
24?044

Q69

’ 430
9 609
3 " 411
1 009
4 ’ 901

452

1

1 900
1 gg]
’ 61

South Atlantic.

buildings » •----New England.

2, 025
161
2,751
95,838
5,170
12,429
20,370
7, 720
12,397

128, 778 102' 798

Mountain......
Pacific...........
Public buildings !
New England
Middle Atlantic...

Mountaln.
Paciflc___

1, 888

86Q

10,885

2,098

11 365
491

6 403
249
326
1 in
1 207
623

2 966

l ’ 769
’ 622

South Atlantic.

1 281
494

147

799

MountainPacific___

370
3 946

474

New England.

24 234
Q17
9 38C
R 73?
7

South Atlantic.
Mountain.
Pacific___

066

1 1 68f
16 0 F
9 197
1 06"

2^ 75Ç

267

1 369
18 152
776

2 636
4 ’729

V 870
1’ 666
’ 345
2 240
1 ’ 065

2, 846

20,893 18,962 15,353 11, 856 14. 008 14, 852 10,896 18,792
202
209
190
328
321
431
1,415
1,225
5, 111
2,250
3, 522
1,804
2,734
3,000
1, 406
5,219
5,462
3,909
4,706
4,455
8,442
6,955
6, 217
5,457
956
792
844
984
709
1,329
785
2, 200
2,529
841
864
482
1,019
1,149
1,201
'778
180
170
416
1,264
885
234
1,708
753
1,117
406
1,262
783
308
1,664
851
691
242
320
90
135
349
113
330
288
2,994
1,999
2,454
2,363
2,139
2,191
1,178
3,302
90,895 83,198 85,507 55, 559 61. 799 52.095 59,305 67,403
2,953
1,849
1,785
2,094
6,241
1,379
4,348
6,327
9,125
9,618
12,825 13, 228 11,071 10,059 22, 522 10,388
16,
635
9,991
7,558 10,119
9, 930
18,857 15,242 16,952
4,170
5,014
3,454
3,185
5,818
8,209
10,780 10,371
8,420
9,434
5,411
6,365
11,678 10,904 11, 642 10, 331
2,879
2,756
3,512
2, 893
2, 747
2, 457
4,060
3, 395
9,399 11,680
6, 290 10,006
5,207
11,236 10,431 10,144
1,393
1,446
1,483
1,214
3,639
4, 070
5,560
3; 662
9,800 10,148
7,154
7,103
8,433
9, 631 14,187
11,469
111,558 107,270 85,294 70, 844 68, 718 105, 286 74, 737 73,706
586
3,110
4,622
4,977 15, 335 14, 515
5, 757
8,301
3,744 44,000 20,452 14,109
7,370
9, 544
19,158 12,297
21,923
10,110
9,967 10,150 15,451
24,807 42,280 20,053
6,609
7,201
4,438
4, 458
7,627
5,101
2,503
8,585
7, 464
6,942
7,344
8,320 15, 470
18| 594 13,369 12, 586
4,116
5,609
6,352
5,613
3,749
5,155
5,392
4,702
7,499
6,
451
8, 613
6, 728
7,061
7,273
8, 798
10, 600
2,940
8,852
7,692
1,142
1,564
9,787
746
2,387
8,
461
6,011
7,512
11,173
9,293
9,137
15,024 13,356
9,689
4,159
2,490 16, 223 12, 790
1,542
5,556
5,438
154
185
2,040
542
0
158
0
90
3,851
747
264
52
734
110
552
992
1,816
332
2,792
234
177
268
33
663
441
284
1,571
192
300
425
58
262
1,377
5,567
1,748
1,823
369
1,337
68
98
0
0
18
0
0
331
0
92
774
243
146
126
954
71
477
145
28
2,059
799
54
56
70
15
235
1,249
3,372
6,845
1,682
771
1,130
581
2,862
6,681
49
1,385
2,348
'318
592
221
1 , 239
41
488
22,890
1,086
2,405
6, 223
2, 765
, 486
' 554
3,884
69'
3,78f

1

5,404
569
1,334
424
760
540
80
812
406
480
17,022
1,724
1,792
4, 512
1,674
1,164
1,102
1, 73C
962
2,962

5,558
236
532
2,287
319
366
308
663

2

845
12,450
385
1,360
2,245
1,408
910
516
1 , 58C
591
3,451

5,153
187
307
2,112
977
765
0
292
73
440
8,478
32'
1, 002
1, 531
501
611
37£
1,916
30(
1,90(

1 Building for which permits were issued and Federal contracts awarded
In all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken in some
smaller urban places that do not issue permits. Sums of components do not
always equal totals exactly because of rounding.
1 For scope and source of urban estimates, see table F-3, footnote 1.
* Totals for 1949 include revisions which do not appear in data shown for
January through December. Revised monthly data will appear in a sub­
sequent issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
* Preliminary.
* Revised.
. . .
. .
* Includes factories, navy yards, army ordinance plants, bakeries, ice plants,
industrial warehouses, and other buildings at the site of these and similar
production plants.


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

8,968
430
823
361
150
20'
638
3,982
333
2,049
10,249
28,'
1,195
871
238
1,146
3,393
1,095
32'
1,70'

15, 474
3,615
544
920
1,735
4,070
41
1,663
121
2,765
8,28'
40'
808
, 894
747
685
24:
95'
533
2,00'

1

11,724
345
599
2,031
922
1,108
2,326
1,03'
126
3,232
11,629
768
1,43$
2,632
1, l l i
73$
88$
88'
98.
2,17'

11, 424
2,135
513
390
329
5,484
491
1,357
138
586
15,061
1,147
2,628
4,05C
1,647
681
365
1,701
60'
2,231

17,160
706
2,201
8,275
2,328
942
796
249
345
1,319
73,899
5, 513
14, 596
15,951
4,604
9,291
1,976
10, 522
2,167
9,278
98,681
4,783
13,731
16,015
23,380
10,224
9, 422
7,074
5, 452
8,600
3,904
128
107
176
178
937
500
229
1,371
280

15,617 15,645
202,440
352
350
6,357
2,743
5,650
40,367
5,674
3,826
77,037
1,150
780
15,689
1,389
715
18,132
1,145
775
8, 736
495
645
6,859
100
142
4, 264
2,569
2,764
24, 999
70,047 57,349
751, 264
3,041
2,137
36, 564
13,905
7, 720
127,033
14,542 11,229
147,620
4,732
5,139
52,907
9,502
5,844
105,106
3,231
2,833
36, 020
9,022 11,453
101,025
3,059
1,467
25,094
9,013
9,629
119,895
96,164 83, 691 1,005,376
6,385
3,129
42.343
15, 845 11,236
176,009
15,428 19,317
200,974
7,823
9, 461
100.396
7,050
8,783
101,126
10,887
4, 371
67,423
18,432 16,192
135,128
3,722
4,350
58,773
11, 592
6,860
123, 204
2,761
5,270
150. 075
18
282
4, 803
409
620
33, 568
634
381
8,156
440
1,105
9, 532
538
1, 418
50,094
0
28
6, 257
292
361
5,041
5
5,327
526
954
27,297

10,045
702
3,467
1,839
2,004
45Ô
70
499
700
164
219
840
27(
15,435 12,701
694
1,010
1,592
2,382
3,836
4,665
1,517
1,867
677
90f
304
349
961
825
62'
70.'
2, 728
2, 4«2
6,527
53
319
1,828
1,994
1,031

112

121

8,508
129
1,986
1,309
442
1,039
0
1,234
243
2,128
10,903
657
1 , 2 se

2,733
907
1,73'
271
67f
521
2 ,14(

159,642
16,010
39, 494
22,303
11,337
22,706
7,223
11, 944
2, 566
26,059
131,896
7, 757
18,336
35, 46C
13,634
9,254
4,02"
9,91$
6,184
27,32(

299,286
19,839
65. 911
100,035
15,993
27,776
9,0.54
15,864
2, 770
42,044
926. 551
55,560
133,219
177,322
72,808
121, 552
39,391
126,064
35, 274
165,361
788. 601
47,255
153,423
154,846
54,207
80,384
36,344
106, 205
34, 577
121,360
74, 414
5,966
8,680
11,352
5, 438
8,875
8, 936
6,132
3,965
15,070
148,681
11,438
16,651
35,809
13,015
21,450
3,750
12,792
2,055
31, 721
129,197
7,981
15, 490
32,430
11,691
9,390
3,240
7,606
4,817
36,552

1 1ncludes amusement and recreation buildings, stores and other mercantile
buildings, commercial garages, gasoline and service stations, etc.
i Includes churches, hospitals, and other institutional buildings, schools,
libraries, etc.
........
• Includes Federal, State, county, and municipal buildings, such as post
offices, courthouses, city halls, fire and police stations, jails, prisons, arsenals,
armories, army barracks, etc.
'«Includes railroad, bus and airport buildings, roundhouses, radio stations,
gas and electric plants, public comfort stations, etc.
li Includes private garages, sheds, stables and bams, and other buildings
not elsewhere classified.

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

552

T able

F-5: Number and Construction Cost of New Permanent Nonfarm Dwelling Units Started, by
Urban or Rural Location, and by Source of Funds 1
N u m b e r of n e w d w e llin g u n it s s ta r te d
E s tim a te d c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t
(in t h o u s a n d s ) »

A ll u n its

P r i v a t e l y fin a n c e d

P u b l i c l y fin a n c e d

P e r io d
T o ta l
non­
fa r m

U rban

R u ral
non­
fa r m

T o ta l
non­
fa r m

U rban

R u ral
non­
fa r m

T o ta l
non­
fa r m

U rban

R u ral
non­
fa r m

0
0
2 1 ,8 0 0
100
0
0
3 ,2 0 0
4 ,1 0 0

$4, 4 7 5 ,0 0 0
2 8 5 ,4 4 6
2 ,8 2 5 , 8 95
4 9 5 ,0 5 4
3, 769. 767
5, 642, 798
7, 2 0 3 , 1 1 9
7 , 7 0 2 ,9 7 1

$ 4 ,4 7 5 ,0 0 0
285’ 446
2, 530, 765
4 8 3 , 231
3, 713, 776
5 ’ 617! 425
7 ,0 2 8 ,9 8 0
7 ,3 7 4 , 26 9

100

1 ,3 1 5 , 287
3 8 3 ,6 3 4
368, 985
562, 668
2, 287, 624
748, 976
7 6 9 ,3 6 9
769, 279
2 ,1 1 3 ; 4 9 6
7 5 0 ,9 7 7
720, 523
6 4 1 ,9 9 6
1 ,4 8 6 ,7 1 2
573, 950
498, 296
4 1 4 ,4 6 6

1, 2 9 6 , 6 1 2
' 374^ 9 8 4
359. 420
562, 208
2 , 2 5 2 , 961
7361186
758, 635
7 5 8 , 140
2, 0 6 5 , 7 7 0
' 7381 6 5 9
7 0 3 ,0 6 6
624, 045
1, 4 1 3 , 6 3 7
5 6 0 ,3 4 7
471, 336
3 8 1 1954

1, 2 8 7 , 2 2 8
3 7 4 ,0 2 0
382, 778
530, 430
2 ,1 2 0 , 63 7
666, 969
733, 967
7 1 9 , 701
2, 2 2 2 ,1 0 3
7 1 0 , 341
743, 389
768, 373
2 ,0 7 3 ', 0 0 3
776, 674
723. 097
573, 232

1 ,1 8 9 , 6 4 0
340, 973
357, 270
491 397
2, 0 0 7 , 5 6 3
’ 6371170
6 9 2 ,0 6 3
678 330
2 ,1 5 3 , 937
6821863
722, 208
7 4 8 ,8 6 6
2 ,0 2 3 ,1 2 9
7561 7 1 2
704, 220
5 6 2 ,1 9 7

9 7 ,5 8 8
3 3 ,0 4 7
25, 508
3 9 ,0 3 3
113 074
29 799
4 l| 904
4 1 ,3 7 1
68 166
2 7 ,4 7 8
2 1 ,1 8 1
19, 507
49, 874
19, 962
18 877

2 ,1 6 2 ,6 3 6
' 589, 997
637' 753
9 3 4 ,8 8 6
3 , 5 1 5 ,3 6 0
1, 0 9 3 , 9 2 0
1 ,2 3 3 , 6 72
1 ,1 8 7 , 768

2 ,1 3 8 , 565
581, 497
632, 690
9 2 4 ,3 7 8
3, 460, 546
1, 0 7 5 , 6 4 4
l l 2041 9 7 8
1 ,1 7 9 , 924

2 4 ,0 7 1
8, 500
5 ,0 6 3
10. 508
54, 814
18, 276
28, 694
7 ,8 4 4

1, 225, 970

1 ,1 8 4 , 47 5

41, 495

1 9 2 5 ................................................................................
937, 000
1 9 3 3 3_ . ............ ..........................................................
93, 000
1 9 4 1 4 .............................................................................
7 0 6 ,1 0 0
1 9 4 4 8__________
________________________
141, 800
1 9 4 6 ______________________________________ .
670, 500
1 9 4 7 ____________________________ _________ 8 4 9 ,0 0 0
1 9 4 8 ________ ______________________________
931, 600
____ . . .
_____________________ 1 , 0 2 5 , 1 0 0
1949 6

7 5 2 ,0 0 0
4 5 ,0 0 0
434, 300
96, 200
403, 700
4 7 9 ,8 0 0
5 2 4 ,9 0 0
5 8 8 ,8 0 0

1 8 5 ,0 0 0
48, 000
271, 800
45, 600
266, 800
369, 200
406, 700
4 3 6 ,3 0 0

937, 000
93, 000
619, 500
138, 700
662, 500
845, 600
913, 500
9 8 8 ,8 0 0

7 5 2 ,0 0 0
45, 000
369, 500
93, 200
395, 700
476, 400
5 1 0 ,0 0 0
556, 600

1 8 5 ,0 0 0
4 8 ,0 0 0
2 5 0 ,0 0 0
45, 500
266, 800
3 6 9 ,2 0 0
4 0 3 ,5 0 0
432, 200

0
0
86, 600
3 , 100
8 ,0 0 0
3 ,4 0 0
1 8 ,1 0 0
3 6 ,3 0 0

0
0
64, 800
3, 00 0
8 ,0 0 0
3, 400
1 4 ,9 0 0
32, 200

1948:

1949:

1950:

F i r s t q u a r t e r ___________ ______
J a n u a r y . . . .................
F e b r u a r y ___________
M a r c h _________________
S e c o n d q u a r t e r ______________ _
A p r i l _______________ __
M a y ______________ . . .
J u n e _____ _________ . . .
T h i r d q u a r t e r ________________
J u l y ...................................
A u g u s t _____________ _
S e p t e m b e r ________ .
F o u r t h q u a r t e r _______________
O c t o b e r . ............................
N o v e m b e r ___________
D e c e m b e r ____ _______

180, 000
53, 500
5 0 ,1 0 0
7 6 ,4 0 0
2 9 7 ,6 0 0
99, 500
1 0 0 ,3 0 0
9 7 ,8 0 0
264, 000
95, 000
86, 700
82, 300
190, 000
73, 400
63, 700
5 2 ,9 0 0

1 0 3 ,0 0 0
3 0 ,8 0 0
2 9 ,1 0 0
4 3 ,1 0 0
166, 100
5 5 ,0 0 0
56, 700
54, 400
144, 200
52, 200
47, 700
44, 300
1 1 1 ,6 0 0
4 1 ,3 0 0
3 8 ,1 0 0
32, 200

7 7 ,0 0 0
22, 700
2 1 ,0 0 0
33, 300
131, 500
44, 500
43, 600
43, 400
1 1 9 ,8 0 0
42, 800
39, 000
3 8 .0 0 0
78, 400
3 2 ,1 0 0
25, 600
20, 700

177, 700
52, 500
48, 900
7 6 ,3 0 0
293, 900
9 8 , 100
99, 200
96, 600
2 5 9 ,3 0 0
93, 700
8 5 ,1 0 0
80, 500
182, 600
71, 900
6 1 ,3 0 0
4 9 ,4 0 0

100, 800
2 9 ,8 0 0
28, 000
43, 000
164, 600
54, 600
5 6 ,1 0 0
5 3 ,9 0 0
1 4 0 ,1 0 0
5 1 ,0 0 0
46, 600
42, 500
104, 500
3 9 ,8 0 0
35, 800
2 8 ,9 0 0

76, 900
22, 700
20, 900
33, 300
129, 300
43, 500
4 3 ,1 0 0
42, 700
119, 200
42, 700
38, 500
3 8 ,0 0 0
7 8 ,1 0 0
3 2 ,1 0 0
25, 500
20, 500

2 ,3 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
1 ,2 0 0
100
3, 700
1 ,4 0 0
1 ,1 0 0
1 ,2 0 0
4 ,7 0 0
1 ,3 0 0
1 ,6 0 0
1 ,8 0 0
7 ,4 0 0
1 ,5 0 0
2 ,4 0 0
3 ,5 0 0

2 ,2 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
1 ,1 0 0
100
1, 5 0 0
400
600
500
4 ,1 0 0
1 ,2 0 0
1, 100
1 ,8 0 0
7 ,1 0 0
1 ,5 0 0
2 ,3 0 0
3 ,3 0 0

F i r s t q u a r t e r . . . ___________
J a n u a r y _______________
F e b r u a r y ___________
M a r c h _ ..............
S e c o n d q u a r t e r ___________. . .
A p r i l __________________
M a y ______
__________
J u n e _________ ______ _
T h i r d q u a r t e r _________________
J u l y ........................................
A u g u s t ________________
S e p t e m b e r ___________
F o u r t h q u a r t e r ______ _________
O c t o b e r . . . .................... ..
N ovem b er
D e c e m b e r ____________

169, 800
50, 000
50, 400
69, 400
279, 200
88, 300
95, 400
95, 500
2 9 8 ,0 0 0
9 6 ,1 0 0
9 9 ,0 0 0
1 0 2 ,9 0 0
2 7 8 ,1 0 0
104, 300
95, 500
7 8 ,3 0 0

94, 200
29, 500
2 8 ,0 0 0
36, 700
157, 300
49, 500
5 3 ,9 0 0
5 3 ,9 0 0
171, 600
5 3 ,3 0 0
55, 900
62, 400
165, 700
6 0 ,0 0 0
56, 700
4 9 ,0 0 0

75, 600
20, 500
22, 400
32, 700
121, 900
38, 800
4 1 ,5 0 0
4 1 ,6 0 0
126, 400
42, 800
4 3 ,1 0 0
40, 500
112, 400
4 4 ,3 0 0
3 8 ,8 0 0
2 9 ,3 0 0

159, 400
46, 300
47, 800
65, 300
267, 200
8 5 ,0 0 0
9 1 ,2 0 0
9 1 ,0 0 0
2 8 9 ,9 0 0
92, 700
9 6 ,6 0 0
1 0 0 ,6 0 0
272, 300
1 0 1 ,9 0 0
93, 400
7 7 ,0 0 0

8 4 ,1 0 0
2 5 ,8 0 0
25, 500
32, 800
147, 800
46, 700
50, 600
50, 500
164, 500
5 0 ,1 0 0
54, 300
6 0 ,1 0 0
160, 200
57, 700
54, 700
4 7 ,8 0 0

7 5 ,3 0 0
20, 500
22, 300
32, 500
119, 400
3 8 ,3 0 0
40, 600
4 0 ,5 0 0
1 2 5 ,4 0 0
42, 600
42, 300
40, 500
1 1 2 ,1 0 0
44, 200
38, 700
29, 200

10, 400
3, 700
2 ,6 0 0
4 ,1 0 0
1 2 ,0 0 0
3 ,3 0 0
4 ,2 0 0
4, 5 0 0
8 , 100
3, 400
2, 400
2 ,3 0 0
5, 8 0 0
2, 400
2 ,1 0 0
1 ,3 0 0

1 0 ,1 0 0
3 ,7 0 0
2, 5 0 0
3 ,9 0 0
9 ,5 0 0
2 ,8 0 0
3, 300
3, 400
7 ,1 0 0
3, 200
1 ,6 0 0
2, 300
5 ,5 0 0
2, 3 0 0
2 ,0 0 0
1 ,2 0 0

(7)
100
200
2 ,5 0 0
500
900
1 ,1 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
200
800
( 7)
300
100
100
100

F i r s t q u a r t e r _________________
J a n u a r y _______________
F e b r u a r y ________ . . .
M a r c h _________________
S e c o n d q u a r t e r ____ ___________
A p r i l ____
M a y 8__________________
J u n e ___________________
T h i r d q u a r t e r _________________
J u l y 10_________________

278, 900
78, 700
82, 900
1 1 7 ,3 0 0
424, 500
1 3 3 ,4 0 0
1 4 9 ,1 0 0
142, 000

1 6 7 ,8 0 0
48. 200
51, 000
68, 600

111,
30,
31,
48,

2 7 6 ,1 0 0
7 7 ,8 0 0
8 2 ,3 0 0
116, 000
418, 200
1 3 1 ,3 0 0
145, 800
1 4 1 ,1 0 0

165,
47,
50,
67,

110,
30,
31,
48,

2 ,8 0 0
900
600
1 .3 0 0
6 .3 0 0
2 ,1 0 0
3 ,3 0 0
900

2 ,2 0 0
900
200
1 ,1 0 0

600
0
400
200

144, 000

78, 800
85, 500
( s)
o

100
500
900
700

54, 600
63, 600

m
m

139, 500

1 T h e e s t im a t e s s h o w n h e r e d o n o t in c lu d e te m p o r a r y u n i t s , c o n v e r s io n s ,
d o r m it o r y a c c o m m o d a tio n s , t r a ile r s , o r m ilit a r y b a r r a c k s .
T h e y d o in ­
c lu d e p r e f a b r ic a te d h o u s in g u n i t s .
T h e s e e s t im a t e s a r e b a se d on b u ild in g -p e r m it r e c o r d s , w h ic h , b e g in n in g
w i t h 1 9 4 5 , h a v e b e e n a d j u s t e d fo r l a p s e d p e r m i t s a n d fo r l a g b e t w e e n p e r m i t
is s u a n c e a n d s t a r t o f c o n s tr u c tio n .
T h e y a r e b a s e d a ls o o n r e p o r ts o f
F e d e r a l c o n s t r u c t io n c o n t r a c t a w a r d s a n d b e g in n in g in 1946 o n fie ld s u r v e y s
in n o n p e r m it - is s u in g p la c e s .
T h e d a ta in t h i s t a b le r e fe r to n o n fa r m
d w e llin g u n it s s t a r t e d , a n d n o t to u r b a n d w e llin g u n it s a u th o r iz e d , a s s h o w n
in ta b le F -3 .
A ll o f t h e s e e s t im a t e s c o n ta in s o m e er ro r .
F o r e x a m p le , if t h e e s t im a t e
o f n o n f a r m s t a r t s i s 5 0 ,0 0 0
t h e c h a n c e s a r e a b o u t 19 o u t o f 2 0 t h a t a n
a c t u a l e n u m e r a t i o n w o u l d p r o d u c e a f i g u r e b e t w e e n 4 8 ,0 0 0 a n d 5 2 ,0 0 0 .


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

600
300
800
500

7 7 ,0 0 0
8 2 ,3 0 0
( 9)

m

500
500
500
500

5 4 ,3 0 0
63, 500
( 9)
( 9)

4, 500

1 ,8 0 0
3 ,2 0 0
( 9)
m

0
100
(7)
2 ,2 0 0
1 ,0 0 0
500
700
600
100
500
(7)
300
( 7)
100
200
300

300
100

m
m

T o ta l

P r iv a te ly
fin a n c e d

1

P u b lic ly
fin a n c e d

0
$295 130
1 1 ,8 2 3
5 5 ,9 9 1
2 5 ,3 7 3
174 139
328', 7 0 2
1 8 ,6 7 5
8 ,6 5 0
9, 565
3 4 ,6 6 3
12, 790
10, 734
1 1 ,1 3 9
47, 726
12 318
17, 457
17, 951
7 3 f)7S

13! 6 0 3
26, 960
32, 512

l l ! 035

P r i v a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n c o s t s a r e b a s e d o n p e r m i t v a l u a t i o n , a d j u s t e d fo r
u n d e r s t a t e m e n t of c o s t s s h o w n o n p e r m it a p p lic a tio n s .
P u b lic c o n s tr u c ­
t io n c o s t s a r e b a s e d o n c o n t r a c t v a l u e s o r e s t i m a t e d c o n s t r u c t i o n c o s t s fo r
in d iv id u a l p r o je c ts .
3 D e p r e s s i o n , lo w y e a r .
4 R e c o v e r y p ea k y e a r p r io r t o w a r t im e lim it a t io n s .
8 L a s t fu ll y e a r u n d e r w a r t im e c o n tr o l.
6 H o u s in g p ea k y ea r .
7 L e s s t h a n 50 u n i t s .
8 R e v is e d .
9 N o t a v a ila b le .
10 P r e l i m i n a r y .

O. * . G O VERNM ENT P R IN T IN G O F F IC E : I9 S O