U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D. C CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAY 1964

Transcription

1 Released June 26, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D. C. 221 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAY :The initial report on the revised Consumer Price Index, which has been : jupdated to reflect the buying patterns of wage earners and clerical workers: :in the 196 f s, was published for January. The first set of tables : :(A-1, etc.) presents the new index series covering both families and single : :workers living alone. The analysis contained in the text of this report is: :based on these tables. Table B-l presents a new index series for families : :only (excluding single workers). Both series A and series B have been : :linked to the old series as of December 1963 to provide continuous series. : :The old series, presented in the third set of tables (C-l,etc.), will be : :discontinued after June. Documents describing the new index series : :and the major differences between them and the old series are available on : : request. The Consumer Price Index in remained at its April level of 17.8 ( =1), the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. Slightly lower prices for food and housing offset fractional advances for most other types of consumer goods and services. In the past year the index rose 1.5 percent, reflecting higher prices for most consumer items, except meats, bread, and fuel oil. FOOD Food prices declined percent in, primarily because of lower prices of eggs and meats. Egg prices dropped seasonally as production reached record high levels. Prices of most types of meats were lower, with abundant supplies of beef and pork, but lamb and cold cuts were up a little. Prices of fruits and vegetables remained unchanged as reductions in vegetable prices offset generally higher prices for fruits. Prices were substantially lower for cucumbers, celery, asparagus, lettuce, and tomatoes, but potato prices advanced as early spring production was greatly reduced. Among fresh fruits, prices of apples, bananas, and grapefruit advanced, while strawberry prices dropped as supplies became more plentiful. Dairy products prices were percent lower, with seasonally higher milk production. Sugar prices also declined, but coffee prices were higher, both changes reflecting the world supply situation. HOUSING The housing cost index declined by percent, largely because of lower homeownership costs. Fuel oil prices were seasonally lower. Prices of textile housefurnishings declined, reflecting reductions for "white sales" and appliance prices also were lower. Residential rents were unchanged. Costs of maintenance and repair of owner-occupied dwellings were up. OTHER GOODS Transportation costs increased by percent, largely because of AND SERVICES higher prices for used cars and gasoline. Selling prices of new cars declined as dealers increased their concessions. Apparel prices increased percent with small advances for most types of apparel except children's shoes which declined slightly.

2 Costs of health care and recreation edged up by percent, reflecting slight advances in fees for professional medical and hospital services, barber and beauty shop services, and prices of newspapers. Prices of recreational equipment were lower. COST-OF-LIVING Based on the national index for, about 19, workers are ADJUSTMENTS scheduled to receive increases of 1 cent an hour, including 9, aerospace workers, 8, in meatpacking industries, and 2, in various other industries. In addition, 2,6 transit workers are scheduled to receive 1/2 cent an hour, based on the quarterly change in the index for Washington, D. C.; and 2,5 drugstore clerks will receive 8 cents an hour, based on the annual change in the Los Angeles index.

3 3 NEW SERIES Beginning January TABLE A-l: Consumer Price Index United States City Average For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Including Single Workers) Major group, subgroup, and special group Indexes, and percent changes from selected dates Group Indexes ( =1) April Percent change to Inde xes from = April February 1963 All items Food--- Food at home Cereal8 and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish- Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home-- Food away from home Housing---- Shelter 1/ Rent " Homeowner ship 21 Fuel and utilities 3/ Fuel oil and coal 4/- Gas and electricity- - Household furnishings and operation- Apparel and upkeep 5/- Men's and boys' Women's and girls Footwear--- Transportation Private- Public Health and recreation Medical care---- Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services 6/ , lli.l (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) Special groups: All items less shelter All items less food Commodities 7/ Nondurable^ Durables 7/ 8/ Services 9/ Commodities less food 2/ Nondurables less food- Apparel commodities Apparel less footwear Nondurables less food and apparel New cars & Used cars Household durables 1/ Housefumlshings Services less rent 9/ Household services less rent---- Transportation services- Medical care services Other services 11/- Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (reference period = $1.) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) (12/) $,928 $, $,756 $,449 1/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. It Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs. 3/ Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately. 4/ Called "Solid and petroleum fuels'* prior to. 5/ Also includes infants 1 wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately. 6/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and funeral, legal, and bank service charges. TJ Includes home purchase costs which were classified under services prior to. 8/ Also includes auto parts, toys, and recreational goods not shown separately. 9/ Excludes home purchase costs which were classified under this heading prior to. 1/ Called "Durables less cars" prior to. 12/ Not ^available SerVi es CIBpnent: o f *PP««1» personal care, reading and recreation, and other goods and services.

4 4 NEW SERIES Beginning January TABLE A-2: Consumer Price Index The United States and Selected Areas For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, (Including Single Workers), All Items Most recent index and percent changes from selected dates Area 1/ U.S. City Average- Chicago-- -- Detroit--- Los Angeles-Long Beach- New York- -- Philadelphia Boston-- Pittsburgh- Pricing Schedule 2/ Indexes Other = =1 1939=1 bases Percent chf inee from: February January April April Buffalo (Nov* 1963=1). Cleveland ' Dallas (Nov. 1963=1)- Seattle - Washington Atlanta - Baltimore Honolulu (Dec. 1963=1) St. Louis San Francisco-Oakland February December March March JL/ Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those established for the 196 Census and do not include revisions made since I96. 2/ Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month 1 - January, April, July, and October 2 - February,, August, and November 3 - March, June, September, and December NEW SERIES Beginning January TABLE A-3: Consumer Price Index--The United States and Selected Areas 1/ For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, (Including Single Workers), Major Groups Percent changes from April to Group U.S. city average Chicago Detroit Los Angeles- Long Beach New York Philadelphia All items Apparel and upkeep - - Transportation Health and recreation Medical care- - - Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services / See footnote 1, Table A-2.

5 5 TABLE A-4: Consumer Price Index United States and Selected Areas 1/ For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Including Single Workers), Commodity Groups Indexes and Percent Changes from February NEW SERIES Beginning January Group U.S. Buffalo Cleve- Dallas Los New Phila- Washcity average (Nov3-1) Chicago Detroit Angelesland (Nov3=1) Long Beach York delphia Seattle ington Indexes ( =1 unless otherwise specified) All items , , 19,.9 11, 18,.4 19, 17, , ,. 17,.4 17,.5 14,.5 17, Food at home , , 14,.5 14, , Cereals and bakery products , 16, ,.5 117,. 11, , 19, Meats, poultry, and fish , , , 92, Dairy products ,.8 13,.8 Fruits and vegetables , , , , 112, Other foods at home 1., , , , Food away from home , , , 115, Housing , , Shelter , , 15,.4 Rent 17., Homeowner ship 18, , 113, , Fuel and utilities-- 17., , Fuel oil and coal 12., ,3 11., ,6 Gas and electricity , , , , Household furnishings and operation- 12.,9 99., ,4 98., , , ,7 1., 12., , , 18.,8 18. Men 1 8 and boy's ,7 12.,5 16., , Women's and girls' 12., , ,2 13., , Footwear ,9 114., ,4 19., ,2 Transportation 19.,1 1., ,7 116.,2 16.,3 113., Private ,3 16.,9 17., ,2 18., ,5 17.,8 Public ,4 17.,4 122., ,4 138., ,7 118.,7 113.,8 Health and recreation ,9 114., , ,8 114.,1 Medical care , , Personal care , ,8 16., Reading and recreation , ,8 3/ ,1 113.,5 Other goods and services , , ,9 Percent changes February to All items, _ Food at home - -, Cereals and bakery products- - -, Meats, poultry, and fish -1-1, Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home Food away from home Housing 1, I ( ^ 3 2 > Rent 2/.*6 2/-!l 2/, -.4 Homeownership 1, , Fuel and utilities , 2.5 Fuel oil and coal ,.8-7 Gas and electricity , 1.5 Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep --- -, ,.4 Men's and boys' Women's and girls'.5-1., 1.4 -, Footwear Transportation.5 1., Private.5 1., Public 2.,4 Health and recreation, Medical care.5, Personal care.5, ,4 1 Reading and recreation 1., ,1.4 Other goods and services -,3 -, / See footnote 1, Table A-2. 2/ Change from March. 3/ Revised April index=13.9.

6 6 NEW SERIES Beginning January TABLE A-5: Consumer Price Index United States and Selected Areas For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Including Single Workers), Food and its Subgroups Indexes and Percent Changes from April Area 1/ Total food Total Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Food at home Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home Food away from home Indexes ( =1 unless otherwise specified) U.S. City Average ,7 1., Atlanta ,8 14., Baltimore Insufficient data due to work stoppage in food stores. Bos ton ,4 121.,6 Buffalo (Nov. 1963=1) ,2 1. Chicago ,3 11.,1 19. Cleveland Dallas (Nov. 1963=1) , Detroit , Honolulu (Dec. 1963=1) ,3 99.,8 1. Los Angeles-Long Beach New York ,8 1., Philadelphia , 99.,9 116,. Pittsburgh , , St. Louis , San Francisco-Oakland ,1 118.,9 Seattle , Washington ,3 13., Percent Changes April to U.S. City Average Atlanta Baltimore Boston Buffalo (Nov. 1963=1)- Chicago Cleveland Dallas (Nov. 1963=1)-- Detroit Honolulu (Dec. 1963=1) Los Angeles-Long Beach-- New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis San Francisco-Oakland Seattle Washington Insufficient data due to work stoppage in food stores / See footnote 1, Table A-2.

7 7 NEW SERIES Beginning January TABLE B-I: Consumer Price Index United States City Average For Urban Wage-Earner and Clerical-Worker Families (Single Workers Excluded) Major group and subgroup indexes, and percent changes from selected dates Indexes Percent change to Indexes ( *1) from 47-49=1 1939=1 Group April April February 1963 All items Food at home- 13, Cereals and bakery products , Meats, poultry, and fish 96, Dairy products-- 13, Fruits and vegetables 115, Other foods at home 1, Food away from home 115, (1/) (Z/> Housing 16, Shelter 1/ 18., (1/) (l/> Rent Homeownership 2/ 18, a/) <7/) Fuel and utilities 3/ 17, o n <Z/> Fuel oil and coal 4/ Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation (I/) <7/> Apparel and upkeep 5/ - Men's and boys' Women's and girls' 12., Footwear 111., , a/) (1/) Transpor tat ion , Private 17., Public Health and recreation 113., (I/) (1/) Medical care 119., Personal care- 18., Reading and recreation 114., Other goods and services 6/ , / Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. 2/ Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs. 3/ Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately. 4/ Called "Solid and petroleum fuels" prior to. 5/ Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately. 6/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and funeral, legal, and bank service charges. 7/ Not available.

8 8 OLD SERIES TABLE C-l: Contuaer Price Index--United States city average Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, and percent changes from selected dates ( unless otherwise specified) Group Indexes ( ) April April Percent change to from-- February 1963 Indexes All Items Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy p r o d u c t s Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home ci/> (A/) Housing 2 / Rent Gas and electricity Solid and petroleum f u e l s Housefurnishlngs Household o p e r a t i o n Women's and g i r l s ' Footwear Other apparel Trans portat ion Pr ivate Public Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services Special groups: All items less food All items less shelter Commodities Food Nondurables less food Apparel less footwear Nondurables less food and apparel an Used cars Durables less cars a/) 12. a/) 178. Commodities less food Rent Household operation services, gas, Transportation services Medical care services Other services 3/ Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (Reference period-$1.) $,927 $, $,756 $,448 1/ Not available. 2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately. 3/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber and beauty shop services, and movies.

9 TABLE C-2: Consumer firioe Index All itma indexes and percent changes, selected dates U.S. city average and 2 large cities OLD SERIES 9 ( =1 unless otherwise specified) Indexes Percent change to Indexes ( =1) from =1 1939=1 City February February Cities priced monthly 1/ United States city average- Chicago- Detroit- Los Angeles- New Tork Philadelphia Cities triced in November 2/ February,, August, February February Cleveland Houston --- Scran ton- Seattle Washington, D.C. Cities priced in January, April, July, October 2/ Boston--- - Kansas City Minneapolis Pittsburgh Portland, Oregon April January April January April April April Cities priced in March, June, September, December 2/ Atlanta Baltimore Cincinnati St. Louis San Francisco- March December March December March March March J/ Rents priced bimonthly. 2/ Foods, fuels, aid a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly* TABLE C-3: Consumer Price Index Peroent changes from April to U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly All items and commodity groups OLD SERIES BtsiH ng Other All Transpor- Medical Personal and goods it City items Food Housing Apparel tation care oare recreation serrioes tfoited States city average Chicago Detroit- - - " Los Angeles " Philadelphia - -. o * Q o - u

10 1 TABLE C-4: Consumer Price Index All items and commodity groups indexes and percent changes, February to U.S. city average and 1 cities priced in OLD SERIES U.S. Group City Chicago Cleve- Detroit Houston Los New Phila- Scranton Seattl* Washingto Average land Angeles York delphia D.C. Indexes ( =1) All items , , 18, , Food , , 14., Food at home ,.8 1., , Cereals and bakery products , 1., , Meats, poultry, and fish , ,. 97., ,5 Dairy products , 14., , ,3 Fruits and vegetables , , ,1 Other foods at home , 98., ,1 99,,9 99.,8 11.,5 12.,2 Housing , Rent , Gas and electricity , , 15.,5 1., Solid and petroleum fuels , ,,1 95.,5 14., 99.,9 Hous efurnishings , , , Household operation , ,5 118, Apparel , ,.5 15., Men's and boys' , 17.,7 111., Women's and girls' , 18, , Footwear , , , Other apparel , Transportation , , Private , ,.4 11, 17, J ,7 Public , ,3 118, Medical care , 128, ,.4 119, ,. 111, Personal care , 17,, ,.9 18,.4 16, ,.8 18,. Reading and recreation 114 1,. 17, 11,, ,.9 124, ,,1 17, Other goods and services ,,2 16,.9 19, , , 13. Percent change from February to All items, -,, -..8,, -,.5 Food _.8,.8.5 Food at home Cereals and bakery products- - 2, , Meats, poultry, and fish , , Dairy products , , ,.5 - Fruits and vegetables , 9,.9.9 4, 4,.9 8, 6,.4 7, Other foods at home - 2-2,. - 1, , - 2, - 3, ,.9 Housing _.4 _.4 _ Rent i/! / J -,.8.4 1/ Gas and electricity Solid and petroleum fuels - 3-3, - 3, ,.9-3, ,.8 Housefurnishings , Household operation.8 3, , Apparel ,. _.4,9 1 Men's and boys' ,.5 Women's and girls' , ,.5 Footwear Other apparel Transportation.4 _ _.8 _ - 1 Private , Public 4 8. Medical care.8.5 1,.4.4 Personal care ,.5 1, Reading and recreation Other goods and services - 1-1/ Change from March to.

11 City Total food Index Percent TABLE C-5: Consumer Price Index Food and its subgroups indexes and percent changes, April to U.S. city average and 2 large cities Total fpad,it p< hot 'ercent Index change ( ) Cereals and bakery producti Index Percent change Meats, poultry, and fish Index Percent change Dairy products Index Percent change Fruits and vegetables Percent change Other foods at home Index Percent change U. S. city average Atlanta Baltimore Boston C h i c a g o Cincinnati Cleveland D e t r o i t H o u s t o n Kansas City Los A n g e l e s Minneapolis Hew York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland, Oreg. St. Louis---- San Francisco Scranton Seattle Washington, D. C. Food and unit 14.5 Insufficient Cereals and bakery products: TABLE 6: Flour, wheat 5 lb. Biscuit m i x 4 oz. Macaroni- 16 oz. Corn m e a l l b. Rolled oats 18 oz. Corn flakes 12 oz. Rice, short grain - lb. Rice, long grain- lb. Bread, white- lb. Soda c r a c k e r s l b. Sandwich cookies 16 oz. Meats, poultry, and fish: Round s t e a k l b. Sirloin steak -lb. Chuck roast l b. Rib roast lb. Hamburger lb. Veal cutlets lb. Pork chops, center c u t l b. Pork roast-- ---lb. Bacon, sliced lb. Ham, whole- lb. Lamb, leg - lb. Frankfurters---- lb. Luncheon meat, canned 12 oz. Frying chickens, ready-to-cook-lb. Ocean perch, fillet, frozen lb. Haddock, fillet, frozen lb. Salmon, pink, canned oz. Tuna fish, canned 6 to 6% oz. Dairy products: Milk, fresh, (grocery) qt. Milk, fresh, (delivered) qt. Ice c r e a m % gal. Butter- -lb. Cheese, American process % lb. Milk, evaporated 14% oz. can Fruits and vegetables: Frozen: Strawberries 1 oz. Orange Juice concentrate 6 oz. Lemonade concentrate 6 oz. Peas, g r e e n 1 oz. Beans, g r e e n. 9 z. Potatoes, french fried 9 oz. Fresh: A p p l e s l b. Bananas lb. Oranges, size 2 doz. L e m o n s l b data due to work stoppage in food stores Consumer Price Index Average retail prices of selected foods U. S. city average m4 April Cents 57, , ,. 25., , , Food and unit Fresh ContInued Grapefruit each Peaches * lb. Strawberries * p t. Grapes, seedless * - lb. Watermelons * lb. Potatoes lb. Sweet potatoes- - lb. Corn * doz. ears Onions lb. Carrots- - - lb. Lettuce- --- head Celery lb. Cabbage - lb. Tomatoes lb. Beans, green lb. Canned: Orange juice 46 oz. can Pineapple juice -46 oz. can Peaches #2% can Pineapple #2 can Fruit cocktail #33 can Corn, cream style #33 can Peas, green- - - #33 can Tomatoes-- --#33 can Tomato juice oz. can Baby foods 4% to 5 oz. Dried: Prunes--- -lb. Beans - -- lb. Other foods at home: Tomato soup - 1% to 11 oz. can Beans, with pork oz. can Pickles, sliced 15 oz. Catsup, tomato oz. Potato chips oz. C o f f e e --lb. can Coffee lb # bag Coffee, instant 6 oz. Tea bags pkg. Cola drink, carton 72 oz. Shortening, hydro gen a ted 3 lb. Margarine, colored lb. Salad dressing pt. Peanut butter ---lb. Sugar 5 lb. Corn s y r u p 2 4 oz. Grape jelly 12 oz. Chocolate b a r - 1 oz. Eggs, Grade A, large - - -doz. Gelatin, flavored- 3 to 4 oz , 96, OLD SERIES April * Priced only in season. LABOR - D. C.

12 12 Brief Explanation of the CPI The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and services usually bought by urban wage earners and clerical workers, both families and single persons living alone. It is based on prices of about 4 items Which were selected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage earners and clerical workers. Prices for these items are obtained in urban portions of 33 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller cities, which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage earners and clerical workers patronize. Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all 5 locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in the 5 largest SMSA's and every 3 months in other SMSA's and cities. Mail questionnaires are used to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives. In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in the spending of all wage earners and clerical workers. SMSA and city data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 196 populations of SMSA's and cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base =1, and are also available on the bases of =1 and 1939=1. The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the 17 SMSA's for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as from the following additional locations: Alabama - Florence Alaska - Anchorage California - Bakersfield* Colorado - Denver* Connecticut - Hartford* Florida - Orlando* Indiana - Indianapolis* Indiana - Logansport Illinois - Champaign-Urbana* Iowa - Cedar Rapids* Kansas - Wichita* Louisiana - Baton Rouge* Maine - Portland* Massachusetts - Southbridge Michigan - Niles Minnesota - Crookston Mississippi - Vicksburg New Jersey - Millville New York - Kingston North Carolina - Durham* North Dakota - Devils Lake Ohio - Dayton* Ohio - Findlay Oklahoma - Mangum Oregon - Klamath Falls Pennsylvania - Lancaster* South Carolina - Union Tennessee - Nashville* Texas - Austin* Texas- McAllen Utah - Orem Virginia - Martinsville Wisconsin - Green Bay* *Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area Comparisons of indexes for individual SMSA's show only that prices in one location changed more or less than in another. The SMSA indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price levels or in living costs between areas. A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the United States city average and for 17 large SMSA's are available on request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C. 221 or any of its regional offices (addresses below). BLS Regional Offices 1371 Peachtree Street, N E. 341 Ninth Avenue 219 South Dearborn Street Atlanta, Georgia 339 New York, New York 11 Chicago, Illinois 6(>6*f 45 Golden Gate Avenue 18 Oliver Street 1365 Ontario Street San Francisco, California 9*113 Boston, Massachusetts 211 Cleveland, Ohio 44114