U.S. DEPARTMENT (F IABCR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington 25, D* C» CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR MAI 1957

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1 Released June 25, U.S. DEPARTMENT (F IABCR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington 25, D* C» CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR MAI Consumer prices in United States cities rose *3 percent betveen and, primarily because of a seasonal advance in food prices, according to the U*S* Department of labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics* In other major groups of goods and services, lover prices for recreation and transportation were offset by increases for housing, medical care, personal care, and "other goods and services The Consumer Price for was 119*6 percent of the average, 3#6 percent higher than a year earlier* Consumer prices have declined once in the past 15 months (in August ), and in reached a record high for the 9th consecutive month* FOCD Food prices advanced *7 percent betveen and, as prices of fresh produce and meat rose seasonally* The food index in vas 114*6 ( =1), 3*2 percent higher than a year ago, but 1*7 percent belov the August 1952 peak* Food prices vere higher in 4 of the 46 cities surveyed in * Fresh fruit prices rose 4*4 percent, with apple prices increasing 14*4 percent to a national average price of 2 cents a pound* Prices of fresh vegetables advanced 5*8 percent, chiefly because of seasonal increases of 1*6 percent for tomatoes, 24*2 percent for onions, and 2*7 percent for potatoes* Prices of cabbage fell 13*5 percent* Meat prices rose 2*1 percent, as advances vere reported for all cuts of beef, pork, and lamb* Bacon prices vere up 4*2 percent, pork chops 2*5 percent, and round steak 2* percent* The increase of *2 percent in the price of cereals and bakery products reflected higher prices for bread and flour* Restaurant meal prices edged up *1 percent* Prices of eggs and milk fell seasonally and coffee prices, declining for the sixth consecutive month, vere 1*6 percent lover than a month earlier* HOUSING The housing index rose *1 percent, as increases for rent, household operation, and home maintenance costs more than offset seasonal price reductions for fuels and housefurnishings * The price advance of *7 percent for household operation reflected higher water rates in several cities* Higher prices vere reported for painting services and roof repairs* In housefurnishings widespread reductions were reported for refrigerators and some household textiles* Anthracite prices dropped 4«4 percent, bituminous coal vas down 1*9 percent in price, and fuel oil prices declined 1*1 percent* OTHER COMMODITIES The increase of *3 percent in medical care reflected further AND SERVICES advances in fees for professional and hospital services and higher prices for prescriptions and drugs* The personal care index reflected higher prices for toilet soap in most cities and some scattered increases for beauty shop services* Apparel prices remained at their level, as reductions for vomers rayon dresses and nylon hose and girls 1 cotton dresses offset higher prices for loen's vool suits and women's and children f s shoes*

2 2 The decline of *4 percent for recreation resulted primarily fron sale prices for sporting goods and toys* There were some advances in prices of newspapers and movie admissions* Transportation costs as a whole decreased *1 percent. New car prices continued to decline as dealers gave larger concessions, and prices of gasoline and motor oil were also lower, but prices of used cars advanced* TABLE 11 Consumer Price United States city average, all items and special groups es and percent s for selected dates tatere ( <? = 1W) Apr. Mar. June Year All items- All items less food- All items less shelter- All commodities All commodities less food- Durable 8- Non-durables- All services and shelter- All services less shelter Percent to from Apr. Mar. June Tear All items All items less food All items less shelter All commodities All commodities less food Durables Non-durables All services and shelter All services less shelter (19A7-A9=t1.)* Apr. Mar. June Year Purchasing power of the consumer dollar $.84 $.84 $.84 $.87 $.98 $1.68 * To calculate purchasing power of the soneuner dollar on any other base, divide the index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date.

3 TABU! 2: Consumer Price -- United States city are rage, all items and ccmodity groups es and percent s for selected dates 3 es (191*7.1*9.1) Group March June 195 All items Food 1/ Pood at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products - - Fruit* and vegetables Other foods at home < This month * Last month months ago Last year Pre-Korea Housing 2/ Rent Gas and electricity - «..-, Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings Household operation Apparel «Men's and boys'. Women's and girls' Footwear Other apparel Transportation. Public Private Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services jj * iok * A k All items Food < Food at hone Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products - Fruits and vegetables - Other foods at hoae Food away from hone Housing 2/ «Rent. Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings Household operation. Apparel Men's and boys' Women'8 and girls' Footwear «Other apparel Transportation Public Private Medical care Personal care Heading and recreation Other goods and services - Percent to from: March June Tear * o (V) (4/) * / Includes restaurant meals not shown separately. 2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately. y Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services"(such as legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.). k/ Hot available.

4 4 TABLE 3: Consumer Price All items indexes for selected dates U.S. city average and 2 large cities ( =1) City June 195 Year 1939 United States city average 1/ Cities priced monthly: 7j Detroit Los Angeles New York - - Philadelphia Cities priced in February,, August, November 2/ February 195 Year 1939 Houston Scr&nton- Seattle Washington, D. C Cities priced in January,, July, October 2/ January 195 Year 1939 Kansas City < - - Minneapolis Pittsburgh Portland, Oregon lj Cities priced in March, June, September, December 2/ Atlanta Baltimore Cincinnati - St. Louis - - San Francisco - March December March June 195 3/ Year / This index on the base of =1 is 2.. / Hants priced bimonthly. 2/Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly. A/June / 195. TABLE 4s Consumer Price Percent s froo to U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly All items and coonodity groups City All items Food Housing Apparel Transportation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods & services United States city average Chicago- Detroit Los Angeles Hew York Philadelphia #

5 TABI 5: Consumer Price All items and commodity groups indexes and percent s, February to U.S. city average and 1 cities priced in Group U.S. City Average Chicago Detroit Houston Los Angeles New York Cleveland Philadelphia Scrantoi Seattle es (19^7-^9-1) All items Food - Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meat8, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home , Housing Rent Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings Household operation Apparel - Men's and boys' Women's and girls' Footwear -- Other apparel Transportation Public Private Medical care - Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services , Percent from February to }fey All items _.3 Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products - - no Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home _ Rent.4 1/ J/ 1/ Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings Household operation J -.4 Men's and boys' Women's and girls' Footwear Transportation 7 -» Public.6 Private Medical care o Other goods and services J/ Change from torch to Msiy.

6 City Total food TABLE 6: Consumer Price Food end its subgroups Ifay indexes and percent s, to U.S. city arerage and 2 large cities [>9Vr-*9-IOCT} Total Cereals and Meats, poultry, Dairy Fruits and Other food at home bakery products and fish products vegetables foods at home Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent c hange U.S. city average Atlanta Baltimore Boston Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Detroit i * Houston " Minneapolis Hew York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland, Oreg St. Louis San Francisco Scr&nton Seattle Washington, D.C TABLE 7 J Consumer Price Average retail prices of selected foods U.S. city average Food and unit Cereals and bakery products; Flour., wheat 5 Biscuit mix 2 oz. Corn meal R i c e Rolled oats 2 oz. Corn flakes 12 oz. Bread, white Soda crackers Vanilla cookies 7 oz. Meats, poultry, and fish: Round steak Chuck roast Rib roast >» Hamburger Veal cutlets?grk chops, center cut Bacon, sliced Ham, whole Iamb, leg lb. Frankfurters - - = lb. Luncheon meat, canned 12 oz. Frying chickens, ready-to-cook Ocean perch, fillet, frozen Haddock, fillet, frozen Salmon, pink, canned ie oz. Tuna fish, canned e to Qh oz. Dairy products: Milk, fresh, (grocery) qt. Milk* fresh, (delivered) qt. Ice cream pt. Butter Cheese, American process Milk, evaporated i4fc-oz. can Fruits and vegetables: Frozen: Strawberries 1 oz. Orange juice concentrate - oz. Peas, green 1 oz. Beans, green 1 oz. Fresh: Apples Bananas Oranges, size 2 doz. Lemons i Grapefruit * each 19?7 Cents * Cents Fresh Food and unit Continued Peaches * Strawberries * pt. Grapes, seedless * Watermelons Potatoes 1 Sweet potatoes Onions Carrots «Lettuce head Celery - Cabbage < lb. Tomatoes Beans, green Canned: Orange 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 Baby foods 44 to 5 oz. Dried: Prunes Beans - Other foods at home: Tomato SOUp 1 to ll-oz. can Beans with pork ie-oz. can Pickles, sweet 7h oz. Catsup, tomato 14 z. Coffee l b. can Coffee... i b. ag b Tea bags pkg. of 16 Cola drink, carton 36 oz. Shortening, hydrogenated 3 Margarine, colored - Lard Salad dressing pt. Peanut butter Sugar 5 i. Corn syrup b 24 oz. Grape Jelly 12 oz. Chocolate bar 1 z. Eggs, Grade A, large doz. Gelatin, flavored 3 to 4 oz. 19? * Priced only in season.

7 Brief Explanation of the CPI n The Consumer Price (CFI) measures the average s in prices of goods and services typically bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is based on prices of about 3 items which were selected so that their price s would represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these items are obtained in 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United Stated they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and clerical-worker families patronize. Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all 46 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Almost all prices are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau 1 s trained representatives In calculating the index, price s for the various items in each city are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 195 populations of cities they represent. numbers are computed on the base = 1. The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the 2 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities: Anna, Illinois Camden, Arkansas Canton, Ohio Charleston, W. Virginia Evansville, Indiana Garrett, Indiana Glendale, Arizona Grand Forks, N. Dakota Grand Island, Nebraska Huntington, W. Virginia Laconia, New Hampshire Lodi, California Lynchburg, Virginia Madill, Oklahoma Madison, Wisconsin Middlesboro, Kentucky Middletown, Connecticut Newark, Ohio Pulaski, Virginia Ravenna, Ohio Rawlins, Wyoming San Jose, California Sandpoint, Idaho Shawnee, Oklahoma Shenandoah, Iowa Youngstown, Ohio Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city d more or less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price levels or in living costs between cities. A description of the index is contained in BLS Bulletin 114, "The Consumer Price : A Layman's Guide, M which may be purchased for 2 cents at any Bureau of Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S # Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. A more technical description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS Statistical Series." Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices. Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for 2 large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for All Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and services from 1947 to date. BLS Regional Offices Atlanta New York Chicago San Francisco Boston 5 Seventh St., NE 341 Ninth Ave. 15 West Adams St. 63 Sansome St. 18 Oliver St. Zone 23 Zone 1 Zone 3 Zone 11 Zone 1 LABOR - D. C.

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