Released February 26, 1965 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D. Co 2212 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY 1965 The Consumer Price Index rose by percent in January, largely as a result of higher prices tyas homeownership items, potatoes, gasoline, and automobile insurance, the h&b&t epar talent's,jiftreau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices averaged lower for appteeftijwfl fresh fruits and vegetables. The January index was 18.9 (1957-59=1), 1 percent higher than a year ago. Higher charges for consumer services (up 2 percent) were chiefly responsible for the rise from January. Food prices were.8 percent higher. Eggs, new cars, and household durable goods were the major consumer items whose prices have decreased over the year. Higher prices in January for gasoline and further increases in automobile insurance premiums caused a rise in transportation costs. Both new and used car prices declined less than usual in January, as effects of the shortages caused by last fall's strikes in the automobile industry continued to be felt. Higher housing costs were chiefly the result of further increases in costs of homeownership, together with higher prices for housekeeping services and seasonally higher prices for fuel oil. A small decline in food costs in January was brought about by substantially lower prices for many fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly lettuce, tomatoes, and oranges. Egg prices continued to decline in response to record production. On the other hand, reduced supplies caused a substantial rise in potato prices. Apparel prices dropped sharply as a result of the usual mid-winter special sales in many parts of the country, but charges for medical care services advanced further. COST-OF-LIVING Based on a quarterly review of the national Consumer Price Index ADJUSTMENTS for January, about 95, workers will receive cost-of-living increases of 1 cent an hour. Of these, 8, are employed in the automobile and automotive parts industries, 1, in farm and construction equipment, and 5, in aerospace. In addition, about 5, transit workers will receive increases averaging 3% cents an hour, based on the 12-month rise in the national index. If the escalator provisions of a number of contracts, which are now up for renewal or renegotiation, are continued in new contracts, another 1, workers, mostly in the automobile, farm equipment, and aerospace industries, will receive 1 cent increases. OTHER BASES below: The Consumer Price Index for January 1965 and purchasing power of the consumer dollar on the bases of 1947-49 and 1939 are shown Purchasing Base Index Power 1947-49 1 (or $1.) 133 $ 49 1939=1 (or $1.) 224.9 45 :The first set of the attached tables (A-l etc.) and the :analysis contained in this report are based on the new :index series, covering both single workers living alone ;and families.
TABLE A-l: Consumer Price Index--United States City Average For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, January 1965 and percent changes from selected dates Group January 1965 Indexes (1957-59=1) December January December Percent change to January 1965 from-- October January All items 18.9 ' 18.8 17 1 16 16.9 15.8 - -.8 Food at home 14.8 15 14 - - Cereals and bakery products 111 111. 19 1 1.8 Meats, poultry, and fish - 99 99. 98-1.9 Dairy products 15 15 15. Fruits and vegetables 112 114 112-1.8 Other foods at home 11 11.9 11.8 - - 1 - Food away from home 116 116. 114 1 Housing 18 17.8 16.9 1 Shelter 1/ 19.9 19*5 18*1 1 Rent 18 18*4 17 1. Homeownership 2/ 11*6 11* 18*5 5.9 1.9 Fuel and utilities 3/ 17.9 17*9 17*7 Fuel oil and coal 4/ 16 15*8 16*6 3*5 - *1 Gas and electricity 18* 18*3 18*1 - - - Household furnishings and operation 12*8 12.9 12*7-1 Apparel and upkeep 5/ 15*6 16*6 15* -.9-6 Men 1 s and boys 1 16*2 17*1 15*2 -.8-1* Women's and girls' 11 13*3 11*4-1*8-1 Footwear 111*5 111 11*9-1 Transportation 111*1 11 19*4 1*6 1 Private 19 19* 18. 1*6 1 Public 12 12*3 118 1*1 1.9 Health and recreation 114 114 112 1 Medical care 12 12 118,2 2. Personal care 11. 11. 18 1 Reading and recreation 115* 114.9 113 1 Other goods and services 6/ 19 19 18.9 Special groups: All items less shelter 18*6 18*6 17.9 All items less food 19*8 19*6 18*4 2 1 Commodities 2/ 15*6 * 15*7 14.9 - Nondurabies 16 16 15*7 - - 6 Durables y 8/ 13*6 13*4 12*9 Services 9/- - 116*6 * 116*2 114*2.8 2*1 Commodities less food 1_! 14*9 14*9 14*3 3 6 Nondurables less food 16*1 16*3 15*6-1 Apparel commodities 14*7 15*8 14*2-1* - Apparel less footwear 13*3 14*6 12*8-1*2 -.9 Nondurables less food and apparel 16*9 16*7 16*5 6 4 New cars 11*5 11*6 12*3-2 -.8 Used cars 123*7 123*7 119*6 1*5 3 Household durables 1/ 97*8 97*9 98*7 - - -.9 Housef urni shings 98* 98*2 98*5 - - - Services less rent 9/ 118*6 118*2 116*.9 2*2 Household services less rent -- 116* 115*6 114*1 1*7 Transportation services 117*7 116*8 114*1.8 2 3*2 Medical care services 125. 124 121*7 8 2 Other services 11/ 12*1 119.8 117*1 2 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1957-59=$!.) $*918 $,919 $,929 - - - 1 1/ 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* 2/ 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. 11/ Includes the services components of apparel, personal care, reading and recreation, and other goods and services.
3 TABLE A-2: Consumer Price Index--The United States and Selected Areas For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, All Items Most recent index and percent changes from selected dates Area 1/ Pricing Indexes Schedule 2/ 1957-59=1 1947-49=1 January 1965 Other bases Percent change frora-- October January U.S. City Average M 18.9 133 1 Chicago Detroit Los Angeles-Long Beach New York Philadelphia M M M M M 16 15. 111 11.9 19 134 129 139 133 134 1 1.8 1 1. January 1965 October January Boston- Pittsburgh 1 1 112 19. 139 134 2. 1 November August November 1963 Buffalo (Nov. 1963=1) Cleveland Dallas (Nov. 1963=1) Seattle Washington 2 2 2 2 2 15.9 11 18.9 131 138 131 12 1.8 8-2 2.9 1 December September December 1963 Atlanta Baltimore Honolulu (Dec. 1963=1) St. Louis San Francisco-Oakland 3 3 3 3 3 17 18 19. 111 133. 134.8 135 141 11 1 1. 1 1 1 \! 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, May, August, and November. 3 - March, June, September, and December. TABLE A-3: Consumer Price Index--The United States and Selected Areas J./ For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Major Groups Percent change from December to January 1965 Group U.S. city average Chicago Detroit Los Angeles- Long Beach New York Philadelphia All items - - Food - - - 4 - - Housing - 6 1. Apparel and upkeep -.9-1. - 1. - - 2-1 Transportation.8 1.8-2 Health and recreation -.9 - - Medical care- -.8 - Personal care - 1 -.9 Reading and recreation 1.9 - - Other goods and services - 2/ - 1/ (4/) 1/ See footnote 1, table A-2. 2/ Change from November. 2./ Change from October. 4/ Not available.
4 Group TABLE A-4: Consumer Price Index--United States and Selected Areas 1/ For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Commodity Groups Janue irv 1965 Los U.S. Angeles- City Boston Chicago Detroit Long New Philadelphiburgh Pitts- Average Beach York Indexes (1957-59=1 unless otherwise specified) Averase Boston Pittsburgh All items Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home Food away from home---- -- 18,9 112 16 15. 111 11.9 19 19. 111 18 16 11.9 15.8 11.9 19 18. 14.9 14 19.8 14.8 14.8 18 14.8 1 16 14 12 13.8 17. 14 111 113 19 14 122 112. 18 11 112. 19.9 99 15.9 1 97 95 1 95 12 13 11 15 13 111 13 18.9 12.9 18.8 98.8 11 98. 112 116 16 12 122. 111.8 18.8 17 12 112 11 14 12 97.8 97 11 1. 12 13 12 116 123. 11 11 12 122.8 116 19 121.8 18 Housing-- Shelter Rent-- Homeowner ship- Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal- Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep Men's and boys 1 - Women's and girls*---- - Footwear Transportation - - Private - Public Health and recreation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation -- Other goods and services 18 114.9 15 99 111.9 113. 11 18 113 17.9 19.9 12 15 97 115 116 113 16 118.9 15 18 12 2/15.8?19 2/19 16.9 118.9 16 11 12.8 15.8 98. "117 115 "114 16 118.9 15 17.9 17.8 14.9 12 16.9 17. 16 114 16 114 16 111 15 1 11.9 19 17 18. 13 14 14 112 17 12. 113 13 113.9 12.8 16 14 99 13*3 17,4 13 16, 15 15 15 16. 11 16 16.8 17 19 16.8 16.9 17 16 1 11 12 19 18 15 15 1.8 15 11 13 95.8 18 12.8 1 15 98.8 15 99.9 111 113 19.8 111 11 111 111.9 116 112 116 111 112 18.9 18 118 17.9 116 114. 11 112 19 16 19 16.8 114 11 113 19 14 17 12 132.9 17 114 138.9 11 124.9 131 131 127 114 114 11 115 111. 117 114 116. 112 115 12 122 129. 125.9 118.9 121 124 128 119. 127 11. 111 11.8 19 18 18.8 18 17 11 15 115. 119. 99.8 112 14 122.9 112 11.9 117 111 19 15 11 19 17.8 111 ( /) 111.9 12.9 111. Percent changes October to January 1965 Percent changes 1963 t< All items Food-- Food at home- Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruit8 and vegetables - Other foods at home-- Food away from home Housing- Shelter Rent Homeowner ship Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal Gas and electricity- Household furnishings and operation- Apparel and upkeep- Men's and boys' Women'8 and girls' Footwear- Transportation Private Public Health and recreation- Medical care--- Personal care Reading and recreation- Other goods and services 1 1 - - 1. - - - 1 -.8-2 1 - - 1 -.8 - - 1-1. - 1.8 1. 2 1. 1 - - 1.9-2 - 1-1 - 1.9-1 - 2 -.8-1 - - - 1. 2 -.9 - - 2..9-1 - 3.9 -.8 3.8 3.9-1 - - 1-1.9-1 - 1-2 - 4 4 1. 3.9 2.9 1.8 1 1 1 1. 1. 1 1. 2 2 1 4/ 4/ 4/ 1.9.9 1 1 2. 1 3 2 1.9 - - 1 1 1-1 3 2 2.8 6 7.8 - -.8 - - - - 1 - - 1 - -.9 - - 1.9-1 -.8 - - 2-1 - 1 1 - - 1-1.9-1 - - - 1-1 - 1-3 - 1.8-1 -.8-4 - 1.9-2.9 1 2 - - 1-1 1-1 2 1.8.9 1.9 1.8 1 1 1 2 1.9.8.9 2 2. 1.8 1 1 1..8 1 1 -.9 -.9 1 1 1-1 3 3. - - -.9 1 1-1.9 - - 2 -.9 1.8 1/ See footnote 1, table A-2. 2/ annual average indexes for Chicago, Los Angeles-Long Beach, and Philadelphia are 15, 18, and 19 respectively. Not available. 4/ Change from November.
5 TABLE A-5: Consumer Price Index*-United States and Selected Areas For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Food and its Subgroups January 1965 Indexes and Percent Changes from December Food at home Area 1/ Total Total Cereals Heats, Dairy Fruits Other Food food and poultry, products and foods away bakery and fish vegetables at home from products home Indexes (1957-59-1 unless otherwise specified) U.S. City Average 16 14.8 111 99 15 112 11 116 Atlanta 15 14.9 14 98.8 15 114 16 18. Baltimore 16 13 115 97 12.9 17 1.9 119. Boston 11.9 18 113 15.9 13 116 14 123. Buffalo (Nov. 1963*1) 11 11 97 99 1 15 13.9 12 Chicago 15.8 14.8 19 1 111 16 12 11 Cleveland--- - -------- 12 1 16. 97 99 17 97 112 Dallas (Nov. 1963-1) 11 11 13.8 1 99.8 12 99.8 12. Detroit------------------ 11.9 1 14 97 13 12 97.8 11 Honolulu (Dec. 1963-1) 12. 12 11 1 1 16 12 11.8 Los Angeles-Long Beach-- 19 16 122 95 18.9 122. 97 12 New York 18. 14 112. 1 12.9 111.8 11 122.8 Philadelphia 14.9 12 18 95 18.8 18.8 1. 116 Pittsburgh 14 13.8 11 12 98.8 17 12 19 St. Louis-- 18 15.8 18.8 1.8 11.9 113 12. 119 San Francisco-Oakland-- 18 15 19 99.9 17 115 99 122 Seattle ------------------ 19 16.9 111 11.9 112 113 12 119 Washington-- 16 13 19 97. 16.9 16 13 117 Percent changes, December to January 1965 U.S. City Average - - - 1.8 - Atlanta - - -.9 2-2 Baltimore - - - - - 1 - Boston -... - 1. - - Buffalo (Nov. 1963-1) - - - - 2 - Chicago----- - -.9 l.l -.9-4. - Cleveland - - - 1..8-2 - Dallas (Nov. 1963-1) - - Detroit - - - 1 - - 2 -.9 Honolulu (Dec. 1963-1) - 1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-- 1. - 1.9 New York - -.8 - - - 2 -.9 Philadelphia - - 1 - - 1-1 Pittsburgh - - - - 2 - St. Louis - -.8 - - San Francisco-Oakland - 1-3 2 Seattle -.9 1 - - 3 2. Washington - 1/ See footnote 1, Table A-2.
6 TABLE A-6: Consumer Price Index--Food, Groups and Items January 1965 Indexes, and Percent Changes December to January 1965 U.S. City Average (1957-59=1 unless otherwise specified) Item or Group Index Percent Change Item or Group Index Percent Change Total food - Food away from home Restaurant meals Snacks If Food at home- Cereals and bakery products- Flour Cracker meal If Corn flakes Rice- - Bread, white Bread, whole wheat JJ Cookies Layer cake 1/ Cinnamon rolls 1/ Meats, poultry, and fish Meats Beef and veal Steak, round- Steak, sirloin 2/ Steak, porterhouse 1/- Rump roast 1/ Rib roast Chuck roast Hamburger Beef liver 1/ Veal cutlets-- Pork Chops Loin roast 2/ Pork sausage If Ham, whole Picnics If Bacon Other meats Lamb chops 1/ Frankfurters Ham, canned If Bologna sausage If Salami sausage I/ Liverwurst 1/ Poultry Frying chicken Chicken breasts JL/ Turkey If ~ Fish ~ Shrimp, frozen If Fish, fresh or frozen Tuna fish, canned Sardines, canned 1/ Dairy products Milk, fresh, grocery-- Milk, fresh, delivered Milk, fresh skim 1/ Milk, evaporated Ice cream Cheese, American process-- Butter 16-116 116 11 14.8-111 19.9.9 17 119-16 115 13. 99.8-97.9-1 - 99 1 13 12. - 97 1 11.9 1.8 98.8-18.8 1.9 98 12-96.9-116 96.8 11.9 2.9 15 1 1-94.9-95 - 94. - 12 15 12-99 1 -.9 99.9-13 86-1 86-1.8 97-1. 97 19 92 1 115 13. 12 15 13.9 17. - 1-15 95 115.8 13 - Fruits and vegetables- Fresh fruits and vegetables-- Apples Bananas- Oranges--- Orange juice, fresh If Grapefruit- - Grapes * Strawberries * Watermelon * Potatoes Onions Asparagus * If Cabbage Carrots Celery Cucumbers 1/ Lettuce Peppers, green 1/ Spinach 1/-- Tomatoes Processed fruits and vegetables Fruit cocktail, canned Pears, canned 1/ Grapefruit-pineapple juice, canned If Orange juice concentrate, frozen Lemonade concentrate, frozen 2/ Beets, canned If Peas, green, canned Tomatoes, canned Dried beans Broccoli, frozen 1/ Other food at home--- Eggs-- - Fats and oils: Margarine Salad dressing, Italian 1/ Salad or cooking oil 1/ Sugar and sweets Sugar Grape jelly Chocolate bar - Syrup, chocolate flavored If Nonalcoholic beverages Coffee, can and bag Coffee, instant 3/ Tea Cola drink Carbonated fruit drink 1/ Prepared and partially prepared foods 1/- Bean soup, canned 1/ Chicken soup, canned 1/ Spaghetti, canned If Mashed potatoes, instant If Potatoes, french fried, frozen 2/ Baby foods, canned Sweet pickle relish If Pretzels 1/ 112-1.8 115-3 14 3 88-4.8 118.9-11 96.9-2. 127-3 * * * * * 161 13.8 18.9 1 * * 133 6. 14. - 14. - 12 5 18-2 119-6 99-1. 18-22 18 98-98 - 1 1 128 96. 96-11..8 12 16 1 94.9-11 - 91-3 1 3 98 12 2 113 17 115-15 99 13-96 114.8 -.9 12 125 12-99 99. - 99-11 98-9 2 18 1 1 -.9 1/ December 1963 = 1. 2/ April 196 = 1. 1/ July 1961 = 1. * Priced only in season.
7 TABLE A-7: Consumer Price Index-^United States City Average For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers Major group indexes, selected dates (1957-59«1) Healtl i and recr< nation Reading Other Date Apparel Trans- and goods All and porta- Medical Personal recrea- and Items Food Housing upkeep tion Total care care tion services 1965: Jan* 18.9 16 18 15 111 114 12 11. 115. 19 : Dec. 18.8 16.9 17.8 16 11 114 12 11. 114.9 19 Nov. 18 16.8 17 16 11. 114 12 19 114.9 19 Oct. 18 16.9 17 16 19 114. 119.9 19 114 19 Sept. 18 17 17 15.9 18.9 113.9 119 19 114 19. Aug. 18 16.9 17 15 19 113.8 119.8 19 114 18.9 July 18 17 17 15 19 113 119 19 114 18.9 June 18. 16 17 15 19 113 119 19 114. 18 May 17.8 15 16.9 15 19 113 119 18.9 114 18 Apr. 17.8 15 17. 15 19. 113 119. 18 114. 18 Mar. 17 15 17 15 18.9 113 118 18 113 18 Feb. 17 16. 16.9 15 18 112.9 118 18 113 18 Jan. 17 15.8 16.9 15. 19 112 118 18 113 18 Annual Average: 18 16 17 15 19 113 119 19 114 18.8 1963 16 15 16. 14.8 17.8 111 117. 17.9 111 17 1962 15 13 14.8 13 17 19 114 16 19 15 1961 14 12 13.9 13. 15. 17 111 14 17 14 196 13 11 13 12 13.8 15 18 14 14.9 13.8 1955 93 94. 94*1 95.9 89 91 88 9. 92 94
8 OLD SERIES TABLE C-Is Consumer Price Index--Selected Cities 1/ All Items Most recent Index and percent changes from selected dates City Pricing Ind< pxes Schedule 2/ 1957-59«1 1947-49=1 Percent change from-- January 1965 October January Kansas City- 1 111 137.8 2 Minneapolis-- 1 18 134 1 Portland 1 19.8 136. 2. November August November 1963 Houston 2 17 132 Milwaukee 2 16.8 134 1 Scran ton 2 19.9 131-1.9 December September December 1963 Cincinnati 3 16.9 13-1 2/ The old series Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, has been discontinued with the June publication. Contrary to original plans, Portland and Scranton will be published on the old series basis temporarily. Indexes for Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, and Minneapolis will be published on the old series basis or the duration of and the first part of 1965, and will be added to the new series Index In 1966. The present Index for Milwaukee calculated by special arrangement with the City of Milwaukee, is now published on the old series basis, and will also be added to the new series index in 1966* 2/ Foods, fuels, and several other Items priced every month In all cities; most other goods and services priced as Indicated: 1 - January, April, July, and October. 2 - February, May, August, and November. 3 - March, June, September, and December.
OLD SERIES 9 TABLE C-2: Consumer Price Index--All Items and Commodity Groups for Selected Cities 1/ Host recent index and percent changes from selected dates (1957-59=* 1) Group Kansas City Minneapolis Portland, Oregon Houston Milwaukee Scranton Cincinnati Indexes (1957-59-1) January 1965 November December All items 2/111 18 19.8 17 16.8 19.9 16.9 Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Heats, poultry, and fish-- Dairy products Fruits and vegetables- Other foods at home 18.8 18 113 99 112 117 16 15 14 16 98 16.9 112 11 17.9 16.8 18 11 11 118 11 16 13 11 95 13 112 11.9 14.9 13 97 11 17. 18 13.8 15 13.8 111 99 11.8 11.9 11. 14.9 13 19 1. 1 113.8 98 Housing Rent Gas and electricity Solid and petroleum fuels Housefurnishings Household operation 17.9 14 115.8 112 98 117.8 17. 18 11.9 14.9 98 16.8 11 18. 12 14 96 11 15 1 133. 98.9 115 15 11.8 13 115.8 13 113 17.9 19 15 14 94.9 113 13; 8 12.9 11 17 98 112 Apparel Hen's and boys' Women's and grils' Footwear Other apparel 15 19 99.9 115 99. 13.8 19 97 112 97.9 15 111 99 112. 1. 15 17.9 13 19 12.8 15 18 11. 19 13 15 18.8 13 18.9 11. 14. 17.8 98 113 99 Transportation Private Public 112 11 125 11 18 121.9 19. 16 126.8 18.8 16 124 19 19. 111 11 17.9 125 11 19 117.8 Hedical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services 1/124 114.8 127 115.9 131.9 16.9 115 16.8 117 111 118 15 113 113.9 114 17.9 111 112 112 16.8 117.8 119.8 14 112.8 124 16.8 117 15.8 Percent Changes October to January 1965 AUgU8t : to November September to December All items - - Food-- - - Food at home Cereals and bakery products Heats, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home -.9 1.8 2 -.9 2-1. 5 -.9-1 2 3 2-4.8 - -.9 1 - - 1-4.8 1. - 1-1 3-1 2-8.9 - - 1-1 - 3. - - - 2 Housing Rent Gas and electricity Solid and petroleum fuels Housefurnishings Household operation - - -.8 - - - -.8-2 1.8-1.9 - - - 1-3.8.9 2.9-1 - 4 - Apparel Hen's and boys' Women's and girls' Footwear Other apparel - 2-1 - 4-1 - 1 - - 3 1 - - 2. - - 4 - - 1-1.8 1.8 7-1 -.8-2.8 -.9 Transportation - - Private Public 4 5-2.8 3 1 1 1 1 - - Hedical care- Personal care Reading and recreation-- Other goods and services 2 2 - - - 2.8-1 4-2 5-1/ See footnote 1 9 table C-l. 2/ Corrected indexes: July = 11; October - 11. 1/ Corrected indexes: July» 124; October» 124.
1 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 ail 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 1957-59=1, and are also available on the bases of 1947-49=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. 2212 or any of its regional offices (addresses below). 1371 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 339 BLS Regional Offices 341 Ninth Avenue New York, New York 11 219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 664 45 Golden Gate Avenue 18 Oliver Street 1365 Ontario Street San Francisco, California 9413 Boston, Massachusetts 211 Cleveland, Ohio 44114
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