CPI Detailed Report. Contents. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR John T. Dunlop, Secretary

Transcription

1 CPI Detailed Report For Consumer Price Index U.S. and City Averages U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR John T. Dunlop, Secretary BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Julius Shiskin, Commissioner OFFICE OF PRICES AND LIVING CONDITIONS W. John Layng, Assistant Commissioner The CPI Detailed Report is a monthly report on consumer price movements including statistical tables and technical notes. This publication may be ordered from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.. Subscription price per year: $, domestic $, foreign $, single copy Contents Page Price movements Chart. All items index and its rate of change, - Chart. Commodities less food index and its rates of change, - Chart. Total food index and its rates of change, - Chart. Services index and its rates of change, - Table. CPI United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes Table. CPI United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes Table. CPI United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items, indexes, and percent changes from selected dates Table. CPI United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,, and percent changes from selected dates Table. CPI United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items most recent index, and percent changes from selected dates Table. CPI United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, major groups, percent change from August to library of Congress Catalog number - Table. CPI United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups, index, and percent changes from June Table. CPI United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups, indexes, and percent changes from August Table. CPI Regular and premium gasoline indexes, selected areas and U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers November Table. CPI Regular and premium gasoline prices, selected areas and U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers Digitized for FRASER

2 Price Movements The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose percent in to a level of (=). Large increases in local transit fares, college tuition, physicians' fees, gas, electricity, clothing, and pork were responsible for most of the advance. These increases were partially offset by lower prices for fresh fruits and vegetables and beef. The CPI was percent higher than a year ago. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI also rose percent in, compared with increases of percent in August and percent in July. The increase in the services index of. percent in was larger than in recent months primarily because of higher local transit fares in New York City. The food index rose. percent and the index for commodities other than food rose percent. (Table A). Prices in the third quarter The CPI rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of percent in the months ending in, about the same as in the months ending in June. Prices in the food and energy components (gasoline, motor oil, fuel oil, coal, gas, and electricity) advanced sharply in July, continuing the acceleration which began in the second quarter. Subsequently, in August and, food prices leveled out and increases in the energy component moderated. For the months ending in, the food index rose at a -percent rate and energy items increased at a.-percent rate, both slightly less than in the months ending in June. Excluding food and energy items, the CPI rose at about a -percent rate in the quarter ending in, compared with about Table A. Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods Changes in all items Month All items Changes from preceding month Food Commodities less food Services Compound annual rate From months ago From months ago Seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted Unadjusted Unadjusted Seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted Unadjusted Unadjusted : October.. November. December : January.. February.. March April May June July August

3 percent in the second quarter. Increases in the commodities and services components contributed to the rise in the third quarter. Prices at the retail level are influenced by changes in prices at the wholesale level. Prices at the primary market level, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index, showed a faster rate of increase in both agricultural and industrial sectors in the months ending in than in the preceding -month period. Prices of farm products and processed foods and feeds rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of percent, up from a.- percent rate in the second quarter. The rise in industrial commodity prices accelerated to a -percent rate, after a sharp slowdown during the past year from a rate exceeding percent in the second quarter of to a -percent rate in the second quarter of this year (table B). A large part of the rise at the wholesale level in the second and third quarters was due to increases in fuel prices, at a.-percent rate in the second quarter and percent in the third. Prices of industrial commodities excluding fuels rose at about a.-percent rate in the third quarter compared with an -percent rate in the second. Food. The rise in food prices was somewhat smaller in the third quarter than in the second, primarily because of a downturn in beef prices. Increases in consumer food prices at a -percent rate at retail and. percent at wholesale were still substantial, however, as they reflected sharp advances in prices of raw agricultural products. In the months ending in, prices of raw farm products, excluding animal and plant fibers, rose at a -percent rate, slightly more than in the second quarter. Cattle and poultry prices declined, but prices rose for most other farm products such as hogs, milk, eggs, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar, Table B. Percent changes quarterly, - in selected components of the Consumer and Wholesale Price Indexes, Component December to March March to June June to to December December to March March to June June to CONSUMER PRICE INDEX All items Food Commodities less food Services WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX All commodities... Farm products and processed foods and feeds Crude foods and feeds... Intermediate materials for food manufacturing Consumer foods Industrial commodities... Crude materials except foods Intermediate materials except foods Producer finished goods... Consumer finished goods except foods rates. Seasonally adjusted (except services) compound annual Does not include plant and animal fibers, which are included in the farm products index. Does not include manufactured animal feeds, which are included in the processed foods and feeds index.

4 coffee, and cocoa beans. For most of these commodities, the largest increases occurred early in the quarter. After sharp advances in the second quarter, cattle and beef prices declined in the third quarter as a result of large marketings of light-weight, grass-fed steers and heifers coupled with increasing consumer resistance to high prices for low quality beef. Cattle and beef prices have reacted quickly to changes in the demand and supply situation for grass-fed cattle because supplies of grain-fed cattle remained limited at most market terminals. Cattle and beef prices at wholesale turned up again late in the third quarter and continued to rise early in the fourth quarter, but spot market prices were declining in late October. Wholesale poultry prices declined due to increased supplies. Retail poultry prices rose more in the third quarter than in the second, although increases moderated toward the end of the quarter. Hog and pork prices continued to rise rapidly in the third quarter because of small supplies of live hogs at terminal markets and exceptionally strong consumer demand. By, there were some signs that the rise in pork prices was moderating in response to the easing of beef and poultry prices. Wholesale prices of milk and processed dairy products such as cheese, butter, and evaporated milk rose sharply in the third quarter. Retail prices for dairy products, which declined in the first and second quarters of this year, reversed their trend in the third quarter. The rise has been attributed to increased demand and lower milk output. Reduced concentrate feeding resulted in lower output per cow. Grain and flour prices at the wholesale level turned up sharply when Russian crop problems and large grain purchases made news early in the third quarter. There were fears of a repetition of sharp increases in food prices which followed the previous large Russian grain purchase in, particularly since a drought in late summer raised doubts about predicted record U.S. grain crops. Consequently, in late July, further grain sales to Russia were suspended. In each successive month from July to, the Agriculture Department lowered its estimate of corn production. Subsequently, the corn crop turned out to be better than expected, a record billion bushels. Also forecast was a record wheat crop of almost billion bushels, percent more than in. As a result, grain prices declined in and October. The ban on grain sales continued until late in October when the Soviet Union and the United States signed a long-term grain purchase agreement. Although wholesale prices for flour rose, prices for bread and other bakery products declined in the third quarter. At the retail level, the downtrend in prices of cereal and bakery products, which began in the second quarter, continued. Commodities other than food. The WPI index for consumer finished goods other than food rose at a - percent rate in the third quarter, compared with. percent in the second quarter. The CPI index for nonfood commodities rose at a -percent rate, somewhat faster than the -percent rate in the second quarter. If used cars and home purchases, which are not in the WPI, are excluded from the CPI component, the increase was. percent in the third and. percent in the second quarter. The WPI rose more than the CPI in the third quarter primarily because of bigger increases in wholesale prices of gasoline and fuel oil. Prices of most consumer goods other than fuels, such as apparel, furniture, appliances, and new cars, rose at a faster rate in the CPI than in the WPI (table ). If fuel products gasoline, motor oil, fuel oil, and coal are excluded, the rise in the CPI component was about percent in the third quarter, compared with about percent in the second. Much of the rise in gasoline prices at the retail level occurred early in the third quarter, when demand was near record levels. Strong demand enabled refiners to pass through earlier cost increases which they were permitted to accumulate under Federal Energy Administration regulations. The supply of gasoline was more than adequate, however, to meet the demand as many refineries had shifted their production capacity to gasoline by late spring. By late in the third quarter, as demand dropped off with the end of the summer vacation period, the supply was ample enough to produce scattered price cutting. Prices of fuel oil and coal increased at a faster rate in the third quarter than in the second percent compared with percent. Refiners have, of course, shifted production capacity from gasoline to other products such as heating oil and fuel oil for the coming winter. Several special factors also affected fuel prices in the third quarter and early fourth quarter. On August, controls on domestic crude oil expired, along with ceiling prices, entitlements, and allocations, after being in effect since May,. However, most refiners, anticipating a reimposition of controls, suspended or revoked their posted prices. In late, controls were reimposed, retroactive to, and extended through November, to give Congress and the Administration time to develop a plan for gradual decontrol of oil prices. Also, in late, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced an increase of percent in world petroleum prices. The faster rise in prices of consumer goods other than food and fuels reflected improved demand. With retail sales continuing to strengthen since spring, inventories were reduced. Promotional sales and discounts became less common, and retailers and manufacturers started to

5 restock. Output of consumer goods, measured by the Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index, increased in the third quarter, at an annual rate of about percent, twice as fast as in the second quarter. The rise in output exerted upward pressure on materials prices. Higher prices for materials contributed to the somewhat faster rise in prices of consumer goods at the manufacturers' level. For materials at the intermediate stage of processing just below the finished level price rises accelerated in the third quarter to a rate of percent, after slowing to percent in the second quarter. Prices turned up in the third quarter for chemicals, plastics, rubber, and paper. Following an upturn in the second quarter, prices of textile products continued to rise. Among wood products, hardwood lumber used for furniture, flooring, and pallets rose but softwood lumber prices declined. In the metals group, prices for aluminum products increased. Steel mill products decreased slightly but prices were raised for a wide range of items on October. Copper prices continued to decline. Among raw industrial commodities, prices of wastepaper, hides and skins, iron ore, and gas fuels, which rose in the second quarter, continued to move up in the third quafrter. In addition, prices for iron and steel scrap, nonferrous scrap, and crude rubber advanced sharply in the third quarter after declining steadily since early. Services. Charges for consumer services in the CPI rose at an annual rate of percent in the third quarter, compared with percent in the second quarter. The acceleration reversed the slowing trend which began in the fourth quarter of (table ). Higher charges for public transportation, housekeeping and home maintenance, medical care, and other services such as apparel, recreational, and personal care services contributed to the acceleration in the third quarter. Charges for insurance and financial services and for gas and electricity rose at a slower rate in the third quarter than in the second. Public transportation charges, which make up less than percent of the services component, rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of percent in the third quarter, compared with. percent in the second quarter. The third-quarter increase constituted more than percent of the total services increase. After decreases in and stable prices throughout the first months of, the local transit fare index rose at the sharpest rate since the beginning of the series. The increase reflects primarily the hike in the basic fare of the New York City transit authority from cents to cents on. Increases for mass transit systems also were noted in the Boston and Washington, D.C. areas. Despite increased subsidies and riders, many transit systems have had to raise fares to cover rising fuel and operating costs. Charges for other public transportation modes, such as airlines, railroads, and buses, remained stable during the third quarter. The increase in medical care services was also larger in the third quarter than in the second percent compared with percent. The third-quarter increase was responsible for about percent of the total rise in the CPI services index. This contribution was about the same as in the previous two quarters of. Hospital charges rose at a -percent rate as they continued to reflect higher costs for payrolls, utilities, equipment, and supplies. Large increases were noted in semiprivate and operating room rates. Charges for physicians' fees rose. percent partly reflecting higher malpractice insurance premiums. The rise in charges foe housekeeping and home maintenance services, which had decelerated from over percent in the second quarter of to percent in the second quarter of, was slightly faster in the third quarter ( percent). Of the various repair services priced, charges for room repainting and reshingling roofs rose sharply to reflect higher costs for labor and materials. Among housekeeping services, postal charges increased in the third quarter for the first time since March as a result of higher rates for parcel post. The rate of increase in charges for domestic services and day care services accelerated slightly. The price rise for other services such as apparel, recreational, and personal care accelerated during the third quarter after a significant slowdown in the June quarter. College tuition, which is priced annually during the third quarter, rose more in than in. In addition, prices for recreational services rose sharply as indoor activities, such as bowling alleys and movie theaters, instituted higher seasonal rates. Dry cleaning charges continued to increase rapidly percent compared to percent in the previous quarter. In the insurance and finance group, mortgage interest rates were relatively stable, after declines in the first two quarters of. Rates for VA- and FHA-insured loans were unchanged while conventional home loan rates increased slightly as a result of uncertainties in the money market. Conventional mortgage interest rates had declined through most of as banks and other lending institutions experienced near-record savings inflows. However, in late summer, concern over renewed inflation and savings withdrawals caused some lending institutions to increase rates for conventional loans. In addition, signs of reviving activity in real estate and home construction increased the demand for available mortgage

6 funds. With uncertainties over future supplies of funds and levels of activity, conventional interest rates edged upward. Residential rent charges in the third quarter increased at about the same rate as in the second quarter of. Increases for other insurance and finance costs, such as property taxes and auto insurance, were smaller in the third quarter than in the previous quarter, Rates for gas and electricity continued to increase rapidly at a -percent rate but were slightly less than the -percent rate in the quarter ended in June, Natural gas rates rose much less than in the previous two quarters.

7 Chart. All items index and its rate of change, - (-) ISO CPI flll ITEMS INDEX (NOT SEflSONflLLY fldjusted) - PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (SEflSONflLLY flojusted) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flojuste PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flojusteo PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN / Computed from the unadjusted series. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

8 Chart. Commodities less food index and its rates of change, - -) CPI COMMODITIES LESS F INOEX (SEflSQNfiLLY flojusteo) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER t-month SPflN (SEflSONflLLY flojusteo) RAH* - PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE, SEflSONflLLY flojusteo) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. SEflSONflLLY fldjusteo) A SFP SEP PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN / / Computed from the unadjusted series. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

9 Chart. Total food index and its rates of change, - (=) CPI TOTflL F INDEX (SEflSONflLLY flojusted) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MQNTH SPflN (SEflSONflLLY fldjusteo) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPfl (flnnufll RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flojuste PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flojuste PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN / - / Computed from the unadjusted series. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

10 Chart. Services index and its rates of change, - (-) CPI SERVICES INDEX (NOT SEfiSONfiLLY fldjustfo) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (NOT SEfiSONflLLY'flDJUSTED) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. NOT yseflsonfllly flojusted) PERCENT CHflNGE OVER -MONTH SPflN (flnnufll RflTE. NOT rffeflsqnfllly flojusted) SCfi / Computed from the unadjusted series. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

11 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes Relative importance December August Unadjusted indexes = unless otherwise noted? Unadjusted percent change to fron August Commodity and service groups June to July Seasonally adjusted percent change from July to August August to Septembe r All items All items (-=). Commodities 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 Commodities less food Nondurables less food Apparel commodities l Men's and boys' Women's and girls' Footwear Nondurables less food and apparel.. Gasoline and motor oil Tobacco products Alcoholic beverages Fuel oil and coal Other nondurables Durable commodities Household durables New automobile* Used automobiles Other durables Services Rent Services less rent Household services less rent Transportation services Medical care services Other services All items less food Nondurable commodities Apparel commodities less footwear Services less medical care services Insurance and finance Utilities and public transportation Housekeeping and home maintenance service Appliances (including radio and TV)... Ill, ,.,.,.,.,...,,.,.,, $...,.,.,.,.,..,...,,.,. -. I! -.. *... \m ^t # \m.,,,,,,.,,! *. *. -. * *.. *. * * * -. * * * * # *o.!. *.. *«,,. * Expend* re classes Food Housing Shelter Rent Homeownership Fuel and utilities Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep Transportation Private Public Health and recreation- Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services *... * * Special indexes: All items less shelter All items less medical care All items less mortgage interest costs CPI - domestically produced farm foods s.. CPI - selected beef cuts - - * *. *- *- Purchasing power of consumer dollar: =. -= $. $, $, -. Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately. Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs. Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage service not shown separately. Calculated from the CPI food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic beverages, bananas, chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup, and about half of the index weight for sugar. Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and beef liv * Not seasonally adjusted. NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date. O

12 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes Seasonally adjusted indexes (=) Seasonally adjusted annual rat percent change for Group June July August December months March ending in June months ending in March Commodity an d service groups _.... Commodities Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Dairy products Fruits and vegetables.... Other foods at home Food away from home Commodities less food Nondurables less food Apparel commodities ' Women's and girls' Footwear Nondurables less food and apparel Gasoline and motor oil Tobacco products (not seasonally adjusted) Alcoholic beverages (not seasonally adjusted) Fuel oil and coal Durable commodities Household durables Used automobiles (not seasonally adjusted) Other durables Rent (not seasonally adjusted) Services less rent (not seasonally adjusted) Household services less rent Transportation services Medical care services Other services Special indexes: All items less food Nondurable commodities Apparel commodities less footwear Insurance and finance Utilities and public transportation Appliances (including radio and TV) (not seasonally adjusted) Expenditure classes All items Food Shelter. Rent (not seasonally adjusted) Fuel and utilities Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep Private Public ; Health and recreation (not seasonally adjusted) Medical care Personal care Other goods and services Special indexes: All items less shelter All items less medical care All items iess mortgage interest costs CPI - domestically produced farm foods (not seasonally adjusted) CPI - selected beef cuts (not seasonally adjusted) Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately. Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs. Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage service not shown separately. NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.

13 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items, indexes and percent changes from selected dates Septomber Unadjui ted Seesonally adjusted Percent change to Sept. from- August Seasonally Unedjursted Unadjusted adjusted Saptambar Seasonally adjusted Percent change to Sept. from August Unadjusted Unadjusted adjusted Food Food away from home Restaurant meals Snacks Food at home Cereals and bakery products. Flour Cracker meal Corn flakes Rice Bread, white Bread, whole wheat Cookies Layer cake Cinnamon rolls Meats, poultry, and fish Meats Beef and veal Steak, round Steak, sirloin Steak, porterhouse,. Rump roast Rib roast Chuck roast Hamburger Beef liver Veal cutlets Pork Chops Loin roast Sausage Ham, Picnics whole Bacon Other meats Poultry Lamb chops Frankfurters Ham, canned Bologna sausage Salami sausage Liverwurst Frying chicken Chicken breasts, Turkey Fish Shrimp, frozen Fish, fresh or frozen.. Tuna fish, canned... Sardines, canned Dairy products Milk, fresh, grocery Milk, fresh, skim Milk, evaporated Ice cream Cheese, American process Butter Fruits and vegetables Fresh fruits and vegetables Fresh fruits Apples Bananas «,,., _,. - _, _. _, , _, -. _,. «., -., _ Food Continued Food at home Continued Fruits and vegetables Continued Fresh fruits and vegetables Continued Fresh fruits Continued Oranges Orange juice, fresh Grapefruit Grapes Strawberries Watermelon Fresh vegetables Potatoes Onions Asparagus Cabbage Celery '.','.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. Cucumbers Lettuce Peppers, green Spinach Tomatoes Processed fruits and vegetables Fruit cocktail, canned Pears, canned Pineapple-grapefruit drink, canned Orange juice concentrate, frozen... Lemonade concentrate, frozen Beets, canned Peas, green, canned Tomatoes, canned Dried beans Broccoli, frozen Other food at home Eggs Fats and oils: Margarine Salad dressing, Italian Salad or cooking oil Sugar and sweets Sugar Grapejelly Chocolate bar Syrup, chocolate flavored Nonalcoholic beverages Coffee Coffee, instant Tea Carbonated drink, cola flavored... Carbonated drink, fruit flavored Prepared and partially prepared foods Bean soup, canned Chicken soup, canned Spaghetti, canned Mashed potatoes, instant Potatoes, french fried, frozen Baby foods Sweet pickle relish Pretzels... ft (i i\.. ( l ) (j) -, - -j K ft -. ( l )

14 Table. Consumers Price Index-United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,, and percent changes from selected dates Ittm and group Othtr indtx August Indexes Ptrctnt change to from August Housing Shelter > Rent, residential Homeownerihip» Mortgage interest rates Property taxes Property Insurance premiums Maintenance and repair commodities J Exterior house paint Interior house paint Maintenance and repair services Repainting living and dining rooms Reehingling house roof Residing house Replacing sink Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal Repairing furnace Fuel oil, No. Gas and electricity Gas Electricity Other utilities: Residential telephone services Residential water and sewerage Household furnishings and operation * Housefurnishings Textiles Sheets, full, flat Curtains, tailored Drapery fabrics Pillows, bed Slipcovers and throws, ready-made. Furniture and bedding Bedroom furniture, chest end Sofas, upholstered Cocktail tables Dining room chairs Reclinars, upholstered Sofas, dual purpose Bedding, rn&ttrss and box springs*, Aluminum folding chairs Cribs Floor coverings Broadloom carpeting Vinyl sheet goods Vinyl floor tile Appliances (excluding radio and TV).. Washing machines, electric Vacuum cleaners Refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, electric Ranges, free standing, gas or electric Clothes dryers, electric Air conditioners, demountable Room heaters, electric, portable... Garbage disposal units Other housefurnishings: Dinnerware, fine china Flatware, stainless steel Table lamps, with shade Lawn mowers, power, rotary type. Electric drills, hand-held Housekeeping supplies: Laundry soaps and detergents Paper napkins Toilet tissue Housekeeping services: Mar. Dec. Mar. Dec. June ( S ) ('). ( ) ( ) ('). ( S ) ( ). ( ) H Domestic services, general housework Baby sitter services Postal charges Laundry, flatwork, finished service... Licensed day care services, preschool child Washing machine repairs... See footnotes at end of table.

15 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,, and percent changes from selected dates Continued Other index base August Indexes Percent change to from August Apparel and upkeep Apparel commodities Apparel commodities less footwear Men's and boys' Men's: Topcoats and all-weather coats Suits, year round weight Sport jackets Jackets, lightweight Slacks, heavyweight Slacks, lightweight Trousers, work Shirts, work Shirts, business or dress T-shirts Socks Handkerchiefs Boys': Coats, heavyweight Sport coats, wool or wool blends... Dungarees Undershorts Women's and girls' Women's: Coats, heavyweight Carcoats, heavyweight Sweaters Skirts, winter weight Skirts, summer weight Blouses Dresses, street, year round weight... Slips Panties Girdles Brassieres Hose or panty hose, nylon Anklets or knee-length socks Gloves, fabric Girls': Handbags Raincoats Skirts, fall and winter Dresses Slacks, fall and winter Slips Handbags Miscellaneous apparel: Footwear Diapers Yard goods Wrist watches, men's and women's June.... ( ) ( ) ( ). ; j m #. -.. ( ) ( ). ( ) S Shoes, street Shoes, work, high Women's: Shoes, street, pump Shoes, evening, pump Shoes, casual Houseslippers, scuff Children's: Shoes, oxford Sneakers, boys', oxford type Dress shoes, girls' Apparel services: Drycleaning Automatic laundry service Laundry, men's shirts Tailoring charges, Shoe repairs Transportation Private Automobiles, new Automobiles, used Gasoline, regular and premium Motor oil Tires Auto repairs (mechanical) and maintenance Auto insurance premiums Auto registration fees Parking fees, private and municipal See footnotes at end of table.

16 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,, and percent changes from selected dates Continued Other index base August Indexes Percent change to from August ransportation Continued Public Local transit fares Taxicab fares Railroad fares, coach Airplane fares, chiefly coach Bus fares, intercity Health and recreation' Medical care Drugs and prescriptions Over-the-counter items Multiple vitamin concentrates Aspirin compounds Liquid tonics Adhesive bandages, packages Cold tablets or capsules Cough syrup Prescriptions Anti-infectives Sedatives and hypnotics Ataractics Antispasrnodics Cough preparations Cardiovasculars and antihypertensives Analgesics, internal Anti-obesities Hormones Professional services: Physicians' fees General physician, office visits General physician, house visits Obstetrical cases Pediatric care, office visits Psychiatrist, office visits Herniorrhaphy, adult Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy Dentists' fees Fillings, adult, amalgam, one surface Extractions, adult Dentures, full upper Other professional services: V Examination, prescription, and dispensing of eyeglasses Routine laboratory tests Hospital service charges Semiprivate rooms Operating room charges X-ray, diagnostic series, upper Gl Laboratory tests Anti-infectives Tranquilizers Electrocardiogram Intravenous solution Physical therapy Oxygen, inhalation therapy Personal care Toilet goods Toothpaste, standard dentifrice Toilet soap, hard-milled Hand lotions Shaving cream Face powder Deodorants Cleansing tissues Home permanent wave kits Personal care services Men's haircuts Beauty shop services Worn 's ha in Shampoo and wave sets, plain Permanent waves, cold Reading and recreation. Recreational goods TV sets, portable and console TV replacement tubes Radios, portable and table models Tape recorders, portable Phonograph records, stereophonic Movie cameras, mm Film, mm, color Golf balls Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan '-' See footnotes at end of table.

17 Table. Consumer Price Index United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,, and percent changes from selected dates Continued Other index (MM August Indaxtt Percent change to from August Health and recreation Continued Reading and recreation Continued Recreational goods Continued Basketballs, rubber or vinyl cover Fishing rods, fresh-water spincasting Bowling balls Bicycles, boys' Tricycles Dog food, canned or boxed Recreational services Indoor movie admissions Adult Children's Drive-in movie admissions Bowling fees, evening Golf green fees TV repair FHm developing Reading and education: Newspapers, street sale and delivery Magazines, single copy and subscription Piano lessons, beginner Othergoodsandservices Tobacco products Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular size Cigarettes, filter tip, king size Cigars, domestic, regular size Alcoholic beverages Beer, at home Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbon Wine, dessert and table Beer, away from home Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses: Funeral services, adult Bank service charges, checking account Legal services, short form will Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately. Also includes pine shelving, furnace filter, packaged dry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately. Also includes window shades, nails, carpet sweepers, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring pads, envelopes, reupholstering and moving expenses Priced only in season. ' Also includes men's sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, bathing suits, girls' shorts, earrings, and zippers not shown separately. Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately. Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tuneup, automatic transmission repair, exhaust system repair, front end alignment, and chassis lubrication. Also includes health insurance not shown separately. Discontinued. ' Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks not shown separately.

18 Table. Consumer Price Index United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items most recent index, and percent changes from selected dates Area ' Pricing schedule = Indexes -* S Other bases Percent change from I W U.S. city average... M Chicago Detroit Los Angeles-Long Beach N.Y.-Northeastern N.J Philadelphia M M M M M. July..... S.. Boston Minneapolis-St. Paul Pittsburgh Buffalo Cleveland Dallas Milwaukee San Diego Seattle Washington i. Auguct.. ".. i:i s&.. June Atlanta Baltimore..... Cincinnati Honolulu Kansas City St. Louis San Francisco-Oakland..... Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago which have more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas. Area definitions were established for the Census and exclude revisions made since. Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as indicated: M - Every month. - January, April, July, and October. - February, May, August, and November. - March, June,, and December. November =. February =. December =. NOTE: Price changes within areas are found in the Consumer Price Index; differences in living costs among areas are found in family budgets. Table. Consumer Price Index United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, major groups, percent change from August to Expenditure class U.S. city average Chicago Detroit Los Angeles- Long Beach New York- Northeastern New Jersey Philadelphia All items.. Food Housing Apparel and upkeep Transportation Health and recreation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation. Other goods and services - j <*). -. See footnote, table. Not available.

19 Table. Consumer Price Index United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups. index and percent changes from June U.S. New York- city Chicago New JarMy Philadelphia Indexes (-) All ItMTM Food... Pood it horn* Cereals and bakary products Maatt, poultry, and f Mi Dairy product* Fruiti and vegetables Othar food at home Food away from noma Hou«lng Shaltar Rant, ratidantial Homtowntffhip * * >< Fuel and utilltiat Fual oil and coal Gas and electricity HouMnOid furnisnlnqi tnd Apparal and upkaap Man'sandboys' Women t tnd Qint *«Footwaar Private... Public Haalth and racraatlon Madical cara nmoifiq end f Othar goods and sarvlcas Percent... ( ).... (*) changes June.. o"?.. to..... ( )..... (*) All itams.. Food Food at horn* Caraals and bakary products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables. Other food at home Food away from home Housing Rent, residential Homeownership Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep Men's and boys' Women's and girls' Footwear ( ) ( ) M.I. -. Transportation Private Public Health and recreation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services ( ).. (M (*) -. See footnotes at end of table.

20 Table. Consumer Price Index-United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups, index and percent changes from June -Continued Indexes (-) Fr.nciico- OakUnd All items. Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products... Meatl. poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other food at home Food away from home Housing Shelter Rent, residential Homeownership Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep 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 Percent chanj es June to All items Food Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other food at home Food away from home Housing Shelter Rent, residential Homeownership Fuel and utilities Fuel oil and coal Gas and electricity Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep 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 See footnote, table. Not available. Change from July.

21 Table. Consumer Price Index United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups, indexes and percent changes from August bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish. food at horne Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods Food away from home U.S. city average Atlanta Baltimore Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Detroit Honolulu Houston Kansas City Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee Minneapolis-St. Paul N.Y.-Northeastern N.J Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis San Diego San Francisco-Oakland Seattle Washington U.S. city average. Atlanta Baltimore Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Detroit Honolulu Houston Kansas City Los Angeles-Long Beach. Milwaukee Minneapolis-St. Paul N.Y.-Northeastern N.J... Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis San Diego San Francisco-Oakland.. Seattle Washington Percent changes August to ' I ( ).. ( )... ( ). ( ) See footnote!, table

22 Table. Consumer Price Index Regular and premium gasoline indexes, selected areas and U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers (October =) Regular gasoline Premium gasoline to from to from August August August August U.S. city average Atlanta Baltimore Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Detroit Honolulu Houston Kansas City Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee Minneapolis-St. Paul... N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.. Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis San Diego San Francisco-Oakland.. Seattle Washington.... 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 Census and do not include revisions made since.». -. Table. Consumer Price Index Regular and premium gasoline prices, selected areas and U.S. city averages for urban wage earners and clerical workers Regular gasoline Average price par gallon July August July August U.S. city average $, $, $, $, $, $, Atlanta Baltimore Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Detroit Honolulu Houston Kansas City Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee Minneapolis-St. Paul... N.Y.-Northeastern NJ.. Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis San Diego San Francisco-Oakland. Seattle Washington 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 Census and do not includerevisions made since.

23 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. It is based on prices of about 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 major statistical areas and smaller cities, which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United States. They are collected from about, establishments grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments. Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in the five largest areas and every months in other areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives. Mail questionnaires are used to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and certain other items. 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. Local data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Separate indexes are also published for areas. The index measures price changes from a designated reference date which equals.. An increase of percent, for example, is shown as.. This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: The price of a base period "market basket" of goods and services bought by urban wage earners and clerical workers has risen from $ in to $. A Note About Calculating Index Changes Movements of the indexes from one month to another are usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index points because index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The example in the accompanying box illustrates the computation of index point and percent changes. Seasonally adjusted percent changes in the U.S. All Items Index are based on seasonal adjustment factors and seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal places. This procedure helps to eliminate rounding error in the percent changes. Percent changes for -month and -month periods are expressed as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change would be if the current rate were maintained for a -month period. BLS does not publish annual rates based on data for month. CPI Less previous index Index Point Change Equals index point change: Index point difference. Percent Change Divided by the previous index, Equals, Results multiplied by one hundred Equals percent change:..x A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred, since they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales. The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay. Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.

24 Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI A system of "replicated" samples introduced into the index structure in the revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI. l The table below shows standard errors for montly, quarterly, and annual Average standard errors of percent changes in the CPI based on data Component All items Food at home Food away from home Housing Apparel and upkeep.. Transportation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods and services Monthly change.. Standard error Quarterly change.. Annual change percent changes in the CPI for all items and for nine commodity groupings based on averages. The figures may be interpreted as follows: The chances are about out of that the percent change in the CPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than twice the standard error. Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place, some ambiguity may arise in interpreting small index changes. As the table indicates, for example, a monthto-month change of. percent in the all-items CPI is significant. Because of rounding, however, a change of this size in the published index might result from a much smaller change in the unrounded value. Hence, any particular change of. percent may or may not be significant. On the other hand, a published change of percent for a one-month period is almost always significant. This replaces the table of average errors based on data which was included in the CPI report through January. The method of deriving these estimates is described in a paper by Marvin Wilkerson, "Measurement of Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the American Statistical Association,.

25 BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS REGIONAL OFFICES Regioni JFK Federal Building Government Center Boston. Mass. Phone: () - Region II Suite Broadway New York, N.Y. Phone: () - Region III P.O. Box Philadelphia, Pa. Phone: () - Region IV Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Ga. Phone: () - Region V th Floor Federal Office Building S. Dearborn Street Chicago, III. Phone: () - Region VI Second Floor Griffin Square Building Dallas, Tex. Phone: () - Regions VII and VIII* Walnut Street Kansas City, Mo. Phone: () - Regions IX and X*«Golden Gate Avenue Box San Francisco, Calif. Phone: () - * Regions VII and VIII are serviced by Kansas City ** Regions IX and X are serviced by San Francisco