the consumer price index may 1971 - st. louis fed · and girls' apparel prices advanced in 2...

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR/. D. Hodgson, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICSGeoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner

the consumer price index

a monthly reporton consumer price movementsincluding statistical tablesand technical notes.

Consumer Price IndexesCommodities and Services

1967=100135

130

125

120

115

110

105

100

95

90

85

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE

ALL ITEMS INDEX (as of December 1970)

ALL SERVICES 37.15%

FOOD 2199%

NONDURABLES LESS FOOD 2381%

DURABLE COMMODITIES 17.05%

i_-Nondurable

Less Food*

^"^™!--*" *

" " ' " "

Food*V..

y

••^^^

All It

All Services

\

/r>

////

JZ "•>

y

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 'Seasonally adjustedBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Latest Data: May 1971

Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXFOR

MAY 1971

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 percent in May to 120.8 of its 1967 base.Higher prices for apparel, used cars, homes, and postage accounted for half the increase.The May CPI was 4.4 percent higher than it was a year ago.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the May rise was 0.6 percent compared withincreases of 0.2 to 0.3 percent in each of the first 4 months of this year. In the 3months ending in May, the CPI rose at an annual rate of 4.2 percent. The 3-month ratewas 2.8 percent in March and in April. The annual rate of change for the 6 monthsending in May was 4.1 percent—higher than the 3.6-percent rate for the 6 months endingin April, but below the 6.5-percent rate in the 6 months ending in May of last year.Food prices rose 0.2 percent in May after seasonal adjustment, much less than inFebruary, March, and April. Prices of nonfood commodities and services, however,increased more than in the preceding 3 months.

Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods

Month

May 1970JuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.

Jan. 1971.b e b . — ""•"~""T——~" —

Mar.Apr.M a y

Changes from preceding month

All items

LJnad j .0.4.5.3.2.5.5.3.5

.1

.2

.3

.3

.5

Seas,adj.0.5.4.3.3.5.5.3.5

.3

.2

.2

.3

.6

Food

Unadj.0.3.3.5.1

- .2- .2- .5

.3

.2

.3

.9

.7

.3

Seas,adj.0.2- .1

.1

.0

.3

.0

.1- .1

.0

.5

.9

.9

.2

Commoditiesless food

Unadj.0.5.4.0.1.7

1.0.5.3

- .3.0.3.3.7

Seas,adj.0.5.4.2.3.5.4.4.7

.2- .1

.2

.2

.7

Serv-.ces

LJnad j .0.5.6.5.6.7.5.6.6

.0

.2

.0

.2

.6

Changes in all itemsat seasonally adjustedcompound annual rate

From3 mos.ago

5.95.94.83.94.55.25.65,3

4.54.02.82.84.2

From6 mos.ago

6.56.05.54.95.25.04.74.9

4.94.84.13.64.1

From12 mos

ago-.

6.16.05.95.65.75.85.65.5

5.24.84.64.34.4

Food

Prices of food purchased in grocery stores rose 0.2 percent in May, comparedwith increases of 1.1 percent in March and 0.9 percent in April. The May slowdownresulted from smaller price increases for fruits and vegetables, cereal and bakery pro-ducts, and beef, as well as declines in pork and egg prices. The decline of 3.3 percentin egg prices, however, was much smaller than usual for May. Prices of dairy productsand restaurant meals and snacks away from home continued to advance.

Meat prices, which rose 2.0 percent in March and 0.1 percent in April,decreased 0.1 piercent in May—the first decline since January of this year. Pork pricesmoved down 1.4 percent in May after falling 2.3 percent in April—sharper than usualdeclines in both months—as cold storage holdings continued to rise. Competition fromlower pork prices was a factor in the smaller-than-usual increase in beef and veal pricesin May.


They rose 0.3 percent after rising 1.2 percent in February, 2.0 percent in March, and1.5 percent in April. Chicken prices declined but not as much as they usually do inMay. Turkey prices advanced sharply. Fish prices continued to rise.

Fresh fruit and vegetable prices rose 1.6 percent in May after advancing about5 percent in each of the 3 preceding months. The May increase was smaller than seasonalas larger supplies resulted in sharp price declines for strawberries, bananas, greenpeppers, and cucumbers. In addition, price rises for potatoes, cabbages, apples, andcelery were smaller than usual. On the other hand, prices rose more than seasonally forlettuce, tomatoes, onions, and carrots because of reduced planting of spring crops andpoor weather. Strong demand from processors of citrus fruits piushed up prices forfresh oranges. The May increase of 0.3 percent in processed fruit and vegetable priceswas smaller than the rise of 1.1 percent in April.

Prices of dairy products rose 0.4 percent in April and again in May. TheApril increase was contraseasonal and the May rise was slightly larger than usual.Prices of most dairy items advanced in April and May except butter. The higher supportrate for "manufacturing" milk and strong demand for cheese and skim milk contributedto higher prices for these dairy products. The support price for manufacturing milkfor the 1971/72 marketing year, which started April 1, was raised to $4.93 per 100pounds—85 percent of the March parity equivalent price—up from $4.66 in the previousyear. To achieve this support level, Commodity Credit Corporation raised its purchaseprices 2-3/4 cents per pound for Cheddar cheese (to 54-3/4 cents) and 4-1/2 cents perpound for nonfat dry milk (to 31.7 cents). The support purchase price for butter, how-ever, was lowered 2 cents per pound (to 68-3/4 cents, Grade A at New York). The lowersupport purchase price for butter was made possible by the Agriculture Act of 1970which suspended until April 1974 the requirement to support butterfat in farm-separatedcream. (See Dairy Situation, Economic Research Service? U.S. Department of Agriculture,May 1971.)

Commodities Other Than Food

Prices of commodities other than food, which usually do not change much betweenApril and May, rose 0.7 percent. This was the same as the seasonally adjusted increasein December of last year and considerably larger than the increase in the first 4 monthsof this year. About three-fourths of the May rise resulted from higher prices forapparel, homes, and used cars. Prices of new cars and gasoline increased instead ofdeclining as they usually do in May. Prices of most other nonfood commodities, includ-ing furniture, housekeeping supplies, newspapers,- and drugs and prescriptions con-tinued to increase. Cigarette prices, rose because of higher taxes in Massachusetts.Prices declined for a few items, notably carpets and textile housefurnishings.

Apparel prices rose 1.0 percent in May. On a seasonally adjusted basis, theincrease was 0.8 percent, the sharpest since August 1968. Prices of men's and boys1

apparel which have been rising rapidly since February—0.8 percent in March and 0.4 per-cent in April—on a seasonally adjusted basis, rose 0.7 percent in May. They usually showno change between April and May. Prices rose for every item in the men's and boys'apparel category, particularly tropical weight and year-round suits, and slacks.Rising manufacturers' costs for wages, fabrics, and overhead contributed to higherprices. In addition, increases in other costs of retailers, particularly wages, werereflected in the price rises.

Women's and girls' apparel prices rose 1.4 percent in May, almost twicethe usual increase. On a seasonally adjusted basisj the May increase was 0.6 percentand followed a rise of 0.4 percent in April—the first time this year that women'sand girls' apparel prices advanced in 2 consecutive months. Reintroduction of women'sbathing suits and cotton skirts and girls' cotton dresses and shorts at higher prices


than those which prevailed in the 1970 season accounted for a large portion of the Mayrise. Prices also increased for handbags, gloves, and nylon hose. Prices of women'sdresses and cotton blouses, which rose in April, edged down slightly in May.

Gasoline and motor oil prices rose 0.4 percent, instead of declining as theyusually do in May. From January through April, gasoline and motor oil prices declinedsteadily. The May increase reflected, in part, an attempt by the industry to strengthenretail gasoline prices with the advent of the heavy travel season. However, competitivepressures present in many cities—such as Atlanta, Milwaukee, Dallas, and Los Angeles—provided some offset.

New car prices, which usually decline about 0.3 percent between April and May,increased 0.1 percent. The increase reflected a slight decline in the level of concessionsoffered to purchasers by new car dealers. May sales of domestic cars were 7 percent higherthan the units sold in May 1970. Sales of domestic cars for the January through May periodwere 9.1 percent higher than they were a year ago; however, imported car sales rose 32.0percent for the period. Prices of used cars rose 2.7 percent in May. An increase inprices for used cars is usual in the spring months when the demand for used cars isstrongest. The increase this year, however, was about half as large as in May of last year.

Following large increases in 1970, home prices leveled out in the first 3 monthsof this year. However, prices rose slightly in April and somewhat more in May. (For adiscussion of factors which influence the behavior of home prices, see "Trends in home-ownership and rental costs," by Robert C. Joiner, Monthly Labor Review, July 1970.)

Services

In May charges for consumer services rose 0.6 percent, about the same as theaverage monthly rate of increase prevailing for several months prior to February 1971.In February, March, and April the effects of* decreases in mortgage interest rates moderatedthe rise in service costs. The much smaller decline, about 1 percent, in the mortgageinterest rate index in May—entirely due to lower conventional mortgage rates—had nosignificant effect on the service index in May. Postal charges, which rose 21.2 percent,were responsible for one-fourth of the May rise in services. Higher rates were imposedon all important categories of domestic mail, except regular parcel post. The residentialproperty tax index rose 1.4 percent, mainly as a result of a sharp rate increase and largeassessment increases in Los Angeles. Residential natural gas charges rose 0.7 percent, theresult of increases in a number of cities. Home maintenance and repair costs rose 0.6percent in May as charges for interior repainting and roof reshingling were raised.

The rise in the cost of transportation services in May was much smaller thanthe increases in recent months. Public transportation fares were unchanged. Parking feesdeclined, and charges for auto repairs rose only slightly.

The medical care services index continued to advance at about the same rate asit did in the preceding 3 months.

Recreational services rose 0.8 percent as prices of*indoor movie admissions,golf green fees, and film developing charges increased.


Seasonally adjusted monthly percent changes in the index and some of its majorcomponents for the past 6 months are given in the following tabulation:

Consumer Price Index:

May April March February January December

All items 0.6

Commodities .4Food .2Food at home .2

Apparel commodities .8Nondurables less food

and apparel 1/ .3Durables .7

Services 1/ .6Rent 1/ .3Household services

less rent .8Transportation .4Medical care services - .7Other services .4

0.3 0.2

. 3

.91.0

.3

0.2

.2

.4

.41.0

.6

.1

.5

.91.1

0

.2

.2

0.3

-1.0.5.6.2

0.2

.1

.5

.5

.3

00

.2

.6

- .51.3.7.2

0.3

.10

- .3- .1

.3

.2

.6

.3

.2

.9

.51.1

0.5

.4- .1- .2.3

.4

.9

.6

.7

.8

.3

.7

.3

±_l Percent changes are based on unadjusted indexes.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Approximately 43,000 workers will receive cost-of-living escalator adjustmentsbased on the May U.S. city average Consumer Price Index or one of the individual cityindexes.

About 23,000 workers will receive wage increases based on the national index.About 9,800 workers, including 6,000 employees of the Dow Chemical Company in Midland,Michigan, will receive an increase of 3 cents per hour. About 4,500 employees of theCaterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, Illinois, plus 4,000 other workers will receiveincreases of 4 cents per hour.

About 20,000 employees of firms belonging to the Pacific Coast ShipbuildersAssociation in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington will receive an increase of3 cents per hour based on the index for Seattle, Washington.

Approximately 9,000 other workers will not receive adjustments because theyhave already received the maximum stipulated in their contracts.


A NOTE ABOUT CALCULATING INDEX CHANGES

Effective with the February 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, percentchanges expressed as annual rates will be computed according to the standard formula forcompound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change would be if the currentrate were maintained for a 12-month period.

Movements of the indexes from one date to another are usually expressed aspercent changes rather than changes in the index points because index point changes areaffected by the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changesare not. The following example illustrates the computation of index point and percentchanges.

Index Point Change

May 1971 CPI (1967=100)less April indexindex point difference =

120.8120.20.6

Percent Change

Index point difference dividedby the index for the previousperiod:

Effective with the July 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, seasonallyadjusted percent changes in the U.S. All Items Index will be based on seasonal adjustmentfactors and seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal places. This procedurewill help to eliminate rounding error in the percent changes.


- 6 -

TABLE 1. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, May 1971

(Unadjusted, unless otherwise indicated)

GroupIndexes (1967=100)

(unless otherwise specified)May1971

April1971

120.2139.8

117.8116.1113.9115.7114.6120.0115.8124.8

122.5126.5114.4130.9114.1117.3113.9117.0

119.1120.3118.7121.1

118.1116.2113.8109.8103.7136.4

121.2127.5116.3118.4119.7

118.2119.2117.9

February1971119.4138.9

115.9113.9112.8113.6114.0112.6115.7123.9

122.6127.3113.6132.3113.1117.2112.8115.9

118.1117.9118.5119.9

117.5115.8115.2105.5106.0134.4

120.2125.8115.4117.5119.1

116.1118.7117.9

May1970

Percent change to May 19711 Month

Ago

3 Months

Ago

1 YearAgo

All itemsAll items (1957-59=100)

FoodFood at homeCereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther foods at home

Food away from home

1/HousingShelterRentHomeownership 2/

Fuel and utilities VFuel oil and coalGas and electricity

Household furnishings and operation

Apparel and upkeep 4/Men's and boys'Women's and girls' —Footwear

Transportation —PrivateNew carsUsed carsGasoline

Public

Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreation —Other goods and services

Seasonally Adjusted^

FoodApparel and upkeepTransportation

Special Groups:

All items less foodAll items less medical careCommodities less foodCommoditiesNondurablesNondurables less food —Apparel commodities —

DurablesHousehold durables

Services •Services less rent —Services less medical careInsurance and financeUtilities and public transportationHousekeeping and home maintenance servicesMedical care services

Purchasing, Power of Consumer1967=$1.001957-59-$!.00

120.8140.5

118.2116.3114.1115.8115.1121.4115.5125.3

123.2127.2114.7131.6114.4117.2114.4118.1

120.2121.2120.4121.7

118.8117.0113.9112.8104.0136.4

121.6128.1116.5118.9119.9

118.4120.0118.6

121.6120.4116.6117.2117.4116.6120.5

116.6112.7

127.5129.8126.7137.0119.3136.0132.9

$0,828.712

120.9119.8115.8116.6116.9116.0119.3

115.7112.4

126.8129.1126.0136.6119.0133.7132.2

$0,832.715

120.4119.1115.2115.5115.7115.4118.3

115.0111.8

126.6129.0126.1139.5117.7132.1130.2

$0,838.720

115.7134.6

114.9113.8108.0117.4111.3116.4111.6119.4

118.2122.7109.4127.5106.8108.4106.7113.2

115.7117.1115.2117.6

112.1110.5106.1104.9106.2126.1

115.4119.7112.8112.6115.1

116.0115.6112.0113.1113.9112.7116.1

111.1110.0

120.7122.8120.4133.6111.3125.0123.1

$0,864.743

.3

.2

.2

.1

.41.2-.3.4

.6

.6

.3

.5

.3-.1.4.9

.71.4.5

.6

.7

.12.7.30

.3

.5

.2

.4

.2

.2

.7

.6

.6

.5

.7

.5

.4

.51.0

.6

.5

.6

.3

.31.7.5

-.5

2.02.11.21.91.07.8-.21.1

.5-.11.0-.51.10

1.41.9

1.82.81.61.5

1.11.0

-1.16.9-1.91.5

1.21.81.01.2.7

2.01.1.6

1.01.11.21.51.51.01.9

.7

.6

.5-1.81.43.02.1

2.92.25.6-1.43.44.33.54.9

4.23.74.83.27.18.17.24.3

3.93.54.53.5

6.05.97.47.5

-2.18.2

5.47.03.35.64.2

4.84.24.13.63.13.53.8

5.02.5

5.65.75.22.57.28.88.0

shown separately.

Note: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.


- 7 T

TABLE 2. Consumer Price Index—The United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers All Itemsmost recent index and percent changes from selected dates. '

Area 1/ PricingSchedule 2/

Indexes

1967=100 1957-59=100Otherbases

Percent change from:

U.S. City Average

ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles-Long BeachNew York ---Philadelphia

BostonHoustonMinneapolis-St. PaulPittsburgh

BuffaloClevelandDallasMilwaukeeSan DiegoSeattleWashington —

AtlantaBaltimoreCincinnatiHonoluluKansas CitySt. LouisSan Francisco-Oakland

120.8

120.6120.9118.1125.2123.4

121.7119.5120.3120.9

121.4122.0120.4119.1119.5115.5122.2

120.4122.1119.8116.7119.2118.2119.1

May 1971 April1971

140.5

137.0138.9138.9148.9144.1

0.5

.3

.71.2.5.7

April 1971

145.9136.7139.5139.1

May 1971

137.7

134.5

135.8142.4

4/ 133.4

4/ 130.2

5/ 125.6

March 1971

138.5141.8136.0

141.4138.0141.7

6/ 125.8

February1971

1.2

1.0.8

1.6.1.41.3

January1971

0.8.2.2

1.4

February1971

1.5.4.5.1

1.1.8

1.1

December1970

0.81.21.1.9.2.5.5

May1970

4.4

4.5•3.03.85.95.6

April1970

5.72.83.25.0

May1970

5.02.52.43.53.91.34.2

March1970

5.06.25.33.15.14.2'4.1

\_l Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) exceptfor New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those estab-lished for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since I960*

2/ Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced asindicated:

M - Every month.1 - January, April, July, and October.2 - February, May, August, and November.3 - March, June, September, and December.

4/ November 1963=100.5/ February 1965=100.6/ December 1963=100.

Note: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in living costs among areas; it indicatesprice change within areas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.


TABLE 3. Consumer Price Index--The United States and selected areas J./for urban wage earners and clerical workers,major groups percent change from April 1971 to Hay 1971

GroupU.S. City-Average Chicago Detroit

Los Angeles-^Long Beach New York Philadelphia

All items

FoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services —

If See footnote 1, table 2.2/ Not available.

0.5

.3

.6

.9

.6

.3

.5

.2

.4

.2

0.3

.30.9

1.2.2.3(2/).50

0.7

1.1.21.11.4.2.2(2/).4.4

1.2

.32.41.5.7.5.5(2/)0

1.2

0.5

.3

.31.1.3.4.6(2/).7.1

0.7

.31.5.3.3.1

(2/>.2(2/)

TABLE 4. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers for selected groups,seasonally adjusted

(1967-100)

GroupIndexes

May 1971 April 1971

118.2116.4116.2115.2119.0115.9

113.9117.2

119.2120.1119.3121.0

117.9116.1113.8

116.7115.8117.0116.0119.4115.7

February 1971

116.1114.0114.2114.0113.3114.4

113.1116.4

118.7118.7119.5120.1

117.9116.3114.5

115.7115.4115.9115.7119.0115.3

1 MonthAgo

0.2.2.3. 1

- .31.5

. 4

. 1

.7

.7

.6

. 4

.6

.7

. 4

.4

.7

. 4

.5

.8

.7

Percent changes to:May 1971From:

3 MonthsAgo

FoodFood at homeMeats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther foods at home

Fuel and utilities 1/ -Fuel oil and coal -

Apparel and upkeep If -Men's and boys'Women's and girls'Footwear

TransportationPrivateNew cars

CommoditiesCommodities less food

Nondurables —--——— ---Nondurables less foodApparel commodities

Durables

118.4116.6116.5115.3118.7117.6

114.3117.3

120.0121.0120.0121.5

118.6116.9114.2

117.2116.6117.5116.6120.3116.5

17

2.02.32.01.14.82.8

1.1

1.11.9.4

1.2

.6

.5- .3

1.31.01.4.81.11.0

±J Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.2j Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.


- 9 -

TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1/ for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,May 1971 index and percent changes from February 1971

GroupU.S.City

AverageChicago Detroit

Los Angeles-Long Beach

New York-Northeastern Philadelphia

All items


Food away from home

HousingShelterRent — ~Homeownership —

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coalGas and electricity


Apparel and upkeepMen's and boys1

Women's and girls'Footwear — — « — — — —

TransportationPrivatePublic

Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreation —Other goods and services

All items


Food away from home

HousingShelter -Rent —Homeownership



Apparel and upkeep

Women's and girls'


Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services

120.8

118.2116.3114.1115.8115.1121.4115.5125.3

123.2127.2114.7131.6114.4117.2114.4118.1

120.2121.2120.4121.7

118.8117.0136.4

121.6128.1116.5118.9119.9

1.2

2.02.11.21.91.07.8-.21.1

.5- .11.0-.51.1

01.41.9

1.82.81.61.5

1.11.01.5

1.21.81.01.2

.7

(indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

120.6

117.7115.8115.7115.3113.7118.5116.2125.1

119.4122.8110.1128.4111.1112.9109.0114.3

117.4117.7119.5115.5

126.8121.5160.3

123.0128.5(2/)118.9124.5

120.9

117.5116.3114.8118.2114.6118.3113.3122.9

126.0133.8(2/)137.5110.2113.1110.4112.6

115.7117.6111.8121.1

115.3112.6147.8

122.4132.6(2/)119.1117.3

118.1

114.6113.5110.5114.6113.7116.1112.0117.3

122.0125.0116.0127.7115.8

119.5114.5

118.4116.8122.5118.4

113.9114.0112.3

118.0126.6(2/)111.2116.3

125.2

122.8120.4115.1121.2118.0126.7118.5130.4

127.2132.2(1/)142.1113.5118.4109.7122.6

120.6125.9115.5121.7

129.0125.0144.3

125.2135.3114.8123.3122.1

Percent changes from February 1971 to May 1971

1.0

1.71.8-.92.31.76.6-.61.1

- . 2- . 8

1 / .5-1.4

.3-.5

.61.8

1.91.03.9

1.41.8

0

1.01.0(2/)1.5

.1

0.8

2.52.72.22.23.77.8-.81.7

-.6-1.5(2/)

-1.91.0-.71.01.9

1.2.5

1.3

1.51.6.1

.8

.8<£/).7

1.2

1.6

1.51.6.7

2.22.35.3-1.8.9

1.41.5

2/ .71.6.6

1.01.2

1.8.1

3.91.4

1.61.7.4

2.43.8£/).9

1.5

1.4

2.22.61.62.4.47.6.9

1.1

1.31.3(2/)1.4.4.8.5

1.7

1.15.9-2.01.3

.5

.4

.6

1.11.61.61.3.5

123.4

119.6117.5118.0115.9117.9120.3116.7128.7

125.4131.9118.1135.4114.5117.8116.3120.4

121.2121.6119.3124.9

123120140.0

126.0135.3(£/)122.2(2/)

1.3

1.51.61.1.9.6

6.3-.41.6

.6-.2

3/ .7-.72.50

5.01.3

3.63.44.15.9

.7

.9

.1

.2

.5ill).7

(inSee footnotes at end of table.


- 10 -

TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1/ for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,May 1971 index and percent changes from February 1971—Continued

Group Buffalo Cleveland Dallas MilwaukeeSan

DiegoWashington

All items

FoodFood at home

Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther foods at home

Food away from home

Hous ingShelterRentHomeowner ship



Apparel and upkeepMen's and boys'Women's and girls'


Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services -

items

FoodFood at home

Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther foods at home -r

Food away from home

HousingShelter

Rent —Homeownership

Fuel- and utilitiesFuel oil and coalGas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep —Men's and boys'Women's and girls'Footwear


Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services -

121.4

120.1119.0117.0116.3115.7129.4118.3126.0

123.6124.3113.7126.2124.4118.7129.6121.2

125.0135.8125.1119.0

117.0116.1125.9

120.4121.6117.4122.1118.8

1.5

3.03.31.72.0-.314.1.7

1.3

.9-.51.4-.93.20

4.73.1

3.65.24.9.9

000

.61.61.5-.3.1

indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

122.0 120.4

119.3118.5114.3117.7120.0121.9118.5124.1

120.3120.9111.2122.5118.1

118.5119.2

122.4120.6124.3123.0

124.6121.0148.6

127.1138.8118.0121.4124.2

117.3114.0115.0113.1111.2117.8113.7129.3

123.6128.0111.7135.4114.5

109.0118.8

118.5123.2115.6120.6

116.4114.2144.5

122.3129.1119.6118.9116.8

119.1

115.7113.9116.0113.8111.5118.1111.9122.6

120.7123.1113.3126.2115.0118.4117.3117.9

123.8122.5124.3126.4

115.1112.1151.4

120.5125.7119.3119.9117.2

119.5

117.3114.3110.4118.8113.2114.8110.3124.4

126.3136.1130.1138.7106.3

109.3111.1

118.0119.5122.7115.8

114.1113.6121.8

115.9121.0111.4113.5115.5

115.5

116.0113.8111.8112.8114.7115.7113.9123.0

117.4121.3107.3125.2108.7118.7101.0113.2

117.1116.7119.5117.9

106.4106.1108.4

115.9122.4113.6116.3110.1

Percent changes from February 1971 to May 1971

0.4

.6

.60

1.6-1.2

3.7-1 .5

- . 4- . 8

.5- 1 . 1

.3

1.0

2.33.02.71.6

.5

.70

2.2- . 9

.5

.3

0.5

1.82.21.81.32.77.4- . 1

.9

- . 7-1 .8

.3-2.6

0

- . 11.5

1.42.3

.2

.4

.7

.70

.71.2

.8

.7- . 3

0.1

2.32.42.71.22.78.8- . 51.7

- .6-1 .3

1.2-1.9

- . 1-1 .8

.21.1

02.9

-2.0.2

-2.6-2.9

0

1.1.9.8

2.0.3

1.1

1.51.51.93.11.33.4

-2.61.3

- .4- . 8

.8-1.5

.4

.6

.7

1.51.42.31.4

3.13.2- .5

1.21.91.31.2

-3

0.8

1.82.11.12.53.35.6

-1.6.8

- . 1-1.0

- . 1-1.2

.20

.52.0

2.8- .86.71.4

.4

.5

.1

.9

.7- .82.3

.1

122.2

120.0116.0117.3112.7109.8123.3119.2130.4

121.1124.1113.8129.9108.9117.5111.2119.8

123.3123.5124.2125.5

124.4120.4146.0

124.4136.3115.5118.1123.5

1.1

2.52.74.41.41.25.82.42.1

- .2-1.0

1.2-2.1

1.70

3.31.5

2.12.22.12.3

1.61.9

0

1.11.2

.3

.91.4

1/ See footnote 1, table 2.2/ Not available.JJ/ Change from March 1971.


- 11 -

TABLE 6. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food and itssubgroups, May 1971 indexes and percent changes from April 1971

Area 1/ Totalfood

Cerealsand

bakeryproducts

Food

Meats,poultry,and fish

at home

Dairyproducts

Fruitsand

vegetables

Otherfoods

at home

Foodawayfromhome

(Indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

U.S. City Average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffalo -- ----

Chicago —CincinnatiClevelandDallas - -DetroitHonolulu --HoustonKansas CityLos Angeles-Long Beach -MilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. PaulNew YorkPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco-Oakland —SeattleWashington

U.S. City Average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffalo --ChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallas -•DetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles-Long BeachMilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. Paul —New YorkPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan Dffiego -San Francisco-Oakland -SeattleWashington

118.2

118.1120.2117.8120.1117.7118.5119.3117.3117.5116.7118.3117.5114.6115.7119.3122.8119.6119.0117.9117.3115.9116.0120.0

115.8118.6116.3119.0115.8117.5118.5114.0116.3113.2114.9114.8113.5113.9117.1120.4117.5117.3115.5114.3114.5113.8116.0

0.3

- . 2.1

- . 8• .2- . 3

.6- . 2

.31.1- . 1

.3

.7

.3

.3

.3

.5

. 1

.9

.21.1

.4

116.3

0.2

-.4.2

-.90

-.4.8

-.2.4

1.1- . 1..5.0.2.4.3.2.1.50

.7

.21.4

.2

114. L

113.5116.4113.3117.0115.7112.6114.3115.0114.8104.5112.4114.7110.5116.0120.9115.1118.0115.0120.1110.4109.9111.8117.3

115.8

112.2118.3118.8116.3115.3114.4117.7113.1118.2113.1115.0113.4114.6113.8117.7121.2115.9112.9110.3118.8115.2112.8112.7

115.1

115.3116.4115.0115.7113.7117.7120.0111.2114.6115.0114.1120.8113.7111.5113.5118.0117.9119.3118.4113.2112.6114.7109.8

121.4

127.5121.6120.1129.4118.5124.8121.9117.8118.3122.8119.0112.6116.1118.1117.8126.7120.3127.3125.1114.8119.3115.7123.3

Percent changes April 1971 to May 1971

0.2

.4

.3-.2.4

-.31.1-1.4.5

3.1-.2.7.1

-.71.3-.3.1.2

1.1.3.3.2.6.4

0.1

-2.0-.4-1.2-.6-.8-.4.5

-.1.5

-.10

-.4.4

-.1.3.3.2

-.9-2.11.4.3.8

-.3

0.4

.2-.2-.5-.6.4

1.9-.71.52.1.5.4.21.2.4

1.1.2.3.2.9

1.41.53.0.7

1.2

.52.4.5

1.5-2.12.9-.7.9

1.3-1.11.71.8.6

2.3.9

1.4-.53.34.71.3.1

2.7.7

115.5

115.5119.6112.1118.3116.2118.3118.5113.7113.3110.7114.1114.1112.0111.9116.7118.5116.7116.2110.7110.3114.0113.9119.2

125.3126.5123.2126.0125.1122.3124.1129.3122.9127.0130.4126.1117.3122.6129.2130.4128.7129.2129.0124.4120.9123.0130.4

-0.3

.3-.7-2.9.2.9

-.8.3

-.1.4.4.4

-1.2-.3-.4-.3-.90.3

-1.3-.8-.9.30

125.3

0.4

.300.8.2.2.1.3.6

-.1.2.2.2

1.7.2.5.8.30

1.3.2.3.9

1/ See footnote 1, table 2.


- 12 -

TABLE 7. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items May 1971indexes and percent changes from selected dates

(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item or Group

Index Percent change to May 1971 from—May

Unadjusted

118.2125.3125.0126.7116.3114.1101.6130.1110.2109.1112.2117.0109.8119.5118.0115.8115.6124.6123.8122.5123.1123.1125.4125.1125.9113.5139.6102.2102.5102.5109.3102.4106.895.3114.9119.4114.4107.1118.4115.5114.4107.8107.3108.3109.6129.4116.2140.0128.8132.8115.1114.8117.6120.2117.0105.4120.7105.6

1971Seasonallyadjusted

118.4

116.6

116.5116.4124.6123.7

125.8125.4126.2

139.5104.8106.3

105.1

96.8115.5

115.0

107.7

129.1

115.3115.3

120.5105.7

April 1971

Unadjusted

0.3.4.4.4.2.2.3.5.1.2.1.3.1

-.1.6.1

-.1.3

-.41.31.2.3

2.4-.4.2

-.4.6

-1.4-3.2-1.1-2.13.0-2.2-.3.5.7

-.72.4.4.1.4.5

-.2-.43.9.6.8

1.1-.21.0.4.5.3.7

1.0.4.3

-.3

Seasonallyadjusted

0.

-.-.

-1.

2.

-.-2.

5.

-.1.

_.

1.

m

_#

2

2

3156

261

889

0

40

2

9

5

14

25

May 1970

Unadjusted

2.94.94.95.52.25.62.612.08.82.73.66.56.83.67.0

-1.4-2.53.74.05.15.44.15.12.72.2-.98.3

-12.9-11.9-11.9-10.8-12.0-9.7-18.1-1.92.6

-3.2-8.6-.4-1.6

.1-1.3-.5-.6-5.910.8-.514.213.516.03.43.23.34.35.91.04.71.1

Total foodFood away from home

Restaurant mealsSnacks

Food at homeCereals and bakery products

FlourCracker mealCorn flakesRiceBread, whiteBread, whole wheatCookiesLayer cakeCinnamon rolls •»-

Meats, poultry, and fishMeats --- -

Beef and vealSteak, roundSteak, sirloinSteak, porterhouseRump roastRib roast •Chuck roastHamburgerBeef liverVeal cutlets

PorkChops -Loin roastPork sausageHam, wholePicnics --Bacon

Other meatsLamb chopsFrankfurtersHam, cannedBologna sausageSalami sausageLiverwurst

PoultryFrying chicken --Chicken breastsTurkey

FishShrimp, frozenFish, fresh or frozen --Tuna fish, cannedSardines, canned

Dairy productsMilk, fresh, groceryMilk, fresh, delivered ---Milk, fresh, skimMilk, evaporatedIce creamCheese, American process -Butter


- 13 -

TABLE 7* Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items May 1971indexes and percent changes from selected dates--Continued


Item or Group

indexMay 1971

Unadiusted

121.4125.6116.294.1

120.9121.6124.3

(1/)109.4

07)115.7103.4123.3129.8

133.7107.6

151.5125.3212.2129.2152.2

151.1117.2116.6

113.3121.0113.2

114.4106.3115.3119.1117.9115.5106.1

116.1

109.7119.1119.0112.2118.5

130.7113.6121.8122.6124.3107.7125.7125.9112.5113.6106.5117.0110.8110.1110.6116.5113.4

Seasonallyadiusted

118.7121.0111.092.3127.1

133.1

(1/)113.4

(I/)112.8

99.1

121.6

140.9104.4

119.9

133.9

120.6

117.6

119.9

April

Unadjusted

1.21.62.5

-1.84.32.04.5

(I/)-14.9

(I/)2.06.3.1

2.410.3

.3-12.514.2-1.6-.23.5.3.3

-.1-.2.5.2.4

-.2-.32.7.1

-.3-3.3

.7

.6

.1

.3

.11.0

0-.1-.2-•4.2

-.7.4.2.2

-.1-.1-.2.5

-.3-.11.1.5

1971

SeasonallyAdjusted

-.3-.8-2.2

-3.52.7

.2

(I/)-6.8

(I/)-2.14.6

-.511.9

-10.2

12.9

1.4

.7

1.58.1

m——May 1970

Unadjusted

4.33.08.9

-12.914.3-.25.8

(I/)9.1(1/)

-8.8

-22.41.2

-9.4

26.6-25.4

29.415.9-5.4

9.422.06.310.09.02.3

-1.2

3.95.75.97.013.04.03.5

-4.0

9.28.09.83.65.64.62.32.14.84.64.93.36.35.03.01.4.6

3.72.0-.44.95.75.6

Fruits and vegetablesFresh fruits and vegetables

ApplesBananasOrangesOrange juice, freshGrapefruit

Grapes 1/Strawberries 1/Watermelon 1/Potatoes

, OnionsAsparagus JVCabbageCarrot sCeleryCucumbersLettucePeppers, greenSp inachTomatoes

Processed fruits and vegetablesFruit cocktail, cannedPears, cannedGrapefruit-pineapple juice, cannedOrange juice concentrate, frozenLemonade concentrate, frozenBeets, canned •Peas, green, cannedTomatoes, cannedDried beansBroccoli, frozen

Other food at homeEggs -Fats and oils:MargarineSalad dressing, ItalianSalad or cooking oil

Sugar and sweetsSugar -- -Grape jellyChocolate barSyrup, chocolate flavored

Nonalcoholic beveragesCoffee, can and bagCoffee, instantTeaCola drink -Carbonated fruit drink -

Prepared and partially prepared foodsBean soup, cannedChicken soup-, cannedSpaghetti, cannedMashed potatoes, instantPotatoes, french fried, frozenBaby foods, cannedSweet pickle relishPretzeIs

1/ Priced only in season.


TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selecteditems and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates

(1967=100 unless otherwise.specified)

Item and groupOtherindexbases

Indexes

May 1971

Percent change to

April 1971 April 1971

HousingShelter 1/ ^

RentHomeownership costs 2/

Mortgage interest ratesProperty taxesProperty insurance ratesMaintenance and repairs

Commodities 3/Exterior house paintInterior house paint

ServicesRepainting living and dining roomsReshingling house roofResiding house »Sink replacementFurnace repair

Fuel and utilities •Fuel oil and coalFuel oil, #2

Gas and electricityGas -Electricity •

Other utilities:Residential telephone servicesResidential water and sewerage services r

Household furnishings and operation 4/ •Housefurnishings -Textiles = •

Sheets, percale or muslinCurtains, tailored, polyester - -Bedspreads, chiefly cottonDrapery fabric, cotton or rayon/acetatePillows, bed, polyester, acrylic, or kapok •Slipcover, throws, ready made chiefly cotton

Furniture and bedding •Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser •«-Living room suites, good and inexpensive quality •Lounge chairs, upholsteredDining room chairs •Sofas, upholsteredSofas, dual purposeBedding,mattress.and box springsAluminum folding chair 6/ •Cribs

Floor coveringsBroadloom carpeting, manmade'fibersVinyl sheet goods •Vinyl asbestos tile

Appliances jlWashing machines, electric, automaticVacuum cleaners, canister typeRefrigerators or refrigerator-freezers .electric -•Ranges, free standing, gas or electricClothes dryers, electric, automaticAir conditioners, demountableRoom heaters, electric, portable _6/Garbage disposal units

Other housefurnishings:Dinnerware, chinawareFlatware, stainless steelTable lamps, with shadeLawn mowers, power, rotary typeElectric drills, hand held

Housekeeping supplies:Laundry soaps and detergentsPaper napkins -- •Toilet tissue

Housekeeping services:" Domestic service, general housework

Baby sitter servicePostal chargesLaundry, flatwork, finished serviceLicensed day care service, preschool childWashing machine repairs

Mar. 70

Mar. 70

June 70

123.2127.2114.7131.6117.3129.6119.3131.9118.1116.0113.4137.9146.2141.9129.0138.9141.6114.4117.2115.9114.4116.6112.4

106.2132.6118.1114.1110.8111.7108.2107.6117.7108.0111.2119.1103.3115.3123.6102.8116.6116.7103.3118.0117.5106.0101.9114.4116.3105.3109.3103.6107.9111.3112.2110.0

(£/)109.6

117.9119.3121.0116.8106.4

110.5127.5124.5

133.0128.4146.6132.8117.5134.9

122.5126.5114.4130.9118.5127.8118.8131.1117.4115.5113.9137.1144.6140.4128.8137.9141.1114.1117.3116.0113.9115.8112.1

106.2132.6117.0114.0111.7115.5109.3108.1117.1108.9111.2118.8102.8115.0122.3103.5117.9115.9103.3115.9117.1106.2102.2114.5116.1105.2 '108.9103.4107.9110.6112.1108.9

(67)109.5

117.0119.4120.3116.3106.3

109.8126.6123.6

132.3128.3121.0132.1117.4132.9

0.6.6.3.5

-1.01.4

.4

.6

.6

.4- .4

.61.11.1

.2

.7

.4

.3- . 1- . 1

.4

.7

.3

00

.9

.1- . 8

-3.3-1.0

- .5.5

- . 80

.3

.5

.31.1- .7

-1 .1.7

01.8

.3- .2- . 3- . 1

.2

.1

.4

.20

.6

.11.0(6/)

.1

- . 1.6.4.1

.6

.7

.7

21

512

.5

.11.5

4.23.74.83.2

-11.97.26.07.64.54.42.38.8

13.011.4

6.29.26.77.18.17.27.27.5

3.513.4

4.32.52.0

-1.5- .61.13.25.84.22.92.82.04.72.62.51.4

(5/)6753.5

.8-1.3

5.94.41.31.91.02.23.04.12.9(6/)

6.6.4

4.32.5

- 2 . 0

4.36.85.0

6.04.9

25.37.73.5

10.5


- 15 -

TABLE 8i Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selecteditems and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued



Indexes

May 1971

120.2120.5120.3121.2

(£/)129.7131.6112.6117.3133.0112.8113.4113.7119.2116.2115.3

(6/)(6/)

122.0120.0120.4

(6/)(6/)(6/)(6/)

119.4123.5126.6

(6/)10.5

115.0114.7120.699.4

116.7109.8132.3

(6/)

111.1

<£/)110.2131.2121.7

119.7118.1

123.9120.5125.2121.0

122.4118.8125.6

111.8122.5112.7

117.1112.6119.0127.6112.3

April 1971

119.1119.3119.0120.3

(£/)129.1130.1111.9116.8132.5112.7112.8112.4118.8114.8113.0

(6/)(6/)

121.2119.9118.7

(6/)(6/)(6/)(6/)

115.0123.6126.7

(6/)110.9114.7114.9120:698.9

116.5109.4130.2

(6/)(6/)

107.9(6/)

110.5129.5121.1

119.1117.9

123.4119.9123.4120.4

122.5118.4125.5

110.9122.0112.4

116.3115.1118.8127.2109.9

Percent changefrom:

April 1971

.91.01.1.7

(§/).5

1.2.6.4.4.1.5

1.2.3

1.22.0

(6/)

(£/).7.1

1.4

(6/)(6/)(6/)(6/)

3.8-.1-a(6/)

-.4.3

-.20.5.2.4

1.6

(6/)(6/)

3,0(6/)

-.31.3.5

.5

.2

.4

.51.5.5

-.1.3.1

.8

.4

.3

.7-2.2

.2

.32.2

to

'May 1970

3.93.83.93.5

(6/)4.85.9-.41.16.54.14.13.3".1

1.12.3

(6/)(6/)

4.5.8

4.5

(6/)(6/)(6/)(6/)

.64.7

-1.0(6/).5

3.42.83.7-.31.11.88.7

(6/)(6/)

6.1(6/)

3.23.63.5

4.14.5

1.92.61.72.7

5.04.55.5

2.2.9

1.8

3.92.64.29.34.9

Apparel and upkeep jJ/ •Apparel commodities

Apparel commodities less footwear 'Men's and boys'

Men's:Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,polyester blends £/

Suits, year round weightSuits, tropical weight £/Jackets, lightweight .--Slacks, wool or wool blendsSlacks, cotton or manmade blends --Trousers, work, cotton or polyester/cottonShirts, work, cotton or polyester/cottonShirts, business, polyester/cottonT-shirts, chiefly cottonSocks, cotton or manmade fibersHandkerchiefs, cotton or polyester/cotton

Boy's:Coats, all purpose, cotton or cotton blend £/ -Sport coats, wool or wooL blend 6/Dungarees, cotton or cotton blendUndershorts, cotton

Women's and girls'Women's:

Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blend 6/Carcoats, heavyweight, cotton 6/Sweaters, wool or acrylic 6/Skirts, wool, wool blend or manmade fibers 6/ -Bkirts, cotton or polyester/cottonBlouses, cotton or manmade fibersDresses, street, chiefly •anmade fiberDresses, street, wool or wool blend -6/ <Slips, nylon .Panties, acetate or nylon tricotGirdles, manmade blendBrassieres, nylon laceHose, or panty hose, nylon seamlessAnklets or knee-length socks, various fibers -Gloves, fabric, nylon or cottonHandbags, rayon faille or plastic

Girls';Raincoats, vinyl,cotton, or polyester blends 6/Skirts, wool, wool blends, or acrylic 6/Dresses, cotton, manmade fibers or blendsSlacks, cotton or chiefly cotton 6/Slips, polyester blendsHandbags, plastic

FootwearMen's:

Shoes, street oxfordShoes, work, high

Women's:Shoes, street, pumpShoes, evening, pumpShoes, casualHousesUpper8, scuff

Children's:Shoes, oxford *Sneakers, boys', oxford type ~Dress shoes, girls1, strap or pump -

Miscellaneous apparel:Diapers, cotton gauze or disposableYard goods, polyester blend "Wrist watches, men's and women's

Apparel services:Drycleaning, men's suits and women's dressesAutomatic laundry serviceLaundry, men's shirtsTailoring charge, hem adjustmentShoe repair, women's heel lift ---.


- 16 -

TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selecteditems and groups. May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued


Item and group Otherindexbases

Indexes

May 1971

118.8117.0113.9112.8104.0119.3114.8128.4142.1123.8134.9136.4143.7119.1126.2124.1130.6

121.6128.1105.5110.797.6114.0101.4123.1111.6113.4101.180.2122.4100.8107.4125.8111.2107.8114.894.9

129.2130.9130.0128.8132.2124.1122.7124.1126.0126.8126.4123.8

119.6115.2

159.6161.7156.4155.2124.8116.5113.5107.3112.2118.1107.1123.9105.1124.4110.7119.6121.8118.0119.0121.2110.1

April 1971

118.1116.2113.8109.8103.7119.0114.6127.9141.9123.8135.4136.4143.7119.1126.2124.1130.6

121.2127.5105.1110.498.1113.7101.7122.6110.4112.9100.780.0121.9101.2106.0124.8110.2107.6112.995.0

128.5130.6129.2126.9130.3123.6121.8122.9125.6126.4126.1123.4

118.6114.9

158.8161.0155.6154.5124.4116.3113.5107.5111.8120.3106.6123.9104.9123.2110.4119.3121.7117.6118.8120.7109.5

Percent changefrom:

April 1971

.6

.7

.12.7.3.3.2.4.10

-.4000000

.3

.5

.4

.3-.5.3

-.3%.41.1.4.4.3.4

-.41.3.8.9.2

1.7-.1

.5

.2

.61.51.5.4.7

1.0.3.3.2.3

.8

.3

.5

.4

.5

.5

.3

.20

-.2.4

-1.8.50.2

1.0.3.3.1.3.2.4.5

to

May 1970

6.05.97.47.5-2.15.02.57.113.95.09.08.28.84.69.96.212.3

5.47.01.84.8-1.18.4.4

9.53.55.6-.6

-13.15.6.1

4.65.94.22.87.2.2

7.47.96.85.78.04.57.86.86.25.97.65.4

6.43.7

12.813.212.210.18.33.33.1.4

6.6.4

5.33.91.04.51.93.53.03.93.94.42.7

TransportationPrivate 9/ ---

Automobiles, newAutomobiles, usedGasoline, regular and premiumMotor oil, premiumTires, new, tubelessAuto repairs and maintenance _10/Auto insurance ratesAuto registrationParking fees, private and municipal

PublicLocal transit faresTaxicab faresRailroad fares, coachAirplane fares, chiefly coachBus fares, intercity

Health and recreationMedical care - —Drugs and prescriptions

Over-the-counter itemsMultiple vitamin concentratesAspirin compoundsLiquid tonicsAdhesive bandages, packageCold tablets or capsulesCough syrup

PrescriptionsAnti-infectives

Sedatives and hypnoticsAtaractics

Anti-gpasmodics -Cough preparationsCardiovasculars and anti-hypertensivesAnalgesics, internalAnti-obesityHormones

Professional services:Physicians1 feesGeneral physician, office visitsGeneral physician, house visitsObstetrical cases -,--Pediatric care, office visitsPsychiatrist, office visitsHerniorrhaphy, adultTonsilleetoray and adenoidectomy

Dentists* feesFillings, adult, amalgam, one surfaceExtractions, adultDentures, full upper

Other professional services:Examination, prescription, and dispensing of

eyeglassesRoutine laboratory tests

Hospital service charges:Daily service charges

Semiprivate roomsPrivate rooms

Operating room charges

X-ray, dlagonstlc aeries, upper G.I.Personal care - -Toilet goods .- - -

Toothpaste, standard dentifriceToilet soap, hard milled -Hand lotions, liquidShaving cream, aerosol --Face powder, pressedDeodorants, aerosol — -Cleansing tissues .--

HGme permanent wave kitsPersonal care services -

Men's haircuts -Beauty shop services

Women's haircuts — ,Shampoo and wave sets, plainPermanent waves, cold


- 17 -

TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selecteditems and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

(1967=100 unless otherwise Specified)


Indexes

May 1971

ercent change tofrom;

April 1971 April 1971 May 1970

Reading and recreation 11_/Recreational goodsTV sets, portable and consoleTV replacement tubes r--Radios, portable and table modelTape recorders, portablePhonograph records, stereophonicMovie cameras, Super 8, zoom lensFilm, 35mm, colorGolf balls, liquid center or solid coreBasketballs, rubber or vinyl coverFishing rods, fresh water spincastingBowling ballsBicycles, boys1 --.TricyclesDog food, canned or boxed

Recreational servicesIndoor movie admissionsAdultChildren*s

Drive-in movie admissions, adult-Bowling fees, eveningGolf green feesIV repair, color picture tube replacementFilm developing, color ---

Reading and education:Newspapers, street sale and deliveryMagazines, single copy and subscriptionPiano lessons, beginner

Other goods and servicesTobacco products

Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular sizeCigarettes, filter tip, king sizeCigar8, domestic, regular size

Alcoholic beveragesBeerWhiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbonWine, dessert and table -Away from home

Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:funeral services, adultBank service charges, checking accountsLegal services, short form will

Other special groups:

All items less shelterCommodities less foodNondurables less food and apparelHousehold services less rentTransportation servicesOther services

118.9106.4100.0121.9

98.494.7

102.389.3

108.1104.5124.5110.4110.5112.5111.3108.4125.0138.3138.0139.1139.3116.0125.8

98.1116.2

129.8126.3120.8

119.9124.7126.3126.1105.9116.4112.7106.0121.2125.6

116.3111.5133.3

119.2116.6114.3130.7133.1

118.4106.2100.1121.6

98.395.1

100.588.8

108.1104.4123.4110.2109.5111.9111.1108.0124.0136.6136.1137.8138.0116.4124.0

97.8114.7

129.3126.3120.8

122.0

119.7124.3125.9125.7105.9116.2112.8105.9120.6125.1

116.2111.4133.3

118.6115.8114.0129.7133.0121.5

.4

.2-.1.2.1

-.41.8.60.1.9.2.9.5.2.4.81.21.4.9.9

-.31.5.3

1.3

.400

.2

.3

.3

.30.2

-.1.1.5.4

.1

.10

5.61.8.4

5.6-.7-.52.0-2.71.21.35.5-.73.14.02.23.35.97.47.28.18.94.65.5.9

5.1

11.67.34.2

4.24.24.74.0.7

3.93.61.03.75.8

3.55.49.0

4.64.13.23.79.55.4

1/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.2/ Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately.3/ Also includes pine shelving, furnace air filters, packaged dfry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.4/ Also includes Venetian blinds, window shades, nails, carpet sweepers, utility pails, air deodorizers, steel wool scouringpads, envelopes, reupholstering, and moving expenses.5/ Mot available.6/ Prices only in season.II Also includes radios and television sets, shown separately under reading and recreation.8/ Also includes men's sweaters, sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing suits,girls' robes, cotton and polyester blend skirts, shorts, earrings, and zippers not shown separately.9/ Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately.

iff/ Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair, exhaust systea repair, frontend alignment, and chassis lubrication.

21/ Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shownseparately.


- 18 -

Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into the index structure in the 1964revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI. 1/ The table below showsstandard errors for monthly, quarterly, and annual percent changes in the CPI for allitems and for nine commodity groupings based on 1970 averages. The figures may be inter-preted as follows: the chances are about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in theCPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less thantwice the standard error.

Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place, some ambiguity may arise ininterpreting small index changes. The table below indicates, for example, that a month-to-month change of 0.1 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 smallerchange in the unrounded value. Hence, any particular change of 0.1 percent may or maynot be significant. On the other hand, a published change of 0.2 percent is almost alwayssignificant, regardless of the time period to which it relates.

Average Standard Errors of Percent Changes in theCPI Based on 1970 Data

ComponentMonthlyChange

.04

.08

.11

.06

.15

.10

.12

.13

.11

.10

Standard Error

QuarterlyChange

.06

.13

.21

.10

.26

.16

.15

.23

.17

.16

AnnualChange

.09

.18

.36

.19

.29

.19

.29

.34

.23

.41

All Items <Food at homeFood away from homeHousing —•—•—•—..t—•———.—

ApparelTransportationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreation —Other goods and services

This replaces the table of average errors based on 1969 data which was includedin the CPI report through December 1970.

1/ The method of deriving these estimates is described in a paper by MarvinWilkerson, "Measurement of Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of theAmerican Statistical Association, September 1967.


- 19 -

Brief Explanation of the CPI

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goodsand services usually bought by urban wage earners and clerical workers, both familiesand single persons living alone. It is based on prices of about 400 items which wereselected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased bywage earners and clerical workers. Prices for these items are obtained in urban por-tions of 39 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller cities,which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United States, includingAlaska and Hawaii. They are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wageearners and clerical workers patronize.

Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month inall 56 locations. Prices of most other commodities and servipes are collected everymonth in the 5 largest SMSA's and every 3 months in other SMSA's and cities• Mailquestionnaires are used to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, news-paper 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 theBureau's trained representatives.

In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in eachlocation are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in thespending of all wage earners and clerical workers. SMSA and city data are then com-bined in the total index with weights based on the 1960 populations of SMSA's andcities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the basealso available on the base of 1957-59»100«

1967»100 and are

The national index (the United States city average) includes prices fromthe 23 SMSA's for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well asfrom the following additional locations:

Alabama - FlorenceAlaska - AnchorageCalifornia - Bakersfield*Colorado - Denver*Connecticut - Hartford*Florida - Orlando*Indiana - Indianapolis*Indiana - LogansportIllinois - Champaign-Urbana*Iowa - Cedar Rapids*Kansas - Wichita*

Louisiana - Baton Rouge*Maine - Portland*Massachusetts - SouthbridgeMichigan - NilesMinnesota - CrookstonMississippi - VicksburgNew Jersey - MillvilleNew York -KingstonNorth Carolina - Durham*North Dakota - Devils LakeOhio - Dayton*

Ohio - FindlayOklahoma - MangumOregon - Klamath FallsPennsylvania - Lancaster*South Carolina - UnionTennessee - Nashville*Texas - Austin*Texas - McAllenUtah - OremVirginia - MartinsvilleWisconsin - Green Bay*

*Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

Comparisons of indexes for individual SMSA's show only that prices in onelocation changed more or less than in another. The SMSA indexes cannot be used tomeasure differences in price levels or in living costs between areas.

A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for theUnited States city average and for 23 large SMSA's are available on request to theBureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C. 20212 or any of its regional offices(addresses below)•


Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Offices

REGION I -Boston REGION II -NewYork REGION III-Philadelphia

Mr. Wendell D. MacdonaldRegional DirectorU.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics1603-B Federal Office BuildingBoston, Massachusetts 02203Phone: .223-6727(Area Code 617)

ConnecticutMaineMassachusettsNew HampshireRhode IslandVermont

Mr. Herbert BienstockRegional DirectorUS. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics341 Ninth Avenue, Room 1025New York, New York 10001Phone: 971-5401(Area Code 212)

Canal ZoneNew JerseyNew YorkPuerto RicoVirgin Islands

Mr. Frederick W. MuellerRegional DirectorUS. Department of LaborBureau of Labor StatisticsPenn Square Building, Room 4061317 Filbert StreetPhiladelphia, Pa. 19107Phone: 597-7816(Area Code 215)

DelawareDistrict of ColumbiaMarylandPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest Virginia

REGION IV-Atlanta REGION V-Chicago REGION VI - Dallas

Mr. Brunswick A. BagdonRegional DirectorU.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics1371 Peach tree Street NE.Atlanta, Georgia 30309Phone: 526-5416(Area Code 404)

Alabama MississippiFlorida North CarolinaGeorgia South CarolinaKentucky Tennessee

Mr. William E. RiceRegional DirectorU.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics219 S. Dearborn StreetChicago, Illinois 60604Phone: 353-7226(Area Code 312)

Illinois MinnesotaIndiana OhioMichigan Wisconsin

Mr. Jack F.StricklandRegional DirectorU.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics1100 Commerce Street, Room 6B7Dallas, Texas 75202Phone: 749-3641(Area Code 214)

ArkansasLouisianaNew Mexico

OklahomaTexas

REGIONS VII and VIII - Kansas City REGIONS IX and X - San Francisco

Mr. Elliott A. BrowarRegional Director\JS. Department of LaborBureau of Labor StatisticsFederal Office Building911 Walnut StreetKansas City, Missouri 64106Phone: 374-2378(Area Code 816)

Mr. Charles A. RoumassetRegional DirectorU.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics450 Golden Gate AvenueBox 36017San Francisco, California 94102Phone: 556-3178(Area Code 415)

Region VII

IowaKansasMissouriNebraska

Region VIII

ColoradoMontanaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaUtahWyoming

Region IX

ArizonaCaliforniaHawaiiNevada

Region X

AlaskaIdahoOregonWashington


the consumer price index may 1971 - st. louis fed · and girls' apparel prices advanced in 2...

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