CPI Detailed Report March 1975 · 2018-11-07 · CPI WPI Index 1974 Decembei 1973 to Marc h 1974 March 1974 to June 1974 June 1974 to Septembe 1974 September 1974 to Decembei 1974

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABORJohn T. Dunlop, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICSJulius Shiskin, Commissioner

OFFICE OF PRICES AND LIVING CONDITIONSW. John Layng, Assistant Commissioner

The CPI Detailed Report is a monthlyreport on consumer price movementsincluding statistical tables andtechnical notes.

This publication may be ordered fromthe Superintendent of Documents,U.S. Government Printing Office,Washington, D.C. 20402. Price:$11.55 for yearly subscription, SIfor single copies and an additional$2.90 for foreign subscriptions.

June 1975

library of CongressCatalog number 74-647019

CPI Detailed ReportFor March 1975Consumer Pries Index U.S. and City Averages

ContentsPage

Price movements 1

Chart 1. All items index and its rate of change, 1966-75 7Chart 2. Commodities less food index and its rates of change,

1966-75 8Chart 3. Total food index and its rates of change, 1966-75 9Chart 4. Services index and its rates of change, 1966-75 10

Table 1. CPI—-United States city average for urban wage earnersand clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, andexpenditure classes 11

Table 2. CPI—United States city average for urban wage earnersand clerical workers, by commodity and service groups, andexpenditure classes 12

Table 3. CPI—United States city average for urban wage earners andclerical workers, food items 13

Table 4. CPI—United States city average for urban wage earnersand clerical workers, indexes for selected items and groups,March 1975, and percent changes from selected dates 14

Table 5. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, all items most recent index,and percent changes from selected dates . . 18

Table 6. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, major groups, percent changefrom February 1975 to March 1975 18

Table 7. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, commodity groups, March1975, and percent change from December 1974 19

Table 8. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups, March1975 and percent changes from selected dates 21

Table 9. CPI—Regular and premium gasoline indexes, selectedareas and U.S. city average for urban wage earners andclerical workers 22

Table 10. CPI—Regular and premium gasoline prices, selectedareas and U.S. city average for urban wage earners andclerical workers 22

Table 11. CPI—Population size groups, 5 classes and U.S. cityaverage for urban wage earners and clerical workers 23

Table 12. CPI—Regional groups, 4 areas and U.S. city averagefor urban wage earners and clerical workers 23

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

Price MovementsMarch 1975

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in Marchto 157.8 percent of its 1967 base. Prices increased formany nonfood items including automobiles, clothing,houses, and medical care services. However, mortgageinterest rates declined, and prices were lower for manyfoods, particularly beef, eggs, and sugar.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the rise in the MarchCPI was 0.3 percent, continuing the declining trend inthe rate of increase which began last fall. The Marchincrease was the smallest since July 1973 when wage-price controls* were in effect. The food index declined0.5 percent in March, the nonfood commodities indexrose 0.6 percent, and the services index increased 0.4percent. All these increases were well below the rates ofincreases prevailing in August and September 1974.

Prices in the first quarterThe CPI rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of

6.6 percent in the 3 months ending in March. This wasthe smallest calendar quarter increase since the fourthquarter of 1972 and was well below the peak rate ofabout 14 percent observed in the third quarter of 1974.The first quarter slowdown in the CPI reflected declinesin many food prices and in mortgage interest rates. Theincrease in food prices fell from a 14.6-percent rate inthe fourth quarter of 1974 to a 1.4-percent annual ratein the first quarter. The rise in services declined by asmaller amount and the rise in nonfood commoditieswas slightly faster than in the fourth quarter. Increasesin all 3 components were well below those in the fall of1974. (See table B.)

Table A. Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods

Month

1974:MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

1975:JanuaryFebruaryMarch

All

Unad-justed

1.1.6

1.11.0.7

1.31.2

.9

.8

.7

.5

.7

.4

items

Seasonallyadjusted

1.1.5

1.1.9.7

1.31.3

.9

.9

.7

.6

.6

.3

Changes from preceding montr

Food

Unad-justed

1.0-.3.7.4.1

1.41.4.7

1.01.1

.7

.4-.2

Seasonallyadjusted

0.6-.4.9.3

-.41.41.91.31.4.7

.8

.1-.5

Commoditiesless food

Unad-justed

1.51.11.41.31.01.31.1.9.8.4

0.7.8

Seasonallyadjusted

1.4.9

1.11.21.31.51.0

.6

.8

.4

.6

.8

.6

Serv-ices

Unad-justed

0.8.6

1.01.01.11.11.1.9.8.9

.8

.8

.4

Changes in all i

Compoundannual rate

From3 months

ago

Seasonallyadjusted

14.211.711.010.311.112.414.215.013.010.1

9.28.16.6

terns

From12 months

ago

Unad-justed

10.210.110.611.011.511.012.012.012.112.2

11.711.110.3


Table B. Percent change in selected components of the Consumer and Wholesale Price Indexes

(Seasonally adjusted, except services; compound annual rate)

Component

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

All itemsFoodCommodities less foodServices

WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX

All commoditiesFarm products and processed foodsand feeds

Crude foods and feeds l

Intermediate materials for foodmanufacturing

Consumer foods

Industrial commoditiesCrude materials except foodsIntermediate materials except foods . .Producers' finished goodsConsumer finished goods exceptfoods

1974

December1973to

March1974

14.219.416.09.2

24.5

10.85.6

61.517.3

32.388.732.613.2

28.3

March1974to

June1974

10.33.1

13.711.0

12.2

-29.3-53.5

13.6-16.7

37.510.443.727.2

25.3

June1974to

September1974

14.212.316.213.9

35.2

59.294.9

81.929.4

28.329.132.231.8

18.5

September1974to

December1974

10.114.67.3

10.9

13.4

2] .910.3

88.129.1

8.2-14.8

8.218.7

10.6

1975

December1974to

March1975

6.61.48.38.2

-6.7

-29.2-41.4

-50.0-13.2

5.1-7.54.2

11.6

4.9

Does not include plant and animal fibers, which arein the farm products index.

Does not include manufactured animal feeds, which areincluded in processed foods and feeds index.

The WPI, which measures prices at the primary marketlevel for goods at all stages of production, declined at aseasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.7 percent for the 3months ending in March. This calendar quarter de-cline was the first in 8 years and contrasts sharply withincreases in 1974 of 35.2 percent at an annual rate in thethird quarter and 13.4 percent in the fourth quarter. Thedecline in the WPI reflected sharply lower food prices atall stages of production—crude, semi-processed, andprocessed foods. Farm and food prices had risen in thepreceding 2 quarters. In addition, the index for crudenonfood materials declined for the second consecutivequarter, and increases continued to moderate for goodsand products at the intermediate stage of production andfor finished nonfood commodities. (See table B.)

The difference in movement between the WPI and theCPI, as in the first quarter, is not unusual since the 2 in-dexes cover different sectors of the economy. A majordifference is that the CPI has a services component,

while the WPI does not. Services represent over one-thirdof total index weight of the CPI. In the WPI, crude andintermediate goods—used to produce finished goods—represent about three-fifths of the index weight. Theconsumer finished goods component of the WPI—thecomponent most nearly comparable to the commoditiescomponent of the CPI—represents less than one-thirdof the total index weight in the WPI. Furthermore, sinceconsumer price indexes are retail measures, they includetransportation, utilities, wages, and other costs of retail-ing as well as margins. Of course, even if the conceptswere strictly comparable, changes in the CPI and theWPI would probably differ because demand and supplyconditions at given times could differ in consumers' andproducers' markets. Prices of consumer goods in the2 indexes, nevertheless, tend to move in the samedirection—although not necessarily simultaneously—because of the interrelationship of prices at the 2 stagesof production.


Consumer food

The slowdown in the rate of increase in prices in thefirst quarter was most evident in the food sector. In theCPI, prices of food purchased in grocery stores declinedat a 1.4-percent rate in the first quarter after rising at a16.2-percent rate in the preceding quarter. Prices turneddown in the first quarter for a wide range of food itemsincluding poultry, pork, milk, eggs, flour, rice, salad oil,coffee, and sugar. Beef and fresh vegetable prices declinedfor the second consecutive quarter. Some items such as

bakery products, nonalcoholic beverages, and other pro-cessed foods, particularly those which contain sugar,continued to increase. Prices of food away from home—restaurant meals and snacks—rose at a 10.9-percentrate.

The decline in grocery store food prices in the CPI,much of which occurred late in the quarter, followedearlier declines at the wholesale level. The WPI index forconsumer foods declined at a seasonally adjusted annualrate of 13.2 percent in the 3 months ended in March,following a rise of more than 29 percent in each of thepreceding 2 quarters.

Table C. Changes in wholesale and retail prices for consumer goods and services

(Seasonally adjusted, except total services, and rent; compound annual rate)

Component

Relative importanceDecember 1974

CPI WPI

Index

1974

Decembei1973

toMarch1974

March1974

toJune

1974

June1974

toSeptembe

1974

September

1974to

Decembei1974

1975

December1974

to

March

1975

Consumer Price Index

Consumer goods

Food

Commodities less food

Nondurables less food

Apparel, less footwear

Footwear

Gasoline

Durables

New cars

Furniture

Appliances, including radio and TV . . .

Services

RentHousehold services less rentMedical careTransportationOther services

100.0

38.9

61.1

36.5

10.7

2.3

5.3

24.7

3.0

2.1

2.3

100.012.643.815.113.215.3

100.0

43.2

56.8

36.2

9.0

1.8

7.8

20.6

10.3

2.5

2.9

CPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPICPICPICPICPICPI

14.2

16.924.019.417.316.028.323.140.410.010.57.47.1

106.8160.7

6.011.33.76.79.38.13.86.89.24.8

13.79.41.47.3

10.3

10.04.53.1

-16.713.725.313.930.99.7

15.27.3

13.723.467.314.115.018.310.213.417.06.5

10.811.04.4

15.114.96.59.9

14.2

14.023.612.329.416.218,51.1.819.112.79.91.5

14.8-8.2

26.519.915.619.815.011.715.614.413.413.95.0

18.117.57.6

10.6

10.1

10.317.514.629.1

7.310.66.27.72.32.42.92.0

-10.8-20.211.117.45.3

20.68.3

14.411.520.310.96.5

13.511.47.48.9

6.6

5.9-2.71.4

-13.28.34.95.65.2

-1.4-.95.5

.37.0

14.712.45.18.73.45.206.85.08.26.18.9

13.93.67.2


A number of factors could account for the differencein movements in the 2 indexes. In addition to food costs,prices at the retail level include other cost inputs such astransportation, utilities, wages, advertising, and otherretailing costs. Also, there is usually some lag beforechanges at the wholesale level show up in retail prices,particularly for more processed foods. The 2 food indexesmay lag partly because food prices in the CPI are col-lected early in the month while prices in the WPI arefor the Tuesday of the week that contains the 13th ofthe month.

The slower rate of increase and decline in food pricesreflected developments at the farm level. Prices of foodproducts at the farm level declined at a seasonally ad-justed annual rate exceeding 40 percent in the 3 monthsending in March. Prices declined for commodities suchas grains, oilseeds, livestock, poultry, milk, and coffee.The decline in farm products prices in the first quarterwas a resumption of a downtrend which began early in1974 but which was interrupted last fall when adverseweather conditions in grain producing areas caused atemporary surge in export demand.

In the first quarter, both domestic and export demandfor grains slackened as a result of continued economicslowdown in many industrial countries and expectationsfor increased output this year. Domestic demand forgrains and for animal feeds was down because of a com-bination of factors. Flour millers were cautious aboutaccumulating large inventories of wheat when bakerswere buying flour only on a short-term basis; cattlemencontinued to reduce feedlot operations; and farmers cutback hog and poultry production. Prices for grains andfor manufactured animal feeds both fell at an annualrate of more than 50 percent in the first quarter.

Declines in cattle prices continued to have a majorimpact on food prices in the first quarter. Cattle pricesdeclined almost steadily from late 1973 through mid-1974. After rising briefly last fall, the downtrend re-sumed in the fourth quarter when prices of other farmproducts—including hogs and poultry—were rising.The decline continued into the first quarter of thisyear as supplies exceeded demand. Because of highcattle inventories on the farm, rising costs, and fallingprices, marketings were increased and cattle slaughterremained at near-record levels in January and February.The depressed cattle market tended to put downwardpressure on hog and poultry prices which declineddespite reduced supplies. Late in the first quarter, how-ever, both cattle and hog prices turned up. The upturnin cattle prices has been attributed to curtailed market-ings stemming from various factors: Adverse weatherconditions; smaller numbers of grain-fed cattle of market-able size currently in feedlots; and placement of more

cattle in feedlots because of higher prices for feed cattleand lower feed prices. The rise in hog prices reflectssmaller supplies. In March, the inventory of hogs andpigs on farms was 17 percent below the year-earlierlevel, and hog slaughter this year has consistently fallenbelow the 1974 levels.

Commodities other than food

The nonfood commodities index in the CPI rose at aseasonally adjusted annual rate of 8.3 percent in the 3months ending in March compared with 7.3 percent inthe fourth quarter of 1974. In the WPI, the index forconsumer nonfood commodities rose at a 4.9-percentrate. If used cars and home purchases—which are notincluded in the WPI—are excluded, the increase in theCPI was 6.3 percent at an annual rate, much closer tothe rise in the WPI but still somewhat larger. Historically,retail prices of nonfood commodities have risen some-what faster than manufacturers' prices of consumer non-food commodities (even if used cars and home purchasesare excluded). But, in 1973 and 1974, calendar quarterincreases were consistently larger in the WPI than in theCPI. (See table C.)

Although price rises for most nonfood commoditiesat the retail level have moderated considerably since thethird quarter of 1974, increases in the first quarter formany types of consumer goods were still large. Pricesfor durable goods such as furniture, appliances, andrecreational goods continued to reflect earlier increasesat the wholesale level. Manufacturers' prices for mostdurables rose sharply throughout 1974; increases stillwere accelerating in the fourth quarter when prices atthe retail level were under downward pressure becauseof a sharp slowdown in demand. Because of the longlead time required to produce durable goods, prices con-tinued to reflect sharp cost increases for materials andsemi-finished products such as metals and metal prod-ucts and plastic materials, as well as increases in laborcosts which followed the termination of wage and pricecontrols in April 1974. But, a continued slowdown inretailers' orders, cutbacks in production, and slowerrises in materials prices contributed to a substantiallysmaller increase in manufacturers' prices in the firstquarter.

In the CPI, the new car index rose at a somewhatfaster rate in the 3 months ending in March than in thepreceding 3-month period primarily reflecting higherprices for 1975 model imports. Rebates offered by do-mestic manufacturers were reflected in the CPI forJanuary and February.

In the nondurables component, cyclically-sensitiveapparel prices at the retail level had the first 3-month


decline since mid-1972. Prices for fuel oil also de-clined at both the retail and wholesale levels in the firstquarter ending in March as a result of high inventories.Winter weather was warmer-than-usual in major fuel-consuming areas and consumption fell for other refinedpetroleum products such as diesel fuel because of theslowdown in economic activity. Gasoline prices, onthe other hand, increased in the first quarter, reversinga downtrend evident in the second half of 1974.Refiners passed on increased crude oil costs to servicestations. The increase at the retail level, however, wassmaller than at wholesale.

Prices of most other nondurable goods such as house-keeping supplies, toilet goods, and drugs and prescrip-tions continued to increase in the first quarter—although not as much as in the preceding quarter. Manu-facturers' prices for these products rose at an accelerat-ing pace in the second half of 1974, but showed a notice-able slowdown in the first quarter as cost increases,particularly for materials, continued to moderate.

In the 3 months ending in March, the rise in theindex for industrial goods at the intermediate stage ofproduction slowed to a 4.2-percent annual rate, from over8 percent in the preceding quarter, and rates of 30 to 40percent in the first 3 quarters of 1974. Wees declinedin the first quarter for textiles, plastics, petrochemicalfeedstocks, inedible fats and oil products, and fabricatedmetal products as a result of the slowdown in demand,particularly in the automobile, apparel, housing, andappliance industries. Prices for paper products and steelmill products rose moderately: most of the increasesoccurred early in the quarter. Some steel products suchas stainless sheet, wire, and bars were faced with ex-tremely heavy import competition.

In the lumber group, prices for hardwood lumbercontinued to decline because of lagging demand fromfurniture, flooring, and pallet manufacturers. But, pricesfor softwood lumber, which had declined steadily in thelast 3 quarters of 1974, turned up in the first quarter.Two factors contributed to the upward pressure: The largeflow of funds into savings institutions and falling in-terest rates which led the housing industry to anticipateincreased demand.

The index for crude industrial materials declined inthe 3 months ending in March at a 7.5-percent annualrate, about half the rate of decline in the fourth quarterof 1974. Prices for iron and steel scrap, plant and animalfibers, and wastepaper continued to decline in the firstquarter, but the declines were much smaller than in thepreceding quarter. Prices for crude petroleum and gasfuels continued to increase. There were also signs thatprices of copper and leather, which had also declined in1974, were turning up due to strengthening of prices in

international markets. Prices for cattlehides and copperscrap both turned up late in the first quarter.

Services

The services component of the CPI is a heterogeneousgroup composed of diverse items such as rent, utilities,property taxes, movie admissions, as well as payments tohairdressers, auto repairmen, babysitters, and doctors.Service prices had accelerated sharply during the first 3quarters of 1974 after wage and price controls werelifted. In late 1974, price increases moderated slightly,although the rise was still at the rate of 10.9 percent. Inthe first quarter of 1975, price increases for servicescontinued to decelerate to an annual rate of 8.2 percent.(See table C.) Price increases slowed for several types ofservices but a substantial share of the first quarter de-celeration resulted from the decrease in mortgage in-terest rates. These smaller increases were offset partly bylarger increases in the medical care services sector, andgas and electricity charges.

Household services. Mortgage interest rates fell 4.2 per-cent in the first quarter, reflecting lower rates for VAloans, FHA-insured loans, as well as conventional homeloans. Throughout most of 1974, developments in themoney market had led to shortages of mortgage fundswhich resulted in higher interest rates. However, withthe easing of monetary restraints and substantial govern-ment support programs designed to provide funds tothe housing market, interest rates began to level off inlate 1974. The decline in the first quarter was the firstsince March 1974. During the first quarter, the supplyof lendable funds increased as savings inflows improvedover mid-1974 and lending institutions built up someliquidity. The inventory of unsold homes remained high,but optimism was generated in the housing market asCongress considered various measures designed to granttax rebates and other assistance to home buyers. Thedecrease in mortgage interest rates was responsible forthe significant slowdown within the household services(less rent) category.

Within the household services group, however, chargesfor gas and electricity accelerated in the first quarter, ashigher fuel costs were passed on to consumers. Despiteconsumer resistance, utility companies also were grantedhigher rates to help meet increasing operating costs,payroll, replacement equipment, as well as to increaseinvestment revenue. Expansion of power facilities hasbeen slowed somewhat due in part to difficulties ex-perienced by some companies in securing capital at ex-isting interest rates. To make their earnings attractive to


prospective investors, companies sought increased ratesfor funds to help in further growth.

In addition, property tax rates continued to increasein the first quarter. Many localities in financial stress,partly from the overall deterioration in the economicsituation during the past year, at the same time had tosupply more services and pay higher salaries to employees.Increases in local property taxes had been avoided inrecent years by supplemental funds through State andfederal revenue sharing programs and other sources, suchas income and sales taxes.

The CPI for apartment and home rentals increasedabout the same in the first quarter of 1975 as in thefinal quarter of 1974. Utility bills, apartment repairs,and maintenance costs continued to rise as demand forrentals remained high. The low level of apartment con-struction resulting from the tight money supply duringmuch of 1974 and the increased trend toward condo-minium conversion had increased the demand foravailable units.

Charges for medical care services rose at an annualrate of 13.9 percent, accelerating from 11.4 percent inthe final quarter of 1974. The increase was slightlysmaller than in the second and third quarters of 1974, im-mediately after the termination of the Economic Stabi-lization Program. The health industry had been undermandatory controls since the program began in August1971. A number of factors contributed to the currentrise in hospital charges: Steady employment and risingwages as well as higher costs for utilities, equipment, andconstruction projects. In the past, some medical carefacilities had depended on philanthropic drives andprivate donations to finance various expansion projects.

However, with the cutback in private donations and in-creasing construction costs, some medical care facilitieshave had to issue revenue bonds, acquire mortgages, andpay interest. In addition, the demand for health care,which is relatively inelastic, has become less sensitive tochanges in the general business cycle because of Medicareand Medicaid, and private health insurance. Charges forgeneral physicians' house and office visits increased 15.5percent in the first quarter, compared to 10.3 percent inthe final quarter of 1974.

Transportation services. The rate of increase in trans-portation services was about half as fast as in the finalquarter of 1974. Public transportation charges declinedslightly as intercity bus fares decreased during the firstquarter. Airline fares, which were increased in November1974 remained stable. Local transit fares also remainedstable as many transit systems had more riders and in-creased subsidies. On the other hand, prices paid byconsumers for auto repairs and maintenance acceleratedagain in the first quarter.

Other services. In other services, such as apparel, per-sonal care, and recreation, the rise during the firstquarter was less than in the final quarter of 1974.Employers attributed some of the price rise to higherlabor costs resulting from the 1974 amendments (effectivein January 1975) to the Fair Labor Standards Act,which extended minimum wage and overtime provisions.Drycleaning charges increased significantly in the firstquarter, as some cleaning establishments passed higheroperating costs through to consumers.


ISO

135

120

105

90

Chart 1. All items index and its rate of change, 1966-75(1967-100)

CPI flLL ITEMS INDEX(NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN(flNNUflL RflTE, SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTE

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN<flNNUflL RflTE, SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

1/ Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


' 165

150

135

120

105

90

Chart 2. Commodities less food index and its rates of change,1966-75

(1967=100)

RRITH.CflLESCP

6

4

2

0

-2

flRITH.SCflLE

6

4

2

0

CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX(SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPRN(SERSONRLLY RDJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RflTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RRTE, SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPRN 1 /

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

\J Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

8


Chart 3. Total food index and its rates of change, 1966-75( 1967 «100 )

RRITH.SCflLE

CPI TOTflL FOOD INDEX(SERSQNRLLY flDJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN(SERSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPfl'flNNUflL RflTE, SEflSONflLLY RDJUSTE

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN(flNNURL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1 /

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

1/ Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

9


SEMI-LOG

165

150

135

120

105

90

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Chart 4. Services index and its rates of change, 1966-75[ 1967 = 100 )

CPI SERVICES INDEX'NOT SEflSQNflLLY RDJUSTED

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN

(NOT SERSOARLLY'ROJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RRTE, NOT /6ERS0NRLLY ROJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RRTE, NOT rffcflSONRLLY ROJUSTED)

MflR11 . 0

1.00 .90 .80.70 .60 .50 .40 . 30 .20 .10 . 0

- 0 . 1

flRITH.SCALE

10

8

6

4

2

0

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

\J Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

10


Table 1. 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

1974

Unadjusted indexes

1967=100 unless

otherwise noted

February

1975

March

1975

Unadjusted

percent change ti

March

1974

February

1975

Seasonally adjusted

percent change f rom—

December to

January

January toFebruary

February to

March

Apparel and upkeep .

Transportation

Private

Public

Health and recreation

Medical care

Personal care

Reading and recreation. . .

Other goods and services ,

All items less shelter

All items less medical care

All items less mortgage interest costs

CPI - domestically produced farm foods5

CPI - selected beef cuts 6

Purchasing power of c< dollar:

1967=81.00 . . .

1957-59=31.00.

All items

All items (1957-59=100).

Commodities

Food

Food at home

Cereais and bakery products

Meats, poultry, and fish

Dairy products

Fruits and vegetables

Other foods at home

Food away from home



Apparel commodities '

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 automobiles

Used automobiles

Other durables

Services

Rent

Services less rent

Household services less rent

Transportation services

Medical care services

Other services

Special indexes*

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)

All items

Food

Housing

Shelter2

Rent

Homeownership3

Fuel and utilities 4

Gas and electricity

Household furnishings and operatio

Commodity and service groups

63.762

24,78519.6572.8826.1402.8873. Ill4.6375. 128

38.97723.2558.2732.6173.6111.438

14. 9823.3881.9362.3151.0286.316

15.7224.5751.9052.0267.217

36.2384.568

31, 67015,8564.7965.4735.545

75.21548.0406.835

30.7659.6345.2464.6911.445

100.00024.78533.76621,2934.568

16.3355.0082.5487.4659.633

12.71511.450

1.26618.7236.2412. 5195.2224. 74278.70793.75995.61517.2141.976

157.2182.8154.4171.6172.0187.3162.7155.6166.7193.1170.5

144.9148.2139.2140.6135.4143.0153.6160.1152.8140.7229.5147.7140. 3137.3124.5133.5149.3162.6135.1167.5180.4147.2172.9149.7

153.0159.6138.5160.9176.3151.4189.7116.4

157.8183.6155.0171.3171.4189.1161.8155.4167.4190. 1171.3

146.0148.8139.9141.3136. 1144.0154.2160.5153. 1141.4228.3148.5

142. 1138,3127.3135.3151.3163.2135.5168.3180.8148.3174.7150. 1

153.9159.7139.1161.4176.5152.3190. 1116.9

9.97.76.7

19.2-5.72.63.0

26.611.511.49.35.97.23.46.7

11.32.09.8

11.313.317.214.311.812.932.412.311.05.5

11.913.96.2

14.49.1

11.28.55.7

10.411.110.215.09.8

-.2-.31.0-.6-.1.4

-1.6. 5

.8

. 4

.5, 5. 5.7. 4.2.2. 5

- .5.5

1.3.7

2.21.31.3.4.3.5.2.7

1.0.3

.6

.1

.4

.3

. 1

.6

.2

.4Expenditure classes

162.7165.8135.1177.3162.2162.7154.7140.2143.5142.5152.3150.2163.0147.8141.8145.9

155.0156.9155.1169.3154.8

$0,636.547

163.6166.6135.5178.2163.0164.0155.6140.9144.8144.0152.3151.1164. 6148.9142.0146.5

155.6157.5155.7168.5151.6

$0,634.545

10.37.7

12.911.55.5

13.412.517. 117.36.69.7

10.43.9

11.613.713.09.7

10.3

10.010.19.94.2

-14.3

-9.3

0.4

- .2.6. 5.3. 5. 5.8.6

. 5

. 91. 10.6

1.0.7. 1.4

.4

.4

.4-. 5

-2. 1

r. 3

0.6

. 7

.8

.62.0- . 9- . 3. 1

-.21. 1. 6. 5

- . 3- . 3- . 7

. 4

*. 6-.71.1

-1.8*-2. 5

1.6* . 8* , 4* . 8

. 9- . 51.3

. 7

. 7

. 6- . 4* . 7. 5

1.2. 9

* . 7

0.6

1.01.0*.41.21. 11.9.8

- . 2

- . 3

* . 91.3

. 9

. 8

. 7

. 6

. 6

. 5* . 5

* - . 9

0.6

.6

. 1-.1.8

-1.7. 1

1.51.0. 9

. 8

. 5

. 2

. 6- . 8. 7. 9. 8

*. 5• 1.001. 11.0.4

• 1 . 2

*-1.01.6*. 8*.8*.81. 1.3

1.2.7

. 9

. 4

. 1* .7.9.7.6

*. 3

0.6. 1

1. 11.2*.81.2.8

1.41.0

.7

.6- . 1

*. 91.2.9

.6

. 6*. 4

*- l . 1

.2- .5-.91.0

-2. 10-.7

-1.1. 6

. 6

. 3

. 1- . 2. 5. 3. 4. 1

* . 2* . 5- . 8

. 5

1.3.5

2.8*1.31.5*.4*. 3*. 5.1

1.2

. 5- . 3

0* . 3

. 2

. 6

. 1* . 4

- . 5

. 6

. 5* . 3

. 6

. 4

. 9

. 4

.11.01. 1-. 1*.6.7.7.2.4

.3

.4

.3*-. 5

*-2. 1

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 food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic beverages, bananas.

chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup, and about half of the index weight for sugar.6 Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and beef live

* Not seasonally adjusted.

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

11


Table 2. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes

Group

All items

Commodities

Food

Food at home

Cereals and bakery products

Dairy products


Other foods at home

Food away from home



Apparel commodities '

Men's and boys'

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

Other nondurables

Durable commodities . . .

Household durables

New automobiles

Used automobiles (not seasonally adjusted)

Other durables

Services (not seasonally adjusted)

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 . . .

Services less medical care services (not seasonally adjusted)

Insurance and finance . . .

Utilities and public transportation

Housekeeping and home maintenance service

Appliances (including radio and TV) (not seasonally adjusted)

All items

Food

HousingShelter3

Rent (not seasonally adjusted). , ,Homeownership *

Fuel and utilities *

Gas and electricity

Household furnishings and operation

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation

PrivatePublic

Health and recreation (not seasonally adjusted)

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 (not seasonally adjusted)

CPI — selected beef cuts (not seasonally adjusted)

Seasonally adjusted indexes

(1967=100)

December

1974January

1975February

1975

153.0170.4171.3182.1167.7155.5166.1190.3167.4143.5147.1140.3141.5137.9142. 1151.3158.1150.9138.5229.5144.6

138.7136.1123.8138.4144.6160.0133.5164.8177.0146.6168.8147.7

151.0158.3140.0158.7173.8148.0187.5115.2

170.4

159.4162.5133.5173.3158.6156.5152.5

140.8143.4142.4151.8147.5159.3145.3139.9143.9

153.7155.3153.5167.8158.0

154.0171.8172.4185.7166.2155.0166.2190.0169.2144.3147.8139.9141. 1137.0142.6152.5159.5152. 1139.3227.8146.2

139.6137.2121.6134.9146.9161.3134.0166.2178.6145.8171.0148.8

152.0159.3139.4159.8174.6149.8189.2116.0

171.8161.0164. 1134.0175.4160.3159.4153,7140.5

142.9142.2151.9148.9161.3146.6141.0144.9

154.6156.2154.3168.7156.6

154.9171.9172.3187.1163.4155. 1168.7191.9170.8145.5148.6140.2142.0135.9143.6153.8160.7152.8140.7227.7147.8

141.0137.7123.0133.5149.3162.6135. 1167.5180.6146.2173.1149.8

153.3159.9139.5160.9176.1150.8190.3116.4

171.9

162.7166.0135.1177.5161.6161.7155.2

141.0

143.9143. 1151.8150.2163.2147.9142. 1146.0

155.2157.1155.3169.3154.8

March

1975

Seasonally adjusted annual rate

percent change for

3 months ending in

June

1974

September

1974Commodity and service group

155.2171.0170.7188.9160.0155.1167.6189.7171.8146.4149.1140.3141.7136.6144.0154.4160.8153.1141.4225.8148.6

126.4135.3151.6163.2135.5168.3180.8147.9174.4150.3

154.1159.5139.5161.4176.5151.7190.5116.9

171.0163.6166.8135.5178.6162.2163.2155.8141.2

145.4144.7151.7151.1164.4148.9142.4146.6

155.6157.7155.7168.5 .151.6

10.3

10.03. 11.0

19.5-30.8

7.633.820.012.513.613.9

9 . 412.7

5 .67 . 3

17.523.410. 19.4

34.918.2

It I18.3

104.46 .7

11.04 . 4

11.915.1

6 . 514.9

9 . 9

13.08 . 79 . 7

10.28.6

10.324.16.9

Expendit

10.3

3. 1

12.710.04.4

10.616.216.119.6

9.7

18.018.96.5

12.413.314.710.69.3

10.610. 19.9

-3.7-29.7

14.2

14.012.312.011.628.5-6.6

-19.648.510.516.211.812.011.613. 111.511.3-8.410.818.417.421.2

ifcl19.853.010.6

13.95 . 0

15.318.17 . 6

17.510.6

15.112.212.713.415.410.922.014.4

re classes

14.2

12.3

15.913.15.0

16.013.720.224.4

12.3

15.917.41.6

13.916.815.211.612.9

14.213.713.610.626.5

December1974

10. 1

10.3

14.616.231.07.2

11.31.0

45.711.87.36.22.64 . 4- . 62 . 98.6

-10.812.68.8

11.018.1

11. 19.75.37 . 6

11.6

10.96 . 5

11.713.5

7 . 411.48 . 9

8 . 79.92 . 3

11.014.5

9 . 48.5

i i . 9

10.1

14.612. 112.26.5

14.310.814.217.1

3.5

.3-.38.0

10.111.011.89.1

11.3

10.210.410.38.8

-28.3

March1975

6 months ending in

September

1974

6.65.9

-VA15.8

-17. 1-1.03.7

-1.310.98.35.6

0. 6

-3.75 . 58.57.06.08.6

-6.311.5

8! 7-8.720.8

8 . 26. 18 . 88 . 93 . 6

13.97 . 2

8 . 53. 1

-1.47.06.4

10.46.66.0

6.61.4

11.011.06.1

12.89.4

18.38.91.1

5.76.6-.3

10. 113.410.37.37.7

5.06 , 35 . 91.7

-15.2

12.2

12.0

7.66.3

15.5-5.7

.33.7

33.511.515.012.910.712.1

9 . 39 . 4

14.36.4

10.413.825.919.7

19^076.8

8 . 6

12.54 . 7

13.616.6

7 . 016.210.3

14.010.511.211.811.910.623. 110.6

12.2

7.614.311.64.7

13.214.918.122.0

11.0

17.018.14.0

13.115.014.911.1

11.1

12.411.911.83.2

-5.7

March

1975

8.3

8.1

7.87.0

23.2-5.74.92.3

20.011.47.85 .91.32 . 4

-2.24 . 28 . 5

-2.39 .28 . 72 . 0

14.8

11 7

7lo- . 9

16.19 . 66 .3

10.211.1

5 .512.78 . 0

8 . 66 . 4

. 49 . 0

10.49.97.58.9

8.37.8

11.511.66.3

13.610.116.212.92.3

3.03.13.8

10.112.211.0

8 .2

9.5

7.68 . 48 . 05.2

-22.0

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 repair

4 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.

12


Table 3. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,food items

March 1974 February 1975

tVcent change to March 1975f r o m

Seasonal I vUnadjusted Unadjusted " '

adjusted


Percent change to March 1975

from

Unadjusted Unadjusted

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

CookiesLayer cake

Cinnamon rolls


Meats

Beef and veal

Steak, round

Steak, sirloin

Steak, porterhouse . . .

Rump roast

Rib roast

Chuck roastHamburger

Beef liver

Veal cutlets

Pork

Chops

Loin roast

Sausage

Ham, whole

Picnics

Bacon

Other meats

Lamb chops

Frankfurters

Ham, canned

Bologna sausage

Salami sausage

Liverwurst

Poultry

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


Fresh fruits and vegetables .

Fresh fruits

Apples

Bananas

171.3171.3170.4175.8171.4189. 1170.5231.3166.9219.7171.9176.4199.1194.8202.8161.8159.7153.3152.8143.7148.9152.2163.4155.3150. 2144.418 5.3170. 5159.3166.3189.8165.4159.9183,1158.8162.0152.8166.6161.4154.4155.4151.8155. 1150.5138.2197.1163.2216.8178.7228.5155.4153.4167.3182.7152.3168.8115.3167.4159.9153.4149.6147.3

171. 0171.8170.9176.2170.7188.9169.8230.4166.7218.4171.9176.4198.9194.2203.4160.0157.8151.8150.0143.4148.6150.0161.6150.0149.2145.1185.3167.3155.3162.4188.7162.2155.1182.2158.0161.4151.9165.0161.4154.6155.6150.6153.4150.7137.9196.7163.0217.9178.3229.0155. 1152.6166.8183.1152.1168.8115.4167.6160.2160.1157. 1149.2

7.711.510. 118.76.7

19.2-4.933.039.3-8.810.012. 157.932.635.1-5.7-7.7

-14.1-10.6-9.3-6.0-8.8-4.2

-18.1-23.4-17.8-9.0

.91.1

-1.9- .3

-1.2-9,99.8

-5.34 . 1

-12 .1-.8

-8.4-7.2-6.7

-. 11.82.7

-11.96.4

-8.9.9

9.424.32.6-.22.0

11.121.5-1.3

.13.0

ill?-3.460.5

-0.2. 5.5.5

-.31.0

-2.35.4.4.2

-.2-.24.5.3.8

- . 6- . 7

- 2 . 1- 2 . 1-2.6-2.2-1 .5- 1 . 6-1.7-2.4-3.0-1. 5

.5-.2-.4.7. 9

1.8. 9. 3. 2

-.1.8.5.3.5

-.1.3

-.3- 1 . 6-.1-.8-.5.1.7

-.1-.4-.2.0.5..2.3.4

-.99.5

-0.5.6. 5.7

-. 91.0

-2.45.1.2. 6

- .3. 1

3.9-.21.1

-2. 1-2.4-2.8-2.5-3.5-2.8-1.8-2.8-3.5-2.7-3.7-2.4-1.9-2. 5-2.6-1.6

- .2-1.2-.5-.8-.3

-2.2.5

-.4-.5.8

-2.3-2.5-1.2-2. 1-.2-.8. 5.0

1.30

- . 8- . 5- . 1. 2. 4. 6

- . 7-1.4

. 9-3.49.9

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

Carrots

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

Grape jelly

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

146.4145.4142.4

()

165.2142.9125.7217.8158.7179.8141.7236.0147.7179.4181.2175.6178.7178.7166.4

170. 1152.5188.1189.6162.2174.2237.1153.7190. 1153.5213.1248.9157.7234.3269.5410.6231.7238.7216.5177.8167.1173.4142.3209.5210.1

164.7188.6135.3162.4156.1169.5161.4173.9168.6

152.3145.7162.2

l

()(*)

159.6147.6128.0180.7148.6179. 1138.5192.3159. 0159.8181.4174.2178.9178.5166.7

170. 1153.3186.8189.4162.7174. 5237.6153.7189.7152.3

249.4157. 5234.8269.0410.2230.5240. 1215,0177.8167. 1173.4142.4208.9210.1

164.4188.2134.8162.. 1155.8169.3161.4172.3168.4

5.4146.4

7.2!

)-10.0-45.8-32.2

9.7- .4

32.87.3

56.27.7

28.13.85.59.8

24.324.2

36.68.9

48.324.536.226. 1

-39.117. 126.6

-12.731.435.929.429.466.4

138.258.030.446.725.211.320.523.248.247.6

24. 129.4

9.821.722.831.423.422.430.4

0.5.5.1

<*)- .7

-6.211.2

(X)- . 35.8

- 1 . 9

10.2-16.9-2.7-.4.1.4. 5.2

1.7.5

1.72.3.2.8

-2.5. 9

-1.6-10.8

-.8-1.61.4

-1.5-1.6-7.62.02.31.1. 5

- . 1.1

1.91.0.4

.7

.7

.4-.6-.3-.5.5

2.13.3

0.1. 6

-.1!

-3.9-7.613.4

(!)3.87.51.2

10.5-17.7-6.31.53.7.6.4.4

1. 5.4

1.61.8.5. 9

-1 .7. 7

-1 .1-7.9

(')-1.61.2

-1.3-2.0-7.71.52.3

. 6. 5. 1. 3

1.7. 6. 1

. 6

. 8

. 3-.6-. 1-.8.4

1.43.1

Priced only in season.

13


Table 4. Consumers Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,indexes for selected items and groups, March 1975, and percent changes from selected dates

Item and group

Otherindexbase

Mar. 70

Dec. 71Mar. 70Dec. 71

June 70

Indexes

February 1975

162.7165.8135. 1177.3145.6155.9128.0183.9157. 9154.9146.4195.2

205.0214.6186.4191.4185.9162.222 9. 5224.4162.7162.4163.0

122.4

165.0154.7141.4141.8149.4134.0146.9164.9122.6132.5142.3

126.3137.0121.6127.0109.8133.5128.2

145.4128.0118.0147.6155.312 5.3128.7114.7

126.4

126.3132.6

120.6126.3

168.5167. 9143.6146.2121.6

158.2202.2199.7

192.4183.8175.3182.5151.3183.2

March 1975

163.6166.6135.5178.2142.7156.3128.4184. 1158.4155.2145.5195.2204.7213.4185.0192.6188.9163.0228.3223.1164.0163.9164.0

123.4

166.0155.6142.4141.3145.6132.9146.9168.6121.6131.5144.0

126.9137.3122.7129. 5110.5134.9128.2

148.0128.5118.3148.7155.7126. 1129.2114.9

126.5

127. 5134.0

121.2126.7

170.8171.5143.9149.0120.4

160.1201.5199.5

193.3185.6175.3183.9151.7184.4

Percent change toMarch 1975 from —

March 1974

12.911.5

5.513.4

6 .53.43.7

13.59.2

21.816.315.113.818.216.015.710.712.513.310.717.118.416.0

2 . 0

9.817.314.312.211.88.8

16.516.810.28.19.6

9.68 .5

11.011.8

6.67 .3

13.J11.614.211. 118.722.213.515.310.1

15.8

14.716.1

8.011.2

21.922.210.415.2

9.7

31.736.140.2

23.724.8

-. 113.610.315.5

February 1975

0.6. 5. 3. 5

-2.0• 3. 3. 1. 3. 2

- . 60

-. 1- . 6- . 8. 6

1.6. 5

- . 5- . 6. 8. 9. 6

. 8

. 6

. 6

. 7- . 4

-2.5- . 8

02.2- . 8- . 81.2

. 5

. 2

. 92 .0

. 61.0

go1.8. 4. 3. 7. 3. 6. 4. 2

. 1

1.01. 1

. 5

. 3

1.42. 1

. 21.9

-1.0

1.2- . 3- . 1

. 51.0

0. 8

. 3

. 7

Housing

Shelter 'Rent, residential

Homeownership 2

Mortgage interest rates

Property taxes

Property insurance premiums

Maintenance and repairs

Maintenance and repair commodities :

Exterior house paint

Interior house paint

Maintenance and repair services . . . .

Repainting living and dining

Reshingling house roof

Residing house

Replacing sink

Repairing furnace

Fuel and utilities

Fuel oil and coal

Fuel oil, No. 2

Gas and electricity

Gas

Electricity

Other utilities:

Residential telephone services

Residential water and sewerage

services

Household furnishings and operation 4

Housefurnishings

Textiles

Sheets, full, flat

Curtains, tailored

Bedspreads

Drapery fabrics

Pillows, bed

Slipcovers and throws, ready-made . .

Furniture and bedding

Bedroom furniture, chest and

dresser

Sofas, upholstered

Cocktail tables

Dining room chairs

Recliners, upholstered

Sofas, dual purpose

Bedding, mattress and box springs...

Aluminum folding chairs

Cribs

Floor coverings

Broadloom carpeting

Vinyl sheet goods

Vinyl floor tile

Appliances (excluding radio and T V ) . . .

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:

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.

14


Table 4. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,indexes for selected items and groups, March 1975, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

Other

index

base F e b r u a r y 197 5 March 197 5

Percent change toMarch 1975 from—

March 1974 F e b r u a r y 1975

Apparel and upkeep fc

Apparel commodities

Apparel commodities less footwear ,

Men's and boys'

i/eight

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, heavyw

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

Handbags

Girls':

Raincoats

Skirts, fall and winter

Dresses

Slacks, fall and winter

Slips

Handbags

Miscellaneous apparel:

Diapers

Yard goods

Wrist watches, men's and women's . . . .

Footwear

Men'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

ransportation

Private8

Automobiles, new

Automobiles, used

Gasoline, regular and premium

Motor oil

Tires

Auto repairs (mechanical) and maintenance9 . .

Auto insurance premiums

Auto registration fees

Parking fees, private and municipal

140.2139.2138. 5140.6

141.6137.0

98.8131.5114.8141. 3151. 1151.512 5. 6152.6127.9151.6

110.2118.9172.0152.0135.4

123.4131.9128.7142.5149.6144.2144. 1117.1136. 1125.8139.6

91.8130.7127. 1171.9

128.2132.2134.0165.7125.3142.0

176.3

163.8132.8143.0

147.0158.0

137.8132.1145.2137.3

142.0148. 0150.3

147.2130.4150.3

140. 913 9. 9139. 1141.3

140.3137.4101. 0133.4118. 1142. 6151.3151.4126.6154. 1127.9153.3

108.8118.7172.8152. 1136. 1

121.2(5)

137.7148.0150.3143.9144.4117.4137.4126.0139.891.9

130.9128. 0171.4

129.4132.2134.7168.0125.3139.5

180. 1

162.0133.3144.0

148.0158.5

139. 1132. 1145.8138.3

143.9148.7152. 1

148. 5132. 1151.2

L51.8137.9

143.5142.5124. 5133.5160.6153.4125.6171.9138.3130.41 67. 4

152.2138. 9

144.8144. 0127.3135.3161.0153. 6125.7173. 9139.2130.4168.3

6.65.95.77.2

4.23.5.0

9.31.51. 1

16. 114.17.0

13.66.8

14.8

-2.4-4.314.912.6

3.4

()11.39.34.13.1

10.63.57.9

. 110.77.57.4

12.3(7)

8.5(7)

11.4-2.3

. 5

. 5

. 4

. 5

- . 9.3

2.21.42.9-.9. 1

- . 1.8

1.0. 0

1. 1

1.m

#

.

1.

7 .3 .

#

1.

1.

• 1 .

32515

8

0952230211273

, 905

, 40

. 8

11.97 . 76 . 7

7 . 39.9

4 . 74 . 07. 15 . 0

5 . 511.4

8.9 •

13.68 . 79 . 85 . 28 . 4

9 , 710.412.932.4

1 .49.7

11.215.7

. 91.28 . 7

- 1 . 1. 4. 7

.7

. 3

. 90

. 4, 7

1 .3. 5

1.2

. 91 .3

. 6

. 3

. 7

. 91. 12 . 21 .3

. 2

. 1. 1

1.2. 7

0. 5


15



Item and groupOther

index

February 1975 March 1975



Transportation—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

Antispasmodics

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:

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

Women's haircuts

Shampoo and wave sets, plain

Permanent waves, cold

Reading and recreation1?

Recreational goods

TV sets, portable and console

T V replacement tubes

Radios, portable and table models

Tape recorders, portable

Phonograph records, stereophonic

Movie cameras, 8mm

Film, 35mm, color

Golf balls

Jan. 72Jan. 72Jan. 72Jan. 72Jan. 72Jan. 72Jan. 72

152.3147.8165.4149.2154.2178. 5

150.2163.0116.0126.3100.3128.6113. 1156.4123.2130.4107.470.3

151.4105.6118.3161.7118.2116.8

100.8

162.9167.4163.4158.7166. 1147.8147. 5155.8157.2161.6156.6148.7

145.8145.3127.3226.1230.6151.0124. 1107. 1115.6123.8123.8131.6117.8147.8146.6126.2198.6145. 0121.4151.2116. 1190.8114.2148.9152.1146.7159.0150.2126.6141.8121.3100.9153.8103. 595.6

121.494.1

118.9104.6

152. 3147.8165.9150. 1154.3175.5

151. 1164.6116.8127.6101.6129.4113.9159.0124.5131.0107.770.5

152. 8105.4118.7162.4118.6117.2

101. 1

165.0169.7166.4160.2167.4148.8148.4158.5158.7163. 1157.8150. 5

146.9148. 1128.4227.8232.7151.4126.0108.6116. 1124.2126.8132.3118.5148.9148.3128.7197. 1147.5

ISfeS118.4194.9116.6149.4152.4147.3159.9150.8126.8142.0121.9100.8155. 1103.795.4

121.594.1

119.2103.6

3.9- .6

14. 118. 19.0

10.4

11.613.78.9

11.65.59.49.9

21.87.5

11.46.13.7

11.9.7

9.113.44. 14.6

8.0

13.814.614.512.013.38.8

10. 115.212.213.111.810.4

15.416.519.022.711.716.28.38.4

13.618.319.39.5

13.017.216.931.013.713:J11.736.75.78.78.98.6

11.28.65.69.78.52.9

13. 13.0

. 510.2

3.59.7- . 5

00

.3

.6

. 1-1.7

. 61.0. 7

1.01.3. 6. 7

1.71. 1. 5. 3. 3. 9

- . 2. 3. 4. 3. 3

. 3

1.31.41.8. 9. 8. 7. 6

1.71.0. 9. 8

1.2

1.9

. 9

. 31.51.4. 4. 3

2.4. 5. 6. 7

1.22 .0- .81.7

1:12.02. 12.1

. 3

. 2

. 4

. 6

. 4

.2

. 1

. 5-. 1.8.2

- .2. 1

0. 3

-1 .0


16



Item and groupOther

index

base F e b r u a r y 1975 March 1975


March 1974 F e b r u a r y 1975

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

T V repair

Film developing

Reading and education:

Newspapers, street sale and delivery

Magazines, single copy and subscription

Piano lessons, beginner


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

142. 1116. 9124.6141.2131.4166.0148.5169. 5166.4178.4172.5137.7

(5)104.6122. 1

171.2143. 1138. 1145.9152.8154.7155.7122.6140.7139.4113.5151.9154.9

140.7115.9182.6

142.4118.3124.7141.8133.6167. 5148.0169.0165. 5178.8172.8137.8

(5)105.2123.3

172.2143. 1138.5146.5153. 1155. 1155.9122.9141.4140.8113.6152.8155. 1

141.8116.8183.4

9.56.07.0

10.210.817.59.1

11.710.814.212.46.6O

4.75.9

19.57.05.2

10.39.8

10.110.34.5

11.317.23.55.4

10.4

6.712.66.2

. 21.2. 1. 4

1.7. 9

- . 3- . 3- . 5. 2. 2

o. 6

1.0

. 60

. 3

. 4

. 2

. 3

. 1

. 2

. 51.0. 1. 6. 1

.8

.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 filter, packaged dry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown

separately.4 Also includes window shades, nails, carpet sweepers, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring pads,

envelopes, reupholstering, and moving expenses.5 Priced only in season.

6 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.

7 Not available.8 Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately.9 Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair, exhaust sy-

stem repair, front end alignment, and chassis lubrication.10 Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperbook books, and college text-

books, not shown separately.

17


Table 5. 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

Area1

U.S. city average . . . . . . .

ChicagoDetroit . . . . .Los Angeles—Long BeachN.Y.-Northeastern NJPhiladelphia

Boston .HoustonMinneapolis-St PaulPittsburgh

BuffaloClevelandDallasMilwaukeeSan DiegoSeattleWashington

AtlantaBaltimoreCincinnatiHonoluluKansas CitySt. Louis

Pricingschedule '

M

MMMMM

1111

2222222

3333333

Indexes

1967-100 1957-59-100 Otherbases

March 1975

157.8

155.6157.2154.2163.4161.1

183.6

176.8180.6

181.4194.4188.2

January 1975

156.4159.4156.2154.4

157.6157.7154.0152.2157.2151.8157.9

158.5162.9156.0151.4154.8152.4156.0

187.3182.3181.0177.6

February 1975

178.0

171.8

178.4183.9

March 1975

182.3189.1177.0

183.7178.1185.7

3173. 3

3166. 5

4 165 .2

5163.2

Percent change from:

March 1974

10.3

9.58 . 5

12.18 . 49.6

January 1974

1 0 . 114.611.310.8

February 1974

9 . 31 1 . 010.3

9 . 512.111.89.7

March 1974

10.010.610.49.9

11.710.312.1

December 1974

1 . 5

1 . 6. 6

2 . 81 .11.2

October 1974

2 . 23 . 41 . 5

1 . 4

November 1974

1.63 . 11.81 .52 . 42.61.2

December 1974

1 . 71 . 81 . 42.21.42.62.6

February 1975

0 . 4

. 8

. 31.3. 1. 4

1 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. Areadefinitions were established for the 1960 Census and exclude revisions made since 1960.

* Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and servicespriced as indicated:

M - Every month.1 - January, April, July, and October.2 - February, May, August, and November.

3 - March, June, September, and December.3 November 1963=100.4 February 1965=100.s December 1963-100.

NOTE: Price changes within areas are found in the Consumer Price Index; differences in living costsamong areas are found in family budgets.

Table 6. Consumer Price Index-United States and selected areas1 for urban wage earners and clerical workers,major groups, percent change from February 1975 To March 1975

Expenditure classU.S.city

avarage

ChicagoLongBMCh

Naw York -

New Jersey

All items

FoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Medical carePersonal careReading and recreation .,Other goods and services

- . 2. 6. 5. 9. 6

1.0. 7. 1. 4

0.8

- . 31.61.61.0

. 71.1(2). 5. 3

0.3

- . 8. 5

1.91.2. 1. 2(2). 2

- . 5

1.3

- . 23 . 1

. 0

. 8

. 7

. 2

. 4

0.1

-. 1- . 3. 1

1. 1. 5

1.4(2)

- . 5. 3

0.4

- . 1. 8. 5. 7• 4

1.0(2)

- . 2• 3

1 See footnote 1, table 5.2 Not available.

18


Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas1 for urban wage earners and clerical workers,commodity groups, March 1975, and percent changes from December 1974

GroupU.S.city

averageLong Beach

New Y o r k -

NorthMtttrn

New JerseyPhiladelphia

All items

Food

Food at home



Dairy products


Other food at home

Food away from home

Housing

Shelter...Rent, residential

Homeownership

Fuel and utilities

Fuel oil and coal

Gas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep

Men's and boys'

Women's and girls'

Footwear

Transportation

Private

Public


Medical care

Personal care



All items

FoodFood at home



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


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

Transportation

Private

Public


Medical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services


157.8

171.3171.4189.1161.8155.4167.4190.1171.3

163.6166.6135.5178.2163.0228.3164.0155.6

140.9141.3136.1144.0

144.8144.0152.3

151.1164.6148.9142.0146.5

1.5

.9

.64.1

-1.0. 1

3.8- . 92 . 2

2 . 32 . 21.52 .42 .9- . 24.72.2

- . 7-.8

-2.81 . 3

. 91. 1. 2

2 .43 .52 . 51.61.8

155.6

172.4173.4197.6164.2152.4173.7190.7168.2

156.3160.1131.2173.5147.5211.9146.6150.3

136.6132.4136.2139.3

146.1143.1164.9

151.7163.8147.1143.5149.7

1.6

1.4. 9

5.6- . 51 . 54 . 0

-2.43 . 0

3 . 23 . 43 . 44 . 33.81 . 27 . 22 . 0

- 1 . 2- 1 . 3-2.9

.9

. 1

. 1- . 1

1.93 . 2

. 22 . 1

. 9

157.2

166.4165.7194.4155.5157.2154.2181.9169.7

162.2170.4

(a)177.6152.6217.5159.0143.1

137.1144. 9124.0147.9

144.4143.1158.7

157.9180.7

(2)144.2148.4

154.2

166.0168.6187.9159.9 '152.2161.5186.0158. 6

161.6166. 1132.7176.6153.3

175.2150.0

134.3127.0132.6139.9

145.8147.3117.5

144.7160.6139.9131.5140.4

Percent changes December 1974 to March 1975

0.6

-3.3-4.4-2.3-6.9-4.3

- . 4-4.82 . 0

1.81.1(2)1.13.41.24 .42 . 9

01.8

-2.71 . 3

1 . 0

1. 1- . 1

3 . 25 . 4(2)1 . 12 . 4

2.8

1.11.04 .2- . 7- . 11.11.61 . 4

5.36 .9

34.08.21.9

2 . 91.6

- . 8-1.7-1.8

- . 4

1.31 . 4

0

2 .63 . 12 . 72 . 02 . 6

163.4

176.3176.9190.7165.2161.9182.6195.3175.0

168.8169.5

(2)183.5182.4236.4190.4159.2

141.4138.8136.9140.6

153.5149.8168.0

157.3177.3

(2)146.5153.9

1.1

1.3. 9

3.3-1.0

1.13.8- . 22 .5

. 5

. 1(2)

-1.2. 7

-. 11.11.7

. 2

±i5.1

.91.1-. 1

1.94 . 5(2). 9. 7

161.1

173.9172.8191.0165.1153.7170.3192.0178.9

169.9178.0144.1187.0168.9219.8177.9155.4

135.4143.1120.1143.5

147.9147.3151.3

155.8178.3

(2)144.5149.6

1.2

. 7

. 53 .9

-2.6. 1

4.7- . 11.8

2 .0. 7

2 1.5. 4

3.8-1.38.23.1

-1.5

. 3

. 81.0- . 1

2 . 44 . 3(2)1 . 71 . 1

19


Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas1 for urban wage earners and clerical workers,commodity groups, March 1975, and percent changes from December 1974

St.Louis

Indexes (1967=100)

All items

FoodFood at home



Dairy products


Other food at home

Food away from home

HousingShelter

Rent, residential

Homeownership

Fuel and utilities

Fuel oil and coal

Gas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep

Men's and boys'

Women's and girls'

Footwear

Transportation

PrivatePublic


Medical care

Personal care



All items

Food

Food at home

Cereals and bakery products.. . .


Dairy productsFruits and vegetables

Other food at home

Food away from home

Housing

ShelterRent, residential

Homeownership

Fuel and utilities

Fuel oil and coal

Gas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep

Men's and boys'

Women's and girls'

Footwear

Transportation

Private

Public


Medical care

Personal care



158.5

177.2179.6188.6170.2164.9177.0196.6169.1

163.6166.8128.2178.4160.4

167.2158.4

138.6-148.5129.8126.8

138.0141.591.8

156.3180.8153.9141.5138.4

1.7

.6

.51.8-.4-.32.8-.21.0

2.0.7.5.7

9.0

8.91.8

1.81.32.6

-1.1

.2

.2-.1

3.66.22.11.22.5

162.9

175.1175.0187.4166.7151.1173.9197.1175.2

174.9186.8125.0213.0160.0224.8161.8157.6

147.3148.2

' 135.7154.8

142.3144.0130.7

153.0178.0148.5139.814 5.9

156.0

174.3177.3201. 1165.6167.4168.1198.5163.1

154.7154. 1118.8170.5170.0

166.5147.1

142.3139.7136.7154.5

138.5142.9104.3

154.1174.1149.7134.3154.5

151.4

173.6173.6195.2162.6164.4168.2187.9172.9

144.4145.2149.0142.8138.8

157.7144.9

140.2134.6133.6137.1

142.7146.1123.9

145.4161.0152.0145.6124.0

154.8

173.8174.8189.3160.2172.0165.7194.7170.6

156.1159.9118. 1176.3147.3

159.6151.7

146.8147.7146.0153. 1

142.7142.2148. 5

148.8159.3150.2136.2150.1

December 1974 to March 1975

1.8

2.21.95.7-.4-. 17.6.4

3. 1

2.22.6.8

3. 11.72.62.31.5

1.11.3-.1

1.53.22.6-.3

.9

.96.7

. 1-1.91.9-.61.1

2.21.51.21.74.2

7.32.4

.4-.4

-1.22.6

.100

2.64.8.4

1.91.8

2.2

2.72.73.61.92.15. 11.62.6

1.20

.9-.64.0

6.8-3.8

2.01.02.81.1

1.92.2-.1

2.84.32.62.31.5

1.4

1.0.6

5.2-. 5.4

1.5- 1 . 12.5

1.41.0.9

1.04.2

4.9.7

1.71.91.82.5

.4

.12.6

2.64.01.62.51.3

152.4

169.3169.3198.2154.8157.5168.0183.2169.3

152.4151.4115.0161.9155.0235.1153.4152.6

133.9132.8129.3143. 1

140.4143.8100.9

148.7152.3154.9139.6149.8

2.6

1.01.04.5-.6.4

3. 1-. 51.3

5.57.5. 5

9.13.8

-1.16.02.6

.21.4

-1.2

.6

.6

.4

2.62.54.22.02.5

156.0

166.4170.4183.9162.4152.6167.6190.7152.3

164.3170.0143.0183.6152.7

168.5151.9

141.1145.0138.9138.6

147.0146.9147.3

145.4158.0145.4135.0139.3

2.6

1.31. 13.5-.2.5

2.4.5

2.1

4.04.61.25.96.3

10.31.1

-. 12.0

1:12.12.2.5

2.85.02.21.31.3

1 See footnote 1, table 5.2 Not available.

3 Change from January 1975.

2 0


Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers,food and its subgroups, March 1975 and percent changes from selected dates

Totalfood poultry,

and fish,

Dairyproducts

U.S. city averac

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuifaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles-Long BeachMilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. PaulN.Y.-Northeastem N.JPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco-OaklandSeattleWashington

U.S. city average .

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHouston,Kansas CityLos Angeies-Long Beach .MilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. PaulN.Y.-Northeastem N.J . . .PhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco—Oakland ..SeattleWashington

Index** (1967-100)

171.3

177.2175.1171.4170.0172.4174.3169.3167.7166.4173.6176.5173.8166.0169.2173.8176.3173.9173.6169.3170.3166.4165.4177.3

171.4

179.6175.0170.8169.4173.4177.3169.6165.7165.7173.6174. 1174.8168.6170.1172.5176.9172.8172. 1169.3168.6170.4168.2176.9

-0. 3

-.1-. 1-.4.5

-.5-.3-.4-.4

-1. 1.3

-.5-.5-.4.1

-.5-.3-.2-.5-.2-• 4-.3-.1.3

189.1

188.6187.4190.6198.2197.6201.1192.0180.9194*4195.2186.1189.3187.9194.1194.1190.7191.0191.9198.2184.8183.9188.3195.4

161.8

170.2166.7161.9160.5164.2165.6157.8152.6155.5162.6163.6160.2159.9157.9163.1165.2165.1163.3154.8162.8162.4163.9162.3

155.4

164.9151.1151.7150.2152.4167.4154.9150.1157.2164.4166.5172.0152.2153.7156.9161.9153.7150.8157.5152.1152.6155.8144.4

167.4

177.0173.9166.5160.6173.7168.1166.7164.1154.2168.2171.6165.7161.5171.7167.7182.6170.3170.4168.0163.6167.6154.3180.6

Percent changes February 1975 to March 1975

1.0

-.41.21.03.22.22.8

-1.7. 6.8.4. 6. 9

1.13. 11.71.2. 9

- .4. 3. 7.2

1.11.9

- 1 . 6• 1

- . 7. 4. 1

- . 7-2 .1

- . 2-1.3

- .6- . 9- .3

- 1 . 0-1 .1

- . 8- . 7- . 4- . 7- . 41.41.4

-0 .1

- . 1. 1. 4. 1

-.4-2.6

190

- . 1. 1. 1

0- . 8- . 2. 3. 3

2 . 5- . 1- . 1. 4

- . 8- . 1

2.4.8.1

-K2

!:l-. 11.51.2.1

-1.12.3-.2.7

1.1-2.5

.2-.1-.4

-1.32.3

190.1

196.6197.1190.2187.1190.7198.5186.8185.0181.9187.9187.9194.7186.0186.2187.8195.3192.0190.4183.2182.9190.7184.1208.1

-1.6

-2.2-1.3- . 9.1

-3.2-.8

-1.4-2.3-2.3

.6-1.6-1.8-.3

-1.7-1.4-1.5-1.2-2.2

-.8-1.1-.7

-1.1-2.6

171.3

169.1175.2173.2173.4168.2163.1168.4175.3169.7172.9184.9170.6158.6

(3)179.5175.0178.9182.3169.3

(3)152.3156.3177.7

1.2. 4

1.0. 2. 1

0. 3.3.6. 1.5.3(3). 9.7.4.3.5O

1.4.4.6

See footnote 1, table 5.Revised index = February 1975, 168.9.Not available.

21


Table 9. Consumer Price Index—Regular and premium gasoline indexes, selected areas and U.S. city averagefor urban wage earners and clerical workers(October 1973=100)

Regular gasoline

Index

February1975

162.2

135.8135.3131.2133.012 9.9130.3131.1139.2127.6133.8136.7129.5133.0129.8128.3130.4132.4133.8128.3133.3132. 1130.8132.6

March1975

162.6

134.5134.6133.3132.6130.4131.7132.3139.7128.6134.4138.0129.8132.6130.1127.2130.4132.3133.4128.7133.6133.1131. 0133.4

Percent change

to March 1975from—

February1975

0.2

-1.0-. 51.6- . 3. 4

1. 1. 9. 4. 8. 4

1. 0. 2

- . 3. 2

- . 90

-. 1- . 3. 3. 2. 8. 2. 6

Premium gasoline

Index

February1975

156.7

134. 1133.2129.2131.3126.7128.7128.8136.612 5.6130. 5134. 9128.5130.412 9.5128.8131. 1131.6130.4127.6131.7129.9128.4129.6

March1975

157.2

134.4133. 5131.4130.7127.2129.7130.7137.0127.2131. 0135.9128.3130.7129.2127.5131.3132.0130. 1127.8132.0131.2128. 5131.2

Percent change

to March 1975from—

February1975

0 .3

. 2

. 21.7-. 5. 4. 8

1.5. 3

1.3. 4. 7

- . 2. 2

- . 2- 1 . 0

. 2

. 3- . 2. 2. 2

1. 0. 1

1.2

U.S. city average 2

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

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical

Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas

are used. Area definitions are those established for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since

1960.2 1967=100.

Table 10. Consumer Price Index—Regular and premium gasoline prices, selected areas and U.S. city averagesfor urban wage earners and clerical workers

Regular gasoline Premium gasoline

Average price per gallon

January197 5

$0. 532

.539

.550

.533

.535

. 544

.526

.530

.484

. 536

.607

.471

.501

. 539

. 500

.507

. 553

.530

.537

. 522

.552

.566

.527

.549

February1975

$0,533

.540554531536546528534490533605

.475

.495

.537

. 500

. 507

.552

.529

.535

.522,552. 564. 527.549

March1975

$0. 534

.534551539534548533539491537607

.479

.496

. 535

.501

.503

. 552

.529

. 534

.523

.553

.568

. 527

.552

January1975

$ 0. 572

.581

.595

.574

. 575

.581

. 571

.571

. 527

. 576

.639

.516

.543

. 576

.548

.553

.598

.582

.577

. 566

. 590

.604

.576

.592

February197 5

$0,574

.581.596.573.57 5

582.572

573.531

574636

.520

.541

. 574

.547

.559

.601

.583

.576

. 566

.591

.603

.568

.590

March1975

$0. 576

.582

.598

. 583

. 572

.584

.576

.582

.533

.582

.638

.524

.540

.575

.546

.554,602.585.575.566.592.609.568. 598

U.S. city average

AtlantaBaltimore

Boston

Buffalo

ChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonolulu

HoustonKansas City

Los Angeles-Long Beach

Milwaukee

Minneapolis-St. Paul . . .N.Y.-Northeastern N.J . .Philadelphia

PittsburghSt. Louis

San Diego

San Francisco-Oakland .

Seattle

Washington

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical

Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areasare used. Area definitions are those established for the 1960 Census and do n1960.

iclude revisions made since

2 2


Table 11. Consumer Price Index—Population size groups,1 5 classes and U.S. city averagefor urban wage earners and clerical workers

Area and group

Relativeimportance

December1974

100.00024.78533.7669.633

12.71518.723

32. 5258.346

10.7523. 1924.0596.176

11.7012.9553.9451. 1461.4662. 189

2 5.6446.0848.8462.4493.4044.861

12.5313.0744.2801.2361.6242.318

17.2234.3265.9441.6112. 1623.179

Indexes (1967=100)

March1974

143. 1159. 1144.9132.2132.0135.4

145.9160.7148.4131.5136.8138.3

142.3158.2142.8133.3131.5135.1

141. 9158. 1143.2133.5130.0135.3

141.8158. 1144. 1132.4128.8133.6

141.2158.8142.6130.1129.3132.0

December1974

155.4169.7159.9141. 9143.5147. 5

157.2171.6161.0139.0147.7150.7

154.3169. 1156.9143.1143.0146.4

154.4168.9158.6142.8141.5146.9

154.7167.3160.5145.0141.4145.1

155.1169.1160.9142.4141.2145.5

March1975

157.8171.3163.6140.9144.8151. 1

159.4172.9164.4138.6148.9154.0

157.0171.0160.8142.7144.9150.3

156.9171.0162. 1142.2142.4150.7

157.0169.0164.2142.9143.3148.7

157.6170.6165.3140.6142.4148.9

Percent change to

March 1975March

1974

10.37.7

12.96.69.7

11.6

9.37 .6

10.85.48.8

11.4

10.38.1

12.67. 1

10.211.3

10.68.2

13.26.59.5

11.4

10.76.9

13.97.9

11.311.3

11.67.4

15.98. 1

10. 112.8

December1974

1.5. 9

2 . 3- . 7

. 92 .4

1.4. 8

2 . 1- . 3

. 82.2

1.71.12 . 5- . 31.32 .7

1.61.22.2- . 4

. 62 .6

1.51.02 . 3

-1.41.32 . 5

1.6. 9

2.7-1.3

. 82 . 3

United States:

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


Class A-1 (3.5 million or more):

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


Class A-2 (1.4 million to 3.5 million):

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation

Health and recreation ,

Class B (250,000 to 1.4 million):

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


Class C (50,000 to 250,000):

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


Class 0 ( 2 , 5 0 0 to 50,000):

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


1 Based upon 1960 Census of Population.

Table 12. Consumer Price Index—Regional groups, 4 areas and U.S. city averagefor urban wage earners and clerical workers

Relative 'importance

December1974

100.00024.78533.7669.633

12.71518.723

32.8218.729

10.6983.3813.8356. 177

27.9256.8819.4172. 5873.7405.301

22.0775.3157.6312.1812.8874.062

16.3463.7335.8831.4492.1923.088

Indexes (1967=100) '

March1974

143.1159.1144. 9132.2132.0135.4

147.4161. 1152. 1133.7135.4138. 7

141.2159.7138.6131.2132.4136.3

143.5160.8146.4132.612 9.7135.3

137.7152.0140.7129.4128.3128.5

December1974

155.4169.7159.9141.9143.5147.5

158.9171.4165.2142.5146.5150.6

152.9168.9152.5142.1143.3148.0

157.5172.6164.2142.8142.2148.6

150.9163.7157.4138.3140.3140.2

March1975

157.8171.3163.6140.9144.8151.1

160.7173.5167.3141.8147.8153.6

155.2169.3157. 1140.3143.7151.7

160. 1174.6168.0142.3143.6152.6

154.4166.3162.6137.6143.0144.2

Percent change toMarch 1975

March1974

10.37.7

12.96.69.7

11.6

9.07.7

10.06.19.2

10.7

9.96.0

13.36.98 .5

11.3

11.68.6

14.87 .3

10.712.8

12.19.4

15.66.3

11.512.2

December1974

1.5. 9

2 . 3- . 7

. 92 .4

1. 11.21.3- . 5

. 92 .0

1.5. 2

3.0-1.3

. 32 . 5

1.71.22 . 3- . 41.02.7

2 . 31.63.3- . 51.92 . 9

United States:All itemsFoodHousing

Apparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Northeast:All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeepTransporation


North Central:

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


South:

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


West:

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation


1 Regional index and relative importance data exclude Anchorage, Alaska, and Honolulu, Hawaiiwhich are included in the U.S. level data. Consequently, regional relative importances will not add toU. S. Totals.

2 3


Brief Explanation of the CPI

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures averagechanges in prices of goods and services usually boughtby urban wage earners and clerical workers. It is basedon prices of about 400 items which were selected to rep-resent the movement of prices of all goods and servicespurchased by wage earners and clerical workers. Pricesfor these items are obtained in urban portions of 39major statistical areas and 17 smaller cities, which werechosen to represent all urban places in the United States.They are collected from about 18,000 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 areobtained every month in all 56 locations. Prices of mostother commodities and services are collected every monthin the five largest areas and every 3 months in otherareas. 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, andcertain other items.

In calculating the index, price changes for the variousitems in each location are averaged together with weightswhich represent their importance in the spending of allwage earners and clerical workers. Local data are thencombined to obtain a U.S. city average. Separate indexesare also published for 23 areas.

The inr'ex measures price changes from a designatedreference date—1967—which equals 100.0. An increaseof 22 percent, for example, is shown as 122.0. Thischange can also be expressed in dollars as follows: Theprice of a base period "market basket" of goods andservices bought by urban wage earners and clericalworkers has risen from $10 in 1967 to $12.20.

A Note About Calculating Index Changes

Movements of the indexes from one month to anotherare usually expressed as percent changes rather thanchanges in index points because index point changes areaffected by the level of the index in relation to its baseperiod while percent changes are not. The example in theaccompanying box illustrates the computation of indexpoint and percent changes.

Seasonally adjusted percent changes in the U.S. AllItems Index are based on seasonal adjustment factorsand seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimalplaces. This procedure helps to eliminate rounding errorin the percent changes.

Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periodsare expressed as annual rates and are computed accord-ing to the standard formula for compound growth rates.These data indicate what the percent change would beif the current rate were maintained for a 12-month

period. BLS does not publish annual rates based ondata for 1 month.

Index Point Change

CPILess previous indexEquals index point change:

Percent Change

Index point difference,Divided by the previous index,Equals,Results multiplied by one hundredEquals percent change:

123.8123.2

0.6

0.6123.20.0050.005x1000.5

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

Because price data are used for different purposes bydifferent groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishesseasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes eachmonth.

For analyzing general price trends in the economy,seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred, sincethey eliminate the effect of changes that normally occurat the same time and in about the same magnitude everyy e a r — s u c h as price movements resulting from changing

climatic conditions, production cycles, model change-overs, holidays, and sales.

The unadjusted data are of primary interest to con-sumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalationpurposes. Many collective bargaining contract agree-ments and pension plans, for example, tie compensa-tion changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjustedfor seasonal variation.

24*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1975 583-603/13 1-3


Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced intothe index structure in the 1964 revision permits an esti-mate of sampling error for the CPI. * The table belowshows standard errors for montly, quarterly, and annual

Average standard errors of percent changes in theCPI based on 1974 data

Component

All itemsFood at homeFood away fromhome

HousingApparel and upkeep..TransportationMedical carePersonal careReading andrecreation

Other goods andservices

Standard error

Monthlychange

.05

.10

.13

.09

.21

.07

.16

.19

.16

.13

Quarterlychange

.07

.19

.23

.15

.28

.10

.21

.24

.21

.18

Annualchange

.12

.40

.42

.23

.33

.20

.28

.34

.27

.28

percent changes in the CPI for all items and for ninecommodity groupings based on 1974 averages. Thefigures may be interpreted as follows: The chancesare about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in theCPI as computed differs from the corresponding "com-plete coverage" change by less than twice the standarderror.

Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place,some ambiguity may arise in interpreting small indexchanges. As the table indicates, for example, a month-to-month change of 0.1 percent in the all-items CPIis significant. Because of rounding, however, a changeof this size in the published index might result from amuch smaller change in the unrounded value. Hence,any particular change of 0.1 percent may or may notbe significant. On the other hand, a published change of0.2 percent for a one-month period is almost alwayssignificant.

This replaces the table of average errors based on1973 data which was included in the CPI report throughJanuary 1975.

The method of deriving these estimates is described in apaper by Marvin Wilkerson, "Measurement of Sampling Errorin the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the American Statis-tical Association, September 1967.
