the consumer price index november 1972 - st. louis fedtable 4. cpi—united states and selected...

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABORPeter J. Brennan, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICSBen Burdetsky, Deputy Commissioner

OFFICE OF PRICESAND LIVING CONDITIONSJoel Popkin, Assistant Commissioner

a monthly reporton consumer price movementsincluding statistical tablesand technical notes.

the consumer price index

for November 1972

CONTENTS

PagePrice movements 1

Charts 1—4. Consumer price indexes for all items and majorcomponents, and rates of change over 1-, 3-, 6-, and12-month spans 5

Table 1. CPI—United States city average for urban wage earnersand clerical workers, by commodity and service groups,and expenditure classes 9

Table 2. CPI—Seasonally adjusted indexes and percent changesat annual rates, commodity and service groups,and expenditure classes 10

Table 3. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, major groups, percentchange from October 1972 to November 1972 11

Table 4. CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, all items most recentindex and percent changes from selected dates 11

Table 5.

Table 6.

Table 7.

Table 8.

Table 9.

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, commodity groups,November 1972, index and percent changes fromAugust 1972 12

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wageearners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups,November 1972, and percent changes from October1972 14

CPI—United States city average for urban wageearners and clerical workers, food items, November 1972indexes and percent changes from selected dates 15

CPI—United States city average for urban wageearners and clerical workers, indexes for selected itemsand groups, November 1972, and percent changes fromselected dates 17

United States city average Consumer Price Index:Indexes affected by refunds of insurance premiumsin Massachusetts 21

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

Price MovementsNovember 1972

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent inNovember, to 126.9 percent of its (1967=100) base.Almost two-thirds of the rise was due to higher pricesfor food, apparel, and residential gas. The Novemberindex, was 3.5 percent higher than it was a year ago.

After seasonal adjustment, the November increase was0.3 percent. In the 6-month period ending in November,the CPI rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.6percent. Prices in the last 3 months of the period rose ata 4.2-percent rate, compared with 2.9 percent in the first3 months. The larger advance in the last 3 months isattributable to the food price index which in Novemberrose 1.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, followingincreases of 0.2 percent in October and 0.6 percent inSeptember. After seasonal adjustment, the nonfoodcommodities index increased 0.1 percent, compared witha decrease of 0.1 percent in October and a rise of 0.4percent in September. The November increase of 0.2 per-cent for services was smaller than the 0.4-percent risein October and the same as in September.

During the first year of Phase II of the EconomicStabilization Program, the CPI rose 3.5 percent. This ratecompares with a rise of 3.8 percent at a seasonally ad-justed annual rate in the 8 months of 1971 before thestart of Phase I.

The index of food purchased in grocery stores in-creased 0.5 percent. It usually decreases 1.0 percent inNovember. The index of food away from home—restaurant meals and snacks-increased 0.4 percent.

Fresh vegetable prices rose even more sharply thanusual as reduced fall planting acreage for some items, ad-verse growing and harvesting weather, and a shift in thesource of supplies from summer producing areas to win-ter producing areas curtailed supplies in November. Meatprices, which normally decline appreciably at thisseason, increased on average. Prices of most beef cutsrose despite earlier price decreases at the wholesale level;pork prices declined but by significantly less than usual.Bread and flour prices advanced, because of recent in-creases in wheat and flour prices which manufacturers

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

Month

Changes from preceding month

All items

Unad-justed

Seasonallyadjusted

Food

Unad-justed

Seasonallyadjusted

Commoditiesless food

Unad-justed

Seasonallyadjusted

Serv-ices

Unad-justed

Changes in all itemsat seasonally adjusted

compound annual rates

From3 months

ago

From6 months

ago

From12 months

ago

November 1971December

January 1972 .FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember . . . .

0.2.4

.1

.5

.2

.2

.3

.2

.4

.2

.4

.3

.2

0.2.3

.3

.60.2.3.1.4.2.5.3.3

0.11.1

01.6

.20-.1.6

1.0.3.2.1.4

0.8.6

-.11.80

-.1-.1.2.6.5.6.2

1.1

0.10

-.3.1.3.3.6.20.1.7.4.2

0.2

.2

.3

.2

.2

.50.3.3.4

-.1.1

0.3.3

.6

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

.2

.2

.4

.2

1.92.6

3.24.83.63.12.12.23.32.94.64.14.2

3.02.8

2.93.43.13.23.52.93.22.53.43.73.6

3.53.4

3.43.73.53.43.22.93.02.93.33.43.5


Table B. Comparative seasonally adjusted annual rates of change in the CPI and its major components before andduring the Economic Stabilization Program.

Group

All itemsFoodCommodities less foodServices

1971 beforePhase I

(December 1970 toAugust 1971)

3.85.02.94.5

3 monthsPhase I

(August 1971 toNovember 1971)

1.91.703.1

12 monthsPhase II

(November 1971 toNovember 1972)

3.55.42.53.5

15 monthsPhase I and II

(August 1971 toNovember 1972)

3.24.72.03.5

have been allowed by the Price Commission to pass on tothe retail level. Prices of eggs and fresh fruits declined,but less than seasonally for November; poultry pricesdecreased a little more than usual. Dairy product priceswere also higher in November, apparently because of adecline in fluid milk supplies.

The nonfood commodities index rose 0.2 percentbefore seasonal adjustment in November. Over half ofthe rise was due to price increases for apparel, par-ticularly for items of fall and winter clothing priced forthe first time this season in several cities. Some items ofyear-round clothing also showed price increases inNovember; prices of footwear continued to rise.

Used car prices rose again in November, but by sub-stantially less than in the 2 preceding months. Prices ofnew cars increased, continuing to reflect the introductionof 1973 models. The increase was smaller than usual forNovember and the smallest November rise since 1963. Asin October, substantial quality improvements related toFederal safety and environmental requirements, and thefact that list price increases on new models had beenlargely disallowed by the Price Commision, combinedto hold down the rise in new car prices. Higher priceswere recorded for furniture, housekeeping supplies, homemaintenance and repair commodities and houses. Gas-oline and tire prices, however, declined.

The services index rose 0.2 percent. Medical care serv-ices increased 0.1 percent in November following a 0.7-percent rise in October when the regular annual ad-justment to the health insurance component was made.Rents rose less than in recent months. Charges for res-idential gas rose sharply as a result of changeovers towinter rates in several areas and rate increases in others.Most other household services, such as water and sew-erage charges, mortgage interest rates, and charges fordomestic and day care services, also were higher. Trans-portation services prices rose, following a slight decline inOctober, as increases were reported in auto insurancerates, parking and registration fees, and maintenance andrepair costs.

Diffusion of individual price changes

Approximately 120,000 individual prices were col-lected directly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in No-ember for use in the index. Approximately 80 percent ofthese quotations represent monthly comparisons. As canbe seen from table C, 75 percent of these monthly com-parisons remained unchanged, 11 percent decreased, and14 percent increased between October and November.The proportion of nonfood commodity prices increas-ing was the same as in October and less than in Sep-tember. The November index also includes 23,000 pricecomparisons to November from periods before October,of which 18,500 cover the quarterly span from Augustto November. About 14 percent of these increased, com-pared with about 15 percent in last month's index. Inaddition, about 4,500 rental units were surveyed inNovember and 20 percent of these reported rent in-creases from May.

Introduction of additional series on food prices

Effective with release of the Consumer Price Index(CPI), for November 1972, the Bureau of Labor Statis-tics has initiated monthly publication of two additionalindex series. The additional series, entitled (1) domes-tically produced farm foods and (2) selected beef cuts,are derived from existing index data and publishedmonthly in table 1 of the CPI press release and detailedreport.

As well as being published by BLS, the new serieswill be used by the Economic Research Service of theU.S. Department of Agriculture in its monthly report,Price Spreads for Farm Foods and in the Marketing andTransportation Situation. The new BLS series on domes-tically produced farm foods will serve as the basis forestimating changes in the retail value of U.S. farm foodsin these publications. The series for domestically pro-duced farm foods is calculated by excluding the fol-lowing items from the food-at-home component of the


Table C. Percent distribution of monthly price comparisons 1

Itpm

All items 2

IncreasesDecreasesNo change

Food at home1 ncreasesDecreasesNo change

Commodities less food1ncreasesDecreasesNo change

Services1ncreasesDecreasesNo change

All items 2

IncreasesDecreasesNo change

Food at homeIncreasesDecreasesNo change

Commodities less food1ncreasesDecreasesNo change

ServicesIncreasesDecreasesNo change

1971

Septemberto

October

100111079

100121177

10077

86

1001

891

Aprilto

May

100131275

100141373

10086

86

10075

88

Octoberto

November

100119

80

100131077

10076

87

10021

97

Mayto

June

100151174

100T71271

10067

87

10053

92

Novemberto

December

10016

777

10017

875

10065

89

10061

93

1972

Decemberto

January

100141175

100151174

1007

1083

10012

583

Januaryto

February

10022

8

70

10024

967

10087

85

10083

89

Februaryto

March

100151075

100161272

10010

585

10031

96

Marchto

April

100141274

100151372

10077

86

10064

90

1972—Continued

Juneto

July

100181072

100201169

10087

85

1004

393

Julyto

August

100161173

100181369

10086

86

10033

94

Augustto

September

100151075

100161272

10011

5

84

1004

2

94

Septemberto

October

100151174

100171271

10066

88

10045

91

Octoberto

November

100141175

100161272

10065

89

1004

2

94

Regulations of the Economic Stabilization Program permit certain types of increases, but it is not possible to determinewhether allowable increases accounted for all increases shown in the table.

2Based on approximately 98,000 individual quotations.


CPI: fish, nonalcoholic beverages, bananas, chocolatecandy bars, chocolate syrup, and about half of the in-dex weight for sugar. These exclusions are items whichare not produced on U.S. farms. The new series for se- Decemberlected beef cuts is calculated by excluding veal cutlets January 1972and beef liver from the CPI for beef and veal. The new ^ ^ 7 . ' . ' . ' .indexes are on the current reference base, 1967=100. AprilData for the new series covering the period from No- Ĵ an

ye

vember 1971 appear in the following tabulation: JulyAugustSeptember . .OctoberNovember . .

Domesticallyproduced farm

foods

116.1117.9117.8120.3120.4119.9119.8120.6122.2122.6122.6122.5123.1

Selected beefcuts

126.0127.5130.6135.9136.8134.7132.3134.1138.0138.8136.5135.2135.6


Chart 1.

SEMI-LOG

135130125120115

110 h

105

100

95

90

3RITH,5CBLE

8

85 L-

All items index and its rate of change, 1963-72(1967= 100)

TCPI FILL ITEMS INDEX

(NOT SERSONflLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN(SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN(RNNURL RflTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED1

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN[RNNURL RflTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

NOV3.6

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPRN 1/

NOV126.9

NOV4*2

• < 1 1 I 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 .• 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 1 • 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 1 i . 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

flRITH.SCflLE

—

—————

0.70.60.50.40;30-20.10.0-0.1

WITH.SCflLE

8

1/ Computed from the unadjusted series.UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


Chart 2. Commodities less food index and its rates of change, 1963-72(1967= 100)

SEMI-LOG

135

130

125

120

115

110

105

100

95

90

85

NOV0.1

CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONRLLY flDJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN(flNNUflL RflTE* SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1/

NOV1 2 0 . 4

NOV1 . 7

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

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

0.70.60 .50.40 .30.20.10 .0

- 0 . 1- 0 . 2- 0 . 3

6


Chart 3. Total food index and its rates of change, 1963-72

(1967=100) UQWSB1"135130125

120

115

110105

100

95

90

85

RRJTH.SCflLE

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

-2

-4

RRITH*SCflLE8

6

4

2

0

CPI TOTAL FOOD INDEX(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED}

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

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1/

Ay

NOV

8 . 0

1 2 6 . 3

-HQY-

1 .1

NOV

5 . 4

1 1 i i I i i t 1 1 I n i i l l t i t 1 1 I n i n L i t t t l i i t n 1 t i t 1 1 1 t i t i i i i i i i i I 1 1 t n i > 1 i i l l i i i i i 1 1 1 1 t i l 1 1 1 i i I i i i i i I i i t n 1 1 1 1 i t 1 l i t i l l i i 1 1

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

flRITH.SCflLE

1.61 .41 .21 .00 .80.60 .40 .20 .0

- 0 . 2- 0 . 4- 0 . 6

8

6

4

2

0

-2

1/ Computed from the unadjusted series.UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


Chart 4

SEMI-LOG

135130125120115

110

105

100

95

90

————-----

85

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

RRITH*5CflLE

Services index and its rates of change, 1963-72(1967= 100)

CPI SERVICES INDEX(NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHFIN6E OVER 1-MONTH SPFIN(NOT SEflSONRLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN(flNNURL RRTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN(flNNUflL RflTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN

NOV3 . 5

INUV1 3 4 . 9

NOV0 . 2

NOV3 . 3

NOV3 . 3

BIJJ.iCRLE1 .11 .00.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.10.0

-0.1

SCBLE10

8

6

4

2

0

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

8


Table 1. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes

Groups

Relativeimportance

Unadjusted indexes1967 = 100 unlessotherwise noted

November 11972 J

October1972

Unadjustedpercent change to

November 1972 frorrrOctober

1972| Novembe

1971

Seasonally adjustedpercent change from

previous monthOctober to I September August toNovember | to October September

Commodity and service groups

All itemsAll items (1957-59 = 100)

Commodities —

FoodFood at home

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

Food away from home

Commodities less food •

Nondurables less food •Apparel commodities1 •

Men's and boys'Women's and girls'Footwear

Nondurables less food and apparelGasoline and motor oilTobacco productsAlcoholic beveragesFuel oil and coalOther nondurables

Durables commoditiesHousehold durablesNew carsUsed cars : —Other durables

ServicesRentServices less

Household services less rentTransportation services7

Medical care servicOther services7

Special indexes:All items less foodNondurable commoditiesApparel commodities less footwear •Services less medical care servicesInsurance and finance7

Utilities and public transportation7

Housekeeping and home maintenance service —

All items

Housing —Shelter2 •

RentHomcownc v ship ——————

Fuel and ut i l i t i es 4

Gas and electricityr7

Household furnishings and operation

Apparel and upkeep

Transportation77

Health and recreationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services

Special indexes:All items less shelterAll items less medical careAll items less mortgage interest costsCPI-domestically produced farm foods5

CPI-selected beef cuts6

Purchasing power of consumer dollar:19 6 7 = $ 1. 0 01957-59 = $ ! . 0 0

62.59

22. 1917. 232.285.642. 723.033.564.96

40.40

23. 639. 032. 824.021.57

14. 602. 922.092. 50

. 676.42

16. 774. 832. 121. 987. 84

37.415.05

32. 3615.365. 575. 555. 88

77. 8145. 82

7.4631. 86

9. 855. 514.46

22. 19

33. 8421. 72

5. 0516.254. 712.437.41

10.45

13.2711. 80

1.47

19. 876.462.585. 715. 12

77.2893. 5496.2515. 282.01

126. 9147. 6

122. 7

125.4123. 4115. 0131. 5117. 7126. 5118. 1133. 3

121. 0

121. 7125. 6124. 8126. 5127. 1119.4111. 1134. 3120. 4119. 3118. 6

120. 3116.0110.2116. 0127.5

134.9120. 5137. 6141. 3136. 3140. 1127.4

127.4123.5125. 3134.2145. 3127. 3146. 3

126. 6147.2

122. 3

124. 9122. 8114. 6131. 3117. 1124. 5118. 0132. 8

120. 8

121. 3124. 9123. 8125. 9126.5119. 3111.2134. 3120. 3118. 1118. 5

120. 1115. 8110. 1115.2127.4

134. 6120. 3137.2140. 7136.2139. 9127.0

127. 1123. 1124.6133. 8145. 1126. 5145. 9

0 . 2

.4

. 5

. 3

.2

.51. 6

. 1

.4

.3

. 6

. 8

. 5

. 5

. 1- . 10

. 11. 0

. 1

. 2

. 2

. 1

. 7

. 1

. 2

. 2

. 3

. 4

. 1

. 1

. 3

. 2

. 3

. 6

. 3

. 1

. 6

. 3

3 .5

3.5

5.45. 7

11. 31.67.42.24. 0

2. 5

2. 52.62. 52.53.22.52. 94. 11. 81. 02.2

2.52. 1

. 55.32.5

3.53. 33. 64. 41. 83. 92. 7

3.03. 92. 53.53: 14. 63. 9

1.11.5.5

1. 3. 5. 8. 9.4

. 1

. 3

. 2

. 7

. 1

. 4

.3

. 8*0

*. 1

- . 1. 2

- .6*. 7- .2

*. 2*. 2*. 3.3. 1. 3.4

.2

. 5

. 2*. 3

. 1

. 5

.3

126. 9

125.4

130. 8136. 2120. 5142.0121. 7122.2122. 1

125. 0

121. 4119.0144. 1

127. 4134. 1121. 0124. 1126.4

124. 6126. 6126. 1123. 1135. 6

$0. 788. 678

124. 9

130.4136. 0120. 3141. 8120. 6120. 9121. 8

124. 3

121.2R118. 7

144. 1

127.2133. 9120. 8124.0126. 4

124.2126. 2125. 7122. 5135.2

$0. 790. 679

Expenditure classes

.3

. 1

. 2

. 1

.91. 1

. 2

3. 5

5.4

3. 53. 73. 33.94 .55.22.2

2.5

2.32. 13.4

3.03. 42. 62. 72. 9

3. 53. 63. 66.07.6

0. 3

1. 1

* . 2. 2. 2

00

. 4

. 4

.3* . 5* . 3

. 2

. 101.3

. 2

. 7

. 1

. 1

. 1

. 6

. 4

. 7

. 4- . 1- . 7* . 1*. 1- . 1.3

- .4. 1

-3.9*1.4

-.2

*. 4*. 3*.4

. 4- . 11.3.2

. 1

.2

. 7*. 3

. 2R. 4

.4

0.3

. 2

*. 2. 2

*. 3. 2

R. 2R. 2

. 2

. 3

- . 8- . 9. 6

*. 31. 1. 2. 2. 1

. 3

. 2

. 2* - . 1

* - l . 0

. 7

. 6

. 7

. 2

. 2

. 32. 1

. 9

. 5

. 4

. 6

. 81. 01. 1

. 2

. 61. 9*. 1*. 30

. 3

. 5

. 3

. 3* 1 . 1

- . 1

*. 2*. 3*. 2

. 2

. 2

. 1

. 5

. 7

. 8*. 2

. 1R. 60

0.5

. 6

*. 2. 1

*. 3. 1

R..6R. 5

. 3

1. 1R1.2

. 5

*. 2. 2. 3. 5

- . 1

. 6

. 5

. 5

1 Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown.2 Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.3 Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.4 Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.5 Calculated from the CPI food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic beverages, bananas, chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup,

and about half of the index weight for sugar.6 Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and beef liver.7 Revisions have been made in historical series to reflect the effect of retroactive refunds. Revised data will be published in the November

1972 issue of The Consumer Price Index.* Not seasonally adjusted.R«Revised in accordance with BL.S policy covering retroactive refunds.

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


Table 2. Consumer Price Index—Seasonally adjusted indexes and percent changes at annual rates, commodity and service groups, andexpenditure classes

GroupsNovemberl October I September I August November I August

1972 I 1972 I 1972 I 1972 1972 1972

Seasonally adjusted indexes(1967=100)

Seasonally adjusted annual ratepercent changes for

3 months ending inMay1972

6 months ending in1 February November I

1972 1972May1972

Commodity and service groups

All items

Commodities

FoodFood at home

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

Food away from home •

Commodities less food

Nondurables less foodApparel commodities1

Men's and boys'Women's and g i r l s"Footwear

Nondurables less food and apparel —Gasoline and motor oilTobacco products (not

seasonally adjusted)Alcoholic beverages (not

seasonally adjusted)Fuel oil and coalOther nondurables

Durable commoditiesHousehold durables

Used cars (not seasonally adjusted) -Other durables

Services (not seasonally adjusted)Rent (not seasonally adjusted)Services less rent (not seasonally

adjusted)Household services less rentTransportation services ~*"""•• •-• • ————•Medical care servicesOther services

Special indexes;All items less foodNondurable commoditiesApparel commodities less footwearServices less medical care (not seasonally

adjusted)Insurance and financeUtilities and public transportation •Housekeeping and maintenance

Housing (not seasonally adjusted)Shelter2 •

Rent (not seasonally adjusted)Home owne r ship3

Fuel and utilities* -Gas and electricity

Household furnishings and operation -Apparel and upkeep —Transportation

PrivatePublic

Health and recreation (not seasonallyadjusted)

Medical carePersonal careReading and recreationOh d d

gOther goods and services

Special indexes:All items less shelterAll items less medical careAll items less mortgage interest costCPI-domestically produced farm foods (not

seasonally adjusted)CPI-selected beef cuts (not seasonally

adjusted)

122. 7

126.3124. 6115. 1132. 7117. 6130. 7118.2133.0120.4121. 1124. 1123. 7124.3126. 7119.4111.4

134.3

120.4119.3118. 6119. 8116.0108. 1116.0127.2

134.9120.5

137. 6141. 0137. 1140. 7127.4

127. 1123.6123. 7

134.2145.3127. 7146.3

126. 3130. 8135. 9120.5141. 7121.5122. 1122. 1123. 8121.4119. 1145.3

127.4134. 6121. 0124.0125. 9

124. 7126.6126. 1

123. 1

135.6

122. 2

124.9122. 8114. 5131.0117. 0129. 7117. 1132.5120.3120. 7123. 8122. 9124.2126.2119. 1110.5

134.3

120.3118.3118.6119. 9115. 8108. 8115.2127.4134.6120.3

137.2140. 6137.0140.3126.9

126. 8123. 0123.4

133. 8145.1127. 1145. 8

122. 1124. 7122. 7114. 5129. 3116. 8128. 8117. 0132.4120.4120. 6123. 1122.4123. 3125. 7119.2111. 3

134. 2

120.2118. 4118. 3120. 4115. 7113.2113. 6127. 6134. 1119.9

136. 7140. 0137. 1138. 5126. 6

126. 7122. 7122. 6

133.4144. 8126. 6145. 2

121.3123. 9121. 8114. 3129.0116. 5126. 1115. 9131. 8119.9119.9122. 1121.2121. 9125.4118.5109.2

134. 1

119. 9118.4118.0119. 8115.4112.9112.4127. 7

133. 8119.6

136.4139. 7136. 8138.3126.0

126.2121. 8121. 6

133. 1144. 7125.9145.2

4. 78.09.52. 8

12.03. 8

15.48.23. 7

1. 74. 16. 78. 58. 14.23. 18.3

1. 73. 12.0

. 02. 1

-16.013.4- 1 . 63. 33.0

3.63.80.97. 14.5

2.96.07. 1

3. 31. 75. 83. 1

3.45. 05.4

- 1 . 713. 1-3 . 018. 7-6. 34. 0

2. 4

0. 7- 1 . 3-2. 3-3 . 5

3. 91.45. 3

2. 7

1. 3- 1 . 7

1. 0

5.22. 85. 19.06.2

3.43.4

3.33. 53.92.92. 6

2. 62. 7

-1.6

3.45. 11.94.5

1. 7-0. 7-2. 3

1. 8-6. 7

1.4-13. 6

11. 64. 7

3. 4

3. 13. 04. 01.33. 63.51.5

2. 73. 13. 5

2. 82. 82. 6

30. 12. 6

2. 82. 7

2. 71. 82. 12.41.6

3.31.02.0

2. 81. 11. 94.0

4. 5

9. 710. 60. 4

30. 14. 2

12.4-3. 73.52. 4

2.42.3

. 04. 71. 02. 1

-3 . 3

9. 6

1.4-0.32. 12. 10. 7

12.4-23. 7

2.64. 74.2

4. 98.90. 33.62. 3

2. 95.82. 7

4.44.68. 84. 0

Expenditure classes

124. 9130.4135. 9120. 3141. 7121. 1121. 5121. 9123.3121.0118.6145. 1

127.2134. 3120. 8124. 0125.9

124.2126. 1

125. 7

122.5

135.2

124. 7130. 1135. 6119. 9141.4120. 8121.2121. 6122. 9122.0119. 7144.3

126. 8132. 8120. 5123. 7125. 8

123. 8125. 9125.4

122. 6

136. 5

123. 9129.9135.4119. 6141.2120. 1120. 6121.2121. 9120. 7118.3143.6

126.5132.6120. 1123. 1125. 9

123. 1125. 3124. 8

122.6

4.2

8. 0

2. 81. 53. 01.44.75. 13.0

6.4

2. 32. 74. 8

2. 96.23.03. 0. 0

5.34.2

2. 9

5.0

4.44. 93.46.51.31. 72.0

-0. 7

4. 85. 62. 5

2.22.81. 72.3

-0 .3

2. 63. 33.3

9. 7

21. 1

2. 1

-0. 7

2. 92.42. 71.22. 74. 13.0

2. 7

3. 13.5

-2.2

3. 61.83.42.35.2

2.02. 32. 3

- 1 . 7

-10.2

9. 7

3.96.24.26. 69.2

10. 00. 72.0

-1.0-3.49. 1

3.32.82.43. 47.0

4.04. 74. 7

15.3

35. 3

3. 64. 06. 57. 50. 5

12.50. 3

17. 10. 73.92.0

2.42.63. 02. 14. 12.26. 8

1. 7

1. 50. 71.5

2.62.5

-6.011.22.2

3.33.2

3.43.62.45.03. 5

2.74. 32.6

3.43.43.93. 8

6.53.63.23.23.93.03.42.5

2. 8

3.64. 23. 7

2.64.52.42.6

-0.2

4.03. 73. 8

5.6

5. 1

3. 1

4. 43. 91. 1

10. 12. 8

- 1 . 53. 74. 1

2. 9

2. 72. 72.03. 02.32. 8

-0. 9

6. 6

2. 01.42. 8

2.41. 87.4

-0. 42.6

3. 73. 5

3. 85.31.23. 01.9

3. 13.42. 3

3. 62. 95.34.0

3. 5

4.43.44.33. 53. 85.97. 01. 82.3

1. 0.0

3.3

3.42.32. 92. 86. 1

3.03.53.5

6.5

10.3

Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately.2 Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.3 Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.4 Also includes fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.

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

10


Table 3. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas x for urban wage earners and clerical workers,major groups, percent change from October 1972 to November 1972

GroupU.S. cityaverage Chicago

Los Angeles-Long Beach NortheasternNew Jersey

Philadel-phia

FoodHousingApparel and upkeep —TransportationHealth and recreation -

Medical carePersonal care •Reading and recreation —Other goods and services •

0.2

. 4

. 3

. 6

. 2

. 2

. 1

. 2

. 1

. 0

. 6- . 1

. 6

. 3

. 2

.7-. 1

.2

. 1

.2

. o

. I

.4

.3

. 0

.4

. 1-. 1

.0

.2

.5

- . 2. 1. 0. 6

- . 2- . 2

.4

. 1- .2

.6

.2

1 See footnote 1, table 2.2 Not available.

Table 4. 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

Pricingschedule2 1967= 100 1957-59= 100

Otherbases

Percent change from:

November 1972October

1972

U. S. City Average

ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles—Long BeachN. Y.-Northeastern N. J. -Philadelphia

Bo ston • - ••• — -H o u s t o n 1.......... - •Minneapolis—St. PaulPittsburgh

Cleveland -DallasMilwaukee —San Diego —SeattleWashington -

Baltimore —Cincinnati —HonoluluKansas City -St. LouisSan Francisco—Oakland -

MMMMM

126.9

125.7127. 4124.3133.3129.0

147.6

142. 8146.4146.2158.6150.6

.2

.2

.3

. 1

.2

October 1972

128.9126.4127.2126.5

154.4144.6147.4145.5

November 1972

128.6127.9125.7125.0126.8121.2129. 7

144.4

141.2

142.4151. 1

3 141. 4

3 135. 9

4 133. 3

September 1972

126.9127.7126.3123. 1125.5123.6125.6

146.0148.3143.3

149. 0144.4149.5

August1972

1.0

.6

.41.21.21.3

July1972

1.41.01.4

August1972

1.41.3.2.3

1.41. 11.6

June1972

1.71.81.4. 7

1.31.41.2

November1971

3.5

3.23.23.74.53.4

October1971

3.53.33. 12.9

November1971

4.52.82.73.45.03. 14.4

September1971

4. 12. 74.01.63.32.64. 1

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York andChicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those established for the I960 Census and do notinclude revisions made since I960.

2 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as indicated:M - Every month.1 - January, April, July, and October.2 - February, May, August, and November.3 - March, June, September, and December.

3 November 1963= 100.4 February 1965= 100.5 December 1963= 100.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in living costs among areas; it indicates price change withinareas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.

11


Table 5. Consumer Price Index—:United States and selected areas ] for urban wage earners and clerical workers,commodity groups, November 1972 index and percent changes from August 1972

Group

U.S.city

averageChicago

LosAngeles-

LongBeach

New York-NortheasternNew Jersey

(Monthly indexes 1967=100)

Phila-delphia

All items

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

Food away from home

HousingShelter

RentHomeownership costs -

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coal —Gas and electricity

Houeshold furnishings and operation •

Apparel and upkeep -Men1 s and boys'Women1 s and girls' -—Footwear

TransportationPrivatePublic

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

Food at home —Cereals and bakery products -Meats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetables •Other foods at home —

Food away from home —

HousingShelter

RentHomeownership costs •

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coalGas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep -Men' s and boys'Women1 s and girls' -Footwear

Transportation •PrivatePublic

Health and recreation -Medical carePersonal careReading and recreation —Other goods and services -

126.9

125.4123.4115. 0131.5117. 7126.5118. 1133.3

2 130. 8136.2120. 5142. 0

4 121. 7119.3

5 122.2122. 1

125. 0124. 8126.5127. 1

6121.47119.0

144. 1

111. A134. 1121. 0124. 1126.4

.6

.6

. 5

.5

.9-1.2

1.81. 1

. 7

.5

.8

.51.31.21.4. 7

3.53.75.61.6

. 6

.7

.9

. 7

.9

.3

125.7

126.0124. 6115.8133.2118.4125.8119. 3131.2

124.6129. 0114. 5135.5115.5114. 1115.4117.0

123.4118.7129.5120.9

125.5120. 0160.4

128.5133.6

(3)124.2130.6

127.4

124.7123.5117.0134.8114. 3118. 0118.8130. 3

133.8143.0

(3)147.3116.5113. 9118.0116.7

121.4121.9118.5126.4

116.9114.2148.5

130.5143.4

(3)125.9121.9

124.3

122.3121.5112.5131. 0115.8124. 1116. 1124.3

129.0131.9119.5135.7127.8

133.6119. 7

121. 1117. 5124.4125. 1

121.4121.6117.0

121.5130.2

(3)114.2120. 0

133.3

130. 6127.3117.9133.8120.3134.5120. 5141. 1

138.5145.5

(3)157. 7125.2120.4123.7128.2

125.5125. 0125.8126. 5

134.0126.3163. 1

132.5142.0118.6128.8132.9

Quarterly percent changes August 1972 to November 1972

0.6

. 1- .3- .3- .81.6

-3.51.91.5

- .6- 1 . 1

8 . 4- 2 . 0

.5

.4

.4

.4

6.23.7

12.62.0

- . 1- . 1

.0

.81.4(3)

. 3

.2

.5

.4

.9- . 11.2

-2 .4

- . 5- 1 . 2

(3)- 1 . 6

. 3

. 0

. 61.5

3.25.93. 1

. 2

.0- . 2

. 7

1.21. 1(3)1.8. 3

.9

.7

.9

.3

.71.8. 9

1. 1

. 42. 3

2 .01.5

1.91. 33.3

.9

2 .62.7

. 3

.7

.6(3)

.0

.5

1.2

. 6

. 71. 1. 5. 7

- 1 . 43.0

. 6

1.01.2(3)1. 3. 3. 0. 2. 9

4.65. 57. 2.6

.5

.6

.2

.51. 1- .9

.9

.2

129.0

126. 1123.3116. 1130. 1120.2127. 1115.4138.0

133. 2143.4126.2147.9119. 1113.8124.5123. 1

122.8125.4118.3129.3

126. 1123.3142.8

131.6144.4

(3)127.4127.9

1. 3

1.41.63. 1.2

1. 32.62.9.6

.58 . 6

.31.21.71.71.2

4.66.65.92.2

. 4

.5

.4

. 6

.8(3)1.0.2

See footnotes at end of table.

12


Table 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas ! fo wage earncommodity groups, November 1972 index and percent changes from August 1972—Continued

and clerical workers,

Group MilwaukeeSan

Diego Washington

(Quarterly indexes 1967=100)

Food —Food at home

Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishDairy products •Fruits and vegetables -Other foods at home -

Food away from home

HousingShelter

Homeowner ship costsFuel and utilities -

Fuel oil and coalGas and electricity


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

Transportation -PrivatePublic

Health and recreation -Medical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services -

All items

Food at home -Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishDairy products •Fruits and vegetablesOther foods at home

Food away from home

Housing —Shelter -

RentHomeowner ship costs -

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coalGas and electricity


Apparel and upkeep -Men1 s and boys'Women' s and girls'Footwear

TransportationPrivatePublic

Health and recreation •Medical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services

128.6

124.8123. 2114.5130.4116. 7126.9119.6133.6

135.7137. 7122. 1140.7143.5121. 1146.6124.4

130. 0148.3125.5123.3

119.6117.2146.2

127.2126.8121.7130.0127.4

. 2- . 1

.3- .4

.5-3.4

2.81.7

1. 62. 01. 12.2

. 6

. 0

. 71. 0

4.87.45.32.8

1.2. 7

6.0

1. 1. 6. 7

2 .4. 0

127. 9

125. 6124.9111.6133.2122. 1129.9118.3129.8

127.4129.9113.8132.7124.2

124.4119. 6

125.2120. 2128. 1128.7

126.4121.6158.3

134. 3146.2125.5126.4133.5

125. 7

124.9121. 8113. 1131.7110. 1125.8116. 7136.3

128.2133. 5112. 1143.2117. 0

113.6122.4

123.9126.5123.8127.7

119. 7117.6146.4

127.7132. 8127. 8122.4126.2

125.0

122. 6120.6115. 1130.5115.6120.2113.6130.4

126.5129.4119.2132.6123.7118.9129.2120.5

129.7131. 1128. 1130.9

121.6116.6183.5

125. 0129.3122.6125.0122.4

126.8

125.4122.5112.7135.3115.3122.5114.5132.5

135.5147. 7134.5153.4117.8

119.3113. 0

124. 1122.3132.3122. 1

120.5121.3106.8

121. 0126.5117.3118. 1119.8

121.2

122.5120.6112.7128.2117.2119.5118.0128.5

124. 1129. 1105.8135.8115.5119.2109. 1117.3

119.9123. 1119. 3118.7

111.7112.6106.4

120. 7126. 0115.2119.0119.5

Quarterly percent changes August 1972 to November 1972

.51.4.5

-.21.0.5

2.22.7.4

3.02.4

.9

. 7

1.3- 1 . 1

2.72.9

- . 2- . 2

.4

2. 31.2. 5

0.2

1.01. 0. 0

2 .0. 9

- . 61. 11. 1

- . 3- . 8

. 4- 1 . 2

. 2

. 2

. 7

1.91.03.52.5

-1 .4-1.6

.6

.3

.9

.4- . 3

. 2

.3

. 2

. 9

. 71. 7

-3 .9

- . 6- 1 . 1

. 9-1 .8

.2

.4

.2

.2

3.84.06.01. 1

- . 7- . 8

.4

2. 1.9. 2

1.0.9

- . 2.0. 7

2.81.91. 1

1.61.7. 3

2. 14 .2

6. 1. 4

2.6.7

4.92.0

1.22.3

-16.3

1.32.0.0

1.6.4

. 7

. 62.5

-1.5.8

1.42.0

. 6

1. 11. 1. 2

1. 3.9.4.0

1.3

3.08.61.9- . 9

1.82.2- . 3

. 4- . 2

. 51.2.0

129.7

129.2124.9118.7127.2113.3138.4122.9140. 1

132.7136.7120. 1146. 5126. 0118.2128.4124.4

127.2128.0129.7129.7

124.9120.8147.7

129.6141.4118.5124.2128.5

1.6

1.31. 01. 01.2. 4

2. 1. 2

2. 0

2. 02.2

.73.03.7.6

1. 1. 6

2.74.92.91.8

. 6

. 7

. 4

1. 0. 6. 4

1.01.7

Revised index: September 1972, 130. 2.

March 1972,

1972, 118.7.

13


Table 6. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers,food and its subgroups, November 1972, and percent changes from October 1972

Totalfood

Food at home

Total

Cerealsand

bakeryproducts

Meats,poultry,and fish

Dairyproducts

Fruitsand

egetables

Otherfoods

at home

Foodawayfromhome

U. S. City Average •

AtlantaBaltimoreBoston ' • '• "'BuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long BeachMilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. PaulN. Y.-Northeastern N. J -PhiladelphiaPittsburgh »-St. LouisSan Diego •San Francisco—Oakland —SeattleWashington

U. S. City Average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long Beach —MilwaukeeMinneapolis—St. Paul —N. Y.-Northeastern N. JPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan Diego -San Francisco—Oakland -SeattleWashington

(Indexes 1967 = 100)

125.4

127. 1126.9125.9124.8126.0126.3125.6124.9124.7124.8127.8125.2122.3122.6126.5130.6126. 1123.9124.3125.4123. 1122.5129.2

.4

.0- . 1

.6

.6

.7

.6

.2

.7

.9

.2

.3

.4

.4

.3

. 5

.4

. 2

. 7

.6

.2

.4

.3

123.4

125.2125.3124.3123.2124.6125.5124.9121.8123.5122.2123.2123.3121.5120.6124.6127.3123.3121.9122.3122.5121.9120.6124.9

0.5

.4

. 1- .2

.6

.6

.9

.6

1. 1.1.2.3. 2.4.6.5.2.8.4.2.5

- . 1

115.0

117.6113.4115.9114.5115.8116.3111.6113. 1117. 0105.9110.4117.2112.5115. 1122.4117.9116. 1111.2120. 3112.7112.2112.7118.7

131.5

131.3132.0133.4130.4133.2130.4133.2131.7134.8127.7131.4129. 1131.0130.5134.5133.8130. 1128.7127.7135.3128.9128.2127.2

117.7

121.2119. 8118.6116.7118.4121. 1122. 1110. 1114.3119.6119.7126.6115.8115.6118.2120.3120.2116.3120.7115.3117.0117.2113.3

126.5

135.7131.3127. 1126.9125.8131.8129.9125.8118. 0133.0128.8120.4124. 1120. 2122.3134.5127. 1127.4126. 1122.5123. 1119.5138.4

Percent changes October 1972 to November 1972

0.3

.6- . 7

. 7- . 8

.5

.7- . 7

. 0

. 7

.4

.2

.9

.4

. 1

.31.3- . 11.3- .5- .2

.92. 1

0.2

.5

.4- . 6- . 3

.2- . 2

.5

.5

. 7

.9- . 2

. 1

.0

.8

. 1

.3- . 1- .8

.9

.3-1.4

- .8-. 7

0.5

2.8. 1.3

. 72.2

.6- . 81.8.2.8.6.3.8.4.3.5.3.2.2.3.9.2

1.6

- .9- .2- .93.82.22.52.41.01.24.2

.8

.32.4- .21.51.01.41.41.73. 73.74. 1

.4

118. 1

118.3121.0117.2119.6119.3120.7118.3116.7118.8117.5118.0119.0116. 1113.6120.9120.5115.4118.2113.5114.5119. 1118.0122.9

0. 1

- . 2. 0

- . 3.7.2.2.5

- . 6. 7

- . 9- .6

.5- . 9- . 8

.31.0.3.8

-. 1-1.0

.0- .8

133.3

133.0133.5131.8133.6131.2129. 1129.8136.3130.3132.5143.9131.0124.3130.4135.0141. 1138.0135.8133.7132.5127.4128.5140. 1

.4

.5

. 7

.2

.2

.5

.4

.4

.5

.8

. 2

.4

.9

. 1

.3

. 1

.3

.31. 1.3

- . 11.2

1 See footnote 1, table 2.

14


Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,food items, November 1972 indexes and percent changes from selected dates

(1967=100)

Item or group November 1972

adjusted

125.4133.3133.5132.4123.4115.0101.5135.599.7

109.8113.2120.9110. 1120. 1122. 1131.5132.9137.7134.3132.2135.4132.9136.3134.6139. 1134.9167.6128.6130. 0130.4137.4120.3127.5125.9128.9132.3129.7122. 1133.6132.3123.3110.2108.9114.4112.6148.0141.6163.7134.8151.7117.7116.3121.2122.7121.2106.7126.4105.5

Seasonallyadjusted

126.3133.0133.2132.3124. 6115. 1101.6135.999.6

110. 0113. 1120.5110.9120.3122.2132.7133.8139.0135.5134.3137.6134. 1137.7136.4139.9135.3168.8129.8132. 0131.7136. 7121.0128.4127.4129.0132.8129.6122. 1133. 9132.4123.8112.2111.8115.8111.6148.4142.5164.7135.5151.4117.6116.0121. 1122.7121.1106.6126.7105.3

Percent change November 1972 fron

October 1972

usted

0.4. 4. 4. 2. 5. 3

1.5-. 1- . 1

. 4

. 7

. 2-. 1-. 1

. 5

. 2

. 2

. 31.31.21.0. 3

- . 8- . 3- . 4

. 1

. 4- . 5- . 3

. 1-. 12 .51.42. 3

. 9

. 4

. 32. 1- . 11.31. 11.62.21. 11. 11.52 .42 .9. 1. 5. 5. 4. 4. 6

1.2. 4. 9. 1

Seasonallyadjusted

1. 1. 4. 4. 5

1.5. 5

1.6. 2

- . 5. 5. 6. 2. 7

- . 2. 7

1.31.21.32. 13. 13. 11.4-. 1

. 8

. 1

. 71. 11.62.22 .41.02 .5- . 21.01.3. 8. 7

2 .0. 4

1.62 .0- . 4- . 7

. 71. 11.62 .63 .3

. 7

. 3

. 5

. 4

. 5

. 71.3. 2. 9. 1

November1971

unadjusted

Food away from homeRestaurant meals —Snacks

Food at homeCereals and bakery products

FlourCracker mealCorn flakes —RiceBread, whiteBread, whole wheat —CookiesLayer cakesCinnamon rolls

Meats, poultry, and fish -Meats •

Beef and veal -Steak, roundSteak, sirloinSteak, porterhouseRump roastRib roastChuck roastHamburgerBeef liverVeal cutlets -

PorkChopsLoin roastPork sausage •Ham, whole —PicnicsBacon

Other meatsLamb chopsFrankfurtersHam, cannedBologna sausage —Salami sausage —Li v e rwur st —

PoultryFrying chickenChicken breastsTurkey

FishShrimp, frozen -Fish, fresh or frozen •Tuna fish, cannedSardines, canned

Dairy productsMilk, fresh, grocery —Milk, fresh, deliveredMilk, fresh, skimMilk, evaporatedIce cream - .•Cheese, American processButter

5.44.04.42.35.7

.8

.42.9

-3.7.0

1.11.31.3- . 32.4

11.312.48.87.37.07.77.25.86.99.0

17.613.921.017.619.422.717.517.329.310.66.3

11.912.711.413.78.31.92.04.3- . 3

11.417.414.75. 18.61.61.02.62.2

.8

.33.4- . 2


15


Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,food items, November 1972 indexes and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

Item or group November 1972

UnadjustedSeasonallyadjusted

Percent change to November 1972 frorr

October 1972

Unadjusted Seasonallyadjusted

November1971

unadjusted

Fruits and vegetablesFresh fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruitsApples •Bananas —Oranges —-——«Orange juice, freshGrapefruitGrapes -——StrawberriesWatermelon

Fresh vegetablesPotatoesOnionsAsparagus -CabbageCarrotsCeleryCucumbers •Lettuce •Peppers, greenSpinach •Tomatoes •

Processed fruits and vegetablesFruit cocktail, cannedPears, canned_ V i * i __Fy VMlAll^U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .Pineapple-grapefruit juice, drinkOrange juice concentrate, frozenLemonade concentrate, frozenBeets, cannedPeas, green, cannedTomatoes, cannedDried beans -Broccoli, frozen

Other food at homeEggsFats and oils:

Margarine ——Salad dressing, ItalianSalad or cooking oil

Sugar and sweets :SugarGrape jelly —Chocolate barSyrup, chocolate flavored

Nonalcoholic beveragesCoffee, can and bagCoffee, instantTea •Carbonated drink, cola flavored -Carbonated drink, fruit flavored

Prepared and partially preparedfoods •

Bean soup, cannedChicken soup, canned •Spaghetti, cannedMashed potatoes, instantPotatoes, french fried, frozen -Baby foodsSweet pickle relishPretzels

126.5129.5122.6112.9100.0129. 1130.7137.0166.5

135. 1135.2140.9

n124.6134.6133.998.1

138.5121.4141.2148.8122. 1123.0120. 7116.6136.4119.3126.0107.7118.5140.4118.3118. 1113.6117.0109.7119.4121. 1115.8125.8130.8110.9122.9122. 8123.5109.5129.4128.2

115.4116.5104. 7121.9112.4111.5109.6128.9115.2

130. 7136.6129.6134.4103.5121.3130.0151.7168.2

143.0145.4151. 3

n137.4141.7135.9115.3125.8141. 8144.2155.3122. 1122.9120. 7116.0136.7119.5126.0107.2118. 7140. 5118.7118.2114.2117.4109.8119.8121.2115.7126. 1130.4111.5122.9122.8123.5109.6129.5128.3

115.5116.9104.9121. 8112.5111.8109.4128.5115.4

1.62.2

-3.7- .2

-1.2-3.8

.2-27. 1

-2.0

()7.04.9

.3

(M-1.6-2.8

- .54. 1

10. 116.6

.627.5

.71.0.5

1.01. 11.41. 7.7.5

- .4. 1. 1

-. 1.2

- . 6. 2. 3

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

- . 2. 5. 2

. 3

. 2

. 5

. 3

. 2

. 1- . 51.0. 9

0.8.8.3

2.57.5

. 1

. 3-7.6

-14.3I1)(l)1.94.33. 1(')

- 3 . 1-1.8-8.6-5.0

3. 11.23.78.6

. 7

.9

.5

.91.61.21.6. 0. 6

- . 4. 3.9

4.0

-. 1.3

- .6.3.3

- .2.5.6.2.4.3

- . 1.6.5

.5

.4

.7

.3

.2

.5- .5

.61. 1

7.410.48.5

14.66.3

-3.0.6

8.020.5(X)(M

11.822.732.7( l)

10. 011.63.7

-6.5-5.5

2.47.8

22.33.02.63.31.3.8

3.57.9- . 32.46.4.4

2.210. 1

- . 7- . 8

-3 .3.9

2.03.6- .4

-1.41.73.2

-1.31.61.8.4

1.91.6

-1.23.61.52.8

-1.56.91. 1

Priced only in season.

16


Table 8. Consumer Price Lu^.indexes for selected items and group

[ndex—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,nd groups, November 1972 and percent changes from selected dates

(1967=100)

Item or groupOther

indexesbases November 1972 October 1972

Percent change to November 1972from:

October 1972 November 1971

HousingShelters-

Rent, residential -Homeowner ship3

Mortgage interest ratesProperty taxesProperty insurance premiums -Maintenance and repairs

Commodities4

Exterior house paintInterior house paint •

ServicesRepainting living and dining rooms •Re shingling house roofResiding houseReplacing sink ——.——— — ~.——.Repairing furance

Fuel and utilities -Fuel oil and coal

Fuel oil, No. 2Gas and electricity

Gas-Electricity

Other utilities:Residential telephone servicesResidential water and sewerage services

Household furnishings and operation8 -H ou s efu rni shing s

SheetsCurtains, tailoredBedspreadsDrapery fabricPillows, bedSlipcovers and throws, ready-made

Furniture and bedding —Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser —Sofas upholsteredCocktail tablesDining room chairsRecliners, upholsteredSofas, dual purposeBedding, mat t ress and box springsAluminum folding chairsCribs •

Dec. 71Mar. 70Dec. 71

Floor coveringsBroadloom, carpeting, manmade fibersVinyl sheet goodsVinyl asbestos tile

Appliances (excluding radio and T.V.) n

Washing machines, electric, automaticVacuum cleaners, canister type -Refrigerators or refr igerator-freezers,

Ranges, free standing, gas or electric —Clothes dryers , electricAir conditioners, demountable -Room heaters , electric, portableGarbage disposal units

Other housefurnishings:Dinnerware, fine chinaFlatware, stainless steelTable lamps, with shade -Lawn mowers, power, rotary typeElectric drills, hand-held

Housekeeping supplies:Laundry soaps and detergentsPaper napkinsToilet tissue

Housekeeping services:Domestic service, general houseworkBaby sitter servicesPostal chargesLaundry, flatwork, finished servicesLicensed day care services, preschool child -Washing machine repairs

1 130. 8136.2120. 5142. 0117. 5149. 6123. 7142. 9126. 7117. 7117. 9149. 8162. 8157. 3137.6148.2153. 9

5 121. 7119. 3117. 0

6 122. 27 124. 6

120.0

114. 9141. 6122. 1117. 1115. 1118.0112. 9113.5123. 9108. 3113. 8121.9105. 7121.2101. 7104. 9

98. 3118.0105.2

(10)119.0106. 6101.4119.5118. 1109.9110. 7103. 7

108.3111.0115.2

(10)109. 1111. 1

126. 7129.4126.3

(10)106.6

111. 4133. 5125. 7

141. 5138. 5146.6140.4125.6142. 7

130. 4136.0120.3141. 8117. 3149.3123. 6142.4126.2116. 7117.4149.5162. 7157. 1137. 3147. 7153. 1120. 6118. 1116. 7120. 9122.0119.9

114.9138. 8121. 8116. 9114. 7116. 9113. 0111.5124. 9107. 7114.2121.5105.4120. 7101. 2103. 9

9 8 . 5117. 7105. 1

(10)118.4106.6101.4119.2117.9109. 9110.9103. 8

108.3111. 6

114. 8

(10)108.4111.4

125. 8129.4125. 6

o

111.4133.5123.5

140. 8138.3146. 6140.2124. 7142.2

0. 3. 1. 2. 1. 2. 2. 1. 4. 4. 9. 4. 2. 1. 1. 2.3. 5. 9

1. 0. 3

1. 12. 1

. 1

02. 0

. 2

. 2

. 3

. 9- . 1

. 6- .4

. 3

. 3

. 4

.51.0- .2

. 3

. 1(10)

. 500

. 3

- .2- . 1

0- . 5. 3

(10). 6

- . 3

. 70

.6(10)- . 6

001. 8

. 5

. 10

. 1

. 7

.4

3. 53. 73. 33. 9

- 1 . 29. 81. 1

2. 34. 06. 04.43. 33. 23.24. 51. 0

. 55.25.64. 8

5.33. 82. 21. 71. 91. 31. 84 . 74. 1

- 1 . 1. 9

1. 7. 9

1. 8(9)1. 5(9)1.41. 3(10)- . 2

. 3- . 42. 8

. 9

. 5

. 6- . 2

. 101. 9(10)' . 6

. 7

6.36. 13.4(10)- . 3

. 73. 61. 7

4. 04. 603. 55. 53. 3


17


Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,indexes for selected items and groups, November 1972 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

(1967-100)

Item or groupOther

indexesbases November 1972 October 1972 October 1972 November 1971

Apparel and upkeep12 —Apparel commodities

Apparel commodities less footwearMen's and boys'

Men' s:Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,

polyester blends —Suits, year round weightSuits, tropical weightJackets, lightweightSlacks, wool or wool blendsSlacks, cotton or manmade blendsTrousers, work, cotton or polyester/

cotton -Shirts, work, cotton or polyester/cottonShirts, business, polyester/cottonT-shirts, chiefly cottonSocks, cotton or manmade fibers -Handkerchiefs, cotton or polyester/cotton--

Boy's:Coats, all purpose, cotton or blendsSport coats, wool or wool blendsDungarees, cotton or cotton blendsUndershorts, cotton

Women's and girls'Women's:

Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blends —Carcoats, heavyweight, cottonSweaters, wool or acrylicSkirts, wool, wool blend or manmade

f ib e r sSkirts, cotton polyester/cottonBlouses, cotton or manmade fibersDresses, street, chiefly manmade fibers —Slips, nylon •Panties, acetate or nylon tricot-Girdles, manmade blendBrassieres, nylon lace —Hose, or panty hose, nylon seamlessAnklets, or knee-length socks, various

fibersGloves, fabric, nylon or cottonHandbags, rayon faille or plastic

Girls':Raincoats, vinyl, cotton or polyester

blendsSkirts, wool, wool blends or acrylic ~Dresses, cotton, manmade fibers or

blendsSlacks, cotton or chiefly cottonSlips, polyester blendsHandbags, plastic

FootwearMen' s:

Shoes, streetShoes, work, high

Women's:Shoes, street, pump —Shoes, evening, pumpShoes, casualHouse slippers, scuff —

Children's:Shoes, oxfordSneakers, boys', oxford type •Dress shoes, girls', strap or pump

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

Apparel services:Drycleaning, men's suits and women' s

dressesAutomatic laundry serviceLaundry, men1 s shirtsTailoring charges, hem adjustmentShoe repairs, women' s heel lift


125.0125.6125.3124. 8

132.4133. 5

n114. 0116. 1143.2115. 3115. 8112. 8118.2115.6117. 1128.0122. 7128.9120.5126.5

136. 1137. 0129.5

146.2

n125.6132.2110. 6118.8118.2123. 895.3

114.2110. 8147. 7

115.2119. 5

124.2140. 1110. 1125.2127. 1

126. 8126. 0

128. 8123.6128.0126. 7

129.3125.2130.5

116.9119.3117. 1

118.4115. 7123.9135.5118.5

124.3124. 9124.6123. 8

130. 1133.4

n113.9115. 8143. 0114. 8115.4111. 8118. 8115.0117.2

121.5121. 9128. 5120.2125. 9

134. 1136.2129.3

141.5(io}

125. 1131.5111. 1118.7118.2123.094.6

113.7110. 7146.3

116. 9121. 1

124.3140. 0110. 1123. 8126.5

125.7124. 8

128.2123.6126.2126. 1

129.0124. 8131. 1

117.0119.3116.9

118. 1115.2123. 7134. 1118. 1

0.6. 6. 6

1. 8. 1

(10). 1. 3. 1

. 4

. 3

. 9-.5. 5

-. 1

5 . 3. 7. 3. 2. 5

1. 5. 6.2

3 . 3(10)

. 4

. 5-. 5. 1

0. 7. 7

. 4

. 11.0

-1.5-1 . 3

-. 1. 1

01. 1. 5

. 91.0

.501.4. 5

. 2

. 3- 5

-. 10

.2

. 3

.4

.21. 0. 3

2. 52. 62.52. 5

6.4. 4

(10)

-.2-1.36.3

1. 1.9

-1.4-.2-. 11.2

6.43. 73.0

6. 65. 14. 8

2. 9

n2. 8

. 8

. 22. 2

. 3

. 3- 3 . 0

-1.21.08.0

-3.611.6

13.56. 5

-1 . 1-3. 73.2

4. 74. 7

2. 92. 11.62.5

3. 94.41. 5

3 . 2- 2 . 5

2 . 9

1.21. 73.93.33.9

18


Table 8. Consumer Pr ice Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,indexes for selected items and groups, November 1972 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

(1967-100)

Item or groupOther




Automobiles, new •Automobiles, used •Gasoline, regular and premiumMotor oil, premiumTires , new, tubelessAuto repairs and maintenance16

Auto insurance ratesAuto registration —Parking fees, private and municipal

Local transit faresTaxicab fares -Railroad fares, coachAirplane fares, chiefly coachBus fares, intercity

Health and recreation —Medical careDrugs and prescriptions —

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

Prescript ionsAnti - inf e ctive sSedatives and hypnoticsAtar actic sAnti spa smodic sCough preparationsCardiovasculars and antihypertensivesAnalgesics, internalAnti - ob e s it yHormones

Professional services:Physicians' fees -General physician, office visitsGeneral physician, house visitsObstetrical casesPediatric care, office visitsPsychiatrist , office visitsHerniorrhaphy, adultTonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

Dentists' feesFillings, adult, amalgam, one surface -Extractions, adultDentures, full upper

Other professional services:Examination, prescription, and dispensing of

eyeglassesRoutine laboratory tests

Hospital service chargesSemiprivate roomsOperating room charges —X-ray, diagnostic series, upper G. I. —Laboratory tests , urinalysisAnti-inf e ctive s, Tetracycline, HCLTranquilizers, Chlordiazepoxide, HCLElectrocardiogramIntravenous solution, saline -Physical therapy, whirlpool bath"Oxygen, inhalation therapy

Personal care

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

Toilet goodsToothpaste, standard dentifrice-Toilet soap, hard milledHand lotions, liquidShaving cream, aerosolFace powder, pressedDeodorants, aerosolCleansing tissuesHome permanent wave kits

Personal care servicesMen's haircutsBeauty shop servicesWomen' s haircutsShampoo and wave sets, plain -Permanent waves, cold

13121.415 119. 0

110.2116.0110. 1124.5114.6136. 6

17 139. 8127. 7148. 8144. 1150. 8133. 7122.0131. 9142. 1

127.4134. 1105. 6111. 795. 3

117. 1101. 1125.0114.3113. 7100.572. 7

127. 8103.5108.0132.0112. 1109.9117.292. 7

134. 8135.7138. 0134.6137. 8130. 8129.2130.4133.5135.2133.3130. 2

126. 3121.3103.0176.0172.9130. 1102.299. 1

101. 8103. 5102.4102. 7101. 9121.0117. 7109.7123.3127.5107.4139.0103. 8121. 7109.7124.4126.6122.9124.6126. 7113. 1

121.2118. 7110. 1115.2110.2124. 6114. 8136.4139. 6127.5147.9144. 1150. 8133. 7122.0131.9142. 1

127.2133. 9105. 7111. 795.5

117. 1101. 0124. 8114.2114.3100.672.9

128.3103. 3108.0131. 7112.0109.7116. 992. 8

134.6135.6137. 8134.5137.0129.5128. 8130.5133.3135. 0133. 1130. 1

125.6121.3102.9175. 8171. 6129. 7102. 599. 1

102.2103.4102. 7102.4102.0120. 8117.6110.2122. 1127. 8107.0136.4103.5124. 9109. 7124.2126.4122.6123. 9126.5112.9

0.2. 3. 1. 7

-. 1-. 1-.2. 1. 1.2. 6

000000

. 2

. 1-. 10- . 20

. 1

. 2

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

0. 2

. 2

. 3-. 1

. 1

. 1

. 1

. 1

. 61.0. 3

-. 1. 2. 1. 2

. 60

. 1

. 1

. 8

. 3-. 30- . 4. 1

- . 3. 3

-. 1. 2. 1

-. 51. 0-. 2. 4

1. 9. 3

-2 .60

.2

.2

.2

.6

.2

. 2

2.32. 1

. 55.33.02.2

-3.53. 8

-1.23. 28. 83.44. 71.5

-4. 41. 84. 6

3.03.4-. 11. 1-. 11.5.3

1. 11. 02.2

- 1 . 1-8.42.6. 9.2

3. 8. 1

1.9.2

-2.0

2. 12.02.92.42.32. 82.41.32. 93.23.02.0

2. 83. 0(9)5.48.72. 8O

i882.62.51.33. 86.3- .4

13. 6-2.0-1.5-1.82.62.32. 93. 73.31.5


19


Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,indexes for selected items and groups, November 1972 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

(1967-100)

Item or groupOther




Reading and recreation1

Recreational goodsTV sets, portable and consoleTV replacement tubesRadios, portable and table modelTape recorders, portablePhonograph records, sterophonicMovie cameras, Super 8, zoom lensFi lm, 35mm, color — ——— — ——— — ——-Golf ba l l s , liquid cen te r or solid coreBasketbal l s , rubber or vinyl <Fishing rods, fresh water spincastingBowling balls •Bicycles, boys'TricyclesDog food, canned or boxed

Recreational servicesIndoor movie admissions

AdultChildren's

Drive-in movie.admissions, adultBowling fees, eveningGolf green feesTV repair, color picture tube replacement —Film developing, color •

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

Other goods and services •Tobacco products —

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

Alcoholic beveragesBeer ~~ ——Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbonWine, dessert and tableBeer, away from home

Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:Funeral service, 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

124. 1108. 2

99. 3133. 2

9 9 . 294. 3

107. 488. 6

108. 1105. 5126.0108. 0114. 2117. 6114. 9111.4129.4141. 9140. 6145.6147. 9122. 1

(10)98. 5

116. 1

133.2134. 1125.2

126.4134. 3136. 0136.3111. 1120.4114. 1108. 812 8. 3132. 7

122. 3106. 9152. 6

124. 6121.0119.4141.3

9 136. 3°127. 4

124. 0108. 3

9 9 . 4133. 0

98. 994. 8

108.088. 6

108. 2105. 6125. 910 8. 0114. 5117. 6114. 6111. 1128. 8142. 0140. 7145.4147.5120. 0131. 1

98.2116. 1

133. 1133.4124. 4

126.4134.3136. 0136. 2111. 2120.3114.2108. 9128.0132.4

122. 1106. 8152.4

124.2120. 8119.3140. 7136.2127. 0

0. 1-. 1-. 1

. 2

. 3-. 5- . 60-. 1-. 1

. 1

. 3

. 3

. 5-. 1-. 1. 1. 3

1. 8(10)

. 30

. 1

. 5

. 6

000

. 2

. 2

. 2

. 1

2. 7. 9

- 1 . 07. 0

. 81. 9. 8

-. 3-. 4

. 7

. 4-2. 5

1. 33. 52. 9

. 52. 22. 31. 73. 93. 93. 7(10)0

- 1 . 9

2 . 07. 53. 0

2. 94. 14 . 44 .21. 61. 8

. 41. 82. 73. 0

2. 7- 2 . 2

2. 52. 54. 41. 82. 7

1 Revised index: September 1972, 130.2.2 Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.3 Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately.4 Also includes pine shelving, furnace filters, packaged dry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.5 Revised index: August 1971, 116.0; May 1972, 119.8; September 1972, 120.4.6 Revised index: April 1971, 113.8; August 1971, 115.6; September 1971, 115.6; October 1971, 115.6; February 1972, 119.3; March 1972,

119.6; April 1972, 120.1, September 1972, 120.7.7 Revised index: January 1971, 112.6; February 1971, 114.5; March 1971, 114.7; April 1971, 115.7; May 1971, 116.5; June 1971, 116.3;

July 1971, 116.0; August 1971, 116.7; September 1971, 116.7; October 1971, 116.7; November 1971, 118.0; 1971 annual average, 116.2; January1972, 121.6; February 1972, 121.8; September 1972, 121.7.

8 Also includes Venetian blinds, nails, carpet sweepers, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring pads, envelopes, reupholstering, and movingexpenses.

9 Not available.1 0 Priced only in season.11 Radios and television sets 'are shown separately under reading and recreation.12 Also includes men's sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing suits, girls' shorts,

earrings, and zippers not shown separately."Revised index: July 1971, 119.4; November 1971, 118.7; December 1971, 118.5; January 1972, July9; July 1972, 120.2.14 Also includes recapped tires and drivers' license fees not shown separately.1 5 Revised index: April 1971, 116. 1; May 1971, 116. 9; June 1971, 117. 5; February 1972, 115.6; September 1972, 118.5; October 1972, 118.7.1 6 Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair exhaust system repair, front end alignment,

and chassis lubrication.1 7 Revised index: March 1971, 139. 7; April 1971, 141. 5; May 1971, 141. 8; June 1971, 142. 2; July 1971, 142.4; August 1971, 142.6; September

1971, 142.6; October 1971, 141.5; November 1971, 141.5; December 1971, 141.5; 1971 annual average, 141.1; January 1972, 140.8; February1972, 140.6; March 1972, 140.7; April 1972, 140.6; May 1972, 140.5; October 1972, 139.6.

18 Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shown separately.1 9 Revised index: March 1971, 131.9; April 1971, 132.9; May 1971, 133.0; June 1971, 134.0; July 1971, 134.2; August 1971, 134.0;

September 1971, 133.7; October 1971, 133.8; November 1971, 133.9; December 1971, 134.1; 1971 annual average, 133.0; February 1972, 135.6;March 1972, 135.4.

2 0 Revised index: December 1971, 124.0.

2 0


Table 9. United States city average Consumer Price Index: Indexes affected by refunds of insurance premiums in Massachusetts

April M a y July August Septemberaverage

Auto Insurance:RevisedPreviously published

Private Transportation:

Previously published

Total Transportation:R e vi s e dPreviously published

Transportation Service:RevisedPreviously published

Insurance and Finance:RevisedPreviously published

Auto Insurance:RevisedPreviously published

Private Transportation:


Total Transportation:Revised

139.7140.1

115.9115.9

117.8117.8

131.9132.0

137.2137.3

141.5141.9

116. 1116. 2

118. 1118. 1

132.9133. 0

136.6136.6

141. 8142.1

116.9117.0

118.8118.8

133. 0133.1

137. 0137.0

142. 2142.5

117.5117.6

119.6119.6

134.0134. 1

137.7137.7

142.4142.7

117.4117.4

119.4119.5

134.2134.3

138.3138.3

142.6142.9

117. 3117.3

119.3119.3

134.0134. 1

138.9139.0

142.6142.9

116.4116.4

118.6118.6

133.7133. 8

139.2139.2

117.2117.2

119. 3119.3

133. 9

140.0140. 1

116.6116.6

140.9140.9

118.6

134. 1134.2

141.2141.3

116.6116.6

118.6118.6

133.0133.1

138.9139.0

1972

Previously published —

Transportation Services:RevisedPreviously published —

Insurance and Finance:Revised

January February


140. 8141. 0

116.4116.4

118. 9119.0

135.6135.6

142. 3142.3

140.6140. 8

115.6115.7

118.3118.3

135.6135.7

142.4142.4

140.7140. 9

115.9115.9

118.4118.4

135.4135.5

142. 5142. 6

April

140.6140.7

116.1116.1

118.6118.6

135.6135.6

142.7142.7

M a y

140. 5140. 6

117. 1117. 1

119.5119.5

135. 8135. 8

142. 9143. 0

140.7140.7

117.3117.3

119.8119.8

136.0136.0

143.5

July August September October

141. 1141. 1

120.2120.3

141.1141.1

120.5120.5

136.3

140.4140.4

118.5118.6

121.0121.0

136. 3136.3

144.7144.7

139.6139.7

118.7118.8

121.2121.2

136.2136.2

145.1145.1

21


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 index 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 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 everyyear such as price movements resulting from changing

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

The unadjusted data are of primary interest toconsumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalationpurposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreementsand pension plans, for example, tie compensationchanges to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for sea-sonal variation.

2 2


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. l The table belowshows standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and

Average standard errors of percent changes in theCPI based on 1971 data

Component

All itemsFood at homeFood away fromhome

HousingApparel and upkeep. . .TransportationMedical carePersonal careReading andrecreation

Other goods andservices

Standard errorMonthlychange

.04

.07

.08

.06

.17

.11

.09

.14

.09

.11

Quarterlychange

.06

.10

.14

.10

.27

.17

.14

.19

.12

.17

Annualchange

.09

.15

.33

.19

.33

.20

.28

.34

.20

.23

are 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 stand-ard error.

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 is almost always significant, regardless ofthe time period to which it relates.

This replaces the table of average errors based on1970 data which was included in the CPI report throughDecember 1971.

annual percent changes in the CPI for all items andfor nine commodity groupings based on 1971 averages.The figures may be interpreted as follows: The chances

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.

A Note About Calculating Index Changes

Percent changes expressed as annual rates are com-puted according to the standard formula for compoundgrowth rates. These data indicate what the percent changewould be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month period.

Movements of the indexes from 1 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 following ex-ample illustrates the computation of index point andpercent changes:

CPI 123.8less previous index 123.2index point difference = 0.6

Index point difference divided by the index forthe previous period:

123.8 - 123.2

123.2x 100 = 0.5

Seasonally adjusted percent changes in the U.S. AllItems Index are based on seasonal adjustment factors andseasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal places.This procedure helps to eliminate rounding error in thepercent changes.

2 3


BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

REGIONAL OFFICES

PUERTO RICO

Region I1603 JFK Federal BuildingGovernment CenterBoston, Mass. 02203Phone: 223-6762 (Area Code 617)

Region II1515 BroadwayNew York, N.Y. 10036Phone: 971-5405 (Area Code 212)

Region IM406 Penn Square Building1317 Filbert St.Philadelphia, Pa. 19107Phone: 597-7796 (Area Code 215)

Region IVSuite 5401371 PeachtreeSt. NE.Atlanta, Ga. 30309Phone: 526-5418 (Area Code 404)

Region V8th Floor, 300 South Wacker DriveChicago, III. 60606Phone: 353-1880 (Area Code 312)

Region VI1100 Commerce St., Rm. 6B7Dallas, Tex. 75202Phone: 749-3516 (Area Code 214)

Region VI I and V I I IFederal Office Building911 Walnut St., 15th floorKansas City, Mo. 64106Phone: 374-2481 (Area Code 816)

Region IX and X450 Golden Gate Ave.Box 36017San Francisco, Calif. 94102Phone: 556-4678 (Area Code 415)

Regions V I I and VIM are serviced by Kansas City.

Regions IX and X are serviced by San Francisco.


the consumer price index november 1972 - st. louis fedtable 4. cpi—united states and selected...

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