cpi detailed report march 1977 - fraser · pdf filechart 1. all items index and ... cereal and...

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABORRay Marshall, 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.

Subscription price per year:$9.00, domestic$11.00, foreign

$.75, single copy

Material in this publication is in the publicdomain and may be reproduced withoutpermission of the Federal Government.Please credit the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Library of CongressCatalog number 74-647019

May 1977

CPI Detailed ReportFor March 1977Consumer Price Index: U.S. City Average and Selected Areas

Contents

Page

Price movements 1

Chart 1. All items index and rates of changes, 1967-77 7Chart 2. Commodities less food index and rates of change,

1967-77 8Chart 3. Total food index and rates of change, 1967-77 9Chart 4. Services index and rates of change, 1967-77 10

Table 1. CPI—U.S. city average, by commodity and servicegroup and expenditure class 11

Table 2. CPI—seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by commodity

and service group and expenditure class 12

Table 3. CPI)—food items, U.S. city average 13

Table 4. CPI—nonfood commodities and services, U.S. city

average 15

Table 5. CPI—selected areas, all items index 19

Table 6. CPI—areas priced monthly, by expenditure class,

percent change from February 1977 to March 1977 19

Table 7. CPI—selected areas, by expenditure class 20

Table 8. CPI—food groups, selected areas 22

Table 9. CPI—gasoline indexes, U.S. city average and selectedareas 23

Table 10. CPI—gasoline average prices, U.S. city average and

selected areas 23

Table 11. CPI—by population size 24

Table 12. CPI—by region 25Appendix: Technical Notes 26

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

Price Movements

March 1977

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6 percent inMarch before seasonal adjustment to 178.2 percent of its1967 base. The March CPI was 6.4 percent higher than inMarch 1976.

Seasonally adjusted changes

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI also rose 0.6percent in March. This compares with rises of 1.0 percentin February and 0.8 percent in January, and an averagemonthly increase of 0.3 percent in the last 4 months of1976. The March rise was slower than earlier this yearbecause of smaller price increases for food and othercommodities (table A).

Price developments, first quarter 1977

In the 3 months ending in March, the CPI rose at aseasonally adjusted annual rate of 10 percent, comparedwith 4.2 percent in the final quarter of 1976. The accel-eration occurred primarily in the food component as ad-verse winter weather conditions curtailed production anddisrupted marketings of many food items. In addition, theupsurge in coffee prices continued. The food index roseat a 14.6-percent rate in the first quarter, compared withno change in the last quarter of 1976, and a small rise—ata 1.6-percent rate—in the third quarter.

In the energy sector—where prices and supplies alsowere affected by the cold weather this winter—prices ofenergy items in the CPI (gas, electricity, fuel oil, coal,gasoline, and motor oil) rose at a 7.7-percent rate in the 3months ending in March, less than the increase in the fourthquarter of 1976. Although fuel oil and natural gas pricesrose sharply, increases in gasoline price slowed.

If food and energy items are excluded, the rise in theCPI accelerated in the first quarter to a 7.3-percent ratefrom 4.7 percent in the preceding quarter. Much of thisacceleration was due to sharp rises in charges for servicesand prices of used cars. Prices of some other consumergoods, reflecting earlier increases in manufacturers' prices,also rose at a faster rate in the first quarter than in late1976.

Changes in the CPI are influenced partly by behavior ofprices at the producers' level. The Wholesale Price Index(WPI), which measures prices at the primary market levelfor commodities from the raw to the finished stage, roseat a 10.2-percent rate in the 3 months ending in March,following a 7.1-percent rise in the fourth quarter of 1976.The acceleration in the first quarter in the WPI, as in theCPI, was primarily in the agricultural sector (Table B).Prices for fuels and fuel products in the WPI rose at an18.3-percent rate, about the same as in the last two quartersof 1976. The industrial commodities index including fuelsrose at a 7.9-percent rate and excluding fuels at a 6.1-percentrate—both about as rapidly as in the last two quarters of1976. The following tabulation shows annual rates of pricechange (in percent) in industrial commodities other thanfuels grouped by stage of processing:

3 monthsending:

Mar. 1976...Dec. 1976 ..Mar. 1977...

Crude Intermediate Finished goodsmaterials materials Consumer Producer

0.2-5.510.1

7.27.56.9

7.03.57.6

5.09.25.3

Adverse weather conditions this winter had an impact notonly on food and fuel prices, but also on prices and ac-tivities in many other sectors of the economy. In addition toweather-related factors, faster price rises in the first quarter,

Consumer Price Index Revision

The completion of the comprehensive program to re-vise the Consumer Price Index will be delayed beyondthe previously announced date of April 1977. Althoughmuch of the work required for the revision has beencompleted, serious problems have been encountered,principally in the design and operation of the new com-puter system required to process and calculate the in-dexes and in data validation. The Bureau now estimatesthat the additional time required will delay completion

of the revision program and publication of a revisedConsumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners andClerical Workers as well as a new Consumer Price Indexfor All Urban Consumers until the fall of 1977.

Until these revised indexes are officially introduced,the Bureau will, of course continue to publish the presentCPI. In accordance with previously announced plans, theBureau also will continue the present CPI for a 6-monthperiod after the introduction of the revised indexes.


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

Services

Unad-justed

Seasonallyadjusted

Changes in all items

Compoundannual rate

from3 months

ago

Seasonallyadjusted

From12 months

ago

Unad-justed

1976:MarchApri lMayJuneJulyAugust . .SeptemberOctober. . .November.December.

1977:January . .February .March

0.2.4.6.5.6.5.4.4.3.3

.61.0

.6

0.2.4.7.4.5.5.3.3.3.4

.81.0.6

-0.7.3.4.5.7.2

- .40- .3

.3

.92.3

.5

-0.6.5.8.2.1.2.1.2

- .3.1

.92.0

.6

0.4.6.8.6.4.6.6.4.4.2

.6

.6

0.3.3.6.4.4.6.3.4.4.6

.7

.7

.4

0.6.3.4.6.7.6.8.5.5.4

.9

.6

.7

0.7.5.6.6.7.6.5.4.4.4

.9

.6

.8

3.93.15.46.16.35.55.34.84.04.2

6.19.1

10.0

6.16.16.25.95.45.65.55.35.04.8

5.26.06.4

particularly among industrial materials, were accompaniedby the continued improvement in economic activity thatbegan in late 1976. Although temporarily set back by thecold weather and fuel supply problems in early 1977, out-put in the private sector rose at a strong 5.8-percent ratein the first quarter, twice as fast as in the fourth quarterof 1976. The rise in output reflected a step-up in in-ventory buildup by manufacturers and a resurgence indemand, particularly for motor vehicles.

Food. After declining in the preceding quarter, prices offood purchased in grocery stores rose at a 15.8-percentrate in the 3 months ending in March. Prices rose for manyfoods, including fruits and vegetables, coffee, pork, poultry,cereal and bakery products, sugar and sweets, and saladand cooking oils. Beef prices, however, declined. The risein prices of food away from home—restaurant meals andsnacks—also accelerated, to a 10.9-percent rate in the firstquarter, from 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter.

The rise in retail food prices in the first quarter stemmednot only from weather-related factors, but also from earlierincreases in prices at the processors' and farm levels. TheWholesale Price Index (WPI) for consumer foods and forcrude foods began to move up in the fourth quarter of1976 and increases accelerated in the first quarter (tablesB and C).

Fresh fruit and vegetable prices rose sharply as supplieswere curtailed during the first quarter. New crops ofFlorida citrus and vegetables such as snap beans, sweet

corn, and celery were damaged by the severe freeze. TheWestern drought limited offerings of fresh produce fromCalifornia, which accounts for 40 percent of the Nation'ssupply. The index for processed fruits and vegetables in theWPI registered the largest quarterly rate of increase (22.8percent) since the fall of 1974, while the correspondingindex in the CPI advanced 5.2 percent.

Prices for cereal and bakery products at both the retailand producer levels turned up in the first quarter. The up-turn at the retail level was primarily due to higher pricesfor bakery products resulting from increased costs foringredients such as cocoa, sugar, and shortening. Flourand rice prices continued to decline. At the processors'level, however, rice prices rose due to improved exportdemand and a concern over the drought in California. Inaddition, flour prices turned up reflecting increases in wheatprices. The winter wheat crop outlook was poor duringmost of the first quarter due to the Midwest drought andthe possibility of reduced crops in other growing areasin the world. However, stored supplies remained high andprices were still below levels of last year.

Among livestock products, hog prices moved up in thelatter part of the fourth quarter of 1976 and early in thefirst quarter of 1977 as severe cold weather adverselyaffected marketings. Smaller supplies resulted in higherpork prices during the first quarter. By the end of thequarter, however, hog marketings and pork productionrose resulting in declining prices. Prices for cattle and beefdeclined as a result of increased supplies of beef and com-


peting meats; weaker demand for beef also helped to re-duce prices. Retail prices of beef and veal also moved downover the quarter, despite a January increase.

Shortages of broilers and fryers, arising from weather-related transportation problems, caused prices for poultryto rise at both producer and retail levels in the early part ofthe quarter. Producer prices moved down later when theweather improved, but retail prices continued to rise.

Prices for eggs at the farm level moved down fromDecember to March at the fastest rate (35.1 percent) sincethe second quarter of 1974. Increased egg production inthe wake of a period of low supplies and near-record priceswas a major reason for this downward movement. At theretail level, egg prices rose in January and February, butdeclined in March.

Retail prices for dairy products continued to decline inthe first quarter of 1977; however, the rate of decline wasmuch slower than from September to December, as unusu-ally high demand for butter and cheese caused prices of dairyproducts at the processor level to turn up after decliningin the preceding quarter.

Prices of coffee and some food items continued to beinfluenced by changes in international markets. Price in-creases for green coffee, cocoa beans, and tea acceleratedin the first quarter. World supplies of both coffee and cocoabeans remained tight in the wake of unfavorable growingconditions in many producing countries. Processors' pricesof roasted coffee were 108.5 percent higher this Marchthan a year earlier, while retail prices were up 92.8 percentover the same span. Increased demand for tea as a coffeesubstitute resulted in sharply higher prices for tea as well.

Retail prices for sugar and sweets turned up after de-clining in 3 of the 4 previous quarters. Prices for sugar andconfectionery in the WPI rose sharply in the first quarter,after showing no change in the previous 3 months. Thisindex had registered large declines during much of 1976.Major influences in the rise for sugar prices were the largepurchases in the world market by the Soviet Union andthe Peoples Republic of China. Higher prices for cocoabeans contributed to increases in prices for chocolatecoating and candy bars.

Table B. Changes in selected components of the Consumer and Wholesale Price Indexes, 1976-77

Index

3 months ending (compound annual rate,seasonally adjusted)

1976

March June September December

1977

March

Consumer Price Index

All itemsFoodCommodities less foodServices

AH items less food and energy itemsCommodities less food and energy itemsServices less energy itemsEnergy items (gas, electricity, fuel oil,coal, gasoline, motor oil)

Wholesale Price Index

All commoditiesFarm products and processed foods andfeeds

Crude foods and feedsIntermediate materials for foodmanufacturing

Consumer foodsIndustrial commodities

Crude materials except foodsIntermediate materials except foodsProducers' finished goodsConsumer finished goods except foods . .

Industrials except fuels

3.9-5.4

4.010.6

8.05.5

10.6

-5.9

1.3

-10.1-12.0

-4.3-13.9

5.35.66.07.33.1

7.3

6.16.25.66.5

5.85.76.5

10.9

6.6

13.421.0

15.513.24.8

16.43.54.33.6

4.3

5.31.65.57.5

6.55.36.9

10.9

3.5

-12.0-25.0

-27.4-13.6

8.010.68.34.77.7

6.7

4.205.75.1

4.64.74.0

13.1

7.1

6.66.2

-8.08.47.6

21.67.19.55.2

6.1

10.014.67.49.8

8.37.39.4

7.7

10.2

19.326.5

25.712.57.9

21.98.25.38.5

6.4


Prices for salad and cooking oils, which began to moveup in the fourth quarter of 1976, rose at a rapid rate in thefirst quarter primarily as a result of higher costs for in-gredients, especially soybeans. World supplies of soybeanswere low partly due to unfavorable weather conditions inBrazil during harvest time.

Commodities other than food. Prices of consumer goodsother than food increased at a faster rate in the firstquarter of 1977 than in the final quarter of 1976—at a7.4-percent rate compared with 5.7 percent in the CPIand 8.5 percent compared with 5.2 percent in the WPI,(tables B and C). Excluding used car and home purchase

Table C. Changes in wholesale and retail prices for consumer goods and services, 1976-77 ]

Index Index

3 months ending (compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted)

1976

March June September December

1977

March

Consumer Price Index . . . .

Consumer goods

Food l

Meats, poultry, fish

Dairy products

Cereal and bakery products

Fresh fruits and vegetables.

Commodities less food

Nondurables less food . . .

Apparel less footwear. .

Footwear

Gasoline 2

Fuel oil 3

Tobacco products

Durables i

New cars

Furniture

Appliances including radio

and television

ServicesRentHousehold less rentMedical careTransportation,Other services

CPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPICPIWPI

CPIWPICPICPICPICPICPICPI

3.9

.2-3.5-5.4

-13.9-20.2-29.2

5.5-10.8

-5.02.3

-14.0-26.8

4.03.11.82.43.47.65.3

11.6-13.6-15.5

-1.9-9.4

7.35.77.24.04.63.53.85.5

5.82.7

10.66.18.9

13.020.3

7.7

6.1

6.06.96.2

13.26.3

-1.17.2

11.67.67.3

-14.1-58.2

5.63.65.03.84.36.96.1

11.07.2

-2.47.7

-4.21.85.46.53.11.53.5

.56.5

4.73.76.55.46.58.27.05.4

5.3

3.9- .51.6

-13.6-16.3-25.6

11.62.11.5

-12.734.8

156.35.57.76.09.16.23.86.68.3

10.221.611.217.82.05.65.05.16.47.91.3

6.1

1.61.07.55.46.88.9

10.36.9

4.2

3.46.00

8.4-7.920.7-8.9

-10.6-9.5-9.525.6

-10.45.75.25.46.51.94.93.54.89.5

22.58.7

13.86.6

16.66.03.3

6.95.77.65.8

1.0-2.0

5.15.32.0

13.26.45.8

10.0

10.410.114.612.58.6

-2.6- .71.22.79.7

63.6107.6

7.48.55.59.54.4

10.25.36.52.63.6

27.925.4

5.712.010.57.04.14.2

2.94.6

2.32.39.86.3

12.09.48.96.7

Includes items not listed.CPI includes motor oil.

CPI includes coal.


prices—which are not included in the WPI—the rise atthe retail level was 5.2 percent or about the same as in thelast two quarters of 1976. Price increases accelerated atboth the retail and manufacturers' levels for fuel oil,apparel, footwear, and appliances, and moderated forgasoline, tobacco products, new cars, and furniture. Al-though price movements were similar at both levels, in-creases were generally larger at the manufacturers' level.

Much of the acceleration in the CPI for consumer goodsother than food in the first quarter of 1977 was due toused car prices, which rose at a 40-percent rate, comparedwith 16.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 1976. Demandfor full and intermediate size used cars continued strongdespite the cold weather; the supply of late-model cars wastight. The new car index, however, rose at a somewhat slowerrate in the first quarter than in the preceding quarters. Newcar sales were usually strong in the first quarter, particu-larly for full and intermediate size models. However, rebateson some smaller models were offered to help stimulatesluggish sales.

The rise in fuel oil prices in both the CPI and the WPIaccelerated sharply in the first quarter because coldweather increased demand at the same time that frozenrivers limited barge and truck deliveries. In addition,January 1 increases in imported crude oil prices by theOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries were passedthrough to refined petroleum products.

In contrast to fuel oil prices, the rate of increase ingasoline prices slowed in the first quarter because manysuppliers had stockpiled foreign crude oil in anticipationof the OPEC price increase. The severe winter weather alsocurtailed consumer driving and thus reduced demand forgasoline during much of the first quarter.

The faster price rise in the first quarter among otherconsumer goods such as apparel, footwear, and appliancesreflected earlier increases in manufacturers' prices. Despitethe acceleration, increases for these consumer goods wererelatively moderate due to slow demand and wide sale pro-motions by retailers. At the manufacturers' level, rising costsfor materials such as textile, leather, and fabricated metalproducts were passed through.

Materials cost, which were a major source of the rise inprices of finished goods during the past year, continued tomove up rapidly in the first quarter. Higher fuel costs forproduction contributed to price increases for some indus-trial goods. The severe winter weather and widespread cut-backs in the availability of natural gas to business customersdisrupted production and transportation in many parts of thecountry. Temporary shortages or unexpected low inven-tories of some commodities resulted from these abnormalconditions. An early return of good weather in some areascontributed to a generally quick recovery of businessactivity. With the economy rebounding rapidly in thelatter part of the first quarter, many producers raisedprices to reflect earlier cost increases and to improve profitmargins.

Prices of intermediate industrial commodities (otherthan fuel) rose at a slightly slower rate during the firstquarter (6.9 percent) than during the preceding quarter(7.5) percent. Metals and textile products generally rosemore than in the final quarter of 1976, but lumber andwood products moved lower after rising steeply at the endof last year. Stronger demand and fears of a possible copperstrike helped to accelerate price increases for nonferrousmetals, while the steel price increase effective last Decemberled to advances for many types of fabricated metal products.

Among textile products, prices for knit goods turned upin the first quarter. Renewed consumer interest in knitgoods and increased demand from apparel manufacturerswere among the influences contributing to the first quarterincreases. Prices for raw cotton remained high due to tightsupplies in domestic and foreign markets. The decline inprices of most lumber and wood products was due largelyto adverse winter weather, which curtailed constructionactivity sharply in much of the country. The return of morefavorable weather led to higher prices for most of theseproducts at the end of the first quarter, although plywoodprices continued to fall because of excess production.Among other intermediate industrial materials, prices turnedup for motor vehicle parts, leather, and agriculturalchemicals following decreases in the fourth quarter, butpaperboard prices turned down.

Prices of crude industrial commodities (other than fuel)moved up at a 10.1-percent rate from December to March,following a 5.5-percent rate of decline in the previousquarter. Large advances for both nonferrous and ferrousscrap metals, reflecting improved demand as the economystrengthened, were responsible for most of this upwardmovement. Strong export demand in January led to higherprices of hides and skins, but these prices moved backsomewhat later in the quarter. Prices of iron ore, crudenatural rubber, sand, gravel, and crushed stone, and waste-paper also increased from December to March.

Services. Prices of consumer services accelerated sharply inthe first quarter to an annual rate of 9.8 percent, comparedwith 5.1 percent in the previous quarter. The first quarterincrease in service prices was the largest since early 1976and contributed to about 40 percent of the rise in the AllItems CPI. Excluding changes in energy items—natural gasand electricity—the services index rose 9.4 percent, upfrom 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 1976. Householdservices, particularly property taxes, mortgage interest costs,and property insurance rates, accelerated in the Marchquarter. In addition, transportation services, residentialrents, and various other services such as apparel, recrea-tional, and personal care services, increased more than inthe final quarter of 1976. The increase for medical careservices was smaller than in the last quarter of 1976, butstill substantial (table C).

Within the household services sectors, mortgage interestcosts—which reflect changes in house prices and interest


rates—rose in the first quarter of 1977, following a de-cline in the final quarter of 1976. The average price ofnew homes constructed in the first quarter acceleratedsharply, and prices of existing homes continued to increaserapidly. Mortgage interest rates continued to decline in thefirst quarter, but by less than in the previous quarter.Despite continued strong savings inflows and slack demandduring much of the quarter, some mortgage lendinginstitutions were hesitant to lower rates further becauseof anticipated heavy demand for funds when home con-struction improved. By the end of the first quarter, housingstarts had improved significantly as a result of betterweather.

Property taxes rose at an annual rate of 22.0 percent,nearly three times as much as in the final quarter of 1976.Metropolitan areas continued to face escalating costs fornearly all types of city services. Some localities, confrontedwith consumer resistance to further property tax hikes,opted for more frequent property tax assessments to in-crease revenues. Property insurance rates also acceleratedsharply in the first quarter as insurance companies facedhigher costs for nearly all types of claims.

Among utilities, the natural gas index in the CPI rose ata 16.7-percent rate in the first quarter—a substantial rise,although less than in the last two quarters of 1976. TheFederal Government restructured the pricing schedule ofnatural gas sold in interstate commerce to induce producersto sell their gas across State lines rather than hold it inreserve or sell within the producing State where the price isusually''unregulated. As natural gas contracts expired, com-panies had to purchase available gas at higher prices fromcompanies with newer wells. Subsequently, consumer gasbills reflected higher charges passed through by gas dis-tribution companies. Price increases allowed under theEmergency Gas Purchase Act passed in January 1977 showedup in the natural gas index late in the first quarter.

The 10.9-percent first quarter rise in water and sewerrates nearly doubled the fourth quarter increase. The risein charges for electricity in the CPI remained moderate—3.8 percent in the first quarter and less than the 7.8-percentrate in the fourth quarter of 1976. Residential telephoneservice charges declined partly as a result of the reductionin the Federal excise tax on telephone services in the firstquarter.

Residential rents rose at a 6.3-percent rate, somewhatfaster than the quarterly increases in recent years. Part ofthis increase represented the annual adjustment to take

account of special rent-controlled units in New York. Inaddition, some landlords raised rents to cover higher fuelbills and rising property taxes and to earn a larger returnon their investment.

Prices for medical care services increased at an annualrate of 9.4 percent, about the same as in the second andthird quarters of 1976, but significantly less than in thefourth quarter. The unusually sharp increase in the fourthquarter resulted partly from the annual adjustment of re-tained earnings of health insurance companies. During thefirst quarter, physicians' fees rose at a 12.2-percent rate,the fastest rise since early 1976. The rate of price increasefor hospital service charges accelerated sharply in the firstquarter to 13.2 percent from 8.7 percent in the previousquarter. Some health facilities have been under increas-ing cost pressures from rising labor costs, declining con-tributions, and sharply higher insurance rates, particularlyfor malpractice insurance. Hospitals which have borrowedfunds to operate have had to incur additional interestexpenses. In addition, more frequent and more sophis-ticated medical tests which require highly expensive andcomplex equipment have added to the increase in hospitalservice charges.

Transportation services accelerated to an annual rateof 8.9 percent as auto insurance rates rose at an annualrate above 10.0 percent for the fourth consecutive quarter.Insurance companies continued to press for further ratehikes in many areas to meet increasing damage repair bills.The first quarter annual rate of increase for auto repairsand maintenance charges was nearly double the rate inthe final quarter of 1976. In the public transportationsector, airline, railroad, and taxi and local transit faresincreased more in the first quarter of 1977 than in thefinal quarter of 1976. Local transit fares rose despite re-ports of increased ridership over the previous year formany transit systems. Subsidies, special taxes, and farehikes were imposed to help finance expansion of masstransit service and to repair existing systems. Airline fareswhich were increased on January 15 rose 1.6 percent in thefirst quarter. Taxicab fares rose in New York, Los Angeles,Washington, and Seattle in the first quarter.

The CPI for other services accelerated in the first quarterfrom a rate of 5.8 percent to 6.7 percent. Influences behindhigher charges included increasing overhead expenses, suchas utility charges, along with a first quarter rise in the legalminimum wage for some employees in retail trade from$2.00 to $2.20 an hour.


SEHI-LOG

2ooleo

160

140

120

100

Chart 1. All items index and its rates of change, 1967-77(1967=100)

RRITH-5CRLE

8

6

4

2

0

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPRN(5ERS0NRLLY HDJUSTED)

RRITH.5CRLE

8

CPI RLL ITEMS INDEX(NOT SERSONRLLY ROJUSTEDJ

PERCENT CHRN6E OVER 3-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RRTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTEO)

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

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPRN 1 /

i,.I,,i,

MflR1 0 . 0

MflR7 . 1

^RITH-5CBLE

1.41-21.00-80.60.40-20-0

-0.2

WITH.5CRLE

8

1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

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


KB1"200

180

160

140

120

100

Chart 2. Commodities less food index and its rates of change, 1967-77(1967=100)

RRITH.5CRLE

6

4

2

0

RRITH.5CRLE

4

2

0

CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEXISERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER i-MQNTH SPRN(SEASONALLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRN6E OVER 3-MONTH SPRNIRNNURL RRTE. SERSONRLLY ROJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPRNIRNNURL RflTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPRN 1/

MRR0 - 4

MAR7 . 4

MflR6 .5

MflR6 . 1

1.41.21.00.80.60.40.20.0-0.2-0.4-0.6

WITH.5CHLE

1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

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


Chart 3. Total food index and its rates of change, 1967-77(1967=100)

CPI TOTflL FOOD INDEXISEflSONRLLY flOJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPfl(SERSONRLLY flOJUSTED

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflNiflNNURL RflTE. SEflSONRLLY ROJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN(RNNURL RRTE. SEflSONRLLY ROJUSTEO)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN/1/

in.nlu.nlnh.lnh.lu.ulu.ulu.ulnhJ

1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

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

9


SErtl-Lor 200

180

160

140

120

100

HAM*12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Chart 4. Services index and its rates of change, 1967-77(1967=100)

CPI SERVICES INDEX(SERSONflLLY ROJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVERf L-fiONTH SPRN\ SERSONRLLY ROJUSTED)

PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPRN(RNNURL RRTE. SERSONRLLY flOJUSTEO)

PERCENT(RNNURL

CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPRNSERSONRLLY ROJUSTEO) MflR

7.4

MAR189.9

KttB-

0-70.60.50.40.30-20-10-0

-0-1

10

8

6

4

2

0

1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

1/ Computed from t h e unadjus ted s e r i e s .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORBUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

10


Table 1. CPI — U.S. city average, by commodity and service group and expenditure class

(Consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, 1967=100)

Group or class

Relativeimportance

December1976

100.000-

62.46823.66718.4562.5375. 7002.8413.0194. 3605.210

38.80122.795

7.8112.4673. 3781.383.582

14.9843.4261.8732.2171.0606.408

16.0064.4441.9092.3237.329

37.5324.525

33.00716.2085.2955.9585.547

76.33346.462

6.42831.5759.8645.6754.8301.395

Unadjusted indexes

February1977

177. 1206.0170.9187. 7186.2180.0174. 7171. 1194. 7213.0193.6161.6163. 1148.5150.6143. 3154.4157.7171.8182.0165.8148.8278.3166. 1159.7148.8140.7179. 1167.2188.7150.2195.6206.8183.6209.4167.5

174.0175.0147.4185. 3204.5182.0218.8125. 0

March1977

Unadjustedpercent change to

March 1977 from—

March1976

Commodity anc178.2207.2171.8188.6186.9181.3175.0171. 2196.8213.2195.2162.6163.9149. 3152.6143.3155.4157.8172.6183.4166. 0149.3281.4166.8160.8149. 7140.9182. 7168.0190.0150.8197. 1208.4185. 1211.5168. 1

175. 1175.9148. 1186.5205.6183.8220.5125.0

6.4-

5.95.55 . 2

. 4- 2 . 92. 0

13.416.6

6.86. 15 . 44. 35 . 03 . 55 . 44 . 66 . 07 . 34. 12 . 8

13. 75 . 86.93 . 44 . 8

21. 15 . 77 . 25 . 77 . 56.88.29 .96. 1

6 .65 . 54. 16.75 .99 .07 . 22 . 4

February1977

Seasonally adjustedpercent change from—

December toJanuary

service groups0 .6-. 5. 5. 4. 7. 2. 1

1. 1. 1. 8. 6. 5. 5

1. 30

. 6

. 1

. 5

. 8

. 1

. 31. 1

. 4

. 7

. 6

. 12 . 0

. 5

. 7

. 4

. 8

. 8

. 81. 0

. 4

. 6

. 5

. 5

. 6

. 51. 0

. 80

0 . 8-

. 8

. 9

. 9

. 81. 1

. 5-. 11.8

. 8

. 7

. 5

. 6

. 5

. 9

. 4

. 7

. 5-. 71.2. 1

2 . 0. 6. 9. 3. 6

3 . 8* . 5

. 9

. 8

. 91.3

. 5

. 8

. 7

*. 4* . 4

. 7* . 91.51. 1*. 4

. 2

January toFebruary

1 .0-

1.22. 02 . 3- . 6

. 8- 1 . 1

8.33 .61.0

. 7

. 6

. 41. 1- . 2

. 6

. 2

. 6

. 9

. 1-. 12 . 0

. 6

. 9

. 5

. 13. 3*. 7

. 6

. 3

. 7

. 6

. 9

. 7

. 5

*. 6*1.5

. 4*. 5

. 9

. 1*. 6

. 2

February toMarch

0 .6_. 5. 6. 5. 5. 2. 5. 3

1 .4. 7. 4. 3

-. 1. 5

- . 6. 3

-. 1. 5. 4. 1. 3

2 . 2. 4. 6. 5. 4

1 .5*. 5

. 8

. 5

. 81. 0

. 8

. 8

. 5

*. 6*. 50* . 61 .01. 0* . 8

. 1

Expenditure classes100.00023.66734.20221.256

4.52516.3285.4142.9137.5329. 194

13.54812.227

1.32119.0136. 7342.5545. 1434.582

78.74493.26695.84015.827

1.806

_

_

177. 1187.7184.3185.3150.2198. 1196.4205.4173.6150.8173.3172.7178.9169.8195.8166.7155.5156.9

175.0176.0175. 1178. 6162.2

$0,565.485

178.2188.6185.5186.3150.8199.3198.5208.5174.6151. 7174.8174. 1180.4170.7197.6167.3155.8157.3

176. 1177.0176.2178.3161.5

$0,561.483

6.45 . 56 . 35. 75. 75 .6

11. 013.5

4 . 84 . 69 . 49 . 84. 76.39 .46 .34 . 63 .6

6 .56. 16.62 . 0

-2.4

- 6 . 0_

0.6. 5. 7. 5. 4. 6

1. 11 .5

. 6

. 6

. 9

. 8

. 8

. 5

. 9

. 4

. 2

. 3

. 6

. 6

. 6- . 2- . 4

-. 7_

0 . 8. 9

*. 8* . 9

. 8* . 91. 1. 9. 5. 7. 9. 9

1.0* . 6*. 9*. 6

. 4

. 6

* . 5*. 6*. 6*. 8 "1.6

1 .02 . 0*. 7*. 7

. 3*. 7

. 3

. 3

. 7

. 2

. 91. 0

. 4*. 5* . 9* . 3

. 4

. 1

* 1 . 1* 1 . 0*1.0*2. 5

- . 8

_

0 .6. 6

*. 7* . 5

. 5*. 61 .41 .4

. 3

. 2

. 6

. 5

. 8* . 5* . 9* . 4

. 4

. 3

*. 6*. 6*. 6

* - . 2-2.2

All itemsAll items (1957-59=100)

CommoditiesFood

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

Food away from homeCommodities less food

Nondurables less foodApparel commodities

Men's and boys'Women's and girls'FootwearOther apparel commodities

Nondurables less food and apparel . .Gasoline and motor oilTobacco productsAlcoholic beveragesFuel oil and coalOther nondurables

Durable commoditiesHousehold durablesNew automobilesUsed automobilesOther durables

ServicesRentServices less rent

Household services less rentTransportation servicesMedical care servicesOther services

Special indexes:All items less foodNondurable commoditiesApparel commodities less footwear

- Services less medical care servicesInsurance and financeUtilities and public transportationHousekeeping and home maintenance serviceAppliances (including radio and TV)

All itemsFoodHousing

Shelter1

RentHomeownership2

Fuel and utilities3

Gas and electricityHousehold furnishings and operation . . .

Apparel and upkeepTransportation

PrivatePublic

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 foods 4

CPI-selected beef cuts5

Purchasing power of consumer dollar:1967=$1.001957-59=31.00

1 Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. 5 Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and2 Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and beef liver.

repairs. * Not seasonally adjusted.3 Also includes residential telephone, fuel oi l , coal, water, and sewerage services

not shown separately.4 Calculated from the CPI food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic

beverages, bananas, chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup and about half of the indexweight for sugar. NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.

11


Table 2. CPI—seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by commodity and service group and expenditure class


Group and classDecember

1976

Seasonally adjusted indexes

January 'February1977 1977

March1977

Seasonally adjusted annual ratepercent change for

3 months ending in

June1976

September1976

December1976

March1977

6 months ending in

September1976

March1977

Commodity and service groups

All itemsCommodities

FoodFood at home

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

Food away from homeCommodities less food

Nondurables less foodApparel commodities

Men's and boys'Women's and girls'FootwearOther apparel commodities

Nondurables less food and apparel . . .Gasoline and motor oilTobacco productsAlcoholic beveragesFuel oil and coalOther nondurables

Durable commoditiesHousehold durablesNew automobilesUsed automobilesOther durables1.

Services . ,RentServices less rent

Household services less rentTransportation servicesMedical care servicesOther services

Special indexes:All items less f0od *.Nondurable commodities}Apparel commodities less footwearServices less medical care services !

Insurance and financeUtilities and public transportationHousekeeping and home maintenance service.1.Appliances (including radio and TV)

All itemsFoodHousing \

Shelterl ?RentHomeownership * 3.

Fuel and utilities 4

Gas and electricityHousehold furnishings and operation...

Apparel and upkeepTransportation

PrivatePublic

Health and recreation l

Medical care!Personal careJ

Reading and recreationOther goods and services

Special indexes:

All items less shelter.1

All items less medical care \All items less mortgage interest costs ?CPI—domestically produced farm foods * s..CPI—selected beef cuts 6

168.0181.9179. 7178. 1172. 1169.5181.3198. 7190.4160.5162.0148.5149.8144.2153.4156.9170.0183. 1163.5148.8261.4164.3158.4148.4139.2178.7165. 1185.5148.3192.2202.5180.6206.4165.6

172.2171.7147.4182.7198.5179.2216. 7124.4

181.9181.6182.4148.3195.0191.8201.6172.2150.6171.9171.5176.3168.0192.3165.2154.5155.8

172.2173.2172.3173.0163.9

169.183.181.179.174.170.181.202.192.161.162.149.150.145.154.158.170.181.165.148.266.165.159.148.140.185.166.187.

ri49.194.205.181.208.166.

172.172.148.

r184.201.181.217.124.

4535032306846500884963980502501507

94435167

171.4187. 1185.4178.4175.4168.4196.3209.6194. 0162.7163.7150.0152.3145.2155.0158.3171.8183.5165.6148.8272.0166.3161.4149.5140. 1191. 6167.2188.4149.9195.4206.4183. 1209.4167.5

174. 0175.0149.0185.3203.3181.3218.8125.0

172.2188.2186.4179. 3175.7169.2196.8212.6195.4163.4164.2149.9153. 1144.3155.4158. 1172.7184.3165.8149.3278. 1167.0162.4150.2140.6194.4168.0189.9150.6197.0208.4184. 5211. 1168.3

175. 1175.9149.0186.5205.4183. 1220.5125. 1

6. 16.06.26.07.66.37.2

-10.417. 07.05.65.04.5

.57.46. 12.95.37.21.84.87.74.96.51.91.5

25.55.76.55.46.76.57.08.25.4

7.05.64.34.95.79. 18.24. 7

5.3 .1.

1.-16.

11.17.8.5.5.6.6.

10.3 .6.3.6.

10.2.1.

11.5.5.1.6.5.6.7.5.7.6.

10.8.6.

7.4.6.8.6.8.8.1.

39645366375022765020624044095478399

41229956

4.23.40-.9

-9.5-7.9-8.912.611.43.75.75.42.7

.32.83.58.96.69.56.63. 38.76. 16.05.66.9

16.23.05. 15.35.42. 06.4

13.25.8

5.32.41.95.2

-2.89.05. 11. 0

10. 010.414.615.82.78.6-. 7

38.831. 110.97.45.53.89. 1

.35.33. 16.52.65.71.4

28. 16.7

10.54.94. 1

40. 17. 29.86.3

10.412.28.99.46.7

6.910. 14.48.6

14.69 .07.22. 3

Expenditure classes

183.5

196. 7194.0203.4173. 1151.7173.5173.0178.0169.0194. 1166.2155. 1156.7

173. 1174.2173.3174.3166.5

187. 1184.3185.3149.9198. 1194.6204.0174.3152.0175. 1174.8178.7169.8195.8166.7155.7156.9

175.0174.2175. 1178.6165.2

188.2185.5186.3150.6199.3197.3206.8174.8152.3176.2175.7180.2170.7197. 6167. 3156.3157.3

176. 1177.0176.2178.3161.5

6. 16.24.74.45.44. 39.5

12.43.64.29.5

10. 15.25.67.06.23.24. 0

6.96.46.92.53.4

5.31.67.07.65.48.0

10.012.93.96.4

10. 310.44.26.39.57. 74.91.8

5 .65.55. 6

-2.5-18. 1

4.204.82. 05.31.2

12.317.85.53.37.38.9

.26.79.76.05.44.8

4.33.54.5

-4. 114. 1

10.014.68.98.86.39. 1

12.010.76.24.6

10.410.29. 16.6

11. 55.24. 73.9

9.49. 19.4

12.8-5. 7

5.75.03.83.24.5

-5.79.42.7

12.56.35.55.55.45.35.56.33.25.68. 71.93.29.45. 15.71. 73.9

14.86.37.05.47.26.78.68.56. 1

7.24.95.26.56.39. 08.33. 1

5. 73.85.86.05.46.19.8

12.73.85.39.9

10.34.75.98.27.04. 12.9

6.36.06.30

-7.9

7. 16.87.07. 1

-3.60

-4.925. 020.87.26.55.53.34.61.54.45.96.66.06.22.3

18. 06.48.25.35.5

27.65. 17.45.87.87.07.7

11. 36.2

6. 16.23.26.95.69.06.21.6

7. 17.06.85.45.85. 1

12.214.25.93.98.89.54.66.6

10. 65. 65.04. 3

6.86.36.94. 03. 7

1 Not seasonally adjusted. beverages, bananas, chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup and about half of the index2 Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately. weight for sugar.3 Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance 6 Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and

and repairs. beef liver.4 Also- includes residential telephones, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage services r=revised.

not shown separately.5 Calculated from the CPI food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.

12


Table 3. CPI—food items, U.S. city average


Item and group

Index

March 1977

Unadjusted

188.6195.2193.5203.4186.9181.3145.6229. 7172.4184. 6161.6180.4201. 1188. 1196.0175. 0170.8160.7160.8155.9170.4157.5185. 0163.3156.4122.4187.9184. 1175.8182.8207. 7189.2167.5187. 3174. 5188.9159. 7195.2172.4164.4164.9158.3161.8163.8137.0241.5235.9275.2197.4256.8171. 2161.5179. 1210.8162.3200. 6154.9196.8205.4180.9177.8176.5162. 1161.5160. 9

(2)225.3197.2246.5269.4354.6235.7264. 3233. 7156.4258.5224. 1201.5

Seasonallyadjusted

188.2195.4

zoft186.4179.3142.6228. 1172. 1182.4159.8179.9198.9186.2194.6175. 7168.6159.9158.4155. 6173.5156.7185.0161.2154.4122. 0188. 1186. 1179.0183.2208. 1187. 7164. 7190. 3174. 0189.3160.5191.4172.4165.4165. 6161.0164.8166.3138. 1241.3

195.8257.3169.2159. 0176.8

( ! )161.2198.0154. 7196. 8206.6192.2190.8180.3169.9

182.6

(2)218.5202. 7261.4225.3335.5234. 1272.5176.2

(*)249.3223.2187.8

Percent change to March 1977from—

March 1976

Unadjusted

5 , 56.86.48.35 . 2

. 4-7.4

2 . 73 . 8

-9.2- . 42 .96. 71 .3

. 8- 2 . 9-4.9-2 .4-2 .4-2.9-2. 7-2 .3

- . 9-3 .8-2.2-7 . 5

. 6- 9 . 9- 7 . 1

- 1 1 . 9-8.4-7. 1

-16.4-10.6-1.8

6 . 4-5.8-7. 1- 1 . 0- 1 . 0-1.8

. 4

. 82. 1

-3.510. 110.617.4

8 . 04 . 82 . 0

. 51 .53. 73 . 62 . 08 . 4

13.424. 322. 125. 716.412. 76 .8

18.0

\i25.8-6 .644.527.7

128.661.039.519.812.960. 119.024.2

February 1977

Unadjusted

0 . 5. 8.8

1. 2. 4. 7. 6

1. 11. 1- . 2- . 1- . 14 . 6

. 6- . 2

. 2- . 3- . 5

. 1

. 1- . 1

. 5-1 .5- 1 . 6- 1 . 0

. 9- 1 . 7

- . 5- 2 . 9- 2 . 6

3 . 01. 1

- 2 . 91. 3

. 5

. 4

. 9

. 11.6- . 91.03 . 54. 32 . 21. 1

. 2- . 31. 1

- 1 . 2. 6m i

- . 1_, i

, 4. 4. 3. 5

1. 1. 9

5. 02. 7

14.22. 32 . 6

-V

- 1 . 62. 16.9

2 )-9 .2

- 1 2 . 6- . 5

11 .4- 1 0 . 7

11.4- 2 . 9

- 1 4 . 3

Seasonallyadjusted

0 . 6. 7

V?4. 5. 5. 1

01 .8

. 2- . 405 . 7

. 2

. 2

. 2- 2 . 9- 2 . 5- 2 . 5- 3 . 1

- . 5- . 7

- 2 . 8- 3 . 7-3 .6

. 1-2 .4

. 4-1 .4-2 .8

2. 71. 7

-4. 02. 3

. 1

. 3

. 1

. 8

. 5- 1 . 3

1 .43. 02 .92. 3

. 3

. 7

(*)C1)

-1 .21. 0

. 5- . 1- . 2

C1). 6

l! 6. 3

- . 94 . 91 .8

13. 02. 1

(*)

"(V(2)

-4. 3- . 5

10. 3

( 2 )-10.7-12.4

5 .6- . 7

C1)11.5-2. 1

-13.5

FoodFood away from home

Restaurant mealsSnacks

Food at homeCereals and bakery products

FlourCracker mealCorn flakesRiceBread, whiteBread, whole wheatCookiesLayer cakeCinnamon rolls

Meats, poultry, and fish . . . .Meats

Beef and vealSteak, roundSteak, sirloinSteak, porterhouse..Rump roastRib roastChuck roastHamburgerBeef liverVeal cutlets

PorkChopsLoin roastSausageHam, wholePicnicsBacon

Other meatsLamb c h o p s . . . . . . .FrankfurtersHam, cannedBologna sausage . . .Salami sausageLiverwusrt

PoultryFrying chickenChicken breastsTurkey

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

Dairy productsMilk, fresh, groceryMilk, fresh, skimMilk, evaporatedIce creamCheese, American process ,Butter

Fruits and vegetablesFresh fruits and vegetables,

Fresh fruitsApplesBananasOrangesOrange juice, fresh . . .GrapefruitGrapesStrawberriesWatermelon

Fresh vegetablesPotatoesOnionsAsparagusCabbageCarrotsCeleryCucumbersLettucePeppers, greenSpinachTomatoes

See footnotes at end of table.

13


Table 3. CPI—food items, U.S. city average—Continued


Item and group

Index

March 1977

Unadjusted Seasonallyadjusted

Percent change to March 1977from—

March 1976

Unadjusted

February 1977

UnadjustedSeasonallyadjusted

Food—ContinuedFood at home—Continued

Fruits and vegetables—ContinuedProcessed fruits and vegetables

Fruit cocktail, cannedPears, cannedPineapple-grapefruit drink, canned.Orange juice concentrate, frozen . .Lemonade concentrate, frozen . . .Beets, cannedPeas, green cannedTomatoes, cannedDried beansBroccoli, frozen

Other food at homeEggsFats and oils

MargarineSalad dressing, ItalianSalad or cooking oil

Sugar and sweetsSugarGrape jellyChocolate barSyrup, chocolate flavored

Nonalcoholic beveragesCoffeeCoffee, instantTeaCarbonated drink, cola flavored . . .Carbonated drink, fruit f lavored.. .

Prepared and partially prepared foodsBean soup, cannedChicken soup, cannedSpaghetti, cannedMashed potatoes, instantPotatoes, french fried, frozenBaby foodsSweet pickle relishPretzels

184.0180.9157.0180. 1175. 5187.4192.4159.7190.3229. 7179.2213.2179.5180.7191.3162.3188.7222.8183. 0216.0254.4232.5286.4389.7294.4159.6199.9202. 1173.8205.6146.4166.2158.5181. 3181.4189.7161.6

182.4180.9157.0180. 1

(l)185.4

(M

(V221.7

n212. 6181.9178.9188.5160.5187.9218.2177. 7

C1)( l )

227.3()295.9159. 6

l

)173. 1203.2146.3167. 0159.5183.3

(l)185. 1161.4

- 1 . 13.8-.63.7

10.4-1.9

3.91.57.5

-26.215.316.611.93.306. 13.6.2

-13. 0-3. 15.88.7

48.492.843. 1

8. 13.72.43.9- . 49.03.82.73.0

11.83.21. 1

1.3- . 2

.22.6

11.6. 7.6

- . 11.5

-2 . 15.0

. 1-13.7

.7

.5

. 7

.81.62. 1

.52.71.34.67.04.2

.4

.4

.3

. 3- . 51. 0

. 1

.21.2

.7

.4- . 4

1.2- . 1

.52. 7(')

. 5

2.

1.3.

1,2.

7)4

, 0,7,3, 1,9,4, 1

. 7

4. 7.4

I1). 4

-1 .0.7

1.0. 7

1.8

- . 3- . 7

Not available. Priced only in season.

14


Table 4. CPI —nonfood commodities and services, U.S. city average


Item and groupOtherindexbase

Mar. 70

Dec. 71Mar. 70Dec. 71

June 70

Indexes

February1977V

184.3185.3150.2198. 1137.0178.5149. 6207.9174. 8169.8156.9222.3

233.9242.4210.2217.5218.0196.4278. 3275.4205.4229.5182.9

130.5

200. 6173. 6153.7153. 6158.2149.3158.6184.4133. 1137.6154.3

136.4142.0130.5140.2113.5139. 6137.5

159. 1138.6125.8169.0167.9138.2143. 6123.3

138.0

140. 8151.9

133.9137.3

198.0183.6150. 1

(5)130. 1

181.8230. 6256.8

218.7224.4225. 6214.9

168.9206. 3

March1977

185.5186.3150.8199.3136.6179.5150.9209.8176.2169.6156. 1224.4

235.9245.4211.8220.1220. 1198.5281.4278.2208.5231.8186.7

130.6

201. 6174.6154.7156.0158.8149.7161.0191.5134.3139.6155.5

137.5142.8132. 1141.8114.9140.5137.8

160.2139. 1125.7170.8170.0138.3144.5124. 1

138. 1

142. 1152.7

130. 1137.8

200.9185. 1151.4166.7131.5183.2231.0258.3

219.3225.6225.6216.2

169.3208.7

Percent change toMarch

March1976

6.35 . 7

5. 75.6

.4 .37 . 47.97 .86.85 . 44 . 38 . 1

7. 17 . 89. 16.89 .3

11.013.714. 113.519.7

6.9

1.3

9 . 74 . 83 . 55.8- . 14 . 29.49 .88 . 23 . 23 . 0

4 . 62 . 41.75 . 12 . 2

. 74 . 0

5.62 .61.64 . 84 . 03 . 83 . 83 . 8

3 . 8

3 . 64 . 8

3. 13.6

6.61.22 . 32 . 82 . 4

5.96 . 1

13.9

4 . 86.83 . 48 . 0

5 . 05 . 0

1977 from—

February1977

o:

_....

1.

1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 .

.

1.

1.3 .

1.

.

1*.1.1.

•

( .

- .1.1.

- 2 .

1.

(5

1.

0

1

754636998159

92820110501

1

56764359958

8621262

74113166

1

95

84

589)1

826

35

6

22

HousingShelter'

Rent, residentialHomeownership 2

Mortgage interest ratesProperty taxesProperty insurance premiumMaintenance and repairs

Maintenance and repair commodities 3

Exterior house paintInterior house paint

Maintenance and repair servicesRepainting living and diningrooms

Reshingling house roofResiding houseReplacing sinkRepairing furnace

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coal . . .

Fuel oil, No. 2Gas and electricity

GasElectricity

Other utilities:Residential telephone servicesResidential water and sewerageservices

Household furnishings and operation 4

HousefurnishingsTextiles

Sheets, ful l , flatCurtains, tailoredBedspreadsDrapery fabricsPillows, bedSlipcovers and throws, ready-made . .

Furniture and beddingBedroom furniture, chest anddresser

Sofas, upholsteredCocktail tablesDining room chairsRecliners, upholsteredSofas, dual purposeBedding, mattress and box springsAluminum folding chairsCribs

Floor coveringsBroadloom carpeting ,Vinyl sheet goodsVinyl floor tile

Appliances (excluding radio and TV)Washing machines, electricVacuum cleaners ,Refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers,electric ,

Ranges, free standing, gas orelectric

Clothes dryers, electricAir conditioners, demountableRoom heaters, electric, portableGarbage disposal units

Other housefurnishings:Dinnerware, fine chinaFlatware, stainless steelTable lamps, with shadeLawn mowers, power, rotary type . . .Electric drills, hand-held

Housekeeping supplies:Laundry soaps and detergentsPaper napkinsToilet tissue

Housekeeping services:Domestic services, general

houseworkBaby sitter servicesPostal chargesLaundry, flatwork, finished serviceLicensed day care services, preschoolchild

Washing machine repairs

See foonotes at end of table.15


Table 4. CPI—nonfood commodities and services, U.S. city average—Continued


Item and groupOtherindex

Indexes

February1977

150.148.147.150.

150.139.94.145.116.150.169.168.138.170.137.167.

113.127.200.162.14a.

140.149.134.146.158.145.153.131.154.137.154.

91.139.129.174.

137., 154.131.170.141.150.157.204.168.141.154.

162.178.

145.137.155.151.

156.152.163.

166.147.172.167.157.

173.172.140.179.183.163.140.198.203,137,190,

8546

677038399983

81783

509324423098095

31226370024

07

7864

336

88,90,2

,3, 7,7, 1, 5,0.0. 3.8.5.7

March1977

151.149.148.152.

153.144.93.144.

119.151.170.

169.141.173.138.170.

118.126.202.166.143.

137.133.135.154.160.146.154.132.155.138.155.92.140.131.174.

128.154.136.171.142.149.157.202,169.141.155,

162.180.

148,137,157,150,

158,151,166,

168,150,174,167,158

174174140182184163138200206137191

7316

405504766504

18623

636461871325254

1,86,9,34, 8( 1

,6,2.4

.3

.3

. 1

.8

. 1

.4

.5

.4

. 1

. 1

.9

.0

.9

.2

.8

. 1

.9

. 7

.9

.9

. 3

.3

.0

.5

.3

Percent change toMarch 1977 from

Ma rch1976

4.4.4.5.

5.1.

-5.4.

-1.4.8.9.8.9.3.6.

5.2.10.7.3.

9.-.2.1.7.4.5.7.4.4.4.

4.2.3.

-#

2.3.3.8.

10.4.8.7.1.5.

7.8.

4.4.5.4.

6.

4.

6.5.

6310

185528786711

84225

064284419597739

17869369474

62

5180

,3.6,9

,0,9

8.85.7.

9.9.4.21,7,3,6,7,13,3,6,

.7

.8

.4

.8

.8

. 1

.6

.7

.2

.3

. 1

.5

.5

February1977

0.

i!

i.3.

-1.mt

2.

•

1.1.

1.

3.-#

1.0

-2..10.

5.'1.

1.

1.-.

-6.

4.1.

—>

_,1.

0

1,01-

1m

1

2

2

-1

6553

913334Qo

49519

8291

1555559159289,2, 1

,7,5, 1,0, 5. 6. 1.9.0

.6

.2

.9

.6

.0

.7

.4

.6

.5

.8

. 1

.6

.5

.6

.9Q. o. 1.0Q. o.6.2

Apparel and upkeep 6.Apparel commodities

Apparel commodities less footwearMen's and boys'

Men's:Topcoats and all-weather coats . . . .Suits, year round weightSport jacketsJackets, lightweightSlacks, heavyweightSlacks, lightweightTrousers, workShirts, workShirts, business or dressT-shirtsSocksHandkerchiefs

Boys':Coats, heavyweightSport coats, wool or wool blends . .DungareesUndershorts

Women's and girls'Women's:

Coats, heavyweightCarcoats, heavyweightSweatersSkirts, winter weightSkirts, summer weightBlousesDresses, street, year round weight . .SlipsPantiesGirdlesBrassieresHose or panty hose, nylonAnklets or knee-length socksGloves, fabricHandbags

Girls':RaincoatsSkirts, fall and winterDressesSlacks, fall and winter.SlipsHandbags

Other apparel commoditiesDiapersYard goodsWrist watches, men's and women's

FootwearMen's:

Shoes, streetShoes, work, high

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

Children's:Shoes, oxfordSneakers, boys', oxford typeDress shoes, girls'

Apparel services:DrycleaningAutomatic laundry serviceLaundry, men's shirtsTailoring chargesShoe repairs

TransportationPrivate 7

Automobiles, newAutomobiles, usedGasoline, regular, premium, and unleaded . .Motor oilTiresAuto repairs (mechanical) and maintenance 8

Auto insurance premiumsAuto registration feesParking fees, private and municipal


June 74

1.01. 1

. 3

16


Table 4. CPI—nonfood commodities and services, U.S. city average—Continued


Item and groupOtherindex

Indexes

February1977

178.9177.0182.5169«4177. 8211.2

169.8195. 8130.7144. 3107.6142.1121.5198. 3134. 3152. 3119.374. 1

169.9116.8144.5193.4123.9123.0115.5

198.8204.6200. 1202.2206o2167.8178.6189.4179.9185.6180. 8167.5

164.3164.6158.2288. 3300.6183.7145.9127.9133.8142. 7150.5158.2136.6166.7163.5142.5194. 1170.5139.9172.4121.6228.2133. 3170.0170.2170.0201. 3169. 3139.7155.5129.2102.4170. 8105o 195.9

123.995.9

130.3104.5

March1977

180.4177.4187.7173.6180.7211.2

170. 7197.6131.4145.0108.0143.9121.9199.8134. 1152. 3120. 174. 3

171. 1117. 1146.8197.2124. 3123.4116.6

201. 3207.7202.0203.3208. 7169.0179.6191.7180.9186.7181.9168. 1

165.2165.6159.7291.2302.6184.6147O 1130.0136.5143.2151.5159.2138.0167. 3164. 1142.9196.3171.0137.4173.7124.622 8. 8132.9170.6170.7170.6202.4169.9140.0155.8129.6102.2171. 1105. 395.5

123.795. 8

131.3104.7

Percent change to

March 1977 from

March1976

February-1977

Transportation—ContinuedPublic

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

Health and recreationMedical care 9

Drugs and prescriptionsOver-the-counter items

Multiple vitamin concentratesAspirin compoundsLiquid tonicsAdhesive bandages, packagesCold tablets or capsulesCough syrup

PrescriptionsAnti-infectivesSedative and hypnoticsAtaracticsAntispasmodicsCough preparationsCardiovasculars and antihypertensives . . .Analgesics, internalHormones

Professional services:Physicians' fees

General physician, office visitsGeneral physician, house visitsObstetrical casesPediatric care, office visitsPsychiatrist, office visitsHerniorrhapy, adultTonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

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

Other professional services:Examination, prescription, and dispensingof eyeglasses

Routine laboratory testsHospital service charges

Se/niprivate roomsOperating room chargesX-ray, diagnostic series, upper GlLaboratory testsAnti-infectivesTranquilizersElectrocardiogramIntravenous solutionPhysical therapyOxygen, inhalation therapy

Personal careToilet goods

Toothpaste, standard dentifriceToilet soap, hard-milledHand lotionsShaving cream.Face powderDeodorantsCleansing tissuesHome permanent wave kits ,

Personal care servicesMen's haircutsBeauty shop services ,

Women's haircuts ,Shampoo and wave sets, plain ,Permanent waves, cold

Reading and recreation 10

Recreational goodsTV sets, portable and consoleTV replacement tubesRadios, portable and table modelsTape recorders, portablePhonograph records, stereophonicMovie cameras, 8mmFilm, 35mm, colorGolf balls


Jan. 72

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

4. 73.07.47.57 .49.7

6.39 .46 .16.53. 14 .62. 1

13.53.77.65.62 .66 .45.9

1010

17

3.52.46.6

9.29.78. 88.3

10.43.99. 39.56.86.98.25.1

5.448 89.8

11.413.88. 74.57. 76.66.16.99.66.66. 35. 34.21. 36.94. 88.27. 36.84.97. 36.87.6

12.56.14.94.62.7- .93.5. 1

0- . 2. 4

7.61.6

0 .8. 2

2. 82.51.6

. 5

. 9

. 5

. 5

. 41. 3

. 3

. 8- . 1

.7

. 3

. 7

. 31.62,

. 3

. 31.0

0

1. 31.5

.9

. 51.2

. 7

. 61.2

. 6

. 6

. 6

. 4

. 5

. 6

. 91.0

. 7

. 5

. 81.62.0

. 4

. 7

.61.0. 4. 4. 3

1 . 1. 3

- 1 . 8. 8

2.5. 3

- . 3. 4. 3. 4.5. 4.2.2. 3

- . 2.2.2

- . 4- .2- . 1. 8.2

17


Table 4. CPI —nonfood commodities and services, U.S. city average—Continued(Consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, 1967=100)

Item and groupOtherindexbase

Indexes

February1977

March1977

Percent change toMarch 1977 from:

March1976

February1977

Health and recreation—ContinuedReading and recreation—Continued

Recreational goods—ContinuedBasketballs, rubber or vinyl coverFishing rods, fresh-water spincastingBowling ballsBicycles, boys'TricyclesDog food, canned or boxed

Recreational servicesIndoor movie admissions

AdultChildren's

Drive-in movie admissionsBowling fees, eveningGolf green feesTV repairFilm developing

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

Other goods and servicesTobacco products

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

Alcoholic beveragesBeer, at homeWhiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbonWine, dessert and tableBeer, away from home

Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:Funeral services, adultBank service charges, checking accountLegal services, short form will

147O 3127.4133.8146.3152. 8180. 3160.2184.8178.2203o5184.5153.2

(5)110.0121.2

187. 8194.0151.5156.9165.8168. 1168.7133.6148. 8144. 3116.5159.2170.3

153.9132.4208.5

148.6127.4134.0146,7153. 3181.2160.3183.7176.9202.8186.5153.5

(5)109.7123.0

188.5194.0151.7157. 3166.0168.2168.9134.1149. 3145.0116.7159.4170.7

154.4132. 1211.8

1.02.73.72.44. 16.84. 85. 34.57 O 55.55.5(5)3.2-.8

4.49.16.03.64. 14.04.24.42.81.81.02.15.0

3.95.87.0

0.90

. 1

. 3

. 3

. 5

. 1- . 6- . 7- . 31. 1

. 2(5)- . 31.5

. 40

. 1

. 3

" 1. 1. 4. 3. 5. 2. 1. 2

. 3- . 21.6

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 Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately.8 Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic trans-

mission repair, front-end alignment, and chassis lubrication; does not include prices forauto body repairs. In the CPI this component represents consumers' direct, out-of-pocket expenses for automobile repairs and maintenance.

9 Also includes health insurance not shown separately.1 ° Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback

books, and college textbooks, not shown separately.

18


Table 5. CPI —selected areas, all items index

(Consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers)

Area1

U.S city average .

ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles—Long BeachN.Y.-Northeastem N JPhiladelphia .

BostonHoustonMinneapolis—St. PaulPittsburgh

BuffaloClevelandDallasMilwaukeeSan Diego.SeattleWashington

AtlantaBaltimoreCincinnatiHonolulu .Kansas City . .St LouisSan Francisco—Oakland

Pricingschedule 2

M

MMMMM

1111

2222222

3333333

Indexes

1967=100 1957-59=100Otherbases

March V1977

178.2

172.4176.8176.7182.9180.4

207.2

195.8203. 1207. 8217. 6210.7

January 1977

178. 2183.6175.9172.9

213. 5210. 1203.9198, 9

February 1977

177.5177. 3175.2173.6176.6171.4178.4

200. 1

196.0

201.4207.8

3 1 9 5 . 1

3 189 .3

4 1 8 5 . 6

March 1977

176. 1182.2178.8168.3175.0173.2176.2

202.5211. 6202.9

207. 7202.3209.6

5 1 8 1 . 5

Percent change fr<

March1976

6.4

6.46.87.85.26.3

January1976

3. 76.65.35.4

February1976

6.27.47.06.85.66.06.8

March1976

5.76.97. 04. 57. 16,56.5

December1976

2.2

2.02. 12.31.82.8

October1976

1. 2.9

1.41.2

November1976

2. 12.52.01. 81.62. 12.2

December1976

2.42. 12. 51. 72.53. 02. 1

>m:

February1977

0.6

. 71.0.2.4

1. 0

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metro-politan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago which have moreextensive Standard Consolidated Areas. Area definitions were established for the 1960Census and exclude revisions made since 1960.

2 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most othergoods 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: Price changes within areas are found in the Consumer Price Index; differencesin living costs among areas are found in family budgets.

Table 6. CPI—areas 1 priced monthly, by expenditure class, percent change from February 1977 to March 1977


Expenditure classU.S.city

averageChicago Detroit

Los Angeles-Long Beach

New York -NortheasternNew Jersey

Philadelphia

All items.

FoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Medical carePersonal care.Reading and recreation .Other goods and services

0,6

. 5

. 7

. 6

. 9

. 5

. 9

. 4

. 2

. 3

0.7

1.0. 1

1.6. 7. 6

. 9

. 7

1.0

- . 21.3

. 32. 01.22. 3(2)

. 3

. 5

0 v 2

. 6- . 2

. 3

. 6

. 4

. 4(2)

. 1

. 4

0.4

. 2

. 6

. 1

. 7

. 51.4(2)- . 4

. 3

1.0

1. 01.11.0

. 8

. 61.6(2

. 2, 1

1 See footnote 1, table 5. 2 Not available.

19


Table 7. CPI-selected areas1, by expenditure


Expenditure classU.S.city

averageChicago Detroit

Los Angeles-Long Beach

New York -Northeastern

New JerseyPhiladelphia

Indexes, March 1977

All items

FoodFood at home

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

Food away from home

HousingShelter

Rent, residentialHomeownership

Fuel and utilitiesFuel oil and coalGas and electricity

Household furnishings and operation.

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

TransportationPrivatePublic


All items.

FoodFood at home

Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fishPairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther food at home

Food away from home ,

HousingShelter



Household furnishings and operation .

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




178.2

188.6186.9181.3175.0171.2196.8213.2195.2

185.5186.3150.8199.3198.5281.4208.5174. 6

151.7152.6143. 3155.4

174.8174. 1180.4

170. 7197. 6167.3155.8157.3

172.4

186.7185.0183.0175.5 .163.8198.7211.5193.6

169.3168.7140.4181.3176. 5274.9187.0166.5

141.0133.6132.0149.9

178.8178.3181.8

172.6202.6165. 3157.5160. 1

176.8

181.4178. 7185.2167.8170.9171.3205.8193.4

182.2185.3

(2)192.9201.9284.9219. 7159.7

145.4157. 1129. 3149. 5

171. 1171.0171.3

181.6224.8

(2)155.8161.3

176.7

181.4180.6181.7172. 6155.6181.4208.9183. 5

186.9195. 6152.7209. 1164.4

_192.4167.3

144.7140.6139. 1147. 7

177.4179. 1145.6

168. 1199.4156.2144.9157.8

182.9

192.2193. 1183.8176.2175.0218.5222.7189.8

189.3187.5

(2)201.2217.0289.3240.0178.0

146.0140.0137.4152.7

192. 7182.6231.5

177.5213.8

(2)160.4162. 1

180.4

196.2193. 3191.9184. 1172.5205.2218.2208.4

187.6195. 1163.4203. 3190.9274.2193.2171.9

142.2148.9121.8154. 0

175.4179. 1153.7

175.0215.6

0155. 6158. 1

Percent changes, December 1976 to March 1977

2 . 2

3 .84 . 21. 12 .8- . 1

12. 15.42 . 3

2. 12. 11.72 .23 .46 .43 .51.3

- . 11.3

-2.51.3

2 . 02 . 01.3

1.62 . 81.3. 9. 9

2 . 0

3 .43 .51.61.7

. 211.44 . 43.2

1. 31.03 . 4

. 82 . 47 .62 . 41.5

- . 41. 3

-4.51.9

2 .02 . 3

. 3

2 . 02 . 92. 11.9

. 8

2. 1

2 .22 . 5

-3. 12 . 8- . 18.82 . 51. 0

2. 32 . 4(2)2 . 53 .47. 53.81.2

. 71.6. 5

- . 4

2 .72 . 9. 6

1.93 .4(2)

. 3

. 9

2. 3

3. 13.82. 1

. 8-1.2

7.09 .41.2

2.7 "3. 3

31.53.31.2_

2. 11. 1

1.503 .31.0

1.21.2. 5

1.72 . 51.81.3. 8

1.8

2 .93 .501.8

. 312.2

3.7. 8

2 . 02. 1(2)2 . 32 . 36. 01. 11.8

-2. 1. 5

-6.82 . 5

1. 71.91.3

1.83. 1(2)

. 51.2

2 . 8

5 .56.22 .96 .3

. 115.45. 72 . 8

2. 01.4

3 1 . 11.25. 06 .46.91.2

- . 11. 7

-3.71.8

2 .93 .3

. 3

1. 73 .6(2)

. 8

. 4

2 0


Table 7. CPI-selected areas1, by expenditure class-Continued


Expenditure class Atlanta Baltimore Cincinnati Honolulu KansasCity

St.Louis

SanFrancisco-

Oakland

Indexes, March 1977

176. 1

192.9192. 1186.8174.4185. 1214.4209.4195. 2

181. 6181.3133.0195.5

4193.6_

5 202.8175.9

152.3165.0145. 6136. 1

160. 3165.296.9

174. 1211.2171. 3155. 1141.4

2 . 4

4 . 34 . 2

- 1 . 52 . 8- . 6

15.95. 04 . 4

1.91.7

. 91 .94. 1

_1. 31 .4

2 . 94. 32. 13. 1

. 91 .0. 1

1.93. 32 . 21 .0- . 4

182.2

192.2190. 0175.2179. 2170.8205.0218.7200. 7

196.9206. 7141.6234. 1190. 1280. 1195.8179. 1

159.8160.4143. 0167.6

166. 1167.3156.8

171. 6205. 7159.6153.5165.2

178. 8

193.4195.6192.9182.2176. 7199.6229.2185.0

181. 6179. 3129.8202.4219.9

_246. 3165.3

158.2155. 1153. 7167. 7

165.6171.5120.0

175.9217.9162.8147.0167. 3

Percent changes,

2. 1

3.94 . 2

. 21 .80

15.84 . 5

2. 7

1.7. 6

1. 0. 5

6.76 .6

10. 71.2

1. 1. 9

1. 30

1.71 .8

. 3

1.63 . 2

. 8

. 9

. 9

2. 5

4. 04 . 6- . 33. 0

. 210.47. 22. 0

1 .51.22 . 7

. 81 .4_

1.92. 0

1.71.52. 01. 5

2 . 01 .82 . 8

2. 75 .6

. 61.31. 1

168.3

189.6185.2171.9182.6185. 0191. 1196.5202.2

160.6158.3161.0156.4171. 0

_198. 1161.4

151. 3148. 2140.4150.0

158. 0164. 1125. 1

167.9196. 6174.2162. 3139. 8

December

1. 7

2 . 32 . 3- . 3

. 5

. 85 . 06.32 . 2

1 .8. 6

1. 1. 2

7 . 9

5 . 82. 1

2 . 21 .43 . 52 . 5

. 4

. 4

. 9

1.62 . 72 . 5

. 7

. 6

175. 0

189. 1185. 6180. 7172.7176. 6183.9213.6200.4

178.9179. 7128.6199. 7188.9

_226.3171. 0

160.4170.7153.6164.4

168.9169.7152.9

166.7188. 3169.8147. 3161. 0

173. 2

188.6187.9185. 7177. 3176.8196. 6217. 2191.5

174.4170.6125. 1183.6190.0285.2201. 1172.5

150.3147. 9145.5156.9

166.3171.5104.9

168. 0183. 1168.8152. 9162.8

L976 to March 1977

2. 5

4. 54. 32 . 24 . 4

- 1 . 111. 34. 75 . 0

1.81. 11.51. 15 . 9

8. 0. 7

4. 06 . 04 . 32 . 6

1 .82 . 0- . 2

1 .43 . 31. 7

. 5- . 7

3 . 0

4 . 44 . 9

. 85 . 409.86.42. 0

2 . 92. 61. 62 . 86 . 54. 09. 71. 3

4 . 05. 05. 1

. 6

. 6

. 6

. 5

2. 13 . 8

. 61. 11 .4

176.2

182.6185. 2178.2170.9163. 1187.8217.8173. 7

185. 6191.8164. 1205. 7164.8

_

189. 5175.4

149. 8153.6142. 5150. 2

173.2174.2153. 6

168.2195. 1164. 8149.4151.3

2. 1

4. 35. 04 . 61 .41. 7

10. 78 . 22. 0

1. 51.62 . 41. 21. 0

2. 11. 1

1. 73 . 4

. 61. 3

1.01. 0. 6

2. 23 . 41 .3

. 62 . 2

All items

FoodFood at home

Cereals and bakery products . . . .Meats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFruits and vegetablesOther food at home

Food away from home

HousingShelter



Household furnishings and operation,

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



All items

FoodFood at home

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

Food away from home

HousingShelter



Household furnishings and operation.

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



See footnote 1, table 5.Not available.Change from January 1977.

Revised indexes: December 1976, 186.0; Annual average 1976, 171.5.Revised indexes: December 1976, 200.1; Annual average 1976, 182.2.

21


Table 8. CPI—food groups, selected areas

(Consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers 1967=100)

Area1

Food at home

Totalfood Total

Cerealsand

bakeryproducts

Meats,poultry,and fish

Dairyproducts

Fruitsand

veoetables

Otherfoods

athome

Foodawayfromhome

Indexes, March 1977

U.S. city average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long Beach . .MilwaukeeMinneapolis—St. PaulN.Y.-Northeastern NJPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco-OaklandSeattle '.Washington

U.S. city average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long Beach . . .MilwaukeeMinneapolis—St. PaulN.Y.-Northeastern NJPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco—OaklandSeattleWashington

1 See footnote 1, table 5.

188.6

192.9192.2186. 8186.9186.7193.4195. 1187.7181.4189.6196.6189.1181.4185. 9190.6192.2196.2189.2188.6186.3182. 6181.9196.3

0 .5

1.0.2.9.2

-.2. 7

1.01. 1.6

-.4. 1.2

1.0.7

1.0.6

1. 1-.2. 8

186.9

192. 1190.0184.3185.2185.0195.6195. 2183.5178.7185.2191.4185.6180.6184. 1184.5193. 1193. 3186. 0187.9178.3185.2180.4192.3

181. 3

186.8175.2184.2184.7183.0192.9191.2181.4185.2171.9178.8180.7181.7178. 3190.6183.8191.9187.8185.7173.9178.2173.5196.1

175.0

174.4179. 2173.8170. 8175.5182.2177.6167.8167.8182.6185.5172.7172.6174.9173.6176.2184. 1178. 2170.9173.9177.3174. 1171.2

171.2

185. 1170. 8163.9170. 1163.8176.7187.4165.3170.9185.0182.5176.6155.6175.6177.8175.0172.5158.9176.8158.7163.1168.4162.6

196.8

214.4205.0197.2197.1198.7199.6194.0194.7171.3191. 1203.0183.9181.4193.8181.4218.5205.2195.6196.6182.1187.8173.9210.3

213.2

209.4218.7208.6209.7211.5229. 2232.0207.9205. 8196. 5205.0213.6208. 9201.3201.9222.7218.2210.2217.2200.3217.8207.3228.8

Percent changes, February 1977 to March 1977

0.4

- . 1- .2- . 2

.21.0- . 2

. 90- . 3

.51. 1

.5

.7- . 50

. 11.0

. 8

. 9

. 91.0- . 4

. 8

0. 7

-1 .5.1

1.12.81.9- . 1

.21.7

-1 .0- . 8

.4- . 6

. 2- . 82. 21.4

.52.2- . 31.01.0- . 51. 8

0. 2

-1 .6- .6- . 9- .5

.5- .2- . 3

.3- . 7

. 12.50- .7- . 70

.51.8

.21.7- .2- . 4

-1 .2. 9

0.1

- . 8- . 1- .2- . 1

. 6- . 22 . 7

-1 .0. 1

1.0.2

- . 2. 1

- . 6- 1 . 8

. 3

.2- . 1

.2- .51. 1

. 9- . 2

1. 1

2.51.81.4- . 92.0- . 93.11. 1

.71. 11.44.01.71.31. 3

.22.21.21.43. 33. 3- . 52.9

0. 1

1.2-1 .1-1 .2

.4

.6

.5

.6-1.2

- .41.60-. 12.2

-1.2- .7

-1.5- .21. 1. 8

1.71.6- .3- .7

195.2

195.2200.7196.0196.7193.6185.0195.5203. 1193.4202.2214.7200.4183.5

(2)217.1189.8208.4208.0191.5

(2)173.7186.9206.2

0.8

2. 12.0

.71.21.31.3.5.6.6

1.0. 7

3. 0. 2

(2)0

. 5

. 8

. 5, 9

( 2 )1.5. 8. 8

Not available.

22


Table 9. CPI—gasoline indexes, U.S. city average and selected areas

(Consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, January 1976=100)

Area1

Leaded regular gasoline

Index

February1977

March1977

Percent changeto March

1977 f rom-

February1977

Unleaded regular gasoline

IndexPercent changeto March

1977 fro:

February1977

March1977

February1977

Premium gasoline'

IndexPercent change

to March1977 fron

February1977

March1977-

February1977

U.S. city average 103.9 104.7

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long Beach.MilwaukeeMinneapolis-St. PaulN.Y.-Northeastem N.J . .PhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco—Oakland..SeattleWashington

103.0102.9102.9103. 0104.5103. 1101.2105.4103.5102.6105.6105.3106. 8104.6103.4101. 8103.6104.4105.4104.3105. 1105.6104.0

103.5104. 2103.6104. 0105. 1103.9101. 8107. 1104.1103.2106.6106. 2107. 1105. 3103. 8102.4104. 1105. 2105. 5105.2105.8106.4104.4

0. 8

. 51. 3

. 71.0.6.8.6

1.6.6.6.9.9. 3. 7.4.6.5. 8. 1.7. 7.8.4

105.2

105.5104.5106. 7103. 2105.9105.7104.7105.7106.0102.9106. 6106. 8106.4106.9106. 1104.5105. 9106. 3106.2105.8104. 9105.6106.4

106. 2

106.2105.6108. 3104. 6106.5106.3106.4107.9107.4103.7108. 3108. 3107. 3107.7106.5104. 8107.6107.5106.6106.7105.6106.5107. 1

1.0 104. 3 105. 1

1.1.1.

1.2.1.

1.1.

1.1.

71546661386487436149797

104. 0103. 1104. 2102.4105.3103. 1102. 1105.2104. 1102.4104. 7104. 9105. 3104. 2104. 8103. 1104.4105.7104. 9104.6104. 1105.4105. 1

104.3104. 1105.3104. 3105. 8104. 1103.4106. 6105. 6103. 1106. 0106.6106. 2105.6106. 1103.5105. 8106.6105.5105. 3104.6106. 3105.4

0. 8

. 31. 01. 11.9

. 51.0

. 3

. 3

. 4

. 7

. 2

. 6

.91. 31.2

. 41.3.9. 6. 7. 5.9. 3

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metro- extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those establishedpolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago where the more for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since 1960.

Table 10. CPI—gasoline average prices, U.S. city average and selected areas


Area1

Leaded regular gasoline Unleaded regular gasoline Premium gasoline

Average price per gallon

January1977

February1977

March1977

January1977

February1977

March1977

January1977

February1977

March1977

U.S. city average

AtlantaBaltimoreBostonBuffaloChicagoCincinnatiClevelandDallasDetroitHonoluluHoustonKansas CityLos Angeles—Long Beach.MilwaukeeMinneapolis—St. Paul....N.Y.-Northeastem N.J . .PhiladelphiaPittsburghSt. LouisSan DiegoSan Francisco—Oakland..SeattleWashington

$0,600

.586

. 607

.597

. 602

. 620

.587

.590

.560

.591

. 702

.543

.575

.612

.565

.594

.604

.585

.594

.590

.620

.641

.599

.615

$0. 607

.594

.615

. 602

.612

. 626

.593

.592

.567

. 600

.703

. 557

.583

.623

. 569

.594

. 608

.604

.606

.598

.629

.645

.606

. 626

$ 0 , 6 1 2

.597

.623

. 607

.617

. 630

.598

.596

.576

.603

. 707

.562

.588

.625

.573

.597

.6,12

. 607

.611

.598

.634

. 649

.610

.628

$0,627 $0,637

627625628629661612609579632714567598641596625637630624606655659618657

.634

.641

. 642

.637

.669

.626

.622

.587

.640

.716

.582

.608

. 650

. 605

.627

.642

. 648

.640

.618

.665

.663

.627

.667

$0,643

. 638

.648

.651

.645

.673

. 630

.633

.599

. 649

. 722

.591

.617

.655

. 609

. 630

. 644

. 658

.647

.621

. 670

.667

.632

.672

$0. 649

.647

.653

.647

. 652

.671

.636

.639

. 603

.655

.743

.592

.621

.652

.615

.660

.660

.658

.645

.636

.671

.682

.641

.678

$0,656 $0. 661

652664655656676642641609658744603628660618664669669660644680686652689

. 654

.671

. 662

. 668

.679

.648

. 649

.617

. 667

.749

.611

. 638

.666

.626

.672

.672

.678

.666

.648

.684

. 690

.657

.691

1 Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metro- extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those establishedpolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and Chicago where the more for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since 1960.

23


Table 11. CPI—by population size 1


Area and group

Relativeimportance

December 1976

100.00023.66734.202

9. 19413.54819.013

32.3587.943

10.7472.9844.3966.288

11.7632.8314. 0211.0831.5822.246

25.6785.8408.9662.3843.5764.913

12.5372.9404. 3581. 1821.7102. 346

17.2884. I l l6. 1101.5622.2853.220

March 1976

167.5178.7174. 5145.0159.8160.6

168.7179.5173.5140. 3167.6164. 3

167. 0179.2170. 6146.9162.2161.0

166.3178.6173.5147.4154.4159.6

166.7177.5175.4147. 7156.4157.2

168.2178. 1179.2146.8155.6158. 0

1ndexes

December 1976

174.3181.7181.6151.8171.4168.0

175.4183. 1180.4145.8179.4172.0

174.0181.7179.4151.6173.0168.5

173.3181.8180.3155.9166.7166.4

173.5179.5183. 3155.5166.9164.7

174.6180.2185.4154.8167.3165.2

March 1977

178.2188.6185.5151.7174.8170. 7

178.9189. 0184. 1144.5182.8175. 1

178. 1189. 0182.9152.8177. 7171.4

177.2189. 1184. 1155.9169.6169. 3

177.6187.5187.4156. 7169.8166.6

178.8187.7190. 1155.2170.8167.2

Percent change toMarch 1977 from—

March 1976

6 . 45. 56 .34 . 69 . 46 .3

6 .05 .36. 13. 09. 16.6

6 . 65 .57 .24. 09 .66 .5

6 .65 .96. 15.89 .86. 1

6.55 .66 .86. 18.66 .0

6 .35 .46. 15 .79 .85 .8

December 1976

2 .23 .82. 1- . 12 . 01.6

2 . 03.22. 1- . 91.91.8

2 . 44. 02. 0

. 82. 71. 7

2. 34 . 02. 101. 71. 7

2 . 44 . 52 . 2

. 81.71.2

2 . 44 . 22 . 5

. 32. 11.2

United States:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Class A-1 (3.5 million or more):All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Class A-2 (1.4 million to 3.5 million):All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Class B (250,000 to 1.4 million):All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Class C (50,000 to 250,000):All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Class D (2,500 to 50,000):All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeepTransportationHealth and recreation

Based upon 1960 Census of Population.

24


Table 12. CPI—by region


Area and group

Relative1

importance

December 1976

100.00023.66734.202

9. 19413.54819.013

32.5608.354

10.6003.2194. 1786.210

27.9376.5609.6082.4563.9255.389

22.0785.0437.7632. 1173.0334. 122

16.5903.5856.0911.3692.3513. 193

March 1976

167.5178. 7174.5145. 0159.8160. 6

170. 7

181.4177. 6144. 3169.6162.7

164.5177.8167. 1144.4155.5161.6

169.7181.4180. 1148.4155.8161.4

164. 0171. 3174.4142.2155.9154.9

1

December 1976

174.3181.7181.6151.8171.4168.0

176. 7183.9183.6152. 1179.0169.7

171.5180. 6174.4151.2168.7168.7

176. 6183. 6187.3155.4167.4169. 1

171.8176.3182.7146.4168.8162.6

March 1977

178.2188.6185.5151.7174.8170. 7

180.2190.3187.0150.0183.4172.4

175. 7187.6178,5152. 1172.0171.9

180.6192.0191. 1156.7170.2171.2

175.6182.4187.4147. 2171.2165.3

Percent change toMarch 1977 from—

March 1976

6 .45 .56 .34 . 69 .46 .3

5.64 . 95 .34. 08. 16.0

6.85 .56 .85 .3

10.66 .4

6 .45.8

6. 15.69 .26. 1

7. 16.57 .53 .59 .86.7

December 1976

2 .23 .8

2. 1-. 12 .01.6

2 . 03 .51.9

-1.42. 51.6

2 . 43.92 . 41. 02. 01.9

2 . 34 . 6

2. 0. 8

1.71.2

2 .23 .52 . 6

. 51.41.7

United States:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeep .TransportationHealth and recreation

Northeast:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeep .TransportationHealth and recreation

North Central:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeep .TransportationHealth and recreation

South:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeep .TransportationHealth and recreation

West:All itemsFoodHousingApparel and upkeep .Transportation .Health and recreation

1 Regional index and relative importance data exclude Anchorage, Alaska, and relative importances will not add to U.S. totals.Honolulu, Hawaii which are included in the U.S. level data. Consequently, regional

25


Appendix: Technical Notes

Brief Explanation of the CPIThe Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average

changes 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 food, 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 clerical workershas 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 index

Equals index pojnt change:

Percent Change

Index point difference,

Divided by the previous index,| Equals,

Results multiplied by one hundredEquals percent change:

123.8123.2

0.6

0.6

123.20.0050.005x1000.5

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 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 to con-sumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalationpurposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreementsand pension plans, for example, tie compensation changesto the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonalvariation.

26


Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into theindex structure in the 1964 revision permits an estimate ofsampling error for the CPI. l The table below showsstandard errors for monthly, quarterly, and annual percent

Average standard errors of percent changes in the

CPI based on 1976 data

Component

All itemsFood at homeFood away from home . .HousingApparel and upkeepTransportationMedical carePersonal careReading and recreation . .Other goods andservices

Standard error

Monthlychange

.04

.10

.08

.06

.15

.07

.14

.16

.09

.11

Quarterly

change

.05

.11

.14

.10

.27

.12

.19

.26

.16

.12

Annual

change

.10

.22

.31

.18

.25

.20

.27

.64

.33

.18

changes in the CPI for all items and for nine commoditygroupings based on 1975 averages. The figures may beinterpreted as follows: The chances are about 95 out of100 that the percent change in the CPI as computed differsfrom the corresponding "complete coverage" change byless than twice the standard error.

Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place, someambiguity may arise in interpreting small index changes.As the table indicates, for example, a month-to-monthchange of 0.1 percent in the all items CPI is significant.Because of rounding, however, a change of this size in thepublished index might result from a much smaller change inthe unrounded value. Hence, any particular change of 0.1percent may or may not be significant. On the other hand,a published change of 0.2 percent for a 1-month periodis always significant.

This replaces the table of average errors based on 1975data which was included in the CPI report throughDecember 1976.

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 StatisticalAssociation, September 1967.

27 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE! 1977 O-241-010/1006


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