chapter · chapter e 1-214. general note. early interest in the statisticsof prices was evident at...

Chapter

E 1-214. General note.

early interest in the statistics of prices was evident at the be-ginning of the 19th century, with the appearance in 1806 of SamuelBlodgett, A Statistical the United States of America, which included a collection of prices for 16 importantcommodities in 5 markets for Many other contemporaryaccounts contained references t o prices, but the first seriousto summarize comprehensive price for the United States in theform of index numbers was made by Horatio C. Burchard, Directorof the Mint. His report to the Secretary of the Treasury in 1881contained wholesale prices for many individual articles and an indexnumber (which contains some serious inadequacies). In 1886, aspecial report containing retail prices of about 60 “necessaries of life”was included in volume 20 of the Tenth Census, Report on the Statistics

in Industries, by Joseph D. Weeks (usuallycalled the Weeks Report). No summary figures were included inthis volume.

In 1891, a Senate Resolution led to collection of a voluminousbody of data which covered wholesale prices for 1840-1891and retailprices for a 28-month period ending September 1891, for more than200 commodities. The information assembled was summarized byRoland P. Falkner, whose indexes have been widely used as evidence of price changes for 1840-1891. These indexes were prepared as estimates of changes in wage cost of living, but, in actuality,they were indexes of wholesale prices for one month of each year.Their technical adequacy was the subject of considerable controversya t the time, but the deficiencies in the indexes do not detract fromthe historical value of the basic price data collected for the SenateCommittee and published in the “Aldrich Reports,” including Whole-sale Prices, Wages, and Transportation (4 parts), Senate Report No.1394, 1893, and Retail Prices and Wuges (3 parts), Senate Report No. 986, 1592.

In 1900, Roland Falkner extended his indexes to with quota-tions for 142 articles collected by the Department of Labor, with someadjustments in his methods. The results are published in Depart-ment of Labor Bulletin No. 27, Wholesale Prices: 1890 to 1899,237-313. In 1902, the Department of Labor began publication ofits index of wholesale prices, which has continued since withoutinterruption.

Interest in price measurements following the upturn in prices after1897 led to the preparation of a number of wholesale price indexes for the United States, in addition t o the official Department of Laborindex series. John R. Commons published an index of wholesaleprices of 66 commodities for in the Quarterly Bulletin ofthe of Economic Research for July and October 1900.street’s indexes of wholesale prices of about 96 commodities were established in 1897 and carried back t o 1890. Dun’s index numbersof wholesale prices for about 350 commodities were published inDun’s Review on a continuous basis beginning in 1901 and graduallyextended back to 1860. These last 2 series were expressed as sumsof actual prices rather than in the conventional index number form.Several other relatively short-lived series were also compiled duringthe next to years.

After 1902, when the Department of Labor’s wholesale price index was continuously available, additions to wholesale price index numberswere mainly to obtain a better historical perspective. In 1932, theseries of wholesale price indexes for 1720-1932 were completed by

G. F. Warren and F. A. (see series E 52-63). Part of thiswork was done under the auspices of the International ScientificCommittee on Price History referred to below.

Walter B. Smith and Arthur H. Cole computed wholesale com-modity price indexes covering 1792-1862 for Fluctuations AmericanBusiness, Harvard Economic Studies, Harvard UniversityPress, Cambridge, 1935. The series include wholesale commodityprice indexes for Boston, 1792-1820; for Boston, York, andPhiladelphia, and New York (primarily),

Wholesale prices in Cincinnati were assembled from newspapers for 1844-1914 and an index published by Henry E. White in Whole-sale Prices at Cincinnati and New York, University Agricul-tural Experiment Station, Memoir 182, Ithaca, 1935.

The most extensive historical price investigations, however, were undertaken under the auspices of the International Scientific Com-mittee on Price History. The results for 6 important marketingcenters were summarized by Arthur Cole in WholesalePrices in the United States, 861, Harvard University Press,Cambridge, 1938. The historical indexes are given in series E

Wholesale price indexes were compiled by Frederick C. Mills forcommodities grouped according t o economically significant factors.Mills’ studies of price relationships and price movements contain anumber of special indexes which he derived by recombining price relatives for commodities in the Bureau of Labor Statistics in-dexes. These indexes include some special commodity groupingsnot used by BLS, crops, as well as classifications by stage ofprocessing and by durability. Some series were first published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) for 1890-1931in Economic Tendencies in the No. 21, New York, 1932,

Additional indexes for 1913-1935 appeared in Pricesin Recession and Recovery, NBER, No. 31, New York, 1936, pp.491-547. Indexes through June 1943 were included in an appendixt o Prices in a War Economy, NBER, Occasional Paper No. 12,October 1943, and through March 1948 in The of PostwarPrices, NBER, Occasional Paper No. 27, July 1948.

The volume of information available for wholesale prices is notmatched at the retail level, especially for the early years. The officialConsumer Price Index of the BLS was initiated in with a food index. The Eighteenth Annual Report of the of Labor,

Cost of Living and Retail Prices of Food contained an index ofretail prices of food for 1890-1903 weighted by family consumption in 1901. This food index was continued until the end of World War I,when it became one component group of a comprehensiveliving” index, originated as part of a study of cost of living in ship-building cities in 1918 and 1919. Supplementary price informationhad been collected by the over the years, and a comprehensiveindex was compiled back t o 1913. Since World War I, the index hasundergone a number of changes in coverage and methodology, mostof them in the direction of improvement in the quantity and qualityof data. At present, the index is issued monthly under the officialtitle Consumer Price Index, in brief press releases, in detailed reports,and in the Monthly Labor Review (see text for series

The National Industrial Conference Board also compiled asumer Price Index from 1918 to 1968, This index was similar to theBLS Consumer Price Index but the collection of data was primarilyby mail instead of by personal visit. A description of theindex as it was compiled before discontinuance is included theAugust 1954 issue of Management Record.

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E 1-122 PRICES PRICE INDEXES

The index numbers of prices received and paid by farmers compiledby the Department of Agriculture were also initiated after WorldWar I; see chapter K, series K 344-353.. Prior to 1913, except for the data in the Weeks Report and the

Reports, readily available retail price data are extremely spottyand inadequate. As a result, many of the indexes widely used toapproximate changes in retail prices, rest entirely or partially onchanges in wholesale prices, A serious limitation in these indexesis that allowance was not made for the slow-moving rents and servicesnor was account always taken of the difference in movement betweenwholesale and retail prices of commodities. Falkner’s indexes re-ferred to above, for example, were calculated entirely from wholesaleprice information. Adjustments t o wholesale price movements com-bined with available BLS retail prices formed the basis for Douglas’index of the cost of living (series 185). The only “cost-of-living”indexes now available for any years before 1913, computed from retail price data, are Wesley Mitchell’s Relative Cost Living for 1860to 1880, the Consumer Price Index for to 1880 compiled by EthelHoover (series E and Rees’ cost-of-living index, 1890-1914(series E 186). The cost-of-living index computed by Wesley C.Mitchell for Gold, Prices, and Wages Under the Greenback Standard,University of California Publications in Economics, vol. 1, Berkeley,March 1908, p. 91, utilized a portion of the retail data in the WeeksReport for 1860-1880. The Mitchell series was included as one of thelinks in the cost-of-living index estimate of the Federal Reserve Bankof New York (series E 183). The Hoover Consumer Price Index for 1851-1880 was based largely on a summarization of all of the usableretail price information from the Weeks Report, with some additionsfrom other sources. The Rees’ cost-of-living index utilized some components of the Douglas’ index, but most of the data were compiledfrom mail-order catalogs, newspapers, and other sources.

Over the years there has been considerable improvement in thequality of the price reporting, in the scope of the data, and in theconstruction of index numbers. The lists of commodities that arenow included in the price collection program cover a wider range ofgoods in the market, and services are represented in the consumerprice indexes. Commodities and services are now defined fairly pre-cisely and the current collection methods give the opportunity ofsecuring supplementary data on discounts, terms of delivery, andother necessary information to measure price change. Data forweighting systems for index numbers can now be taken from thegreatly improved expenditure studies, censuses, and other officialstatistics.

As the indexes and price reports were extended to earlier years,many of these advantages making for better price measures were notpresent. The range of commodities and services for which informa-tion could be obtained from surviving records was very limited. Atthe wholesale level, the commodity coverage was limited primarily t oraw materials and goods in the early stages of processing. Thelimited coverage of finished goods, especially after the Civil War,is an important factor in the interpretation of price changes. Atretail, the available price data were relatively scant and the emphasiswas on food and dry goods prices, with little information for otherless important commodities and for rents and services. The perennialproblem of changes in qualities, changes in consumer tastes, anddemographic and other changes which are still present to some extentin the current indexes, become accentuated as price comparisons aremade over longer periods of time.

The newspapers and other sources from which prices were assembledfor the early years give only brief or vague descriptions for the com-modities quoted and the compiler could not always be assured thatquotations over time were for the same quality. Incomplete files,nominal prices, and nonpublication in some issues were among themany other problems encountered. Data obtained from records ofsurviving firms raise the further question of how well these survivingfirms represented the movement of prices for all firms for the periodunder consideration.

E 1-22. Implicit price deflators for gross national product, 1929-1970.

Source: 1929-1963, U.S. Office of Business Economics, The Na-tional Income and Product Accounts of the United States, 1929-1965;1964-1967, National Income and Product Accounts,tables 8.1 and 8.4; U.S.Bureau of Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business, July 1972, tables 8.1 and 8.4.

The implicit defiator for total gross national product (GNP) isthe ratio of GNP in current prices to GNP in constant prices. It isa weighted average of the price indexes used t o deflate the componentsof GNP; the implicit weights are expenditures in the current periodvalued in prices of the base year 1958. The implicit deflator measuresthe price change of a particular “market basket” since 1958. How-ever, the market basket for any other period is not necessarily thesame as for the base year 1958. Consequently, a comparison of thedeflator for the current period with any period other than the baseyear measures both the effect of the difference between the weightsin the two periods and the change in the price of a fixed market basket.

The deflation is not performed at the level of individual commodi-ties: components that encompass expenditures on an array of com-modities are deflated. On a quarterly basis, 142 components ofGNP are deflated as shown below.

Gross national product 142Personal consumption expenditures-__ 41Private fixed investment 42Change in business inventories 10Exports 3Imports 3Government purchases of goods and services 43

The components are deflated with conventional, fixed weightedprice indexes that combine price relatives for individual types ofcommodities included in the expenditure component. Therefore, the implicit deflator involves current period weighting among thecomponent price indexes, and fixed weighting within the components.

Differences between changes in the implicit deflator and the fixedweighted indexes are due to the shift in the weights in the implicitdeflator. If the composition of expenditures shifts toward those components that have increased in price at an above-average ratesince the price base period of 1958, the implicit deflator increases more than a fixed weighted index. If the composition shifts in theother direction, the implicit defiator increases less than a fixedweighted index.

Strictly speaking, the implicit deflator increases more (less) thana fixed weighted price index that has as its weight base the initial or terminal period of the span being compared if there is a positive(negative) correlation between the shifts in the weights in the implicitdeflator and the changes since 1958 in the component price indexes. When the fixed weighted index has another period as its weight base,the difference also depends on the shift in the composition of realGNP between the weight base period and the initial or terminal period of the span being compared.

E 23-122. General note.Wholesale price indexes are compiled from prices in primary

markets; that is, prices pertaining t o the first major commercialtransaction for each commodity. The quotations are usually selling prices of manufacturers or producers. A few prices are reported bytrade associations and organized exchanges, and some are taken from trade publications or from other Government agencies which collectquotations as part of their regular work. They are not prices re-ceived by wholesalers, distributors, or jobbers.

In addition t o the indexes presented here, brief descriptions of thecoverage and calculation techniques for other indexes may be foundin G. F. Warren and F. A. Wholesale Prices for Years,1720-1 University Agricultural Experiment Station,Memoir 142, Ithaca, 1932, pp. and in BLS Bulletin No. 284,Index Numbers Wholesale Prices in the United States and Foreign

184

WHOLESALE PRICE INDEXES E 23-51

Countries, 1921, pp.Mitchell’s “The Making and Using of Index Numbers.”

This bulletin also contains Wesley C.

See also general note for series E 1-214.

E 23-39. Wholesale price indexes (BLS), by major product groups,

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handbook of Labor Sta-tistics, 2971, Bulletin 1705, p. 276.

The current BLS wholesale price indexes were begun in 1952 butcalculated to 1947, using new samples of items and new weights. However, the official index begins with January 1952, and does notreplace the 1926 base series as the official index for 1947-1951. Thenew series of indexes was spliced to the former series (converted)by linking as of January 1947. The former group indexes werespliced with new ones when the value aggregate of commoditiesin the former group represented 50 percent or more of the value ofshipments in 1947 for all commodities (priced and unpriced) in thegroup. The index has been shown with 1967 as the base year since1971. Prior t o 1971, the period was the base from 1962and the 1947-49 period from 1952 to 1961.

With the revision in 1952, the conceptual definition of the indexwas not altered, but major changes in coverage and methods wereadopted. The list of priced commodities was expanded from 947t o approximately 1,800, embracing nearly 5,000 separate series. By1970, the sample of priced commodities numbered approximately 2,450 and the number of separate price series totaled 7,725. Theclassification scheme in effect from 1952 t o 1970 was revised somewhatin January 1967, providing a more meaningful and flexible structurewithout changing the basic concept of the structure. The 1967scheme substituted a n 8-digit coding system for the former 6- and7-digit system permitting a number of special group indexes to beincluded in the regular classification of the index.

The weighting factors for each commodity represent the value ofshipments for the specific commodity priced and for all others in thesame group which are known (or assumed) to have price movementssimilar to those for the commodity priced. By this method of weight-ing, values for all commodities in a group are accounted for and thegroup automatically has its proper representation in theties index. The weight universe includes the net selling value of allcommodities included in the producing and processing sector of theeconomy including sales for exports and imports consumption butexcluding interplant transfers, military goods, construction, realestate, transportation, securities, printing and publishing, and trans-actions for services.

The indexes are calculated as averages of relatives weighted byvalues of shipments. This is algebraically equivalent t o quantityweighted aggregative indexes but allows for more flexibility in pro-cessing. As in all the official indexes, the linking process is usedwhen there are changes in lists of commodities, changes in weightingfactors, or other changes making for noncomparability. In the caseof quality changes, adjustments are made to obtain month-to-monthrelatives for the same quality insofar as possible. If the change indescription is minor, direct comparisons are made between the priceof the old and the new items. For major quality changes, effortsare made to secure from the producer a n estimate of the proportionof the gross price change due to quality differences and t o a pricechange. When such information cannot be obtained, the new qualityis linked into the index, thus assuming that the full price change isdue to quality change.

Since the revised index was initiated in 1952, there have been fourchanges in the weighting factors. Value of shipments in 1952 and1953were introduced in 1955 and only relatively minor changes weremade in the list of items priced. Another revision in the weightingfactors to represent value of shipments in 1954 was introduced begin-ning 1958. Other revisions include introduction of 1958 value of ship-ments in 1961and 1963 values in 1967. Policy has been to revise theweighting structure of the index periodically when data from indus-trial censuses become available, generally at 5-year intervals.

1890-1970.

Most of the prices in the index are collected by mail directly fromthe manufacturer or other producer. A few are reported by tradeassociations or organized exchanges and some are obtained from authoritative trade publications or from other government agencies that collect price data for their regular work.

The indexes shown here are annual averages of monthly figures.Before 1952, the monthly prices used were averages of 1-day-a-weekprices. From 1952 to 1966, prices were, for the most part, those ofTuesday of the week including the 15th of the month. From 1967t o 1970, the pricing date was Tuesday of the week including the 13thof the month. However, for some commodities another day mayhave been used as a more representative day.

Whenever possible, prices are obtained a t the production pointor a t the central marketing point. Delivered prices are used only when it is the practice of the industry t o quote prices on this basis.Prices obtained from manufacturers or other producers are subjectt o the applicable trade and quantity discounts. Cash discountsare deducted from the price when it is determined that most buyersavail themselves of the reduced prices. Excise taxes are excludedfrom the price. Freedeals or allowances are used when possible in arriving a t the netprice to be used for index calculation. Nominal prices are usedwhen they are indicative of the market situation and no other priceis available.

For a more complete description of techniques used in compilingthe index, see BLS Bulletin No. 1458, Handbook of Methods Surveysand Studies, 1966, chap. 11.

Closeout sales prices are usually not used.


E Wholesale price indexes (BLS),by major product groups,

Source: 1890-1950, BLS, Handbook of Labor Statistics,1950 edition,p. 118; 1951, 1951 supplement to the Handbook, p. 42.

Since 1902, when BLS began regular publication of wholesaleprice indexes, there have been a number of changes in lists of items,weighting factors, base periods, and methods of computing the indexes.Detailed descriptions of the early unweighted index numbers, andlater the weighted indexes, are included in various annual bulletins on wholesale prices beginning with the Bulletin No. 39, issued inMarch 1902. The figures shown in series E 40-51 are weightedindex numbers of the fixed base weighted aggregative type.

In 1914, BLS recalculated its series back to 1890 using as weightsthe quantity of each priced item marketed in 1909 but retained thebase 1890-99. The system of classification for group indexes wasgenerally according to origin rather than end use and each commoditywas included in only one group index. For 1914-1921, the indexseries were continued with little change except for expanding thelist of priced items and the indexes several times. In 1920the year 1913 was adopted as the base period in order to provide aprewar standard for measuring price changes.

In 1921, a revision of the indexes extended the commodity coverage to include about 400 items as compared with 280 to 325 in previousyears. The weighting factors were changed to represent the quantity of each priced item marketed in 1919. At this time an importantchange was made in the method of grouping commodities. Articlesproperly classified in more than one major group were included inthe appropriate groups with their total weights but, in the

index, the weights for such articles were counted only once.In addition, a rearrangement of commodities within groups was madeto provide separate indexes for 37 subgroups.

When the 1926 base period was adopted in 1927, the indexes wererecalculated back to 1913 with new sets of weights (seeBLS BulletinNo. 473, Wholesale Prices, 1913 to 1927, pp. 2-5). The figures for1890-1912 were converted, not recalculated in detail.

I n subsequent years, the weighting factors were brought up todate from time to time. Major additions to the lists of priced itemsin 1931 and again in 1940 provided better coverage of manufacturedarticles than in earlier indexes. By 1951, when these indexes were

185

1890-1951.

E 52-72 PRICES AND PRICE INDEXES

1949-1951- _ _ _

1932-1933.-----...---------1931

discontinued, the number of subgroups for which separate series were available had been enlarged to 49. The indexes shown here areannual averages of monthly figures.

Because of changes in the list of commodities and in the weightingfactors, the indexes were calculated by the chain relative method. Inthis way, comparisons between any two periods were based on thesame commodities with the same weights. Throughout the wholeperiod, the weight used for each priced commodity was the quantitymarketed for that class of commodity. Classes of commodities notrepresented by an item in the list priced were not represented in theweighting factors.

Table I contains a summary of the number of commodities and theweights used for the indexes in series E 40.

313734784784

Quantities marketed 1929 and 1931

Quantities marketed 1927 and 1929Quantities marketed 1925 and 1927

Table I. Number of Price Series and Weighting Factors Used inBLS Wholesale Price Index (All Commodities, Series E 40):1890 to 1951

NumberYear Weights used

1930 5501926-1929 _ _ _ _ _ _ Quantities marketed 1923 and 19251924-1925 _ _ _ 526-5231922-1923 Quantities marketed 1921 and 1923

Quantities marketed 1919 and 19211914-1919 _ _ _ Quantities marketed 1914 and 19191913.....----..-...--------- 252 Quantities marketed 1909 and 1914_ _ _ 251-261 Quantities marketed 1909

The price quotations on which the indexes were based were ob-tained by mail from leading manufacturers or selling agents or fromsuch other sources as standard trade publications, reports of boardsof trade, and produce exchanges. Before 1913, most of the data re-ferred t o the New York market, but after 1913, quotations were ob-tained in several major markets for a number of importantcommodities.

For articles subject to frequent fluctuations in price, monthlyaverages were made up of quotations for one day in each week andfor a portion of the period from daily quotations. For other articles,monthly, quarterly, or semiannual quotations were secured.

Considerable attention was devoted to obtaining descriptive details so that price comparisons were based on the same or comparable com-modities. By 1931, BLS had developed a specification for eachcommodity in the index. These specifications defined quality as precisely as possible, including the principal price-determining char-acteristics, terms of sale, and other details. These specifications were refined and improved over the years.

The prices used in the index were usually net cash prices,for the article described by the specification. Delivered prices were included only when it was customary for an industry t o quote on thedelivered basis.

See also general note for series E

E 52-63. Wholesale price indexes (Warren and Pearson), by major

Source: George F. Warren and Frank A. Pearson, Prices, JohnWiley and Sons, New York, 1933, pp. 11-13, 25-27 (copyright).

The indexes are also presented in Wholesale Prices for 213 Years,1720-1932 (see general note, series E Memoir part 1,pp. 7-10 and 84-111. The “all-commodities” index for 1749-1889,converted t o the base of 1926, is included in Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bulletin No. 572, Wholesale Prices, 1981, 1933, appendix,

The primary aim of Warren and Pearson was to present monthlycomprehensive index numbers for the 19th century corresponding

186

product groups, 1749-1890.

111-114.

to those of BLS for 1890 and later years. The full series constitutesthe longest index now available for For 1890-1932,Warren and Pearson used the BLS indexes (series E 40-51) convertedt o the base Their work covered the periodthe index was extended back t o 1720 by Herman M. Stoker.

The bulk of the prices on which the index is based relate t o NewYork City and were obtained from newspapers, supplemented withprices published in the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on theState of the Finances (usually referred to as the S. Finance Report)for 1863. The number of products included in the all-items indexnumbers for 1797-1890 varied from a low of 113 in 1830 to 146 in1880. For the extension back to 1720, Stoker encountered someserious gaps in the available source materials, especially for years prior to 1749. For 1720-1748, the price data were scarce and irregular, and an index could be only for certain months in each year.For the number of commodities included generally variedfrom 11 to 19; and for 71 series were available for mostyears.

The index numbers for are weighted arithmetic averagesof relatives, computed first on the 1876-91base, then converted to the1910-14 base using the relationship with BLS index numbers for

When one commodity was substituted for another, alinking procedure was employed. Two all-commodity indexes were prepared, one with fixed group weights throughout the whole period,and one with varying group weights. The latter is presented here asseries E 52.

Separate subindexes (series E 53-63) were computed by Warren and Pearson for the 10 groups of commodities formerly used BLS with a supplemental index for spirits. Within each group,weights representing the importance of the priced commodities inthe total trade of the United States were varied over the years torepresent, insofar as possible, changes in importance. (Specificmention should be made of the reduction in the importance of cottonduring the Civil War period. Cotton was scarce and prices veryhigh so weights were based on the amount available for consumptionfor 1861-1866 and on production for Censuses, imports,exports, and similar official figures were used as weighting factors.However, data were meager for the early years and some arbitraryweight assignments were necessary.

For 1787-1800, Stoker constructed a “71-commodity index” withthe same commodity group classification and methods of calculationas those employed by Warren and Pearson. These all-commodityand group indexes were linked to the Warren-Pearson indexes. His“16-commodity index” for based on the 11-19 items(practically all farm products and foods) was in turn linked to the 71-commodity index.

There are discrepancies between Prices and Memoir for farmproducts (series E 53) for 1807, 1808, and 1827. The figures shownin series E 53 are averages of monthly data in Memoir

E 64-72. Wholesale price indexes (BLS),by durability of product,

Source: U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handbook of Labor Sta-tistics, 1971, Bulletin 1705, 285.

These indexes were constructed by recombining commodity seg-ments of the regular BLS Wholesale Price Index according to dura-bility. The basic weights, the price data, and the calculation methodswere the same as for the regular indexes (see text for series E 23-39).The commodity groups included in each of these special indexes arelisted in Bulletins, Wholesale Prices and Price Indexes, annuallyfor 1957-1963, and in Wholesale Prices and Price Indexes for January1967 (final) and February 1967 (final).

Manufactured commodities were generally classified on the samebasis as that used by the Federal Reserve Board for its Index ofIndustrial Production. The classification of the “raw or slightly pro-cessed goods” was based for the most part on that used by FrederickC. Mills in Prices in Recession and Recovery, National Bureau ofEconomic Research, New York, 1936, pp. 472474.

1947-1970.


73-86. Wholesale price indexes (BLS), for economic sectors, by

Source: U S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1913-1946, Bulletin 1235,Wholesale Prices and Price Indexes, 1957, p. 26 (these series on a1926 base appear in the following publications: 1913-1941, Handbookof Labor Statistics, 1941 edition, p. 733; 1942-1946, Bulletin 947,Wholesale Prices, p. 6); 1947-1970, Bulletin 1705, Handbook ofLabor Statistics, 1971, p. 286.

Although the basic weights, the price data, and the calculationmethods for these indexes were the same as those used for the regularindexes, the series shown comprise two parts, one for 1903-1946 andthe second for 1947-1970. Prior to the revision of the regular Whole-sale Price Index in 1952 (which was carried back toeach commodity in the WPI was classified in one of three groups:Raw, semimanufactured, or manufactured. The prices wereweighted using quantities as specified for series E The list of commodities included in each classification is shown in BLS Bulletin473, p. 62.

The more refined economic sector classification used for 1947-1970required adjustments to these procedures. Many commodities were considered to fall appropriately in more than one category. For1947-1966, the base weight for each such article was, therefore, dis-tributed among the economic sectors on the basis of percentage dis-tributions by end use, derived from the BLS interindustry studiesfor 1947. From 1967 to 1970, the 1958 interindustry study of theCommerce Department’s Office of Business Economics was used asa guide. The same price series was used in several sectors when a commodity was classified in more than one sector. It was recognizedthat this procedure had some disadvantages, but it was believed t ohave little effect on the measurement of price trend.

In splicing the two parts, the index for “raw materials” was con-sidered as most nearly comparable with the new “crude materials forfurther processing”; “semimanufactured” with “intermediate materials, supplies, and components”; and “manufactured” with “finished goods.”

stage of processing, 1913-1970.

E 87-89. Wholesale price indexes (BLS), by 2 levels of processing,for identical commodities, 1890-1926.

Source: U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 440, Whole-sale Prices, 1890 to 1926, pp. 28-29, 1926.

These series were calculated for the first time in 1915, were extended back to 1890, and continued through 1926. The items in each of theindexes were selected from those included in the BLS regular whole-sale price index (see series E 40). The indexes are fixed weight aggregative indexes, derived by weighting the price series with theestimated quantity of each article marketed in 1919. Similar figuresfor 1890-1914 on the 1914 base, using 1909 quantity weights may befound in BLS Bulletin No. 181,WholesalePrices, pp. 28-29.

E 90-122. General note.The inadequacy of the available statistics on commodity-price and

wage movements over long periods of time led to the formation ofthe International Scientific Committee on Price History in 1929. Inthe United States, the attention of this Committee was directed toproviding long series of prices for important commodities for pre-CivilWar years. Price history research was initiated or expanded for 6 important markets-Philadelphia, Charleston, S.C., Cincinnati, NewOrleans, New York City, and Boston. Information is presented hereonly for the first 4 of these markets.

The results of the investigations in all 6 areas were summarized in the form of wholesale price index numbers by the individual re-search directors and presented by Arthur H. Cole in Wholesale Com-modity Prices in the United States, 1700 to 1861, Harvard UniversityPress, Cambridge, 1938. A statistical supplement to Cole’s reportcontains the actual monthly quotations for approximately 45 com-modities for the years covered in each market.

The source materials for the price data included newspapers, mer-

chants price lists, account books, and similar records that could belocated. Differences in the availability of price and weighting datafrom area to area contributed to differences in the indexes derived,particularly with respect to the appropriate base periods, the lengthof the series, and the classifications of commodities for subindexes.

90-96. Wholesale price indexes (Taylor), for Charleston, S.C.,

Source: Arthur H. Cole, Wholesale Commodity Prices in the UnitedStates, 1700-1861, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1938, pp.

155-157,and (copyright).See also articles by George Rogers Taylor, “Wholesale Commodity

Prices a t Charleston, S. C., Journal of Economic History,February 1932, 356-377, and “Wholesale Commodity Prices atCharleston, S.C., August 1932 supplement to theJournal, pp.

1732-1861.

See also general note for series E 90-122.Taylor’s research in commodity prices was summarized in separate

index numbers for 8 different periods. The choice of time periods was made partly t o reflect business conditions in Charleston andpartly to take account of availability of data. Newspapers andoriginal manuscript materials produced price series for a maximumof 32 items for 1818-1842 and a minimum of 6 for 1732-1747. Gapswere relatively frequent and no quotations a t all appeared for

Indexes for each period were weighted arithmetic averages of pricerelatives, with weights representing the approximate importance ofeach commodity in South Carolina commerce. The weights were unchanged for all years within each time period but were changedfrom period to period. An all-commodities series was made up ofprices for 6 articles for 10 articles for 1748-1761, and16 articles for In each period, rice represented 50 t o 64percent of the total weight. For the 5 later time intervals, weightedsub-indexes were combined with group weights based on the followingtotal number of price series: 1780-1791, 20; 1796-1812, 18;1822, 13; 1818-1842, 32; 1843-1861, 20. During these years, theimportance of rice declined from about 37 percent of the total weightt o 5 to 7 percent, while the importance of cotton increased from zeroin 1791 t o almost 36 percent in

The all-commodity series (E 90) was obtained by splicing theindexes for the separate periods.

E 97-110. Wholesale price indexes (Bezanson), for Philadelphia,

Source: Anne Bezanson, Robert D. Gray, and Miriam Hussey, Wholesale Prices in Philadelphia, part I, Industrial Re-search Study No. 29, Philadelphia, 1936, p. 392. (Copyright, Uni-versity of Pennsylvania; reprinted by permission.)

unweighted geometric average, 1784-1861.

See also general note for series E 90-122.Records of prices for Philadelphia provided continuous price re-

ports for 186 series covering 140 different commodities for1861 and 205 series for commodities for 1819-1861. Monthlyrelative prices for the individual commodities and changes in thedescription of the commodities quoted are included in part of thesource, published as Industrial Research Study No. 30. Bezanson and her associates have also computed indexes for 1852-1896, cor-responding to those for the earlier part of the century, which areavailable in a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) pamphlet, WholesalePrice Indexes for Philadelphia, Totals.

Indexes for all commodities and for subindexes using different modes of classification were computed as unweighted geometricaverages of price relatives. Two all-commodities indexes were pre-pared, one based on 140 commodities (series E 97) and one for amore limited period for commodities.

In addition to the subindexes selected for inclusion here, othersubindexes for commodity groupings generally comparable to thoseof the BLS were also calculated. All indexes are available on amonthly basis.

187

E 111-134 PRICES PRICE

E 111. Wholesale price indexes (Bezanson), for Philadelphia,weighted arithmetic average, 1720-1861.

Source: See source for series E 97-110.For the colonial period, Bezanson and her associates obtained some

price data for 82 series. Because of the gaps in the data, however,indexes for the early years were based on prices for many fewercommodities.

Indexes for were computed as unweighted arithmeticaverages of relatives of prices for the same 12 commodities for thefull period. The source also includes an unweighted geometric index of 20 commodities for

E 112-114. Wholesale price indexes (Berry), for Cincinnati,

Source: Series E 112,1816-1860,Arthur Cole, Wholesale Com-modity Prices in the United States, 1700-1861, Harvard UniversityPress, Cambridge, 1938, p. 185 (averages of the monthly data werecomputed from the source); 1861, estimated by Ethel Hoover fromseries E 113 and E 114 with weights shown in Cole (cited above), p. 81. Series E 113-114,Thomas S. Berry, Western Prices Before 1861, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1943, p. 564. (Copy-right.)

1861.

See also general note for series E 90-122.These indexes were weighted arithmetic averages of price relatives,

computed for 3 separate time periods which were spliced to obtainthe continuous series. For 1816-1825, prices for 21 commoditieswere assembled, 13 “identified with northern agriculture” and 8“not identified with northern agriculture.” For 1824-1846, thetotal was 37 with 20 in the first category and 17 in the second. For1846-1861, the total was 50, with 29 for northern agriculture, and21 for other. The weighting factors for the first period were esti-mated from New Orleans receipts in 1825, while those for the 2later periods were based on receipts at Cincinnati forand Berry’s analysis is accompanied by many tabula-tions of supplementary data, including actual prices for individual articles.

E 115-117. Wholesale price indexes (Berry), for Ohio River Valley,1788-1817.

Source: Thomas Berry, Western Prices Before 1861, Harvard

See also general note for E 90-122.In his study of Cincinnati prices, Berry encountered considerable

difficulty in obtaining price information for years before 1816. He enlarged his geographical coverage for the market t o include Lexing-ton and Louisville, Ky., and Pittsburgh, Pa., and was successful in constructing 14 commodity price series for from data in “account books of backwoods merchants” and from local journals.

The indexes were computed as unweighted averages of price rela-tives. The annual prices used t o obtain the relatives were mediansof all Ohio Valley quotations for each item each year.

E 118-122. Wholesale price indexes (Taylor), for New Orleans,

Source: Arthur Cole, Wholesale Commodity Prices in the UnitedStates, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1938, pp.

(copyright),

University Press, Cambridge, 1943, pp. 563-564 (copyright).

See also general note for series EA considerable difference was found in the volume of information

available for New Orleans from decade to decade. Therefore, New indexes were prepared for 4 separate time periods. Data

for 8 commodities, primarily agricultural, were combined into anindex for “Louisiana” products for 1800-1812 (July). For a partof this period, 1804-1812 (April), 2 series were constructed, 1 for

188

29 domestic products and the other for 15 imported goods. For 2later periods, the volume of data was sufficient t o set up 3 sub-indexes, classifying the commodities by origin. The number ofarticles included was: For 1815-1842, Louisiana products, 34 otherdomestic products, and 11 foreign imports; for 1840-1861, the corre-sponding numbers of articles were 4, 37, and 8.

All of the index numbers were calculated using the method ofweighted averages of relatives. The weights in the several timeperiods represented the importance of the various commodities in the trade of New Orleans.

The all-commodities index (series E 118) was obtained by splicingthe “all-commodities” indexes for the different periods.


The wholesale prices for selected commodities from 1800 through1970 provide an indication of price levels (in current dollars) forselected basic commodities at a particular point in time. Due tothe changes in descriptions (specifications) for the commodities, inmarkets from which prices were obtained, in quality of the productwhich takes place over time, and other factors which affect prices,these series provide only a general indication of price trends.

From among the several hundred commodities for which wholesale prices have been published in various reports, 12 were selected forpublication in the form of actual prices. Generally, consideration was given t o representation of commodities in different productgroups, importance in trade, and the length of the series available.

The descriptions for each commodity insofar as they could bedetermined and the sources from which the prices were compiled areshown below in the detailed notes for each series. When annualaverages were not available in the original source, they were com-puted for this publication. If 12 monthly figures were presented, asimple average was calculated, but if only quarterly figures were given, straight line interpolation was used to estimate missing months.

It was not possible to obtain one continuously comparable series for the full period. The data were assembled from several sources for each commodity and there were, frequently, changes in the basisof quotation even in the same source. Two prices are shown foryears in which a change in the series occurred, if it was possible toobtain the information. In some series, mostly prior t o 1890, changesin the basis of quotation occurred and no overlapping prices wereavailable. Such changes are noted below in the text for each series.

Prices for earlier years for some commodities are available in thesame sources as those indicated for 1800, and in other publications. Because of limitations of time and space, however, figures prior to1800 were not included in this chapter. For example, prices of wheatback to 1700 may be found in the publication by Cole, cited as thesource for wheat prices for Wheat prices in the NewEngland colonies at 10-year intervals for 1630-1750 are includedwith prices for several other commodities in Bureau of Labor Statis-tics Bulletin History of Wages in the United States From ColonialTimes to 1928,

The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, cited as the sourcefor practically all series for some part of the period 1825-1880, wasused despite the lack of commodity descriptions. The prices in-cluded in this report were summaries of the New York prices includedin the U.S. Finance Reports of 1863, 1873, and 1874 which had beencompiled from the newspaper, The New York Shipping and Com-mercial List. Prices for were also compiled from this source. Such descriptions as appear in the notes for each series ofprices taken from U.S. Finance Reports were obtained from the re-port for 1863.

An alternate source for many of the price series included in theAldrich Reports (cited for data prior to 1890) is Monthly SummaryCommerce and Finance in the United States, 57th Congress, 2d Session,House Doc. No. 15, part 1, 1902, 59-100. The Summary coversnot only the years included in the Report, but also extendsthe data through July 1902.

WHOLESALE PRICES E 123-129

123. Wheat, 1800-1970.

Source: Arthur H. Cole, Wholesale CommodityPrices in the United States, 1700-1861, Statistical Supplement, vard University Press, Cambridge, 1938 (copyright);A n n u a l Report of the Director of the Mint to the Secretary of the Treasuryfor the Fiscal Y e a r Ended J u n e 30 , 1881, 5 0 ; Whole-sale Prices, Wages , and Transportation, Senate Report No. 1394,52d Congress, 2d Session, part 2, 1893, 61 (one of the reportsusually referred to as the Reports) ; compiledfrom Bureau of Labor Statistics reports and records. In general,annual average prices, when available, were taken from annual reports, Wholesale Prices and Inderes, through the year 1963.Thereafter, annual average prices were computed from monthly pricesas published in monthly reports, Wholesale Prices and Price Indexes.

For 1800-1825, prices are for Philadelphia (commodity descriptionnot available). For 1825-1880,prices are for New York, “Northern”wheat; the 1863 Finance Report (from which these prices were partially compiled) shows prices for for most years, 1863, but for a few years prices refer to “North River,” “prime white,“ “western,” “western red,” or “mixed and red.” For1890, prices are for “wheat No. 2, Winter, Chicago.” For 1890-1913,prices are for Chicago “Range No. 1Northern Spring and Nc. 2 RedWinter” in carlots. For 1913-1948, prices are for Kansas City,“NO. 2, hard (ordinary)” in carlots. For 1949-1961, prices are forKansas City, “No. 2, hard winter, closing spot market price, carlots,

track.” From 1962 t o 1970, prices are for Kansas City, “No. 1,hard winter.”


E 124. Wheat flour, 1800-1970.Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1800-1825, source A;

1825-1870,source B; source C, 79; 1890-1970, source D.For 1800-1825, prices are for Philadelphia, “Superfine” flour, per

barrel of 196 pounds. For 1825-1870, prices are for New York,“Superfine” flour, per barrel. For 1870-1890, prices were provided by a New York firm (commodity description not available). For 1890-1913, prices are for “winter straights, New York,” perbarrel. For 1913-1943, prices are for “Straights, hard winter, white, in carlots, Kansas City,” per barrel. During 1943, the basisof quotation was changed from per barrel t o flour in sacks, per 100pounds. For prices are for “hard winter, bakery, shortpatents, plain or enriched, in 100-pound sacks, carlots, mill,Kansas City,” per 100 pounds. During 1918 and a part of 1946,prices were quoted on the standard provided under governmentregulation.


E 125. Sugar, 1800-1970.Source: See sources for series E 123; 1800-1825, source A;

1860, source B; 1860-1890, source C, 114; 1890-1970, source D.For 1800-1825, prices are for the Philadelphia market. Prices

for 1800 refer t o “Muscovado, brown”; 1801-1802 (Oct.),vado”; 1802 (Oct.), “Muscovado, first quality”; 1813

(Apr.), “Muscovado, unspecified”; 1815 (May)-1825,“Muscovado, prime.” For 1825-1860, prices are for New York,‘‘Cuba” sugar; the 1863 U.S. Finance Report (from which the data were compiled) quoted “Muscovado” for 1825-1829 and 1845-1860,“Cuba Muscovado” for 1830-1836 and “Cuba” for 1837-1844. For1860-1890, prices are for “Refined, granulated” sugar (no marketspecified). For 1890-1946, prices are for New York, “Granulated”sugar. Prices were quoted for sugar in barrels until 1955 when thebasis of quotation was changed t o 100-pound paper bags. For1947-1970, the description was amplified to “granulated, domestic,cane, refined, New York,” per pound. Prices for 1934-1970 includethe excise tax of cents per pounds, effective in May 1934.


E 126. Cotton, raw, 1800-1970.

Source: 1800-1890, B. Hammond, T h e Cotton Indus t ry ,a n Essay in Amer ican Economic History, American Economic Asso-ciation, New Series No. I, Macmillan, New York, 1897, p. 358;1890-1970, see source D for series E 123.

For 1800-1890, prices refer to “Middling uplands” cotton for theNew York market and are available back to 1790. For 1800-1820,prices are estimates made by merchants or government officials.For 1821-1890, prices were taken from James L. Watkin, Productionand Price of Cotton One Hundred Years , published by the Depart-ment of Agriculture, 1895. For 1890-1941, prices are for New York,“Upland, Middling” cotton, spot. In 1936, inch” was addedto the description. For 1941-1954 (July), prices are for “Middling,15/16 inch,” 10 spot market average. For 1954 (Aug.),the number of markets included in the average was increased from10 to 14. The July 1954 average for 10 markets was $0.342 perpound and for 14 markets, $0.341 per pound. For 19561957, prices are for “Middling, 1-inch,’’ 14 spot market average.In Aug. 1956, the average for staple was $0.348 per pound and for 1-inch staple $0.357 per pound. Beginning Sept. 1962,prices are for 15-market average. Beginning July 1968, prices arefor middling,” 12 spot market average.


E 127. 1813-1970.

Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1813-1825, source A;1825-1850, source B, p. 60; source C, p. 387; 1890-1970,source D.

For prices are for Philadelphia, “Merino clean” woolexcept for 1819 and 1820 when description was “Merino” wool. For

prices are for New York, “Merino” wool. For1890, prices are for Boston, “Ohio, fine fleece, scoured.” For1913, prices are for, “Domestic, Ohio, fine fleece (x and xx grades),scoured”; for 1913-1945, for Boston, “Domestic, Territory, staple,fine and fine medium, scoured”; for 1946-1949for Boston, “Domestic, Territory, staple, fine combing, graded, scoured.” For 1950-1970,the description was changed with no difference in price level t o“Domestic, fine, good French combing and staple, clean basis.”


E 128. Cotton sheeting, 1800-1969.

Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1800-1847, source A;1847-1890, source C, 155; 1890-1969, source D.

Prices are for Philadelphia, “Russian, unspecified” for 1800-1804,“Russian, brown” for and and “Russian, halfbleached” for Prices were shown “per piece” (approx-imately 100 yards). For prices are for “sheeting, brown, 4-4, Atlantic A,” per yard (no market specified). For 1890-1912,prices are for “brown, Indian head, 4-4, 2.85 yards t o pound, factory.” For 1913-1941, description same except that the width designationwas changed in 1913 to “36-inch” instead of andcarded yarn” was added in 1923. For (May), prices arefor “Unbleached, 2.85 yards per pound, Class A, non-feeler, mill.” For 1943 (May)-1947, description sameexcept for change from t o “48 For 1948-1969,prices are for “Unbleached (series 2.85 yardsper pound, Class A, nonfeeler, mill.” The January 1948 pricefor the former description was $0.279 and for thenew description 48x48) was $0.289 per pound.

See also general notes for series E 123-134.

E 129. Coal, anthracite, 1800-1970.

source B; 1890-1970, source D.Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1800-1825, source A;

For 1833-1890,


I ron and Steel Association, Statistics of the American andF o r e i g n Iron T r a d e s for 1896, Philadelphia, 1897, p. 91.

Prices are for Philadelphia, “Virginia” coal for 1800-1811 anda n d “Domestic” for 1812 and 1813. There was no de-

scription for 1826-1833. For 1825-1833, prices are for New York,“anthracite coal (Schuylkill).” For 1833-1890, prices are for“Schuylkill white ash lump” coal, by the cargo, at Philadelphia,per gross ton. For 1890-1970, prices are for “Pennsylvania anthra-cite, chestnut,” b u t the basis of quotation was changed several times. For 1890-1928, the basis was “New York Tidewater,” pergross ton ; for 1928-1931, “destination on tracks,” per gross ton;for 1931-1947, per net ton pounds); and 1947-1970,cars” per net ton.

See also general note for.series E 123-134.

130. Steel rails,Source: 1847-1890, American Metal Market and Daily Iron and

Steel Report, M e t a l Statistics, 1921, p. 91. (Reprinted with permis-sion of American Metal Market, Fairchild Publications, Inc., N.Y.,

copyright.)F o r prices are for “Iron rails, Eastern Pennsylvania

mill” (production of steel rails did not exceed production of ironrails until 1877). The source also shows prices of iron rails of thisdescription for For 1867-1870, prices are for New York “Steel rails, Bessemer,” per gross ton. For 1871-1890, prices arefor “Steel rails, Pennsylvania mill.” For 1891-1913, prices are for“Bessemer, Standard, mill, Pittsburgh,” per long ton; for1913-1946, for “Open hearth, standard, mill”; for 1947-1953(April), for “Standard, heavier than 60 pounds, No. 1 open hearth,

mill” (refinement of previous specification and quoted per 100pounds-no break in series); thereafter, for “Standard, carbon steel, No. 1 open hearth, 115 pounds per linear yard, control cooled, basequant i ty , mill.”

For 1891-1970, see source D for series E 123.


131. Nails, 1800-1969.Source: See sources cited for series 123; 1800-1828, source A;

1828-1834, source B, p. 54; 1890-1969, source D. For 1835-1890,see source for series E 129, 1833-1890, p. 87. (For 1835-1849,prices were compiled from the Report the Secretary of the Treasury,1849; for 1850-1859, by the American Iron and Steel Association from t h e books of the Duncannon Iron Company; and for 1860-1890,by an official of the Duncannon Iron Company.)

For1827, prices are for “Cut nails, all sizes’’; for other years, “assorted sizes.’’ For 1828-1834, prices are for New York, “Nails, cut.”For 1835-1890, prices are for “Cut nails.” For 1890-1953, pricesrefer t o “wire, 8 penny, fence and common, 100-pound keg, Pittsburgh.” “Base price” was added to the description in 1926and fence nails were not included after 1947. For 1953-1959,pricesrefer t o “wire, carbon steel 8d, common, carload lots, mill.”T h e April 1953 price for the former specification was $7.41, andfor t h e new specification, $7.33 per 100 pounds. “Packed in fiber-board boxes” was added to the description for 1955. “Carload lots” was changed t o “in lots of 30,000 lb. or over” in Oct. 1960. Changewas n o t considered t o affect comparability of prices before or after.

For 1800-1828, prices are for the Philadelphia market.


132. Copper, 1800-1969.Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1800-1825, source A;

source B, p. 52; 1890-1970, source D. For 1860-1889,see source for series E 130, 1847-1890, 299.

prices are for the Philadelphia market. Prices are“Copper in sheets,” 1800-1801 (Apr.) and 1805

(June) ; “Sheathing unspecified,” 1801 1809(July)-1818 (Apr.), and 1824 “Sheathing, cold rolled,”

190

(May); and “Sheathing unspecified,” 1818(Aug.). For 1825-1860, prices are for New York, “Sheathing.”For 1860-1889, prices are for New York, “Lake Copper.” The priceshown for 1890 is the same as that in Metal Statistics, 1921. For1890-1907,prices are for New York, “Lake for 1907-1927,for “Copper ingot, electrolytic, early delivery, refinery in New York”; for 1927-1953, for “Copper, electrolytic, delivered, Connecticut Valley”; and for for “Copper ingot, electrolytic.


E 133. Turpentine, 1800-1969.Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1800-1825, source A;

source B, p. 56; 1840-1890, source C, p. 240; 1890-1969,source D.

For prices are for the Philadelphia market, per barrel (31% gallons per barrel). No description was available, but acomparison of prices indicates that they may be for “soft” turpen-tine. For prices are for the New York market (nodescription is available). For 1840-1890, prices are for New York,“Spirits of turpentine.” For 1890-1942, prices are for “Southern,barrels, at New York.” The description was amplified in 1936 bythe addition of “carlots, ex dock, gum spirits.” Forprices refer to “Gum spirits, bulk, Savannah, For1956 (Oct.), quotations are for “Spirits of turpentine, tank cars, atNew York.” The Jan. 1952 price for the former specification (Savannah) was $0.80 per gallon and for the new (New York), $0.76 per gallon. For 195.6 (Jan.) prices are for “gum,tank cars” a t New York. For 1959 prices are forcarlots or truckload quantities car or trucks at processing plantsin Georgia and Florida. “Midpoint of range for week” was added in 1961.


E 134. Brick, 1849-1969.Source: See sources cited for series E 123; 1849-1890, source

p. 222; 1890-1969,source D.For 1849-1890, prices are for “common domestic building” (market

not indicated). For 1890-1933, prices are for “Common, Red,Domestic, at New York”; 1933-1947, for “Common building, plant” (composite of approximately 50 firms); for 1947-1961, for“Building brick, plant or New York dock” (composite ofapproximately 25 firms); and for 1962-1969, for “Building brick,

plant.” Changes in list of firms from time to time did notresult in any significant differences in the annual average prices.


E 135-186. General note.An appropriate name for indexes of retail price changes has been

the subject of considerable discussion. Most indexes that have a tsome time been called “cost-of-living” indexes measure changes inretail prices for the goods and services families buy. Insofar aspossible, the retail prices are for the same list of items in the samelocalities, the same qualities, and the same quantities from oneperiod t o the next. The indexes, therefore, measure changes incosts for living in the same way and in the same place.

Generally, people tend to think of the amount of money they spendfor commodities and services as their cost of living. Changes intotal expenditures reflect changes in costs resulting from differencesin the or manner of living, such as shifts in the kinds of goodsand services bought, and may represent a better or a worse standardthan at some earlier date.

The term “Consumer Price Index” was adopted by the Bureau ofLabor Statistics (BLS) and the National Industrial Conference Boardafter much controversy during World War regarding the BLS Cost

Living For a discussion of differences in concept and meas-urement of the cost of living, see the Report of the President’s Commit-tee o n Cost of Living, Office of Economic Stabilization, 1945.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES E 135-166

Number of cities

135-166. Consumer price indexes items, 1800 to 1970,

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 1800-1912, series135 only, Handbook of Labor Statistics 1973, Bulletin 1790;

1970, Consumer Price Indexes for Urban Wage Earners and ClericalWorkers; U.S. City Averages (1967 Historical Series Athrough I.

and by groups, 1913-1970.

See also general note for series EThe BLS Consumer Price Index measures changes in retail prices

of the goods and services bought by city wage earners and clericalworkers. The indexes from 1800 through 1912 are estimates, basedon price data from sources other than BLS. It was originated on acomprehensive basis at the end of World War I when data were in demand for wage negotiations in shipbuilding cities. A Departmentof Labor study of the cost of living in 92 shipbuilding and other in-dustrial centers was made in 1918-19, as reported in BLS Bulletin357, Cost of Living in the United States. The first publication ofchanges in the “cost of living” was BLS Monthly Labor Reviewfor October 1919and regular publication has continued since February1921. The frequency of publication was increased from semiannually t o quarterly in 1935. Since September 1940, the index has been com-puted and published monthly. The index is published each monthin a press release, a detailed report, and in the Monthly Labor Review.The indexes shown here are annual averages.

All retail price data are collected with the use of specifications toensure comparisons from period t o period of prices for the same orsimilar qualities insofar as possible. These specifications include thequality factors associated with price differences and other physicalcharacteristics needed for identification from store t o store and fromone pricing period to the next. A discussion of the use of specifica-tions is contained in BLS Bulletin 1182, Average Prices: Col-lection and Calculation Techniques and Problems. Every effort ismade t o obtain the prices paid by the customer, not list prices fromwhich discounts normally are given. Sales, excise, and other taxes related to the purchase or continued ownership of consumer goodsand services are reflected wherever applicable.

number of changes in coverage, method, classification, and baseperiods have been made since these indexes were first issued in 1919with index numbers back to 1913. Until 1935, the “cost-of-living”indexes were calculated using quantity weights derived from theBLS family expenditure study in The weights related tothe individual items priced and to geographic areas rather than to individual cities. Group indexes were combined with percentages representing the importance of the group in total expenditures.The goods and services included were described in general termsonly. The measurement of price change for comparable articles was accomplished by careful attention on the part of the field repre-sentative in obtaining price quotations for the same quality fromone period t o the next from the same respondents.

A improvement in the index calculation method was intro-duced in 1935 and is described in Faith M. Williams, Margaret H.

and Ewan Clague, “Revision of Index of Cost of Goods Pur-chased by Wage Earners and Lower-Salaried Workers,” MonthlyLabor Review, September 1936, pp. 819-837. In the 1935 revision,consumption weights for individual cities were derived from the

expenditure study, and population weights (average popula-tion in 1920 and 1930) were used to combine city data. At thistime, indexes back to 1913 were recalculated based on the pricescollected for the former indexes. “Specification pricing” was alsointroduced in 1935; see John H. Cover, Retail Price Behavior, Uni-versity of Chicago Press, 1935.

Another revision was completed in 1940 to take into account theresults of a study of family expenditures in At this time,indexes back to 1935 were recalculated with weights derived from

study. Indexes for earlier years were not recalculated com-pletely, but the former group indexes were recombined with revisedweights. Other improvements introduced are described in the

Weights used--

Table Number of Cities Included in BLS Consumer Price Indexfor All Items 135) and for Foods (E and

Weights Used: 1913 t o 1970

Period

193232

3333-34

34344650

40-4546-51

51

5156-64

5656465056

1917-191917-19

1934-3619 34-361947-49

3 19504 1960-615

none1920 and 19301920 and 1930

19301930May 19421950195019601960

Individual item weights for were derived from the 1917-19 study.

Family expenditures in 7 cities.Adjusted to 1963 for price change.

Group weights as shown.3 Adjusted to 1952 for price change.

5 Adjusted to 1965 for price change.

Bureau Labor Statistics’ New Index Cost of Living, Serial No.R. 1156, reprinted from the August 1940 issue of the Monthly LaborReview.

During World War 11, shortages and rationing imposed manymeasurement problems. The adjustments made by BLS in weights and in pricing are described in Faith M. Williams, “Bureau of LaborStatistics Cost of Living Index in Wartime,” Monthly Labor Review,July 1943.

Before the comprehensive revision in 1953, when numerous changes in index procedures and coverage were introduced, an “interim ad-justment” was made in 1951. This adjustment included a correc-tion for “new unit bias” in the rent index (resulting from wartimerent controls) for 1940-1950 and the introduction of revised com-modity weights based on expenditure surveys in 7 cities during1949. The revised commodity weights were used t o recalculateindexes back to 1950 but not earlier years. A description of theadjustment is in BLS Bulletin 1039, Interim Adjustment of ConsumerPrice Index. The “interim adjustment” resulted in the publicationof two index series for 1940-1952-the “old series” and the “adjusted series.” When the comprehensive revision was completed in 1953,the revised indexes were linked to the “adjusted series.”

In the 1953 revision, the city sample was changed to include small and medium-sized cities and the expenditure concept was broadenedto include the purchase price of a house. (See February and April1956 issues of Monthly Labor Review for a discussion of housing costsin the CPI.) Pricing of restaurant meals and home repair andmaintenance items was begun and several other items were added.Items were regrouped into 8 major groups.

A later revision of the CPI was completed in 1963 and incorporatedinto the historical index series in 1964. The revised index is basedon prices of about 400 goods and services; the goods and servicespriced for the index were chosen to represent price trends forgoods and services bought by families of urban wage earners andclerical workers. The selection was made on the basis of a detailed study of expenditures of 4,912 urban wage earner and clerical worker families and 585 single workers in 1960-61. The probability an itemhad of being selected for pricing in the index was proportional t o itsimportance in index-family consumption expenditures in the 1960-61base period. The average size of the families covered by the indexwas estimated t o be about 3.7 persons and their average family in-come after taxes was estimated at about $6,250 in 1960-61.

In 1966, the CPI program was extended to six additional largeareas as a result of a decision that indexes would be published for allstandard metropolitan statistical areas a popula-tion of 1 million or more in 1960. Currently the sample of56 areas on which the national index is based was chosen to representall urban places that have population of 2,500 or more in 1960, in-cluding Alaska and Hawaii. Prices for foodsand fuels and some other

191


goods and services are obtained monthly in all cities. Prices formost other goods and services are obtained monthly in the 5 largestareas and every three months in the remaining 51 or smallurban places. Rents are surveyed bimonthly in the 5 largest areasand every 3 months in other areas. Separate indexes are computedfor 23 large areas. A comprehensive discussion of these and otherimprovements is contained in BLS Bulletin 1517, The Consumer PriceIndex: History and Techniques.

Food prices are obtained from about 1,800 food stores, including all important types of food retailers in each city. Rent figures arecollected from tenants for approximately 40,000 rental units selectedfrom block listings of the total rental housing market in each city.Prices for other goods and services are obtained from about 16,000retail and service establishments patronized by wage earner andclerical families and including department stores, specialty shops,etc., with a minimum of 4 quotations per item per SMSA or urbanplace in most cases. Retail stores and service establishments arestratified by type of outlet and by area of the SMSA, centralbusiness district, neighborhood, and suburban pricing areas.

Price collection for the majority of goods and services is made bypersonal visit of BLS field representatives. Food prices are col-lected by local agents; for some items mail or telephone collection issupplemented by occasional personal visits.

The indexes are calculated using a variation of the base quantityweighted index formula. In practice, the aggregates are obtained by applying price relatives to “value weights” representing the costof 1960-61 quantities as determined from the 1960-61 ConsumerExpenditure Survey. The base period importance of an item se-lected with certainty for pricing in the index represents the annual average expenditure made for the item by the index population inthe 1960-61 period. The base period importance of other items represents the expenditure made for that item and in addition a“pro rata” share of the weight of items not selected for pricing. In-dexes for individual areas are computed using the expenditure weights for each area. National indexes are calculated by combining areadata with weights representing 1960 population.

The standard reference base of the Consumer Price Index presentedhere is The index was changed to this base from itsprevious base of effective with release of the indexfor January 1971. The official standard reference base of the CPIwas 1957-59 from 1962 through 1970, 1947-49 from 1953through 1961, from 1940 through 1982, 1923-25= 100from through 1939, and 1913 from 1913 through 1934.

For a more complete description of the Consumer Price Index, seeHandbook o j Methods f o r Surveys and Studies, BLS Bulletin 1458,Chapter 10, or BLS Bulletin 1517 cited above.


E 167-173. Consumer price indexes for special groups,

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handbook LaborStatistics, p. 255.

These indexes are based on a reclassification of the items pricedfor the Consumer Price Indexes (series E 135-166). The basicweights, price data, and calculation methods were the same as thoseused for the regular CPI. For a more complete description of theindex, see BLS Bulletin 1517 cited above (E

1970.


E 174-182. Consumer price index (Hoover), 1851-1880.Source: Ethel D. Hoover, “Prices in the 19th Century,” Studies

in Income and Wealth, vol. 24, 1960, National Bureau of EconomicResearch, New York (copyright).

See also general note for series E 135-186.The basic price data for these series are from Joseph D. Weeks,

“The Average Retail Prices of Necessaries of Life,” Report on Sta-tistics oj Wages in Manufacturing Industries, Tenth Census, vol. 20,

192

Averages of retail prices for 58 commodities were calculatedby making simple averages of the prices reported for each item byone or two storekeepers in approximately 40 cities. The consistencyof price movement and price level between prices identified as of“June and those as “year” averages led to the inclusion of allprices t o calculate an all-city average for each year. In calculatingthe relative prices for each commodity, a comparability procedurewas used; that is, for each year two average prices wereone comparable with the preceding year and the other comparable with the following year. Data for these 58 commodities were sup-plemented with estimates of price change for services (shoe repairsand medical care) as well as some additional items important in family spending estimated from other sources. The number of priceseries included in each of the index groups was food, 40; clothing, 12;rents, 2; fuel and light, 5; and other, 7.

Relative prices for the individual commodities were combinedwith value weights derived from the study of family expenditures inMassachusetts in 1875, supplemented by detailed expenditures of232 families as given in the Aldrich Reports (WholesalePrices, part 1,pp. 62-63). The formula for calculation of the index was the alge-braic equivalent of the Laspeyre index.

E 183. Cost-of-living indexes (Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.),

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, of EstimatedCost Living in the United States (1938 revision, mimeographed).

Indexes for 1820-1952 converted t o the 1947-49 base and figuresshowing purchasing power of the dollar “in terms of retail prices”for the same period are available in a mimeographed release withsame title dated March 17, 1953.

1913.

See also general note for series EThis index was obtained by splicing together parts of indexes al-

ready available to approximate a continuous series. No adjustmentswere made t o the original series other than those necessary to convertt o a common base period. Indexes for 1820-1839 were taken fromAlvin H. Hansen’s cost-of-living indexes which were based on whole-sale prices for these years. For 1840-1859, the indexes used werealso obtained from Hansen’s index which had in turn utilized theweighted index of wholesale prices (assuming all unpriced itemsmoved with all priced items) computed by Roland P. Falkner forthe Senate Committee on Finance. The Falkner indexes for1891 may be found in Senate Report No. 1394 (Aldrich Report), WholesalePrices, Wages,and Transportation, S . Senate Committeeon Finance, 1893, p. 93. For 1860-1879, the Federal Reserve Bankused the relative cost-of-living series prepared by Wesley C. Mitchell,who calculated his index from retail price data for 60 of the “neces-saries of life” included in the Weeks Report. The original series maybe found in Mitchell’s Gold, Prices, and Wages Under the GreenbackStandard, University of California Publications in Economics, vol. 1,Berkeley, March 1908, p. 91. For 1880-1889, the indexes were those of W. Randolph Burgess in Trends of School Costs (see seriesE 184). For 1890-1909, Paul Douglas’ “Most Probable Index of theTotal Cost of Living for Workingmen” (see series E 185) as pub-lished in American Economic Review, March 1926 supplement, p. 22,was used. Indexes for 1920-1912 were derived from theliving index for Massachusetts appearing in the Department of Laborand Industries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Report ofthe Commission on the Necessaries of Life, February 1920, p. 118.

E 184. Cost-of-living index (Burgess),Source: The Review Economics and Statistics, February 1934, vol.

XVI, No. 2, p. 26 (copyright, Harvard College, Cambridge).For original data in dollars, see W. Randolph Burgess, Trends of

School Costs, Russell Sage Foundation, New York City, 1920, p.See also general note for series E 135-186.To determine changes in the purchasing power of teacher’s salaries

for his study of Trends in School Costs, Burgess compiled the series,

ECOST-OF-LIVING INDEXES RETAIL PRICES

“Cost of Living Per Week for a Small Family Using the Same Amount of the Same Commodities Over the Entire Period.” This series is based on prices for 10 foods important in wage earners’ spending.Quantity weights, derived from BLS 1901-1902 consumer expendi-ture studies, were used to combine prices of the 10 foods. On theassumption that other less important items fluctuated with foodprices, the total food cost was adjusted upward to approximate thetotal weekly cost for all items for a typical wage earners’ family ofman, wife, and two children. The factor used for adjustment wasbased on the ratio of food costs to total costs in 1901. The sourceof the price data is indicated by general reference to BLS, the Massa-chusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, the Reports, recordsof purchases by the Army and Navy, and miscellaneous publications.

E 185.Source: Paul Douglas, Real Wages in the United States,

1926, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1930,p. 60 (copyright).

Cost-of-living index (Douglas),

See also general note for series E This index was called the “Most Probable Index of the Movement

of the Total Cost of Living for Workingmen” by Douglas, who con-structed the series for his study of real wages during this period.The all-item indexes are available for two base periods, 1890-1899and 1914.

For 1890-1914, the sources of the price data were BLS wholesaleand retail reports. The available retail prices for foods were supple-mented with wholesale prices for additional foods. These wholesaledata were adjusted for the variation in movement between retailand wholesale prices for identical foods. Wholesale prices were alsoadjusted to approximate retail prices for clothing, fuel and light,furniture, tobacco, and spirits. The combined index for all items isa weighted arithmetic average of price relatives, using weights de-rived from the BLS consumer expenditure study of 1901-1902. Noestimates were made for rent movements because of lack of data.For 1913-1926, the individual city indexes in the BLSLiving Index” were combined with city population weights.

E 186. Cost-of-living index (Rees), 1890-1914.Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Thirty-eighth

Annual Report, New York, May 1958, pp. 59-60 (copyright).Rees’ cost-of-living index was based largely on retail prices. Doug-

las’ estimates were adopted for food a t retail, and tobacco andspirits a t wholesale prices (see text for series E but retail. datawere assembled to compute new components for fuel, rent, clothing,and housefurnishings. Prices for gas obtained from utility com-panies, and retail prices of kerosene as used for the New Jersey Statecost-of-living index, were included in fuels. Wholesale prices of coalwere included before 1907 and for kerosene before 1898. Rents for

cities were compiled from newspaper advertisements. Prices for clothing and housefurnishings were compiled from mail-ordercatalogs.

The index is a weighted average of price relatives, using weightsderived largely from the BLS consumer expenditure study of1902.

E Retail prices of selected foods in cities (BLS),

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 1890-1922, Bulletin396, Retail Prices, to pp. 8-10; 1923-1934, BLS Bulletin635, Retail Prices of Food pp. 77-89; 1935-1939,Serial No. R.1172 (August Retail Prices, pp. 28-35; 1940-1970, annual or biennial bulletins, Retail Prices of Food (including Serial No. R. 1264,and Bulletins 707, 799, 899, 938, 965, 1032, 1055, 1141, 1183, 1217,1254, 1301,1446, and 1632).

While there were scattered statistics of prices of many individualcommodities in various publications, i t was not until 1901, when

began the collection of food prices on a regular basis, that a

1970.

regular price collection program was initiated by the Federal Govern-ment. At that time, information was secured from dealers’ booksfor 1890-1901. Since then, retail prices of food have been obtainedby BLS, first a t annual intervals, then monthly or semimonthly.

AS the pricing program was expanded to other commodities andservices purchased by families for daily living, the available resources and review of data requirements for the over-all Consumer PriceIndex resulted in sampling and methodology changes for foods.The growth in importance‘ of some foods and declines for others, changes in kinds and sizes of packages, different methods of prepara-tion of foodsfor retail stores, and similar developments were taken into consideration in the adjustments made to the list of foods priced. Ofthe many foods included for most of the period since 1890, only 16were selected for publication here.

The list of cites in which food prices were collected changed overthe years. I n the main, the cities covered were industrial localities

30 to 40 States up to 1952. Beginning in 1953, the collection offood prices was restricted to the 46 cities included in the CPI. In1964, pricing was extended to 50 areas. Six additional metropolitanareas were added in 1966 making the sample 56 metropolitan areas or urban places. See text for series E 135-166.

The number of stores in city reporting food prices, after theinitial collections through 1904, generally ranged from 25 in thelarger cities to in the smaller cities until 1932. Average pricesfor the United States were obtained by making simple averages ofquotations from the total number of firms reporting for each foodfor 1915-1932. Average relative prices for each commodity wereapplied to prices in 1915 to estimate national averages for1914. Some chain stores were added to the samples as their salesvolumes became significant in each city.

During 1932-1934 the store samples were expanded, particularlyin the larger cities, and the method of averaging prices was adjustedto reflect food sales by chain and independent stores in each city.National averages were obtained by combining weighted city aver-ages with the use of consumption and population weights. Refine-ments to the sampling and the weighting system have been introduced from time t o time (see “Store Samples for Retail Food Prices,”Monthly Labor Review, January 1947).

During the revision of the CPI in the late comparablerevised national averages were calculated back to 1923. The na-tional averages shown here are those estimated by price relativesfor 1890-1915, simple averages of quotations from all for

and weighted city averages beginning with 1923.Food price data were collected by use of mail schedules and oc-

casional personal visits until 1934. Since that year, all prices havebeen collected by personal visit of BLS representatives. Changes indescriptions for the foods priced, the cities covered, sizes and designsof samples of stores, and methods of processing introduce somecomparabilities into the series.

Before the comprehensive CPI revision in 1964 BLS had publishedmonthly city average retail food prices which were simply weighted means of the quotations used in the calculation of index numbers.However, the implementation of two recommendations of the PriceStatistics Review Committee of the National Bureau of EconomicResearch concerning use of broader, less detailed specifications andthe introduction of replicated samples resulted in data which couldnot be processed to meaningful average prices. Therefore, an esti-mating technique was adopted which takes advantage of the improvedcoverage resulting from broader specifications and those well-definedprices available. A set of average prices, called “benchmarks,”computed periodically, usually once a year, through the exclusion ofall prices of items not meeting the exact requirements of a narrowly-defined specification. Once established, these benchmark prices areadjusted each by the change in prices reflected in the index.more detailed and technical explanation of this estimating procedureis available in “Calculation of Average Food Prices,”Labor Review, January 1965.

Prices are for general all-purpose white

193

E PRICES AND PRICE INDEXES

The size of package on which quotations were secured were:1928, 1/8 or 1/4 of a barrel although some smaller units were alsoincluded; 1929-1938, 1 2 or 24 lb. sack; 1939-1942, 5-12 lb. sack;1943-1970, 5 lb. sack.

Prices are for white bread, pan style, excluding allspecialty type bread. For 1913-1936, prices were obtained from bakeries for 16 or 18 ounces in the dough and converted t o 16 ouncesbaked weight. Both wrapped and unwrapped breads were included.Beginning in 1937, prices have been obtained primarily from grocerystores for the volume-selling size loaf of wrapped bread. The bakedweight as given on the wrapper or reported by the store was con-verted t o 16 ounces.

National averages have not been computed for 1890-1912. Pricesfor individual firms are available in the early retail price bulletins.

E 189, round steak. For 1890-1939, the averages include quota-tions for the best cut of the best grade handled in each store for wholeround or top round, mostly bone-in. For 1940-1970, prices were for top round, bone-in, U.S. choice grade (comparable to U.S. goodgrade prior t o the changes in grades by the Department of Agriculturein 1950).

For 1913-1939, quotations were reported forthe best cut of the best grade handled in each store and include bothbone-in and boneless. Since then, all quotations have been for“bone-in” roasts, The grade priced for 1940-1970 was the sameas for round steak. Beginning in 1951, the more precise descriptionof the cut was “blade pot-roast cut from upper part of shoulder before rib roast and behind neck, U. S. choice, bone-in.”

National averages have not been computed for 1890-1912. Pricesfor individual firms are available in the early retail price bulletins.

E 191, pork chops. For 1890-1935, quotations were for loin chops of the best grade handled. Rib chops and chops from the thick end of the loin were excluded. From 1935 through May 1970, prices wereobtained for center cut loin chops of U.S. No. 1 grade. Since May1970, no grade has been specified.

Most of the quotations included in the average were for sliced bacon for all years. In the early years (probably before1930) bacon was sliced when sold and prices for slab bacon may beincluded. Sliced and packaged bacon has been priced since about1930 in 1pound or two pound packages of cellophane or similarmaterial. Grade descriptions were: 1890-1942, best but not fancy grade; 1943-1945, first quality or fancy grade; 1946-1963, standardGrade A; since 1964, best quality.

All prices refer to creamery butter, 92 to 93 scoreor better for 1890-1942 and 92 score for 1943-1970. Tub or printbutter was priced up to 1940, roll or print in 1941 and 1942, packageof 4 sticks or quarters for 1943-1946, and package print or roll, in-cluding quarters for 1947-1970.

E 194, eggs. Averages are for fresh eggs for all years. For1942, prices are for the highest grade sold in volume in each store;for 1943-1944, U.S. extras or Grade A; for 1945-1952, the highestgrade and size sold in volume in each store; since 1953, large Grade Aeggs in most cities, although some ungraded eggs included in somesmall cities.

Until 1935, prices are for fresh fluid milk,raw or pasteurized, no grade designation, in quart bottle or in bulk, delivered to homes; for raw or pasteurized milk of thedominant grade in each city in quart bottles or cartons; for 1947-1949,same grades, but sizes included 1-quart, and 4-quart con-tainers in many cities: for 1950-1956, pasteurized milk, homogenized or nonhomogenized, without Vitamin D, of the volume-selling gradein each city in quart or half-gallon cartons or bottles; for 1957-Septem-ber 1966, pasteurized, homogenized milk with Vitamin D added,3.25 percent or over butterfat content in quart or half-gallon cartonsor bottles; beginning in October 1966, prices are for half-gallon con-tainers; since May 1970, prices are for fresh whole milk, pasteurized,homogenized, Vitamin D added.

194

E 188, bread.

E 190, chuck roast.

E 192, bacon.

E 193, butter.

E 195, milk, delivered.

E 196, oranges. California and Florida oranges of the varietyand size constituting the bulk of sales each month were quoted from1919 t o about 1935. After that time, the size range was narrowedto include only size 176-220 in standard box of U.S. No. 1 grade(good quality).

White or Irish potatoes, excluding largetypes, have been priced consistently for all years in the quantities in which sales have customarily been made. The designation of U.S.No. 1 grade was added in 1935.

E 198, tomatoes, canned. The volume selling brands of cannedtomatoes, standard grade, in No. 2 can were priced for 1919-1954.For 1955-1970, the description was expanded to specify “small andlarge pieces, with a maximum of 50 percent liquid, standard grade(C)” and the can size was changed to No. 303. Prices for 1919-1954have been converted to No. 303 can.

Dried beans, white, navy, or pea beans, No. 1choice, hand picked, packaged or bulk were priced for 1915-1970.For 1949-1952, California small white beans were also included andfor 1953-1970, Great Northern beans.

E 200, coffee. For 1913-1970, whole bean or ground roasted coffee was priced. Bulk or packaged coffee was quoted up t o 1938.For 1939-1955, coffee in cans, glass, cardboard, or paper containers were averaged. For 1956-1970, prices are for ground roasted coffeein airtight cans only.

E 201, margarine. Prices are for uncolored oleomargarine, animaland vegetable, in 1-pound cartons for 1919-1948. For 1949 and1950, uncolored vegetable margarine in 1-pound cartons was quoted.For 1951-1970, averages are for colored vegetable margarine in1-pound cartons.

E 202, sugar. Prices are for white granulated cane or beet sugar but the size package has varied over the years. For 1890-1916,prices for the volume-selling quantity were quoted; for 1917-1928,1 pound; for 1929-1942, 10 pounds; and for 1943-1970, 5 pounds. For a short period during World War the 2-pound unit was theonly one available.

E 197, potatoes.

E 199, navy beans.


The collection of retail prices for fuel and light was initiated in1911 with coal and gas data for After that time, theprogram was expanded to include gas, electricity, and the heatingfuels used in important quantities in the cities covered. Prices werecollected semiannually up to 1920 and a t quarterly or monthly in-tervals from 1920 on. The indexes shown here are annual averages.

The number of cities for which prices for this group have beencompiled has varied widely. Before 1947, city coverage had gradually been extended until fuels prices and utility rates were obtained in 51cities. In 1947, this program was cut back to the 34 cities in theConsumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI revision in 1952 resulted inchanging the city sample and enlarging the number t o 46 cities. An-other revision, effective in 1964, enlarged the sample t o 50 urbanareas. In 1966, six additional areas were included.

The changing importance of particular kinds of fuel in particularlocalities, coupled with the overall change in the area sample over theyears, produced many changes in the volume of data for the indexes.The amount of supplementary information for deriving weights hasvaried also. In order to produce continuous index numbers, allchanges in samples and methods of averaging were handled by thelinking process.

All prices have been collected by mail from retailers and utilitycompanies in each city, except reports for electricity which have beensecured through the Federal Power Commission since 1937.

The terms of sale for the quotations were net cash payment basis,delivered to the residential consumer in specified quantities. Chargesfor special services were excluded, but all applicable sales taxes wereincluded. Annual averages were computed using standard Bureau ofLabor Statistics (BLS) procedures.

RETAIL PRICE INDEXES E

The following BLS bulletins contain the history of the collection andpublication of prices for this group: Bulletin 664, Changes in RetailPrices of Electricity, pp. 17-19; Bulletin 628, Changes inRetail Prices of Gas, pp. 48-52; Bulletin 950, ResidentialHeating Fuels; Retail Prices, 15.41-48, pp. These reports contain references t o earlier bulletins and include other index and price series.

E 203. Retail price indexes of electricity for residential use, composite,

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Retail Price Indexesof Fuels and Utilities (formerly Fuels and Electricity) January 1972.

See also general note for series EThis composite is an extension backward of a current BLS series.

For 1913-1934, the index is based on the average price per kilowatt-hour for the average amount of electricity used by families in eachof the 32 cities included in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Averageprices for the 32 cities were combined as simple averages.

In 1938, a new method of computation for the revised CPI wasinaugurated, and data were extended back t o 1936. Net monthly bills for typical residential services were calculated from rate schedulesfor each city. The number of cities in the composite included 34cities for 46 cities for 1953-1963, 50 cities for 1964-1965,and 56 cities for 1966-1970.

For theperiod 25, 40, 100, and 250 kilowatt-hour monthly netbills were priced. From December 1952 t o December 1963, threeservices were priced-40, 100, and 200 kilowatt-hours. With therevision of the CPI in 1964, the composite of services priced was changed to 100, 250, and 500 kilowatt-hours. The new composite included the entire 50-city sample for 1964 and 1965, and the entire56-city sample for 1966-1970.

The net monthly bills for the typical services were first combined into a n index for each city by using weights approximating the im-portance of each of the services in that city. The city indexes werethen combined with the consumption and population weights ofthe CPI.

1913-1970.

Changes also have been made in the typical services.

E 204. Retail price indexes of electricity for residential use, 100kilowatt-hours, 1923-1970.

Source: See source for series E 203.See also general note for series EThis index is based on net monthly bills for one,of the typical

services included in the composite, series E 203. When the newmethod of calculation was inaugurated in 1938, net monthly billswere obtained from rate schedules supplied by the companies or inBLS files. Originally, the indexes were calculated on the 1923-25base and converted to later base periods when the CPI was revised.

For 1923-June 1947, the cities in the series totaled (includingthe 34 CPI cities). Theweights used for 1923-June represented the number of residentialcustomers as of December 31, 1935. Since July 1947, the weightshave been the CPI consumption and population factors.

Thereafter, only CPI cities were included.

E 205. Retail price indexes of gas for residential use, composite,1935-1970.

Source: See source for series E 203.See also general note for series E 203-213. .This composite is another backward extension of a current

series. It combines data used to produce the indexes for “residentialheating” and “other than residential heating.”

When price collection for gas was begun by the BLS in 1911, themajority of the cities were served with manufactured gas. As aresult of the increasing trend to use of natural gas, the numbercities for which the BLS obtained prices for manufactured gas declined from 35 of 39 cities in and 42 of cities in 1923, to none of the

CPI cities since 1957. While manufactured gas was being phasedout, the use of natural gas increased. In 1913, only 8 or 9 of 50 citieswere using natural gas; 18 of 50 cities were using natural gas in 1935,33 of 46 cities in 1957, 49 of 50 cities in 1964, and 55 of the 56 CPIcities from 1966 t o 1970.

The use of natural gas for residential heating grew in importance as additional pipelines made natural gas available t o more and morecities. Although gas for residential heating was not included in theCPI before 1953, a special study in 1943 provided information on thevolume of sales for residential heating as of 1940 and rate scheduledata back t o 1935 for cities in which natural gas was an importantheating fuel.

In 1935, the BLS adopted the method of computing net monthlybills based on a definite number of heat units (therms of 100,000British Thermal Units each) for each of 4 services-10.6, 19.6, 30.6,and 40.6 therms. These services were for use other than residentialheating.

E 206. Retail price indexes of gas for residential heating, 1935-1970.

Source: See source for series E 203.See also general note for series E 203-213.For the period 1935-1946, 27 of the 51 cities used for utility pricing

were included in residential heating. For 1947-1952, 1 6 of 34 citieswere included; for 1953-1963, 28 of 46 cities; for 1964-1965, 46 of 50CPI urban areas; and, from 1966-1970, 50 of the 56 areas.

The price for each city was calculated as an average of the ratesper therm in all of the heating rate blocks of the rate schedule,weighted by the total number of therms sold by the gas companyin that rate block for residential heating. For the averagerates per therm for the various cities were then combined, using totalthermal sales for residential heating in each city as weights. For1953-1970, they were combined with consumption and populationweights in the CPI.

E 207. Retail price indexes of gas for other than residential heating, composite, 1935-1970.

Source: See source for series E 203.See also general note for series E 203-213.In 1935, BLS began pricing net monthly bills based upon a definite

number of heat units (therms of 100,000 BTU each) for each of 4selected services--10.6, 19.6, 30.6, and 40.6 therms. These 4 typicalservices were continued from 1935 through 1952. Fornet monthly bills for 10 and 25 therms were used and, for 1964-1970,net monthly bills of 10, 25, and 40 therms. This method of calcu-lating prices has provided a better measure of price changes since differences in heating values over time could be taken into account.

Indexes based on 10.6 and 30.6 therms back to 1923 and a descrip-tion of the adopted in 1936 are included in BLS Bulletin 628,Changes in Retail Prices of Gas.

The number of cities included was 34 for 1935-1952 and 46 for1953-1963. With the revised of 1964, 49 of cities were pricedfor gas other than residential heating, and, in 1966, this went to 56of 56 CPI cities. For the methods of combining monthly bills used,see text for series E 203.

E 208. Retail price indexes of gas for other than residential heating, 10 therms, 1935-1970.

Source: See source for series E 203.See also general note for series E and text for E 207.For 1935-June 1947, the net monthly bill for 10.6 therms was

computed for each city, and cities were combined on the basis ofnumber of residential customers as of December 1946. For July1947-1970,prices were obtained for 10 therms and city averages werecombined with the consumption and population weights of the CPI.

196

E 209-214 PRICES PRICE

Annual averages were estimated from quarterly figures for1951,and from monthly figures beginning in 1952.

E 209. Retail price indexes of gas for other than residential heating, 25 therms,

Source: See source for series E 203.

See also general note for series E 203-213 and text for series E 207.With the revision of January 1964,pricing of 25 and 40 therm net

bills was initiated. Pricing occurred in 40 of the 50 CPI cities inDecember 1963 and was increased to 55 of 56 CPI cities when theCPI was expanded in December 1965. For frequency of collectionand methods employed to combine city data, see text for series E 208.

E 210. Retail price indexes of fuel oil and coal for residential use, 1935-1970.


See also general note for series This is a composite index combining consumption and population

weights of fuel oil and coal used for the individual CPI commodities.In addition to fuel oil No. 2, the commodities priced for this indexincluded, for varying periods of time, fuel oils No. 3 and No. 4,kerosene, anthracite, and bituminous coal. Pricing of petroleumfuels, other than fuel No. 2,was discontinued in 1964.

E 211. Retail price indexes of No. 2 fuel oil for residential use, 1970.


See also general note for series E 203-213.Retail prices of petroleum fuels were first collected in 24 cities in

1937 and data were obtained back to 1935. Thereafter, the numberof cities was increased as fuel oil for heating became more important. Beginning in 1947,the city coverage was restricted to those included in the CPI and, through 1963,usually covered about 20 cities. For1964 and 1965,30 of the 50 CPI cities were covered and, from 1966t o 1970,32 of 56 CPI cities were covered.

The prices from which the index was computed refer to prices per 100 gallons delivered in “the amount usually delivered a t one time.”No. 2 fuel oil has been priced continuously and, for 1939-1947,No. 3oil also was priced and included. Average prices for each city weresimple averages of quotations from a sample of dealers. For1938,city averages were combined with CPI consumption and popu-lation weights. For 1939-1946,weighting factors to combine cityaverages were obtained from 1941 shipments t o each city as measuredby Office of Price Administration rationing authorities. CPI weightswere again employed after 1946 to obtain the US. averages.

E 212. Retail price indexes of Pennsylvania anthracite for residential

Source: U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, Retail Prices and


use, stove size, 1913-1962.

of Fuels and Electricity, December issues.

Data for the early years by type of coal for each firm reportingwere published in BLS Bulletin 105,Retail Prices, 1890-1911. Similardata for 1912-1917 are included in later issues of Retail Prices. Sincethe first collection, BLS has continuously obtained retail prices forall locally important fuels.

This index was based on average prices per net ton delivered atthe curb or in the bin if there was no extra charge. Prices fromdealers in each city always have been combined as a simple averagefor each city. For 1913-1928,city averages were combined also on anunweighted basis. Through a revision of method in 1936,city averageprices for 1929-1952were weighted by fixed weights based on anthra-cite shipments to each city by rail during the year ending July 1936.For the city averages were combined with consumption and population weights of the CPI.

Cities for which anthracite prices were obtained varied partly be-cause of change in consumer demand and partly due t o CPI revisions.Generally the number of cities has declined until, with the revision ofJanuary 1964, indexes of retail prices for anthracite coal were nolonger published.

E 213. Retail price indexes of bituminous coal for residential use, alldomestic sizes, 1913-1962.

Source: See source for series E 212.See also general note for series E 203-213.For methods of collection and averaging of prices, see text for

series E 212. Generally, the index was based on unweighted averages of all prices for all sizes and types of bituminous coal for 1913-June1947,and on city averages weighted with CPI weighting factors forJuly 1947-1962. Publication of this series also was discontinuedeffective with the January 1964 revision of the CPI.

E 214. Rent indexes (Warren and Pearson) for dwelling units 5

Source: George F. Warren and Frank A. Pearson, Prices,John Wileyand Sons, New York, 1933, 267 (copyright).

See also G. F. Warren and F. A. Pearson, WholesalePrices for 213Years, 1720-1 University Agricultural Experiment Sta-tion, Memoir Ithaca, New York, 1932,p. 27.

Therental data were obtained from the special report by J. D. Weeks,“Report on the Average Retail Prices of Necessaries of Life in theUnited States” in volume 20 of the Tenth Census of the UnitedStates, pp. 104-107.

large cities, 1860-1880.

The method of calculating this index was not indicated.

More Recent Data for Historical Statistics Series* *Statistics for more recent years in continuation of many of the still-active series shown here appear in annual issues of the Statistical Abstract of the States, beginning with the 1975 edition. For* direct linkage of the historical series to the tables in the Abstract, see Appendix I in the Abstract. **

196

IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATORS

Series E 1-22. Implicit Price Deflators for Gross National Product: 1929 to 1970[Index numbers, See series F 5 for GNP price deflator data for 1869-19281

E 1-12

Year

Grossnationalproduct

1

135.2128.2122.3117.6113.9

110.9108.8107.2105.8104.6

103.3101.6100.097.594.0

90.989.688.387.585.6

80.279.179.674.666.7

59.758.256.853.047.2

43.943.243.944.542.7

42.642.239.340.244.8

49.350.6

Personal consumption expenditures

Total Durablegoods

I-129.3123.5118.4114.4111.5

108.8107.4106.1104.9103.9

102.9101.3100.0

97.794.8

9 2 . 892.591.790.588.6

82.981.782.377.970.5

65.463.259.954.848.7

45.545.145.646.544.7

44.443.540.642.347.9

53.655.3

108.9106.1103.4100.398.7

99.6110.4100.4100.8100.6

100.9101.4100.098.494.9

91.992.994.395.494.2

87.886.886.382.776.8

75.971.564.269.350.4

46.546.046.745.843.6

43.744.741.943.249.1

55.3

Non-durablegoods

4

127.7122.2117.1113.0110.7

106.9104.9104.0102.8101.9

101.299.9

100.097.794.9

93.694.293.994.393.3

86.085.688.583.674.3

68.766.262.555.647.7

43.843.244.046.444.8

44.542.738.037.744.1

51.654.5

Services

5

140.1133.2126.9122.2118.3

115.1113.1110.9109.0107.6

105.8103.0100.097.394.6

92.090.087.783.680.0

76.374.372.167.962.7

58.757.555.352.749.8

47.947.747.746.845.0

44.444.343.648.352.7

55.756.1

Gross private domestic investment

Fixed investment

Total

Total Structure!

6 7 8

182.2126.4120.4115.9111.8

109.3107.6106.0104.9103.9

103.4102.6100.098.594.0

89.086.886.685.383.1

77.574.773.966.758.5

51.551.149.346.542.0

39.037.738.237.834.6

34.333.730.631.635.2

37 9

130.0123.0117.5113.8110.2

107.5105.7104.5104.1103.4

102.9102.2100.097.992.4

86.784.884.082.680.4

74.472.870.764.556.3

5151.049.947.8

40.038.739.338.835.6

35.934.931.632.935.8

38.139.9

42.7

152.6141.0129.8124.0118.9

114.7111.1108.9107.1105.6

104.0102.7100.0

98.693.4

88.186.084.983.279.3

72.971.271.564.454.4

49.248.646.841.336.4

33.933.133.934.430.2

30.628.927.927.631.1

34.035.7

Producer?durable

equipmer

9

120.1115.5112.c109.106.

103.9103.0102.3102.3102.1

102.2102.0100.097.591.8

85.984.083.582.280.9

75.273.670.364.657.5

51.751.951.1

46.3

43.442.243.041.438.5

38.738.834.539.141.1

43.044.6

Residential

Total

10 11

140.0137.7

7123.1117.4

114.2112.3108.9106.7

104.5103.1100.099.897.4

92.990.491.990.888.6

82.5

80.871.759.7

54.951.647.043.340.3

36.935.735.534.331.3

29.830.127.127.333.6

37.138.1

137.1129.5123.1117.4

114.3112.4109.0106.8105.0

104.4103.1100.099.897.4

92.990.391.891.088.4

82.578.280.571.359.4

64.651.146.843.440.6

37.235.935.734.431.2

29.730.127.127.433.7

37.138.0

Farm

12

134.9132.9125.6122.6116.1

1 1 0 . 1108.2107.2104.6104.9

105.0103.0100.0100.597.7

93.491.993.386.892.2

82.982.785.778.663.5

58.555.848.842.036.3

32.332.031.833.332.2

50.730.826.726.232.1

38.03 9 . 1

197

E 13-22

Total

PRICES PRICE INDEXES

Series E 1-22. Price Deflators for Gross National Product: 1929 to 1970-Con.

FederalYear

13

Government purchases of goodsand services

1 4

130.3124.3118.9114.3111.6

108.3107.0105.8104.7103.7

102.8101.4100.097.994.5

91.690.889.689.087.4

81.480.681.476.368.2

62.662.060.955.548.7

44.748.944.645.343.4

43.543.039.940.945.7

50.451.7

157.6144.0135.1123.5124.0

119.4115.7111.8109.0107.1

102.4100.096.492.1

87.184.181.381.078.5

71.871.068.162.955.3

52.658.158.950.944.0

38.537.988.333.437.6

37.036.834.533.436.3

37.938.6

149.2134.5126.5121.5113.8

115.5112.2108.0105.6105.2

104.2102.2100.095.891.7

86.933.531.431.279.4

73.069.36 5 . 657.3

53.153.354.952.546.6

40.240.840.540.740.5

37.037.433 .181.984.5

34.136.0

Stateandlocal

15

165.0153.6144.R136.4129.4

123.5119.5116.3113.2109.4

102.6100.097.392.7

87.535.382.880.676.9

70.863.966.460.453.2

43.646.144.642.339.2

37.336.336.837.135.9

37.036.635.033.836.6

33.739.1

[Indexnumbers, 1958 =

Goodsoutput

16

122.3117.3113.1109.9107.4

105.0103.5103.0102.6101.9

101.4100.6100.097.994.3

91.691.690.691.491.0

84.384.686.481 .172.6

65.164.664.259.250.5

45.244.245.146.744.8

45.044.239.233.945.0

53.9

Final sales

Services

17

44.244.244.443.742.3

41.641.540.844.543.1

50.651.4

Structures

18

35.734.635.035.132.2

31.531.629.527.933.2

36.437.7

B y sector

Private

Total Business

19 20

129.0123.2113.0114.0110.9

108.3106.6105.4104.4103.5

102.6101.3100.097.994.5

91.690.389.789.187.5

81.68081.776.568.4

62.762.861.356.149.2

45.244.445.345.944.1

44.243.840.641.546.2

5 1 . 152.2

Householdsand,

institutions

21

185.5172.5159.4

138.1

131.7126.4120.9116.2112.3

108.8104.0100.096.292.4

39.837.985.482.078.1

74.472.671.068.163.1

52.245.237.633.7

32.132.031.632.030.2

29.429.229.231.434.5

37.333.9

22

183.8171.0159.1147.7140.3

133.5123.4121.5116.6113.6

108.6104.2100.093.388.7

34.079.576.674.470.5

67.164.760.858.555.4

43.343.339.737.334.7

36.036.8

36.536.5

34.734.333.533.734.5

34.134.1

198

PRICE

Series E 23-39. Wholesale Price Indexes (BLS), by Major Product Groups: 1890 to 1970

Motorvehicles

andequip-ment

E 23-39

35.236.734.836.537.5

39.441.940.740.241.9

Indus-trial

ities

Farmprod-ucts

Proc-essedfoodsand

feeds

prod-uctsand

appare

Hidesskins,

andrelatecprod-ucts

Fuelsand

relatedprod-uctsand

power

Chem-icalsand

alliedprod-ucts

andplasticprod-ucts equip-

ment

35

F u r ntureand

household

36

miner;prod-ducts

Miscel-laneousprod-ucts

Lumbe.and

woodprod-ucts

andalliedprod-ucts

Metaland

prod-ucts

34

102.6

96.493.E91.391.291.9

92.492.390.491.089.2

82.176.976.373.973.8

66.363.062.554.944.3

39.639.089.039.138.5

37.837.638.039.434.5

33.833.930.729.932.6

36.240.238.838.841.4

All

itiesYear

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

113.7125.2113.3100.0100.2

95.996.493.591.691.0

95.398.892.493.598.5

97.192.694.394.497.2

89.377.784.073.447.2

41.240.637.735.632.7

27.424.824.126 .522.4

21.422.319.01 6 . 018.6

22.925.024.125.026.5

37 38 3 9

109.9104.9102.2100.097.7

95.995.294.593.793.3

93.092.292.090.287.6

110.46

102.6c

96.694.794.594.894.5

94.994.894.693.390.7

87.387.687.488.691.1

81.878.782.876.562.3

54.653.653.3

45.1

40.539.840.544.541.7

41.338.634.033.637.6

44.649.150.049.351.6

110.0106.0102.5100.098.5

96.495.294.794.894.8

95.395.393.693.390.8

86.985.084.884.18 6 . 1

78.075.376.970.858.0

53.052.351.55 0 . 74 7 . 3

44.043.343.445.242.2

41.441.637.837.339.9

45.248.649.350.053.2

110.1108.6103.5

103.6

94.:

91.7

94.282.982.081.9

77.377.681.380.199.1

86.379.984.283.361.1

52.952.252.752.848.4

45.242.841.646.942.7

40.238.836.332.838.6

44.948.954.448.344.8

105.9101.098.9

100.097.8

95.593.796.396.797.2

96.195.395.399.194.0

91.291.392.690 .190.3

87.186.290.576.964.4

60.159.557.856.254.6

51.452.354.655.554.5

52.652.447.650.348.3

56.259.460.463.271.5

102.299.999.8

100.099.4

99.098.397.999.1

100.7

101.8101.6102.0101.299.1

98.598.997.796.5

101.7

88.987.695.993.770.5

65.264.864.163.357.0

62.451.5

54.552.0

51.749.647.4

108.6105.4103.4100.097.8

95.995.596.896.399.2

103.1102.9103.3103.4103.8

102.490.489.195.5

105.4

85.970.572.870.570.8

70.572.773.671.661.5

57.161.258.960.051.0

47.347.040.238.344.2

62.059.468.286.2

113.6

111.4106.4103.2100.0

93.992.892.292.091.9

92.091.389.487.681.8

75.773.472.270.670.5

63.1

58.253.746.4

42.242.142.442.842.1

41.441.3

107.

100.198.1

96 .!97..

97.:

99.:99.198.595.5

93.392.991.990.191.8

34.782.981.677.067.1

63.263.161.461.857.2

53.852.652.854.148.8

48.148.544.644.550.5

54.955.856.357.759.1

97.:97.1

97.t

97.297. c95.E94.891.3

87.585.183.380.180.1

75.473.571.666.359.3

55.753.552.452.350.2

49.149.150.051.750.5

50.450.447.244.647.7

51.051.251.850.352.5

108.5104.7102.8100.098.6

98.598.397.398.698.6

98.8100.398.195.191.2

86.383.883.684.079.4

111.0108.8102.5100.0105.9

98.794.696.098.096.3

97.297.5

103.999.596.9

98.2104.7106.2117.2124.2

106.7101.6117.5109.490.9

78.575.575.064.850.3

41.440.042.052.949.5

48.140.031.429.539.7

54.264.1

1964- _ _ _

_ _ _1958

_ _ _1954- _ _ _1952- _ _ __ _ _

86.586.435.683.483.9

1950-_ _ _1949- _ _ __ _ _ 79.2

78.076.573.5

_ _ __ _ _

1936-

1934-

1930- _ _ _1928-1927-1926-

3Y.1

ities

trial Farmcommod- products

ities

Allcommod-

ities

23

Allcommod-

ities

23

Year Year Year

23 24 25

54.6 67.153.1 61.1 55.6 60.454.4 57.4 55.7 54.1

43.743.543.7

I I

199

9'980'68

86

6'869'601

801

9'801

9'860'601

L'LL

8'69

6989

09

8'

O'PP

Z'

8'86

1'801

3'08

982 983'88

8L

9'98

8'

E'PL

I'LL

I'LL

LZT

Z'PP

E'PP

5'88

"091

001,

98

" 06

.

8'9L

P'OL

0 ' 8 6

8'6018'98

8'08

8'06

0'00196

2 '08

98

66

3'801

, 681

8'

6'

9'

9'99

L

8'96

9'96

8'88

B'OL

"GL

3'08

Z'PP

L'LP

08

69

96

86001

6P1

,

1'89

6'089'989'68

9'968'001

5' 161

=

9'99

Z'8P

L'LP

8'99

9'06

0'1016'66

P'OLE '

66

5'901

5'891

899'99

99

9'69

8'99

P800

9'86

3'001

99

,

Z'ZE

8'19

8'691'89

9'881

L 96

869 '801

0 001

98

0'08

8'088' 98

9'8L

8'861'801

8'901

E 52-63WHOLESALE PRICE

Series E 52-63. Wholesale Price Indexes (Warren and by Major Product Groups: 1749 to 1890

Year

52

8231868532

85931011103

1009091106110

126133136130

135151158162174

18519313310489

939593111105

110108978883

8482829083

8377

8292

95112110115114

10090959594

9196979899

10398103106102

106125147151151

170182162131126

7167757168

7282879989

72728939

99102103

102

112128138133140

1481621138675

7782769584

9898837771

7162597258

58

485364

6586828489

7564696361

5859585962

676164

64

6887117

11s

10481

Foods

54

8679868678

8493103114106

969093115

120126122

139154171167173

18018912310789

969997123116

126117989584

8488879684

8472778090

102126128

128

107931009998

9410099100

101

18'

14:

Hidesand

roducts

55

74808692101

105

107108109

11310095109104

123128132130126

128134126132146

15216413310890

102115110139121

104100847065

6764566657

6366697286

809080

78

7470768591

91

91

91

10:11:

7:7:

56

103999898

100

105109116119119

128114115125138

141151175177170

179194197220245

266264206147120

119120123

129

125124119113115

116111113117122

125125114132140

146159157167177

170161162161

181181

191

21123:

2925'24:

andlighting

7271727070

7277899291

928098108127

128135148153152

134166149144160

2141971258780

9893909797

102

1029387

959393

88

96903794111

122121

111101111

11:

131131

13t

13:

15'

14!1419'

52

1816

Metalsand

metal

58

123116121119110

109124144157150

166134126141157

175194243257203

200227225248278

306354236180152

149150154173174

176191186144141

147155170186191

189179172183204

204220219243241

206201205212209

209227234243269

279242247257261

270285279277

399464

356

59

8481808182

81

858883

8174723084

90101106107102

101110116120128

118114886963

6564677873

7170676461

6158616164

6459586267

6570707053

5252514949

4749515152

5048495050

535556

57

Chem-

anddrugs

60

90

1039799

100105110114120

120120127136140

14917618175177

199227204229283

300297234206174

175168168171176

178174169156153

154

153156164

178187188203220

9194949294

99105110109109

117105109118123

184149160159154

164178178196220

214222165124110

117118121130128

129129128118

114110111117110

10710899113121

128

Spirits

62

74807779

7981338081

8882828686

8878

7374

7886117146154

150106452821

2324232730

3127221920

2121222420

2120191719

2125252525

2319222223

1919192121

2219202121

2224293134

4148373431

Miscel-laneous

63

8980737574

7878939390

9190889598

98111115125120

128136153162170

17518914612298

9898102107114

103103968986

8892999986

8596109111113

108122120119130

126109105110111

111117

112110

114119119118129

124144149156177

202246261234204

201


Series E 52-63. Wholesale Price Indexes (Warren and Pearson), by Major Product Groups: 1749 to

108.9105.3101.7100.0100.9

96.994.795.195.695.1

95.495.196.594.992.6

91.893.793.997.1

90.687.295.589.2

110.2 112.0106.2 107.7102.6 103.5100.0 100.099.1 97.9

96.3 95.894.8 94.694.3 93.594.5 93.594.4 93.6

94.8 94.194.6 94.0 93.8 92.292.8 90.9 90.0 87.5

86.6 82.285.7 79.485.0 78.485.1 76.787.0 76.3

78.4 69.6 75.5 67.378.2 65.472.3 59.4

1aneo

111.4108.0102.2100.0103.7

98.194.995.996.995.7

96.296.599.196.594.6

94.396.998.6104.7109.7

97.593.3103.895.7

123.6114.199.6100.0107.4

103.296.688.387.993.8

92.197.892.9104.9116.8

104.886.594.999.5102.6

78.197.182.0

All Farmmodities products

Year

Chem-Building icalsmaterials and!Hides

and Textileleather products

products

Metalsand

metalproducts

Foods Fuel andlighting

Spirits All com-modities

52

Year

I 54 65 56 62

2927232223

2423252427

2524262631

25232219

171615

63

332350336327328

309300290301348

322310304299284

259258240240

247250236.

.

.

75 27873 32379 27982 27485 280

85 270 84 25283 23280 23071 236

59 48360 53857 45559 44058 519

51156 49353 43155 37755 445

51 42751 52351 4425458

225227226

Series E 64-72. Wholesale Price Indexes (BLS), by Durability of Product: 1947 to 1970= 1001

All commodities Manufactures Raw or slightly processed goods

Nondurable Total Durable--I! 67 I! 68

Nondurable Total Durable Nondurable

7269 70 71

108.2104.6101.5100.0100.0

96.893.794.895.195.0

95.294.895.494.792.4

110.7107.6102.3100.0103.5

97.894.896.497.495.8

96.496.499.496.093.4

93.797.698.9

110.1

97.994.2104.296.6

91.292.291.993.898.4

37.784.391.886.0

202


Series E 73-86. Wholesale Price Indexes (BLS), for Economic Sectors, by Stage of Processing: 1913 to 1970

Materials and

1924-67.3 63.4

62.8 57.063.4

19511950

1948

..

114.8 116.9103.1 101.899.2 93.4104.4 108.096.4 98.678.7 80.0

68.8 69.467.6 67.3

66.664.2 59.856.8 49.6

112.1102.4100.6103.595.978.7

69.068.467.966.960.4

55.354.5

Allcommod-

ities(97series)Year

Rawcommod-

ities(27series)

190018991398

1896

76.871.7

61.266.162.7 57.2

56.261.7

18951894

1892

1890

65.2 60.556.863

71.7 64.262.069.7

75.1 68.8

69.376.1

1967= 100

104.298.797.7100.099.297.496.098.199.099.4

98.295.696.0101.996.393.393.393.492.893.9

89.988.296.985.5

111.4106.3102.4100.098.495.894.094.795.994.7

95.594.294.792.588.682.681.580.079.984.5

72.070.169.866.8

107.9102.7101.2100.099.495.294.395.293.891.8

110.4106.102.51oo.c

95.794.193.794.093.7

93.793.093.291.187.985.585.385.186.086.5

79.077.679.974.0

112.1109.1101.3100.0105.997.190.892.995.793.8

95.196.2103.097.293.195.1104.9104.9117.2124.5

107.6100.3120.8111.7

110.0105.8102.2100.099.397.495.994.994.795.3

112.6110.9104.9100.098.896.295.494.594.294.6

112.2108.3101.6100.0

99.394.595.497.596.5

109.8106.8102.1100.0106.7104.5102.4100.7102.0102.5

110.4106.5102.5100.099.896.694.794.594.894.5

122.3106.4102.3100.096.393.592.893.2

92.6

109.8105.9102.3100.099.296.895.595.294.995.0

109.9 111.9106.5 106.9102.7 103.5100.0 100.099.4 96.896.1 94.494.3 93.394.1 92.494.6 92.294.3 91.8

95.6 96.595.6 96.5

95.294.394.1 94.8! 92.0 92.688.1 88.486.5 86.386.0 86.285.5 84.888.1 88.5

101.4105.8102.2106.2107.6103.898.2100.1104.6120.7

95.996.694.094.093.588.985.585.183.784.3

90.791.290.088.087.184.886.384.388.888.8

78.976.381.077.5

1960 94.9 97.01959 94.8 99.4

94.6 102.093.3 99.8

1956 90.7 97.61955 87.8 97.1

87.6 101.01953 87.4 101.91952 88.6 110.31951 91.1 120.1

94.5 91.793.6 91.594.4 89.892.4 87.589.8 82.488.5 76.789.1 74.589.2 73.690.7 72.491.8 71.2

1950 81.8 104.61949 78.7

96.01948 82.8 110.91947 76.5 101.2

104.791.6100.790.6

77.073.273.166.0

77.9 78.6 78.1

66.6 72.4 72.1

64.9

80.5 55.4

I !Inter-mediate

materials,supplies

andcom-

ponents

Inter-mediate

materials,supplies

ponents

and goods

I

Inter-mediate

materials,supplies Finished

and goodscom-

ponents

Allcommod-

ities

Crudematerials

forfurther

processing

Crudematerials

forfurther

processing

Crude

ities further

All materials

Year

commod- forAll

commod-ities

Finishedgoods

Year Year

73 74 74 78 84

I

1947-49 = 100

52.5

I I

55.759.155.6

55.753.047.847.752.2

59.764.165.064.467.3

69.0 68.271.2 65.377.7 67.364.8 65.462.9 70.0

116.9104.399.9104.096.2 45.8 48.2

40.8 47.7 33.6 42.832.739.0

129.8 101.6103.3 88.6100.7 84.698.5 74.077.5 55.8

62.861.660.860.656.9

42.147.4

50.1 53.657.9 61.558.9 61.957.359.4

53.2 46.745.8 46.049.0 47.1

45.2 39.944.3 40.245.4 40.9

1940 51.1 42.750.1 41.7

NA Not available.

51 8 62.065.0

Goods t o users,including raw foods and fuel.

Series E 87-89. Wholesale Price Indexes (BLS), by 2 Levels of Processing, for Identical Commodities: 1890 to 1926=

! Manu-facturedcommod-

ities70 series)

Manu-factured

ities(70 series)

All Rawcommod- commod-

ities itiesYear series) (27

Rawcommod-

ities(27 series:

88

93.7

95.186.3

95.491.133.786.681.3

78.279.176.577.1

itiesYear

89

101.0100.099.792.9

8989

81.5

83.078.573.671.270.1

72.483.281.585.6

86.6

154.6

159.6148.2148.1139.1147.7

233.2214.6202.6182.1131.0

101.497.892.894.287.5

88.586.285.986.91915 102.9 101.0 105.9

I

203


Series E 90-96. Wholesale Price Indexes (Taylor), for Charleston, South Carolina: 1732 to 1861

Year

Allcommoditie

100)

Allcommod-

ities(1818-42=

c.products(1762-74= 100)Year

All c.commod- products

ities (1762-74(1818-42 = 100)= 100)

90 95

606 5

3 989275

7784

3 12511796

s.products,

All S. C. other than Foreignexport C. imports’staples export

staples

ommodities export

All

(1818-42= 100)

commoditii

90

Other thans. c.exportstaples

93, 94

Year

--91 I / 92 I 93 94

1843-61

i

1813-22 = 100

949490

10697

9888847778

877367YO75

706866

7485

83107103108121

10898938681

8282858792

1099398

108101

110133179

1010

11

1718’

14’12:10

8’10’O!

11:

13f

12:

12214L

97

OE

3 19213E

14411311299

123116

182111969 190

888586

10085

827474

166969294

109

9593897984

919092

107105

102106106

105116

106125114 116

115 10810399 1089 1 9692 97

102 12386 8579 66

105 11088 83

77 75 7971 74 67

110

1796-1812 100

106100

9 185838892

105102

9091

118

108110106108122

72

77 6685 8079 7476 7094 10097 101

111 116101 10098 10693 96

120 122

108 114117 125 114 123 108 108128 134

7485

83107103108121

10893938681

8282

8792

1099398

101

110133179

6781

75108

8892

129

12897947870

7872807783

1389994

100103

121131220

90114123

124

10091939188

80858 18796

848294

10892

97133160

83909290

100

9 19 1898986

9397

103104104

110102111122118

114128135

C. products Imported(1762-74 100) (1781,1784-91

95 96

10610686879798

110119113128142142

8486

170 1503 137 3 146

3 3

All s. c. Allcommod- products commod-

ities (1762-74 ities(1818-42 = 100) Year (1818-42= 100) = 100)

s. c.products(1762-74= 100)

95

Year Year

90 90 90 95I

1129783

10096886945

466470

66 8576 97

67

62

72

6160

1766 82 10510880

62 7987I1765

Combination for 1796 t o 1822 designated as “Other than South Carolina export staples.”Includes goods imported from abroad and from other parts of the United States.

3 Based on part of year only.

204


Crops

102

124.3115.6136.8129.9

147.7135.5116.4107.6110.0

109.21

103.7123.1101.7

94.287.788.097.1111.8

109.5146.7123.9132.0142.8

126.6101.3102.299.694.3

84.391.186.596.8106.7

100.591.4101.8107.795.8

112.9136.7162.5183.5185.0

154.1147.5133.2120.5122.2

130.3115.7108.7125.9132.3

145.5130.9120.6121.7

129.c127.4136.142.147.E

124.1

98.588.488.'

96.t84.t

105..101.'

Series E 97-111. Wholesale Price Indexes (Bezanson), for Philadelphia: 1720 to 1861Unweighted geometric average (1821-25

Major groups weightedarith-metic

average

= 100)(1741-45

Source

ortedFish

---Farm

Do-iestic

98

94.795.798.794.8106.1103.7

107.6105.696.889.586.4

85.281.684.290.783.4

82.377.477.285.193.6

96.8110.8103.2109.7113.0

99.991.693.891.889.7

84.790.290.793.296.3

97.494.499.7105.4100.5

108.6123.8138.8145.1159.5

160.8159.0135.6125.6134.2

131.f121.t112.4121.1125.t

131

115.5118.1129.

121.1115.123.1

140.'

101.191.:

84.

78.

104.

mber

andaval:ores

Industrial

ural

Allities

97107

Year

06.421.722.415.233.1

95.9

90.389.192.4104.686.4

86.675.975.582.694.6

106.0128.5122.9130.3129.8

106.594.6101.799.899.4

89.990.792.293.495.1

94.193.7101.3108.199.4

106.2129.6158.4173.5171.8

167.3154.9183.7131.6135.9

136.1122.

139.123.4

119.4144.5

120.

141.I

134.1112.:

87.'

90.77..80.'92.97.

Furs Winetrial Raw

108

118.5150.8152.4136.5161.9156.8

153.4156.7146.5135.7118.7

126.1104.0118.4123.1119.6

128.3126.5107.7109.3131.8

139.7177.5130.7120.3124.9

111.591.892.886.397.1

88.091.496.495.484.1

89.399.4105.0106.899.2

108.5137.9164.4155.1196.8

220.5227.8174.7165.0157.7

140.2136.9128.1167.6171.7

163.0147.9138.2167.1169.4

124.6146.2189.5226.3211.0

200.3141.9113.8116.5117.1

105.5103.5103.5116.2117.8121.9127.9

109

50.647.649.949.454.351.4

44.445.454.5

56.0

56.056.056.057.364.5

65.556.645.461.170.2

74.372.066.188.892.2

83.288.485.484.986.8

85.297.6101.493.1101.0

111.899.0101.0103.882.6

73.475.080.393.7107.0

111.589.690.793.597.6

90.783.878.582.775.0

81.785.372.972.477.6

74.460.558.175.185.7

70.159.361.962.257.7

5R.955.852.855.365.4

76..

110 111104

67.364.763.166.086.583.0

75.175.171.365.471.3

71.564.364.872.271.7

73.168.664.360.865.0

63.767.267.468.575.0

74.868.071.784.481.2

80.784.990.191.996.1

102.492.395.3103.6103.5

107.7126.1136.6133.0157.8

194.8217.7182.4143.8

134.2146.8135.7128.8138.3

142.8142.2130.8137.3

155.3158.7

169.5178.1

143.5

109.:102.:107.i

110.122.1

105 10699

85.384.983.088.099.999.2

96.591.582.374.876.7

76.772.974.978.478.3

78.4

74.674.177.5

78.282.080.280.582.4

81.479.181.686.f87.1

85.4

91.c92.194.5

93.t97.:102.5103.5

116.1125.

223.187.1158.1

151.133.1

128.

124.129.137.

138.142.131.135.142.

103.99.96.

89.88.89.92.93.93.97.

77.3

100 101

125.0122.2108.5127.2130.8126.4

125.690.474.270.370.3

70.668.769.971.971.1

73.473.666.564.768.0

68.770.671.272.477.3

80.281.685.984.883.3

82.587.690.992.296.4

99.192.195.4103.4109.3

114.0122.8123.0122.7147.9

167.1192.0164.5151.9137.0

128.9113.097.789.189.4

96.7103.598.7103.6101.7

93.989.981.585.787.1

83.278.f

67.1

6 2 . I

69.169.1

59.1

167.5164.3176.5165.3198.4194.6

25.000.003.397.299.992.5

00.211.001.292.987.9

79.173.272.675.378.4

75.570.275.783.088.6

90.1

94.097.6105.2

99.094.191.687.484.7

80.989.896.295.598.0

102.897.8100.1102.595.6

109.1121.5126.9123.4146.3

165.8176.6132.9

132.5

138.6131.2113.5114.5114.f

124.5126.t

122.

130.

79.

74.:

60.56.59.'69.92.104.

82.587.087.186.993.894.3

92.792.186.8

78.9

80.178.180.682.680.9

81.482.481.787.290.9

93.199.394.797.297.4

89.990.190.188.788.6

85.389.991.894.497.2

101.095.597.6102.2101.8

101.8109.6118.3117.2141.8

175.1

177.0158.3146.1

151.3148.1136.3133.9135.3

130.9131.6126.1125.7132.1

131.5132.5125.4125.4126.1

104.6

88.5

89.5

91.93.

100.

76.277.879.682.990.593.4

93.688.877.270.771.6

72.873.175.977.776.1

74.774.274.377.581.8

85.290.539.692.688.6

83.681.385.787.584.9

82.787.087.989.089.4

91.493.999.1104.9109.3

111.8119.4127.0

145.1

199.9174.2

135.7

142.f127.4120.5126.4

133.

118.5121.6

134.137.'

121.1

90.186.

79.'77.76.80.

78.87.

a

128.8

142.5131.8117.4107.7102.2

98.694.097.4112.893.2

90.181.181.189.0

107.6136.6123.3131.0135.7

115.497.6101.999.797.0

87.390.989.595.0100.3

97.092.6101.5107.997.5

109.2132.9160.3178.0177.8

161.1151.5133.4126.3129.4

133.4119.3109.4126.0135.5

142.0126.9114.7120.5140.8

129.6123.3128.8185.9144.6

129.f

88.4

80.5

97.:101.t101.t

79.983.284.085.392.593.9

93.190.782.875.175.9

77.176.178.780.678.9

78.679.078.783.287.1

89.895.692.696.393.8

87.386.488.388.287.1

84.288.790.292.294.0

97.094.998.2103.3104.7

105.7113.5121.8121.8143.2

175.1205.6175.9153.7141.8

145.132.f128.4131.7

129.123.1

131.f

130.133.4

110.'92.1

87.1

90.96.

88.288.889.489.7100.999.1

99.395.887.780.480.3

79.976.578.583.580.1

79.776.575.479.1

87.495.t91.595.:97.t

90.:85.1

87.'

88.1

95..

94.:

102.1

106.1119..

151.'

189.161.

135.

138.

123.123.128.

131.128.120.122.131.

128.127.127.133.139.

234.9211.6171.9152.8144.8

147.3146.8149.3177.5

142.5129.3131.4135.7152.3

165.4203.8211.4

217.I

181.9163.0171.2166.7165.2

150.2172.4165.4161.5160.4

163.6163.0179.3183.4160.2

180.7223.2276.2307.6298.3

337.1371.3286.3257.3260.2

249.6224.0192.6217.9233.1

262.9241.0212.1211.2274.4

266.7295.8

257.8

174.9156.5149.2

160.3128.6120.5135.8145.0158.0172.6

86.82.83.88.9194,100

205


Year

Series E Wholesale Price Indexes (Bezanson), for Philadelphia: to 1861-Con.

weighted

average

= 100)(1741-45

weightedarithmetic

weightedarithmetic

average(1741-45

100)Year

weightedarithmetic

average(1741-45=

Year

Allcommodities

Identifiedwith

agriculture northern

average(1741-45=

average

= 100)Year (1741-45Year

111 111

112.6

1740 87.31739 82.2

92.71766 i24.7

Series E Wholesale Price Indexes (Berry), for Cincinnati, 1816 t o 1861, andOhio River Valley, to 1817

Ohio River Valley, unweighted (1788-1817= 100)Cincinnati, weighted =

____-Not

identifiedwith

northernagriculture

Identified

Year Year

115 116 117114

145131

1171341148478

8887899295

8685828489

8889108134125

1109511010188

908793

7575

8690866082

85

11010496

8990889994

106117113129132

1141009692104

118139130

123133140120154141

153128118112107

98878310281

9781737091

111150137142159

12593101103100

8691817981

8585877868

112164160175164

125116

1081221067779

8790959595

8687848890

9397109133127

111961069892

98102104

1231101049390

3677759076

8777727289

104138

7265657669

10210199

939892

127122129166160

237265264272289

100981019886

140193

205196

206

WHOLESALE PRICE INDEXES AND PRICES ESeries 118-122. Wholesale Price Indexes (Taylor), for New Orleans: 1800 to 1861

All products,products

Louisiana

Louisiana Foreignimports

commod-ities

100)(1824-42Year

AU products,Louisiana Foreign

ities products imports Louisiana

Allcommod

ities

=100)Year

---Ti/120 121

1824-42 100-Con.

112

1843-61 100

117105107104136114

103909 18589

10380689378

74757075939 1

93

9 1116107108132

12396998880

86909 1

1301 1 0105124115

119151200197214170

119120112133142

147126

110119120112133142

147

115130146138

125 102112 113114 118111 118144 156121 121

9696 8297 9490 9195 98

110 12385 8573 6699 10883 88

79 77 80 8474 7578 76

100 10297 88

138 206110 110110 106104 106 136 115124 107

129 107114 1 0 1

969 1 8493 86

95 9585 8181 8090 32 77 83

80 8574 8470 8979 9397 104

106 105

130 155 96 123122 90 123

105 112 90 132124 140 94 152 115 130 83 160

119 126 98 190151 160 127 200200 224 146 220197 218 150 151214 227 184 182170 178 142 _ _ _

1805-11

87 87 8995 9 1 10895 91 11289 90 83

106 109 92 113 114 106

1181001824-42

7585

82939698

103

958795

10297

103103110

91 78 110116 136105107 98 123108 103132 140 129

123 133 11496 99 9599 103 95 88 84 9280 74 86

Combination of series E 120 and E 121 designated as “Domestic products.” Based on part of year only.

Series E 123-134. Wholesale Prices of Selected Commodities: 1800 to 1970[Indollars per unit. Where 2 prices are shown for a single year, those in italics are comparable with

years; see text for detailed explana years, and those in regular type comparable with following

Wheatflour

Sugar

125

Wool

127

Cottonsheeting

Steelrails

130

100

6.8006.5756.3256.0755.894

5.8255.8255.8255.8255.825

5.8255.8255.6755.4424.946

4.6634.4634.086

“ 3 . 7 7 53.6723.600

3.4173.2082.9382.60647.90

Copper

132

0.476

,263

,195

BrickCoalrnthradite

129

Ton 3

16.5715.02

7 13.717 12.89

12.9813.9013.3613.0513.35

13.9514.1814.2414.6713.53

12.9314.0115.4514.3014.19

12.5812.0411.5710.3314.1113.06

Nails

131

50

4.6744.3394.3354.351

4.6464.6464.6214.715

9.5969.8259.8289.5968.917

8.1807.6517.4407.1236.980

6.3436.1365.8234.4673.9713.477

Cotton,raw

126124

100

5.5695.438

5.994

5.4655.3905.3655.6215.167

4.9925.0805.4235.6805.676

5.9856.1335.6495,4775.750

5.4275.2155.0365.4456.200

,099

,095,100

,087

,086

,086

Lb.0.251

,335

Lb.1.0311.2231.2051.2171.348

1.2511.3931.3231.2451.181

1.1631.2171.1851.6081.373

1.423

1.7291.6652.702

1.9811.6621.6461.2421.025

,215

,198

,243

33.6831.32

31.67

30.86

1.5601.8792.178

1.9931.9782.0262.2012.219

2.2562.3072.2382.3872.403

2.2262.1492.4092.6021.895

29.15

27.8527.3527.33

E PRICES PRICE INDEXES

Series E 123-134. Wholesale Prices of Selected Commodities :1800 t o 1970-Con.[Indollars per unit]

Year

Wheat

--123

1.6641.6041.4401.189

1.2011.123

1.040,932,724,494

1.324

1.3721.496

1.6701.2321.1121.218

2.4552.4182,1592.2961.329

1.290

1.049

1.0971.200

1.0101.039

,865

1.0331.1981.154

1.057'11.2231.2521.6851.320

1.4031.5171.7871.7801.581

,797

Wheatflour

124

1003.1813.1843.1705.448

4.752

4.3073.3724.3645.6065.441

6.1975.7554.6333.1043.570

4.8655.7946.408

6.6867.252

7.6785.9305.3536,1307.034

11.58010.69510.30210.5516.091

5.6124.1253.847

4.6863.984

4.6915.4514.2913.9883.615

4.5434.8263.5923.4893.309

3.8493.3824.1454.3613.620

3.2312.7503.2834.1224.905

4.652

6.5406.1205.8176.119

6.2757.0437.7359.0208.895

8.8958.6329.101

10.8069.898

10.21810.72811.49812.14110.245

Sugar

125

Lb.0.054

,055

,049

,044

,045,047

,049,044,043

,047,051

,058

,055,074,084,059,062

,078,077

,056

,043,051

,049

,045

,053

,046,045,051

,045

,044

,062

,106

Cotton,raw

126

0.226,212,206

,104

,119,123

,064,085

,135,191

,176

,235

,293,212

,145

,121

,089

070

,086

,094

,113

120

,150

,170

Wool

127

Lb.

1,1881.1831.195

1.091

,723

1.159

1,1071.152

1.3921.4071.8791.238

1.6041.7751.8151.568

,707

,659

,615

.

1.028

1.0451.1531.1981.5681.068

Cottonsheeting

128

0.153

,107

,135

,120

,068

,074

099

,125

Coal

129

Ton11.8911.4710.8910.31

10.01

9.569.149.449.379.74

9.599.64

10.0610.8811.4012.77

12.7212.8913.0010.9810.9511.48

11.1911.3710.8810.6010.53

9.508.276.865.945.57

5.385.325.315.285.00

4.814.824.824.824.86

4.824.834.834.464.83

3.923.653.553.743.66

2.983.544.173.943.46

3.35

4.044.214.054.00

4.104.424.544.614.53

4.532.703.222.593.87

4.394.554.273.744.46

Steelrails

130

42.9440.0040.0040.00

40.00

40.0040.004141.8936.63

36.38

89.3342.3843.00

43.0043.0043.00

43.0043.00

43.0043.0043.0040.6945.65

53.8349.2656.0040.0033.33

80.0030.0030.0028.0028.0028.00

28. 0028.0028.0028.0028.00

28.0028.0028.0028.0027.38

82.2928.1317.6313.7528.00

24.3824.0028.1330.0029.92

31.7829.2529.8337.0834.52

28.5230.7537.7548.6061.08

67.5248.2142.2145.5859.25

68.7594.28

120.58111.94102.52

Nails

131

502.8502,5502.5502.550

2.550

2.5502.4612.5752.7732,229

2.6282.6232.0892,0501.978

2,1912.6672.676

2.6382.750

2.8202.9893.0352.6103.056

4.1878.5188.6003.6332.596

1.7461.6791.8191.7401

1.8881.9172.1002.1171.958

1.8961.9062.0752.1042.365

2.6332.3881.4381.4852.925

1.6521.9922.1902.467

2.9652.002.002.032.302.27

2.332.893.063.473.09

3.682.692.812.572.98

3.423.994.905.464.62

Copper

132

Lb.0.120

,132

,148,132

,134

,134

,137

,158

,190

,356

urpentin

133

0.794,776

,314,294

,500,529

,447

,930

1.1711.150

1.7341.210

,473

,634

,628

,373

,477

,322,292,274

,292

,380

,408

,298

,497

--

Brick

134

1,00015.8914.2918.4313.21

12.69

12.1312.0512.0012.0511.74

11.7712.0010.53

9.199.54

10.02

10.1010.73

.oo1816.46

14.7017.0419.8117.3415.21

21.8515.9611.938.898.04

6.055.536.566.765.89

5.726.395.106.168.55

8.107.495.915.395.77

5.255.695.754.945.06

5.315.006.835.775.71

6.567.006.527.407.58

6.366.528.147.58

6.945.264.894.945.71

7.007.44

9.969.31

208

WHOLESALE PRICES

Series E 123-134. Wholesale Prices of Selected Commodities: 1800 t o 1970-Con.

Steelrails

130

123-134

Nails

131

dollars

0.135,162

,087

,098

Cottonsheeting

128

0.140,153

,513

,072,075,074

,073

8.508.45

8.107.677.928.578.92

9.269.229.60

10.5610.508.628.538.749.28

10.0010.249.448.999.179.94

10.529.80

14.5015.0016.0016.0016.6016.9917.9619.4720.0022.6821.6019.0419.0421.5825.1722.5020.6921.8321.2719.2116.0016.0017.3517.38

,

Brick

134

Coal,rnthraeite

Wheat Wheatflour

Wool Copper

132

L b .

,243,230

,343

,339,219,223

,302

,212

,449

,430

'urpentine

133

0.427

,639

1.5252.9782.9241.574

,460,453,401

,427

Year 124 125 126 127123

Bu.

1.3731.6512.5412.8442.945

2.1601.9421.6401.3901.425

1.4951.4361.3251.6751.755

2.4352.2101.390

1.075

1.2751.2401.1751.3651.085

1.040,975

1.1401.185

1.0551.2451.9201.7751.7801 .220

1.1931 .2601.1851.0701.2451.218

1.1031.3641.248

1.3441.9812.4061.9421.5651.4821.6221.7741.8461.7961.2481.0001.3081.3791.9531.3571.1'31.1931.835

129

3

4.395.313.864.375.80

7.868.396.064.143.39

3.403.253.433.874.11

4.495.193.703.463.34

3.643.623.503.803.90

3.163.203.274.186.79

4.915.005.276.726.644.844.845.23

10.217.089.05

10.7210.9211.3410.929.16

,325

1.134

1009.281

5.7257.9129.1647.920

7.7068.0625.6905.1654.965

5.1905.1104.2955.7856.420

8.9455.7805.0054.520

5.5504.5105.9606.6855.060

4.9354.6704.8555.5705.585

5.2957.3007.9569.1407.4955.8654.9805.5655.7705.7104.9856.4525.5805.1404.8105.1306 . 1 25.616.846.584.784.716.899.97

11.729.808.578.118.949.34

10.069.656.865.537.127.27

10 .078.21

6.9010.4010.03

Lb.

0.240,290,249

,432

1.015

,122

,103

,110,095,121

,112,079

,077,073,079,095

,133

,175,129

,097,100,099

,093

0.898,905

1.1331.313

1.6801.7701.515

1.0251.093

1.048

,9131.070

,343

,323

,320,442

,424

,539

,750

1.3333.312

.

-.

1,000

8.4011.3312.0810.8511.44

9.678.276.414.163.88

4.495.003.964.214.29

4.314.895.424.634.69

4 . 8 53.85

4.404.875.175.926.97

7.087.855.133.472.75

3.133.863 . 5 33.723.92

4.104.764.853.133.28

3.714.004.254.504.50

4.754.50

4.755.25

5.506.126.006.006.006.005.505 .005.805.605.507.107.507.086.767.21

7.338.879.809.809.809.809.679.60

10.9012.8312.5011.258.508.509.339.509.509.509.509.50

10.5010.5010.5211.6510.6710.67

I - - - - - - - -_ _ - _ _ _ - _ - -2.219 I _ _ _. ____--2.368 I _ _ _ _2.8773.5422.9023.688

NA Not available.'Beginning 1943 per 100 pounds; for prior years, per 196-lb. barrel.Beginning 1847' (in regular type), per yard; for prior years, "per piece"; see

3 Beginning 1825 (in regular type), per ton: for years, per 80-lb. bushel.

5 Beginning 1961, per 50 lb.; for prior years per 100Beginning 1825 (in regular type), per gallon; for years, per barrel.

7 11-month average.

Beginning 1947, per 100 pounds; for prior years, per gross ton. price.January price.

14 December price.through December.

E PRICES AND PRICE INDEXES

Series 135-166. Consumer Price Indexes Items, 1800 to 1970, and by Groups, 1913 to 1970=

Allitems

Housing

Allfoods Cereals

Total bakeryand

prod-ucts

Total

149

Rent

150

125.6126.8107.8100.0119.6105.0107.5108.6107.0113.2

116.3111.1109.4100.099.797.995.990.685.583.3

116.3109.8104.2100.097.294.592.991.790.689.6

114.9108.9103.6100.099.194.492.491.289.989.1

90.288.687.786.283.682.381 7

78.777.2

88.787.386.684.381.480.280.580.179.577.8

88.087.188.584.982.281.682.883.084.3

52.452.252.651.750.049.3

Read-and

recre-ation

42.041.642.248.041.541.1

35.2 37.334.6 36.4_ _ _ 35.6 38.533.4 39.736.9 38.736.5 39.2 71.0 29.5

TotalMen'sand

boys'Total

160

Private

161

112.7107.2103.2100.097.295.994.393.092.590.6

111.1106.5103.0100.097.596.394.793.493.091.9

101.3100.098.898.398.498.297.396.1

116.1111.5105.4100.096.193.792.791.990.990.4

117.1112.4105.7100.096.594.092.891.690.489.9

89.689.686.083.373.877.473.379.577.3

90.691.187.484.7

78.980.382.480.875.8

89.688.237.587.385.884.184.584.685.386.1

88.9 91.687.2 91.287.4 90.887.8 90.986.4 90.485.0 89.886.0 90.686.4 91.487.1 92.486.7 93.6

79.080.183.378.267.561.558.554.652.344.8

80.180.582.778.366.158.355.953.450.943.7

68.266.461.855.550.347.847.947.943.144.2

72.572.368.261.554.351.351.451.452.345.9

1950....................

1946........................................1944....................1943....................1942....................1941....................

........

42.743.044.043.743.042.6

43.644.245.846.544.243.3

42.842.443.043.241.1

41.6 50.440.9 50.041.6 50.741.8 51.039.7 48.6

1940

1938....................1937....................

82.182.983.083.0

1935.-84.586.2

__-

Foodawayfromhome

148

119.9111.6105.2100.095.190.988.987.385.483.2

81.479.377.274.972.270.870.168.9

.

Food

Food a t home

Fish

141

118.0107.2101.6100.096.790.888.290.390.586.9

85.084.983.478.077.077.178.778.281.883.4

73.174.574.164.356.051.549.248.938.629.6

26.223.924.023.923.323.2

Dairyprod-ucts

142

111.8106.7103.3100.095.890.089.788.989.289.8

88.486.585.984.782.380.280.382.984.481.0

72.673.480.573.264.9

62.552.949.344.0

39.837.739.241.439.938.3

Fruits and-- vegetables

Year

Sugarand

sweetsProc-essed

145

109.2106.5105.6100.0100.698.3101.599.294.096.7

92.996.292.386.888.285.584.885.383.384.6

74.877.281.085.268.663.062.562.357.245.8

43.242.544.448.646.048.4

Meat

143 144 146

115.1109.1103.4100.097.099.0100.796.088.488.4

90.189.787.884.081.683.58130.179.378.6

75.874.373.275.860.653.353.353.563.344.8

40.842.441.242.541.942.5

147

104.6101.9100.0100.9101.5102.391.290.191.5

91.592.1101.4109.1109.9105.1117.498.896.295.6

86.761.356.851.8

139

117.6111.4102.3100.0102.693.987.388.790.188.3

87.288.892.232.874.577.183.784.290.291.0

80.376.28171.350.189.239.141.340.735.3

31.432.132.535.382.833.4

140

108.4109.0103.1100.0106.7101.298.2100.4102.096.5

106.9105.2115.4116.8119.8136.7131.3145.4149.2148.6

141.8148.1157.1141.7134.5119.5116.8113.094.979.0

73.372.680.981.278.273.9

135 136 137 138

103.3100.4100.097.793.892.592.1

88.9

113.7108.2103.2100.0100.395.593.292.291.090.4

102.4

96.995.995.094.092.9

94.993.892.791.790.9

84.679.783.778.077.573.271.873.377.766.9

61.665.463.660.3

56.353.053.339.731.1

87.185.484.783.079.978.877.675.874.372.6

66.565.465.859.848.141.941.841.440.537.6

91.790.489.187.585.984.383.280.376.273.2

70.468.065.161.159.258.858.658.558.657.2

56.256.056.054.251.950.6

Othergoods

andervices

166

116.0109.1104.6100.097.294.292.090.689.188.5

87.886.184.483.381.079.879.878.676.672.8

69.968.766.863.858.856.954.753.350.749.2

48.346.946.145.744.544.6

113.2105.1120.0114.1119.3120.5116.6139.4131.6144.1

118.4137.1142.3136.9115.0112.0105.0110.393.076.5

89.688.891.087.284.484.185.886.287.832.8

74.573.576.670.6

50.749.650.345.138.4

72.870.969.865.260.659.158.156.856.253.7

I Housing-Con. Apparel Transportation

Foot-wear

159

__-House-

ingsand

opera-tion

Fuel and utilitiesI --

Fueland

coal

andgirls'

Houseurnish-ings

PublicYear

158 162

128.!112.'104.1100.195.:

90.:

84.1

76.72.

65.

57.

48.'45.40.36.34.33.

33.33.33.

33.33.3232.32.33.

163

120.113.106.100.

81.

76.

67.

61.

53.52.51.48.44.42.41.39.38.

36.36.36.36.36.

164

109.104.

97.95.94.93.92.

90.88.

34.81.77.76.76.75.74.

68.68.

66.59.55.53.49.45.41.

40.39.37.36.

165151 152 153

110.1105.6103.1100.097.094.692.793.291.591

89.289.838.790.385.982.381.281.578.076.5

72.770.368.658.451.348.047.145.243.140.5

37.137.838.137.436.8

155

111.4108.1103.9100.098.097.197.697.798.198.7

99.399.0

99.98.199.2101.1102.9103.4106.0

95.594.998.392.780.073.368.663.161.454.0

50.550.9

52.448.447.6

154

113.4109.0104.4100.097.095.395.094.693.893.7

93.893.192.391.989.989.990.991.391.1

.......

113.4103.7104.7100.097.595.996.092.891.389.3

87.385.333.980.777.876.776.977.776.976.6

74.474.972.268.764.562.460.054.150.047.7

46.145.345.243.742.541.8

1969............1967............1966............

107.3102.8100.9100.099.699.499.499.499.499.4

117.7111.8105.3100.095.390.088.4

87.135.9

1964............1963............1962............1961............

85.182.279.077.875.471.670.870.070.171.6

95.993.891.789.987.385.183.583.0

1960............1959............1958............1957............1955............1954............1958............1952..............1951

.......

36.989.995.189.877.572.268.563.660.952.7

81.281.079.177.177.479.680.380.681.081.4

63.362.362.857.546.041.040.038.436.432.3

31.330.631.031.029.429.0

E 135-173CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES

Series E 135-166. Consumer Price Indexes Items, 1800 to 1970, and by Groups, 1913 to 1970-Con.

Year

= 1001

items

135

Yearitems

135_-1868...1866...

404244

1841...

272828282931

3032323433

1823... 36404042464648511884....

27272727

2727282929

1908...2827272827

2727272625

2525252525

1861...

4647

3027

1813...1812...

55635851504747484447

1853...2727262827

2827252525

19251924 _ _ _192319221921

52.5

51.150.253.6

1880...1879...

2928293232

3130293082

1872...

3334363636

1826...1825...1824....

32323334343433

1805...

1800....

454545435051

2526272727

1849... 25252628

Year

items, Ailexclud- items,

ing excludingfood shelter

1970

1965

1962

19601959.........1958

1956

19551954

116.7 114.4110.1 109.0104.4 104.1100.0 100.096.7 97.4

94.5 94.693.2 93.292.0 92.190.8 90.989.7 89.9

88.8 88.987.3 87.685.7 86.983.8 84.481.1 81.7

79.7 80.679.5 81.079.0 81.0

81.481.582.776.868.1

64.161.658.456.0

76.276.87 7 . 872.262.9

58.656.653.851.6

Housing

Food a titems home,

Year total

Apparel,total items

Year I Allitems

Year

135

itemsYear

Housefurnish-

ingsRent

150

50.754.162.870.0

73.976.07 7 . 879.781.0

81.881.57 8 . 67 6 . 774.5

64.955.251.050.150.5

49.949.649.6

156

40.436.938.243.2

47.548.549.049.750.8

51.652.653.153.065.2

84.671.153.639.633.0

80.129.429.2

155

46.642.442.949.3

34.130.631.537.8

61.062.363.4

69.5

48.444.745.143.746.7

60.0 61.551.8 54.6

1918 45.1 49.0_ _ _ 38.4 42.632.7 33.1

32.767.453.541.635.6

31.930.529.8

381869... 40

Series E Consumer Price Indexes (BLS), for Special Groups: 1935 to 197011967= 1001

Commodities ServicesCommodities Services

ng rentTotal TotalTotal

Allitems,

shelter

168

80.879.2

73.172.673.968.559.0

53.652.251.347.742.4

39.939.740.441.640.3

89.8

All items,exclud-

Year

Excluding foodExcluding food

Total Exclud-ing rentTotal Non-

durableTotal

169

87.085.9

78.878.380.475.062.4

56.354.754.049.643.3

40.640.241.042.641.0

40.5

172 173169

113.5108.4103.7100.098.2

95.794.693.692.892.0

91.590.790.688.685.9

85.185.986.7

170

112.5108.1103.7100.097.5

96.295.694.894.193.4

93.192.791.590.587.8

86.987.588.5

171

113.1108.8104.1100.097.0

94.893.592.791.891.2

90.789.388.287.685.3

83.583.583.1

172 173 167 170 171

64.561.8

58.756.954.351.149.1

48.247.546.445.644.2

43.643.543.442.641.3

40.9

62.259.3

56.054.551.949.046 .7

45.144.242.140.338.6

38.138.138.137.837.4

37.6

121.6112.5105.2100.095.8

92.290.288.586.885.2

83.580.378.575.672.7

70.969.567.3

123.7113.8105.7100.095.3

91.589.287.385.588.9

81.979.076.473.370.1

68.266.764.8

1952 77.51951 75.7

88.3 82.487.5 82.0

48.0 44.747.7 44.3

211

E 174-186

83.184.786.386.9

PRICES PRICE INDEXES

Series E 174-182. Consumer Price Index (Hoover): 1851 to 1880= 1001

All items

92.597.8104.2103.5107.4

108.1104.680.066.061.2

63.063.761.267.363.9

Fuelandlight

_ _ _

Food Cloth-ing

Rent OtherYear Total Lessfood

Lessrent

Less foodand rent

175 176 177 178 179 180 182

133134135138138

140141142141142

143145144144146

147141115105102

10099989896

97

9595

108105107109118

116122128132133

137141141149163

181187

120103

10099100102102

10210310010099

106105108117118

122128131133134

141148157161172

183185144115102

969596101106

108116122125127

135141143157178

209222173131107

10098100102101

10210310010099

111110113125124

129134136136137

94949599104

105115122126128

141148148166194

238261197143110

1009899100100

99100100101100

127122124123123

129133139144144

142141138135138

9592

98106

110114120122125

126132133140152

156136112103

10098103109106

1091131029999

128129133135135

143151164163169

17016712910799

10010299108102

105100888786

134

10195

100100100100103

103102100100100

10010199106102

104101929190

Series E 183-186. Cost-of-Living Indexes (Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y., Burgess, Douglas, Rees) : 1820 to 19261913 = 19131913 =

I---Burgess

(1890-99= 100)

Rees(1914=Federal

Year ReserveBank

FederalYear Reserve

BankFederal

Year ReserveBank

(1914=100)Burgess

184 184 186185 186 183 184

.

203.7188.7171.1147.8113.4

101.1102.5100.092.891.5

93.188.684.482.078.276.076.174.874.870 .6

67.76 6 . 165.963.962.9

64.265.369.167.568.8

24240234234229246

286247218179149

136139137133132

128121121126119

115115116111108

106102

10099

9797100102101

787878767 6

7577813683

8079808081

8688889089

919598102103

10295786963

6 163697068

64.160.953.953.753.0

5 8 . 461.163.163.459.0

56.354.553.653.555.9

81.2

212

PRICES

Series E Retail Prices of Selected Foods in U.S.Cities 1890 to 1970

E

[Incents per unit indicated]

Meats Other

rine

201

Lb.29.827.827.928.428.7

27.926.127.528.128.6

26.928.029.429.928.9

28.929.929.4

30.330.841.440.328.3

24.124.123.622.117.1

I17.519.213.5

18.313.513.2

19.9

27.0

28.330.1

29.3

31.6

41.3

..... .

......

.

.

....

. ..

.

Dairy products and eggs Fruits and vegetables

Bacon Milk,

195

62.960.657.455.5

52.652.852.052.252.4

52.050.650.650.048.4

46.246.046.848.446.2

41.242.243.639.235.2

31.231.231.030.027.2

25.624.425.025.024.0

23.422.420.821.426.2

28.22828.428.228.0

27.826.827.826.229.2

33.431.027.822.418.2

17.617.817.817.417.0

16.816.216.015.614.8

14.414.414.414.013.6

13.613.413.413.413.6

13.613.613.613.613.613.6

Navybeans

199

Lb.19.219.619.618.219.8

17.516.717.817.417.0

16.717.218.016.116.3

17.617.0

1 6 . 1

15.316.422.021.314.0

11.410.710.19.07.4

6 .66.26.39.66.7

6.26 . 15.35.28 . 1

11.714.111.89.49.4

10.39.9

10.99.98 .2

11.412.617.317.911

7.8

Bread

steak189

Lb.130.2126.7114.3110.3110.7

108.4103.9106.4107.8103.6

107.3104.293.688.2

90.390.791.5

111.2109.3

93.685.390.575.652.1

40.641.443.943.539.1

36.436.034.939.134.1

36.028.125.729.735.4

42.646.043.788.737.1

36.234.834.332.334.4

39.588.936.929.024.5

23.023.622.319.917.5

17.416.415.915.214.5

14.014.114.014.718.8

13.212.912 .712.512.4

12.312.212.412.412.412.3

roast

190

Lb.72.570.463.560.762.2

59.556.860.362.359.4

61.664.163.352.548.4

50 .151.452.973.574 .1

6 1 . 655.564.451.5

28 .128.830.229.325.5

23.523.422.825.722.3

24.017.516.018.522.7

28.631.429.625.223.7

22.321.620.819 .721.2

26.227.026.620.91 7 . 1

1 6 . 116.716.0

Porkchops

191

Lb.116.2112.2102.9100.4106.3

97.388.088.289.887.9

85.885.391.886.678.2

79.386.382.780.379.4

75.474.377.272.148.5

37 .137.340.3

34.8

27.980.482.936.734 .1

36 .125.519.821.529.6

36.237.535.237.239.9

37.031.030.333.034.9

42.342.339.031.922.7

20.322.021.019.217.9

19.217.416.016.615.2

13.913.714.014.113.0

11.911.210.910.810.7

11.011.211.811.110.910.7

Coffee SugarToma-toes,

198

20.419.517.7

16.116.015.515.716.0

15.9

17.015.015.2

15.1114.6

14.814.8

12.412.813.916.312.6

10.310.110.69.97.7

7.27.27.57.98 .0

8.68.87.77.88.5

10.210.89.9

10.09.9

11.110.810.511.310.2

12.513 .6

2 1

FlourYear

188

Lb.24.323.022 .422 .222.2

20.920 .721.621 .220 .9

20.31 9 . 719.318 .817.9

17 .717 .216.41 6 . 0

14.314.013.912.510 .4

8.88.88.98 .78 . 1

8 .07.98.68.68.2

8.38.37 . 17 .07.7

8.68.88.99.29.3

9.38.98.88 .79.9

11.510.09.89.27.3

7 .06 . 35 . 6

192

94.987.881.483.795.4

81.366.768.370.371.2

65.566.579.373.857.3

65.981.778.564.967.2

63.766.576.977.753.3

41.141.143.139.434.3

27.331.936.741.340.7

41.329.122.624.236.6

42.543.944.447.850.8

47.138.439.739.842.7

52.355.452.941.028.7

26.927.527.024.424

25.522.420.720 .119.6

18.118.018.217.715.8

14.313.413 .112.712.6

13.018.514.212.9

12.E

193

Lb.86.684.683.683.082.2

75.474.475.075.276.3

74.975.374.274.372.1

70.972.479.085.581.9

72.972.586.780.571.0

50.7

52.747.341 .1

36.032.534.740.739.5

36.031.527.827.835.8

46.455.556.956.353.6

55.252.255.847.951.7

70.167.857.748.739.4

35.836.238.337.433.7

35.934.532.832.730.4

29.028.028.528.726.5

26.125.124.423.923.8

24.926.128.327.527.425.5

194

61.462.152.949 .159.9

52.753.955.154.057.3

57.353.060.457.360.2

60.658.569.867.373.7

60.469.672.369.658.6

58.154.557.248.439.7

33.132.136.536.237.1

37.632.528.830.235.0

44.552.750.348.751.9

55.451.049.944.450.9

68.162.856.948.137.5

34.135.334.534 .132.3

33.731.929.729.027.8

27.227.125.924.721.9

20.720.919.918.919.2

20.619.922.422.122.120.8

196

86.483.896.676.679.9

77.888 .190.479.377.7

74.866.476.057.958.3

52.855.449.050 .648.7

49.351.844.743.449.9

48.546.044.335.731.0

29 .128.926.738.933.6

22.031.927.330.235.0

57.144.758.652.051.6

57.144.849.757.449.6

63.253.2 .

.

.

.

197

89.78 1 . 676.374.774.9

93.775 .765 .163.262.9

71.863.362.657.167.7

56.452.653.876.050.8

46.154.656.950.346.8

49.346.545.634.223.5

23.924.721.327.931.9

19.123.023.017.024.0

86.032.027.038.049.0

36.028.030.028.031.0

63.038.032.043.027.0

15.018.017.022.022.0

17.019.019.018.017.0

17.018.017.018.018.0

14.015.016.014.012.0

14.015.017.014.018.016.0

Lb.91.176.576.476.982.3

83.381.669.170.873.6

75.3

101.7103.4

93.0110.889.286 .886.3

79.455.4

46.934.4

30.530 .130.028.323.6

21.222.423.225.524.3

26.926.429.432.8

39.5

48.247.450.2

50.442.636.936 .136.3

47 .0

30.229.9

30.029.729

43.3

202

658.958.158.459.659.4

58.156.757.057.056.0

55.454.555.254.653.3

53.853.652.352.351.9

49.147.949.048.235.4

32.132.430.626.422.6

21.519.019.824.023.8

25.324.519.516.018.0

23.025.526.527.530.0

30.524.523.525.529.0

40.536.033.535.022.0

2117.016.517.517.0

18.018.016.515.514.5

16.01613.512.512.5

12.512.514.014.012.5

12.011.512.514.C

62.060.9

60.2

59.0

67.958.558.9

58.257.2

55.252.8

52 .152.652.851.550.6

48.747.647.048 .638.4

33.433.684.234.128.6

26.027.226.628.227.9

28.227.526.525.0

30.532.034.536.0

35.0

49.536.540.0

97.056.548.546.540.0

31

30.029.5

29 .30.0

3

2 9 . 32R.O28.

. . .

Average of January-September.


E Retail Price Indexes of Electricity, Gas, and Fuel for Residential Use: 1913 to 1970= except as otherwise indicated]

Electricity Coal (1957-59 = 100)Gas

Other than residential heatingFuel oiland coal

Fuel oil,No. 2

Composite anthracite,stove size

Bituminous,all domestic

sizesResidential

heatingYear Composite100

Composite 10 Therms 3 25 Therms

204 205 206

107.4102.6101.1100.0100.4

99.9100.299.9

100.0100.7

100.192.389.384.483.5

82.978.776.672.770.5

69.969.568.668.067.3

68.068.568.969.170.4

208 209 210 211

109.3105.4103.2100.096.9

94.492.594.692.792.6

89.090.689.494.890.2

213207

109.4103.1100.8100 .0100.0

99.398.698.398.197.7

96.191.188.183.181.5

79.777.276.074.673.4

73.673.570.568.267.6

68.769.669.970.670.9

203

106.2102.8100.9100.099.1

99.199.6

100.1100 11 0 0 . 1

99.898.597.195.995.5

95.294.093.692.491.5

108.5102.8101.0100.0100.2

99.699.399.098.999.0

97.791.688.683.782.3

81.077.976.474.172.7

73.172.869.867.466.9

68.068.869.269.970.1

107.4102.6100.7100.0100.3

100.299.399.499.39 9 . 1

97.394.692.488.687.7

108.4102.3100.7100 .01 0 0 . 1

110.1105.6103.1100.097.0

94.692.793.291.591.0

89.289.888.790.335.9

82.381.281.578.076.5

98.198.9

100.0101.194.5

88.689.293.187.886.6

78.174.870.362.857.9

52.150.347.645.043.2

41.139.139.840.042.6

41.444.244.045.549.6

51.351.652.153.2

52.552.452.451.351.6

49.041.034.931.728.3

26.226.226.1

102.4101.699.898.494.6

91.390.390.488.686.9

90.890.689.788.990.0

93.794.294.494.595.0

95.796.798.399.8

102.0

105.3110.9119.9121.2122.4

124.4126.7131.4133.8136.7

137.6139.1140.1143.1144.7

142.1142.3137.5137.0140.8

144.5149.2

88.988.990.289.189.8

91.691.792.392.392.7

93.995.296.497.799.9

104.3107.3110.4111.4115.5

119.6123.4128.6133.4137.7

140.5144.1147.3

72.770.368.658.451.3

85.082.079.166.456.2

73.774.074.374.674.9

62.662.963.364.865.0

48.047.145.243.140.5

53.452.250.448.345.9

43.342.948.242.942.0

41.240.938.038.241.2

43.843.944.546.04 6 . 3

70.971.470.669.770.4

71.672.372.575.081.4

38.237.137.838.137.4

40.538.642.444.538.5

45.04 5 . 651.35 0 . 353.0

52.94 0 . 638.93 5 . 92 9 . 1

27.72 8 . 12 7 . 4

Denotes first year for which figures include Alaska and Hawaii.Combination of 100, and 500 from 1964 to 1970; 40, 100, and 200

from 1953 1963; 25, 40, 100, and 250 from 1935 to 1952; and the“average consumption” in each component city prior t o 1935.

Combination of 10, 25, and 40 therms from 1964 to 1970; 10 and 25 therms from1953 to 1965; and 10.6, 19.6, 30.6, and 40.6 therms prior to 1953.

3 10 therms, 10.6 therms, prior to 1953.25 therms, 1953-1970; 30.6 therms, prior to 1953.Includes fuel oils No. 2 and 3 from 1939 through 1947.December only.

Series E 214. Rent Indexes (Warren and for Dwelling Units in 5 Large Cities: 1860 to 1880100. Covers Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Louis]

Index--Year

214

Index

214Year

chapter · chapter e 1-214. general note. early interest in the statisticsof prices was evident at...

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