bls_1197_1956.pdf

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AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES\ 1955 /

Selected Commodities and Services (other than Food and Housing) Included in the Consumer Price Index

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR James P. Mitchell, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Ewan Clague, Commissioner

June 1956Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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

4th Congress, 2d Session House Document No. 428

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES1955

Bulletin N o . 1197Jim* 1956

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR James P. Mitchell, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Ewan Clague, Commissioner


CONTENTS

Introduction.P age

1

Price differences among cities________________________________________ ______ \Transportation charges______ _______ _________________________ _________________ . 2Local administrative actions____________________________ ______________ ____ 2Resale price maintenance.__________________________ ________ ------------------ -------- 2Nationally advertised brands__ ,________________________ __________ ___ ________ ___ 2Concentration of production________ _________________________________ __________ _ 3Income level__________________________________ _________ - ______________ ____________ 3

Scope and method of survey_________________ __________ . ________ . ______. _________ ___ 3

Method of collection________________________________________________________________ 4Methodological considerations in price comparisons among cities 5

Explanation of tables- 6

TablesAverage retail prices of selected commodities and services, in 20 cities,

last quarter of 1954 to December 1955, monthly and quarterly.

1 HousingA. Home repairs and maintenanceB. Household textiles_______________C. Floor covering and furniture_____D. Appliances and other housewaresE. Gas and electricity___________ ____F. Solid fuels and fuel oil____________G. Household operation_______________

89

1216202223

2 ApparelA . Men's outerwear________ _______________B. Men's furnishings and accessories__C. Boys' apparel__________________________D. Women's outerwear. . . . . . _________E. Women's underwear and accessories.F. G irls ' apparel____________________ G. Infants' wear and yard goods.._______

2730323437404142

3. Transportation. . ___ ________ __________ ____________________________________ 4 7

4. Medical care________________________ _____________ _________ __________________ 50

5. Personal care.----- ____________ ---- ... ________ __________ ---- 56

6 . Reading and recreation______________________________ ______________ . . . . ____ 6 1

7. Other goods and services__ _______________________ _____________________ 6 4


CONTENTS - ContinuedA p p en d ix e s P a g e

A . F r e q u e n c y o f p r i c e c o l l e c t io n f o r 46 c i t ie s in c lu d e d in the C o n su m e rP r i c e In d ex..___ __ _____________ ___ _ ________________ _______________________________ 65

B R e la t iv e im p o r ta n c e o f it e m s in c lu d e d in the C o n s u m e r P r i c e In dex ,D e c e m b e r 1955___ ______________________________________________________ ____ --------- 67

C . S p e c if ic a t io n s u se d fo r the c o l le c t io n o f r e ta i l p r i c e s f o r ite m sin c lu d e d in th is b u lle t in ___ _________ ___________ ______ ...._____________________70

D. R e ta il s a le s ta x e s and o th e r r e ta i l ta x e s a p p lic a b le in 20 la r g ec it ie s ___________ ___ ___._______ _ ________________ __ ____ ______ ____ 101


A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S , 1955*

IN TR O D U C TIO N

T h is is the s e co n d p u b lica t io n o f a v e ra g e r e ta i l p r i c e s f o r s e le c t e d c o m m o d it ie s and s e r v i c e s in c lu d ed in the C o n su m e r P r i c e In dex . T he f i r s t r e p o r t ^ /p r e s e n t e d r e ta il p r ic e s in 10 la r g e c it ie s at q u a r te r ly in te r v a ls fo r 1953 and 1954. The data c o v e r e d a p p ro x im a te ly 125 c o m m o d it ie s and s e r v i c e s , o th e r than fo o d s , fu e ls , and r e n ts . A s a r e s u lt o f im p ro v e m e n ts in the p r ic in g p r o g r a m and fu r th e r a n a ly s is o f the data , a v e ra g e p r ic e s fo r 10 ad d ition a l c it ie s and a p p ro x im a te ly 25 a d d ition a l it e m s a re p r e s e n te d in th is r e p o r t . M o r e o v e r , m on th ly data a re sh ow n w h en ev er p o s s ib le . A v e r a g e p r i c e s in 1955 a re p r e s e n te d fo r a p p ro x im a te ly 150 it e m s in c e r ta in m a jo r e x p en d itu re c a t e g o r ie s in the 20 la r g e s t c it ie s su rv e y e d r e g u la r ly by the U. S. D ep a rtm en t o f L abor* s B u rea u o f L a b o r S ta t is t ic s .

D uring 1955, the B u rea u ob ta in ed r e ta i l p r i c e s fo r a p p r o x im a te ly 300 ite m s (in clu d in g fo o d s and s h e lte r ) in 46 c i t ie s at m on th ly , q u a r te r ly , o r 4 -m o n th in te rv a ls 2 /. P r i c e s f o r fo o d s and fu e ls in v a r io u s c i t ie s h ave b een p u b lish e d m on th ly fo r m an y y e a r s , and fo o d p r i c e s a re a ls o s u m m a r iz e d in b ien n ia l b u lle t in s . A v e r a g e s o f re n ts and c e r ta in h om e o w n e rsh ip c o s t s , h o w e v e r , in v o lv e c o m p le x p r o b le m s in co m p u ta tio n and in t e r p r e tation and have n ot b een p u b lis h e d .

The r e ta il p r ic e s u r v e y s w e r e d e s ig n e d to m e a s u r e p r i c e ch a n g es fo r g o o d s and s e r v ic e s o f con sta n t q u a lity . T h is u se o f the data is n ot a f fe c te d s ig n ific a n t ly by v a r ia t io n s in q u a lity o f the in d iv id u a l it e m s fr o m c it y to c ity so lon g as they a re c o m p a ra b le fr o m one p e r io d to the n ex t. H o w e v e r , w ith the im p r o v e m e n ts in the c o l l e c t io n o f r e ta i l p r ic e s that have b een m ad e th rou gh the y e a r s , p a r t i c u la r ly w ith r e g a r d to q u a lity id e n tifica t io n , r e ta il p r ic e data a re a v a ila b le fo r q u a lit ie s that a re s u ffic ie n t ly u n ifo rm fr o m c it y to c ity , so that m u ch u se fu l data on a v e ra g e p r ic e s ca n be p r e s e n te d . A v e r a g e s a re in c lu d e d fo r ite m s w h ich , a fte r c a r e fu l study, s a t is f ie d B u rea u s ta n d a rd s fo r c o m p a r a b il ity .

P R IC E D IF F E R E N C E S A M ON G C ITIE S

The le v e l o f p r ic e s fo r in d iv id u a l c o m m o d it ie s and s e r v i c e s v a r ie d ,c o n s id e r a b ly f r o m c ity to c it y in 1955. F o r s o m e it e m s , d i f fe r e n c e s am on g c i t ie s w e r e p r a c t i c a l ly z e r o , w h ile fo r o th er ite m s the d if fe r e n c e b e tw een the lo w e s t c it y a v e ra g e and the h ig h e s t w as as m u ch as 75 p e r c e n t .

G e n e r a lly , the re la t iv e d i f fe r e n c e s am on g c i t ie s w e r e g r e a te s t fo r s e r v i c e s and le a s t f o r d ru g s , t o i le t r ie s , s o a p s , and s im ila r it e m s . G e n e r a liz a t io n s ca n n ot be m a d e , h o w e v e r , that one o r m o r e c it ie s a re h igh o r lo w w ith r e s p e c t to a ll i t e m s . W e st C o a s t c i t ie s , fo r e x a m p le , a re am ong the h ig h e s t f o r m e d ic a l c a r e s e r v ic e s and am on g the lo w e s t fo r to w e ls , c ig a r e t t e s , and c e r ta in a r t i c le s in the a p p a re l g ro u p .

^ P re p a re d by E th el D . H o o v e r o f the B u re a u 1 s D iv is io n o f P r i c e s and C o s t o fL iv in g .

JJ A v e r a g e R e ta il P r i c e s : C o l le c t io n and C a lcu la tio n T e ch n iq u e s and P r o b le m s .B u ll. 1182, 1955.

2 / See a p p en d ix es A and B fo r a c o m p le te l i s t o f the ite m s and c i t ie s fo r w h ich r e ta i l p r i c e s a re c o l l e c t e d .

1


2A detailed item-by-item analysis of the reasons for differences in price level among cities is not within the scope of this bulletin. Such an analysis would be inconsistent with the limited volume of data now available, particularly with respect to the time span. Temporary deviations from long-run patterns are" always present, and 3 years is not considered a sufficient period of time for extensive correlation studies.

The data do provide, however, a number of illustrations of the influence of various factors on the level of price. Among these factors are differences in transportation costs, the effect of local administrative actions, resale price maintenance, the tendency toward uniform prices for nationally advertised brands and for commodities produced by relatively few manufacturers, the influence of income level on price level, and the effect of climatic differences. Although a few illustrations of city differences are given below, many of the commodities and services included in the bulletin reflect the combined influence of various factors.

Transportation Charges

The direct effect of transportation charges on the retail price level is clearly demonstrated by city differences in coal prices. For instance, in December 1955, stove- size Pennsylvania anthracite for domestic use was $27. 95 a ton in Boston and $24.90 in New York. Freight charges to Boston were approximately 35 percent of the mine price while to New York City they were about 20 percent.

Local Administrative Actions

State and city taxes account for a part of the city differences in prices for such items as cigarettes and gasoline. For example, cigarettes ranged from 19 to 21 cents a package in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where only Federal taxes are added, whereas in New York and Chicago where State and city taxes amounted to 4 cents, the price was 24 cents a package.

Another illustration of the effect of local factors on prices are the actions taken by local regulatory bodies which result in price variations from one city to another for streetcar fares and other utilities.

Resale Price Maintenance

The "Fair Trade laws operated for a number of years to maintain a uniform price throughout most of the country for all products on which resale price maintenance contracts were in effect.

During recent years, however, uniform prices have been maintained for some items but are now in the process of being abandoned for others with the continued growth of "discount retailing. In the drugs and toiletries field, for example, there are practically no differentials among cities for any extensive period of time. The differentials that do appear, as for vitamin tablets, can be attributed almost entirely to city preferences for certain brands. For appliances, however, there are wide differentials in prices among cities for the same brand. One brand of toaster which retailed in St. Louis for $10.95 to $14.49 near the end of 1955, was selling at the manufacturer s suggested retail price of $19.95 in some stores in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities. Similar examples of the effect of competition on the selling price can be found for many other appliances and for tires.

Nationally Advertised Brands

National advertising, like resale price maintenance contracts, tends to keep the retail price of various brands uniform, regardless of retailer s location. Men s underwear and hosiery are produced by many companies, but the volume in the medium-


3quality lines priced by the Bureau is made by manufacturers who advertise nationally. (Some of the larger firms also had resale price maintenance contracts. ) For such items where the predominant brands are advertised nationally, differences among cities are small, since the same brands are reported in practically every city.

Concentration of Production

The concentration of the volume of production to a limited number of producers limits the geographical price differentials materially. For light bulbs, soaps and detergents, cleansing tissues, and similar items the differences among cities are small and are probably not significant.

Income Level

In many instances throughout the array of prices for specific commodities and services, there is some evidence that high-income cities are also high-price cities.

This evidence is particularly strong for dry-cleaning services, as would be expected because of the close relationship between general income level and labor costs to provide these services. With very few exceptions, services cost less in the lowest income city than in the highest income city, rising in general as incomes rise, but not necessarily by the same proportion.

Although commodity prices also tend to rise with the income level, the evidence is not as clear as that for services.

Climatic Fac tor s

Needs of consumers because of variations in climate also affect the price levels. In hot climates, where heavy clothing is used in only small quantities and the volume of business is small, there was a tendency for prices to be relatively high. The greater volume of business in heavy clothing in the colder cities seemed to operate to keep such garments in the medium- to low-price levels. The average price for a man1 s wool suit, for example, was high in Atlanta and Houston and medium to low in Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. There are exceptions to this general picture, however, that indicate the presence of other influences, such as income level, proximity to production centers, and consumer demand not associated with climate.

SCOPE AND METHOD OF SURVEY H

Techniques for the collection and processing of retail price data for the measurement of time-to-time change have been developed and improved through many years of experience. In contrast, the measurement of price levels, particularly for individual commodities and services in various places, is still in an early developmental stage.

The data, from which these average prices have been derived, are collected primarily for the calculation of the Bureau* s Consumer Price Index, which measures

3/ The following publications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics contain more complete descriptions of the scope and methods used in retail price surveys: Techniquesof Preparing Major BLS Statistical Series, Bull. 1168, Ch. 9, (p. 68); The Consumer Price Index, A Layman* s Guide, Bull. 1140; Selection of Cities for the Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1950, Monthly Labor Review, April 1951 (pp. 430-436); and Average Retail Prices: Collection and Calculation Techniques and Problems, Bull. 1182, 1955.


4changes in prices from one time to another. Since the scope and methods used for the Consumer Price Index have been described in detail in various publications, and the first bulletin on average prices discusses the problems involved in producing average prices, this section of the report contains only a brief description of the samples of cities, items, and outlets, and of methods of collection. It also includes a brief discussion of problems that may impose limitations on comparisons of prices among cities.

Samples

Cities. - The Bureau periodically collects prices in 46 United States cities* (See appendix A .) These cities represent a cross section of all urban centers having a population of 2, 500 or more in 1947 in terms of size, climate, density of population per square mile, and average income. For those cities with populations of less than 30, 000, city characteristics associated with distance to large retail shopping areas were also taken into consideration in selecting the samples.

The 20 cities which have been selected for publication are those in the large population size groups, 240, 000 and over in 1947. All of these cities are important industrial areas in which retail prices have been collected for many years.

Items. - From among the hundreds of articles consumers buy, the Bureau has selected a sample of approximately 300 goods and services for periodic pricing for the Consumer Price Index. (See appendix B .; These items represent a large proportion of family expenditures in each major group and subgroup. In addition, they were carefully selected to represent typical price-change patterns for groups of related commodities.

The criterion for the selection of the items for which average prices are published was the assurance that the quoted prices from all stores in each city related to the same or approximately the same quality.

Outlets^- For each commodity and service category, the Bureau obtains quotations from a sample of stores, service establishments, and other sources that sell or provide the goods and services purchased by moderate income families. In setting the general design for samples for groups of items, the following factors were, considered: Size of establishment, kind of outlet, type of operation, quality of commodities sold, services rendered, location, and other characteristics likely to influence price change or price level. Businesses and professional people who limit their clientele by providing only high quality merchandise or special services of various kinds, are excluded from these samples.

Method of Collection

The major portion of the quotations on which the average prices are based is obtained by personal visits of Bureau representatives. These representatives have been intensively trained in the Bureau1 s collection procedures, particularly in the recognition of quality variations for the items included in the index.

For some commodities, such as coal, gas, electricity, etc., the quality can be ascertained without examination of merchandise. Basic data on these items are collected by mail, or from printed manuals issued by organizations that have assembled the required data, or from government agencies collecting rates and prices for their own use.

Quality Problem s.- The most important problems in the collection of retail price statistics are those pertaining to variations in quality from time to time and from place to place. The Bureau attempts to resolve these problems by limiting the range of


5quality represented by the quotations reported for each item. This is done through the use of quality descriptions (usually referred to as Mspecifications" - see appendix C) and by providing its field representatives with auxiliary material such as swatches of fabrics, lists of brands meeting the specifications, special instructions regarding their application, and similar aids. The development and use of quality descriptions in the collection of retail prices is discussed fully in a previous Bureau publication. 4 /

Although it is sometimes necessary to obtain prices for articles or services that do not conform in every detail with the predetermined specification, the collection procedures provide for obtaining data that are comparable in quality from one date to the next for the calculation of the Index. Such deviations in quality from place to place have been noted when included in the published prices.

Methodological Considerations in Price Comparisons Among Cities

The average prices presented in the tables generally provide a good approximation of the differences in the price levels among cities. However, depending on the purpose for which the data are utilized, a proper interpretation of the differences among cities must take into account some characteristics of the data built into them through the pricing methods.

Quality Differences.- The Bureau has exercised great care and has endeavored to obtain prices for the same quality of each commodity and service from each business or person reporting prices and to include in the averages only those quotations which conform to the specifications. Despite this care, however, some quality differences remain and some portion of the city differences can be attributed to this factor.

Major quality differences are indicated by code number or by special notes in the tables. Evaluation of the quality difference in terms of price is necessary before comparisons can be made. Relatively minor quality differences occur more frequently and the adequacy of a city-to-city comparison can be evaluated only through reference to the specifications. (See appendix C. ) Various choices of fabrics in apparel,for example, have been allowed in price reporting when available evidence indicated that these choices introduce virtually no price differentials. The ranges in quality are as narrow as is consistent with the practical aspects of price collection but must be considered in comparison studies, particularly for certain items of apparel and furniture, where the choices in retail markets are very wide. Another feature of the specifications to be remembered is the impossibility of developing objective descriptions of the intangible quality features that may give prestige value and thus affect the price level.

There are also undoubtedly some errors in the interpretation of the specifications by the price reporter or by the field representative. The Bureau attempts to keep such misinterpretations to a minimum through continuous review of the price reports, obtaining additional information from producers, and by more intensive training of individual agents.

Varying Package S izes.- For articles sold in various size packages, such as toiletries, all reports have been converted to a common quantity unit. However, the range of package sizes on which the prices are quoted originally may account for a small part of the price differences among cities for a few commodities. To the extent that the price per ounce is less when buying 8 ounces of shampoo, for example, than when buying 5 ounces, the price differentials among cities are exaggerated. In such

4/ Average Retail Prices: Collection and Calculation Techniques and Problems, Bull. 1182, 1955.


6cases, the extremes of noncomparability are kept to a minimum by limiting the range of sizes for which prices are reported.

The comparisons have less validity for the few furniture items that may varyin number of pieces from store to store. Although adjustments are made to the individual quotations to obtain prices for like components, the adjustments must necessarily be made by using estimated values.

Brand Preference.- Within the defined limits of the quality description, the price reported is for the brand that sells in largest volume in each outlet. If brands A, B, and C are preferred and sold in large volume in 1 city and brands X, Y, and Zin another, the averages for the 2 cities will reflect any price differential there maybe between ABC and XYZ. The averages provide for valid comparisons on the quality level, but if a specific study requires measurement of price differentials for identical brands, these data have limited usefulness.

Sampling Differences.- Prices are obtained from a sample of businesses and professional people, rather than by complete coverage. Small differences among cities are due to the sampling process and should not be interpreted as significant.

EXPLANATION OF TABLES

Average retail prices in 20 large cities for the selected list of commodities and services are presented in tables 1 to 7. The items have been arranged into groups and subgroups in accordance with the classification utilized for the Consumer Price Index.

Method of Averaging

The average prices are simple arithmetic averages of the quotations as reported to the Bureau (except for omissions and conversions discussed below).

Treatment of Taxes

In most tables, the prices are exclusive of retail sales taxes and all other taxes levied at the retail level. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, which have been indicated by footnotes. In some cases, such as shoe repairs and tobacco, the tax structure is complicated or the tax applies only to materials. Under these conditions, the accuracy of the price reporting is maintained by obtaining from the seller, quotations including taxes and identifying the kinds of taxes included. In other cases, the processing of the data for the index provides for the addition of some taxes before combining cities. In order to avoid the necessity of retabulating these data to exclude taxes, the published prices include all applicable Federal, State and local taxes. The most important instance of this situation is the subgroup of solid fuels and fuel oil in table 1. The various kinds and amounts of taxes applicable at the retail level to the commodities and services selected for publication are listed in appendix D,

Footnotes

A large number of explanatory footnotes have been used. Many of them refer to taxes or to information on quality differences necessary for interpretation of price level differences. The majority of the footnotes, however, explain why an apparent price change from one date to the next may not represent a true price change. Most of these explanations deal with unavoidable changes in the samples of sources from which price data are obtained. For the dates affected by these sample differences, com


7parable prices for the two dates are given in a footnote. For example* table 5 shows $1.85 for shampoo and wave set (P-310) in Los Angeles for February 1955 and $1.90 for March. This 5-cent difference did not arise from price change but because 1 beauty shop reporting $1.50 in February was discontinued in March and the beauty shop substituted for it reported $1.75. The other four shops that reported in both February and March showed no changes in price. This situation is explained by footnote 6.

Omission of Some Average Price Data

The most frequent reasons for nonpublication of average prices are:

1. The article is not sold in volume during certain seasons of the year. The seasons are indicated by footnote.

2. The article or service is not priced in specific months. In these cases, dashes have been entered.

3. Quotations from the various stores in a city represent a mixture of qualities greater than provided for in the specifications. The footnote "number of quotations conforming to specifications insufficient for publication of average price" has been used to explain nonpublication.

Conversions of Original Quotations

It was necessary to convert original quotations to a common unit for a number of articles and services in the following circumstances:

1. Unit of Quantity.- Manufacturers producing approximately the same quality product, market this product in various size packages. The Bureau allows for the pricing of many different brands by indicating in the specification a limited range of package sizes for which prices are to be reported. The prices quoted for the varying quantities were converted to a common unit before averaging, e . g . , most toiletries were converted to a "per-ounce" basis. The articles to which this type of conversion applies can be identified by reference to the specifications in appendix C.

2. Sales in Multiple Units. - Retailers frequently offer a product at a price for a number of units'! This is particularly common for soaps and similar small-price items. All such quotations were converted to a single unit price before computing the average for the city.

3. Extras. - "Extras" of various kinds were included or excluded from the quoted price as necessary so that the average represented the same components for all stores (or service establishments). This type of adjustment was made in only a few cases --nearly all in the furniture group to adjust for varying numbers of pieces - - and only when the Bureau had specific information to make the adjustments with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Estimates for Missing Data

When 1 or 2 of the price reporting sources could not be contacted at a specific pricing date or stores were temporarily out of stock, or for some other reason quotations could not be obtained from the full sample, estimates for the missing data were made. If a quotation following a missing date was the same as the immediately preceding quotation, it was assumed that there had been no price change in that particular outlet for the entire period. If the quotation after the missing date showed that a change had occurred in the interim, an estimate was made by reference to the changes in prices reported by other outlets in the city. Such estimates were made only when data were available for the item from more than half of the outlets in the city sample.


A . HOM E REPAIR S AND M A IN TE N AN C E

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail prices of selected commodities and servicesin 20 cities, last quarter of 1954 to December 1955, monthly and quarterly

Item and city Spec. 19541955

no. Jan. F eb . M arch Ap ril May June July A ug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D e c .

E X T E R I O R H O U S E P A I N T , nationally adv e rtise d brands, per gallon

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H - 104D e c .

$ T 3 o $ 6 .3 0 $ 6. 30 $ 6 .3 0 $ 6 .3 0 $ 6. 32 $ 6. 32 $ 6. 32 $ 6. 32 $ 6. 32 $ 6 .3 2 $ 6 .3 4 $ 6. 34D etroit --------- -- H - i f i 4 . 5 .9 3 5 .9 3 5 .9 3 5 .9 3 5 .9 4 6 .0 0 6. 00 6. 00 6. 00 6. 00 6. 00 6 .0 0 6. 00L os Angeles ---------------- H - 104 5. 94 5. 94 5. 94 6 .0 2 6. 02 5. 83 6 .0 2 6 .0 2 6 .0 2 6 .0 2 6. 02 6. 16 6. 16New York ----------------------- H - 104 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 6 .0 8 6 .0 8 6 .0 8 6. 08 6. 08 6 .0 8 6. 08 6. 08P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H - 104 5. 87 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 5 .9 2 6. 01 6. 01 6 .0 1 6. 01 6. 01 6. 01 6 .0 1 6. 01 6 .0 1

B o s to n ------------------------------ H - 104O ct. 5. 92 5 .9 2 5 .9 5 5. 82 5. 76

K ansas C i t y ------------------- H - 104 5. 68 5. 80 5 .8 4 5 .9 4 5 .8 8 . M inneapolis - - - - - - - - - H - 104 5 .9 2 6. 00 5 .9 1 6 .0 2 6. 02 P it t s b u r g h --------------------- H - 104 6. 62 6. 62 6 .6 2 6. 62 6. 62 Portland, O r e g o n -------- H - 104 6. 09 6 .0 6 6 .4 4 6. 04 6. 57

C leveland ----------------------- H - 104N ov. 6. 22 . . . 6 .2 2 . . . 6 .2 8 6 .2 2 . . . . . . 6 .2 8 . . .

H o u sto n ---------------------------- H - 104 6. 18 6. 18 6 .2 1 6. 24 - - - 6 .2 4 S c r a n to n ------------------------- H - 104 6 .2 0 6 .2 0 6 .2 0 . . . 6 .2 6 6. 37 .

H - 104 6. 35 - - - 6. 31 6 .2 0 . . . 6 . 31 . . . 6. 31 - Washington, D . C . - - - H - 104 6. 10 . . . 6. 10 . . . . 6. 10 . . . . . . 6. 04 . . . . . . 6. 15 . . .

Atlanta ------------------------- -- H - 104D e c . 6. 66 6 .0 6 6. 13 6. 10 6 . 10

B altim ore - - - - - - - - - - - H - 104 5. 87 - - - 5 .9 0 5 .8 1 5. 87 _ 5 .9 4C in cin n a ti----------------------- H - 104 5. 79 5 .7 9 5 .7 9 . . . 5. 79 5 .7 9St. L o u i s -------- H - 104 5 .9 6 5 .9 6 . . . 5 .9 6 $.91 5 .9 8San F r a n c is c o -------------- H - 104 6. 17 6. 17 6. 17 6. 17 6. 40

P A IN T BRUSH, pure hog bristle (H -1 0 6) , m ixed bristle (H -1 0 7), or nylon b ristle (H -1 0 8)

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H -1 0 8D ec . 4. 18 4 . 18 4 .2 3 4 .2 3 1/ 4 .4 8 4 .4 8 4 .4 8 4 .4 8 V 4 .0 3 3 .9 5 3 .9 5 3 .9 5 3 .8 1

D etroit ---------------------------- H -1 0 8 4 . 60 4 . 60 4 . 72 4 .7 2 4 . 52 4 . 52 4 .4 9 4 .4 9 4 . 62 4 . 62 4 . 31 4 . 31 4 . 31Los Angeles -------------- -- H -1 0 8 2/ 2 . 63 2. 63 2. 63 2 . 63 2 . 67 2 . 74 2 .8 4 2 .8 4 2 .8 4 2 . 74 2 . 74 2 .7 4 3. 00New Y ork ........................ H -1 0 6 .4 .0 8 4 . 08 4 . 08 4 .0 8 4 .0 8 3 .9 4 4 . 14 1/ 3 .8 4 3. 74 3. 74 3. 74 3. 74 3. 68P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -1 0 6 5. 98 5. 73 5. 73 6 .3 6 6 .3 6 6. 36 6 .3 6 5 .7 2 5. 72 5. 72 5. 72 5. 72 5. 72

B o s to n ------------------------------ H -1 0 6

O ct. 4. 97 4 . 97 (in (ID

< ? A .Kansas C i t y ------------------- H -1 0 8 2 .9 9 2 .9 9 1.28 3. 61 _ M in n e a p o lis ------------------- H -1 0 8 3. 78 3 .9 3 4 . 16 P ittsb urgh -----------------------Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -1 0 8

( 3 /)1.60 ( 3 /) 1. 58 (in3 .0 0

___ ___ ___ % 1.9 8C leveland ----------------------- H -1 0 6

N ov.5 .4 3 5. 43 5. 75 5. 75 5. 42

Houston ------------------------- H -1 0 6 3. 61 3. 61 3 .2 8 3 .4 8 3 .4 8S c r a n to n ------------------------- H -1 0 8 4 . 68 4 . 68 4. 68 4 . 68 4 . 68 . . .S e a tt le ----------------------------- H -1 0 8 2. 74 2. 70 2. 70 2. 70 . 2. 74 . . .Washington, D . C . - - - H -1 0 8 3. 38 3 .2 4 V 3. 10 2. 77 2 . 78

Atlanta --------------------- -- H -1 0 8D e c . 4 . 93 4 .9 3 4 . 92 4 . 92 4 . 92

B a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -1 0 7 5. 08 5. 08 . . . 5 .0 8 V 4 .5 0 y 4. 19 . 4 . 74

C in cin n a ti----- ----------------- H -1 0 6 5 .4 6 5 .4 6 5/ 4 .1 9 5/ 4 . 19St. L o u i s ----------------------- H -1 0 8 3 .4 8 3 .4 4 V 3 .2 5 3. 08 3. 11San F r a n c is c o -------------- H -1 0 8 3. 05 ( 3 /) ( 3 /) H 3 .5 0 $ 3 .5 0

H O T W A T E R H E A T E R , g a s , (H -1 3 0) or e lectric ( H -131) , 3 0 - g a l lo n , installed 6 /

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H -1 3 0D ec. 1 5 7 .3 3 1 5 7 .3 3 1 54 .2 3 1 5 4 .2 3 1 5 4 .2 3 1 5 4 .2 3 1 5 4 .2 3 7 /15 1 .08 146. 25 1 4 8 .9 9 ' 1 51 .4 9 1/145. 41 1 4 5 .4 1

D e t r o i t ---------- %i H -1 3 0 2 /1 6 2 .4 4 1 6 2 .4 4 1 6 2 .4 4 163. 38 1 6 4 .5 6 1 /1 6 7 .9 5 167 .9 5 1 67 .9 5 1 /174 . 63 1 7 4 .6 3 1 7 5 .5 3 1 7 6 .7 4 176. 74L os A n g e le s ------------------- 9 / H -1 3 0 1 26 .2 9 1 26 .2 9 1 26 .2 9 1 2 6 .4 9 1 2 6 .4 9 1 2 6 .4 9 1 26 .4 9 1 2 6 .4 9 1 29 .37 1 29 .3 7 1 2 9 .3 7 1 3 1 .3 7 131. 37New York ----------------------- " H -1 3 0 2 /1 8 1 . 73 1 79 .3 8 1 7 9 .3 8 1 7 9 .3 8 1 8 1 .4 4 1 8 2 .8 6 190 .2 1 1 90 .2 1 190 .2 1 1 9 0 .9 4 193. 14 1 97 .5 5 1 9 9 .0 5P h ila d elp h ia ------------------- H -1 3 0 2 /1 4 9 .3 1 # M 9 . 31 1 47 .3 5 1 4 9 .7 6 1 4 9 .7 6 149. 76 1 4 9 .7 6 1 4 9 .7 6 1 4 9 .7 6 1 50 .2 2 1 5 1 .8 9 1 5 1 .9 8 1 4 8 .6 4

B o s to n ------------------------------ H -1 3 0O ct.17 3.

1 6 9 .8 3 ( 3 /) (in 1 35 .6 1 1 3 6 .0 3

W ashington, D . C . - - - H -1 3 0 - - - 1 7 l . 94 . . . 171. 16 . . . 1 7 2 .8 8 . . . . . . 1 12 .8 1 Atlanta ---------------------------- H -1 3 0

D e c .2 /141744 142. 11 . . . . . . 1 4 4 .0 3 _ . [3/143. 72 _ . . . 143. 79

B altim ore ----------------------- H -1 3 0 1 5 1 .9 0 1 4 8 .1 6 1 50 .3 5 "151. 21 1 54 .2 8C in cin n a ti----------------------- H -1 3 0 2 /1 6 8 . 80 1 6 8 .4 0 1 70 .2 6 1 77 .6 5 175. 15St. L o u i s ----------------------- H -1 3 0 2 /1 5 3. 63 1 4 9 .0 3 1 49 .0 3 1 4 9 .0 3 1 5 0 .4 5San F r a n c is c o -------------- H -1 3 0 2 /1 4 0 . 14 1 41 .1 4 1 41 .2 2 1 4 4 .0 7 1 44 .0 7

See footnotes on page 26.


A . HOM E R EPAIR S AND M A IN T E N AN C E - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail prices of selected commodities and servicesin 20 cities, last quarter of 1954 to December 1955, monthly and quarterly - Continued


no. Jan. F eb . M arch A p ril M ay June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

F A U C E T for kitchen sink , installed , wall mount (H - 144. l ) o r deck type ( H -1 4 5 .1 ) 6 /

C h ic a g o ------------ H - 1 45 .1D ec.

$ 7 1 7 5 8 $ 2 3 .8 8 $ 2 3 . 88 $ 2 3 .8 8 $ 2 3 . 88 $ 2 3 . 88 $ 2 3 .8 8 $ 2 3 .9 5 $ 2 3 .6 1 $ 2 3 . 61 $ 2 3 .6 1 $ 2 3 .7 2 $ 2 3 .7 2D e tr o it ----- ---------- -- H - 1 4 4 .1 1 7 .2 3 1 7 .2 3 1 7 .2 3 1 7 .2 3 17. 35 17. 35 17. 35 1 7 .4 4 1/ 1 9 .0 8 19.08 1 9 .0 8 19. 08 19. 08L os Angeles - - - - - - - - H - 144. 1 1 9 .4 2 19. 58 19. 58 2 0 .4 9 2 0. 63 2 0 .6 3 20. 63 2 0 .6 3 2 1 .7 4 2 1 .7 6 21.96 22. 73 2 2 .7 3New Y o r k ........................ H - 1 4 4 .1 1 7 .4 2 17. 34 17. 34 17. 34 17. 34 17. 34 17. 34 17. 34 17. 58 17. 52 17. 52 1 7 .5 2 19. 14Philadelphia .............. H - 1 4 4 .1 1 9 .4 8 1 9 .4 8 J/18 . 68 18. 68 18. 68 1 8 .6 8 18. 68 V 1 9 .2 0 1 9 .9 4 1 9 .9 4 1 9 .9 4 2 0 .6 9 2 1 .7 0

B o s t o n ----- ------------------- -- H - 1 4 4 .1Oct.T5714 1 5 .5 4 15. 54 15. 60 1 7 .9 5

Kansas City ---------- -- H - 1 4 4 .1 1 6 .7 7 16. 76 1 7 .1 9 17. 50 17. 74 M inneapolis - - - - - - , H -1 4 4 . 1 17. 70 17. 70 1 6.8 7 ----- 17. 10 17. 62 - - - P ittsb u rg h ----- -- H - 1 4 4 .1 15. 10 15. 10 15. 10 1/ 14. 60 16. 12 - Portland, O regon - - - H - 1 45 .1 17. 36 1 7 .7 0 - - - 18. 00 - - - - - - 18. 38 - - - 19. 12 - - - - - -

C leveland - --------- -- H - 1 4 4 .1Nov.707 5 3 2 0. 53 2 0 . 77 20 . 89 2 1 .9 1

Houston --------- -- H -1 4 4 . 1 17. 13 ___ 1 7 .4 6 1 8 .4 3 1 8 .4 3 18. 68 Scranton - - - - - - - - - - H - 1 4 4 .1 1 3 .9 6 1 3 .9 6 ___ 1 3 .9 6 1 4 .8 6 1 5 .2 8 . . .Seattle ------------ --------------- H - 1 4 4 .1 1 7 .0 4 17. 04 17. 31 1 8.0 9 1 9 .8 5 Washington, D . C . - H - 145. 1 2 2 .9 3 - 2 2 . 71 - - - 2 4 .2 1 - - - 2 4 . 14 - - - - - - 2 5 .2 7 - - -

A t la n ta ------------------ -------- H -1 4 4 . 1D ec.1X5777 1 9 .0 3 1 9 .0 3 1 8 .8 6 18.86

B a lt im o r e ----- -- H - 144 .1 19. 58 19.82 19. 82 2 0 .5 3 20.86Cincinnati - - - - - - - - - - H - 1 4 4 .1 18. 72 18.81 19.21 2 0. 56 2 1 .2 6St. Louis ------- ---------- -- H - 1 4 4 .1 1 4 .2 2 1 4.2 2 14.2 2 - - - 14. 61 1 4 .8 7San F ran cisco - - - - - - H - 1 4 4 .1 2 /20 . 23 - - - 20 . 19 - - - - 2 1 .9 9 - 2 3 . 71 2 4 .9 8

B . HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES

B A T H T O W E L , 22 " x 4 4 "

C h ic a g o ---------------- -- H -4 0 0D ec.

.8 8 .9 0 .9 0 1 / .9 3 .8 9 .9 3 .9 3 .8 9 .9 3 .9 3 .9 3 .9 3D e tr o it ---------------------------- H -4 0 0 1 .0 6 1 .0 3 1 .0 3 1 .01 1 .1 1 1. 11 1. 11 1. 11 1. 11 1 .0 9 1 .0 9 1 .0 9 1 .0 9L o s A n g e le s ---------------- H -4 0 0 .9 2 .9 1 .9 2 .9 2 .9 2 . 88 .9 6 .9 6 .9 1 .9 9 .9 9 .9 9 .9 9New Y o r k ................... .. H -4 0 0 1 .0 0 1 .0 0 1. 00 1 .0 0 1. 00 1 .0 0 1. 00 1 .0 0 1 .0 0 1 .00 1 .02 1 .0 2 1 .0 2P h ila d e lp h ia ------------ -- H -4 0 0 1 .01 .9 6 1 .05 .9 6 1. 00 1 .0 3 1 .0 3 .9 8 .9 3 .8 7 .9 8 .9 8 .9 8

B o s t o n ---------------------------- H -4 0 0O ct. T96 .9 6 .9 4 .9 4 .9 4 . . . . . .

Kansas C i t y -------------- -- H -4 0 0 98 .9 8 .9 8 .----- 1/ .9 2 .9 4 M inn eap olis------------------- H -4 0 0 .9 6 .9 3 .9 6 .9 6 .9 6 P ittsb u rg h ---------------- -- H -4 0 0 .9 5 .9 5 .9 5 .9 2 . 90 Portland, O r e g o n ----- H -4 0 0 .9 5 .9 5 .9 5 .9 5 .9 5

C levelan d ----------------------- H -4 0 0Nov. ~ 1704 1 .0 4 1 .0 0 .9 4 .9 8

H o u s to n ------------------------- H -4 0 0 .9 8 .9 8 .8 9 .8 9 .9 4 Scranton ----------------------- H -4 0 0 .9 2 .9 2 .9 1 .8 9 .8 9 . . .S e a t t le .............. - ............... H -4 0 0 .9 2 .9 2 .9 2 .9 2 . 89 W ashington, D . C . ----- H -4 0 0 .9 8 . . . .9 6 . . . . . . .9 4 . . . . . . .8 9 . . . - - - .9 5

A tla n ta --------------------- -- H -4 0 0D ec. ----- 758 .9 5 . . . . . . .9 5 . . . . . . .9 5 . . . . . . .9 1

B altim ore - - - - - - - - - - H -4 0 0 2/ 1 .0 6 1 .02 . 98 .9 8 1 .0 2Cincinnati --------- ---------- H -4 0 0 1 .0 0 1 .0 0 1/ .9 2 .9 2 .9 2St. L o u i s - - - - ' -------------- H -4 0 0 1 .01 1 .01 1 .02 1 .0 2 I. 02San F r a n c i s c o ------------ H -4 0 0 .9 0 .8 9 .8 9 .9 4 .9 4

SH E ET, m uslin , type 128 , 8 1 " x 9 9 " (H -4 1 0) or 8 1 " x l 0 8 " (H -411)

C h ic a g o ------------------------- H -4 1 0D ec. 1797 1 .6 8 1 .9 6 1 .9 6 1. 96 1 .8 9 1 .9 6 1 .9 6 1 .71 1 .7 0 2. 06 2. 09 2 . 09

D etroit - - - - - - - - - - - - - H -411 2. 08 1 .8 9 2. 05 2 .0 5 2 .0 5 1 .97 2. 05 2. 05 1 .8 2 1 .8 9 1 . 8i 1 .97 1 .9 9L os A ngeles - - - - - - - - H -411 2. 15 1 .9 0 2 .0 4 2 . 06 1. 94 1 .94 2 . 14 2 .0 4 1 .91 2 . 14 2. 08 2. 17 2 .2 2New York ........................ H -4 1 0 2 .2 5 1 .9 4 2 . 08 2. 12 2 . 16 1 .87 1 .9 3 2 . 07 1 .8 6 2 .0 7 2 . 11 2 . 14 2 .2 3P h ila d e lp h ia ----------------- H -4 1 0 2 . 18 1 .8 0 2 .0 4 2 . 17 2 . 17 1 .9 0 2. 17 2 . 12 1 .8 0 2 .2 1 2. 17 2 .2 1 2 .2 1

B o s t o n --------------------------- H -4 1 0Oct.

2707 12/ 1 .81 2. 11 2. 07 1 .99Kansas C i t y ------------ H -4 1 0 1 .7 9 1 .6 3 1. 72 1. 72 1. 74 M inn eap olis------------------- H -411 1 .95 1 .8 3 2. 02 2. 04 1 .9 4 Pittsburgh -------------------- H -4 1 0 2 . 11 1 .9 2 2. 04 2. 17 2 .0 5 Portland, O r e g o n ------ H -411 2. 17 1 .8 6 . . . . . . 2 . 17 . . . . . . 2. 06 . . . . . . 2 .2 5 . . . . . .

C leveland-------------- -- H -411N ov.

2718 2 .2 0 . . . . . . 1. 86 1 .8 6 . . . 2 .2 2Houston ------------------------- H -411 2 .0 2 2 .0 6 1 .81 1 .8 1 2. 14 Scranton - - ------------------ H -411 2 .0 3 2 .0 3 1 .9 9 1 .9 3 2. 02 S e a t t le --------------------------- H -411 2. 12 2 .2 3 2 .0 7 1 .8 8 2. 27 Washington, D . C . ----- H -4 1 0 2 .4 4 - - - 2 .4 4 . . . . . . 2 . 06 . . . . . . . 1/ 1 .8 9 . . . . . . 2. 06 . . .A t la n ta --------------------------- H -4 1 0

D ec.2714 . . . . . . 2 . 14 . . . . . . 2 . 05 1/ 2 .0 0 2 . 04

B a lt im o r e --------------------- H -4 1 0 2/ 2 .2 2 2. 06 1.91 1 .87 l . 92Cincinnati --------- ---------- H -4 1 0 1. 74 1 .6 9 13/ 2 .0 2 1 3 /2 . 02 1 3 /2 . 12St. L o u is ------------ ---------- H -4 1 0 14/ 1 .9 7 1 .91 1. 72 1 .9 4 ~ ~ 1 .9 9San F r a n c i s c o ------------ H -411 2. 30 2 .2 4 2 . 31 2 . 31

.

2 . 35



B . HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail prices of selected commodities and servicesin 20 cities, last quarter of 1954 to December 1955, monthly and quarterly - Continued


no. Jan. F eb . M arch A p ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

B E D S P R E A D , cotton Jacquard, 85 " x 1 0 5 "

D ec.C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 1 X 1 5 $ 6. 15 $ 6 . 15 $ 6. 15 $ 6 . 15 $ 6. 15 $ 6. 15 $ 5 .9 5 $ 5 .9 5 $ 5 .9 5 $ 5 .9 5 $ 5 .9 5 $ 5 .9 5D etroit --------------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 6 .3 8 6. 38 6. 38 6. 38 1 /6 .4 6 6. 46 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6. 46 6 .4 6L os A n g e le s ------------------- H -4 2 0 Z7 6 .4 7 6 .4 7 6 .4 7 6 .4 7 6 .4 7 6 .6 2 6. 62 6. 62 6. 62 6. 62 6 .6 2 6 .6 2 6 .4 7New Y o r k ----------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 6 .3 9 6 .3 9 6 .3 9 6 .3 9 6. 39 6 .3 9 6. 39 6 .3 9 6. 38 6. 52 6. 52 6 .5 2 6 .5 2P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6. 46 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6. 12 6 .2 9 6 .2 9 6 .2 9

Oct.Boston ----------------------------- H -4 2 0 T T 5 6 6. 56 6. 56 ___ ___ 1/ 6 .4 6 . . . . . . 6 .4 6 ___Kansas C i t y ----- ------------- H -4 2 0 5. 70 5. 70 5 .9 5 5 .9 5 5 .9 5 - M inneapolis ------------------ H -4 2 0 5 .9 4 5 .9 4 5 .9 4 5 .9 4 - 1/ 6 .2 0 P ittsb u rg h ----------------------- H -4 2 0 6. 46 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 6 .4 6 Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -4 2 0 6. 35 6 .4 6 6. 39 1 5/6 . 33 5 .8 4

N ov.C levelan d ------------------------- H -4 2 0 T 7 5 2 6 .6 2 6 .6 2 ___ 6 .6 2 6. 62 ___H o u s to n --------------------------- H -4 2 0 6 .2 0 6 .2 0 s.'zrr 6 :2 0 6. ZU Scranton ------------------------- H -4 2 0 6. 10 6 .0 4 6 .0 4 6. 12 6. 12 S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -4 2 0 6. 77 6. 77 6 .8 8 16/ 6 . 31 6. 31 . . .Washington, D . C . ----- H -420 6. 71 6. 71 6 .7 2 ~ 6 .7 2 1/ 6 .9 5

D ec.A t la n ta ------------------------------ H -4 2 0 2 / 5 .9 6 5 .9 6 5 .9 6 ___ 5 .9 6 5 .9 6B a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 6 .9 5 6 .6 2 6. 62 1/ 6 .3 9 6 .3 9C in c in n a ti----------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 5 .7 2 5 .7 2 ( 3 /)

i) ^

St. Louis ----------------------- H -4 2 0 2 / 5 .8 8 5 .8 8 X 88 San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H -4 2 0 7 / 6 .6 9 . . . 6 .8 3 . . . 6 .8 3 . . . . . . 1/ 6 .9 7 . . . . . . 6 . 9 7

B L A N K E T , wool, 7 2 "x 9 0 "D e c .

Chicago --------------------------- H -4 3 0 14. 19 ( 3 /) S ' > 0 7 / ) (1 7 /) S ' ) (1 7 /) Lfy 14. 1 9 1 3 .4 4 1 3 .4 4 1/ 14. 14D etroit ---------------------------- H -4 3 0 V 1 4 .9 6 1 X 9 6 0 7 / ) (1 7 /) S / ) 0 7 / ) (T 7 /) m 1 5 .4 6 1 5 .4 6 1 5 .4 6 ~ 1 5 .4 6Los A n g e le s ------------------- H -4 3 0 li 1 4 .5 6 1 4 .2 3 (1 7 /) 0 7 /) ) (T7 / ) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) s ' ) ( ) wWi ( 3 /) zwWiNew Y ork ........................... H -4 3 0 13. 76 13. 39 0 7 / ) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (T 7 /) S ' )

0 7 / )i r .5 6 2 (y i 7 . 5 7

P h ila d e lp h ia ----- ------------- H -4 3 0 15. 76 13. 77 0 7 / ) (1 7 /) 0 7 / ) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) U 7 /) 1 4 .7 6 ' ~ 1 4 .3 6 14. 16 14. 16O ct.

B o s t o n ------------------------------ H -4 3 0 1 3 .8 0 13. 11 ___ ___ (1 7 /)0 7 / )

___ ___ (1 7 /) ___ ___1 ^ 8

_ _K ansas C i t y ------------------- H -4 3 0 1 3 .2 8 12. 74 ___ 0 7 / ) ___ ___ ___M in n ea p o lis--------------------- H -4 3 0 14. 14 14. 14 11/14. 94 P itts b u r g h ----------------------- H -4 3 0 1 3 .9 6 1 3 .4 6 (1 7 /) (1 7 /) ( 3 /) . . .Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -4 3 0 1 4 .4 4 1 3 .7 8 0 7 / ) - - (1 7 /) V l X 1 9

N ov.Cleveland ----------------------- H -4 3 0 15. 12 (1 7 /)

0 7 / ) (1 7 /)

0 7 / ) (1 7 /) ___ ___ 15. 12 ___

H o u s to n ----- ------ --------------- H -4 3 0 1 3 .9 6 0 7 / ) ___ ___ ( 3 /) ___Scranton -------------------------- H -4 3 0 ( 3 /) 0 7 / ) 0 7 / ) ___ ___ ___ ___S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -4 3 0 IT. 94 0 7 / ) 0 7 / )(HD

___ 0 7 / ) ___ ___ ( 3 /) ___Washington, D . C -------- H -4 3 0 1 3 .7 0 (HD - - - . . . 0 7 / ) 0 / )

D ec.A t la n ta ------------ ----------------- H -4 3 0 1 5 .2 2 ___ ___ (1 7 /) ___ m ___ ___ 15. 72 ___ ___ (IDB a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -4 3 0 14. 75 ( 3 /) ___ ___ ( 3 /)Cincinnati ----------------------- H -4 3 0 1 4 .2 1 ___ ___ (T7 / ) ___ 0 7 / )

0 7 / )___ ___ Q /) ___ ___ (2D

St. Louis --------------------- H -4 3 0 13. 82 (T 7 /) ___ ___ ___ ( 3 /) ___ (IDSan F r a n c i s c o --------------

C U R T A I N S , cotton, "P r is c i l la " type, 9 0 " (H - 451 A ) or 8 1 " (H -4 5 1B )

H -4 3 0 2/ 1 4 .8 5 (HD Z2J 15. 65 ( I / )

JuneChicago ---------------------------- H -451A 3 .7 3 (1 7 /) S ' ) 3 .7 3 3. 73 3. 73 3. 73 3. 73 3 .7 3 (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) 0 7 / )D etroit ---------------------------- H -451E 2/ 3 .9 2 (1 7 /) 0 7 / ) 3. 83 3. 83 3 .8 3 3 .8 3 1/ 3 .5 5 3. 55 0 7 / )L os Angeles--------------------- H -451B y 3 .3 5 0 7 / ) 0 7 / ) 3 .5 4 3. 54 3. 54 3. 54 3 .5 4 3. 54 f l 7 / ) P/i 0 7 / )New Y o r k ........................... H -451A 4 . 10 (T7/ ) 0 7 / ) 4 . 10 4 . 10 4 . 10 4 . 10 4 . 10 4 . 10 w >P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -451A 2( 4 .2 3 (HD (HD 4. 18 4 . 18 4 . 18 4 . 18 4 . 18 4 . 18 (HD Q I / ) 0 7 / ) Q 7 /)

O ct.B o s t o n ------------------------------ T EZ7) (1 7 /) (3 /) ( 3 /) (HD _ _K ansas C i t y ------------------- H -451A .

0 7 / ) Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -451B (HD 0 7 / ) 4 .0 4 s / )

Nov.Cleveland -------------- H -451E T [ z 7 ) (1 7 /)

0 7 / ) 4 .0 2 4 .0 2 ___ ___ (1 7 /) ___

Houston - - - - - - - - - - - - - H -451A 0 ? / ) 1/ 3 .9 8 3 .9 8 Scranton ------------------------- H -451A rnn (hd

0 7 / ) 4 .0 4 4 .0 4 . . . 0 7 / )

S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -451E 0 7 / ) (3 /) (3 /) . . . . . .W ashington, D . C . -------- H -451A (HD - - - 0 7 / ) . . . X 08 - - - . . . 3 .8 3 . . . - 0 7 / ) . . .

D ec.A t la n ta ------------------------------ H -451A T I T / ) 3. 77 3. 77 HD _ mB a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -451A (T?D 3 .9 7 3. 87 C in c in n a ti---------------- -- H -451A )'

S ' 4. 12 (ID - 0 7 / j

St. Louis --------------------- H -451A 3 .4 8 3 .4 8 0 7 / ) j lT /)San F ra n cisco - - - - - - - H -4 5 1 I O T /) ( 3 /) (ID

1

0 7 / )

See footnotes on page 26*


B. HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: A verage retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv ic esin 20 c itie s , la st quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber 1955, m onthly and quarterly - Continued


no. Jan. F e b . M arch A p ril M ay June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

CURTAINS, tailored rayon m arquisette, 9 0 " (H -4 6 0A ) or 8 1 " (H -460B )

C h ic a g o --------------------------- H -4 6 0 AD ec.

$ 2 . 32 $ 2 . 30 $ 2 . 30 0 7 / ) ( I I / ) (1 7 /) 0 2 / ) (1 7 /) 1 /1 2 .2 5 $ 2 . 33 $ 2 . 36 & 2 . 36D etroit - - ----------------------- H -4 6 0B 2 . 18 2 . 09 2 . 18 (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) (1 7 /) 2 . 18 2 . 18 2 . 18

1 /2 . 182. 18

Los A n g e le s ------------------- H -4 6 0B 2 / 2 . 2 3 2 .2 3 2 .2 3 (1 7 /) [T7/) CTT/)RD r d(T7 / ) (1 7 /) 2 .2 5 2 .2 5 2 . 18

New Y o r k ----------------------- H -4 6 0A 2. 17 2 . 13 2 . 13 (T 7 /) (1 7 /) 0 ? / ) (T 7 /) (T 7 /) 2 . 13 13/3. 81 2 3 /3 .8 1 23/3.81P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -4 6 0 A 2 / 2 . 62 2 .6 2 2 . 62 R/) 0 1 / ) o i / ) RD RD &/) 1/ 2 .4 2 2. 42 2 . 52 2 . 52Boston ----------------------------- H -4 6 0B

O ct.T7ZT 2. 19 _ (1 7 /) _ 0 1 / )

(1 7 /)

___ ___ 2. 34 ___

Kansas C i t y ------------------- H -4 6 0B 2 . 32 2 .4 1 R / ) 1/ 2. 05 M inneapolis ------------------- H -4 6 0B 1 .9 8 1 .9 8 r d Rl) ' 2 . 08 P ittsb u rg h ----------------------- H -4 6 0 A 2 .2 2 2 .2 2

! (1 7 /) 1/ 2 . 55

Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -4 6 0B 2. 18 2 . 18 - - - RD ' 2 . 18 Cleveland - - - - - - - - - - - H -4 6 0B

N ov.2752 2 . 32 (1 7 /) (1 7 /) 2. 32 ___

H o u s to n ----- --------------------- H -4 6 0B ( 3 /) (3 /) RnRn Rn ( 3 /)

Scranton ------------------------- H -4 6 0B 2 .4 1 2 .4 1 - - - RD 2 .4 1 S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -4 6 0B 2. 38 - - - 2 . 38 R l) Rn 1/ 2 . 31W ashington, D . C . ----- H -4 6 0 A 3. 18 - 3. 18 - - - 0 in - R j ) - - - ' anAtlanta ----------------------------- H -4 6 0 A

D ec.2 /2 7 1 2 (1 7 /) 0 2 / )

. . . ___ 2 .2 2 ___ ___ 2 .4 9B a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -4 6 0 A 2. 13 cW) 0 7 / ) 2. 13 2 .2 4Cincinnati - - - - - - - - - - - H -4 6 0 A 2. 68

r a RD ( 2 /) an

St. Louis ----------------------- H -4 6 0 A 2 /2 .2 5 Rl)RD 2. 13 2 . 2 1

San F r a n c i s c o ---------- H -4 6 0B 2 . 38 . . . . . . 0 1 / ) . . . . . . 2. 33 2 . 3 3

D R A P E R Y F A B R I C , cotton bark c lo th , 4 8 " wide, per yard (See appendix C)

C h ic a g o --------------------------- H -4 8 0D ec.T7T5 1. 75

H -481B - 1 .6 6 1. 62 1 .5 2 1 .6 2 1. 62 1. 62 1. 62 1. 62 1. 53 1. 62 1 .6 2

D etroit --------------------------- H -4 8 0 2 4 /1 .6 9 24/1. 69 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1 A 1 .9 8 1 .9 8 1 .9 8 1 .9 8 2 . 05 2. 05 2. 05 2 . 05 2 . 05 2. 05 2 .0 5 2 . 05

L os A n g e le s ------------------- H -4 8 2 1. 77 1. 77 1 .77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77 1. 77

New Y o r k ........................... H -4 8 0 2 / 1. 88 1. 88 1. 88 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1 A 2 .2 7 2 .2 7 2 .2 7 2 /2 7 2 .2 5 2 .2 5 2 .2 7 2 .2 7 2 .2 7 2 . 27 2 . 27

Philadelphia - - - - - - - - - H -4 8 0 1. 82 1. 82 1 .8 2 1. 82 1 .8 2 1 .8 2 1 .82 1. 82 (in (in (in ( 3 /) (3 /)

B o s t o n ----------------------------- H -4 8 0O ct.T7T5

H -4 8 1B 1. 56 1. 56 1. 56 - 1. 56 -

Kansas City ------------------ H -4 8 0 1 .8 3 1 .8 3 1. 80 1. 80 1.80

M inneapolis -------------- H -4 8 0 1 .9 8 1 .9 8 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1 A 2. 14 2. 14 - - 2 . 14 - 2. 14 - - -

P ittsb u rg h ------------ ---------- H -4 8 0 1 .9 6 1 .9 6 ___ ___ 1 .9 6 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1 3 - - - - - 1 .5 8 - 1. 58 - - -

Portland, O r e g o n - - - - - H -4 8 0 1 .7 8 1. 78 ___ / 1 . 8 2 ___ ___ 1 .8 2 ___ ____ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1B - - - ___ ___ 1 .4 9 1 .49

C leveland ----------------------- H -4 8 0N ov.T 777 1. 77 i . 77 - - - V 1. 84 1. 84

H o u s to n ----- --------------------- H -4 8 0 1. 84 ___ 1 .8 4 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -4 8 1 A 1.66 - 1. 66 1. 66

Scranton ------------------------- H -4 8 0 1. 66 1.66 1. 66 ( 3 /) (3 /) S e a t t le ----- ------------------------ H -4 8 0 1 .7 8 ___ 1. 78 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

H -481B - 1 .5 2 - - - 1. 52 1 .4 9 - ( 3 /)

W a sh in g to n --------------------- H -4 8 0 1. 67 ___ 1. 67 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ H -4 8 1A - - 2 . 17 - - - 2 . 17 - 2 . 17 - - -

Atlanta ----- ------------------- -- H -4 8 0D ec.rm 1. 37

H -4 8 1 A 1 .61 1. 61 1. 61 1. 61B altim ore -------------- H -4 8 0 1 .7 4 ___ ___ 1. 74 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

H -4 8 1 A 2 . 14 - 2. 14 2. 16 - - - 2. 16Cincinnati ----------------------- H -4 8 0 1 .8 9 1. 89 ( 3 /) an (inSt. L o u is ----- ---------- -- H -4 8 0 2 / 1 .6 7 _ ___ 1 .6 7 ___ ___ 1. 67 _ ___ ___ ___ ___

H -4 8 1B 1. 57 1. 57 - 1 .61

San F rancisco - - - H -4 8 0 2/ 1 .9 8 ___ ___ 1 .9 8 ___ ___ 1 .9 8 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___H -481A

1

1 .4 2 1. 52



Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv icesin 20 cities, last quarter of 19^4 to D ecem ber 195 5, m onthly and quarterly - Continued

C. FLOOR COVERING AND FURNITURE

Item and city Spec.no. 19541955

Jan. F eb. M arch A p ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

B R O A D L O O M , Tufted,v isc o se carpet rayon (H-502) or tufted cotton (H-503), 12 ft. width, persq . yd.

D e c .C h ic a g o --------------------------- H -5 0 2 (3 /) ( 3 /) $ 9 .7 0 $ 9 . 70 $ 9 .2 0 $ 9. 20 $ 9 .2 0 |/$ 8 .7 5 $ 8. 75 $ 8. 75 $ 8. 75 $ 8. 75D etroit --------------------------- H - 503 $ 51 9 6 $ 6". 71 6 .4 6 6. 34 6. 34 6. 34 6. 34 ' 6. 34 6. 34 5. 72 5. 84 5 .8 4Los A n g e le s ------------------ H - 503 5. 13 4 . 97 4 .9 7

H -502 ___ ___ 8. 71 8. 71 8. 71 8. 71 9. 11 8 .9 0 9 . 12 9 . 12 9 .8 2 9 .8 2New York ........................... H -502 ___ 9. 44 9 .4 4 9 .4 4 9 .4 4 9 .4 4 9. 64 9. 84 1 0 .0 4 10. 04 10. 04 10. 07 10. 16P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -502 - - - 9. 62 9. 62 9. 62 9 .9 5 9 .9 5 9 .9 5 9 .9 5 2 5 / 9 .7 4 9. 74 9. 64 9. 86 9 . 86

O ct.B o s t o n -------------- ------- ------- H - 503 6. 31 6. 31 6. 31 6. 31 Kansas C i t y ------------------ H -502 8. 75 8. 75 7. 72 8. 06 . ----- Minneapolis ------------------- H -502 (3 /) 8. 15 8. 15 8. 15 - - -P ittsb u rg h ----------------------- H - 503 4 . 56 4. 56 4. 56 - - - - - -

H -502 9. 55 9 .9 5 - - -Portland, O r e g o n -------- H - 503 - - - 6 .9 8 - - - 6. 98 . . . . . . 6. 72 - - - 6. 65 . . .

N ov.Cleveland ----------------------- H - 503 4 .9 7 4 .8 1 4. 72 4. 72 H o u s to n --------------------------- H - 503 5 .8 8 6. 15 6. 04 6. 04S c r a n to n -------------------------- H -502 8 .2 0 8. 68 8. 68 8 .5 0 S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -5 0 2 9 .9 5 9 .4 5 9 .4 5 9 .9 5 W ashington, D . C . -------- H -502 - - - - - - 8 .2 0 - - - - - - 8. 09 . . . . . . 8 .0 9 - - - - - - 8. 09 - - -

D ec.A t la n ta ---------------- ------------- H -5 0 2 8 .4 6 8. 84 8 .8 4 8 .8 4B altim ore ----------------------- H - 503 6. 34 6. 34 6 .0 9 1 / 5 .4 6C in c in n a ti----------------------- H -502 8. 59 8. 59 8. 59 8 .5 9St. Louis ----------------------- H -5 0 2 6 .9 5 6. 95 7 .2 0 7 .2 0San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H -502 - - - - - - 8. 71 - - - . . . 8. 82 . . . 9. 01 - - - . . . 9 . 02

A X M I N S T E R R U G ,a l lwool (H -520) or wool andrayon (H -5 2 1), 9 x 12 ft.

D e c .C h ic a g o --------------------------- H -521 W T 7 0 80. 70 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .2 0 8 1 .9 5 8 3 .2 0 8 3 .2 0 8 3 .2 0D etroit ---------------------------- H -521 89. 56 8 5 .8 6 8 5 .8 6 1 /8 1 .4 8 8 1 .4 8 8 2 .4 8 8 2 .4 8 ,8 2 .4 8 8 2 .4 8 8 2 .4 8 8 6 .8 2 8 6 .8 2 8 6 .8 2L os Angeles ------------------ H -521 2 /9 2 .6 0 9 1 .4 0 9 1 .4 0 9 1 .4 0 9 1 .4 0 1 /8 8 .0 2 79. 47 1 /8 1 .9 6 8 1 .9 6 8 1 .9 6 8 1 .9 6 80. 76 82. 76New York ----------------------- H -5 2 0 " 9 5 .4 9 9 1 .4 9 99. 18 99. 18 99. 18 99. 18 , 9 7 .1 8 97. 18 9 9 . 18 99 . 18 99. 18 97. 18 97 . 18P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -5 2 0 2 /9 2 .0 8 93. 58 93. 58 93. 58 93. 58 93. 58 2 / 9 3 .6 3 9 4 .8 0 95. 66 9 7 .8 2 9 8 .5 4 98. 54 9 8 .8 9

Oct.B o s t o n --------------------- -------- H -5 2 0 8S728 8 9 .9 5 91. 62 9 3 .2 8 1 0 3 .2 8 Kansas C i t y ------------------ H -521 7 9 .9 7 7 9 .9 7 7 9 .9 7 83. 30 83. 30 Minneapolis ------------------ H -521 88. 34 88. 34 88. 32 8 5 .8 4 85. 84 P ittsb u r g h ------------ ---------- H -5 2 0 93. 58 93. 58 9 3 .5 8 92. 61 93. 36 Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -521 94. 70 94. 70 . . . 2? 87 .3 0 . . . 88. 50 - - - ( i n - - -

N ov.C le v e la n d ----------------------- H -521 W T zz 8 9 .2 2 8 8 .4 8 8 3 .4 8 8 3 .2 4 -H o u s to n ---------------------------- H -521 8 2 .9 8 82. 98 82. 98 88. 17 88. 17 Scranton --------------------------- H -520 95. 38 95. 38 95. 38 1 / 9 7 .3 3 98. 83S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -521 83. 75 83. 86 17/79. 80 8 1 .6 5 84. 17W ashington, D. C . -------- H -5 2 0 9 2 .4 5 - - - 9 2 .4 5 - - - - - - 9 2 .4 5 . . . - - - 9 4 .9 5 - - - - - - 9 6 .2 0 . . .

D ec.Atlanta ---------------------------- H -521 9 2 .4 0 92. 40 9 3 .0 9 1 /9 3 .2 4 9 1 -4 9B a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -5 2 0 92. 37 92. 37 92. 37 9 5 .0 8 97. 78Cincinnati ----------------------- H -521 83. 86 78. 46 76. 46 ,6 .4 6 83. 87St. L ouis ----------------------- H -520 9 1 .9 8 90. 74 90. 74

H -521 - - - 74. 61 74. 74San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H -521 89. 11 91. 36 - - - . . . 9 1 . 61 . . . 9 1 .6 1 . . . 9 1 .6 1

B R O A D L O O M , velvet,all wool (H -530) or wooland rayon ( H -5 3 1 ) ,9 ft.width, per sq. yd.

D e c .C h ic a g o --------------------------- H -5 3 0 10. 86 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 95 10. 55 10. 35 10. 35 10. 55D etroit --------------------------- H -5 30 10. 84 10. 84 10. 84 10. 84 10. 84 10. 70 10. 70 10 .2 1 10. 70 10. 70 10. 70 10. 70 1 0 .9 5Los A n g e le s ------------------- H -5 30 9. 83 9. 83 9. 86 9 .9 4 9 .9 0 9 .9 0 9 .9 0 1 0 .4 0 10. 16 10. 16 10. 16 1 0 .2 9 1 0 .2 8New York ----------------------- H -5 30 10. 75 10. 75 10. 15 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 10. 75 11. 15 11. 35 11. 15 1 1 .2 6 1 1 .2 6 11. 15P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------ H -5 3 0 10. 62 10. 62 10. 78 10. 62 10 .4 5 10. 45 10 .45 10.4 5 10. 95 1 1 .2 8 1 1 .2 8 1 1 .2 8 1 1 .2 8

Oct.B o s t o n ----- ----------------------- H -5 3 0 10. 86 1 0 .4 7 10.47 1 1.2 6 1 1 .8 4 Kansas C i t y -------------- H -5 30 (3/) 12. 08 12. 09 1 1.9 7 Minneapolis ------------------ H -5 30 10. 54 10. 54 10. 59 10. 45 10. 34 P ittsb u r g h ----------------------- H -5 30 1 2 .5 9 12. 59 1 / 12.21 12.21 12.21 P ortland, O r e g o n -------- H - 5 31 8. 35 8. 15 8. 15

H -5 30 1 0.9 5 11. 59 Nov.

C lev ela n d ------------------------- H -5 30 10. 06 10. 06 1 0 .0 6 1 0 .4 6 10. 57 H o u s to n --------------------------- H -530 1 0 .4 6 10. 32 - - - ... 10. 32 10. 58 10. 32 Scranton ------------------------- H -530 10. 55 10. 72 10. 72 ,1 0 .8 0 1 0 .8 8 S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -530 1 2 .2 0 11.95 11.9 5 2 8 /1 2 .7 0 12. 70 Washington, D . C . -------- H -530 9. 76 - - - 9 . 76 . . . . . . 9 .9 6 - W 9 .8 5 - - - 9. 71 - - -

D e c .A t la n ta ------------------------------ H -5 3 0 1 0799 1 1.0 6 11. 06 11. 13 11. 16B a lt im o r e ----------------------- H -5 3 0 11.41 10. 81 10. 61 10. 86 11. 12C in c in n a ti----------------------- H -5 3 0 10. 09 10. 09 10. 09 1 0 .8 6 1 1 .2 2St. Louis ----------------------- H -5 30 14/11. 17 10. 97 10. 97 1 1 .2 6 1 1.5 7San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H -5 30 10. 95 10. 88 10. 71

1

11. 30 1 1 .0 4



Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv ic esin 20 c itie s , la st quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber 1955, monthly and quarterly ~ Continued

C. FLO O R COVERING AND FURNITURE - Continued


no. Jan. F eb . M arch A p ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

HARD SU RFAC E RUG, printed enam el with felt base , 9 x 12 ft.

D ec.Chicago - - - - - - - - - - - - - H -5 7 0 2/$12735 $ 12. 35 $ 1 2 .3 5 $ 12. 35 $ 12. 35 $ 1 2 .3 5 $ 12 .3 5 $ 1 2 .3 5 $ 1 2 .3 5 $ 12 .3 5 $ 12. 35 $ 12 .3 5 $ 1 2 .3 5D etroit --------------------------- H - 570 12. 95 1 2 .9 5 12.9 5 12.9 5 1 2 .9 5 1 2 .9 5 12. 95 1 2 .9 5 1 2 .9 5 1 2 .9 5 12. 95 12. 95 1 2 .9 5Los A n g e le s ------------ -- H -5 7 0 12. 62 12. 60 12. 60 12. 60 1 2 .6 6 12. 66 12. 66 12. 66 1 2 .6 6 12. 66 12. 66 12. 66 12. 66New York ........................... H -5 7 0 12. 54 13. 14 13. 05 13 .05 13.2 5 1 3 .2 5 13.2 5 1 3 .2 5 1 3 .2 5 1 2 .9 5 12.9 5 12. 95 12. 95P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------ H -5 7 0 1 2 .4 4 1 2 .4 4 1 2 .4 4 1 2 .4 4 1 2 .4 4 12.

C. FLO O R COVERING AND FU RN ITU R E - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: A verage retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv icesin 20 c ities , last quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber ly^b , monthly and quarterly - Continued

Item and city Spec.no. 19541955

Jan. F eb. M arch A p ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. Nov. D ec.

D U AL PU R PO SE SO FA,cotton and / or rayoncovering; jackknife type,denim back (H -6 2 0 . 1),s e l f - c o v e r e d b a c k(H -6 2 1 . 1), sofa bed unit(H -6 2 2 ). D ec.

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H -6 2 1 . 1 T 3 7 ) (3 /) $ 7 9 .8 4 $ 7 9 .8 4 $ 7 9 .8 4 $ 7 7 .3 4 $ 7 7 .3 4 H -6 2 2 ___ ___ 2 2 4 .3 6 2 2 4 .3 6 2 2 9 .3 6 2 31 . 86 2 3 4 .3 6 2 3 4 .3 6 2 3 1 .8 6

D etroit --------------------------- H -6 2 1 . 1 1 1 0 .9 6 1 10 .9 6 1 1 0 .9 6 1 0 5 .9 8 1 0 5 .9 8 1 05 .9 8 1 05 .9 8 1 05 .9 8 1 0 5 .9 8 ( 3 /) H -6 2 2 2 34 . 50 2 3 4 .5 0 2 3 4 .5 0 2 34 . 50

L os A n g e le s ------------------- H -6 2 1 . 1 91 . 10 86. 10 86. 10 86. 10 H -622 2 0 4 .6 7 2 0 4 .6 7 204. 67 2 0 1 .5 8 197 .6 7 1 97 .6 7 201 . 67 2 0 1 .6 7 2 01 . 67 203 . 18

New Y o r k ----------------------- H -6 2 1 . 1 94. 33 94. 33 94 . 33 H - 622 2 1 3 .9 9 213 . 99 2 1 3 .9 9 213. 99 213. 99 213 . 99 2 1 3 .9 9 2 1 7 .3 2 2 1 7 .3 2 2 1 7 .3 2 2 1 7 .3 2

P h ila d e lp h ia --------------- H -6 2 0 . 1 89. 61 89. 61 89. 61 1/ 8 3 .6 8 83. 68 79. 69 79. 69 79. 69 H -6 2 1 . 1 126. 62 126. 62 1 2 9 .1 2 129. 12 1 2 9 .1 2 1 29 .1 2

O ct.B o s t o n ------------------------ H -6 2 0 . 1 TT747 88. 13 88. 13 88. 13 (3 /) Kansas C it y --------------- H -6 2 2 ( 3 /) 2 1 6 .4 7 2 1 9 .7 2 2 1 9 .7 2 2 1 9 .7 2 M inneapolis --------------- H -6 2 2 (3 /) 1 8 4 .6 2 1 84 .6 2 1 /2 1 2 .0 0 2 0 2 .0 0 P ittsb u r g h ------------------- H -6 2 1 . 1 (3 /) 9 5 .4 8 9 5 .4 8 TO/92. 11 92. 11 Portland, O r e g o n ------ H -6 2 1 . 1 F ). 58 1 0 4 .4 9

H -6 2 2 2 0 9 .4 9 2 0 9 .4 9 2 3 6 .9 9 2 37 . 10 N ov.

Cleveland ------------------ H -6 2 1 . 1 3I/7S799 97. 11 97. 11 92. 11 92. 11 H o u s to n ---------------------- H - 622 31/83. 59 (3 /) ( 3 /) 2 2 4 .7 2 2 2 7 .2 2 Scranton -------------------- H -6 2 0 . 1 81. 35 78. 85

H -6 2 1 . 1 1 1 1 .8 8 1 14 .4 9 106. 99 1 09 .4 9S e a t t le ------ ------------------ H -6 2 0 . 1 90. 98 92. 22

H -6 2 2 1 9 9 .7 8 19 97 7 8 1/204 . 71 2 2 2 .1 1 W ashington, D. C . ------ H -6 2 1 . 1 95. 74 95. 74

H -6 2 2 2 1 1 .2 9 215. 49 2 1 5 .4 9 2 1 5 .4 9 D e c .

A tla n ta ------------------------ H -6 2 0 . 1 T J T 5 7 83. 57 1/ 8 6 .5 7 85. 86 - - - 85. 77B a lt im o r e ------------------- H -6 2 0 . 1 (3 /) 82. 34 8 2 .3 4 1 /8 4 . 80 84. 80Cincinnati -------------- H -6 2 2 32 /9 7 .45 (3 /) 182 .34 182. 34 1 8 2 .3 4St. Louis ------------------- H -6 2 2 3^114. 49 32/1R . 49 3 2 /1 1 4 .4 9 2 0 7 .2 2 2 0 7 .2 2San F r a n c i s c o ---- ------ H -6 2 1 . 1 9 2 .9 1 90. 56 9 2 .9 8 33/84. 47 90. 50

M A T T R E S S , in n ersp rin g .double bed size .

D ec.C h ic a g o ---------------------- H -6 3 5 . 1 46. 69 4 6 .0 9 4 6 .0 9 46. 09 4 3 . 59 4 3 . 59 44 . 84 4 4 . 84 44. 84 4 4 .8 4 4 4 .8 4 4 4. 84 4 7 . 34D etroit ---------------------- H -6 3 5 . 1 4 3 . 36 4 3 . 36 43 . 36 43 . 36 4 3 . 36 4 3 . 36 4 3 . 36 43. 36 4 3 . 36 4 3 . 36 4 0 .9 8 4 0 .9 8 4 0 .9 8L os Angeles - - - - - - - - - H -6 3 5 . 1 (3 /) ( 3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) (3 /) (3 /) (3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) (3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) (3 /)New Y o r k ...................... H - 6 3 5 .1 2/427 66 4 2 .6 6 4 2 . 66 427 46 42746 4 2 .4 6 4 2 .4 6 4 2 .4 6 4 2 .4 6 4 2 . 46 4 2 .4 6 4 2 .4 6 4 2 .4 6P h ila d e lp h ia ---- - H - 6 3 5 .1 " 3 9 . 86 39. 86 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 3 9 .9 1 4 0 .8 2 4 0 .8 2 4 0 .8 2

O ct.B o s t o n ------------------------ H -6 3 5 . 1 ~ w n 39. 09 3 9 .0 9 1 /3 7 .9 8 3 7 .9 8 K ansas C i t y ----------- H -6 3 5 . 1 357 28 33. 25 33. 25 T /31 .92 3 1 .9 2 ___ ___M inneapolis --------------- H -6 3 5 . 1 3 4 .9 9 3 3 .9 9 3 3 .9 9 3 3 .9 9 33. 14 P itts b u r g h ------------------- H -6 3 5 . 1 4 1 .8 2 43. 87 1/43 . 14 4 4 .8 1 4 4 .8 1 Portland, O r e g o n ------ H -6 3 5 . 1 3 7 .4 5 3 7 .4 5 38. 70 2 /3 8 .9 5 3 9 .9 5

N ov.Cleveland - - - - - - - - - - - H -6 3 5 . 1 4 0 . 86 43. 25 4 3 .2 5 4 7 . 18 4 7. 18 Houston --------------------- H - 6 3 5 .1 40 . 59 40. 59 40. 59 4 0 . 59 40. 70 Scranton ------------- ------- H - 6 3 5 .1 4 0 . 73 40. 73 4 0 . 73 3 9 .8 2 3 9 .8 2 S e a t t le ------ --------- H -6 3 5 . 1 ( 3 /) (3 /) 3 9 .9 5 3 9 .9 5 3 9 .9 5 W ashington, D. C . ------ H -6 3 5 . 1 3 7 .2 2 38748 3 8 .4 8 3 8 .4 8 3 8 .4 8

D e c .A tla n ta ------------------------ H -6 3 5 . 1 2/39795 38. 20 3 8 .2 0 3 8 .2 0 38. 20B a lt im o r e ------------------- H -6 3 5 . 1 " 4 5 .9 3 4 6 .0 9 1/ 4 4 .8 2 4 7 .8 6 4 7 . 86C in c in n a ti------------------- H - 6 3 5 .1 2 /4 0 .9 8 4 0 .9 8 4 0 .9 8 4 0 .9 8 4 0. 98St. Louis ------------------- H - 6 3 5 .1 ~ (3 /) 43. 98 4 3 .9 8 4 1 .7 2 4 1 .7 2San F r a n c i s c o ----------- H - 6 3 5 .1 4 2 .4 2 40. 04 38. 73 1/36. 54 3 8 .9 2



C. FLOOR COVERING AND FURNITURE - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv ic esin 20 cities* la st quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber 1955, monthly and quarterly - Continued


no. Jan. F eb. M arch Ap ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

BEDROOM SU ITE, 3 - p iece, 18th Century, with single d resse r (H -641) o r d o u b l e d r e s s e r (H -6 4 2 . 1), and M odern, with double d resse r (H -6 5 2 .2 )

C h ic a g o ------------------------- H -6 5 2 .2D ec.

$ 2 7 2 .9 8 $ 2 7 1 .9 8 $ 2 6 6 .9 8 $ 2 6 6 .9 8 $ 2 5 7 . 79 $ 25 2. 79 $ 2 5 2 . 90 $252. 90 $ 2 5 4 .4 8 $ 2 5 4 .4 8 $ 2 5 0 . 74 $250. 74 $ 2 5 0 .7 4D etroit -------------- ---------- H -6 5 2 .2 2 6 0 .4 4 2 6 0 .4 4 261. 70 261 . 70 2 6 4 .9 0 2 6 4 .9 0 1 /2 5 4 .4 0 2 5 4 .4 0 2 46 . 89 256 . 77 2 5 6 .7 7 256 . 77 256 . 77L os Angeles ---------------- H - 6 4 2 .1 2 5 1 .9 6 256 . 72 1 /2 5 9 . 35 2 6 0 .5 9 260 . 59 260 . 59 2 5 1 .3 3 251 . 33 2 4 9 .0 5 2 5 9 .4 6 2 6 0 .0 6 2 6 0 .0 6 2 5 5 .2 8New Y o r k ---------- ---------- H -6 5 2 .2 ( 3 /) 3 5 0 .2 1 350. 21 350.21 3 4 5 .9 6 34/295. 39 2 9 5 .3 9 2 9 5 .3 9 2 9 9 .3 9 283 . 99 2 8 1 .9 9 281 . 99 2 8 1 .9 9P h ila d e lp h ia ---------------- H - 6 4 2 .1 2 7 1 .4 1 2 7 1 .4 1 241 . 19 3 5 /2 5 5 .9 9 2 5 5 .9 9 265 . 37 265 . 37 2 6 7 .1 7 2 6 8 .8 6 260 . 73 260. 73 260. 73 2 60 . 73

B o s t o n -------------- ------------- H -6 5 2 .2O ct.2T5708 2 4 2 .5 8 2 6 9 .5 9 2 6 9 .5 9 2 6 3 .8 0

Kansas C i t y ---------------- H -6 5 2 .2 2 2 3 .2 4 213. 36 - - - 2 2 3 .4 8 2 3 0 .9 4 2 3 0 .9 4 ___ ___Minneapolis ---------------- H -6 5 2 .2

z W *(3 /) 2 3 0 .1 2 2 2 4 .2 5 ___ 2 4 5 .6 8 ___ ___

P ittsb u rg h --------------------- H -6 5 2 .2 2 6 9 .8 0 2 7 6 .4 7 2 6 4 .3 5 2 5 9 .9 9 Portland, O r e g o n ----- H -6 5 2 .2 2 7 5 .1 4 2 7 0 .5 2 2 8 8 .2 1 2 8 8 .2 1 300 .71

Cleveland -------------------- H -6 5 2 .2N ov.~ W ) 2 4 0 .7 0 241 . 69 2 3 9 .7 6 2 5 8 .1 8

Houston ------------------------- H -6 5 2 .2 m (3 /) 2 4 0 .5 9 2 4 0 .2 9 ___ 2 5 5 .5 3 . . .S c r a n t o n ----- ----------------- H -6 5 2 .2 (5/) 212 .5 5 272 . 55 2 6 4 .2 1 2 6 4 .8 8 ___S e a t t le ---------- ------------ H - 6 4 2 .1 g / )

lS I . 10 2 7 5 .4 9 2 7 5 .4 9 2 7 5 .4 9 2 7 7 .4 6 ___

Washington, D. C . ----- H -641 1 8 1 .0 0 1 8 5 .1 8 1 6 7 .8 8 2 7 7 .4 6 H - 6 5 2 .2 2 1 2 .9 8 r 2 36 . 70

Atlanta - - - --------------------- H -6 5 2 .2D ec.~ W ) 2 5 9 .3f 257 . 70 36/266. 17 2 6 4 .1 7

B a lt im o r e ----- --------------- H -6 5 2 .2 (3 /) 2 2 4 .2 4 2 2 9 .9 6 2 2 9 .9 6 2 4 0 .1 3Cincinnati - - - -------------- H -6 5 2 .2 (5 /) 203 . IS 208 . 19 1 /2 1 1 . 72 2 1 9 .7 2St. L ouis - - - - - - - - - - H - 6 4 2 .1 2 5 ? . 50 2 2 8 .0C 2 2 8 .0 0 ' 2 3 9 .0 0 2 4 3 .2 5San F rancisco - - - - - - H - 6 4 2 .1 2 7 3 .9 4 3 7 /2 7 1 .0 4 256. 07 2 5 7 .9 9

H -6 5 2 .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 2 .6 2 . . . 2 8 1 .6 0

D IN E T T E S E T , E a rly A m erican , m aple or birch

C h ic a g o ------------------------- H -661D ec.

2/12T5700 126. 00 126. 00 123. 00 123. 00 1 23 .0 0 124. 19 124. 19 1 2 4 .1 9 1 2 4 .1 9 124. 19 1 2 4 .1 9 126. 78D etroit ------------------------- H -661 1 04 .6 9 1 04 .6 9 1 04 .6 9 92. 64 92. 64 92. 64 92. 64 92. 64 9 4 .8 9 94. 89 96. 51 97 . 51 9 7 .5 1L os A n g e le s ---------------- H -661 97. 68 9 7 . 68 97. 68 99. 00 9 5 .6 7 1 00 .6 7 1 0 0 .6 7 1 00 .6 7 1 00 .6 7 1 00 .6 7 100. 67 1 04 .1 5 1 0 5 .6 0New Y o r k ------------------- H -661 90. 72 90. 72 90 . 72 90. 72 9 1 .6 8 9 1 .6 8 91. 68 9 1 .6 8 94. 08 94. 08 94. 08 94. 08 94. 08P h ila d e lp h ia ---------------- H -661 7 8 .2 0 8 2 .4 5 82. 45 1/ 8 4 .3 1 84. 31 84. 31 84. 31 84 . 31 \_f 8 2 .9 0 82. 90 93. 30 93. 30 9 3 . 14

B o s t o n --------------------------- H -661Oct.~ 57 7 68 87. 68 87. 68 87. 23 88. 63

Kansas C i t y ---------------- H -661 ( 3 /) (3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) (3 /) M inneapolis ---------------- H -661 g /> (3 /) g / ) - - - (3 / ) (3 /) Pittsburgh -------------------- H -661 So. 75 7 9 .2 4 T 9 .24 77. 79 SO. 24 Portland, O r e g o n ----- H -661 (3 /) (3 /) - - - . . . (3 /) - - - ( 3 /) - - - - - - ( i n . . . - - -

Cleveland ---------------- -- H -661Nov.T 14774 1 1 4 .7 4 1 06 .6 9 1 06 .6 9 1 1 0 .4 4

H o u s to n ------------------------- H -661 ( 3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) ( 3 /) ( 3 /) Scranton - - - - - - - - - - - H -661 8 9 .2 5 S3. 25 S7. 75 ___ ___ S3. 36 ___ ___ S7. 12 Seattle --------------------------- H -661 ( 3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /)

A___ ( 3 /)

Washington, D . C . ----- H -661 W ) 82. 49 . . . - - - S 7 .49 - - - - - - - - - S 7 .4 6 - - -

A t la n ta --------------------------- H -661D ec.i m (3 /) ( 3 /) ( 3 /)

B a l t im o r e ---------- H -661 79. 62 SI. 30 S2. 30 S3. 57 C in c in n a ti--------------------- H -661 2 / 9 8 .6 3 98. 63 98. 63 9 8. 63 98. 63St. Louis --------------------- H -661 2 / 9 7 .4 4 9 7 .4 4 9 7 .4 4 ___ ___ 1 1 2 .6 9 ___ 115. 19San F r a n c i s c o ------------ H -661 2 /1 0 3 . 55 - - - . . . 1 1 8 .4 2 . . . 1 1 5 .3 6 - - - 1 2 0 .8 3 - - - . . . 123. 33

D IN E T T E S E T , 5 -p ie c e ,chrom e plated stee l, with 3 0 " x 4 8 " table (H -6 7 0 . 1), 3 6 "x 4 8 " table (H -6 7 1 . 1), 30 "x42 table (H -6 7 2 . 1)

C h ic a g o ------------------------- H -6 7 1 . 1D e c . 9 C T 0 9 6. 70 9 3 .2 8 9 3 .2 8 96. 13 9 3 .1 3 V*H.48 8 8 .9 3 8 8 .9 3 8 8 .9 3 8 8 .9 3 88. 93

D etroit -------------- ---------- H - 6 7 2 .1 7 2 .2 1 7 2 .2 1 6 7 .4 5 7 4 .9 5 7 4 .9 5 7 4 .9 5 /6 6 .6 2 66. 62 6 6 .6 2 H -6 7 1 . 1 ------ 1 0 2 .4 6 1 0 2 .4 6 102.95 1 02 .9 5

L os A ngeles ---------------- H - 6 7 2 .1 6 4 .9 5 6 2 .4 5 6 3 .7 0 63. 70 6 2 .4 5 5 9 .9 3 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5 5 9 .9 5New Y o r k ........................ H -6 7 0 . 1 83. 75 84. 94 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 84. 94 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 8 4 .9 4 84. 94P h ila d e lp h ia ---------------- H -6 7 0 . 1 (3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) 86. 84 89. 39 89. 39 89. 39 8 9 . 39 8 9 .2 1 9 1 .7 1 9 2 .7 1 9 2 .7 1 9 2 .7 1

B o s t o n --------------------------- H - 6 7 2 .1Oct.~ m (3 /) 76. 13 76. 13 72. 80

Kansas C t t y ---------------- H - 6 7 1 .1 1 1 7 .0 8 1 1 7 .0 8 1 0 2 .4 8 1 0 2 .4 8 1 0 2 .4 8 Minneapolis ---------------- H -6 7 2 . 1 69. 76 69. 17 65. 77 65. 68 65. 68 Pittsburgh - - - - - - - - - - H -6 7 0 . 1 (3 /) 88. 32 88. 32 88. 32 (3 /) Portland, O r e g o n ----- H - 6 7 2 .1 67. 76 67. 76 68. 16 64. 74 7 0 .8 2

Cleveland - - - ------------ H -6 7 1 . 1Nov.

lOTTSl 9 9 .8 1 101 .81 99. 89 92. 18H o u s to n ------------------------- H - 6 7 2 .1 76. 67 7 3 .2 8 7 6. 62 6 9 .9 5 ___ 6 9 .9 5 ___Scranton ----------------------- H -6 7 1 . 1 (3 /) 107 .7 1 107.71 107 .71 102.21 ___S e a t t le --------------------------- H -6 7 1 . 1 9 f76 8 9 5 .6 8 95. 67 95. 67 ___ 93. 58 W ashington, D . C . ----- H -6 7 2 . 1 78. 82 71. 73 . . . - - - 84. 73 . . . 3^53.23 - - - - - - 64. 80 - - -

A t la n ta ---------------------------- H -6 7 1 . 1D e c .

. . . 9 5 .9 1 . . . 93. 65 93. 65 93. 65B a lt im o r e --------------------- H -6 7 0 . 1 9 1 .9 0 9 1 .9 0 8 9 .4 0 84. 70 8 2 .2 0C in c in n a ti--------------------- H -6 7 0 . 1 9 3 .9 0 9 3 .9 0

H -6 7 1 . 1 85. 55 85. 55 8 5 .5 5St. Louis --------------------- H -6 7 1 . 1 8 9 .0 9 89. 09 8 9 .0 9 89. 09 1/87. 34San F r a n c i s c o ------------ H -6 7 1 . 1 88 . 33 88. 33 9 5 .4 2

1 9 3 .8 8 95. 12

See footnotes on page 26-


16

D. A P PL IAN C ES AND OTHER HOUSEW ARES 40 /

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv icesin 20 c itie s , la st quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber 1955, monthly and quarterly


no. Jan. F eb . M arch A pril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

S E W I N G M A C H I N E , e le c tr ic , con sole , dom estic m anufacture 4 1 /

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H - 700D ec.

2 / tFT46 $ 1 74 .71 $ 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 1 68 .4 6 & 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 167 .2 1 $ 1 6 8 .4 6 $ 1 7 0 .9 6 $ 1 7 3 .4 6 $ 1 6 3 .4 6D etroit ---------------------------- H - 700 1 80 .1 0 1 80 .1 0 1 7 9 .4 8 1/173. 57 175 .5 7 1 70 .57 1 72 .0 7 1 6 9 .0 7 1 6 9 .5 7 1 69 .5 7 1 69 .5 7 1 6 9 .5 7 1 7 5 .5 7L os A n g e le s -------------- - - H - 700 1 91 .9 8 190 .7 2 1 90 .7 2 1 90 .7 2 1 90 .7 2 1 89 .4 8 1 89 .4 8 1 8 9 .4 8 1 8 4 .4 8 1 8 4 .4 8 1 84 .4 8 1 8 8 .2 2 1 8 8 .2 2New Y o r k ----------------------- H -7 0 0 1 7 9 .6 3 1 8 1 .3 0 1 78 .0 5 1 80 .5 5 178 .0 5 1 78 .05 1 79 .7 2 1 7 7 .1 3 177. 13 1 8 0 .5 5 1 84 .7 2 1 8 4 .7 2 1 8 2 .0 6P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -7 00 1 86 .9 5 1 86 .9 5 186. 76 186. 76 1 83 .5 7 183. 57 183. 57 1 8 3 .5 7 1 7 5 .5 7 1 7 8 .5 7 1 7 8 .5 7 1 78 .5 7 1 77 .5 7

B o s t o n ------------------------------ H -7 0 0Oct.TT5746 182 .21 1 85 .9 6 1 8 3 .4 6 187 .2 1

Kansas C i t y ------------------- H -7 0 0 1 82 .3 7 181 .7 2 181 .7 2 . 1 81 .9 8 1 9 1 .9 8 Minneapolis ------------------- H - 7 00 ( 3 /) (3 /) 163 .0 9 . . . 1 63 .0 9 . . . 1 6 7 .3 4 . . .P ittsb u rg h ----------------------- H -7 0 0 1 $ 5 .7 6 1 8 9 .7 6 1 8 5 .7 6 . . . 173. 76 173. 76 Portland, O r e g o n -------- H -7 0 0 2 0 0 .9 6 1 94 .71 . . . 1 77 .1 0 . . . . . . 1 7 7 .1 0 - - - - - - 1 80 .8 5

C le v e la n d ---------------------- H -7 0 0Nov.TST798 1 7 3 .9 8 1 7 5 .3 8 1 7 6 .3 8 1 7 8 .3 8

H o u s to n --------------------------- H -7 0 0 1 7 9 .6 3 167 .61 1 7 1 .3 0 1 7 2 .9 7 1 76 .3 0 _iScranton ------------------------- H -7 0 0 1 7 9 .6 3 176. 30 1 7 6 .3 0 176. 30 - 1 84 .6 3 -S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -7 0 0 (3 /) (3 /) 1 7 8 .4 6 . . . 178. 46 1 7 5 .9 6 W ashington, D. C . ------- H -7 0 0 1 7 9 .6 3 lS l. 97 1 77 .9 7 1 7 7 .9 7 1 8 6 .3 0

A tla n ta ------------------------------ H -7 0 0D e c .

1 /T 9I797 1 9 2 .9 7 1 8 4 .6 3 1 8 4 .6 3 1 84 .6 3B altim ore --------- -- H -7 0 0 is 193. 76 1 9 4 .7 6 . . . 1 9 4 .7 6 1 9 5 .7 6 1 9 2 .3 6C in c in n a ti----------------------- H -7 0 0 1 91 .9 8 1 88 .2 2 . . . 1 88 .2 2 1 8 8 .2 2 185 .4 1St. Louis ----------------------- H -7 0 0 2 /1 7 1 .2 0 . . . 171. 20 169 .7 1 1 7 5 .9 6 _ 1 7 7 .8 4San F r a n c i s c o ----- ------ -- H -7 0 0 ? / 177. 57 1 82 .5 7 1 70 .5 7 1 7 7 .5 0 1 77 .5 7

V A C U U M C L E A N E R , upright ( H -7 10), tank type (H -7 1 1), o r c a n i s t e r ( H -7 12} 4 2 /

C h ic a g o ---------------------------- H - 7 12D ec.

2/T 6T62 71. 62 7 3 .2 8 73. 28 7 3 .2 8 71. 62 66. 62 66. 62 65. 78 65. 78 7 2 .4 5 1/74. 32 74. 32D etroit ----- ---------- ---------- H - 7 10 1/ 8 2 .6 7 7 9 .8 1 13/ 8 1 .4 2 8 2 .0 5 85. 55 8 8 .6 8 88. 68 90. 82 - - - . . . -

H -7 12 ___ ___ ___ 76. 78 77. 69 77. 69 77. 69 77. 69 7 4 .4 5L os A n g e le s --------------------- H - 7 10 ( 3 /) 1 0 1 .7 8 101. 78 1 0 5 .7 8 1 05 .7 8 1 0 0 .7 8 1 0 0 .7 8 1 0 0 .7 8

H - 7 12 ___ ___ ___ ___ 75. 12 72. 30 74. 18 76. 05 76. 37 76. 05New Y o r k ........................... H -7 12 69. 53 67. 36 67. 39 4 4 /6 3 . 43 6 1 .9 8 6 2 .7 5 6 0 .8 2 6 0 .8 2 6 1 .5 9 1 / 6 2 .9 4 63. 32 62. 62 62. 32P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H - 7 12 (3 /) 7 1 .3 8 71. 38 7 1 .3 8 6 9 .9 5 69.95 70. 66 70. 66 7 3 .5 2 ~ 7 3 .5 2 7 2 .0 9 1/7 3 .8 4 7 1 .9 5

B o s t o n ------------------------------ H -7 12O ct.75. 66 70. 76 7 3 .9 5 1 /7 7 .9 1 . . . . . . 7 7 .9 1 . . . . . .

Kansas C i t y ------------------- H -711 8 7 .4 5 8 7 .4 5 8 7 .4 5 r 8 4 .9 5 H -7 12 . . . 88. 11 - 7 6 .2 0

M inneapolis - - - - - - - - - H -711 8 9 .9 5 8 9 .9 5 8 9 .9 5 H -7 12 . . . . . . . . . - - - . . . 64. 95 . . . . . .

P i t t s b u r g h ----------------------- H - 7 10 9 1. 78 9 0 .9 5 93. 95 . . . 9 6 .9 5 . . . H - 7 12 . . . . . . 7 7 .9 0 73. 63

Portland, Oregon -------- H - 7 12 8 3 .9 5 7 9 .9 5 - - - . . . 4 5 /8 8 .8 6 8 5. 19 - - - . . . 8 0 .9 7 . . .

C leveland ------- -- H -711N ov. 86. 58 86. 58 92 . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

H - 7 12 . . . 75. 35 71. 64 H o u s to n --------------------------- H -711 8 7 .4 5 8 7 .4 5 9 1 .2 2 8 1 .8 4 . . . 84. 34 Scranton ------------------------- H -7 10 97. 62 1 0 1 .4 3 1 04 .1 2 1 0 0 .7 8

H -7 12 86. 3 l . 8 4 .0 8 S e a t t le ------------------------------ H - 7 12 74. 95 6 8 .2 8 73. 70 6 9 .9 5 - 6 9 .9 5 W ashington, D. C . -------- H -7 12 71. 68 75. 18 6 9 .0 4 68. 13 6 6 .6 2

A tla n ta ------------------------------ H -711D ec.

2/5ST52 89. 13 91. 65H - 7 12 ___ ___ ___ ___ . . . 64. 74 4 6 /6 8 . 15 . 6 7 .4 6

B a lt im o r e -----------------------C in c in n a ti-------------- --------

H -7 12 H - 7 12

. . . ::: w* ::: 7 3 .5 2 75. 95 7 5 .2 67 1 .9 5St. Louis -------------------- -- H -7 12 63. 57 64. 55 6 1 .2 2 1/ 6 7 .4 3 . . . 6 6 .9 3San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H - 7 12 79. 32 80. 34 76. 88 76. 50 78. 73



D. A P PL IAN C ES AND OTHER HOUSEWARES 4 0 / - Continued

Table 1 - HOUSING: Average retail p rices of selected com m odities and se rv icesin 20 c itie s , la st quarter of 1954 to D ecem ber 1955, monthly and quarterly - Continued

Item and city Spec.1955

no. Jan. F eb . M arch Ap ril May June July Aug. Sept. O ct. N ov. D ec.

W A S H I N G M A C H I N E , e le c tr ic , w ringer type, (H -7 2 0), and fully autom atic, ( H -7 2 2 .1) 4 2 /

Chicago ---------------------- H -7 2 0D ec.

2/$129795 $ 1 2 9 .9 5 $ 1 29 .9 5 $ 1 2 9 .9 5 $ 1 2 9 .9 5 $ 1 29 .9 5 $ 1 2 9 .9 5 $ 12 9 .95 $ 1 2 6 .9 6 $ 129 .9 5 $ 1 3 1 .9 5 $ 129 .95 $ 128. 45D etroit ---------------- ---------- H -7 2 0 1 3 9 .0 4 1 3 9 .0 4 1 3 4 .9 7 133. 15 1 37 .1 3 1 3 8 .0 4 1 3 8 .0 4 1 38 .9 5 1 3 9 .8 6 1 39 .8 6 1 39 .8 6 1 4 0 .7 8 1 33 .37L os A n g e le s ------------------- H -7 2 0 2 /1 3 9 .9 5 139 .9 5 1 3 7 .4 3 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 139 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 1/137. 95 1 3 7 .9 5 137. 95New Y o r k ----------------------- H -7 2 2 . 1 2 3 8 .1 3 2 3 5 .1 1 2 3 2 .4 6 2 3 2 .1 2 2 2 5 .9 9 2 2 5 .3 3 2 2 2 .6 6 2 2 0 .5 0 47/213. 10 2 1 0 .4 3 2 1 0 .4 3 2 05 .3 7P h ila d e lp h ia ------------------- H -720 2 /1 3 3 .2 8 1 3 3 .2 8 1 3 3 .2 8 1 32 .4 5 132 .4 5 1 32 .4 5 1 32 .45 1 32 .4 5 132 .4 5 133. 28 131 .62 1 31 .6 2 (3 /)

B o s t o n ------------------------------ H -7 2 0O ct.T23795 1 29 .95 1 29 .9 5 1 29 .9 5

H - 7 2 2 .1 ___ ___ 2 4 2 .4 5 ___ ___ 2 4 9 .9 5 ___ ___Kansas C i t y ------------------- H -7 2 0 1 29 .7 1 129 .7 1 129 .71 129 .71 129 .71 ___ ___Minneapolis - - - - - - - - - H - 7 2 2 .1 2 5 9 .9 5 2 3 9 .9 5 2 3 2 .8 1 2 3 1 .3 8 ___Pittsburgh - - - - - - - - - - - H -7 2 0 1 3 8 .8 4 134 .9 5 134 .9 5 1 2 8 .2 8 129 .3 9 Portland, Oregon ------- H -7 2 0 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .95 - - - 1 39 .9 5 - - - - - - 1 3 9 .9 5 - - - 139 .9 5 - - - - - -

Cleveland ----------------------- H -7 2 0N ov.112745 1 32 .4 5 1 3 2 .4 5 1 34 .95 1 3 6 .2 0

H o u s to n --------------------------- H - 7 2 2 .1 2 2 7 .4 4 2 3 2 .4 5 ___ 2 3 2 .4 5 235 . 75 ___Scranton - - - - - - - - - - - - H -720 1 34 .9 5 1 3 4 .1 2 1 / 1 3 1 .2 0 1 33 .5 2 1 3 3 .5 2 ___S e a t t le ------------------------------ H -7 2 0 1 39 .9 5 1 3 9 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 ___

H - 7 2 2 .1 ___ ___ 2 5 9 .1 2 ___ ___ 2 5 2 .4 5 ___W ashington, D . C . -------- H -720 1 2 3 .7 7 1 2 2 .5 8 . . . 4 fyi27. 38 . . . 1 27 .3 0 . . . - - - 127. 30 - - -

A t la n ta ------------------------------ H -7 2 0D ec.

1 3 6 .0 9 1 31 .0 9 1 31 .0 9 1/128. 59B altim ore ----------------------- H -7 2 0 2 /1 2 6 .8 2 1 2 4 .1 8 1 /1 2 2 .5 3 1 24 .9 5 123. 52C in c in n a ti----------------------- H -720 1 3 3 .8 4 133. 84 T /1 3 2 .81 1 32 .8 1 126. 24St. Louis ----------------------- H -720 2 /1 1 7 .0 1 1 16 .8 5 T /1 1 3 .14 118. 14 114 .8 1San F r a n c i s c o -------------- H -720 1 3 9 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 . . . 1 39 .9 5 1 39 .9 5 - - - 1 3 7 .7 0

R E FR IG E R A T O R , standard m odel, a c r o s s -th e - to p -fr e e z e r , 8 .8 to 9 .7 cu. ft. 4 2 /

Chicago - - - - - - - - - - - - - H - 7 3 0 .1D ec.271756 2 6 2 .9 4 2 6 5 .9 5 2 7 7 .9 5 2 7 7 .9 5 1 /2 6 5 .9 5 2 6 5 .9 5 2 6 5 .9 5 2 6 5 .9 5 1 /271 . 62 2 7 1 .6 2 2 7 0 .7 8 2 5 4 .1 2

D etroit ---------------- -- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 7 0 .5 6 256 . 39 2 5 9 .9 2 253 . 25 256. 58 49/235. 82 2 3 7 .2 3 2 2 6 .2 8 2 1 8 .7 0 " 2 1 8 .7 0 218 . 70 2 18 . 70 2 1 3 .4 5L os A n g e le s ------------------ H - 7 3 0 .1 2 2 6 .2 8 2 21 . 62 2 6 1 .6 2 2 5 4 .9 5 2 5 4 .9 5 2 4 7 .2 1 5(yZ44. 74 2 3 8 .1 1 2 3 8 .5 2 1 /2 3 7 .4 5 2 1 9 .9 5 2 1 7 .4 3 (3 /)New Y o r k ......... ................. H - 7 3 0 .1 2 4 7 .4 2 2 4 7 .4 2 2 4 8 .9 5 2 4 4 .4 9 2 4 5 .0 5 2 4 1 .4 1 241 . 68 2 3 4 .4 1 1 2 9 .2 9 " 2 2 7 .6 2 2 2 6 .2 2 2 2 3 .2 2 2 16. 00P h ila d e lp h ia ----- ------------- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 7 4 .3 3 2 7 4 .3 3 1 /2 6 9 . 12 2 6 9 .1 2 261 . 12 2 5 4 .9 5 2 5 4 .9 5 2 1 3 .2 8 "2 1 3 .2 8 2 1 3 .2 8 2 0 4 .9 5 2 0 4 .9 5 2 06 . 62

B o s t o n ------------------------------ H - 7 3 0 .1O ct.262713 2 5 5 .4 7 2 5 2 .6 3 2 3 2 .4 5 2 3 2 .4 5

K ansas C i t y ------------------- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 7 1 .5 2 2 6 9 .4 5 2 6 9 .9 5 2 6 9 .9 5 ___ 2 6 9 .9 5 ___ ___M inneapolis ------------------- H -7 3 0 . 1 2 6 8 .9 5 2 5 1 .4 6 51/251.86 - - 241 . 76 - 2 19 . 76 Pittsburgh ----------- ---------- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 51 . 73 2 4 2 .9 7 2 5 9 .9 5 - - - 236 . 62 1/226. 62 Portland, O r e g o n ----- -- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 6 0 .3 8 2 6 0 .3 8 268 . 52 2 3 2 .8 1 232 . 81

Cleveland - - - - - - - - - - - H - 7 3 0 .1N ov.2 5 7 .4 2 2 6 1 .3 8 264 . 24 2 3 3 .9 4 2 2 3 .2 8

H o u s to n ----- ------ -- H - 7 3 0 .1 ( 3 /) ( 3 /) ( 3 /) (3 /) ___ ___ ( 3 /)(3 / )

___Scranton --------------------- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 6 9 .2 1 2 53 . 34 (5 /) ___ ___ ( I / ) ___ ___ ___Seattle - - - - - - - - - - - - - - H - 7 3 0 .1 2 6 7 .4 6 2 5 8 .5 0 2 6 8 .2 6 ___ ___ 236 . 62 ___ ___ 23*6.62 ___W ashington, D . C . -------- H - 7 3 0 .1 2 7 5 .2 0 - - - 2 6 6 .9 5 2 61 . 38 - - - - - - 2 5 3 .2 8 - - - 2 0 4 .9 5 -

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