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Wholesale Prices, 1948
Including Index Numbers
of 900 Different Commodities
Bulletin No. 973
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR M aurice J . To b in ,
Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICSEwan Clague, Commissioner
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government
Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 30 cents
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Letter of Transmittal
U nited States D epartment of Labor,B ureau of Labor
Statistics,
Washington, D. C., March 27, 1950
The Secretary of Labor:I have the honor to transmit herewith a
report on primary market prices
during the year 1948. This bulletin presents a record of each of
the primary market price indexes published in 1948. The data shown
in this bulletin were first released in mimeographed reports giving
preliminary information. Current data in these series are available
on request. A summary of primary market price movements in 1948 was
published in the February 1949 issue of the Monthly Labor
Review.
This bulletin was prepared in the Branch of General Price
Research and Indexes in the Prices and Cost of Living Division. The
tables showing price data were prepared in the Statistical Services
Section under the direction of Barbara M. Frye.
E wan Clague, Commissioner.
Hon. Maurice J. T obin,Secretary oj Labor.
n
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ContentsPage
Description and use of primary market price
data______________________________ 1The wholesale price
index__________________________________________________ 1
Index numbers by groups of commodities, monthly and
weekly__________________ 1New weekly index of wholesale
prices_________;________________________________ 5
Development of the new weekly index commodity
sample____________________ 5Nature of the new
index___________________________________________________ 7
Special primary market price
indexes__________________________________________ 7Daily index of
spot market prices___________________________________________ 7
Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative importance of
individual
commodities__________________________________________________________________
11
Appendix A: Revision of the agricultural machinery and equipment
subgroup____ 52Appendix B: Revised wholesale price indexes for
livestock and meats____________ 53
TablesTable 1. Index numbers of primary market prices by group
and subgroup of com
modities,
1948____________________________________________________ 2Table 2.
Annual index numbers of primary market prices, by group and
subgroup
of commodities, 1929, 1939, 1941, and
1943-48______________________ 3Table 3. Weekly index numbers of
commodity prices in primary markets, by group
of commodities,
1948______________________________________________ 4Table 4. New
weekly index numbers of commodity prices in primary markets, by
group of commodities,
1948________________________________________ 6Table 5. Daily
indexes of spot market prices of 28 commodities, 1948____________
8Table 6. Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of indi
vidual commodities,
1948__________________________________________ 12Table 7. Revised
index numbers of wholesale prices of agricultural machinery and
equipment,
1946-47_______________________________________________ 52Table 8.
Revised index numbers of primary market prices of livestock;
quarterly,
1939-45; monthly,
1946-48________________________________________ 53Table 9. Revised
index numbers of primary market prices of meats; quarterly,
1939-45; monthly, January 1946-December
1948_____________________ 54h i
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Wholesale Prices, 1948Description and Use of Primary Market
Price Data
The wholesale price data of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
the most part represent prices at primary market levelsthat is, at
the levels of the first commercial transaction for each commodity.
Most of the quotations are the selling prices of manufacturers or
producers, or prices on organized exchanges, and are not prices
charged by wholesalers to retailers. Prices are for
commoditiestangible goods (including gas and electricity). Prices
of services, real estate, transportation, and securities are not
included. The word wholesale used in connection with this index
refers to sales in large lots.
Wherever feasible, prices are obtained f. o. b. point of
production or sale, unless an industry normally sells on another
basis; e. g., delivered. For farm products, some foods, and certain
industrial raw materials, prices are those quoted in organized
commodity markets. For most fabricated goods, prices are obtained
directly from sellers. For other commodities which have recognized
markets, quotations are taken from trade journals which are
accepted by the trade as authoritative sources of prices.
The price series maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
are defined in terms of specifications which include a detailed
description of the commodity at stated terms of trade and to a
specific type of purchaser. Most of the series represent 1
quotation from 1 seller, since for many articles prices of major
producers tend to move together. For some commodities, however,
quotations from as many as 50 sellers are averaged to
give a representative price.The primary market price data
collected by the
Bureau are used in making a number of price indexes, of which
the most important is the wholesale price index. This index is
based on prices of slightly less than 900 major commodities
combined into 49 subgroups, 10 major groups, and 5 economic groups.
All types of commodities, from raw materials to finished industrial
and consumer goods, are represented. Indexes are published monthly
for all groups and subgroups but weekly only for the 10 major
groups and 5 economic groups. Because of differences in methods of
calculation during earlier periods, the monthly and weekly indexes
are not directly comparable as to level.1 The weekly index,
however, serves as an indicator of the direction and magnitude of
current price changes.
The Wholesale Price Index
The wholesale price index is calculated as a fixed-base weighted
aggregate using prices in 1926 as 100. Most of the quantity
weighting factors for the index are based on market sales during
the years 1929 and 1931. The exceptions are: Agricultural
commoditiesthe average of sales in the years 1929, 1930, and 1931;
tires and tubesthe number of tires and tubes shipped for
replacement use in the year 1946; and motor vehicles1941 new car
registrations.
i See p. 2 for description of a new weekly index of wholesale
prices introduced in November 1948.
Index Numbers by Groups of Commodities, Monthly and Weekly
Monthly index numbers by group and subgroup of commodities for
1948 are shown in table 1 and annual index numbers by group and
subgroup for selected years are shown in table 2. Weekly index
numbers of primary market prices by commodity group and by
economic group are presented in tables 3 and 4.
The commodities included in the economic1
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2 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948T a b l e 1.Index numbers of primary
market prices, by group and subgroup of commodities,
Group and subgroup Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
All commodities _ ... , , . 165.9 161.0 161.6 163.0 164.2 166.4
168.8 169.8 168.9 165.4 164.0 162.4 165.1Farm
products____________________________________ 199.2 185.3 186.0
186.7 189.1 196.0 195.2 191.5 189.9 183.5 180.8 177.3 188.3
Grains 256.3 220.0 218.0 217.9 213.5 209.2 190.6 179.2 176.9
170.4 171.1 171.1 199. 2Livestock and poultry
1__________________________ 232.9 210.0 209.4 204.4 219.0 239.2
250.8 250.0 244.2 223.4 213.4 204.6 225.1
Livestock 1________________________________ _ 250.9 225.5 224.1
219.7 236.1 259.5 272.8 273.3 268.8 246.9 234.1 221.7 244.3Other
farm products____________________________ 162.4 159.9 162.2 166.4
163.3 165.4 161.9 158.7 159.6 162.0 162.6 161.4 162.1
Foods _ ___ _ 179.8 172.4 173.8 176.7 177.4 181.4 188.3 189.8
186.9 178.2 174.3 170.2 179.1Dairy
products------------------------------------------------ 183.9
184.8 179.8 181.0 176.6 181.3 182.9 185.1 179.9 174.9 170.7 171.2
179.3Cereal products________________________________ 170.1 160.2
158.6 158.0 156.3 155.1 154.5 154.0 153.3 149.6 150.5 150.0
155.8Fruits and vegetables___________________________ 140.7 144. 5
145.7 148.6 147.0 147.7 151.2 140.5 139.4 137.1 139.6 139.8
143.4Meats, poultry, and fish 1________________________ 222.3 206.2
217.1 226.0 233.2 241. 3 263.8 273.7 266.5 239.8 227.4 220.8
236.5
Meats 1__________________________________ _ 248.0 230.7 240.6
251.5 262.3 265.1 277.2 279.6 277. 4 255.0 240.0 230.8 254.9Other
foods_______________ _____________________ 155.0 146.6 144.5 144.4
144.1 148.0 148.4 148.2 149.1 150.4 149.4 140.9 147.6
Hides and leather products_______________ __________ 200.9 193.3
186.3 187.0 188.4 187.7 189.2 188.4 187.4 185.5 186.2 185.3
188.8Shoes_________________________________________ 194.3 194.7
193.8 191.7 185.6 185.8 186.3 189.4 190.0 189.7 188.1 188.0
189.7Hides and skins______________ ______________ 238.9 207.2 186.2
199.3 218.0 215.2 220.3 212.1 210.5 202.0 206.0 197.2
209.8Leather_______________ __ _________________ 209.4 199.6 185.9
183.6 188.2 186.9 189.2 186.0 181.9 180.4 183.8 186.5 188.2Other
leather products__________________________ 148.8 148.8 151.4 150.9
150.9 150.9 149.9 148.6 148.6 148.6 148.6 148.6 149.5
Textile products___________________________________ 149. 4 150.0
151.1 151.7 152.1 151.4 150.8 150.4 149.3 148.3 147.4 146.7
149.8Clothing______________________________________ 144.1 145.6
146.2 147.3 147.4 146.8 148.2 148.7 148.6 148.8 149.1 148.8
147.5Cotton goods___________________:______________ 214.8 214.9
218.3 219.2 217.8 213.1 209.3 205.3 199.8 195.0 191.2 189.2
207.1Hosiery and underwear__________________________ 104.4 105.0
105.4 105.4 105.4 105.4 104.7 104.7 104.5 104.3 104.0 103.7
104.7Bayon and nylon_______________________________ 40.7 40.7 40.7
40.7 40.7 40.7 40.7 41.6 41.8 41.8 41.8 41.8
41.2Silk___________________________________________ 46.4 46.4 46.4
46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4 46.4Woolen and worsted
goods___ ___________________ _ 147.3 148.4 151.2 153.9 156.4 156.4
156.4 158.4 158.9 159.6 159.6 159.6 155.6Other textile
products------------------------------------------ 181.2 180.2
174.7 170.0 174.2 183.1 184.5 186.6 189.3 190.5 190.5 190.0
182.9
Fuel and lighting materials--------- __ __ _____ __ 130.0 130.9
130.9 131.5 132.6 133.1 135.9 136.4 136.9 137.3 137.6 137.2
134.2Anthracite_____________________________________ 124.2 124.5
124.6 124.6 125.5 127.1 131.6 136.0 136.5 136.4 136.4 136.4
130.9Bituminous coal--------------------- ---------------- --------
177.0 177.9 177.9 178.9 181.8 182.7 193.1 194.6 195.1 195.1 195.1
195.4 187.0Coke__________________________________________ 190.6
190.6 190.6 197.5 205.4 206.6 212.3 217.4 217.5 218.7 219.0 219.0
207.1Electricity_____________________________________ 66.4 66.6
65.7 66.1 65.4 65.7 66.4 65.5 66.3 66.5 67.3 67.7
66.3Gas___________________________________________ 84.5 85.8 88.7
89.1 89.3 90.7 90.4 86.9 90.7 90.9 92.6 91.1 89.2Petroleum and
products--------------------------------------- 120.7 121.7 121.8
121.8 122.1 122.1 122.1 122.1 122.2 122.8 122.8 122.0 122.1
Metals and metal products__________________________ 154.3 155.3
155.9 157.2 157.1 158.6 162.2 171.0 172.0 172.4 173.3 173.8
163.6Agricultural machinery and equipment 2. _ 128.5 128.9 129.3
129.7 130.4 132.2 134.1 135. 5 140.5 142.5 143.6 144.0 134.9
Farm machinery 2__ ________________________ 129.9 130.4 130.8
131.3 132.1 134.1 136.3 137.6 142.7 144.9 146.1 146.5 136.9Iron and
steel___ ________________________________ 144.6 146.3 147.6 149.5
148.9 149.5 153.2 163.2 164.0 164.5 165.0 165.4 155.1Motor
vehicles__________________________________ 161.6 161.6 161.6 161.6
161.7 163.9 168.2 174.1 175.0 175.3 175.3 175.7 168.0
Passenger cars______________________________ 169.0 169.0 169.0
169.0 169.0 171.0 175.0 181.9 182.9 183.2 183.2 183.3
175.5Trucks_____________________________________ 129.2 129.2 129.2
129.2 129.7 132.1 137.3 139. 7 140.2 140.3 140.3 142.0 134.9
Nonferrous metals______________________________ 145.5 146.8
146.8 149.8 150.0 152.1 153.7 165.9 166.4 167.0 171.4 172.5
157.5Plumbing and heating___________________________ 138.8 138.7
138.9 138.9 143.5 145.5 145.5 153.9 157.0 157.3 157.3 157.3
147.8
Building materials______ __ __ ________ __________ 194.1 193.5
193.9 195.7 197.0 197.4 200.0 203.8 204.1 203.7 203.1 202.2
199.1Brick and tile__________________________________ 152.2 152.3
152.6 153.1 153.3 153.8 158.5 159.2 159.5 160.1 160.4 160.5
156.3Cement______________________________________ 126.5 127.2 127.4
127.5 128.4 128.8 132.1 133.0 133. 2 133.6 133.6 133.4 130.4Lumber
____________ _ _____________________ 309.6 306.1 306.1 311.5 315.2
315.5 318.5 319.9 317.4 315.4 311.2 305.9 313.0Paint and paint
materials________________________ 163.7 160.1 157.2 158.4 158.3
158.6 157.7 158.4 160.0 160.1 161.4 161.2 159. 6
Prepared paint_____________________________ 143.1 143.1 143.1
143.1 143.1 142.9 142.9 142.9 142.9 142.9 142.9 142.9 143.0Paint
materials--------------------------------------------- 189.4 181.8
175.7 178.2 178.0 178.8 176.8 178.3 181.7 182.0 184.6 184.3
180.7Plumbing and heating. _!_________________________ 138.8 138.7
138.9 138.9 143.5 145.5 145.5 153.9 157.0 157.3 157.3 157.3
147.8Structural steel_________________________________ 143.0 149.4
155.8 155.8 153. 3 153.3 159.6 178.8 178.8 178.8 178.8 178.8
163.7
Other building materials_________________________ 157.9 159.8
161.8 162.2 163.1 163.4 167.1 173.4 174.8 174.8 175.6 176.9
167.6Chemicals and allied products________________ _______ 139.9
135.7 137.2 137.5 136.3 137.2 135.7 133.2 134.5 135.5 134.4 131.1
135.7
Chemicals ___ ________________________ ______ 125.8 126.6 126.9
127.2 126.9 127.2 128.8 127.2 127.0 128.5 125.8 123.4 126.7Drugs
and pharmaceutical materials_______________ 154.5 154.4 154.5 153.8
153.4 153.8 153.7 153.4 152.7 152.7 152.0 151. 5 153.4Fertilizer
materials______________________________ 115.7 115.1 114.9 115.2
115.0 113.9 115.0 114.9 116.2 117.2 119.5 120.1 116.1Mixed
fertilizers______ ________________________ 102.4 102.8 103.1 103.1
103.2 103.2 104.4 105.9 107.8 107.9 107.9 108.3 105.0Oils and
fats_____________________ _____ ______ 245.3 209.3 219.7 220.7
213.8 219.8 199.7 185.1 193.6 194.5 195.1 179.4
206.5Housefurnishing goods__________ _____ _ ____ _____ 141.3 141.8
142.0 142.3 142.6 143.2 144.5 145.4 146.6 147.5 148.2 148.4
144.5Furnishings________ ___________________ __ ____ 143.8 144.4
144.7 145.2 145.8 146.7 148.6 149.3 151.5 152.5 153.6 153.6
148.3Furniture _ _ _ _ _ _ 139.1 139.4 139.4 139.6 139.6 139.9
140.4 141.6 141.6 142.5 142.8 143.1 140.8Miscellaneous___ _ _ ._ _
______ 123.6 120.1 120.8 121.8 121.5 121.5 120.3 119.7 119.9 119.0
119.2 118.5 120.5Tires and tubes.. ____ _________ ________ _ 63.4
63.4 63.4 63.4 63.5 63.5 66.2 66.2 66.2 66.2 66.2 66.2 64.8Cattle
feed ..._________________________________ 336.0 262.0 284.2 296.9
291.1 292.4 239.6 198.4 201. 7 195.4 217.9 217.1 253.6Paper and
pulp________________________ ______
Paperboard____________________ ____ ____168.1 167.4 167.3 167.5
167.4 167.3 166.8 169.0 170.9 170.2 169.9 169.5 168.5173.5 175.0
174.7 175.6 175.1 174.6 172.2 169.7 165.6 164.0 162.2 161.7
170.3Paper_________________________________ ____ 152.7 150.9 150.9
150.9 150.9 150.9 150.9 154.7 158.4 158.4 158.4 158.4 153.9Wood
pulp______________________________ _ 236.0 238.9 238.9 238.9 238.9
238.9 238.9 238.9 238.9 236.0 236.0 233.6 237.8Rubber, crude______
___________________________ 44.7 42.7 42.3 46.7 47.6 47.1 49.6 48.1
46.4 45.0 40.4 38.9 44.9Other miscellaneous_________________
__________ 130.7 130.8 130.2 130.2 129.7 129.8 130.0 132.2 132.1
131.1 130.5 129.5 130.6Soap____ _ . . 176.4 172.6 167.0 165.9 160.1
159.6 159.8 158.6 158.2 157.2 157.0 153.7 162.1
Raw materials_____________________________________ 183.9 174.9
174.7 175. 5 177.6 182.6 184.3 182.3 181.0 177.0 175.2 172.2
178.4Semimanufactured articles___________________________ 157.9
156.3 154.1 155.4 155.4 156.1 157.5 161.2 160.4 160.0 161.0 160.8
158.0Manufactured products _______________________ 158.0 154.7
156.0 157.7 158.6 159.7 162.7 164.6 164.0 160.3 158.8 157.6
159.4All commodities other than farm products_____________ 158.4
155.5 156.0 157.6 158.5 159.7 162.8 164.7 164.1 161.2 160.1 158.9
159.8All commodities other than farm products and foods_____ 148.6
147.9 148.1 149.0 149.5 149.9 151.4 153.3 153.6 153.4 153.6 153.1
151.0
1 Unrevised series through September 1948, revised series
October 2 Revised subgroup indexes shown for all months presented
in this table,through December 1948. See appendix B for description
of the livestock and meats revision.
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IN D EXE S OF COMMODITY GROUPS 3
T able 2. Annual index numbers of 'primary market prices, by
group and subgroup of commodities, 1929, 1939, 1941,
and1943-48[1926= 100]
Group and subgroup 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1941 1939
1929
All commodities ,______________________ ____________ 165.1 152.1
121.1 105.8 104.0 103.1 87.3 77.1 95.3
Farm products________________________________________ 188.3
181.2 148.9 128.2 123.3 122.6 82.4 65.3 104.9Grains_______________
____________ ___________ 199.2 210.8 155.6 129.7 126.9 116.3 76.9
58.6 97.4Livestock and poultry1_____________________________ '
225.1 210.4 155.6 132.5 124.6 128.7 91.6 72.2 106.1Other farm
products___________________ _________ 162.1 154.6 142.0 124.3 120.7
119.8 77.8 62.6 106.6
Foods---- ------------- ------
----------------------------------------- 179.1 168.7 130.7 106.2
104.9 106.6 82.7 70.4 99.9Dairy products-------------------------
------------------------- 179.3 161.0 145.8 111.1 110.5 111.1 87.3
69.5 105.6Cereal
products------------------------------------------------------
155.8 155.8 114.5 95.2 94.8 93.7 80.7 74.8 88.0Fruits and
vegetables_______________________________ 143.4 136.8 129.9 122.8
121.3 121.3 67.5 62.0 97.8Meats, poultry, and
fish3____________________________ r 254.9 213.2 145.9 107.8 106.1
110.3 90.4 77.2 109.1Other
foods_______________________________________ 147.6 148.1 111.9 96.6
95.0 97.3 78.9 64.1 93.9
Hides and leather products____________ _______________ 188.8
182.4 137.2 118.1 116.7 117.5 108.3 95.6 109.1Shoes----------------
------- -------------------------------------- 189.7 177.4 141.7
126.4 126.3 126.4 113.5 102.6 106.3Hides and
skins___________________________________ 209.8 209.8 147.4 117.0
109.9 114.7 108.4 84.6
112.7Leather__________________________________________ 188.2 190.9
128.6 102.2 101.3 101.3 97.9 87.5 113.2Other leather
products------------------ ---------- ---------------- 149.5 139.3
117.0 115.2 115.2 115.2 104.7 97.1 106.4
Textile products____ -------------------- ------- ------ -------
149.8 141.7 116.3 100.1 98.4 97.4 84.8 69.7 90.4Clnt.hiug _ _____
____________ 147.5 135.6 119.3 107.4 107.1 107.0 92.6 82.0
90.0Cotton goods______________________________________ 207.1 200.6
150.5 121.4 115.7 112.7 94.2 67.2 98.8Hosiery and
underwear_____________________________ 104.7 100.6 82.1 71.7 70.9
70.8 63.1 61.4 88.5Rillr 46.4 73.3
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4 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
T able 3. Weekly index numbers of commodity prices in primary
markets, by group of commodities, 1948[1926= 100]
Week ending Saturday
Farmproducts
FoodsHidesand
leatherTextileproducts
Fueland
lighting
Metalsand
metalproducts
Building materials
Chemicals and
allied products
House-furnish
inggoods
Miscellaneous
All commodi
ties less farm and food
All com
modities less
farm products
Rawma
terials
Semi-manu
facturedarticles
Manufactured
products
Allcommodities
Jan.3___________ 199.2 181.3 202.2 147.5 128.5 152.0 189.4 135.0
135.3 121.8 146.4 156.6 184.5 157.9 156.6 164.4Jan.10__________
197.0 182.1 200.3 145.8 130.0 152.8 189.7 139.0 136. 7 122.1 146.9
157.3 182.9 158.4 157.3 164.5Jan.17__________ 201.5 181.2 201.4
145.7 130.0 153.2 191.1 140.8 136.9 123.0 147.4 157.5 186.0 157.1
157.6 165.5Jan. 24__________ 199.2 177.4 201.5 145.5 130.4 153.9
191.3 139.3 137.2 123.6 147.6 156.7 184.8 156.5 156.5 164.4Jan.
31__________ 195.1 176.5 201.2 145.8 131.2 154.1 191.3 139.3 137.5
123.9 148.0 156.8 182.3 157.3 156.5 163.7Feb. 7___________ 195.5
177.9 198.0 147.0 131.4 154.2 192.1 134.3 137.7 122.6 147.8 156.7
182.3 156.6 156.7 163.8Feb. 14__________ 180.9 173.3 196.2 146.7
131.6 154.8 192.0 134.0 137.7 120.2 147.5 154.9 173.4 155.6 154.5
159.7Feb. 21__________ 181. 7 170.3 193.3 146.9 131.6 155.5 191.9
134.9 143.6 119.1 147.5 154.1 173.6 155.9 153.5 159.2Feb.
28__________ 182.8 170.5 188.5 146.2 131.7 155.6 192.1 135.3 143.7
119.0 147.3 153.9 173.9 154.8 153.5 159.2Mar. 6___________ 187.1
172.2 187.9 145.9 131.7 155.7 192.1 136.6 143.6 119.4 147.3 154.4
176.5 154.1 154.3 160.4Mar. 13__________ 184.9 171.2 187.1 145.9
131.7 155.9 192.5 136.5 143.7 119.5 147.3 154.2 174.9 153.7 154.3
159.8Mar. 20__________ 187.6 176.4 185.9 145. 6 131.7 156.0 192.6
135.8 144.3 119.9 147.3 155.7 176.5 153.3 156.3 161.5Mar.
27__________ 186.2 174.8 186.2 145.2 131.7 156.0 192.5 135.1 144.3
120.8 147.4 155.5 175.9 152.9 155.9 161.1Apr. 3___________ 183.9
172.4 186.0 145.1 131.7 156.6 193.2 135.5 144.3 121.0 147.7 154.8
174.8 152.9 154.9 160.1Apr. 10__________ 183.1 174.5 186.2 145.5
131.8 157.1 193.4 136.8 144.7 120.7 147.9 155.6 174.1 153.6 156.0
160.6Apr. 17___ ______ 189.2 178.8 187.2 145.9 131.9 157.1 194.9
136.8 144.7 121.5 148.3 157.1 178.0 153.6 157. 8 162.9Apr. 24___
______ 188.9 180.4 187.1 148.2 132.6 157.2 195.3 136.5 144.4 122.2
149.0 158.0 177.8 153.7 158.9 163.6May 1 - __ 186.9 177.5 188.0
148.1 132.6 157.2 195.2 133.7 144.4 121.3 148.7 157.2 176.8 153.7
157.9 162.6May 8___________ 184.0 174.8 188.2 148.2 133.0 156.8
195.9 133.4 144.6 121.3 148.9 156.9 175.1 153.3 157.6 161.9May
15__________ 187.9 178.9 189.0 148.1 133.4 156.5 195.9 134.4 144.7
121.2 149.0 158.0 177.7 152.5 159.0 163.5May 22________ 189.2 177.2
188.6 148.6 133. 7 156.6 196.6 135.6 144.7 121.4 149.2 157.8 178.6
152.5 158.7 163.5May 29__________ 193.0 178.0 187.6 149.5 133.8
156. 6 196.9 134.8 144.7 121.0 149.3 158.1 180.8 152.6 159.1
164.4June 5____ ______ 192.4 178.0 187.0 149.2 133.8 156.8 196.6
135.2 145.1 121.0 149.3 158.0 180.9 153.0 158.6 164.2June
12__________ 193.5 180.1 186.7 148.8 133.8 157.1 196.9 137.1 145.1
120.9 149.3 158.5 181.6 153.0 159.3 164.9June 19___ ______ 194.5
180.7 187.7 148.5 134.0 157.6 197.2 136.0 145.1 121.1 149.5 158.8
182.7 153.6 159.5 165.3June 26____ ______ 198.4 183.0 188.6 149.1
134.0 158.8 197.4 135.5 145.0 121.2 149.9 159.7 185.2 153.9 160.5
166.7July 3____ ____ 197.2 184.1 188.3 148.1 134.1 159.4 197.6
135.5 145.0 121.1 149.8 159.9 184.3 154.0 160.9 166.7July
10__________ 196.1 185.3 188.1 148.1 134.7 159.4 197.5 134.5 145.8
120.3 149.9 160.3 184.2 154.0 161.1 166.8July 17____ _____ 198.1
191.2 189.1 148.0 135.8 160.9 197.9 134.5 145.9 119.4 150.4 162.4
186.4 154.7 163.4 168.9July 24____ ______ 194.6 190.4 189.5 148.1
136.5 160.9 198.0 132.9 145.9 119.2 150.6 162.3 184.6 154.5 163.1
168. 2July 31__------------- 192.2 187.7 189. 6 148.3 136.8 167.3
200.7 133.1 146. 0 118.6 152.1 162.9 183.4 152.9 164.1 168.3Aug.
7---------------- 193.6 190.0 188. 5 148.1 136.9 169.2 201.6 132.0
146.4 118.2 152.4 163.8 184.3 158.8 164.3 169.2Aug. 14__________
190.4 190.3 188.3 147.8 137.3 170.9 202.0 131.6 146.8 118.3 152.9
164.2 182.5 159.7 164.7 169.0Aug. 21__________ 191.0 189.5 189.6
148.0 137.3 171.5 202.0 131.7 146.8 118.7 153.1 164.3 182.8 159.3
164.9 169.2Aug. 28__________ 189.3 187.8 189.9 147.7 137.4 171.7
202.3 132.2 146.8 118.4 153.2 163.8 181.7 159.0 164.2 168.4Sept.
4---------------- 187.8 184.0 189.2 147.5 137.6 172.0 203.2 132.1
146.9 118.5 153.3 162.8 180.7 158.7 163.0 167. 4Sept. 11__________
188.1 185.9 188.8 147.5 137.6 172.0 203.1 133.2 147.7 119.9 153.6
163.4 180.9 158.6 163.9 168.0Sept. 18__________ 190.1 189.9 188. 2
147.2 137.7 171.5 203.2 132.5 147.8 120.3 153.5 164.6 182.0 158.6
165. 8 169.2Sept. 25__________ 190.8 187.8 187.9 146.7 137.8 171.8
202.9 133.5 147.8 119.3 153.3 163.8 182.4 158.3 164.4 168.7Oct. 2._
__ __ 186.4 183.9 187.9 146.5 138.2 171.8 203.1 133.6 147.9 119.1
153.4 162.8 179.7 158.5 163.1 167.1Oct. 9___________ 181.5 178.0
187.8 146.9 138.3 171.9 202.7 133.5 148.5 118.4 153.3 160.8 176.7
158.3 160.5 164. 6Oct. 16__________ 182.2 178.0 187.6 146.8 138.1
172.5 203.6 134.4 148.6 118.7 153.5 160.9 177.2 158.3 160.6
164.8Oct. 23__________ 183.8 178.8 186.0 146.2 138.1 172.6 203.7
133.2 148.9 118.6 153.4 161.1 178.2 158.1 160.9 165.3Oct.
30__________ 180.7 174.8 187.4 145.7 138.0 172.7 203.5 134.3 149.2
119.0 153.4 160.0 176.2 158.2 159.4 163.8Nov.
6..................... 178.9 171.6 185.7 145.7 138.0 173.0 203.6
135.0 149.3 118.5 153.4 159.0 175.1 158.7 158.1 162. 7Nov.
13__________ 179.5 170.4 186.5 145.7 138.2 173.1 203.3 132.7 149.9
119.2 153.5 158.8 175.4 158.8 157.8 162.6
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NEW WEEKLY INDEX OF WHOLESALE PRICES 5
groups Raw materials, Semimanufactured articles, and
Manufactured products are:
Raw Materials. All farm products, bananas, cocoa beans, coffee,
pepper, hides and skins, rayon staple, raw silk, hemp, jute, sisal,
coal, crude petroleum, iron ore, scrap steel, gravel, sand, crushed
stone, crude sulfur, phosphate rock, nitrate of soda, tankage,
copra, crude rubber.
Semimanufactured Articles. Oleo oil, raw sugar, vegetable oil,
leather, print cloth, tire fabric, cotton yarn, rayon yarn, silk
yarn, worsted yarn,
artificial leather, jute yarn, bar iron, steel bars, steel
billets, malleable castings, pig iron, wire rods, skelp, steel
strips, aluminum, antimony, ingot copper, pig lead, nickel,
quicksilver, brass rods, copper rods, silver, pig tin, pig zinc,
barytes, butyl acetate, carbon black, iron oxide black, Prussian
blue, chrome green, chrome yellow, ethyl acetate, copal gum, china
wood oil, linseed oil, rosin, turpentine, whiting, plaster, tar,
coal tar, camphor, fish scrap, oils, inedible tallow, wood pulp,
paraffin wax.
Manufactured Products. All other commodities.
New Weekly Index of Wholesale Prices 2
The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a new weekly wholesale
price index in November 1948, in place of the weekly index which
had been issued since 1932. The new index was designed as a weekly
counterpart of the monthly comprehensive index and is directly
comparable with that series. I t is not comparable, however, with
the old weekly comprehensive index, and it is not to be considered
as a continuation of the latter series. The new weekly index is
based upon a sample of approximately one-sixth of the commodities
in the monthly comprehensive index.
The advantages of the new weekly index over the discontinued
index are:
1. I t is a better indicator of week-to-week changes in primary
market prices because of the exclusive use of prices actually
prevailing in each week for every commodity included in the sample
drawn from the nearly 900 commodities included in the comprehensive
index.
2. There will not be the discrepancy that has existed between
the levels of the comprehensive weekly and monthly indexes.
3. Its smaller coverage requires less computation work and makes
possible the issuance of preliminary indexes for each current week
within 3 days after the close of the weekly period covered.
4. Data used in its computation provide an estimate of the level
of the monthly index about 2 weeks before the comprehensive index
for that month becomes available.3
2 For a detailed description of the weekly index see Monthly
Labor Keview, pp. 290-98, for September 1948.
86431050----- 2
Development of the New Weekly Index Commodity Sample
One approach toward the development of a more satisfactory
weekly wholesale price index, considered by the Bureau as early as
1939, was based on the use of a sample of the commodities included
in the comprehensive wholesale price index.
Considerable exploratory work in the selection of such a sample
from the complete list of commodities in the comprehensive
wholesale price index was conducted by the Bureau in the late
1930s. About 100 commodities were selected at that time, after
extensive experimentation which involved the testing of the
movements of various combinations of commodities against the
movements of the comprehensive monthly wholesale price index. These
experiments were conducted for major groups as well as for the
index as a whole. In general, most of the commodities selected from
each group were the heavily weighted commodities, but some
commodities with smaller weights were also selected when their
inclusion improved the results. The continuation of this
exploratory work was interrupted during the period from 1940 to
1946.
3 Since the new weekly index is based on a sample of the
commodities in the comprehensive sample, results are not so
authoritative as if the full coverage of the comprehensive index
had been used. The Bureau, therefore, recommends that businesses
and other organizations with contracts under which payments are
adjusted in accordance with movements of the Bureaus wholesale
price index should use the monthly comprehensive wholesale price
index for this purpose, and not the new weekly series nor the
monthly estimates based on data used in this weekly index.
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6 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
T able 4. New weekly index numbers of commodity prices in
primary markets, by group of commodities, 1948[1926= 100]
Week ending Tuesday All commoditiesFarm prod
ucts Foods
All commodities less farm products and food
Buildingmaterials Chemicals Textiles
Fuel and lighting
Metals and metal prod
ucts
Jan. 6_ - _____ 165.6 198.5 182.0 147.8 193.7 136.5 149.2 129.3
153.8Jan. 13_ _ _ __ 167.1 202.9 181.8 148.7 195.2 140.2 149.6
130.0 154.3Jan. 20_ _ ___ _ __ 166.3 199.9 179.5 149.0 195.2 142.3
149.1 130.1 154.3Jan. 27. _______ 164.7 195.6 176.1 148.9 192.3
140.6 149.6 130.8 154.6Feb. 3___ __ __ ____________ 164.6 195.5
177.0 148.7 192.7 140.1 150.3 130.8 154.8Feb.
10_______________________ 160.7 180.6 174.0 147.9 193.5 134.0 150.1
130.8 155.0Feb. 17___ __________ ____ 159.6 181.9 169.6 147.7 194.2
133.7 150.2 130.8 155.6Feb. 24___ _ _____ _____ 159.3 183.2 168.9
147.4 193.4 134.9 149.4 130.8 155.6Mar. 2________________________
160.6 188.1 170.8 147.5 193.4 136.0 149.4 130.9 155.7Mar. 9 160.9
185.1 171.8 148.1 193.7 138.0 151.7 130.9 155.9Mar.
16_______________________ 161.7 187.7 173.0 148.1 193.7 137.9 151.5
130.9 155.9Mar. 23________________________ 162.7 185.6 177.5 148.3
194.0 136.5 151.6 130.9 155.9Mar. 30_______________________ 162.0
183.7 176.1 148.4 194.6 137.5 151.2 130.9 155.9Apr. 6___
___________________ 160.8 182.5 172.0 148.4 194.0 136.8 151.6 130.8
156.5Apr. 13__ __________________ 163.0 188.8 175.7 148.8 194.4
137.5 151.4 131.2 157.4Apr. 20___ _______________ 164.6 189.2 181.1
149.6 197.1 137. 7 151.9 132.0 157.4Apr. 27___ __ ___________ 163.6
186.3 178.2 149.4 197.1 137.8 151.9 132.0 157.4May
4_________________________ 163.2 184.6 176.2 149.5 197.6 135.5
152.3 132.2 157.0May 11________________________ 164.0 189.2 177.4
149.4 196.2 135.8 152.1 132.4 157.0May 18________________________
164.5 189.8 177.8 149.5 196.6 136.5 151.9 132.8 157.2May 25__ ____
_________ 165.0 192.8 178.1 149.5 197.7 137.7 151.9 132.9 157.2J u
n e l... ____________________ 165.0 191.9 177.9 149. 7 197.5 136.5
152.9 132.9 157.6June8.__ __ ___________ 165.7 193.9 180.1 149.6
197.2 136.8 151. 5 133.1 157.8June 15_______________________ 166.3
195.3 181.2 149.8 197.3 138.6 151.2 133.2 157.8June
22_______________________ 167.5 200.5 182.8 150.2 197.6 137.3 151.2
133.2 159.8June 29 ... ___________________ 167.6 198.6 184.8 150.1
197.5 136.7 150.1 133.2 160.0July 6__ ________________ 167.4 196.2
184.6 150.3 197.9 137.0 150.4 133.5 160.9July 13---
----------------------------- 169.4 198.1 189.4 151.2 199.8 136.1
151.0 136.1 160.5July 20________________________ 169.2 194.0 191.0
151.3 200.1 135.8 150.9 136.6 160.2July 27_ __ _______________
169.4 192.3 188.2 152.9 202.2 134.0 150.8 137.3 167.3
3 ________________________ 169.3 193.4 187.0 152.9 202.6 134.2
150.7 136.6 169.3Aug. 10. - ____________________ 169.9 191.6 191.6
153.0 203.3 133.2 150.0 136.2 169.7Aug. 17___________________ ____
170.3 193.0 191.1 153.4 203.7 132.6 150.6 136.2 171. 6Aug.
24______________________ 170.0 191.1 190.6 153.7 204.8 132.8 150.6
136.2 172.1Aug. 31-. __________________ 169.3 188.6 188.8 153.7
204.8 133.2 150.4 136.6 172.1Sept. 7________________________ 168.2
188.8 184.4 153.7 204.4 133.6 150.1 136.9 171.6Sept. 14_
____________________ 169.6 191.6 188.0 153.8 204.1 134.7 149.2
136.8 172.1Sept. 21_______________________ 169.8 191.6 190.0 153.4
204.1 133.8 149.2 136.8 172.1Sept. 28 168.1 187.6 185.3 153.5 203.9
135.7 148.8 137.2 172.1Oct. 5__" - I I I IZ II I I I II I II II I
II I II I 166.1 181.5 181.4 153.5 204.0 136.1 148.6 137.3 172.3Oct.
12__ __ ________________ 165.0 184.0 176.7 153.4 203.8 135.8 148.4
137.3 172.1Oct. 19________________________ 165.8 186.0 178.1 153.5
203.5 135.7 148.4 137.3 172.6Oct. 26________________________ 164.8
182.6 176.7 153.4 203.5 134.6 147.9 137.3 172.7Nov.
2________________________ 164.0 181.2 173.7 153.4 203.3 135.4 147.7
137.6 172.8Nov. 9________________________ 164.3 181.6 174.2 153.6
202.9 135.8 147.5 137.6 172.9Nov. 16 __ _________________ 164.0
179.3 175.4 153.6 203.2 133.5 147.4 137.6 173.6Nov.
23_______________________ 164.2 180.8 174.7 153.6 203.1 133.6 147.1
137.6 173.7Nov. 3 0 __ _________________ 163.9 180.8 173.6 153.5
203.1 133.6 147.1 137.5 173.7Dec. 7----- ----------- --------------
163.1 177.8 171.2 153.3 202.8 132.8 146.7 137.4 173.7Dec. 14___
____ ____ 162.6 175.7 169.1 153.9 202.3 131.8 146.9 137.3 173.6Dec.
21____ ____ ____ _________ 162.0 177.5 170.4 152.7 202.2 130.5
146.8 137.0 174.0Dec. 28___ ________________ 162.0 178.0 170.3
152.4 201.3 129.5 146.5 137.0 174.0
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PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 7
After the end of World War II, experimental work was resumed.
The 100-commodity list selected for this purpose before the war was
reexamined, and certain additions and deletions were found
necessary to take account of changes in the coverage of the monthly
comprehensive index. As a result of these further adjustments, the
115-commodity sample was developed.4 This sample was designed to
provide a highly reliable indicator of average weekly price changes
for All commodities and All commodities other than farm products
and foods, and reasonably reliable indicators for six major
groups.
The commodity sample has been made as nearly as possible the
counterpart of the monthly comprehensive index, both in its price
behavior and in its weighting system. A close correspondence may be
expected, therefore, between the monthly percentage changes in
average prices based on the commodity sample and on the monthly
comprehensive index.
4 In October 1949, the sample was expanded somewhat and the
number of major groups for which indexes are shown was increased
from 6 to 7; the seventh group (Chemicals and allied products)
indexes were also extended back to January 1948.
Nature of the New IndexThe new weekly index is timed to be
issued every
Friday, covering the 7-day period ended the preceding Tuesday.
The Tuesday dating is considered desirable, since the majority of
the quotations used are reported as of Monday or Tuesday. The old
weekly comprehensive index had been issued on Thursday, covering
the week ended the preceding Saturday.
Only current prices, reported weekly, are used in the new weekly
index. Excellent cooperation has been received from the companies
from which weekly price reports are needed (in place of their
monthly or quarterly reports) to compute the weekly index on a
current basis. Since the number of quotations involved in this new
index is relatively small, it is possible to follow up (if
necessary) to obtain current prices in time for inclusion in the
current weekly index.
The weekly historical series presented in table 4, was computed
by relating the weekly aggregates for the commodity sample to their
corresponding monthly comprehensive indexes. The adjusted weekly
indexes falling within each calendar month will average the same as
the comprehensive index for that month.
Special Primary Market Price Indexes
Daily Index of Spot Market Prices
An index based on spot market prices of 28 commodities is
computed daily and is available each weekday, except Saturday, at 6
p. m. by telephone or by collect telegram. A weekly summary of
these indexes and the actual commodity prices is issued each
Friday. These daily indexes for the year 1948 are shown in table 5.
A list of commodities included and the method used in calculating
the index are given on pages 16 and 17 of
Wholesale Prices, 1946 (Bulletin No. 920).5Special indexes of
primary market prices of
soap, paper and pulp, and paint and paint materials are computed
monthly. These index numbers, from 1926 through 1946, together with
a description of each index, were presented in Wholesale Prices,
1946 (Bulletin No. 920). Comparable data for the year 1948 are
presented in table 6 (pp. 48 and 36).
5 Tallow listed as a component of the Foodstuffs group was
deleted from the group index, but not from the All commodities
index in 1947.
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8 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
T able 5. Daily indexes of spot market prices of 28 commodities,
1948 [August 1939=100. S = Sunday; H =H oliday. Figures in
parentheses indicate number of items in commodity group]
DateGeneralindexes
(28)
Import and domestic commodities Domes
tic agri- cultural
(7)
Foodstuffs and industrial commodities
Imports
(11)
Domestic
(17)
Foodstuffs
(11)
Raw industrial
(16)
Jan. 1______ H H H H H HJan. 2______ 349.1 298.5 386.2 417.5
450.1 286.7Jan. 3______ 348.6 298.5 385.4 415.8 448.6 286.7Jan.
4______ S S S S S SJan. 5______ 349.8 298.5 387.6 414.0 448.9
286.7Jan. 6______ 349.0 298.0 386.7 415.5 450.0 285.9Jan. 7______
350.3 297.8 389.2 420.6 452. 5 285.9Jan. 8______ 350.7 297.2 390.3
420.8 452. 5 285. 6Jan. 9 ______ 351.2 296.3 391.9 421.7 453. 2
285.3Jan. 10_____ 351.5 296.6 392.4 421.9 453.8 285.5
Jan. 11_____ S S S S S SJan. 12_____ 352. 5 295.1 395. 5 426.0
453.8 285. 6Jan. 1 3 _____ 352.8 295.9 395. 3 424.0 454.5 285.7Jan.
14_____ 352.0 295.3 394.5 423. 6 455.2 285.0Jan. 15_____ 351. 6
295.3 393.6 424.3 453.7 285.0Jan. 16_____ 351.8 295.3 394.0 423.4
453. 5 286.1Jan. 17_____ 351.2 295.3 392.9 422.1 451.2 286.2Jan.
18_____ S S S S S SJan. 1 9 _____ 349.7 295.7 389.8 421.0 448.9
285.8Jan. 20_____ 349.0 296.3 388.0 419.9 447.8 286.0
Jan. 21_____ 350.2 297.0 389.7 416.7 447.7 287.8Jan. 2 2 _____
351.0 297.0 391.1 418.3 448.1 288.0Jan. 23_____ 350.0 296.8 389.5
415.7 445. 5 287.7Jan. 24_____ 349.7 297.0 388.7 415.5 444.0
287.9Jan. 25_____ S S S S S SJan. 26_____ 347.5 296.1 385. 5 411.8
438.4 287.3Jan. 27_____ 347.4 295.1 386.1 411.5 438.4 287.0Jan.
28_____ 349.1 296.9 387.6 413.1 441.2 288. 3Jan. 29_____ 349.6
296.2 389.1 412.5 443.3 288.0Jan. 3 0 _____ 347.7 297.2 384.9 408.7
440.6 287.8Jan. 31_____ 347.5 297.2 384.5 408.9 439.9 287.8
Feb. 1______ S S S S S SFeb. 2______ 346.4 297.2 382.5 407.4
436.5 287.7Feb. 3______ 345.7 298.4 380.3 405.2 434.4 288.1Feb.
4______ 341.4 296.2 374.3 398.0 423.2 286.9Feb. 5______ 332.7 290.6
363.2 390.8 410.6 282.2Feb. 6______ 329.6 289.8 358.2 382.2 404.2
281.6Feb. 7______ 329.5 289.8 358.1 376.3 403.5 281.7Feb. 8 .
.......... S S S S S SFeb. 9______ 328.1 289.3 356.0 369.4 399.3
281.8Feb. 10_____ 323.6 287.4 349.5 358.2 389.3 279.8
Feb. 11.......... 321.0 285.3 346.5 353.6 384.9 279.0Feb.
12_____ H H H H H HFeb. 13_____ 319.3 282.7 345. 5 353.1 383.4
277.4Feb. 14_____ 319.8 282.7 346.4 353.5 384.3 277.7Feb. 15_____ S
S S S S SFeb. 16_____ 322.8 283.6 351.1 362.5 393.1 278.0Feb.
17_____ 322.9 281.7 352.8 360.6 391.8 276.9Feb. 18_____ 322.3 281.9
351. 5 362.4 392.4 275.6Feb. 19 ......... 320.9 283.0 348.2 362.2
390.0 275.2
Feb. 20_____ 320.2 283.3 346.5 363. 2 389.5 274.7Feb. 21_____
320.6 283.3 347.3 365.6 390.9 274.7Feb. 22........... S S S S S
SFeb. 23_____ H H H H H HFeb. 24_____ 319.7 283.5 345.6 363.9 390.1
274.7Feb. 25_____ 319.8 282.5 346.6 366.6 392.5 273.7Feb. 26_____
318.9 279.0 347.6 367.5 391.1 272.0Feb. 27_____ 318.0 278.7 346.3
366.2 389.1 271.7Feb. 28_____ 318.6 278.7 347.4 367.7 390.8
271.7Feb. 29.......... S S S S S S
Mar. 1______ 322.2 279.7 353.2 375.9 398.0 272.7Mar. 2______
322.2 279.7 353.1 376.8 398.2 272.5Mar. 3.......... 321.0 279.1
351.3 375.2 397.2 270.7Mar. 4______ 321.6 278.5 353.0 377.5 399.2
270.7Mar. 5 . ........ . 321.8 278.6 353. 3 380.0 400.6 270.2Mar.
6______ 321.4 278.6 352.6 378.3 399.5 270.2Mar. 7______ S S S S S
SMar. 8______ 317.3 276.6 346.8 367.8 390.4 268.6Mar. 9______ 316.6
275.6 346.4 366.7 390.3 268.2Mar. 10_____ 316.4 274.4 347.0 368.9
391.1 267.5
Mar. 11........... 315.1 274.3 344.7 366.9 388.1 267.6Mar.
12_____ 315.5 274.0 345.7 367.0 388.5 267.6Mar. 13_____ 316.4 274.0
347.3 372.6 390.8 267.8Mar. 14_____ S S S S S SMar. 15_____ 317.5
274.0 349.3 375.0 393.5 268.2Mar. 16_____ 318.1 273.8 350.4 376.9
396.1 267.8
1 No Saturday index during summer.
DateGeneralindexes
(28)
Import and domestic commodities Domes
tic agricultural
(7)
Foodstuffs and industrial commodities
Imports
(ID
Domestic
(17)
Food-stufiEs
(ID
Raw industrial
(16)
Mar. 17____ 317.9 273.6 350.4 374.7 396.6 267.6Mar. 18.........
317.6 273.5 349.8 373.1 395.6 267.3Mar. 19____ 316.0 274.6 346.1
369.1 391.6 267.3Mar. 20_____ 315.3 274.6 344.8 366.4 389.7
267.2Mar. 21_____ S S S S S SMar. 22____ 316.8 275.3 346.8 372.5
393.7 267.8Mar. 23____ 316.8 277.1 345.4 368.0 391.5 269.1Mar.
24____ 316. 5 275. 6 346.1 368.8 392.3 268.8Mar. 25____ 315. 9
274.9 345.7 366.5 391.5 268.4Mar. 26_____ H H H H H HMar. 27_____
316.8 274.9 347.1 368.9 394.1 268.4Mar. 28_____ S S S S S SMar.
29____ 317.8 275.7 348.4 370.1 396.4 268.8Mar. 30____ 317.9 275.6
348.6 368.2 396.8 268.8Mar. 31_____ 317.1 276.0 347.0 365.3 392.9
269.2
Apr. 1_____ 318.7 275. 5 350. 2 368.6 397.0 269.5Apr. 2_____
317.5 275.5 347.9 365.2 392.7 269.6Apr. 3_____ 317.9 275.5 348.8
366.2 394.2 269.6Apr. 4_____ S S S S S SApr. 5_____ 319.6 274.9
352. 4 365. 7 394.3 272.1Apr. 6_____ 320.8 275.4 354.1 368.6 396.9
272.1Apr. 7____ 321.8 275.8 355. 6 371.7 400.9 272.0Apr. 8_____
322.6 275. 7 357. 2 373.2 402.0 272.5Apr. 9____ 320.6 272.6 356.1
373. 9 399.7 270.6Apr. 10____ 321.3 272.6 357. 3 375.8 401.5
270.7Apr. 11_____ S S S S S SApr. 12_____ 321.8 272.6 358. 3 377.9
401.5 271.5Apr. 13_____ 322.4 272.3 359. 5 379.4 403.2 271.5Apr.
14____ 322.7 272. 5 360.0 379.3 403.8 271.7Apr. 15____ 323.4 272.8
360.9 380.2 406.9 271.7Apr. 16____ 322.0 272.3 358.9 376.7 403.5
271.3Apr. 17____ 322.5 272.3 359.7 377.0 404.5 271.5Apr. 18____ S S
S S S SApr. 19___ 321.6 272.3 358.2 373.7 401.5 271.7Apr. 20____
322.3 272.1 359.6 377.2 403.2 272.1Apr. 21____ 323.5 272.1 361.8
379.8 406.8 272.2Apr. 22____ 321.5 271.1 359.0 375.0 401.7
271.8Apr. 23____ 319.0 270.6 354.8 370.5 395.3 271.6Apr. 24____
318.8 270.6 354.5 370.3 394.8 271.7Apr. 25____ S S S S S SApr.
26......... 316.8 269.8 351. 5 369.0 392.0 271.2Apr. 27.........
317.8 272.0 351.5 368.1 392.4 272.8Apr. 28____ 319.2 273.8 352.4
370.8 394.6 273.8Apr. 29____ 317. 8 273.4 350.3 372.0 392.2
274.0Apr. 30____ 318.9 274.5 351.4 371. 6 394.5 274.5May 1______
318.6 274.3 350.9 370.0 393.6 274.4May 2______ S S S S S SMay 3
319.0 275.4 350. 8 369.7 397.3 274.6May 4___ 319.8 276.0 351.8
373.3 401.8 274.9May 5 319.7 276.3 351.3 371.9 400.8 274.5May 6
____ 320.1 275.7 352.5 373.9 402.4 274.4May 7 _____ 319.6 274.5
352.7 375.7 401.9 274.0May 8______ 319.3 274.7 351.9 373.7 400.2
274.2May 9______ S S S S S SMay 10_____ 321.3 274.2 356.0 378.3
403.2 274.6
May 11____ 319.9 273.8 353.7 374.2 400.1 274.5May 12_____ 322.1
276.4 355.6 378.9 402.8 276.6May 13 ___ 322.0 276.4 355.6 380.1
403.8 276.1May 14____ 321.2 277.0 353.5 380.2 398.1 276.3May 15 ___
321.0 277.0 353.1 379.4 397.1 276.4May 1 6 ___ S S S S S SMay 17
___ 322.1 277.5 354.7 383.9 400.5 276.5May 18_____ 324.1 277.5
358.4 386.8 404.5 276.5May 19 ___ 324.9 277.6 359.7 385.7 407.4
276.3May 20____ 324.4 277.5 358.9 389.3 409.1 275.9May 21 ___ 323.7
277.8 357.4 392.2 409.8 275.8May 22_____ 323.5 277.8 356.9 390.9
409.0 275.8May 23_____ S S S S S SMay 24 ___ 323.0 277.8 356.1
390.8 409.7 274.7May 25_____ 322.4 277.5 355.2 390.4 409.5 273.9May
26_____ 322.5 278.0 355.0 394.8 412.7 273.9May 27____ 324.0 279.2
356.6 392.8 413.5 275.2May 28____ 325.0 279.9 358.1 394.2 415.6
275.7May 29_____ 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0)May 30_____ S S S S S SMay
31_____ H H H H H H
Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal
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-
PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 9
T able 5.Daily indexes of spot market prices of 28 commodities,
1948 Continued
DateGeneralindexes
(28)
Import and domestic commodities Domes
tic agricultural
(7)
Foodstuffs and industrial commodities
Imports
(11)
Domestic
(17)
Foodstuffs
(ID
Raw industrial
(16)
June 1......... - 325.5 281.8 357.3 393.1 412.7 277.1June 2_____
326.7 282.2 359. 2 395.5 416.8 277.0June 3_____ 327.7 283.3 360.0
395.2 419.6 277.2June 4____ 327.9 283.2 360.6 393.9 419.1 276.6June
5_____ 0 (0 0 0 0 0)June 6 .......... S S S S S SJune 7_____ 329.0
284.0 361.7 393.5 420.6 276.8June 8_____ 330.5 283.5 365.0 393.2
420.7 277.4June 9_____ 330.5 283.5 365.0 395.1 423.3 276.2June
10____ 330.3 283.3 364.9 394.4 422.4 275.9
June 11-....... 330.3 283.8 364.4 393.9 421.3 276.4June 12____ 0
(0 0 0 0) 0June 13____ S S S S S SJune 14____ 330.1 284.6 363.3
394.2 422.0 276.2June 15......... 329.8 285.3 362.3 395.2 421.1
276.2June 16____ 331.3 287.4 363.3 397.2 423.7 277.2June 17____
331.0 286.6 363.4 397.9 423.0 277.2June 18____ 330.4 285.8 363.0
399.6 422.5 277.0June 19____ 0 (0 0) 0 0) 0June 20____ S s S S S
SJune 21____ 330.7 286.4 363.0 399.9 423.2 277.1June 22-------
331.0 286.2 363.6 400.9 425.5 276.4June 23____ 330.9 286.3 363.5
398.8 426.6 275.9June 24____ 330.9 286.5 363.2 396.4 426.7
275.8June 25____ 329.8 287.1 360.8 392.2 422.8 276.0June 26____ 0
(0 0) 0 0) 0)June 27____ S s S S S SJune 28......... 329.5 287.4
359.9 389.8 421.2 276.0June 29____ 329.0 287.4 359.1 386.2 419.9
276.1June 30____ 328.8 287.6 358.6 386.0 421.1 275.2
July 1______ 328.1 286.9 358.0 385.6 420.1 274.7July 2______
328.1 287.5 357.4 383.4 420.1 274.6July 3______ CO (0 0 0 0) 0July
4 _____ S S S S S SJuly 5______ H H H H H HJuly 6______ 327.5 288.5
355.4 380.7 417.6 275.4July 7______ 327.4 288.4 355.4 383.2 417.5
275.4July 8______ 327.3 288.4 355.2 383.4 418.0 275.0July 9 _____
327.8 289.8 355.0 383.0 418.8 275.3July 10_____ (0 (0 0) 0 0 0July
11-------- S S S S S SJuly 12-------- 328.1 290.5 355.0 384.0 420.0
275.3July 13_____ 328.3 290.4 355.5 383.2 420.4 275.4July 14____
329.2 292.0 355.7 383.7 420.8 276.5July 15_____ 324.5 291.0 348.1
384.3 407.8 275.5July 16____ 323.7 290.2 347.3 383.5 404.6
275.2July 17_____ (0 (0 0 0 0 0July 18____ S S S S S SJuly 19_____
323.0 290.9 345.7 382.1 401.7 275.6July 20_____ 322.4 291.1 344.5
380.7 401.5 275.3
July 21-------- 323.1 291.2 345.5 380.9 403.3 275.2July 22_____
323.8 291.9 346.4 379.6 403.4 276.6July 23------- 324.3 291.7 347.3
379.6 403.8 276.9July 24_____ 0
-
10 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
Table 5.Daily indexes of spot market prices of 28 commodities,
1948 Continued
Date
Nov. 1_____Nov. 2_____Nov. 3_____Nov. 4_____Nov. 5_____Nov.
6_____Nov. 7_____Nov. 8_____Nov. 9_____Nov. 10____
Nov. 11____Nov. 12____Nov. 13____Nov. 14____Nov. 15____Nov.
16____Nov. 17____Nov. 18____Nov. 19____Nov. 20____
Nov. 21____Nov. 22____Nov. 23____Nov. 24____Nov. 25____Nov.
26____Nov. 27____Nov. 28____Nov. 29____Nov. 30____
Generalindexes
(28)
Import and domestic commodities Domes
tic agricultural
(7)
Foodstuffs and industrial commodities
DateGeneralindexes
(28)
Import and domestic commodities Domes
tic agricultural
(7)
Foodstuffs and industrial commodities
Imports
(11)
Domestic
(17)
Foodstuffs
(11)
Raw industrial
(16)
Imports
(11)
Domestic
(17)
Foodstuffs
( I D
Raw industrial
(16)
305.1 278.4 323.8 317.7 348.9 277.7 Dec. 1 _____ 304.5 274.4
325.7 319.5 344.0 279.4H H H H H H Dec. 2 ________ 304.2 274.8
324.9 319.5 342.9 279.6305.0 277.4 324.4 317.9 350.0 277.0 Dec. 3
_____ 304.2 274.4 325.2 320.9 341.9 280.2306.8 279.1 326.2 320.3
352.8 278.3 Dec. 4 ________ 304.4 274.4 325.5 320.6 342.2
280.2306.7 278.4 326.6 321.3 353.1 278.0 Dec. 5 ________ S S S S S
S306. 2 278.4 325.6 320.6 351.5 277.9 Dec. 6 ________ 303.9 273.1
325.6 320.9 341.4 279.9S S S S S S Dec. 7_____ 303.4 272.7 325.1
318.7 340.3 279.7306.6 278.9 325.9 321.3 351.8 278.5 Dec. 8_____
303.0 272.0 324.9 317.8 338.6 280.1306.6 279.1 325.9 320.9 350.3
278.7 Dec. 9_____ 301.6 270.8 323.3 316.1 335.2 279.7306.0 279.5
324.5 317.5 348.1 278.6 Dec. 10_____ 300.7 269.8 322.5 314.5 333.3
279.3H307.0306.8g
H279.7279.7g
H326.0325.7g
H317.8 317.1g
H348.5347.9g
H280.0279.9
g
Dec. 11____Dec. 12____Dec. 13_____Dec. 14____
299.7S299.4297.7
269.8 S270.7268.9
320.7S319.6318.0
312.7S312.2310.1
330.7S329.8 328.4
279.2S279.6278.7
307.1307.6 307.0306.7306.9306.9
279.7 280.5 280.0280.8280.9280.9
326.2 326. 6325.8 324.7324.9 325.0
316.8318.1317.7 317.3316.1316.7
349.5350.2349.1347.7348.0348.0
279.6280.7280.7 280.9 281.0 281.0
Dec. 15_____Dec. 16_____Dec. 17..........Dec. 18____Dec.
19..........Dec. 20..........
296.4296.3297.2296.8S296.7
266.3267.2268.8268.8S269.5
317.7316.8 317.2 316.5 S315.7
310.2 312. 9 311.5311.4 S311.5
326.9327.8330.0329.1 S329.8
277.3278.1278.4278.2 S278.3
Dec. 21.......... 297.8 269.7 317.6 313.0 332.5 278.2S S S S S S
Dec. 22_____ 297.0 269.7 316.1 313. 8 330.8 278.2307.6 280.1 326.7
317.6 350.3 280.9 Dec. 23.......... 296.0 268.8 315.1 312.7 329.1
278.0307.7 281.0 326.4 317.4 350.8 280.8 Dec. 24......... 296.7
269.0 316.2 314.5 331.2 278.0308.0 280. 6 327.1 319.8 352.1 280.6
Dec. 25.......... H H H H H HH H H H H H Dec. 26......... S S S S S
S306.4 278.9 325.7 318.4 347.8 280.4 Dec. 27......... 297.0 269.3
316.4 314.4 331.5 278.3306.6 278.9 325.9 319.1 348.1 280.4 Dec.
28_........ 296.5 268.7 316.1 313.3 330.3 278.2S S S S S S Dec.
29......... 296.6 268.7 316.1 314.5 330.4 278. 6305.5 275.6 326.5
320.9 345.9 280.0 Dec. 30.......... 296.2 269.1 315.2 314.0 329.0
278.8304.9 275.1 325. 9 320.8 343.9 280.1 Dec. 31......... 295.6
269.5 313.8 311.3 326.7 279.1
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-
PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 11
Primary Market Prices, Index Numbers, and Relative Importance
ofIndividual Commodities
Table 6 shows monthly and annual average prices, index numbers,
and the relative importance for the year 1948 for commodities
included in the wholesale price index.
The prices shown are averages of quotations for 1 day each week
from one or more sellers of the commodity. Prices are net after the
deduction of applicable discounts.
Relative importance for the year 1948 is the value aggregate for
each commodity expressed as a percentage of the value aggregate of
all commodities in the index in 1948. The relative importance of
each commodity in the index changes as the rate of price change
varies among commodities, since it is based on the product of the
quantity-weighting factor and the current price. In 1948, raw
materials had a relative importance of 32.04 percent of all
commodities, semimanufactured articles 8.01 percent, and
manufactured products 59.95 percent.
Certain commodities are included in more than 1 commodity group.
Prices of 23 commodities
are included in both the farm products and foods indexes, and
prices of 23 other commodities are included in both the metals and
metal products and building materials groups. The duplicated
commodities are listed in table 6 under the foods and building
materials groups, with reference to where price data are shown.
These 46 commodities are counted only once in the all-commodities
index. The relative-importance figures shown for the farm products
and metals and metal products groups and subgroups include these
duplicated commodities. The relative-importance figures for the
foods and building materials groups and subgroups do not include
the duplicated commodities.
Changes in specifications are indicated by changes in the digit
following the decimal in the code number used to designate the
commodity. Such changes are treated so that the individual
commodity indexes, but not the prices, for the new specification
generally are comparable with those for the old specification.
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-
12 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948T a b l e 6. Primary market prices,
index numbers, and relative importance of individual commodities,
1948
Relative
Indexes (1926=100) of primary market prices
Code No. CommodityDescription and terms of sale importance,1948
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Year
All commodities_____________________________ 100.00 165.9 161.0
161.6 163.0 164.2 166.4 168.8 169.8 168.9 165.4 164.0 162.4
165.1
FARM PRODUCTS.................... .......................
.......... 20.46 199.2 185.3 186.0 186.7 189.1 196.0 195.2 191.5
189.9 183.5 180.8 177.3 188.3
Grains___________________ ______________ 3.14 256.3 220.0 218.0
217.9 213.5 209.2 190.6 179.2 176.9 170.4 171.1 171.1 199.21.1
Barley, No. 2 malting, Minneapolis_____________
Corn, No. 3 yellow, Chicago___________________.14 0) 0) 0) 0) 0)
0) 0) (0 0 ) 0) 0) 0) (0
3 .94 358.6 302.5 307.9 308.9 307.4 310.6 282.0 264.5 246.8
207.1 187.1 193.6 272.74.1 Oats, No. 3 white,
Minneapolis_________________ .28 327.8 285.7 304.1 298.3 275. 5
262.1 195.0 165.3 166.5 175.6 194.6 192.3 236.55.1 Rye, No. 2,
Minneapolis______________________ .04 279.0 245.1 252.9 252.0 242.6
221.4 193.3 157.8 149.6 165.4 173.2 167.4 207.8
7.1Wheat:
No. 2 Hard Winter, Kansas City____________ .58 204.3 175.8 167.3
167.5 165.2 157.1 148.9 146.0 148.4 149.3 154.3 153.9 161.59-1 No.
1 Dark Northern Spring, Minneapolis_____ .56 188.6 163.1 155.7
158.0 155.3 153.4 144.0 138.3 141.1 144.1 147.5 144.4 152.510 No.
1, Hard White, Portland, Oreg___________ .18 214.3 188.1 186.1
185.6 181.8 180.6 173.5 170.2 (2) (2) 170. 5 168.1 (2)11 No. 2,
Soft Red Winter, St. Louis___________ .42 200.2 168.6 163.7 162.3
159.0 152.5 146.2 142.7 145.6 146.7 155.4 155.1 157.8
Livestock and poultry _____ _____________ 7. 83 232.9 210.0
209.4 204.4 219.0 239.2 250.8 250.0 244.2 223.4 213.4 204.6
225.1
12 1
L iv e s to c n :Cattle, Chicago:Cl 4- pp-rc*
Choice, 1,100-1,300 lb__ _______ _____ .34 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (?) (?) 0) (2)13-1 Good, 900-1,100
lb_______________________ .71 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
0) 0) 0) (2)14-1 Medium, 700-1,100 lb____________________ .81 (2)
(2) (?) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 0) 0 ) 0) (2)15-1
Cows:Medium, all weights_____________________ .51 (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 0) (?) 0) (2)
16-1 Cutter and common, all weights__________ .97 (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 0) 0) 0) (2)17-1 Calves, Vealers, good and
choice, all weights___ .34 239.5 222.5 211.4 212.2 238.2 224.6
227.7 230.7 231.8 221.5 221.9 221.5 225.3
18-1Hogs, Chicago:
Barrows and gilts, good and choice 200-240 lb....... 1.65 211.8
184.3 182.4 167.5 177.8 204.2 226.6 228.2 220.9 196.9 176.7 167.1
199.519-1 Barrows and gilts, good and choice, 240-270 lb. _ _ 1.21
214.8 174.8 172.5 153.8 161.5 197.9 217.9 231.2 235.6 208.7 185.9
169.6 193.720-1 Sows, good and choice, 360-400 lb___________ .36
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 0) 0) 0) (2)21-1 Sheep,
Chicago, lambs, good and choice________ .31 177.9 161.7 153.9 170.5
194.3 211.9 210.6 189.2 172.9 168.3 173.5 171.5 179.7
2223
P o u l tr y :Poultry, live fowl:
Chicago___________________ ____________ .29.33
105.4106.7
103.4105.5
111.3119.2
118.3119.9
116.3114.8
117.7118.1
126.0 119.6
133.4117.4
132.2110.0
119.3108.4
121.9 115.0
137.7120.8
120.3114.8
Other farm products_______________ ______ _ 9.49 162.4 159.9
162.2 166.4 163.3 165.4 161.9 158.7 159.8 162.0 162.6 161.4
162.124-1 Cotton, middling, average of 10 spot markets.. 2.73 0) 0)
0) (?) 0) C) (?) 0 ) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0)27.3
Eggs, fresh:Specials, large, Boston_____ ________________ .10
121.3 120.5 116.8 117.4 118.4 121.8 127.9 136.0 141.4 163.1 155.7
129.1 130.8
28-1 Standards, Chicago.- _____________________ .26 131.8 129.7
129.2 128.1 122.5 124.1 123.0 132.6 132.2 136.3 147.6 144.1 131.829
Current, receipts, Cincinnati_________________ .03 123.0 121.6
115.1 112.1 106.5 108.6 111.0 128.2 143.7 154.6 156.3 133. 2
126.230.1 Standards, New Orleans. _ ____ _________ .02 122.6 122.3
116.9 119.9 115.2 114.5 116.8 121. 7 128.0 133.8 142.1 133.5
123.931.2 Extras, large, New York____________________ .47 129.8
127. 5 126.6 124.4 119.1 124.8 124.7 138.4 147.2 159.6 156.7 137.2
134.732.1 Extras, large, Philadelphia___________________ .11 (2)
120.2 114.7 112.1 112.0 115.4 114.4 126.5 134.2 147.1 142.6 125.5
(2)33.1 Grade A, medium, San Francisco_____________ .06 186.4 160.4
171.1 170.9 170.5 171.1 192.3 215.8 214.1 214.1 223.9 225.9
193.2
34.2
Fruits, fresh:Apples, all varieties:
Chicago, U. S. No. 1______________________ .05 171.0 131.8 119.9
115.6 177.9 185.8 208.9 186.5 202.9 188.4 200.4 221.7 175.935.2 New
York, U. S. No. 1____________________ .12 139.2 131. 9 96.7 93.3
114.5 119.9 180.6 146.1 138.0 155.8 170.5 172.8 138.336.3 Portland,
Oreg., good quality and condition__ .21 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0 ) 0)
(2) (2) (2) (2)37.2 Lemons: California, at Chicago________ ____ .06
92.9 101.5 105.3 115.8 113.1 122.7 116.0 108.4 134. 5 117.1 131.3
113.1 114.438.2 Oranges: California, Navels and Valencias, .31 73.6
79.2 93.2 96.3 97.7 106.8 105.3 100.3 114.9 108.0 124.5 112.4
101.0
39.1
Chicago.Hay, f. o. b. listed market:
Alfalfa, No. 2, leafy or better, Kansas City_____ .14 174.4
163.0 158.3 155.4 142.7 116.4 124.6 122.4 124.8 132.8 135.8 143.9
141.140 Clover, No. 1, Chicago______________________
Timothy, No. 1, Chicago_______ ____________.09 131.4 131. 4
129.2 124.2 122.6 122.6 122.6 119.5 128.1 132.5 138.4 140.1
128.5
41 .08 127.8 127.8 125.6 120.8 119.2 119.2 119.2 116.3 124.6
128.8 134.6 136.3 124.9
43Milk, fluid:
F. o. b. country plants, Chicago area__________ .48 0) 0) (0 0)
0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) 0) (l) 0)44 F. o. b. New York _____
________________ 1.60 175.6 178.3 178.3 175.6 163.4 175.6 178.3
190.5 190.5 200.7 200.7 200.7 184.245 Delivered, San Francisco
area________________ .11 148.4 148.4 162.6 162.6 162.6 162.6 162.6
162.6 162.6 162.6 162.6 162.6 160.446.1 Peanuts: Spanish shelled,
No. 1, f. o. b. South
eastern shipping point____________ _________ .09 211.0 213.5
212.2 213.8 214.7 215.9 217.9 215.4 209.8 208.1 207.1 208.8
212.3
47Seeds, f. o. b. listed market:
Alfalfa, Kansas City_______________________ .02 (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)48 Clover,
Chicago____________________________ .09 215.5 217.6 217.6 217.6
217.6 (2) 154.8 168.6 182.6 179.9 172.8 172.6 192.649 Flax,
Minneapolis__________________________ .22 302.8 269.5 264.6 258.2
260.9 261.6 260.9 257.7 257. 7 257.7 257.7 257.7 263.950 Timothy,
Chicago ________________________ .01 93.2 93.2 93.2 93.2 93.2 (2)
120.7 135.6 180.3 204.6 248.8 284.6 148.651 Tobacco, leaf,
warehouse sales, average last 12 .83 212.2 214. 0 214.6 214.7 214.7
214.6 214.4 219.7 229.1 237.9 241.3 241.6 222.4
52
months.Vegetables:
Beans, pea, dried, New York ___________ _ .18 280.8 274.5 267.8
261.3 254.4 259.1 254.4 238.9 238.9 238.9 190.9 159.0 242.953.3
Onions, yellow, U. S. No. 1, all sizes, Chicago____ .08 356.4 445.0
489.0 432.4 287.1 247.6 183.5 135.4 145.8 141.9 135.7 135.0
261.2
54-1.1
Potatoes:Sweet, U. S. No. 1, good quality, all sizes:
New York_____________________________ .06 0) 0) (?) 0) 0) 0) 0 )
0 ) 0) (2) (2) (2) (2)54-2.1 Chicago___________________ __________
.04 0) (0 (?) 0) (?) (0 0 ) (?) 0) (2) (2) (2) (2)55.2
White, U. S. No. 1, all varieties of new and old:
Boston___________________________ _____ .18 84.1 86.1 97.1 110.3
118.8 104.8 102. 5 90.8 84.0 77.1 78.7 87.0 93.4
56.2 Chicago_____ __________________________ .14 136.8 146.7
153.5 174.1 141.6 126.5 115.9 102.5 92.6 96.0 102.9 103.1 124.457.2
New York ___________________________ .05 105.5 103.4 106.5 117.1
93.5 82.4 71.7 74.4 69.3 62.1 64.2 71.9 85.258.2 Portland, Oreg__ .
- __ .15 142.2 179.4 164.7 179.1 167.2 107.2 102.3 88.0 86.1 85. 7
87.8 92.9 123.6
See footnotes at end of table.
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Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 13
Table 6.Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of individual commodities, 1948
Code No. Unit
Average primary market prices
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Year
1.1 Bushel__________ $2. 754 $2. 520 $2. 502 $2.470 $2. 402
$2,314 $1.994 $1,518 $1.479 $1.546 $1.601 $1,549 $2.0493 d n 2.681
2.262 2.302 2.310 2.298 2.322 2.109 1.978 1.845 1.549 1.399 1.448
2.0394.1 ___ do___________ 1.331 1.160 1.235 1.212 1.119 1.064 .792
.672 .676 .713 .790 .781 .9605.1 ___ do___________ 2. 774 2.436 2.
514 2.505 2.411 2.200 1.922 1.568 1.488 1.644 1.722 1.664 2.065
7 ___ do_____ ____ 3.057 2.630 2. 503 2.506 2.472 2.350 2. 228
2.184 2.220 (2) (2) (2) (2)9-1 ____do__________ 2. 999 2. 593 2.476
2. 512 2. 469 2.439 2.289 2.198 2. 244 2.291 2.346 2. 296 2. 42410
d o 3.155 2. 770 2. 740 2.732 2. 678 2. 660 2. 555 2. 506 (2) (2)
2. 510 2.475 (2)11 ------do------ - 3.112 2.622 2.544 2. 523 2.472
2.372 2.273 2.218 2. 264 2.281 2.416 2.412 2.454
12.1 100 pounds_______ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 38.156
37.200 33.938 (2)13.1 ____do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) 32.312 31.400 29. 250 (2)14.1 _ __do__________ (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 25.875 25.700 24. 250 (2)
15-1 _ do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 19. 406
19.500 18.875 (2)16-1 ___ do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) 16.906 16.950 17.000 (2)17-1 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) 30. 750 30.800 30. 750 (2)
18-1 ____do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) ( 2) (2) (2) ( 2)
26.016 23.348 22.078 (2)19-1 ____do___________ (2) ( 2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) 26.031 23.185 21.156 (2)20.1 d o (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 23. 656 20. 925 18. 469 (2)21-1
____do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 24.469 25.225
24.938 (2)
22 Pound___________ .265 .260 .280 .298 .292 .296 .317 .336 .332
.300 .306 .346 .30223 ------do----------------- .318 .314 .355 .357
.342 .352 .356 .350 .328 .323 .342 .360 .342
24-1 ___ do___________ .351 .328 .343 .373 .374 .371 .341 .313
.312 .312 .315 .322 .338
27.2 * Dozen__________ .512 .509 .493 .496 .500 .514 .540 .574
.597 .689 .658 (2) (2)28 _do___________ .441 .434 .432 .429 .410
.416 .412 .444 .442 .456 .494 .482 .44129 do .438 .432 .410 .399
.379 .386 .395 .456 .511 .550 .556 .474 .44930.1
IlllldoZIIIIIZIIZZIZI .452 .451 .432 .442 .425 .422 .431 .449 .472
.494 .524 .492 .45731.2 ___ do___________ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
.505 .560 .596 . 646 .634 .556 (2)32.1 do (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) * (2)
.509 .564 .598 .655 .635 .559 (2)33 Z'ZZZdoZZZZZZZZZZZZZ .555 .478
.510 .509 .508 .510 .572 .642 .638 .638 .666 .672 575
34.13 Bushel___________ 2. 524 1.945 1.770 1.706 2. 625 2.742
3.084 2. 752 2.994 (2) (2) (2) (2)35.1 3 do___________ 2. 202 2.086
1.530 1.476 1.811 1.896 2.857 2.312 2.183 (2) (2) ( 2) ( 2)36.2*
Box_____________ 3.108 2.969 3.101 3.136 3.099 4.300 4.454 3.495
2.857 (2) (2) (2) (2)37.1 * ____do___________ 5.680 6.202 6.436
7.080 6.910 7.498 7.090 6.624 8. 222 (2) (2) (2) (2)38
do----------------- 4.381 4. 719 5. 550 5.738 5.819 6.360 6. 275
5.975 6.844 (2) (2) ( 2) (2)
39.1 Ton_____________ 36. 698 34.310 33.314 32. 705 30.029 24.
506 26. 229 25. 760 26. 259 27.959 28.584 30. 298 29. 69140 ___
do---------------- 30. 000 30.000 29. 500 28.375 28.000 28.000 28.
000 27.300 29. 250 30. 250 31. 600 32. 000 29.33641 30.000 30.000
29. 500 28.375 28.000 28.000 28.000 27.300 29. 250 30. 250 31.600
32.000 29.336
43 100 pounds_______ 4.962 5.017 4.885 4.707 4. 558 4. 628 4.863
5. 261 5.193 4.885 4.377 4.045 4.78244 ___ do__________ 6.360 6.
460 6.460 6.360 5.920 6.360 6.460 6.900 6.900 7. 270 7. 270 7. 270
6. 67245 ____do___________ 4.644 4.644 5.090 5.090 5.090 5.090
5.090 5.090 5.090 5.090 5.090 5.090 5.021
46.1 Pound___________ .166 .168 .167 .168 .169 .170 .172 .170
.165 .164 .163 .164 .167
47 100 pounds______ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
(2) (2)48 ___ do___________ 51. 500 52.000 52. 000 52.000 52.000
(2) 37.000 40.300 43. 625 43.000 41.300 41. 250 46.03149
Bushel___________ 7. 050 6.275 6.160 6. 012 6. 075 6.090 6.075
6.000 6.000 6.000 6.000 6.000 6.14150 100 pounds__ ____ 5. 750 5.
750 5. 750 5. 750 5. 750 (2) 7. 450 8.365 11.125 12. 625 15.350 17.
562 9.16951 -do___________ 42.366 42. 721 42. 846 42.846 42. 848
42.840 42.803 43. 852 45. 733 47. 495 48.164 48.230 44.395
52* 100 pounds________ 15. 281 14.938 14.575 14. 219 13. 844
14.100 13. 844 13.000 13.000 13.000 10.390 8.650 13.22053.2* 50
pounds________ 4. 507 5.628 6.184 5.468 3.630 3.132 2.321 1. 712
1.844 (2) (2) (2) (2)
54-1 * Bushel__________ 3.400 3.599 3.310 3.440 4.167 4.917 4.
523 3. 622 2.618 (2) (2) (2) (2)54-2 * _do___________ 3.182 3.267
3.280 3.256 4. 516 4.628 3.802 2.730 2. 784 ( 2) (?) (2) (2)
55.1 3 100 pounds________ 3. 525 3.606 4.068 4. 619 4. 976 4.390
4.293 3.805 3. 520 (2) (2) (2) ( 2)56.1 3 ____do____________ 4. 899
5. 253 5.496 6. 234 5.068 4. 527 4.148 3.669 3.314 (2) (2) (2)
(2)57.1 3 ___ do____________ 5. 332 5. 224 5.380 5.915 4. 723 4.165
3. 624 3. 757 3. 499 (2) (2) (2) (2)58.13 ____do____________ 5.320
6. 710 6.159 6.700 6.254 4.010 3.827 3.293 3.219 (2) (2) (2)
(2)
See footnotes at end of table.
86431050---- 3
Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
14 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
Table 6. Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of individual commodities, 1948 Continued
Rela- Indexes (1926=100) of primary market prices
Code No.
69.160.1 61.1 62.1
63.1
65.166.2 67.1
717784
8788.1
90
91
92.193.294.295.196.2
97.398.1 99100.1 101102.1
103.1104.1106.1 106.1107.1108.2109.1110.1111.1113114.1
115116.1117.1
118.1 119.2
120.2121.1
122.1123.1124.1125.2
CommodityDescription and terms of sale
FARM PRODUCTSContinued
Other farm productsContinued Wool, Boston:
Domestic, graded bright fleece, grease basis:Fine clothing, 64s,
70s, 80s_:.----------------------Fine combing (delaine), 64s, 70s,
80s_______H blood combing, 58s, 60s_________________H - % blood
combing, 48s, 50s, 56s__________
Domestic territory, staple, scoured basis:Fine
combing____________________________H blood
combing________________________
Foreign, in bond:Buenos Aires, 5s, 40s, grease
basis__________Australian combing, 64s, scoured
basis_______Montevideo, 2s, 50s, grease basis------------------
FOODS.........................................................................
Dairy products..____ _____ _____ __________Butter, creamery, f.
o. b. listed market:
Grade A, 92 score, Chicago___________________Grade A, 92 score,
New York________________Grade A, 92 score, San
Francisco_____________
Cheese, whole milk, f. o. b. listed
market:Chicago___________________________________New
York--------------------------------------------------San
Francisco______________________________
Milk:Condensed, 48-14 oz. tins, f. o. b. New
York--------Evaporated 48-14^ oz. tins, f. o. b. New York___Fluid
(see farm products, code nos. 43, 44, and
45).Powdered, skimmed, f. o. b. destination________
Cereal products___________________________Bread, loaf (baked
weight), delivered listed city:
Chicago___________________________________Cincinnati________________________________New
Orleans______________________________New
York________________________________San
Francisco_____________________________
Cereal breakfast foods:Corn flakes, f. o. b.
factory___________________Rolled oats,
delivered_______________________Wheat, f. o. b.
factory-----------------------------------
Soda crackers, delivered, New York area________Cookies, sugar,
delivered______________________Flour, f. o. b. listed market:
Rye, white, Minneapolis____________________Wheat:
Spring, standard patents, Buffalo___________Spring, first
clears, Buffalo_________________Hard winter, short patents, Kansas
City_____Hard winter, straights, Kansas City_________Spring,
standard patents, Minneapolis_______Spring, short patents,
Minneapolis__________Patents, Portland, Oreg___________________Soft
winter, family patents and short patents,
St. Louis.Soft winter, straights, St. Louis_____________
Hominy grits, white, f. o. b. mill_______________Macaroni, f. o.
b. Chicago_____________________Meal, corn:
White, f. o. b. mill__________________________Yellow, f. o. b.
New York.__________________
Pretzels, sticks, bulk, delivered________________Rice, head,
clean, f. o. b. New Orleans:
Blue Rose, extra fancy______________________Rexora, extra fancy,
New Orleans____________
Fruits and vegetables__________ ___________Fruits:
Canned:Apples, n. w., fancy, No. 10 can, f. o. b. cannery .
Apricots, choice, halves, No. 2 \ i , f. o. b. can
nery.Cherries, sweet, choice, No. 2^ >, f. o. b. cannery.
Peaches, cling, choice, No. 2 lA , f. o. b. cannery.. Pears,
Bartlett, choice, No. 2^, f. o. b. cannery. Pineapple, Hawaiian,
fancy, sliced, No. 2 \ i ,
f. o. b. cannery, Honolulu.
tiveimport
ance1948 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
Dec. Year
.01 87.3 87.3 87.3 88.8 89.8 91.7 92.3 92.3 92.3 92.3 92.3 92.3
90.5
.01 111.0 111.0 111.0 111.0 111.0 123.1 127.2 127.2 127.2 127.2
127.2 127.2 120.2
.01 114.4 114.4 114.4 117.7 119.8 128.7 131.7 131.7 131.7 131.7
0 0 0
.01 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 110.9 118. 2 120.7 120. 7 120.7
120.7 120.7 120.7 116.4
.10 109.0 109.0 109.0 111.8 113.8 124.8 128.5 128.5 128.5 127.7
0 0 0
.09 114.6 114.6 114.6 118.6 121.3 130.6 133. 7 133.7 0 0 0 0
0
.03 95.4 102.2 102.2 98.9 104.3 110.5 121.0 128.0 132.1 128.0
140.4 154.8 118.3
.04 0 0) 0) 0) 0 0 0) 0) 0 0 0 0 0)
.02 151.6 151.6 151.6 151.6 160.0 174.0 190.9 190.9 190.9 190.9
190.9 186.9 173.521.42 179.8 172.4 173.8 176.7 177.4 181.4 188.3
189.8 186.9 178.2 174.3 170.2 179.1
2. 50 183.9 184.8 179.8 181.0 176.6 181.3 182.9 185.1 179.9
174.9 170.7 171.2 179.3.75 195.0 190.1 181.0 186.0 184.2 186.8
182.8 174.4 163.7 149.2 146.9 151.1 174.1.98 188.7 189.7 179.4
185.3 182.3 180.3 176.5 169.4 160.3 146.8 142.4 145. 7 170.4.06
202.5 199.6 187.2 193.3 191.6 197.6 198.5 187.5 177.3 154.0 151.0
155.5 182.8.12 208.8 207.6 187.3 192.7 206.1 210.7 227.6 214.5
196.1 176.9 165.4 175.0 197.2.12 212.6 210.9 194.4 202.3 217.0
216.9 235.0 225.2 210.7 193.1 182.4 186.4 207.0.03 0 0 0) 0 0 0 0
0) 0 0 0 0 0.12 153.7 157.1 157.1 161.3 165.6 165.6 168.2 170.7
170.7 166.5 162.2 162.2 163.4.27 152.6 155. 7 155.7 158.9 163.3
164.5 171.3 174.6 171.4 164.4 162.0 162.0 163.1
.05 125.1 128.9 128.9 128.9 128.9 136.5 136.5 136.5 136.5 136.5
136.5 130.8 132.63.47 170.1 160.2 158.6 158.0 156.3 155.1 154.5
154.0 153.3 149.6 150.5 150.0 155.8.32 143.7 143.7 143.7 143.7
143.7 143. 7 143.7 143.7 143.7 143.7 142.0 139.5 143.3.04 144.7
150.7 150.7 150.7 150.7 150.7 150. 7 150.7 150.7 150.7 150.7 150.7
150.2.04 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8
144.8 144.8 144.8 144.8.70 159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7
159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7 159.7 159. 7.06 146.7 146.7 146.7
146.7 146.7 146.7 146.7 146. 7 146.7 146.7 144.9 137.5 145.8.10
177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4 177.4
177.4 177.4.07 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1
264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1 264.1.09 123.6 127.9 127.9 127.9 127.9
127.9 127.9 127.9 127.9 127.9 127.9 127.9 127.6.09 138.0 138.0
138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0 138.0
138.0.14 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1
145.1 145.1 145.1 145.1.02 244.2 220.7 233.3 230.7 214.6 189.9
167.5 159.6 147.0 160.6 171.7 163.9 191.9.36 175.7 153.5 149.0
146.5 143.1 137.2 132.6 130.4 131.0 135.4 139.0 137. 7 142.9. 11
159.7 143.4 138.6 142.0 143.1 136.2 132.5 131.8 129.4 128.3 135.0
136.2 138.1.22 164.3 139.8 138.3 136.2 132.6 124.4 125.1 127.7
126.5 126.5 129.5 127.8 133.5.07 181.3 154.4 152.1 149.9 145.7
137.1 137.5 139.4 138.1 138.3 139.8 140.8 146.5.33 166.7 146.2
143.2 141.1 135.8 134.0 131.5 130.0 129.8 134.2 138.2 132.7
138.9.11 166.2 146.2 143.4 140.8 134.1 132.2 133.5 129.7 128.4
132.4 136.3 131.1 138.1.06 207.2 183.5 184.4 185.9 178.6 176.2
173.4 169.1 167.7 170.1 176.4 172. 5 178.6.11 175.1 158.2 160.4
158.2 146.1 136.6 141.3 146.0 147.3 149.1 152.9 154.8 152.2.03
184.9 160.9 158.8 155.8 146.3 138.5 138.9 143.7 146.8 148.0 152.3
154.7 152.6.01 441.3 381.6 377.2 383.5 378.4 383.6 379. 8 385.0
329.4 269.0 235.3 238.3 348.3.06 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8
153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8 153.8.06 441.3 381.6
377.2 383.5 378.4 383.6 379.8 385.0 329.4 269.0 235.3 238.3
348.3.06 273.7 248.1 240.3 241.3 243.0 242.6 225.8 219.5 216.9
183.2 169.1 171.9 222.6.02 190.7 190.7 190.7 190.7 190.7 190.7
190.7 190.7 195.7 200.7 200.7 200.7 193.6.14 207.7 218.9 210.8
211.3 225.8 259.9 270.0 267.2 0 163.0 148.9 168.7 212.6.05 191.7
193.6 190.5 192.8 202.2 219.3 230.7 221.8 215.3 146.4 164.1 179.8
194.7
1.24 140.7 144.5 145.7 148.6 147.0 147.7 151.2 140.5 139.4 137.1
139.6 139.8 143.4
.05 250.1 250.1 229.0 215.0 215.0 208.0 206.2 206.2 206.2 206.2
291.8 302.8 228.3
.02 129.1 129.1 129.1 129.1 129.1 129.1 116.6 116.6 116.6 116.6
116.6 116.6 123.1
.02 96.8 96.8 96.8 96.8 96.8 133.8 133.8 133.8 133.8 133.8 133.8
133.8 118.4
.05 119.3 119.3 119.3 119.3 117.5 115.8 123.3 123.3 123.6 125.0
125.0 125.0 121.3
.03 129.3 131.2 133.0 133.0 133.0 133.0 164.0 161.7 155.8 154.3
154.3 154.3 143.8
.08 149.3 149.3 149.3 149.3 149.3 149.3 149.3 155.5 161.7 161.7
161.7 161.7 154.1
See footnotes at end of table.
Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 15
T able 6. Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of individual commodities, 1948 Continued
Average primary market prices
Code No. UnitJan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
Nov. Dec. Year
59.1 Pound___________ $0.350 $0.350 $0.350 $0.356 $0.360 $0.368
$0.370 $0.370 $0.370. $0.370 $0.370 $0.370 $0.36360.1
____do___________ .515 .515 .515 .515 .515 .571 .590 .590 .590 .590
.590 .590 .55861.1 ____do__________ .530 .530 .530 .545 .555 .596
.610 .610 .610 .610 (2) (2) (2)62.1 ____do___________ .510 .510
.510 .510 .510 .544 .555 .555 .555 .555 .555 .555 .536
63.1 ____do___________ 1.255 1. 255 1.255 1.288 1.310 1.438
1.480 1.480 1.480 1.471 (2) (?) (2)64.1 ____do__________ 1.200
1.200 1.200 1.242 1.270 1.368 1.400 1.400 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
65.1 ____do__________ .231 .248 .248 .240 .252 .268 .293 .310
.320 .310 .340 .375 .28666.2 ____do___________ 1. 242 1.315 1. 218
1.338 1.595 1. 760 1.760 1. 760 1.651 1.565 1.565 1.733 1.54067.1
____do___________ .540 .540 .540 .540 .570 .620 .680 .680 .680 .680
.680 .666 .618
71 ____do__________ .836 .815 .776 .798 .790 .801 .784 .748 .702
.640 .630 .648 .74677 .837 .841 .796 .822 .808 .799 .782 .751 .711
.651 .631 .646 .75584 ------do--------------- .882 .870 .816 .842
.835 .861 .865 .817 .772 .671 .658 .678 .797
86 ___do__________ _ .453 .451 .406 .418 .447 .457 .494 .466
.426 .384 .359 .380 .42887 ____do__________ .490 .486 .448 .466
.500 .500 .542 .519 .486 .445 .420 .430 .47788.1 ____do__________
.442 .466 .435 .464 .501 .505 .520 .502 .474 .434 .416 .430
.466
89 Case_____________ 9.000 9. 200 9. 200 9. 450 9. 700 9. 700 9.
850 10.000 10.000 9. 750 9. 500 9. 500 9. 57390 ____do___________
6.075 6.200 6.200 6.325 6. 500 6. 550 6.819 6.950 6. 825 6.544
6.450 6.450 6.492
91 Pound___________ .157 .162 .162 .162 .162 .171 .171 .171 .171
.171 .171 .164 .166
92.1 do .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .126 .125
.122 .12693^ 2 .120 .125 .125 .125 .125 .125 .125 .125 .125 .125
.125 .125 .12594.2 "d0 .116 .116 .116 .116 .116 .116 .116 .116 .116
.116 .116 .116 .11695.1 ___do____________ .133 .133 .133 .133 .133
.133 .133 .133 .133 .133 .133 .133 .13396.2 ____do___________ .131
.131 .131 .131 .131 .131 .131 .131 .131 .131 .129 .122 .130
97.3 Case____________ 2. 803 2.803 2.803 2. 803 2. 803 2.803
2.803 2. 803 2.803 2.803 2.803 2.803 2.80398.1 2. 505 2. 505 2.505
2. 505 2.505 2.505 2. 505 2. 505 2. 505 2. 505 2.505 2.505 2.50599
do 4.190 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336 4.336
4.336 4.336 4.325100.1 Pound___________ .194 .194 .194 .194 .194
.194 .194 .194 .194 .194 .194 .194 .194101 ____do ___________ .212
.212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212 .212
102.1 100 pounds____ __ 7.040 6.362 6.725 6. 650 6.188 5.475
4.830 4.600 4.238 4.630 4.950 4. 725 5.532
103.1 __ _do__________ 7.780 6.800 6.600 6.488 6.340 6.075 5.875
5.775 5.800 5.995 6.156 6.100 6.329104.1 ____do___________ 6. 695
6.012 5.812 5.956 6.000 5.712 5. 555 5. 525 5.425 5.380 5.662 5.712
5. 793105.1 ____do__________ 6.870 5.844 5.781 5. 694 5. 545 5.200
5.230 5.338 5. 288 5.290 5.412 5.344 5. 582106.1 ____do___________
6.735 5.736 5.650 5. 569 5.415 5.094 5.110 5.181 5.131 5.140 5.194
5.231 5. 445107.1 ____do______ _____ 7.175 6.294 6.162 6.075 5.845
5. 769 5.662 5.595 5. 588 5. 775 5.950 5.712 5.980108.2
___do__________ 7.375 6.488 6.362 6. 250 5.950 5.869 5.925 5.755
5.700 5.875 6. 050 5.819 6.131109.1 ___ do___________ 8.440 7.474
7. 514 7. 574 7.276 7.178 7.066 6.890 6.831 6.930 7.187 7.029 7.
276110.1 ____do___________ 7.000 6.325 6. 412 6.325 5.840 5.462 5.
650 5.838 5.888 5.960 6.112 6.188 6.086
111.1 ____do___________ 6. 710 5.838 5. 762 5. 652 5.310 5.025
5.040 5. 212 5.325 5.370 5. 525 5.612 5.538113 ____do___________
6.875 5.945 5.876 5.975 5.895 5.976 5.918 5.998 5.132 4.190 3.666
3.712 5.426114.1 Box_____________ 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205
2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205 2.205
115 100 pounds_______ 6.875 5.945 5.876 5.975 5.895 5.976 5.918
5.998 5.132 4.190 3.666 3.712 5.426116.1 ____do___________ 7.315
6.631 6.423 6.450 6.494 6.485 6.035 5.867 5.796 4.898 4. 520 4. 595
5.949117.1 Pound___________ .175 .175 .175 .175 .175 .175 .175 .175
.180 .185 .185 .185 .178
118.1 ____do___________ .127 .134 .129 .129 .138 .159 .165 .163
(2) .100 .091 .103 .130119.2 ____do------- ------- .147 .148 .146
.148 .155 .168 .177 .170 .165 .112 .126 .138 .149
120.2 Dozen___________ 7.125 7.125 6.525 6.125 6.125 5.925 5.875
5.875 5.875 5.875 8.312 8.625 6.503121.1 ____do___________ 2.975
2.975 2.975 2.975 2.975 2.975 2.688 2.688 2.688 2.688 2.688 2.688
2.837
122.1 do 3.400 3.400 3.400 3.400 3.400 4.700 4.700 4.700 4.700
4.700 4.700 4.700 4.158123.1 d o _ 2.600 2.600 2.600 2.600 2. 562
2. 525 2.688 2.688 2.695 2. 725 2.725 2. 725 2.644124.1
____do___________ 3.500 3.550 3.600 3.600 3.600 3.600 4.438 4.375
4.215 4.175 4.175 4.175 3.892125.2 do----------------- 3.000 3.000
3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.125 3.250 3.250 3.250 3.250
3.096
See footnotes at end of table.
Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
16 WHOLESALE PRICES, 1948
T able 6.Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of individual commodities, 1948 Continued
Relative
Indexes (1926=100) of primary market prices
Code No. CommodityDescription and terms of sale importance1948
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Year
126.1
FOODSContinued
Fruits and vegetablesContinued
FruitsC ontinued Dried:
Apples, n. w., choice, f. o. b. New York______ 0.01 185.4 186.9
186.0 187.1 187.1 184.5 0 196.5 196.5 202.3 202.8 222.2 0127
Apricots, choice, f. o. b. packer_____________ .02 105.9 104.2
104.2 99.7 99.7 103.9 105.3 102.7 99.7 102.0 104.4 105.3 103.2128.1
Currants, Zante, 15-oz. pkg., f. o. b. packer___ () 198.2 183.5
179.3 179.3 179.3 180.7 181.2 184.9 186.4 188.6 188.6 184.9
184.7129 Peaches, yellow, choice, f. o. b. packer._____ .01 97.3
93.3 93.6 90.8 89.0 94.5 97.3 (2) 137.7 143.1 146.4 159.4 112.6130
Prunes, California, 50/60s, f. o. b. packer_____ .05 146.7 137.6
136.2 126.8 126.2 131.2 134.2 139.7 152.6 160.7 159.9 159.9
142.8131 Raisins, Thompsons, seedless, choice, f. o. b. .04 129.1
121.9 121.4 121.7 123.3 131.9 139.6 147.8 141.0 137.8 136.2 132.8
131.9
132.2
packer.Fresh:
Apples. (See Farm products, code Nos. 34.2, 35.2, 36.3.)
Bananas, Central American, f.o. b. New York. .54 352.9 352.9
352.9 352.9 352.9 352.9 398.0 398.0 398.0 398.0 398.0 398.0
375.5
133.1
Lemons. (See Farm products, code No. 37.2.) Oranges. (SS Farm
products, code No. 38.2.)
Vegetables:Canned:
Asparagus, large green No. 2 tall, f. o. b. cannery. .02 135.3
136.7 138.1 (2) 0 154.0 154.0 154.0 154.0 154.0 154.0 154. 0 0134.2
Baked beans, 16 oz., f. o. b. cannery ____ . 07 151.3 151.3 151.3
151.3 151.3 151. 3 151.3 151.3 151.3 142.0 132.7 132. 7 147.3135.1
Corn, Golden Bantam, whole kernel, No. 2, .05 141.2 141.2 141.2
141.2 141. 2 141.2 141.2 148.3 153.0 153.0 153.0 153.0
145.7136.2
f. o. b. cannery.Peas, sugar variety, 1-5 sieve blended, No. 2,
.05 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6 121.6
121.6 121.6 121.6
137f. o. b. cannery.
Spinach, fancy No. 2^, f. o. b. cannery_____. .01 108.5 106.8
106.4 110.6 112.0 112.0 112.0 112.0 112.0 112.0 112.0 112- 0
110.7138 Beans, southern, green, cut, stringless, stand- .03 131.6
131.6 131.6 131.6 131.6 131.6 0 0 0 145.6 138.9 142.8 0139-1
ard, No. 2, f. o. b. cannery.Tomatoes, standard, No. 2, f. o. b.
cannery___ .09 0) 0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Meats, poultry, and
fish______________ _____ 9. 48 222.3 206.2 217.1 226.0 233.2 241.3
263.8 273.7 266.5 239.8 227.4 220.8 236.5
141-1Meats:910
Beef, carcass, fresh (weighted average price): Choice,
600-700lb., New York and Chicago. __ .48 (2) (2) (2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0) 0141-2 Good, 500-600 lb., New York, Chicago, and 1.25 (2)
(2) (2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
141-3San Francisco.
Commercial, 350-600 lb., New York, Chicago, 1.08 (2) (2) (2) (2)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0141-4
and San Francisco.Utility (cow), all weights, New York, Chicago,
.63 (2) (2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
142-1
and San Francisco.Lamb, carcass, fresh (weighted average
price):
Good, 40-45 lb., New York, Chicago, and San .36 169.2 154.4
162.1 183.9 206.0 221.7 220.3 199.7 180.8 177.8 179.1 167.5
185.2
143-1
Francisco.Pork, cured (weighted average price):
Bacon, slab, smoked, dry cure, No. 1, brisket .54 (2) (2) (2) 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
144-1off, 8-10 lb., New York, Chicago, San Francisco.
Fat backs, dry salt, 16-20 lb., New York and .16 (2) (2) (2) 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (2)145-1
Chicago.Hams, smoked, skinned, No. 1, 12-16 lb.,
wrapped, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Picnics, smoked, 4-8 lb., short shank, New
.83 202.1 177.7 185.3 187.8 190.3 201.6 212.6 217.1 220.9 193.6
185.1 186.7 196.7
146-1 .27 (2) (2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
147-1
York, Chicago, and San Francisco.Pork, fresh (weighted average
price):
Loins, blade-in, No. 1, 10-12 lb., New York, 1.18 182.5 176.3
200.0 202.9 204.4 206.5 245.1 270.3 256.9 217.7 168.5 149.7
206.7
148-1
Chicago, and San Francisco.Veal, carcass, fresh (weighted
average price):
Good, hide-oil, 80-130 lb., New York, Chicago, .51 (2) (2) (2) 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
149-1.1
and San Francisco.Sausage and materials for sausage and
canned
meat products:Beef trimmings, fresh lb., Chicago__________ 1.22
(2) (2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0) 0
150-1.1 Pork trimmings (regular), fresh, lb., Chicago... .21 (2)
(2) (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
152
Poultry:Poultry, dressed fowl:
Chicago________ _____________________ .18 107.3 101.7 108.6
116.9 118.2 120.5 127.8 131.4 134.6 125.3 129.1 143.0 122.1153.1
New York___________ __________________ .39 100.5 98.9 97.0 102.8
108.3 110.4 116.6 120.5 123.3 114.5 119.4 128.6 111.8
162-1
Fish:Salmon, canned, f. o. b. Seattle:
Pink, No. 1 tall__________________________ .10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0163-1 Red, No. 1 tall. _ ___________________ _ .06 0 0) 0)
0) 0 0 0) 0 0) 0 0 0 0164 Cod, cured, pickled, bulk, f. o. b.
Gloucester, .02 199.8 199.8 199.8 199.8 199.8 199.8 199.8 201.1
206.7 206.7 206.7 206.7 202.2
166.1Mass.
Mackerel, salt, pickled, 200 lb. bbl., f. o. b. New .01 148.8
148.8 148.8 142.0 139.8 144.3 144.3 144.3 144.3 157.8 157.8 157.8
148.3York.
Other foods________ _______________ _____ 4. 73 155.0 146.6
144.5 144.4 144.1 148.0 148.4 148.2 149.1 150.4 149.4 140.9
147.6153-1 Baking powder, four 10-pound cans to case, deliv .03
106.7 106.7 106.7 106.7 106.7 106.7 106.7 111.2 114.3 114.3 115.1
116.3 109.9
154
ered.Beverages:
Gingerale, delivered____________ ___________ .11 64.9 64.9 64.9
64.9 64.9 64.9 64.9 68.5 83.1 83.1 83.1 83.1 71.2155 Grape juice,
f. o. b. plant____________________ .01 87.7 87.7 87.7 87.7 87.7
87.7 87.7 87.7 87.7 88.7 91.4 90.5 88.4156.1
See foePlain soda, f. o. b. factory__ ___ _ ______
>tnotes at end of table..16 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8
127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8 127.8
Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
PRIMARY MARKET PRICES AND INDEXES 17
Table 6.Primary market prices, index numbers, and relative
importance of individual commodities, 1948 Continued
Code No. Unit
Average primary market prices
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May J u n e July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Year
126.1 Pound________ . $0.198 $0,200 $0.199 $0,200 $0,200 $0.197
(2) $0.210 $0.210 $0.216 $0.217 $0.238 (2)127 do_. .239 .235 .235
.225 .225 .234 $0.238 .232 .225 .230 .236 .238 $0. 233128.1
Each____________ .134 .124 .121 .121 .121 .122 .122 .125 .126 .128
.128 .125 .125129 Pound____ ____ .131 .126 .126 .122 .120 .128 .131
(2) .186 .193 .198 .215 .152130 do .109 .102 .101 .094 .094 .098
.100 .104 .113 .119 .119 .119 .106131 ------do-----------------
.084 .079 .079 .079 .080 .086 .091 .096 .092 .089 .088 .086
.086
132.2 100 pounds........ 5.875 5.875 5.875 5.875 5.875 5.875
6.625 6.625 6.625 6.625 6.625 6.625 6.250
133.1 Dozen___________ 3.625 3.662 3.700 C2) (2) 4.125 4.125
4.125 4.125 4.125 4.125 4.125 (2)134.2 do 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950
1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.830 1.710 1.710 1.899135.1
____do......... ............. 1.773 1.773 1.773 1.773