Reference:CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

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CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The most widely used measure of inflation or "cost of living." It is based on the aggregate price of a weighted “market basket” of goods, including food, housing, apparel, transportation, and medical care. Investors must pay particular attention to the index, to make sure that their investments beat the annual rate of inflation.

The "Answers" notebook at the Ref Desk contains CPI data for San Diego (current and older data). For local cost of living information, affordability index, and other "quality of life" data, see http://www.signonsandiego.com/bookoffacts/sd_county/sdcounty_index.html

CPI Hotline: 557-6538

Current: CPI Detailed Report (L2.38/3: Gov Pubs)

Historical: Statistical Abstract of the United States (C 3.134 Ref Desk)

Economic Indicators Handbook (HC 103 E26 Ref). Has CPI data for all metropolitan areas of the U.S. Covers many different industries and goes back in some cases to the 19th century.

Foreign Countries: International Financial Statistics

(HG 3881.S626 Ref) monthly (HG 3881.S627 Ref) yearly. Also see online version.

International Marketing Data and Statistics (Euromonitor) (Ref) and Euromonitor's Global Market Information Database (GMID)

For overseas cost of living comparisons, see https://secureapp2.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/ and http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/steccpi.html and http://www.state.gov/ (State Department)

U.S. Cost of Living Comparisons for 399 U.S. Job Markets: http://www.datamasters.com

Also see http://www.bls.gov/cpi/

To convert historical prices of goods into today's rates, see http://www.cjr.org/tools/inflation/index.asp and also http://woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/research/data/us/calc/

Another helpful book in this regard is The Value of a Dollar. (Ref HB235.U6 V35 1999)

ACCRA Cost of Living Index (Ref. HD 6983 I55)

http://sandag.org/ (San Diego Association of Governments)

See also Economic Indicators and Inflation Rate and Consumer Price Index Conversions

MP / MS

5/07