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  5. The Consumer Price Index: Conceptual Issues and Practical Suggestions

Journal of Economic Perspectives

ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)

The Consumer Price Index: Conceptual Issues and Practical Suggestions

  • Charles L. Schultze
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 17, no. 1, Winter 2003
(pp. 3–22)
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Abstract

A National Academy of Sciences Panel recently made a number of recommendations to the BLS for improving the Consumer Price Index, while also suggesting some cautions to be observed when considering the adoption of new concepts and techniques. This paper discusses the Panel's analyses in four areas: Should a cost-of-living index be the measurement objective of the CPI? Should the index attempt to capture the effect on living costs from changes in "environmental" conditions? How can hedonic techniques be best applied for measuring quality changes? Should the BLS attempt to measure the consumer surpluses accompanying the introduction of new goods?

Citation

Schultze, Charles, L. 2003. "The Consumer Price Index: Conceptual Issues and Practical Suggestions ." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17 (1): 3–22. DOI: 10.1257/089533003321164921

JEL Classification

  • C43 Index Numbers and Aggregation; Leading indicators
  • E31 Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
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