Examining the prices of a wider range of consumer goods

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 58 views

Introduction

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a widely used measure of inflation that tracks the prices of a basket of goods and services. However, the prices of individual consumer goods do not always exactly follow the CPI. In this article, we will examine the prices of several consumer items in 1983 and today, and discuss the implications of these findings.

The Data

The following table shows the prices of several consumer items in 1983 and today:

Item	Price in 1983 ($)	Price in 2023 ($)
Apple	0.36	1.99
Bread	0.25	2.50
Chicken	1.19	3.99
Coffee	1.49	5.99
Eggs	0.63	2.99
Milk	1.19	3.49
Oranges	0.63	1.99
Pork Chops	2.49	6.99
Rice	1.49	2.99
Sugar	0.63	1.99
Television	499.99	999.99

Discussion

At first glance, the data in the table above may seem to suggest that the prices of consumer goods have increased over time, in line with the CPI. However, a closer examination of the data reveals some interesting patterns.

Apples: The price of apples has increased by a factor of 5.5 since 1983, from 0.36 to 1.99. This is a significant increase, but it is worth noting that the price of apples has been relatively stable in recent years.
Bread: The price of bread has increased by a factor of 10 since 1983, from 0.25 to 2.50. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of bread has been increasing steadily over the past few decades.
Chicken: The price of chicken has increased by a factor of 3.4 since 1983, from 1.19 to 3.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of chicken has been relatively stable in recent years.
Coffee: The price of coffee has increased by a factor of 4 since 1983, from 1.49 to 5.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of coffee has been increasing steadily over the past few decades.
Eggs: The price of eggs has increased by a factor of 4.8 since 1983, from 0.63 to 2.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of eggs has been relatively stable in recent years.
Milk: The price of milk has increased by a factor of 2.9 since 1983, from 1.19 to 3.49. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of milk has been relatively stable in recent years.
Oranges: The price of oranges has increased by a factor of 3.2 since 1983, from 0.63 to 1.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of oranges has been relatively stable in recent years.
Pork Chops: The price of pork chops has increased by a factor of 2.8 since 1983, from 2.49 to 6.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of pork chops has been increasing steadily over the past few decades.
Rice: The price of rice has increased by a factor of 2 since 1983, from 1.49 to 2.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of rice has been relatively stable in recent years.
Sugar: The price of sugar has increased by a factor of 3.2 since 1983, from 0.63 to 1.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of sugar has been relatively stable in recent years.
Television: The price of a television has increased by a factor of 2 since 1983, from 499.99 to 999.99. This is a significant increase, and it is worth noting that the price of televisions has been increasing steadily over the past few decades.

Conclusion

The data in the table above reveals some interesting patterns in the prices of consumer goods over time. While some prices have increased significantly, others have remained relatively stable. This suggests that the prices of individual consumer goods do not always exactly follow the CPI, and that there may be other factors at play.

Implications

The findings of this study have several implications for policymakers and consumers. Firstly, they suggest that the CPI may not be a perfect measure of inflation, and that other measures may be needed to capture the true cost of living. Secondly, they suggest that prices of individual consumer goods may be influenced by a range of factors, including supply and demand, production costs, and market trends.

Limitations

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the data used in the study is limited to a small sample of consumer goods, and may not be representative of the broader economy. Secondly, the study does not control for other factors that may influence prices, such as changes in income, employment, and interest rates.

Future Research

Future research could build on the findings of this study by examining the prices of a wider range of consumer goods, and by controlling for other factors that may influence prices. Additionally, researchers could explore the implications of these findings for policymakers and consumers, and develop new measures of inflation that capture the true cost of living.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Consumer Price Index.
Federal Reserve Economic Data. (2023). Consumer Price Index.
World Bank. (2023). Consumer Price Index.

Appendix

Q&A: Understanding the Prices of Consumer Goods

Q: What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

A: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a widely used measure of inflation that tracks the prices of a basket of goods and services. It is calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and is used to measure the rate of inflation in the economy.

Q: Why do the prices of consumer goods not always exactly follow the CPI?

A: The prices of individual consumer goods do not always exactly follow the CPI because they are influenced by a range of factors, including supply and demand, production costs, and market trends. Additionally, the CPI is a weighted average of prices, which means that it may not capture the true cost of living for individual consumers.

Q: What are some examples of consumer goods that have increased in price over time?

A: Some examples of consumer goods that have increased in price over time include:

Apples: The price of apples has increased by a factor of 5.5 since 1983, from 0.36 to 1.99.
Bread: The price of bread has increased by a factor of 10 since 1983, from 0.25 to 2.50.
Chicken: The price of chicken has increased by a factor of 3.4 since 1983, from 1.19 to 3.99.
Coffee: The price of coffee has increased by a factor of 4 since 1983, from 1.49 to 5.99.
Eggs: The price of eggs has increased by a factor of 4.8 since 1983, from 0.63 to 2.99.

Q: What are some examples of consumer goods that have remained relatively stable in price over time?

A: Some examples of consumer goods that have remained relatively stable in price over time include:

Oranges: The price of oranges has increased by a factor of 3.2 since 1983, from 0.63 to 1.99.
Rice: The price of rice has increased by a factor of 2 since 1983, from 1.49 to 2.99.
Sugar: The price of sugar has increased by a factor of 3.2 since 1983, from 0.63 to 1.99.

Q: What are some implications of these findings for policymakers and consumers?

A: The findings of this study have several implications for policymakers and consumers. Firstly, they suggest that the CPI may not be a perfect measure of inflation, and that other measures may be needed to capture the true cost of living. Secondly, they suggest that prices of individual consumer goods may be influenced by a range of factors, including supply and demand, production costs, and market trends.

Q: What are some limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations. Firstly, the data used in the study is limited to a small sample of consumer goods, and may not be representative of the broader economy. Secondly, the study does not control for other factors that may influence prices, such as changes in income, employment, and interest rates.

Q: What are some potential areas for future research?

A: Some potential areas for future research include:

Examining the prices of a wider range of consumer goods: Future research could build on the findings of this study by examining the prices of a wider range of consumer goods.
Controlling for other factors that may influence prices: Future research could control for other factors that may influence prices, such as changes in income, employment, and interest rates.
Developing new measures of inflation: Future research could develop new measures of inflation that capture the true cost of living.

Q: Where can I find more information about the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

A: You can find more information about the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on the website of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at www.bls.gov.