Consumer prices - Illustration

Family Economics and Nutrition Review, Spring, 2002

Consumer Prices

Average percent change for major budgetary components

                                   Annual average percent     Percent
                                    change from December      change
                                    of previous year to      12 months
                                          December          ending with
                                                             December
Group                               1990   1995   2000         2002

All Items                            6.1    2.5    3.4          2.4
Food                                 5.3    2.1    2.8          1.5
  Food at home                       5.8    2.0    3.0          0.8
  Food away from home                4.5    2.2    2.4          2.3
Housing                              4.5    3.0    4.3          2.4
Apparel                              5.1    0.1   -1.9         -1.8
Transportation                       0.4    1.5    4.3          3.8
Medical care                         9.6    3.9    4.2          5.0
Recreation                           NA     2.8    1.4          1.1
Education and communication          NA     4.0    1.2          2.2
Other goods and services             7.6    4.3    4.5          3.3

Price per pound for selected food items

                                   Price per pound unless
                                   otherwise noted (as of
                                   December in each year)
                                                            December
Food                                1990   1995   2000        2002

Flour, white, all purpose          $ .24  $ .24  $ .28        $ .29
Rice, white, long grain, uncooked    .49    .55     NA          .46
Spaghetti and macaroni               .85    .88    .88          .93
Bread, white                         .70    .84    .99         1.03
Beef, ground, uncooked              1.63   1.40   1.63         1.69
Pork chops, center cut, bone-in     3.32   3.29   3.46         3.32
Chicken, fresh, whole                .86    .94   1.08         1.05
Tuna, light, chunk                  2.11   2.00   1.92         2.03
Eggs, grade A, large, per dozen     1.00   1.16    .96         1.18
Milk, fresh, lowfat, per gallon       NA   2.31   2.66           NA
Butter, salted, grade AA, stick     1.92   1.73   2.80         2.84
Apples, red delicious                .77    .83    .82          .99
Bananas                              .43    .45    .49          .50
Oranges, navel                       .56    .64    .62          .74
Potatoes, white                      .32    .38    .35          .48
Lettuce, iceberg                     .58    .61    .85          .68
Tomatoes, field grown                .86   1.51   1.57         1.66
Broccoli                              NA    .76   1.52         1.05
Carrots, short trimmed and topped    .43    .53     NA           NA
Onions, dry yellow                    NA    .41     NA           NA
Orange juice, frozen
 concentrate per 16 oz.             2.02   1.57   1.88         1.81
Sugar, white, 33-80 oz. pkg.         .40    .39    .40          .41
Margarine, stick                     .87    .79     NA           NA
Peanut butter, creamy               2.09   1.78   1.96         1.90
Coffee, 100% ground roast           2.94   3.75   3.21         2.84

NA = Data not available.

Selected items from CPI Detailed Reports, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
various issues. Price changes are for all urban consumers. Food prices
are U.S. city average.