U.S. consumer price index in the second half of XX century: calculation strategy and ways of its changes

Abstract

The purpose of this research is a detection of U.S. consumer price index development and change ways emerged in the second half of XX century. Consumer price index is considered as a practically evaluable index number.Materials and methods. This research is based on the methodology documents of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and its theoretical and practical papers published in Monthly Labor Review. The basic method is historical and descriptive techniques.Results. Data generalization for U.S. consumer price index across five revisions is realized in structure of the calculation method, adapted by ROSSTAT for the national consumer price index. Firstly the dynamic of number of cities, included in consumer price survey and changes of its sample is analyzed. Secondly the principles of point of purchase sampling is in focus. Thirdly the set of goods and services and dynamics of its structure are considered. Fourthly there is a generalization of pricing procedure principles that is frequency according to the type of cities and feature of goods and services. Fifthly the source and limits of data collecting for weights which needed for consumer price index calculation on the high level of aggregation. And sixthly there is description of mean price and price index calculation.Conclusion. The main ways of development and transformation in U.S. consumer price index are defined. It may be considered as alternative solutions in consumer price index of other countries. The main ways are the increase of city and goods sampling, extension of probability use, formation of good classification, equal temporal interval of weight renovation and creation of price index system.