Practical Dad
December PracticalDad Price Index: Prices Up Again
December's marketbasket was priced and the data from the three unrelated stores shows that prices are up again after a three month respite, to an index level of 106.49, or about 6.5% from the original prices in November 2010. This is a rise of almost one full percentage point and is the highest monthly increase since July's jump of 1.14%. This increase is on the back of four items - store brand frosted flake cereal (5.1%), peanut butter (4.7%), Gorton's Fish Sticks (9.7%) and potatoes (18%). The peanut butter increase is purely a function of supply as the crop suffered and the fish price is on the back of a 28% rise at one particular store, so it's uncertain if this is a precursor to the other stores raising prices or simply a "one-off" abnormality. The other item of note is that once again, the number of items with a price increase (15) is higher than those with price decreases (7), a reversal of the November situation in which prices actually dropped.
| Month | $ Average | Index | 3 M Mov Avg |
| Nov 2010 | 178.39 | 100.00 | |
| Dec 2010 | 180.30 | 101.07 | |
| Jan 2011 | 179.51 | 100.63 |
100.56 |
| Feb 2011 | 179.50 | 100.63 | 100.78 |
| Mar 2011 | 180.51 | 101.08 | 100.78 |
| Apr 2011 | 181.91 | 101.97 | 101.56 |
| May 2011 | 182.10 | 102.08 | 101.71 |
| Jun 2011 | 184.07 | 103.18 | 102.99 |
| Jul 2011 | 184.82 | 103.71 | 102.99 |
| Aug 2011 | 187.05 | 104.85 | 103.91 |
| Sep 2011 | 188.57 | 105.71 | 104.76 |
| Oct 2011 | 188.34 | 105.58 | 105.38 |
| Nov 2011 | 188.31 | 105.56 | 105.61 |
| Dec 2011 | 189.97 | 106.49 | 105.88 |
| Item | Size | Category | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| hot dog rolls (ct) | 8 | bread | 1.20 | 1.20 | 1.20 |
| loaf, wht bread, store brand (oz) | 20 | bread | 1.26 | 1.26 | 1.26 |
| spaghetti, store brand (oz) | 16 | bread | 1.24 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| child cereal, sugar flakes, store brand (oz) | 17 | cereal | 2.90 | 2.97 | 3.12 |
| cereal, rice chex, store brand (oz) | 12.8 | cereal | 2.74 | 2.82 | 2.84 |
| oatmeal, one minute, store brand (oz) | 42 | cereal | 3.29 | 3.36 | 3.36 |
| milk, 2% (gallon) | 1 | dairy | 4.06 | 3.81 | 3.80 |
| butter, unsalted, store brand (lb) | 1 | dairy | 3.49 | 3.49 | 3.49 |
| vanilla ice cream, store brand (qt) | 1 | dairy | 2.01 | 2.01 | 2.01 |
| grated parmesan cheese, store brand (oz) | 8 | dairy | 3.08 | 3.08 | 3.08 |
| American cheese, deli (lb) | 1 | dairy | 5.59 | 5.52 | 5.59 |
| peanut butter, store brand (oz) | 28 | grocery | 3.16 | 3.59 | 3.76 |
| grape jelly, store brand (oz) | 32 | grocery | 2.01 | 2.01 | 2.01 |
| kidney beans, dark, store brand (oz) | 15.5 | grocery | .95 | .95 | .95 |
| can green peas, store brand (oz) | 15 | grocery | .99 | .99 | .96 |
| can diced tomatoes, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | 1.06 | 1.06 | 1.06 |
| can cut green beans, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | .99 | .99 | .99 |
| can corn, store brand (oz) | 15.25 | grocery | .99 | 1.02 | .99 |
| spaghetti sauce, store brand (oz) | 26.5 | grocery | 1.21 | 1.21 | 1.21 |
| cola, store brand (L) | 2 | grocery | .96 | .94 | .94 |
| caffeinated coffee, store brand (oz) | 13 | grocery | 4.36 | 4.39 | 4.41 |
| diapers, store brand (ct) | 100 | hlth/bty | 17.7 | 17.7 | 17.70 |
| formula, Enfamil Premium (oz) | 23.4 | hlth/bty | 23.59 | 23.59 | 23.84 |
| child ibuprofen, store brand, OS (oz) | 4 | hlth/bty | 4.96 | 4.86 | 4.89 |
| adult ibuprofen, store brand, caplet (ct) | 100 | hlth/bty | 7.41 | 8.12 | 8.31 |
| shampoo, Suave (oz) | 22.5 | hlth/bty | 2.09 | 1.96 | 1.86 |
| pads, long/medium, Poise (ct) | 42 | hlth/bty | 16.09 | 16.42 | 15.82 |
| bath soap, Dial (ct) | 8 | hlth/bty | 6.14 | 6.18 | 6.17 |
| aluminum foil, store brand (sq ft) | 75 | hshld | 3.03 | 3.09 | 3.09 |
| kitchen trash bags, handletop, store brand (ct) | 26 | hshld | 4.31 | 4.31 | 4.31 |
| paper towels, 2 ply, store brand (ct) | 8 | hshld | 7.26 | 7.26 | 7.26 |
| hot dogs, meat franks, store brand (oz) | 16 | meat | 2.69 | 2.69 | 2.69 |
| ground beef, 80% lean (lb) | 1 | meat | 3.52 | 3.46 | 3.52 |
| eggs, large (doz) | 1 | meat | 1.98 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
| lunchmeat, deli ham (lb) | 1 | meat | 4.06 | 4.03 | 4.03 |
| chicken, roaster (lb) | 1 | meat | 1.56 | 1.56 | 1.59 |
| fish sticks, Gortons (ct) | 44 | meat | 7.79 | 7.51 | 8.24 |
| tuna, chunk light, water packed, store brand (oz) | 5 | meat | .81 | .81 | .84 |
| bananas (lb) | 1 | produce | .59 | .59 | .59 |
| apples, Red Delicious, bag (lb) | 3 | produce | 4.09 | 3.76 | 3.76 |
| carrots, bag (lb) | 2 | produce | 2.36 | 2.36 | 2.36 |
| OJ, non-concentrate, store brand (oz) | 64 | produce | 2.79 | 2.79 | 2.79 |
| potatoes, Russet (lb) | 5 | produce | 4.32 | 3.66 | 4.32 |
| sugar, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 3.26 | 3.27 | 3.33 |
| flour, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 2.29 | 2.26 | 2.30 |
| canola oil, store brand (oz) | 48 | staple | 4.39 | 4.39 | 4.39 |
| rice, white, long-grain, store brand (lb) | 2 | staple | 1.73 | 1.85 | 1.81 |
| Total | 188.34 | 188.31 | 189.97 |
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