Cost of Living Indexes Summaries - Fourth Quarter 2002

The ACCRA (American Chamber of Commerce Research Association) Cost of Living Index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas. ACCRA, however, does not cover smaller urban communities in their cost of living national surveys. The cost of living indices below are done in accordance with the methodology established by the ACCRA. ACCRA methodology is followed as closely as possible to ensure comparability with other communities across the nation. The data below has been compiled by business students at the University of Southern Indiana, under the supervision of the Department of Economics and Finance faculty.

The average for all participating places equals 100, and each participant’s index is read as a percentage of the average for all places. The Index reflects cost differentials for a mid-management household’s standard of living. In the Fourth Quarter 2002 study, Perry County had a composite index of 94.23, which is 6% below the national average. Perry County's housing category is about 13% below the national average. Both grocery items and utilities are 7% below the national average. Health care costs are about 12% below the national average.

As a percentage of category weights

	Composite Index	Grocery items	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Health Care	*Misc. Goods and Services
Index Weights	100.00%	16.00%	28.00%	8.00%	10.00%	5.00%	33.00%
Perry County	94.23	14.99	24.46	7.67	8.57	4.41	34.13

As a percentage of the National Average

	Composite Index	Grocery items	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Health Care	*Misc. Goods and Services
Index Weights	100%	16%	28%	8%	10%	5%	33%
Perry County	94.23	93.68	87.37	95.88	85.66	88.3	103.43

* Miscellaneous goods and services include entertainment, clothing, toiletries and fast food.

Source: Department of Economics and Finance Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Southern Indiana - Report on the Cost of Living Index (COLI) surveyed in October 2002 and compiled in April 2003