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Causes and Consequences of Bias in the Consumer Price Index as a Measure of the Cost of Living

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  • Michael Boskin

Abstract

The accurate measure of prices is fundamental to almost every important issue in economics, from measuring economic progress to the conduct of monetary policy to the indexation of private contracts and public programs and tax rules. This paper reviews the causes of bias in the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI), updates the estimate of such bias (now roughly 0.8 percent per annum) following several improvements by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), notes the likely far larger substitution bias than previously estimated and calls for a series of priority improvements. Particular attention is called to the over 40 basis point slower growth of the BLS’ C-CPI-U compared to the CPI-U, more than double the early 1990s estimates, which highlights the importance of moving to a formula such as the chained Tornqvist C-CPI that corrects for traditional substitution bias. The implications for mismeasuring the growth of real wages, real median income, and real returns to stocks and bonds are developed, as are the budgetary implications of the overindexing of spending and tax brackets resulting from the overstatement of changes in the cost of living. Copyright IAES 2005

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Boskin, 2005. "Causes and Consequences of Bias in the Consumer Price Index as a Measure of the Cost of Living," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 33(1), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:33:y:2005:i:1:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-005-1631-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bajari, Patrick & Benkard, C. Lanier & Krainer, John, 2005. "House prices and consumer welfare," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 474-487, November.
    2. David E. Lebow & Jeremy B. Rudd, 2003. "Measurement Error in the Consumer Price Index: Where Do We Stand?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 41(1), pages 159-201, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Oxman, Jeffrey, 2012. "Price inflation and stock returns," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 116(3), pages 385-388.
    2. Marshall Reinsdorf & Jack E. Triplett, 2009. "A Review of Reviews: Ninety Years of Professional Thinking About the Consumer Price Index," NBER Chapters, in: Price Index Concepts and Measurement, pages 17-83, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Gaddis,Isis, 2016. "Prices for poverty analysis in Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7652, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    C81; C82; E30;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data Access
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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