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The impact of the current pandemic on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was relatively minor for March 2020 data published on April 10, 2020. The response rates for March 2020 data and March 2019 data for both the Commodities and Services Price (C&S) Survey and the Housing Survey are shown in tables 1 and 2 below.
March 2019 | March 2020 | |
---|---|---|
Collected prices |
87% | 75% |
Uncollected prices |
13% | 25% |
Collection mode: |
||
Personal visit |
67% | 37% |
Telephone |
9% | 12% |
Online |
14% | 35% |
Other (1) |
9% | 16% |
Footnotes: |
While a decrease in personal visit collection for the C&S survey in March 2020 was realized, an increase in other collection modes, namely online data collection resulted. An example of this is full-service restaurants; if a restaurant was closed for dine-in service, but open for take-out or delivery, the data collector attempted to obtain the price from the restaurant’s website or by telephone call with the respondent, rather than a personal visit.
The March 2019 and March 2020 data in the housing table were revised to reflect the use of on-panel quotes only. The revised table is below.
March 2019 | March 2020 | |
---|---|---|
Collected rents |
67% | 63% |
Vacant units |
6% | 5% |
Uncollected rents |
27% | 32% |
Collection mode: |
||
Personal visit |
36% | 30% |
Telephone |
64% | 70% |
For some CPI market basket categories, the percentage of the sample collected in March 2020 was notably lower than a typical monthly experience. These include hospital services, admissions (to things like sporting events and concerts), new vehicles, fees for participant sports, household paper products, and alcoholic beverages away from home.
A list of data series that are inadequate for publication in March 2020 due to insufficient sample that were adequate over the previous year, are shown in table 3 below.
LABSTAT ID | Item | Area |
---|---|---|
CPI-U Series |
||
CUURS11ASETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH |
CUURS11ASETA01 |
New vehicles | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH |
CPI-W Series |
||
CWURS11ASATCLTB |
Transportation commodities less motor fuel | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH |
CWURS11ASETA |
New and used motor vehicles | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH |
CWURS11ASETA01 |
New vehicles | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH |
CWURS24ASAGC |
Other goods | Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI |
C-CPI-U Series |
||
No series were inadequate for publication for March 2020. |
||
AP Series |
||
APU0000706311 |
Turkey, frozen, whole, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712112 |
Potatoes, white, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712211 |
Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000712311 |
Tomatoes, field grown, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0000FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | U.S. city average |
APU0100711311 |
Oranges, Navel, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100712112 |
Potatoes, white, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Northeast |
APU0100718311 |
Potato chips, per 16 oz. | Northeast |
APU0200711412 |
Lemons, per lb. (453.6 gm) | Midwest |
APU0300701312 |
Rice, white, long grain, uncooked, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300712112 |
Potatoes, white, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300712211 |
Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0300720311 |
Wine, red and white table, all sizes, any origin, per 1 liter (33.8 oz) | South |
APU0300FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | South |
APU0400711411 |
Grapefruit, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400712112 |
Potatoes, white, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400714233 |
Beans, dried, any type, all sizes, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
APU0400FL2101 |
Lettuce, romaine, per lb. (453.6 gm) | West |
Last Modified Date: May 11, 2020