Measuring Price Change in the CPI: Admissions

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) defines admissions as those services including admission to movies, theaters, concerts, and other recurring events and admission to sporting events.

The admissions index, a component of the other recreation services index, is included in the recreation group of the CPI. The admissions index is published at the U.S. city average level.

Definition for admission to movies, theaters, concerts, and other recurring events

Admission to movies, theaters, concerts, and other recurring events includes admissions (single, subscription, and season pass) to events and attractions such as movies, theaters, concerts, operas, ballets, theme parks, museums, as well as other recurring events (e.g., flea markets, art shows, fashion shows, non-competitive wrestling). It excludes admission to competitive sporting events, such as competitive wrestling. The index also excludes paid access to livestreamed performances, except for simulcasts on a movie screen.

Definition for admission to sporting events

Admission to sporting events includes admissions (both single and season tickets) to competitive sporting events such as football, baseball, basketball, hockey, boxing matches, horse races, and dog shows. It Includes all levels of competition, such as professional, collegiate, high school, etc. It excludes non-competitive events that are performative in nature, such as non-competitive wrestling performances, and fees to participate in athletic activities.

Relative importance

The relative importance of an item category is its percent of the CPI weight as of December of the most recent year.

Sample selection

The selection of outlets where prices are collected is based on data from the Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey. The CE survey collects data about where consumers purchase goods and services and how much they spend. The data is then used to select the establishments that comprise the CPI sample for admissions.

Because it’s common for consumers to visit theme parks, concerts, or sporting events outside of the area where they live, venues included in the sample are located throughout the United States, and in some cases, outside the United States. For example, a theme park in California may be included in the CPI for Boston or a sporting event in Canada may be included in the CPI for Chicago, if consumers travel to attend these events or attractions.

Consumers often do not purchase tickets directly with the establishment where the event takes place. Instead, many choose to book through third-party sellers, which are eligible for pricing. Resale tickets are also eligible for inclusion in the index.

Pricing

The prices used in the admissions index are for tickets that are available for sale in the current month, often for events that occur in a future month. For example, if a ticket is available in May for a concert that will occur in July, the price collected in May will be used in the calculation of the May admissions index.

Pricing for admission to movies

Admission to movies includes admissions to all movies regardless of formatting, such as drive-in movies. It excludes movies that are bundled with another item, such as an admission to a museum that includes a movie at the museum's own theater. It also includes any movie ticket subscription or theater club that consists of at least one admission per month.

There are several factors that are kept fixed over time when pricing admission to movies. These include the movie format, time of day (such as matinee or evening), day of week, and admission basis (such as adult or senior citizen).

Pricing for admission to theaters, concerts, and other live events

Admission to theaters, concerts, and other live events includes admissions to all events performed live, such as theatrical performances, concerts, operas, ballets, circuses, rodeos, and any other event performed in front of a live audience. Subscriptions are included. Noncompetitive sporting events, such as noncompetitive professional wrestling, are included. Also included are live recordings/simulcasts of an event shown on a movie theater screen.

There are several factors that are kept fixed over time when pricing admission to theaters, concerts, and other live events. These include the type of admission (such as a single performance or subscription), the type of event or genre (such as a musical play or a jazz concert), admission basis (such as adult or child), and type of seating (such as a box seat or a balcony seat).

Pricing for admission to parks, zoos, and other recurring events

Admission to parks, zoos, and other recurring events includes admissions to all other events not incorporated in admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, or sporting events. This includes events and entry fees to theme parks, national/state/local parks, zoos, museums, aquariums, fairs, trade shows, and other similar venues. Season passes are included.

There are several factors that are kept fixed over time when pricing admission to parks, zoos, and other recurring events. These include the type of admission (such as one day admission or a season pass), admission basis (such as individual or group, or adult or child), and day of week (such as weekday or weekend).

Pricing for admission to sporting events

Admission to sporting events includes both team and individual events. All levels of competition are eligible, including professional, semi-professional, amateur, college, and high school events. Preseason (exhibition) and regular season games are included.

There are several factors that are kept fixed over time when pricing admission to sporting events. These include admission type (such as adult or child), type of ticket (single game or season tickets), or type of seating (such as courtside or upper level).

Postseason (playoff) games are generally not included unless the event is guaranteed to occur at the same venue at least once per year. A playoff game that is held at the home team’s venue is not included since that home team is not guaranteed to make the playoffs every year. A college bowl game that is held at the same venue every year is eligible since the event and venue are fixed from year to year. Similarly, special events such as the Olympics are not included as they do not occur at the same venue at least once a year.

Admission to sporting events utilizes special pricing for seasonal items. Seasonal items are those commodities and services that are typically only available at certain times of the year rather than year-round. More information on the methodology behind seasonal items can be found in the CPI Handbook of Methods.

Most sporting events are seasonal, but they are eligible for pricing as long as tickets to those events are available. For example, a football team may only play regular season games from September to December, but single game tickets may be available as soon as July. Season tickets may also be available earlier. These tickets would be priced whenever they are available for sale.

Quantity adjustment

For season tickets or subscriptions priced in admission to sporting events, concerts, theaters, and other live events, if the number of events change but all other characteristics remain the same, the CPI can quality adjust this change. For example, if a football season ticket previously included five games, but now it includes six games, the CPI adjusts for this change in quantity.

Data

Access data for admissions, admission to movies, theaters, concerts, and other recurring events and admission to sporting events from our online database.

Additional information

Additional information may be obtained from the Consumer Price Index Information Office by email or calling 202-691-7000. Information on the CPI's overall methodology can be found in the BLS Handbook of Methods.

Last Modified Date: July 14, 2026