December 27, 2000 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Non-mandated improvements account for most of light truck quality change

The retail equivalent value of quality changes in model year 2001 domestic light trucks averaged $298.62. This change represented 66.3 percent of the over-the-year increase in manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

[Chart data—TXT]

The $298.62 retail value of quality change breaks down as follows:

-- $9.42 for federally mandated safety improvements such as child seat tethers and head impact protection;

-- $90.78 for changes in accordance with 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments;

-- $198.42 for non-mandated quality changes such as powertrain improvements, theft protection, safety improvements, and changes in levels of standard or optional equipment.

These data are a product of the BLS

Producer Price Index program. Learn more in "Report on Quality Changes for 2001 Model Vehicles," news release USDL 00-331 (PDF 11K). The estimates on the value of quality changes were based on a sample of 20 model-year 2001 domestic light trucks included in the Producer Price Index for October.