December 10, 1998 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Quality changes bigger factor for light truck prices than for car prices in 1999 model year

The value of quality changes averaged $408.52 for the 1999 model year light trucks included in the Producer Price Index. Quality changes include powertrain improvements, corrosion protection upgrades, changes in levels of standard or optional equipment, or modifications made to meet 1990 Clean Air Act amendments.

[Chart data—TXT]

For light trucks, the retail equivalent of such quality changes was $484.86, representing 98.6 percent of the $491.63 increase in manufacturers’ suggested list prices.

Among domestic passenger cars included in the Producer Price Index, the value of quality changes was $13.49. The retail equivalent of these quality changes averaged $15.50, about 10 percent of the $155.27 increase in manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

Estimates of the value of quality changes for passenger cars and light trucks are a product of the Producer Price Index program. Additional information may be found in news release USDL 98-457, "Report on Quality Changes for 1999 Model Vehicles" (PDF).