Abstract
John Schilp and Fred Marsh III (2006)
"The Use of Geocoding to Locate Outlets Outside
of Sample Area Boundaries to Determine
Significant Areas of Commerce"
This paper gives an introduction to the method of sampling retail outlets
in the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). Some of these sampled
retail outlets are located outside the primary sampling area boundary
and are currently priced. To reduce data collection costs, BLS would
like to develop a rule to eliminate some outlets from being priced. Currently,
BLS prices any selected outlet that is less than 25 miles from the
primary sample area boundary or has more than 10 quotes in a cluster.
We examine the impact of eliminating certain groups of outlets from
the sample on the CPI index and also explain the definition of a spatial
cluster and the new "significant area of commerce".
Last Modified Date: January 9, 2007
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