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.
Of interest
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