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American Economic Review: Vol. 101 No. 3 (May 2011)
AER Volume. 101, Issue 3 | 
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Does Quality Adjustment Matter for Technologically Stable Products? An Application to the CPI for Food
Article Citation
Greenlees, John S., and
Robert McClelland. 2011. "Does Quality Adjustment Matter for Technologically Stable Products? An Application to the CPI for Food."
American Economic Review,
101(3): 200-205.
DOI: 10.1257/aer.101.3.200
DOI: 10.1257/aer.101.3.200
Abstract
Most indexes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) use a form of the "matched-model" approach. It is frequently assumed that this approach accurately reflects inflation for items that have no major trend in quality. In this paper we investigate that hypothesis using CPI data for retail food items. We find that CPI analysts may be correct on average when they decide that new and replacement items are similar in quality. We also find, however, that when sample items are replaced by items of significantly different quality the CPI imputation procedures may underestimate price change and overstate quality change.
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article
Authors
Greenlees, John S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor)
McClelland, Robert (US Congressional Budget Office)
McClelland, Robert (US Congressional Budget Office)
JEL Classifications
E31: Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
L81: Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
L81: Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
