|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202/219-8211
Most economists, including those at the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
agree that the existing Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an imperfect measure of
changes in the cost of living. The BLS has an ongoing effort to improve the
CPI, and as a result has made many improvements over the last four years. The
BLS also is developing alternate measures similar to some of those described in
the Boskin report. We all benefit from BLS's continued commitment to produce
the best possible state-of-the-art statistics.
All researchers in this area will continue to grapple with
how to improve our measures of changes in the cost of living. As the BLS has
said, no one has a monopoly on good ideas but the process of making changes in
this arena must not become a political football. It should be based on the best
scientific evidence available.
What should not be lost in the technical discussion of the
construction of a cost of living index is that our ultimate goal is to ensure
that the Social Security income and other benefits of millions of Americans are
protected against inflation.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
