Prices and Cost of Living Data (17.003)

Program

17.003 Prices and Cost of Living Data

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Authorization

Public Laws 62-426, 71-537, and 94-206, 29 U.S.C. 1-2.

Program Number

17.003

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide statistical data for assisting in the evaluation of consumer, producer, export and import prices and price changes, and consumer expenditures.

Types of Assistance

DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Uses and Use Restrictions

Provides for Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) which measure changes in prices of goods and services consumed by all urban households as well as urban wage earners and clerical workers. As the basis for most estimates of changes in the purchasing power of the consumer's dollar, the CPI is a major economic indicator and has widespread use in escalation adjustments in both private and public sectors. Provides for Producer Price Indexes (PPI) which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output and which are widely cited within price escalation clauses of long term sales contracts to protect both parties against inflation. Provides Export and Import Price Indexes to measure the effect of international trade prices on U.S. economy. The Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys provide periodic updates to the market basket and the weights used to calculate the CPI. In addition, the CE supplies information on consumers' spending and income by characteristics such as income, age, race, family size, and region.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Request for information may be made by the general public.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General public.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Requests for information and assistance may be made to the nearest regional office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Award Procedure

Not applicable.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Not applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

Not Applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0200-0-1-505.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $177,840,778; FY 09 est $198,464,000; FY 10 est $201,081,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

"Consumer Price Index"; "Producer Price Index"; "Export Price Index"; "Import Price Index"; "Consumer Expenditure Survey," "Monthly Labor Review"; "BLS Handbook of Methods," BLS Bulletin 2490; "Major Programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics"; "Publications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Related Programs

10.950 Agricultural Statistics Reports; 11.025 Measures and Analyses of the U.S. Economy; 17.005 Compensation and Working Conditions

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the nearest regional office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Michael W. Horrigan 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20212 Phone: 202-691-6960

Web Site Address

http://www.bls.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.