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COLI Release Highlights, Annual Review 2012

This report represents the sixth edition of a new format for the Cost of Living Index. Starting in 2007, C2ER has published an Annual Review of data for the preceding year. The data contained within the report represents unweighted average prices submitted for the first three quarters of the year, with new index numbers calculated using the modified weights for the upcoming year applied to these average prices. For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at http://www.coli.org/Method.asp.

Among the 307 urban areas that have participated the 2012 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to almost 19 percent below the national average in Harlingen TX. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas
in the Cost of Living Index (COLI)
Annual Review 2012
National Average for 304 Urban Areas = 100
 
 Most Expensive  Least Expensive
Ranking Urban Areas COL Index Ranking Urban Areas COL Index
1 New York (Manhattan) NY 225.4 1 Harlingen TX 81.8
2 New York (Brooklyn) NY 178.6 2 McAllen TX 85.4
3 Honolulu HI 167.0 3 Norman OK 85.6
4 San Francisco CA 163.4 4 Ardmore OK 85.9
5 San Jose CA 153.4 5 Memphis TN 86.0
6 New York (Queens) NY 148.3 6 Fayetteville AR 86.0
7 Stamford CT 146.1 7 Wichita Falls TX 86.4
8 Washington DC 144.7 8 Muskogee OK 86.9
9 Orange County CA 140.6 9 Pueblo CO 87.1
10 Boston MA 139.9 10 Ashland OH 87.6

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

The quarterly Cost of Living Index is available by subscription for $165 per year for the print version and $150 per year for the PDF.  The electronic version is available for $250 per year. Be sure and ask about our new Expanded Excel version which covers more household and income types. Send check, payable to C2ER, P.O. Box 100127, Arlington VA 22210-0407, or subscribe on the Internet at www.coli.org/store.asp.

If you need additional information on the Cost of Living Index or other COLI-related products such as the COLI Web Calculator and the COLI Historical Index,  please contact Dean Frutiger at dfrutiger@crec.net or Erol Yildirim at ey@crec.net or by phone at 703-522-4980.

 
 

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Highlights from Previous COLI Releases

2012 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2011 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2010 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2009 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2008 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2007 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Annual Report
2006 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
2005 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter