how much has the average cost of electricity, insurance, and labor
incresed over the past 10 years

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 28 Jan 2004 03:58 PST

Camman --

It would be helpful to know what country you're interested in having
inflation numbers for.  Also, there are many types of insurance -- are
you seeking homeowners/renters insurance data?  Car insurance?  Other?

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

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Clarification of Question by camman-ga on 28 Jan 2004 11:09 PST

I am wonding how much the cost of electricity, structural insurance,
ie: not liability, and labor costs have increased over the past 10
years.  I understand that these would be gross averages for all of the
United States.  So, what I am looking for is electricity has
increased/decreased, __% since 1994.  Thanks.

Camman --

The Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps all of the data that you're
seeking but of course it's not in one place!  And, periodically the
BLS re-sets the index, which can be confusing.

First, a general source for Consumer Price Indexes:
BLS
"Consumer Price Indexes"
http://www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm


ELECTRICITY
-------------------

Among the most-requested statistics are electricity costs, calculated
for 500kwh.  In January, 1994, the cost was $48.20; the most-recent
data for December, 2003 shows the cost to be $49.00 -- and increase of
1.7% in 10 years or 0.17% per year, non-compounded.
BLS
"Most Requested Statistics"
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ap


INSURANCE
----------

Insurance is part of "Housing" costs and is in two spots in earlier
reports -- "tenants' insurance" or "homeowners' insurance."  More
recently, they've been combined.

Note that there's a separate category under transportation for
"automobile insurance" and that this category has been rising MUCH
faster than for residential insurance.

The online BLS tables go back to October, 2000.  These are 30+ page
PDF documents but you can use the "binocular" icon to perform a search
for "insurance" and find what you need quickly:
BLS
"Archived Consumer Price Index Detailed Report Tables"
http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpi_dr.htm

2003 Average Annual (based on 1982-84 = 100)
Tenants' & household insurance (combined): 114.8
Motor vehicle: 314.4


BLS
"Annual Average Indexes 2003"
http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpid03av.pdf

Though the data's not online for 1994, I keep a "Statistical Abstract
of the U.S." on my desktop that has the 1994 numbers (which use the
same 1982-84 baseline).  Here's what it has:

1994: 
Tenants' & household insurance (combined): 149.05
Motor vehicle: 224.8

So, residential insurance has DECLINED by 29.8% or almost 3% per year
(non-compounded), while car insurance has risen by 3.99% per year.

You can find the 1995 Statistical Abstract of the U.S. online at the
U.S. Census Bureau site:
U.S. Census
"Statistical Abstract of the U.S."
http://www.census.gov/statab/www/


WAGES
------

The Statistical Abstract of the U.S. is probably also the best source
for wage data.  It puts average annual pay in 1993 at $26,362.  Though
2003 data won't be available until next month, but the most-recent
Statistical Abstract (2002) has 2000 average pay at $38,612 -- and
increase of 46.47% in 7 years -- or 6.64% per year (uncompounded). 
See Table 607 (page 38):
U.S. Census
"Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2002"
http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf


Google search strategy:
"cost of living" + index + BLS
"Statistical Abstract of the U.S."

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA