With the store pricing done and data tabulated, the PracticalDad Price Index rose in March, 2011 to 101.19 from a February figure of 100.78. This is a cumulative 1.19% increase over the November, 2010 rate of 100. While the market basket has shown only minor upwards movement, there are certain items that stand out.
- The price per one pound of ground beef has been at $3.32, which is 10% higher than the original November, 2010 price of $3.02/lb.
- Coffee rose – without any adjustment in the package size – by 9.7% from the February price (from $3.38 to $3.71) and since the Index’s inception by a full 25%. This 25% rise incorporates adjustment for two different stores of unrelated chains decreasing the package size while keeping the price steady, aka stealth inflation.
- While the price of flour itself has remained steady at $1.99 per five pound bag, the cost of baked goods – bread and hot dog rolls – has begun to rise. Bread rose by 8.9% last month while the rolls have increased by 4.5% since the Index’s inception.
- Milk (2%) jumped by almost 5% from February, which was actually lower than the November price, having declined.
- Canola Oil rose by more than 12% from the February price and is now 17% higher than at the Index’s inception.
Here are the prices for the marketbasket.
| Item | Size | Category | 1/11 Avg Price | 2/11 Avg Price | 3/11 Avg Price |
| hot dog rolls (ct) | 8 | bread | 1.09 | 1.12 | 1.14 |
| loaf, wht bread, store brand (oz) | 20 | bread | 1.12 | 1.12 | 1.22 |
| spaghetti, store brand (oz) | 16 | bread | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.18 |
| child cereal, sugar flakes, store brand (oz) | 17 | cereal | 2.90 | 2.90 | 2.90 |
| cereal, rice chex, store brand (oz) | 12.8 | cereal | 2.74 | 2.74 | 2.74 |
| oatmeal, one minute, store brand (oz) | 42 | cereal | 3.18 | 3.18 | 3.21 |
| milk, 2% (gallon) | 1 | dairy | 3.46 | 3.51 | 3.68 |
| butter, unsalted, store brand (lb) | 1 | dairy | 3.56 | 3.39 | 3.49 |
| vanilla ice cream, store brand (qt) | 1 | dairy | 2.04 | 1.94 | 1.94 |
| grated parmesan cheese, store brand (oz) | 8 | dairy | 2.99 | 3.08 | 3.08 |
| American Cheese, deli (lb) | 1 | dairy | 5.52 | 5.86 | 5.52 |
| peanut butter, store brand (oz) | 28 | grocery | 2.96 | 2.96 | 2.96 |
| grape jelly, store brand (oz) | 32 | grocery | 1.89 | 1.82 | 1.82 |
| kidney beans, dark, store brand (oz) | 15.5 | grocery | .86 | .87 | .87 |
| can green peas, store brand (oz) | 15 | grocery | .92 | .92 | .92 |
| can diced tomatoes, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | .94 | .94 | .94 |
| can cut green beans, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | .92 | .92 | .92 |
| can corn, store brand (oz) | 15.25 | grocery | .92 | .92 | .92 |
| spaghetti sauce, store brand (oz) | 26 | grocery | 1.13 | 1.13 | 1.13 |
| cola, store brand (lt) | 2 | grocery | .89 | .89 | .92 |
| caffeinated coffee, store brand (oz) | 13 | grocery | 3.25 | 3.38 | 3.71 |
| diapers, store brand, size 3 (ct) | 104 | baby | 17.82 | 17.82 | 17.82 |
| formula, Enfamil Premium, Lipil (oz) | 23.4 | baby | 22.94 | 22.94 | 22.94 |
| child ibuprofen, OS, store brand (oz) | 4 | hlth/bty | 4.96 | 4.96 | 4.96 |
| adult ibuprofen, store brand (ct) | 100 | hlth/bty | 6.92 | 6.72 | 6.72 |
| shampoo, Suave (oz) | 22.5 | hlth/bty | 1.71 | 1.71 | 1.71 |
| pads, long, Poise (ct) | 42 | hlth/bty | 16.09 | 16.09 | 16.09 |
| bath soap, Dial (ct) | 8 | hlth/bty | 5.39 | 5.39 | 5.39 |
| aluminum foil, store brand (sq ft) | 75 | hshld | 2.97 | 2.97 | 2.97 |
| kitchen trash bags, store brand (ct) | 26 | hshld | 4.41 | 4.11 | 4.15 |
| paper towels, 2 ply, store brand (ct) | 8 | hshld | 7.26 | 7.26 | 7.26 |
| hot dogs, meat franks, store brand (oz) | 16 | meat | 2.46 | 2.46 | 2.46 |
| ground beef, 80% lean (lb) | 1 | meat | 3.32 | 3.32 | 3.32 |
| eggs, large (doz) | 1 | meat | 1.99 | 1.71 | 1.72 |
| lunchmeat, deli ham (lb) | 1 | meat | 4.59 | 4.06 | 4.06 |
| chicken, roaster (lb) | 1 | meat | 1.56 | 1.62 | 1.59 |
| fish sticks, Gortons (ct) | 44 | meat |
7.86 |
7.86 | 7.86 |
| tuna, water packed, store brand (oz) | 5 | meat | .96 | .78 | .78 |
| bananas (lb) | 1 | produce | .58 | .58 | .58 |
| apples, red delicious, bag (lb) | 3 | produce | 3.42 | 3.76 | 3.59 |
| carrots, bag (lb) | 2 | produce | 2.09 | 2.02 | 2.12 |
| OJ, non-concentrate, store brand (oz) | 64 | produce | 2.56 | 2.66 | 2.66 |
| potatoes, Russet (lb) | 5 | produce | 3.66 | 3.82 | 3.99 |
| sugar, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 3.12 | 3.21 | 3.24 |
| flour, All Purpose, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 1.92 | 1.99 | 1.99 |
| canola oil, store brand (oz) | 48 | staple | 3.12 | 3.26 | 3.66 |
| rice, white, long-grain, store brand (lb) | 2 | staple | 1.59 | 1.67 | 1.67 |
| Total | 179.51 | 179.50 | 180.52 | ||