The October results of the PracticalDad Price Index came in as the average cost of the 47 item marketbasket fell by $.23 to $188.34; the October index level is 105.58 and down from September’s 105.71. The long and short is that the cost of the marketbasket has risen by 5.58% from the original cost in November 2010.
The month saw small price rises in 14 items against price declines in six products. That said, the decline is due to a grocer making a significant change in their generic diaper packaging as they apparently heard Representative Bernie Sanders’ filibuster refrain …and mothers can’t afford diapers. There was a small total price rise in the package, but the number of diapers in that package increased significantly, from 76 diapers per box to 96 diapers per box, thus driving the per diaper cost down significantly (by more than 15%). Had it not been for this instance, the market basket would have risen to 106.1 and providing yet another increase.
This particular grocer also managed to drive down the cost of their generic spaghetti sauce, probably by finding a different supplier; there was no change to the package sizing.
| Month | Price ($) | Index | 3 Month Moving Average |
| Nov 2010 | 178.39 | 100 | |
| Dec 2010 | 180.30 | 101.07 | |
| Jan 2011 | 179.51 | 100.63 | 100.56 |
| Feb 2011 | 179.51 | 100.63 | 100.78 |
| Mar 2011 | 180.51 | 101.08 | 100.78 |
| Apr 2011 | 181.91 | 101.97 | 101.56 |
| May 2011 | 182.10 | 102.08 | 101.71 |
| Jun 2011 | 184.07 | 103.18 | 102.38 |
| Jul 2011 | 185.00 | 103.71 | 102.99 |
| Aug 2011 | 187.05 | 104.85 | 104.06 |
| Sep 2011 | 188.57 | 105.71 | 104.76 |
| Oct 2011 | 188.34 | 105.58 | 105.38 |
| Item | Size | Category | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 |
| hot dog rolls (ct) | 8 | bread | 1.20 | 1.20 | 1.20 |
| loaf, wht bread, store brand (oz) | 20 | bread | 1.22 | 1.26 | 1.26 |
| spaghetti, store brand (oz) | 16 | bread | 1.24 | 1.21 | 1.24 |
| 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 | 3.26 | 2.92 | 3.29 |
| milk, 2% (gallon) | 1 | dairy | 4.01 | 4.04 | 4.06 |
| butter, unsalted, store brand (lb) | 1 | dairy | 3.49 | 3.49 | 3.49 |
| vanilla ice cream, store brand (qt) | 1 | dairy | 2.01 | 2.01 | 2.01 |
| grated parmesan cheese, store brand (oz) | 8 | dairy | 3.08 | 3.08 | 3.08 |
| American cheese, deli (lb) | 1 | dairy | 5.52 | 5.59 | 5.59 |
| peanut butter, store brand (oz) | 28 | grocery | 3.06 | 3.09 | 3.16 |
| grape jelly, store brand (oz) | 32 | grocery | 1.99 | 1.99 | 2.01 |
| kidney beans, dark, store brand (oz) | 15.5 | grocery | .93 | .92 | .95 |
| can green peas, store brand (oz) | 15 | grocery | .96 | .96 | .99 |
| can diced tomatoes, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1.06 |
| can cut green beans, store brand (oz) | 14.5 | grocery | .96 | .96 | .99 |
| can corn, store brand (oz) | 15.25 | grocery | .96 | .96 | .99 |
| spaghetti sauce, store brand (oz) | 26 | grocery | 1.22 | 1.26 | 1.21 |
| cola, store brand (L) | 2 | grocery | .96 | .96 | .96 |
| caffeinated coffee, store brand (oz) | 13 | grocery | 4.32 | 4.36 | 4.36 |
| diapers, store brand (ct) | 100 | hlth/bty | 18.63 | 18.70 | 17.70 |
| formula, Enfamil Premium, Lipil (oz) | 23.4 | hlth/bty | 23.29 | 23.59 | 23.59 |
| child ibuprofen, OS, store brand (oz) | 4 | hlth/bty | 4.96 | 4.96 | 4.96 |
| adult ibuprofen, caplet, store brand (ct) | 100 | hlth/bty | 7.41 | 7.41 | 7.41 |
| shampoo, Suave (oz) | 22.5 | hlth/bty | 1.81 | 1.86 | 2.09 |
| pads, long/maximum, Poise (ct) | 42 | hlth/bty | 16.09 | 16.09 | 16.09 |
| bath soap, Dial (ct) | 8 | hlth/bty | 5.39 | 5.84 | 6.14 |
| aluminum foil, store brand (sq ft) | 75 | hshld | 2.97 | 3.01 | 3.03 |
| kitchen trash bags, handletop, store brand (ct) | 26 | hshld | 4.31 | 4.31 | 4.31 |
| paper towels, 2 ply, store brand (ct) | 8 | hshld | 7.26 | 7.26 | 7.26 |
| hot dogs, meat franks, store brand (oz) | 16 | meat | 2.69 | 2.69 | 2.69 |
| ground beef, 80% lean (lb) | 1 | meat | 3.46 | 3.46 | 3.52 |
| eggs, large (doz) | 1 | meat | 1.78 | 2.08 | 1.98 |
| lunchmeat, deli ham (lb) | 1 | meat | 4.39 | 4.06 | 4.06 |
| chicken, roaster (lb) | 1 | meat | 1.66 | 1.59 | 1.56 |
| fish sticks, Gortons (ct) | 44 | meat | 7.49 | 7.49 | 7.79 |
| tuna, chunk lt, water packed, store brand (oz) | 5 | meat | .81 | .81 | .81 |
| bananas(lb) | 1 | produce | .59 | .59 | .59 |
| apples, Red Delicious, bag (lb) | 3 | produce | 3.99 | 4.32 | 4.09 |
| carrots, bag (lb) | 2 | produce | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.36 |
| OJ, non-concentrate, store brand (oz) | 64 | produce | 2.79 | 2.79 | 2.79 |
| potatoes, Russet (lb) | 5 | produce | 4.32 | 4.66 | 4.32 |
| sugar, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 3.22 | 3.22 | 3.26 |
| flour, store brand (lb) | 5 | staple | 2.20 | 2.29 | 2.29 |
| canola oil, store brand (oz) | 48 | staple | 4.39 | 4.39 | 4.39 |
| rice, white, long-grain, store brand (lb) | 2 | staple | 1.73 | 1.81 | 1.73 |
| Total | 187.05 | 188.57 | 188.34 |