Open AccessLongitudinal study of Consumer Price Index (CPI) trends in core and non‐core foods in Australia
Author(s) -
Burns Cate,
Sacks Gary,
Gold Lisa
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2008.00278.x
Subject(s) - core (optical fiber) , consumer price index (south africa) , index (typography) , food prices , price index , economics , wholesale price index , demographic economics , agricultural economics , medicine , price level , econometrics , geography , monetary economics , agriculture , food security , engineering , monetary policy , telecommunications , archaeology , mid price , world wide web , computer science
Objective:This study examined trends in the price of healthy and less‐healthy foods from 1989 to 2007 using the Australian Consumer Price Index (CPI).Methods:CPI food expenditure classes were classified as ‘core’ or ‘non‐core’. Trends in the CPI were analysed to examine the rise in prices of core compared with non‐core foods.Results:On average, the CPI for core foods has risen at a slightly higher, though not statistically significant, rate than non‐core foods. Furthermore, selected groupings reveal interesting patterns. ‘Bread’ has risen in price significantly more than ‘cakes and biscuits’, and ‘milk’ has risen in price significantly more than ‘soft drinks, waters and juices’.Conclusions and implications:This investigation of food price trends reveals notable differences between core and non‐core foods. This should be investigated further to determine the extent to which this contributes to the higher prevalence of diet‐related diseases in low socio‐economic groups.