Dates of Publication
Surveys are conducted quarterly:
March, June, September, December
Up to three stores in each of twenty Alaskan communities were
surveyed during March of 1997 for the cost of a specific set of food
items. The 104 food items selected were taken, with some
modification, from the USDA Low-cost Food Plan, which is itself based
on a nationwide survey of eating habits of Americans. In addition,
the costs of such items as water, propane and electricity were
collected. All costs were adjusted to reflect local sales tax when
applicable.
The estimated prices of unavailable food items in various communities
were calculated as the expected cost as judged from the prices of all
available items relative to the price of those items in Anchorage.
The percent of foods unavailable in each community are shown in the
survey.
Weekly food consumption rates for a family of 4 with children aged 6
- 11 years form the basis of the expressed food costs. All other
costs are ratios of that cost as calculated from the USDA Cost of
Food at Home survey issued March, 1997. The cost for this family of 4
can be calculated from the table by summing the individual members.
For smaller families such a sum would be too low and should be
adjusted up by 20%, 10% or 5% for families of 1, 2 or 3 persons
respectively. Similarly, the sum for larger families would be too
high and downward adjustments of 5% and 10% are suggested for 6 and 7
or more member families. These adjustments reflect that some
economies may be realized when preparing foods for larger
families.
The historical food costs are given as percentages of Anchorage,
March 1997. The food costs in March 1997 for most communities were
estimated to be higher than in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Portland
being the exceptions. The Portland survey is conducted by Alaska
Cooperative Extension and is directly comparable to the Alaska
communities. The remaining rows are taken from previously published
issues of the Food Cost Survey. Small quarterly price fluctuations
are commonly reported and probably result from the relatively small
number of food items surveyed.
The USDA reports the weekly US average for the cost of food at home,
but these figures cannot be directly compared to the Alaska figures
because of differing methodologies. Therefore, we have tabulated the
percentage increases of the US average over previous weekly averages.
Using this approach, it is seen that the cost of food in Anchorage
has increased 8% since March of 1994, whereas the US cost has
increased 10%. Whether these increases are representative for a
particular household depends on how closely food consumption habits
in that household match the expected habits upon which the surveys
were based.
The accompanying graphic shows the percentage increase in surveyed
food costs in Anchorage (lower line) and the US average since 1979.
The differences in these lines probably result from more stable
pricing of the foods used in the Alaska survey relative to those in
the US survey. Further information on the USDA survey is available
from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and on the
world wide web at http://www.usda.gov/fcs/cnpp.htm.
It is important to note that the food costs presented here are based
on a prescribed low cost diet plan. It is assumed that meals will be
planned, that cooking facilities are available and few convenience
foods are eaten. Each of the foods were priced for their lowest
available cost regardless of packaging or brand.
To see the results of Alaska Cooperative Extension's Food Cost Survey
on the world wide web, point your browser to:
http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/fcs/fcs.html
|
|
Anchorage |
Bethel |
Cordova |
Delta |
Dillingham |
|
Sales Tax (In percent) |
0 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
|
Percent of Food Unavailable |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family of 2 (20-50 years) |
56.7 |
84.24 |
78.32 |
61.56 |
91.17 |
|
Family of 2 (51 & older) |
56.25 |
83.57 |
77.7 |
61.07 |
90.45 |
|
"Family of 4, children 1-5 years" |
84.19 |
125.08 |
116.29 |
91.41 |
135.37 |
|
"Family of 4, children 6-11 years" |
99.11 |
147.24 |
136.9 |
107.6 |
159.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children 1-2 years |
14.83 |
22.02 |
20.48 |
16.1 |
23.84 |
|
Children 3-5 years |
20.06 |
29.8 |
27.7 |
21.77 |
32.25 |
|
Children 6-8 years |
21.52 |
31.98 |
29.73 |
23.37 |
34.61 |
|
Children 9-11 years |
24.44 |
36.31 |
33.76 |
26.53 |
39.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females 12-19 years |
23.82 |
35.39 |
32.9 |
25.86 |
38.3 |
|
Females 20-50 years |
24.83 |
36.89 |
34.3 |
26.96 |
39.93 |
|
"Females, 51 years and over" |
24.12 |
35.83 |
33.31 |
26.19 |
38.78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Males, 12-14 years" |
27.62 |
41.03 |
38.15 |
29.99 |
44.41 |
|
"Males, 15-19 years" |
28.45 |
42.26 |
39.29 |
30.88 |
45.74 |
|
"Males, 20-50 years" |
28.31 |
42.07 |
39.11 |
30.74 |
45.53 |
|
"Males, 51 years & older" |
27.02 |
40.14 |
37.32 |
29.33 |
43.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
100 |
149 |
138 |
109 |
161 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
101 |
150 |
140 |
110 |
163 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
105 |
155 |
144 |
114 |
168 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
108 |
160 |
149 |
117 |
173 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
108 |
160 |
149 |
117 |
173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Electricity, 1000 Kwh" |
86.52 |
234.05 |
191.88 |
90.43 |
219.66 |
|
"Electricity, paid by State" |
0 |
60.2 |
60.9 |
|
55.44 |
|
"Heating oil, 55 gal" |
51.43 |
80.27 |
82.5 |
57.85 |
86.8 |
|
"Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto" |
71.78 |
99.51 |
96.25 |
84.1 |
94.08 |
|
"Lumber, 2X4X8'" |
2.99 |
5.1 |
4.95 |
3.28 |
5.23 |
|
"Propane, 288 gal" |
397.15 |
1288.23 |
720 |
547.2 |
982.8 |
|
"Propane, 100 lb refill" |
34.67 |
105 |
55.65 |
41.05 |
81.9 |
|
"Sewer, monthly fee" |
21.92 |
18.9 |
29.26 |
|
32.5 |
|
"Sewer, 1000 gal" |
|
23.06 |
|
|
|
|
"Water, monthly fee" |
25.94 |
60.38 |
24.38 |
|
26.36 |
|
"Water, 1000 gal" |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
"Sewer and Water, monthly" |
47.86 |
79.28 |
53.64 |
|
58.86 |
|
|
Fairbanks |
Haines |
Juneau |
Kenai- Soldotna |
|
Sales Tax (In percent) |
0 |
5.5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Percent of Food Unavailable |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family of 2 (20-50 years) |
55.86 |
62.96 |
60.27 |
62.72 |
|
Family of 2 (51 & older) |
55.41 |
62.46 |
59.79 |
62.22 |
|
"Family of 4, children 1-5 years" |
82.93 |
93.48 |
89.49 |
93.13 |
|
"Family of 4, children 6-11 years" |
97.63 |
110.05 |
105.35 |
109.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children 1-2 years |
14.6 |
16.46 |
15.76 |
16.4 |
|
Children 3-5 years |
19.76 |
22.27 |
21.32 |
22.18 |
|
Children 6-8 years |
21.2 |
23.9 |
22.88 |
23.81 |
|
Children 9-11 years |
24.07 |
27.13 |
25.98 |
27.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females 12-19 years |
23.46 |
26.45 |
25.32 |
26.35 |
|
Females 20-50 years |
24.46 |
27.58 |
26.4 |
27.47 |
|
"Females, 51 years and over" |
23.76 |
26.78 |
25.64 |
26.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Males, 12-14 years" |
27.21 |
30.67 |
29.36 |
30.55 |
|
"Males, 15-19 years" |
28.02 |
31.59 |
30.24 |
31.47 |
|
"Males, 20-50 years" |
27.89 |
31.44 |
30.1 |
31.32 |
|
"Males, 51 years & older" |
26.61 |
29.99 |
28.72 |
29.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
99 |
111 |
106 |
111 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
100 |
112 |
107 |
112 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
103 |
116 |
111 |
116 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
106 |
120 |
115 |
119 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
106 |
120 |
115 |
119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Electricity, 1000 Kwh" |
83.23 |
162.2 |
104.1 |
111 |
|
"Electricity, paid by State" |
|
24.01 |
|
|
|
"Heating oil, 55 gal" |
49.78 |
59.68 |
81.72 |
|
|
"Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto" |
74.75 |
92.24 |
79.33 |
76.95 |
|
"Lumber, 2X4X8'" |
4.6 |
3.8 |
3.04 |
3.87 |
|
"Propane, 288 gal" |
489.6 |
547.2 |
479.71 |
|
|
"Propane, 100 lb refill" |
43.66 |
46.13 |
41.44 |
39.48 |
|
"Sewer, monthly fee" |
2.74 |
36.89 |
34.13 |
|
|
"Sewer, 1000 gal" |
4.51 |
|
|
|
|
"Water, monthly fee" |
3.7 |
19.89 |
19.95 |
|
|
"Water, 1000 gal" |
4.11 |
|
|
|
|
"Sewer and Water, monthly" |
6.44 |
56.78 |
57.02 |
41.58 |
|
|
Ketchikan |
Kodiak |
Matanuska-Susitna |
McGrath |
|
Sales Tax (In percent) |
5.5 |
6 |
2.5 |
0 |
|
Percent of Food Unavailable |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family of 2 (20-50 years) |
59.91 |
67.56 |
61.7 |
101.3 |
|
Family of 2 (51 & older) |
59.43 |
67.02 |
61.21 |
100.49 |
|
"Family of 4, children 1-5 years" |
88.95 |
100.3 |
91.61 |
150.4 |
|
"Family of 4, children 6-11 years" |
104.72 |
118.08 |
107.84 |
177.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children 1-2 years |
15.66 |
17.66 |
16.13 |
26.48 |
|
Children 3-5 years |
21.19 |
23.89 |
21.82 |
35.83 |
|
Children 6-8 years |
22.74 |
25.64 |
23.42 |
38.45 |
|
Children 9-11 years |
25.82 |
29.12 |
26.59 |
43.66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females 12-19 years |
25.17 |
28.38 |
25.92 |
42.55 |
|
Females 20-50 years |
26.24 |
29.59 |
27.02 |
44.36 |
|
"Females, 51 years and over" |
25.48 |
28.73 |
26.24 |
43.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Males, 12-14 years" |
29.18 |
32.9 |
30.05 |
49.34 |
|
"Males, 15-19 years" |
30.05 |
33.89 |
30.95 |
50.82 |
|
"Males, 20-50 years" |
29.92 |
33.73 |
30.81 |
50.58 |
|
"Males, 51 years & older" |
28.54 |
32.19 |
29.4 |
48.26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
106 |
119 |
109 |
179 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
107 |
120 |
110 |
181 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
110 |
125 |
114 |
187 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
114 |
128 |
117 |
193 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
114 |
129 |
117 |
193 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Electricity, 1000 Kwh" |
93.5 |
138 |
108.78 |
367.21 |
|
"Electricity, paid by State" |
|
|
|
|
|
"Heating oil, 55 gal" |
77.75 |
66.55 |
74.25 |
138.05 |
|
"Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto" |
86.08 |
78.1 |
73.1 |
156.2 |
|
"Lumber, 2X4X8'" |
2.95 |
4.12 |
3.22 |
4.25 |
|
"Propane, 288 gal" |
551.97 |
849.6 |
429.12 |
|
|
"Propane, 100 lb refill" |
48.21 |
66.08 |
34.27 |
105 |
|
"Sewer, monthly fee" |
26.02 |
32.2 |
18.83 |
|
|
"Sewer, 1000 gal" |
|
|
|
|
|
"Water, monthly fee" |
23 |
25.3 |
17.12 |
|
|
"Water, 1000 gal" |
|
|
|
|
|
"Sewer and Water, monthly" |
49.02 |
57.5 |
35.95 |
|
|
|
Nome |
Petersburg |
Seward |
Sitka |
|
Sales Tax (In percent) |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
|
Percent of Food Unavailable |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family of 2 (20-50 years) |
101.24 |
61.43 |
68.66 |
65.69 |
|
Family of 2 (51 & older) |
100.44 |
60.94 |
68.11 |
65.17 |
|
"Family of 4, children 1-5 years" |
150.32 |
91.21 |
101.94 |
97.54 |
|
"Family of 4, children 6-11 years" |
176.96 |
107.38 |
120 |
114.82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children 1-2 years |
26.47 |
16.06 |
17.95 |
17.18 |
|
Children 3-5 years |
35.81 |
21.73 |
24.28 |
23.23 |
|
Children 6-8 years |
38.43 |
23.32 |
26.06 |
24.93 |
|
Children 9-11 years |
43.63 |
26.48 |
29.59 |
28.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females 12-19 years |
42.53 |
25.8 |
28.84 |
27.59 |
|
Females 20-50 years |
44.34 |
26.91 |
30.07 |
28.77 |
|
"Females, 51 years and over" |
43.06 |
26.13 |
29.2 |
27.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Males, 12-14 years" |
49.31 |
29.92 |
33.44 |
32 |
|
"Males, 15-19 years" |
50.79 |
30.82 |
34.44 |
32.96 |
|
"Males, 20-50 years" |
50.55 |
30.68 |
34.28 |
32.8 |
|
"Males, 51 years & older" |
48.24 |
29.27 |
32.71 |
31.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
179 |
108 |
121 |
116 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
180 |
110 |
122 |
117 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
187 |
113 |
127 |
121 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
193 |
117 |
131 |
125 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
193 |
117 |
131 |
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Electricity, 1000 Kwh" |
180.75 |
101 |
120.4 |
87 |
|
"Electricity, paid by State" |
35.28 |
|
|
|
|
"Heating oil, 55 gal" |
99.81 |
72.29 |
69.3 |
77.77 |
|
"Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto" |
113.3 |
95.66 |
84.1 |
89.05 |
|
"Lumber, 2X4X8'" |
5.99 |
3.71 |
3.57 |
4.04 |
|
"Propane, 288 gal" |
880.59 |
583.08 |
405.22 |
616.9 |
|
"Propane, 100 lb refill" |
85.28 |
54.32 |
45.05 |
57.75 |
|
"Sewer, monthly fee" |
43 |
27.83 |
35.7 |
24 |
|
"Sewer, 1000 gal" |
0 |
0.68 |
|
|
|
"Water, monthly fee" |
36 |
15.27 |
25.31 |
12 |
|
"Water, 1000 gal" |
0 |
1.39 |
|
|
|
"Sewer and Water, monthly" |
79 |
|
61.01 |
36 |
|
|
Tok |
Unalaska |
Valdez |
Portland |
|
Sales Tax (In percent) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Percent of Food Unavailable |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family of 2 (20-50 years) |
73.62 |
84.57 |
70.04 |
42.78 |
|
Family of 2 (51 & older) |
73.04 |
83.9 |
69.48 |
42.44 |
|
"Family of 4, children 1-5 years" |
109.31 |
125.58 |
103.99 |
63.52 |
|
"Family of 4, children 6-11 years" |
128.68 |
147.83 |
122.42 |
74.78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children 1-2 years |
19.25 |
22.11 |
18.31 |
11.19 |
|
Children 3-5 years |
26.04 |
29.91 |
24.77 |
15.13 |
|
Children 6-8 years |
27.94 |
32.11 |
26.58 |
16.24 |
|
Children 9-11 years |
31.73 |
36.45 |
30.19 |
18.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females 12-19 years |
30.92 |
35.52 |
29.42 |
17.97 |
|
Females 20-50 years |
32.24 |
37.04 |
30.67 |
18.74 |
|
"Females, 51 years and over" |
31.32 |
35.98 |
29.79 |
18.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Males, 12-14 years" |
35.86 |
41.19 |
34.11 |
20.84 |
|
"Males, 15-19 years" |
36.93 |
42.43 |
35.14 |
21.46 |
|
"Males, 20-50 years" |
36.76 |
42.23 |
34.97 |
21.36 |
|
"Males, 51 years & older" |
35.08 |
40.29 |
33.37 |
20.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
130 |
149 |
124 |
75 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
131 |
151 |
125 |
76 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
136 |
156 |
129 |
79 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
140 |
161 |
133 |
81 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
140 |
161 |
133 |
81 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Electricity, 1000 Kwh" |
216.3 |
279.18 |
167.19 |
57.19 |
|
"Electricity, paid by State" |
56.84 |
|
|
|
|
"Heating oil, 55 gal" |
66 |
70.81 |
66.28 |
72 |
|
"Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto" |
83.55 |
99.55 |
85.8 |
75.3 |
|
"Lumber, 2X4X8'" |
3.85 |
|
2.99 |
2.56 |
|
"Propane, 288 gal" |
446.4 |
720 |
387.36 |
357.09 |
|
"Propane, 100 lb refill" |
36 |
60 |
|
33.46 |
|
"Sewer, monthly fee" |
|
24.6 |
|
13.29 |
|
"Sewer, 1000 gal" |
|
|
|
|
|
"Water, monthly fee" |
|
28.96 |
|
|
|
"Water, 1000 gal" |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
"Sewer and Water, monthly" |
|
53.56 |
16.25 |
|
|
|
US Average (See Text) |
|
% Anchorage March 1997 |
100 |
|
% Anchorage Dec 1996 |
100.2 |
|
% Anchorage March 1996 |
103.2 |
|
% Anchorage March 1995 |
106.9 |
|
% Anchorage March 1994 |
110.1 |
