Dates of Publication

Surveys are conducted quarterly:
March, June, September, December

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Cost of Food at Home for a Week in Alaska

June 1997

19 Communities Surveyed

Up to three stores in each of nineteen communities were surveyed during June of 1997 for the cost of a specific set of food and non-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, conducted in 1977-78. In addition, the costs of such items as water, propane and electricity are collected. All costs have been adjusted to reflect local sales tax when applicable. Since Wasilla and Palmer were combined in this census, their differing sales taxes were averaged when calculating food costs.

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, children 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 June, 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 prices are given as percentages relative to the benchmark value of Anchorage. The food costs in June 1997 for all Alaskan communities were estimated to be higher than in Anchorage. The Portland survey is conducted by Alaska Cooperative Extension and are figures 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.

Although the USDA reports the weekly US average for the cost of food at home, these figures cannot be directly compared to the Alaska figures because of differences in methodologies. However, we have tabulated the percentage increase of the US average over previous weekly averages. These figures represent the apparent change in food costs in the US, as judged by the USDA methodology. Using this perspective, it is seen that the cost of food in Anchorage, according to the current survey, has decreased 6% since March of 1997, whereas the US cost has decreased 1%. Whether these changes are representative for a particular household depends on how closely food consumption habits in that household match the expected habits upon which the surveys are based.

Let's use Bethel as an example to explain the historic food costs in other communities throughout the state. This quarter Bethel food costs were 153% higher (1.53 times higher) than Anchorage's, but only 149% higher when measured last quarter. Since the cost of food fell in Anchorage by 6% this quarter, it appears that Bethel's food prices did not decrease in a similar fashion. Precisely, the March 1997 food cost in Bethel had to have been 1.49*(92.84/0.94) or $147, which amounts to 141.97*100/147, or 97%. Bethel's food prices fell relative to last quarter, but not as much as Anchorage's. A dip in food costs in June is not uncommon.

In addition to food costs, representative values are presented for fuels, utilities and building materials. 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.

The accompanying graphic shows an alphabetically arranged (except Portland) bar graph of food costs around the state. For this survey at least, decreased food costs are not necessarily consistent with proximity to a major community or road access, as might have been expected.

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

Further information on the USDA survey is available from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and on the world wide web http://www.usda.gov/fcs/cnpp.htm

Submitted By:

Bret R. Luick, Ph.D

Foods & Nutrition Specialist/EFNEP Coordinator

Anchorage Bethel Cordova Delta Dillingham Fairbanks Glennallen Haines Juneau Kenai- Soldotna Ketchikan Kodiak Matanuska-Susitna Petersburg Sitka Unalaska Valdez Wrangell Portland US Average

Dillingham Fairbanks Glennallen Haines

	Dillingham	Fairbanks	Glennallen	Haines
Sales Tax (In percent)	5	0	0	5.5
Percent of Food Unavailable	0	0	1	2
Family of 2 (20-50 years)	96.4	58.68	78.08	69.91
Family of 2 (51 & older)	92.72	56.44	75.09	67.24
Family of 4, children 1-5 years	138.74	84.46	112.37	100.62
Family of 4, children 6-11 years	163.41	99.48	132.35	118.51
Children 1-2 years	24.39	14.85	19.75	17.69
Children 3-5 years	26.73	16.27	21.65	19.39
Children 6-8 years	35.47	21.59	28.73	25.73
Children 9-11 years	40.32	24.54	32.65	29.24
Females 12-19 years	39.25	23.89	31.79	28.47
Females 20-50 years	40.97	24.94	33.18	29.71
Females, 51 years and over	39.69	24.16	32.15	28.79
Males, 12-14 years	45.59	27.75	36.93	33.07
Males, 15-19 years	47	28.61	38.06	34.08
Males, 10-50 years	46.65	28.4	37.79	33.84
Males, 51 years & older	44.59	27.15	36.12	32.34
% Current/Historical:
Anchorage June 1997	176	107	143	128
Anchorage March 1997	161	99		111
Anchorage June 1996	168	103	137
Anchorage June 1995	178	110	152
Anchorage June 1994	163	100
Electricity, 1000 Kwh	156.02	80.82	189.01	160
Electricity, paid by State	56.56			35
Heating oil, 55 gal	86.62	58.79	74	61.6
Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto	102.22	78.04	81.04	92.35
Lumber, 2X4X8'	6.14	3.76	3.75	3.2
Propane, 288 gal	1058.4	489.6	401.04	547.2
Propane, 100 lb refill	88.2	43.66	44.61	48.67
Sewer, monthly fee	34.12	2.74	35	36.89
Sewer, 1000 gal		4.51
Water, monthly fee	27.68	3.7		19.89
Water, 100 gal		4.11
Sewer and Water, monthly	61.8	6.44		56.78

Communities Index

Juneau Kenai- Soldotna Ketchikan Kodiak

	Juneau	Kenai- Soldotna	Ketchikan	Kodiak
Sales Tax (In percent)	5	5	5.5	6
Percent of Food Unavailable	0	1	0	0
Family of 2 (20-50 years)	60.59	61.66	60.7	72.49
Family of 2 (51 & older)	58.27	59.3	58.38	69.71
Family of 4, children 1-5 years	87.2	88.74	87.36	104.33
Family of 4, children 6-11 years	102.7	104.52	102.89	122.88
Children 1-2 years	15.33	15.6	15.36	18.34
Children 3-5 years	16.8	17.1	16.83	20.1
Children 6-8 years	22.29	22.69	22.34	26.67
Children 9-11 years	25.34	25.79	25.38	30.31
Females 12-19 years	24.67	25.11	24.72	29.52
Females 20-50 years	25.75	26.21	25.8	30.81
Females, 51 years and over	24.94	25.39	24.99	29.84
Males, 12-14 years	28.65	29.16	28.71	34.28
Males, 15-19 years	29.54	30.06	29.59	35.34
Males, 10-50 years	29.32	29.84	29.38	35.08
Males, 51 years & older	28.03	28.52	28.08	33.53
% Current/Historical:
Anchorage June 1997	111	113	111	132
Anchorage March 1997	106	111	106	119
Anchorage June 1996	104	117	108	129
Anchorage June 1995	110	118	111
Anchorage June 1994	110	111	104	135
Electricity, 1000 Kwh	87.52	111	93.5	138
Electricity, paid by State
Heating oil, 55 gal	76.33		65.57	62.7
Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto	78.97	76.95	85.25	71.5
Lumber, 2X4X8'	2.99	3.76	2.89	4.85
Propane, 288 gal	487.77		555.21	763.2
Propane, 100 lb refill	45.22	39.48	44.03	69
Sewer, monthly fee	34.13		26.7	32.2
Sewer, 1000 gal
Water, monthly fee	19.95		23	25.3
Water, 100 gal
Sewer and Water, monthly	57.02	41.29	49.7	57.5

Communities Index

Matanuska-Susitna Petersburg Sitka Unalaska

	Matanuska-Susitna	Petersburg	Sitka	Unalaska
Sales Tax (In percent)	2-4	6	5	3
Percent of Food Unavailable	0	4	1	1
Family of 2 (20-50 years)	65.37	63.12	66.76	80.47
Family of 2 (51 & older)	62.87	60.71	64.21	77.4
Family of 4, children 1-5 years	94.09	90.85	96.09	115.82
Family of 4, children 6-11 years	110.82	107.01	113.18	136.42
Children 1-2 years	16.54	15.97	16.89	20.36
Children 3-5 years	18.13	17.5	18.51	22.31
Children 6-8 years	24.06	23.23	24.57	29.61
Children 9-11 years	27.34	26.4	27.92	33.65
Females 12-19 years	26.62	25.7	27.19	32.77
Females 20-50 years	27.78	26.83	28.38	34.2
Females, 51 years and over	26.92	25.99	27.49	33.13
Males, 12-14 years	30.92	29.85	31.58	38.06
Males, 15-19 years	31.87	30.77	32.55	39.23
Males, 10-50 years	31.64	30.55	32.31	38.95
Males, 51 years & older	30.24	29.2	30.88	37.23
% Current/Historical:
Anchorage June 1997	119	115	122	147
Anchorage March 1997	109	108	116	149
Anchorage June 1996	111	113	120	139
Anchorage June 1995	117	121	124
Anchorage June 1994	113	119	116
Electricity, 1000 Kwh	105.78	101	87	279.18
Electricity, paid by State
Heating oil, 55 gal	74.25	64.71	72.04	70.81
Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto	74.98	90.37	89.6	99.28
Lumber, 2X4X8'	3.01	3.81	3.85
Propane, 288 gal	428.84	552.56	541.3	720
Propane, 100 lb refill	37.29	54.32	50.85	60
Sewer, monthly fee	17.62	27.83	24	24.6
Sewer, 1000 gal		0.68		0
Water, monthly fee	18.02	15.27	12	28.96
Water, 100 gal		1.39
Sewer and Water, monthly	35.65	43.1	36	53.56

Communities Index

Valdez Wrangell Portland US Average

	Valdez	Wrangell	Portland	US Average (See Text)
Sales Tax (In percent)	0	0	0
Percent of Food Unavailable	5	4	0
Family of 2 (20-50 years)	70.27	59.71	44.21
Family of 2 (51 & older)	67.58	57.43	42.52
Family of 4, children 1-5 years	101.14	85.94	63.63
Family of 4, children 6-11 years	119.12	101.22	74.94
Children 1-2 years	17.78	15.11	11.19
Children 3-5 years	19.49	16.56	12.26
Children 6-8 years	25.86	21.97	16.27
Children 9-11 years	29.39	24.97	18.49
Females 12-19 years	28.61	24.31	18
Females 20-50 years	29.87	25.38	18.79
Females, 51 years and over	28.93	24.58	18.2
Males, 12-14 years	33.23	28.24	20.91
Males, 15-19 years	34.26	29.11	21.55
Males, 10-50 years	34.01	28.9	21.4
Males, 51 years & older	32.51	27.62	20.45
% Current/Historical:
Anchorage June 1997	128	109	81	100
Anchorage March 1997	124		75	99
Anchorage June 1996		118		102
Anchorage June 1995	145			106
Anchorage June 1994				109
Electricity, 1000 Kwh	162.19	93.4	57.19
Electricity, paid by State
Heating oil, 55 gal	70.4	109.5	66
Gas, 55 gal unleaded auto	78	85.8	70.35
Lumber, 2X4X8'	2.99	3.25	2.83
Propane, 288 gal	406.88	557.77	400.32
Propane, 100 lb refill		48.54	31.07
Sewer, monthly fee		25
Sewer, 1000 gal			13.3
Water, monthly fee		13.75
Water, 100 gal			6.59
Sewer and Water, monthly	48.75	38.75

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