What has changed since 1986?
Many things. First off, the Internet. Today, it’s easier for us to find the goods and services listed in the song online. This convenience comes at a price, however: Goods and services from the survey that are purchased online tend to be more expensive than those purchased in a more traditional transaction, mainly due to added shipping costs. Second, the price of swans has dramatically decreased since the eighties. Seven swans a-swimming would have set the “True Love” back $7,000 in 1984; but today, they cost around $5,250, which is $350 less than in 2008. Swans have proven to be the most volatile part of the Index, with wild swings up and down over the years. That’s why they are not included in the “core” PNC CPI, which is usually lower than the real PNC CPI, though not in 2009 a rare exception. The federal government removes volatile energy and food prices for its CPI. Third, over the last 26 years, the price of services in general has increased, while the price of goods has decrease
