Norman Economic Development Coalition to

Participate in Cost of Living Index Survey

 

By Christin Forney

 

NORMAN, Okla. – The Norman Economic Development Coalition (NEDC) will participate in ACCRA Cost of Living Index survey, beginning October 13th through 15th.  The survey is the premier source of data on living cost differentials-exclusive of income, ad valorem, and sales taxes-among U.S. and Canadian urban areas.

 

Published quarterly since 1968, the survey is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items within six major categories: grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and other miscellaneous goods and services. Norman’ fourth-quarter data will be collected over a three-day period using a web-based Price Collector software; and will be available January 2006.  

 

“For years we have used the Oklahoma City Cost of Living Index as our closest reference to the Norman area, due to lack of staff time to participate in the program.” Norman Economic Development Coalition, Executive Director Don Wood said. “We are pleased to soon have an actual Cost of Living Index to provide a benchmark for the City of Norman.”

 

The Cost of Living Index is a service that ACCRA, the professional association of community and economic development researches, makes available to all urban areas. Several communities in Oklahoma including Oklahoma City, McAlester, Edmond, and Ardmore, currently participate in the survey each year.

 

For more information about the survey contact Christin Forney at (405) 573-1900, or visit the ACCRA Cost of Living Index website www.coli.org.