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Calculating CPI Practice

Answer the following questions.

  1. Scenario: Your market basket contains 4 fish and 3 chips. In 2018, the price of fish was $3 and chips cost $2. Calculate: What is the cost of the same market basket in 2018?

    Answer: Cost = $18

    How to Solve: Determine the cost for the quantity of each item and then add.

    a. Number of fish × Cost of fish = Total cost of fish = 4 × $3 = $12

    b. Number of chips × Cost of chips = Total cost of chips = 3 × $2 = $6

    c. $12 (fish) + $6 (chips) = $18

  2. Scenario: Your market basket contains 4 fish and 3 chips. In 2018, the price of fish was $3 and chips cost $2. Calculate: If your market basket costs $18 dollars in 2018 and 2018 is the base year, what is the CPI for the base year?

    Answer: CPI for the base year = 100

    How to Solve: To determine the CPI, divide the market basket cost for the given year by the market basket cost for the base year and multiple by 100.

    ($18 / $18) × 100 = 1 × 100 = 100

    The base year CPI is always 100.

  3. Scenario: Your market basket contains 4 fish and 3 chips. In 2018, the price of fish was $3 and chips cost $2. Calculate: Assume the market basket in 2018 costs $18 and 2018 is the base year. What is the CPI for 2019 if the basket costs $24?

    Answer: CPI for 2019 = 133.3

    How to Solve: To determine the CPI, divide the market basket cost for the given year by the market basket cost for the base year and multiply by 100.

    ($24 / $18) × 100 = 1.333 × 100 = 133.3

  4. Scenario: Your market basket contains 4 fish and 3 chips. In 2018, the price of fish was $3 and chips cost $2. Calculate: Assume that the market basket for 2018 is $18 and the market basket for 2019 is $24. If the base year is 2019, what is the CPI for 2018?

    Answer: CPI for 2018 = 75

    How to Solve: To determine the CPI, divide the market basket cost for the given year by the market basket cost for the base year and multiply by 100.

    ($18 / $24) × 100 = 0.75 × 100 = 75

You've completed this review!