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- Title
The Illawarra Healthy Food Price Index 2. Pricing methods and index trends from 2000-2003.
- Authors
Williams, Peter; Reid, Michelle; Shaw, Kirsty
- Abstract
Objective: To develop a method to monitor trends in the cost of the Illawarra Healthy Food Basket (IHFB) and report trends from 2000 to 2003. Design: Detailed instructions for the method of pricing the IHFB were developed and tested. The price of the IHFB was collected each year in September at a major supermarket, green grocer and butcher in five suburbs in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, representing a range of socioeconomic locations. Data on welfare payments available to the reference family, assuming all members were unemployed, were collected from staff at Centrelink. Main outcome measures: The average weekly cost of the IHFB, the Illawarra Healthy Food Price Index (IHFPI) values in 2000, 2001 and 2003, and trends in the food basket costs compared to changes in average weekly earning and welfare benefits for the reference family. Results: The IHFPI values were 100 in 2000, 111.3 in 2001 and 112.1 in 2003.The average cost of the IHFB in 2003 was $225.86. Over the three-year period average weekly earnings increased 14.5% and welfare payments for the reference family increased by 11.9%. The food component of the IHFB with the largest increase in prices was vegetables, which increased 19.8%. Conclusion: The results indicate that the affordability of healthy foods has not deteriorated over the period 2000-2003. Meat, fruits and vegetables may be cheaper at independent butchers and grocers than in supermarkets.
- Subjects
ILLAWARRA (N.S.W.); NEW South Wales; FOOD prices; SELF-service stores; VEGETABLES; METROPOLITAN areas
- Publication
Nutrition & Dietetics, 2004, Vol 61, Issue 4, p208
- ISSN
1446-6368
- Publication type
Article