# The Chapwood Price Index - deceptive **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496 "2019-01-10T00:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/1 "2019-01-10T00:49:39Z")
Reading a rightish-wing site I came across an article citing the [Chapwood Index](http://www.chapwoodindex.com/) as being a better index than the government’s for changes in the cost of living. Okay, someone has come up with what they think is a better CPI. But you shouldn’t take it at face value, because you should look at the [things they include](http://www.chapwoodindex.com/chapwood-index-items/): pool service, lawn service, maid service, leap frog, fillet (steak, I assume), and those are just for starters. I suppose it’s a better reference for the millionaire, but there are an awful lot of luxuries in there which are simply not relevant to the ordinary working person. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/2 "2019-01-10T01:13:31Z")
You are drawing attention to some strange little-known “inflation index” that cites no research methodology other than the author apparently asking his friends what they buy. It includes such bizarre and unexplained items as “leap Frog” and “Leap frog games” (two separate items!) and “comet”. And for all the supporting information provided with the list, it could be giving the same weight to “furniture polish” and “trail mix” as to health insurance. And your purpose in drawing our attention to it is - to tell us that it’s probably misleading and we shouldn’t pay any attention to it. Okay, well I guess I agree then. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/3 "2019-01-10T01:18:12Z")
What I notice about the list is there are many things that are one-time purchases, like a deep freeze or a laundry basket. Do they account for that? And they include T-bone steak but I know that the BLS considers substitution when figuring the CPI. So if steak is expensive one month, perhaps someone buys chicken instead. Do the people behind this index do that? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/4 "2019-01-10T03:52:28Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > It includes such bizarre and unexplained items as “leap Frog” and “Leap frog games” (two separate items!) and “comet”. [Apparently more obscure in the UK than the US](https://www.leapfrog.com). I knew what it meant immediately. Also, Comet is a brand of cleaning product. (I’m assuming they don’t mean [this](http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Leapfrog_(Vehicle)) and [this](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSn-0w953iedvWd7GgL7CAqdlcrikTnQVv2BmKIobjGz6t15N7m).) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/5 "2019-01-10T09:57:41Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > You are drawing attention to some strange little-known “inflation index” that cites no research methodology other than the author apparently asking his friends what they buy. I mention it because others are using it. So now you are forewarned. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/6 "2019-01-10T12:40:40Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Apparently more obscure in the UK than the US](https://www.leapfrog.com). Clearly so, I don’t think it markets over here. I’m of the generation to which the phrase would recall the [Over-Eighties’ Nudist Leapfrog Club](https://sites.google.com/site/theloombucketchronicles/home). ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/7 "2019-01-10T13:16:26Z")
Can you provide a cite for where you’ve seen it used or referenced please. I’m curious who would use this as an ernest reference. And for what purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/8 "2019-01-10T13:29:03Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Can you provide a cite for where you’ve seen it used or referenced please. I’m sorry, I’m not willing to do so. A ‘rightish-wing site’ is as far as I’m willing to go. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/9 "2019-01-10T15:53:31Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I mention it because others are using it. So now you are forewarned. For me, the first page of a Google search contains several links to sites pushing gold and bitcoin, with an obvious interest in inflationary fearmongering. The only major site on the first page is a Fox News story - from 2012. Thank you for your concerned public service in warning us about this new index that’s all over the interwebs telling us truthily about the economy; or perhaps less so since it has become more difficult to blame Obama for secret hyperinflation. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/10 "2019-01-10T20:02:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > But you shouldn’t take it at face value, because you should look at the [things they include](http://www.chapwoodindex.com/chapwood-index-items/): pool service, lawn service, maid service, leap frog, fillet (steak, I assume), and those are just for starters. I suppose it’s a better reference for the millionaire, but there are an awful lot of luxuries in there which are simply not relevant to the ordinary working person. Ordinary middle-class Americans can easily afford things like gardening service, pool service, and cleaning services. Americans have far more disposable income than people in the UK: > **[It Is Still True That Even Mississippi Is Richer Than Britain](https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/03/07/still-true-even-mississippi-is-richer-than-britain/#5f08d008654f)** > > This will come as something of a surprise to Americans, who generally think of Mississippi being so poor as to be almost third world in the extent of its deprivation. It'll also come as something of a surprise to most visitors to Britain, who... ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/11 "2019-01-10T21:06:44Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > Americans have far more disposable income than people in the UK: Tell that to those working two and three jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/12 "2019-01-11T15:47:38Z")
People with more jobs have more money? Not sure what your point is. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/13 "2019-01-12T13:34:21Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Tell that to those working two and three jobs. Only 4.9% of all jobholders in 2017. And that describes me at one point. I had “enough” with one job but I was young and able and the money was even better, so why not? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/14 "2019-01-12T14:24:40Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > People with more jobs have more money? Not sure what your point is. No, people working two and three jobs so they have enough money to survive. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chapwood-price-index-deceptive/827496/15 "2019-01-12T14:48:08Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > No, people working two and three jobs so they have enough money to survive. While reasons for holding multiple jobs include meeting regular household expenses, they also include paying off debt, saving, getting experience, buying something special, and just flat out enjoying it. Some jobs cap you at 30 hours. So if you want to work 40 (or more which is totally reasonable), you’ll have to find a second. Not that it’s terribly relevant. Pointing out that not every American has higher disposable income is in no way a rebuttable to comparing American disposable income to UK disposable income. I’m not sure why you even brought it up.