January Municipal Cost Index reaches highest value since 2008
Posting a value of 215.1, American City & County’s Municipal Cost Index January 2011 report is 3.2 percent higher than last year and has reached its highest value since October 2008, when it was 214.8. The Municipal Cost Index decreased steadily in late 2008 and early 2009 to reach its lowest recent value of 203.3 in May 2009. In the last month, it increased slightly from the December value of 214.7.
The Municipal Cost Index, developed exclusively by American City & County, is designed to show the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services. State and local government officials rely on American City & County’s Municipal Cost Index to stay on top of price trends, help control price increases for commodities, make informed government contract decisions and intelligent budget planning. Since 1978, readers have loyally referred to the Municipal Cost Index to determine the cost of inflation and, hence, the rising cost of doing business as a local government.
American City & County’s Municipal Cost Index for January 2011 is available now at www.americancityandcounty.com/mciarchive. For a complete archive of the index since 1978, visit www.americancityandcounty.com/mciarchive.