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Prices and Wages by Decade: 2000-2009

Links to government documents and primary sources listing retail prices for products and services, as well as wages for common occupations.

Wages in the United States, 2000-2009

Wages by occupation and industry 2000-2009

Wages by location for selected occupations, 2000-2009

Non-wage forms of income, 2000-2009

Prices in the United States, 2000-2009

GASOLINE and DIESEL FUEL

In 2000, 34% of people aged 18-24 were enrolled in college (U.S. Census) and 25.6% of people aged 25 years or older have completed 4 years (U.S. Census, Table A-2).

Inflation and buying power, 2000s

What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

"The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of consumer goods and services" with respect to a given base year with value 100. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What is inflation?

As measured with CPI, it is the percent change in the CPI between two different years, showing the "annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services". Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

CPI Inflation Formula: CPIx-1-CPIxCPIx*100

Quotable facts for the 2000-2009 decade

In the United States...

  • Minimum wage was $5.15 per hour in the year 2000. Source: U.S. Dept of Labor
  • The median money income for families in 2000 was $50,732. Source: US Census Bureau
  • The average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in 2009 was $62,445 for men and $44,857 for women. Source: US Census Bureau
  • Homes had a median value of $119,600 in 2000. Source: US Census Bureau
  • Education at 4-year, public universities cost an average $9199 for tuition, fees, room & board in 2001-02. Source: U.S. Dept of Education.
  • Coffee cost an average $3.50 per pound in 2000. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
  • TRANSPORTATION
    • In the year 2000...
      • New cars cost an average $19,559. Source: U.S. BEA.
      • There were 1.12 vehicles per licensed driver in the US. (Source)
      • 18.3% of U.S.households had 3 or more vehicles, compared to 2.5% in 1960. Source: U.S. DOE.
    • Gasoline cost an average $1.51 per gallon in 2000. Source: U.S. EIA.
  • HEALTH CARE PERSONAL EXPENDITURES
    • Prescription drugs frequently used by Medicare beneficiaries increased in price 24% from 2000 to 2004.  Source: U.S. GAO.
    • In 2000, health care costs averaged $4,103 per person. Consumer out-of-pocket payments covered 16.7%.  Source: NCHS.

Ask a Question

Marie Concannon, Government Information Librarian
Government Documents Department, Ellis Library
University of Missouri, Columbia
Email: concannonm@missouri.edu
Phone (573) 882-0748