Central Washington University (CWU) Student Price Index (SPI)

Overview

Since January 2021, the Economics Association and the Department of Economics at CWU are jointly leading a project that aims to develop a price index to determine the cost of college living in Ellensburg, Washington. Every month, based on a campus-wide survey, the Economic Association members gather prices of goods commonly consumed by CWU students from different stores in Ellensburg to compute the SPI and inflation rates. This index serves to identify the price changes that students in Ellensburg encounter, making it a valuable tool.

Interested in Participating?

Fill out this form and we will reach out to you via your CWU email.

Monthly Update Reports

Monthly updates on the SPI can be found below, on the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce website, or on Instagram at @cwuecon_drlee.

Aug 2024 | Jul 2024 | Jun 2024 | May 2024 | Apr 2024 | Mar 2024 | Feb 2024 | Jan 2024 | Dec 2023 | Nov 2023 | Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | Apr 2023 | Mar 2023 | Feb 2023 | Jan 2023 | Dec 2022 | Nov 2022 | Oct 2022

The SPI project has been featured in:

• CWU Pulse Magazine, Winter 2023.
• The Voyage Magazine by the College of Business, CWU, Summer 2023.

The SPI project was presented at:

• Pacific Northwest Regional Economics Conference (PNREC) 2024 in Bend, Oregon).
• 20th Economic Outlook Conference 2024, Department of Economics, CWU.
• CWU Board of Trustees Meeting, Feb. 2024.
• 19th Economic Outlook Conference 2023, Department of Economics, CWU.
• CWU Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) 2023.
• Pacific Northwest Regional Economics Conference (PNREC) 2023 in Walla Walla, WA.
• CWU Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) 2022: award recipient for the College of Business.
• Pacific Northwest Regional Economics Conference (PNREC) 2022 in Hood River, OR.

The SPI has received:

• Career Services Funds, 2024 ($1,111)
• 2023 CWU Faculty-Student Provost Research Grant ($1,500)
• 2022 CWU Faculty-Student Provost Research Grant ($3,000)

Student testimonials on the project

• ``The Student Price Index has allowed me the opportunity to have hands on experience working with large data sets in a non-controlled environment like the classroom. This project has reinforced and built upon critical skills developed in the Economic Department courses.’’ - S. Apostolides
• ``The SPI project has helped develop my ability to think critically and collaborate effectively with my peers. Through this, I have been able to apply theoretical concepts I have learned to real-world applications and better my understanding of economic research.’’ - C. McNair
• ``As an economics student, the SPI gave me the chance to engage in academic research from an early stage. Starting as a presenter and price collector, my involvement boosted my confidence as a researcher and allowed me to see real-world applications of economics. This experience sparked a passion for research, leading me to pursue a master’s degree, a future Ph.D., and a career in academia. As the youngest in my master’s cohort, the SPI project has helped me thrive in academic discussions and provided a sense of belonging and accomplishment that continues to shape my work.’’ - L. Hashimura

Contributors (as of Fall 2024)

• Faculty Advisor and PI: Dr. Yurim Lee
• Co-Advisor on the Student Expenditure Survey: Dr. David Zuckerman, CWU
• Student Participants: Amneet Pawar (Student Lead), Aiden Blanco, Jocelyn Cruz, Morgan Holman, Ryder Moss, Ian Seibel, Cole Smith, Lilly Thomas