Cost Index · Sources

Where every number comes from

Every published Cost Index reading traces to a public U.S. government data series. This page lists the report behind each ingredient, by identifier — and ships the same registry as machine-readable JSON.

In one line

Every published Cost Index reading traces to a public U.S. government data series. Below: the report behind each ingredient, by identifier — the provenance for the index and its data export.

Browse the index How the index works Download the data (JSON)

The public sources

The index builds only on citable public data — credited by agency and report identifier, never a private survey or a phoned-in assessment.

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News — mandatory, transaction-reported wholesale prices for beef, pork, and poultry. ams.usda.gov
USDA AMS terminal markets — daily produce wholesale prices, sampled across regional terminal markets. ams.usda.gov
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (PPI) — producer price indexes for food commodities. bls.gov
FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — national average price series. fred.stlouisfed.org
U.S. Energy Information Administration — diesel and electricity, the upstream cost drivers. eia.gov
NOAA Fisheries — seafood landings and prices. fisheries.noaa.gov

Per-ingredient registry

Every published ingredient and the public report(s) behind its reading. The same data ships machine-readable at /cost-index/sources.json (CC0).

Ingredient	Public sources (by report identifier)
Ribeye	USDA LMR 2453 · BLS WPU022101 · FRED APU0000FC3101
Beef tenderloin	USDA LMR 2453 · BLS WPU022101 · FRED APU0000FC3101
Chicken breast (boneless)	USDA AMS 3646 · BLS WPU0222 · FRED APU0000FF1101
Whole chicken	USDA AMS 3646 · BLS WPU0222 · FRED APU0000706111
Pork loin	USDA LMR 2498 · BLS WPS022104 · FRED APU0000FD3101
Pork shoulder	USDA LMR 2498 · BLS WPS022104 · FRED APU0000FD4101
Romaine lettuce	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130215
Tomatoes (round)	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130217
Onions	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Russet potatoes	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130603
Butter (AA, bulk)	USDA LMR 2993 · BLS WPU0232 · FRED APU0000FS1101
Cheddar cheese	USDA LMR 2993 · BLS PCU3115133115131 · FRED APU0000710212
Eggs	USDA AMS 2848 · BLS WPU017107 · FRED APU0000708111
Ground beef	USDA LMR 2453 · BLS WPU022101 · FRED APU0000703112
Short rib	USDA LMR 2453 · BLS WPU022101 · FRED APU0000FC3101
Chicken thigh	USDA AMS 3646 · BLS WPU0222
Bell pepper	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130228
Garlic	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Avocado	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Lemon	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01110104
Button mushroom	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cucumber	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130234
Broccoli	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cauliflower	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Spinach	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Asparagus	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Carrot	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Corn on the cob	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Kale	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Basil	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cilantro	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Sweet potato	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Lime	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Pineapple	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Celery	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cabbage	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Eggplant	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130229
Zucchini	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Beet	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130232
Leek	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Ginger root	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Yellow squash	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Jalapeño	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Green onion	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Green beans	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Parsley	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Brussels sprouts	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Butternut squash	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Iceberg lettuce	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Bok choy	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Artichoke	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Okra	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Snow peas	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Butter lettuce	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Green leaf lettuce	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Red leaf lettuce	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Collard greens	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Napa cabbage	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Rutabaga	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Daikon radish	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cherry tomatoes	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130217
Acorn squash	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Serrano pepper	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Poblano pepper	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Habanero pepper	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Mint	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Rosemary	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Thyme	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Oregano	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Tarragon	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Dill	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Red onion	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Red potato	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01130604
Grapefruit	USDA AMS terminal markets (8) · BLS WPU01110101
Apples	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Pears	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Bananas	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Watermelon	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Cantaloupe	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Blueberries	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Raspberries	USDA AMS terminal markets (8)
Whole turkey	USDA AMS terminal markets (1) · BLS WPU0222 · FRED APU0000706311

How to cite: attribute the “Muntin Restaurant Cost Index” and link the ingredient page or the index. These are dated wholesale reference prices, not delivered or retail prices. Full method at methodology.