1. Median Wages & Consumer Price Index

2. OBJECTIVE Original was to compare the cost of living and the median wage in the Northwest Arkansas Area. Changed to compare the cost of living and median wages nationally and South region. Compile this information in one location for easier evaluation and public awareness.

3. Reasons For Change Couldn’t find the cost of living for Northwest Arkansas. The Arkansas cost of living was not clear on what the findings were based from. Overload of information/too many combinations when looking at just Northwest Arkansas with not enough information available.

4. DATA U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) Pulled annual totals from 2001-2005 for consumer price indexes plus median wages Nationally and for South Urban Region all not seasonally adjusted. Regression analysis from 2006-2013 then found absolute change from our projections for the C.P.I.’s and median wages.

5. National Median Wages vs. Southern Region Median Wages The projected rate of increase is 26% for AR and 22% for US from 2005 to 2013

6. Did you know? Almost 13% of Northwest Arkansas lives in poverty Over 6,000 families per month require food assistance There are over 120 social service agencies that distribute food locally www.ozarkfoodbank.org

7. National CPI vs. Southern Regional CPI The projected rate of increase is 18% for AR and 47% for US from 2005 to 2013

8. At the rate of increase for national consumer price indexes we might all be paying this for goods in the not so distant future