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QUESTION:  What is the data source for geographic transportation costs, specifically gasoline costs?

 

For the US, information is available from the Energy Information Administration. They produce different reports on energy availability and pricing. The "Weekly Retail Gasoline Report" breaks down costs into five "Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts" (PADDs) with pricing given on all types of gasoline sold in each district at each grade. The composition (and thus base cost) of each urban area's gasoline is determined by the EPA annually, depending on whether a particular urban area has met its air quality standards for the year with respect to six types of pollution and combinations thereof:  ground-level ozone (smog), carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (measured as PM10 and PM2.5). Non-attainment areas require special gasoline mixtures depending upon what pollutant(s) are over the guidelines. The prices for these various mixtures are in the retail price report from the EIA.

 

Annual estimates from both the American Automobile Association (https://www.aaa.com) and the Canadian Automobile Association https://www.caa.ca) are used in developing the transportation differentials.

 

Internationally, sources such as the National Foreign Trade Council provide data on international automobile operating costs, and the GIZ International Fuel Survey details fuel prices. The UK Automobile Association (www.theaa.co.uk) provides details on driving cost in the United Kingdom.

 

ERI researches area fuel costs on a country-by-country basis (internationally) and on a state-by-state and province-by-province basis in the US and Canada, respectively.  Other costs, such as vehicle and driver insurance, licensing fees and public transportation are researched on a county and even city-by-city basis.

 

For a list of data sources used in the calculation of cost-of-living differentials, see Data Background FAQ #19.

 

See Two City Comparison - Background for more information.