Australian price indexes
Abstract
The politician in power in a period of inflation
magnifies his achievements by money comparisons with the
years before his reign; his aspiring opponent may call
upon price index numbers to support his own contention -
and to confirm the suspicions of the electorate - that
real achievement has been negligible. The persuasiveness
of the compact price index contrasts with the diversity
of the figures it represents and with the multiplicity of
answers available from careful choice of formula and
base period .