How can I determine cost of living increase in my area?

Question

I have not received a raise since 2005. I live in the Seattle area, where cost of living has increased dramatically. I'm trying to figure out the amount of inflation since my last raise. How do I figure that out?

Answer 1

The BLS publishes CPI for metropolitan areas. Here is Seattle. Things are up over 7% since 2005 . You need a raise.
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=dropmap&series_id=CUURA423SA0,CUUSA423SA0

NOTE The inflation rate is {current year/starting year-1} .or 211/197-1=1.07-1=.07

Answer 2

Cost Of Living Increase Since 2007

Answer 3

i dont know how many years it is - i think in ga it goes up every 7 years as far as the gov is concerned and it goes up about 4.7% -

i would guess look at the last time they raised min wage in your area - and it should be posted when it will be raised again - look at how much they raise that divide it into how many years there are in between those to dates - and thats an average raise in the cost of living -

thats the only way i can figre how to get an average -

i would also check around in your area for what an employee at a company similar to yours doing a similar job would or should be getting paid - and dont forget your experience -

but cost of living out of the way - i would think you are due for a raise at least once a year - unless you had a bad reveiw -

Answer 4

If the last time you got a raise was in 2004, in 2007 you should get a raise of 10.27% to compensate for the rise in cost of living index as measured by rise in Consumer Price Index. If the last raise was in 2005, you should get a raise of 6.66% in 2007. These calculations you can easily get by using the on-line calculators at http://data.bls.gov . Just plug in your salary for the year in which you got the last raise and that year and 2007.The CPI inflation calculator uses the average Consumer Price Index for a given calendar year. This data represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households.