For each city across the U.S., economists construct a price index for a similar basket of goods. In Los Angeles the index is 127.3 and the index for Dallas is 94.8. If you have been offered $137,000 for a job in Los Angeles and $117,000 for a similar job in Dallas, which job affords you the highest purchasing power of the bundle of goods in the price index? Use the Los Angeles value as the base.

Price Index

A measurement that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services over time.

Purchasing Power

The worth of a currency depicted by how much goods or services can be purchased with one unit of that currency.

Basket of Goods

A collection of products and services used as a constant sample for measuring changes in prices, often in the calculation of inflation.