What does the Cost Pressure Score represent?
The score estimates overall household cost pressure for a location on a 0-100 scale where higher is better (lower pressure).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers on what CostPressureIQ measures, how to interpret results, and what data limitations mean in practice.
Core Questions
Scoring, Trend, And Data Coverage
This FAQ is designed to reduce interpretation errors by clarifying how score scales, component semantics, and data limitations work across every geography level.
How is this different from a cost-of-living index?
CostPressureIQ models pressure dynamics, not only static prices. It combines burden, year-over-year change, and income offset behavior.
Why can component scores move differently than the overall score?
Components capture separate drivers. One component can worsen while offset signals improve, resulting in a smaller net change in the overall score.
What does INSUFFICIENT_DATA mean?
It means a required signal is unavailable or unreliable for that geography-window combination, so the model degrades transparently.
Are these pages financial advice?
No. CostPressureIQ is informational and diagnostic. It does not provide investment, tax, legal, or personal financial advice.
How should I compare two locations without overreacting to one signal?
Start with the overall sustainability score and trend direction, then review pressure components to see which drivers are moving. Use state, county, and city pages together before drawing conclusions.
What does national percentile mean?
National percentile compares a location against peers at the same geography level. A higher percentile means lower pressure relative to comparable locations.
How often are scores refreshed?
Refresh timing follows source data availability and ingestion run success. You can review recent ingestion outcomes and refresh status on the Update Cadence page.
Can I cite CostPressureIQ in a report?
Yes. For best transparency, cite the page URL, geography, snapshot date, and the methodology and data-source pages used for interpretation context.
Research Path
Recommended Reading Order
For clean comparisons, move from broad geography to granular pages, then validate conclusions with methodology, source, and update-cadence context.
1. Start with state context
Use state pages to establish broad pressure direction and sustainability baseline.
2. Narrow to county differences
Move to county pages to inspect sub-state variation in pressure components and trend movement.
3. Validate at city level
Use city pages for the most granular public view of local pressure behavior.
4. Verify interpretation context
Confirm model definitions, source scope, and refresh cadence before final interpretation.