Update and Revision History
This page compiles updates and revisions to the data since the publication of the Food-at-Home Monthly Area Prices (F-MAP) data product in 2024.
May 1, 2024
In May 2024, the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database (QFAHPD) was replaced by the F-MAP data product.
Version 1 of the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database (QFAHPD-1) contained prices for 52 food groups, based on both packaged foods labeled with a Universal Product Code (UPC) and random-weight (unpackaged or bulk fresh foods) purchases. Quarterly prices were available for:
- 26 metropolitan markets for 1999–2006.
- 9 nonmetropolitan areas for 2002–2006 and 4 nonmetropolitan areas for 1999–2001.
Version 2 of the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database (QFAHPD-2) contained prices for 54 food groups, based on only UPC-coded food purchases. Quarterly prices were available for:
- 26 metropolitan and 9 nonmetropolitan markets for 2004–10.
- A redefined carbonated nonalcoholic beverage group, which excluded diet versions of beverages.
- Two new food groups: (1) diet carbonated beverages and (2) unsweetened coffee and tea. Dry weights for coffee and tea were converted to liquid equivalents, assuming that 2 grams of dry tea leaves and 10 grams of dry coffee yield 180 milliliters of liquid beverage.
The F-MAP is modeled after the QFAHPD data product but differs in several important ways. The F-MAP provides monthly prices, which includes more price observations and allows more detailed monitoring of seasonality in food prices compared with quarterly data in the QFAHPD. The F-MAP also includes additional price measures compared with the QFAHPD. The QFAHPD contained mean unit values, while the F-MAP provides both mean unit values and price index measures. Price indexes are recommended over unit values for tracking prices over time and across areas.
The F-MAP includes prices for 90 food groups, which are based on the ERS Food Purchase Groups (EFPG) classification system, compared with 52 or 54 food groups in the QFAPHD. The EFPGs are a refinement of the food groups used in the QFAHPD. The EFPGs categorize foods by ingredients, nutritional content, convenience to the consumer, and store aisle, and were created to correspond with the food groups used in both of USDA’s 2015–20 and 2020–25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans document. The F-MAP also includes both UPC-labeled and random-weight fresh foods, while the QFAHPD-2 only included UPC-coded foods.
The F-MAP includes data for 3 levels of geographic aggregation: nationally for the total United States, regionally for the 4 Census regions, and for 10 major metropolitan areas. The QFAHPD was available for 26 metropolitan areas and 9 nonmetropolitan areas but did not include national average prices. The F-MAP makes no distinction between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas within each Census region.
Finally, the sources of underlying data differ between the QFAHPD, which was developed using household scanner data, and the F-MAP, which is based on retail scanner data. Household scanner data are collected through a survey of households that scan their food purchases, and survey weights are used to make the data representative of the U.S. population. Retail scanner data, in comparison, are collected from store point of sale systems and contain substantially more price observations. The retail data more closely cover the full basket of products that consumers purchased, rather than a subset of products purchased by consumers who participated in the household panel. Store weights are applied to weight the stores included in the retail scanner data to the population of stores in the United States.
For more information about household and retail scanner data, see the Using Proprietary Data page and the following publication:
Understanding IRI Household-Based and Store-Based Scanner Data