---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-12/the-bls-response-to-the-boskin-commission-report/"
title: "The BLS Response to the Boskin Commission Report"
author:
  name: "CSLS"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/"
date_published: "2026-07-13T06:53:29+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:53:29+00:00"
post_type: "ipm"
summary: ""
ipm_issue_period:
  - "Spring 2006"
ipm_keyword:
  - "BLS"
  - "Boskin Commission"
  - "Bureau of Labor Statistics"
  - "chained CPI"
  - "CPI"
  - "hedonic methods"
  - "price measurement"
  - "quality adjustment"
  - "substitution bias"
ipm_research_theme:
  - "Measurement and methodology"
ipm_country_focus:
  - "United States"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# The BLS Response to the Boskin Commission Report

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-12/the-bls-response-to-the-boskin-commission-report/

# The BLS Response to the Boskin Commission Report

[Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-12-3-Greenlees.pdf)

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Cite this article as:

Greenlees, John. 2006. “The BLS Response to the Boskin Commission Report.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 12 (Spring 2006): 23–41. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-12/the-bls-response-to-the-boskin-commission-report/

## Author:

-
John Greenlees
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

## IPM Issue 12

Spring 2006 pp. 23–41

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This article provides the Bureau of Labor Statistics perspective on the Boskin Commission Report, documenting BLS research in the early 1990s that identified upward CPI bias and tracing the methodological changes made to the CPI between 1996 and 2002. Key changes discussed include the introduction of a chained CPI capturing consumer substitution, expanded use of hedonic models for quality adjustment, and treatment of outlet substitution bias. The author notes that the BLS introduced the first official superlative CPI produced by any statistical agency in the world.

Cet article présente la perspective du Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sur le rapport de la Commission Boskin, documentant les recherches du BLS au début des années 1990 ayant cerné un biais à la hausse de l’IPC et retraçant les modifications méthodologiques apportées à l’IPC entre 1996 et 2002. Les principaux changements examinés comprennent l’introduction d’un IPC enchaîné captant la substitution des consommateurs, l’utilisation élargie de modèles hédoniques pour l’ajustement de la qualité et le traitement du biais de substitution entre points de vente. L’auteur note que le BLS a introduit le premier IPC supérieur officiel produit par tout organisme statistique dans le monde.

[Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-12-3-Greenlees.pdf)
