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Stettler fares OK in spatial price survey in province

Residents of Settler area should take comfort in the fact that, whether they already know this or not, they live in one of the best communities in the province, living cost-wise, as concluded by a government commissioned survey.

The results of Spatial Price Survey 2010, conducted in June of last year, has been recently released, putting Stettler community ahead of many others in surrounding areas in terms of low price ranges in essential consumer goods.

A total of 34 communities in the province were surveyed for the study, which measured prices of a total 293 items of goods and services.

Based on a price index taking Edmonton as a basis equaling 100 points, Stettler area fares particularly well in terms of non-food items, especially in comparison to Red Deer.

The survey concludes that in the category of leisure and entertainment, Stettler prices stand at 96.2 whereas Red Deer is as high as 102.4.

In terms of prices for clothing, Stettler stands at 94.5, lower than Red Deer but higher than Camrose, Rocky Mountain House and Drumheller.

In terms of utility prices, however, with an index average of 111, Stettler appears to be more expensive than most of the communities included in the comparative study.

In fresh produce, Stettler boasts the lowest prices with an index value of 99.1 while neighbouring communities all stand over 103.5, with Ponoka going as high as 108.

In prices of restaurant meals, only Camrose residents pay less for eating out with an index average of 89.7 with Stettlerites paying slightly higher with an average of 92.2.

A comparison of all prices included in the essential consumer basket puts Stettler in third place with a 96.5 average behind Camrose (94.3) and Ponoka (95.6).

Lloydminster turned out to be the community with lowest index figure with 93.7 while the highest was Canmore with 111.7.

The full report on the outcome of the survey is available at http://www.albertacanada.com/documents/SP-CS_2010-alberta-spatial-price-survey.pdf