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Uncle Sam's Eyes in the Aisles

Caren Gaffney checks the prices of items at a Silver Spring store. She is one of hundreds of Labor Department workers who gather data for the consumer price index. (By Stephen J. Booitano -- Associated Press)

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· A pound package of Smithfield 97 percent fat-free, sliced, cooked ham, $4.69.

· An 8-ounce package of Oscar Mayer light bologna (with chicken and pork, not all-beef), $1.99.

· One head of Boston lettuce, $1.99 each.

· One head of green leaf lettuce, $1.99 per pound.

She enters the price for each item into her computer. In the case of the bologna, Gaffney is perplexed. She took down the price as $2.49. But her computer tells her that on her last visit the price was $1.99. After some investigating, Gaffney realizes she grabbed the wrong item this time -- the higher-priced all-beef light bologna.

The price of Boston lettuce had increased from $1.69 on Gaffney's last visit. She hunts down one of the store's produce workers to find out why, but he does not have any insights.

Stores let Gaffney and others collect price information on a confidential basis.

What are some of the more challenging tasks for the price hunters? They include the price for a pair of eyeglasses, for leasing or repairing a car, or for anything related to health -- because of all the details involved. Clothing can be complicated, too.

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