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Abstract
Per capita figures in general permit an assessment of changes in economic quantities and
values over time, unobscured by trends in population size. Use of total population as
the divisor implicitly assumes that each member of the population has equal importance
as a consumer or spender, or that the relative distribution of the various groups in the
population remains basically unchanged. For many items, such an assumption can be
made, but for others it is not acceptable. Apparel expenditures are a case in point.
These expenditures differ markedly by age and sex. And the age-sex composition of
the population has changed and is changing. This article presents as a population
divisor for apparel expenditures a new series called "clothing expenditure units" and
contrasts the results of its use with the traditional approach. Calculation of the new
series entailed the application of weights consisting of clothing expenditure relatives by
age and sex to population estimates by age and sex. The procedure, including assumptions
and source material, is described in detail. For valuable assistance in the development
of the conceptual basis of the study and in preparation of the research, the author
is indebted to Frank Lowenstein, head of the Cotton and Other Fibers Section of the
Statistical and Historical Research Branch, Agricultural Economics Division, AMS.