Create a Runescape Price Index to track inflation?

[swampjedi]

You know, with everyone talking about inflation in RS, it might be fun to put together a price index like the CPI (used to track inflation in the US).

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_price_index

 

 

 

The trick is coming up with a "basket of goods" (no weighting, really).

 

 

 

Any takers? Sure, it's a HUGE geek thing to do, but it might be fun - and I forsee a lot of debate on what goes into the index.

[Gin_and_Tonic]

The best way to measure this will be to take, say, 20 of the most used and useful items in Rs and continue to follow them over the coming weeks.

 

 

 

I'd suggest a varied range of items; for example, a few weapons, pots, armours, herbs etc...

 

 

 

I'd be interested in analysing the rate of inflation. The most constructive way to do this will be get a group of people together and pick about 10 different items to track each.

[swampjedi]

Nah dude, my php-fu can whip something together to do it automatically based on GE prices. :-)

[Gin_and_Tonic]

Nah dude, my php-fu can whip something together to do it automatically based on GE prices. :-)

 

 

 

Aw, really? Thats no fun :P

 

 

 

Well let me know if you want anything analysed ... :D

[archimage_a]

I think a Runescape Price index is too broad a measurement. Raw fish is not going to inflate by very much because there is an excess amount of it, where as cooked fish varries a few points every day. Ores don't change that often but bars do, but the items they produce don't.

 

 

 

Hence the index should be broken down into sub indexs and then we would have a more indepth study, without taking any more figures into account.

 

 

 

 

 

Also you could just select items and input their price over the past 180 days...then add new prices whenever is possible(if you can do it automatically then daily, otherwise weekly.) That way we would have a good idea if an index is even possible.

[swampjedi]

That's my concern. Since this isn't even close to a real economy, we need to tweak the measure a little. It's not like the price of bread goes up a buck in a day, but raw monks might go up 50gp.

 

 

 

Keep in mind that the index is aimed a roughly the median player.

 

 

 

Furthermore, those items that are likely to feel the effects of inflation are those that offer lots of XP gains or utility. For example, you know things are getting hot when Yews start shooting through the roof. This is because folks become flush with cash and purchase 99s.

 

 

 

I do like the multiple category one.

 

 

 

How about, to start with, for a "Skilling Index":

 

Steel Bars, Adamant Bars

 

Coal

 

Pure Essence

 

Yews, Bowstrings

 

Raw Shark

 

Nature Runes

 

Dwarf Weed, Wine of Zamarok

 

Green Hides

 

Magic Seeds, Dwarf Weed Seeds

 

Oak Planks

[archimage_a]

Steel Bars, Adamant Bars

 

Coal

 

Pure Essence

 

Yews, Bowstrings

 

Raw Shark

 

Nature Runes

 

Dwarf Weed, Wine of Zamarok

 

Green Hides

 

Magic Seeds, Dwarf Weed Seeds

 

Oak Planks

 

 

 

I would also add Meelers Index

 

 

 

Tuna potato

 

Sara Brews

 

Prayer potions

 

(Drops would natually deminish over time and therefore would be difficult to use.)

 

Antiposions

 

 

 

(Anything else?)

 

 

 

F2P Index

 

Runite Ore as well as Runite bars...since they are the piniacle of F2P trading(or so I am told)

 

Chaos runes would be good if they weren't flat lining...

 

 

 

 

 

Also a party hat index: Since they tend to indicate trends.

[Bauke]

There already is something like this:

 

 

 

http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/Grand_E ... rade_Index

 

 

 

A picture depicting the inflation in Runescape:

 

[swampjedi]

Oh, and what about correlating the other two with the rares increases?

 

 

 

That would be awesome!

 

 

 

Do hardcore melee folks really use tuna potatoes that much?

[swampjedi]

The dude's right... DANG look at the increase mid-Jun to now!

[archimage_a]

A cooker knows his stuff :thumbsup: Hopefully it will stay up, probably not.

 

 

 

Anyway, a common index is all very well and go but perhaps a not so common index would be good too, then we could see if there were trends in other goods and thus pick out which skills would be good to train and when.

 

 

 

Just a thought.

[r4ngewarlord]

A cooker knows his stuff :thumbsup: Hopefully it will stay up, probably not.

 

 

 

Anyway, a common index is all very well and go but perhaps a not so common index would be good too, then we could see if there were trends in other goods and thus pick out which skills would be good to train and when.

 

 

 

Just a thought.

 

thats a great idea, it would make everything more cost efficient.