5 C.F.R. § 591.214 How does OPM collect prices?
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
(a) OPM collects most prices by visiting or calling retail outlets in each survey area and observing or verbally obtaining the item prices. (b) OPM prices some items by catalog, Internet, or a similar source. Other items, not normally sold within an area, may be priced in a different area. In either case, the price of such items includes any applicable taxes, shipping, and handling charges. When an item is normally sold within an area but is not available at the time of survey, OPM may, on a case-by-case basis, use the price of the item in a neighboring survey or COLA area.
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 591—ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS
Subpart B—Cost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential—Nonforeign Areas
Cost-of-Living Allowances
§ 591.214 How does OPM collect prices?
