US consumers are paying more for their sushi, a reflection not only of higher food costs in general, but seafood in particular, according to Bloomberg's Sushinomics Cost-of-Living Index.
For years, The Economist's "Big Mac Index" has served as a light-hearted, but surprisingly accurate, reflection of consumer prices around the world. By looking at the price of the McDonald's staple in say, New York vs. Tokyo, you could get a sense of both the cost of living differential and consumer prices over time. Bloomberg answered with its "sushinomics" index, which it says reflects a slightly wealthier and younger demographic.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a millennial in possession of a decent salary, must be in want of an affordable piece of sushi," Bloomberg wrote.
The index has tracked prices of spicy tuna and California rolls in major US markets over the past five years.
The analysts found roll prices have on average risen by 2.2 percent over the past five years.
By region, Seattle, Portland and Washington, DC have all seen the sharpest rises in sushi roll prices since 2011.
New York and Los Angeles remain the most expensive cites to purchase sushi -- averages for standard items was $8.71 (€7.80) and $8.14 (€7.29), respectively.
Of the major US cities surveyed, only Austin, Texas, Wilmington, Delaware and Minneapolis, Minnesota saw prices decline.
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