Ariel Banos, expert in pricing strategy, presents in this article a key aspect to consider when quoting proposals for professional services.
"... In his book "Pricing Creativity", Blair Enns exemplifies the big differences there can be in the price of professional work, using the cases of some famous logos.
In 1971, in the early days of his company, Nike CEO Phil Knight paid a design student named Carolyn Davidson the sum of US$ 35 (about US$ 200 at today's values) to create the "swoosh" logo. We are talking about the mythical logo that still identifies the Nike brand today.
Fifteen months after the beginning of the health and economic crisis, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are the economies in the region with the highest inflation rates, a behavior that was influenced by increases in fuel and transportation costs.
In the second quarter of 2020, a period in which the countries of the region were going through a severe economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, inflation levels were low and in some economies negative variations were reported.
In September, price increases were more pronounced for vegetable oils and cereals, and for dairy products prices remained stable, while sugar and meat prices fell from their August levels.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that in September 2020 the food price index averaged 97.9 points, i.e., 2% more than in August and already 4.6% above its value a year ago.
Explained by the uncertainty reported in the markets due to covid-19 disease, in June 2020 the global food price index registered a 2% variation from the previous month.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that due to market uncertainty caused by covid-19 disease, prices of vegetable oils, sugar and dairy products rebounded to their highest level in several months after sharp declines in May, while in the cereals and meat markets most prices came under downward pressure.
During the second month of the year in the country, the price of the sand yard grew 4% compared to the same month in 2018, and the No. 4 stroller foot fell by 12%.
From the General Comptroller of the Republic's report:
The accumulated average behavior of January - February 2020, regarding the same period in 2019, showed increases in the Price Indexes (PI) of the Sand Yard and the Stone Yard No.
During February in the country the CPI reported -0.3% year-on-year variation, which is partly explained by the behavior of the prices of the transport category.
The groups that showed decreases in the National Urban CPI for February compared to January 2020 were: Transportation with 1.3%, Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 0.8%, Recreation and culture with 0.4%, Communications with 0.3%, Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, clothing and footwear, and Health all with 0.1%, reported the General Comptroller of the Republic.
During January, domestic sand prices rose 3% compared to the same month in 2018, and the 94-pound sack of gray cement fell 2%.
In January 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, the IPs showing increases were: Sand Yard by 2.6%, Stone Yard No. 4 by 2.5%, Polarized Box Outlet Unit by 2.4% and Clay Block % by 1.2%. In contrast, the IP of the foot of Carriola No.
At the beginning of 2020 in Panama, a positive variation in the Consumer Price Index was reported, a behavior that was determined partly by the prices of Transportation and Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.
From the report of the General Comptroller of the Republic:
The groups showing an increase in the National Urban CPI of January 2020, as compared to December 2019 were: Housing, water, electricity and gas with 0.6%; Transportation with 0.5%; Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, Education and Diverse goods and services all with 0.3%; Health and Restaurants and hotels both with 0.1%.
Up to January this year, the FAO food price index rose by 11% compared to the same month in 2019, explained by the increase in the prices of meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar.
From FAO's monthly report:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 182.5 points in January 2020, up 1.3 points (0.7 percent) from December 2019 and 11.3 percent higher than the same month last year.
At the end of 2019, Panama reported a negative variation in the Consumer Price Index, a behavior that was determined partly by the prices of air passenger transport.
From the report of the General Comptroller of the Republic:
The groups that presented decreases in the National Urban CPI of December, with respect to November 2019 were: Transportation with 0.5%; Furniture, home articles and ordinary home maintenance, and Recreation and culture both with 0.4%; Alcoholic beverages and tobacco with 0.2%; Food and non-alcoholic beverages, and diverse goods and services both with 0.1%.
At the end of last year, the sand yard in Panama grew 3% compared to December 2018, and the unplanned spaced timber foot grew 2%.
From the General Comptroller's report:
The average from January to December 2019, with respect to the same period in 2018, showed increases in the Indexes of the unit of the polarized box socket by 9.9%, of the No. 4 stone yard by 2.2%.
As of December last year, the FAO food price index was up 13% over the same month in 2018, explained by rising prices of meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar.
From the monthly report of the FAO:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 181.7 points in December 2019, up 4.4 points (2.5 percent) from November, marking the third month of consecutive increase.
In the eleventh month of the year, the unit of the polarized box outlet in the country grew 5% compared to November 2018, and the foot of stranded electric cable No. 12 did not register variation.
The average from January to November 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, showed increases in the Indexes of the current collector unit for polarized box in 10.6%, the foot of Zinc N°26 galvanized corrugated in 2.2%, the yard of Stone N°4 in 2.1%, and the yard of Sand in 1.8%, informed the General Comptroller of the Republic.
Last month FAO's food price index rose 10% from November 2018, explained by rising prices of meat, dairy products and vegetable oils.
From FAO's monthly report:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 177.2 points in November 2019; up 4.7 points (2.7 percent) from October and 15.4 points (9.5 percent) from the corresponding period last year.
In the tenth month of the year, the unit of the polarized box outlet in Panama grew 8% over October 2018, and the foot of stranded electric cable No. 12 decreased 6%.
From the report of the General Comptroller of the Republic:
The average from January to October 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, showed increases in the Price Indices (IP) of the current collector unit for polarized box in 11.2%, the foot of Zinc N°26 galvanized corrugated in 2.7%, the foot of Carriola N°4 and the yard of Stone N°4, both in 2.1%. Likewise, the IP of the Sand yard increased by 1.7% and the IP of the clay block by 0.1%. In contrast, the IP of the foot of Stranded Electric Cable N°12 decreased by 6.2%, of the 30-foot section of the "½" steel rod by 3.0%, of the 10-foot section of the PVC plastic pipe by 2.5% and of the 94-pound bag of gray cement by 2.0%. In addition, the IP of the hundredth cement block N°4 was reduced by 1.7%, the cubic meter of ready-mixed concrete by 1.6% and the foot of unbrushed spaced wood by 0.2%.