5 CFR § 591.216 - How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s591.216"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 591.216 - How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?"
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "591.216"
section_name: "How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?"
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "591"
part_name: "ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
cfr_part: "591"
---
# 591.216 How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?
(a) *Washington, DC, area.* For each survey item except shelter, OPM averages separately the prices collected in each of the DC survey areas identified in § 591.215(a) and then averages these average prices together using equal weights to compute an overall average by item for the DC area.
(b) *COLA areas with multiple survey areas.* OPM computes weighted average indexes at the item, PEG, MEG, and/or overall level by using the corresponding indexes and Federal employment weights from each survey area within the COLA area.
[67 FR 22340, May 3, 2002, as amended at 69 FR 59763, Oct. 6, 2004]