Rate Consolidation

[wcihelp]

I am working on consolidating several different employee groups. They are separated by different benefit rates. I have 25 different groups, each with 9 different rates. I am looking to consolidate the 25 groups if possible by comparing similarites in the rates. Is there a formula that can help me identify which groups are close enough to each other in terms of rates for consolidation?

 

[oldbrewer]

please define "close enough" eg +- 0.5% (this might vary according to "size" of benefit)

 

[wcihelp]

Hi, I would say +- 2% would be ideal. Thanks!

 

[oldbrewer]

group	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9
G1	1000	1020	1040	1061	1082	1104	1126	1149	1172
G2	1060	1092	1125	1158	1193	1229	1266	1304	1343
G3	1120	1165	1211	1260	1310	1363	1417	1474	1533
G4	1180	1239	1301	1366	1434	1506	1581	1660	1743
G5	1240	1314	1393	1477	1565	1659	1759	1865	1976
G6	1300	1391	1488	1593	1704	1823	1951	2088	2234
G7	1360	1469	1586	1713	1850	1998	2158	2331	2517
G8	1420	1548	1687	1839	2004	2185	2381	2596	2829
G9	1480	1628	1791	1970	2167	2384	2622	2884	3173
G10	1540	1709	1897	2106	2338	2595	2880	3197	3549
G11	1600	1792	2007	2248	2518	2820	3158	3537	3962
G12	1660	1876	2120	2395	2707	3058	3456	3905	4413
G13	1720	1961	2235	2548	2905	3312	3775	4304	4906
G14	1780	2047	2354	2707	3113	3580	4117	4735	5445
G15	1840	2134	2476	2872	3332	3865	4483	5200	6032
G16	1900	2223	2601	3043	3560	4166	4874	5702	6672
G17	1960	2313	2729	3220	3800	4484	5291	6244	7367
G18	2020	2404	2861	3404	4051	4820	5736	6826	8123
G19	2080	2496	2995	3594	4313	5176	6211	7453	8944
G20	2140	2589	3133	3791	4587	5551	6716	8127	9833
G21	2200	2684	3274	3995	4874	5946	7254	8850	10797
G22	2260	2780	3419	4206	5173	6363	7826	9626	11840
G23	2320	2877	3567	4423	5485	6801	8434	10458	12968
G24	2380	2975	3719	4648	5811	7263	9079	11349	14186
G25	2440	3074	3874	4881	6150	7749	9764	12302	15501
	how could you rationalise groups with the above starting points and rate increments ?

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