Online auctioneer eBay Inc. on Friday unveiled a new service that not only lists the top-selling consumer products, but also helps shoppers determine their going prices.

The company, working with data analysis start-up Mpire Inc., said it had created eBay Pop, a shopping index service that helps consumers sniff out the collective purchasing trends of U.S. online buyers.

EBay Pop displays sales trends on top items sold on eBay, ranging from music players, video game consoles and hot toys like TMX Tickle Me Elmo to less-obvious products like election memorabilia or the Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera for preschool kids.

“Think of it as a mini-consumer price index for consumer shopping,” said Mpire Chief Executive Matt Hulett.

EBay Pop (http://pages.ebay.com/ebaypop) identifies what it calls “movers” — items that have seen a recent price increase or decrease — and “shakers” — those whose sales volume has risen or fallen significantly.

By tracking the two charts in tandem, consumers can watch popular consumer items that are suddenly falling in price.

“It’s like a stock market for product prices,” said Gartner Inc. analyst Allen Weiner.

Posted: 11|4|06 at 9:43 am. Filed under: Auction News.