SQL query to transform this data dimension..

Question

Is there any simple SQL query to convert this below data

Date - Item - cost
10/31/2009 - a - 1
10/31/2009 - b - 2
10/31/2009 - c - 3
10/31/2009 - d - 4

11/30/2009 - a - 5
11/30/2009 - b - 6
11/30/2009 - c - 7
11/30/2009 - d - 8

Into below report format without any application logic/store procedure/reporting tool?

Item - 10/31/2009 - 11/30/2009
a - 1 - 5
b - 2 - 6
c - 3 - 7
d - 4 - 8

Sorry, couldn't come up with a better title..

Answer 1

SELECT
  item,
  MAX(CASE WHEN dt = CAST('2009-10-31' AS DATE) THEN cost END) AS oct2009_cost,
  MAX(CASE WHEN dt = CAST('2009-11-30' AS DATE) THEN cost END) AS nov2009_cost,
  MAX(CASE WHEN dt = CAST('2009-12-31' AS DATE) THEN cost END) AS dec2009_cost
FROM items
GROUP BY
  item;