Telecommunications services price indexes, third quarter 2018

The telecommunications services price indexes (TSPI) measure quarterly price changes for the following telecommunications services: fixed telecommunications services (except Internet access); and cable, satellite and other program distribution services.

The indexes are calculated using data from the Quarterly Survey of Telecommunications, which is collected jointly by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission of Canada and Statistics Canada. The survey collects quarterly financial and operating data for the statistical measurement and analysis of the Canadian telecommunications sector.

The price index for fixed telecommunications services (except Internet access) covers both local and long-distance "landline" telephone calling services across Canada. It does not cover either Voice over Internet Protocol services or data and private line services. The prices used are the average revenue per line for local calling and the average revenue per minute for long-distance calling services.

The price index for cable, satellite and other program distribution services covers the provision of subscription television services across the country. This includes the redistribution of programming from conventional over-the-air television and radio stations. It also includes the distribution of pay audio and discretionary services (that is, specialty, pay-per-view and video-on-demand services), as well as Internet Protocol television services. The prices used are the average revenue per subscriber.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2015, the price index for cable, satellite and other program distribution services includes subscriptions to 'Mobile TV' services.

A price index for fixed Internet access services is not available at this time. Work is ongoing to evaluate alternative data sources to properly account for changes in the quality of these services.

Upon release of the TSPI for the third quarter of 2018 reference period, the price index for mobile telecommunications services will be suppressed while the methodology is reviewed.

With each release, data for the previous quarter may have been revised. Data are also subject to an annual revision with the release of second quarter data of the following reference year. The indexes are not seasonally adjusted. Data are available at the Canada level only.

A Historical Timeline of Canadian Producer Price Statistics

The publication "A Historical Timeline of Canadian Producer Price Statistics," which is part of the Prices Analytical Series (Catalogue number62F0014M), was created to showcase the key milestones in the history of Canadian producer price statistics. This historical timeline contains answers to questions such as: Who collected Canada's first statistics? What do Canadian producer price indexes measure?

Infographic: Producer Price Indexes at a Glance

The infographic "Producer Price Indexes at a Glance," which is part of Statistics Canada — Infographics (Catalogue number11-627-M), demonstrates how producer price indexes for goods and services are calculated and why they are important for the Canadian economy.

Products

A video entitled "Producer Price Indexes" is available on the Statistics Canada Training Institute webpage. It provides an introduction to Statistics Canada's Producer Price Indexes: what they are, how they are made and what they are used for.