Consumer price indexes

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  • Articles and reports: 61-532-X19970013505
    Description:

    For a number of years, the service component of the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) has generally shown a higher rate of increase than the goods component. From 1961 to 1996, the average annual increase of service prices was 5.7 % as opposed to 4.9 % for goods.

    Release date: 1998-02-02

  • Notices and consultations: 62-010-X19970023422
    Description:

    The current official time base of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 1986=100. This time base was first used when the CPI for June 1990 was released. Statistics Canada is about to convert all price index series to the time base 1992=100. As a result, all constant dollar series will be converted to 1992 dollars. The CPI will shift to the new time base when the CPI for January 1998 is released on February 27th, 1998.

    Release date: 1997-11-17

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M19970103357
    Description:

    The ABS currently publishes a wide range of separate consumer, producer and international trade price indexes, each relating to a particular segment of economic activity, as well as implicit price deflators and fixed weighted indexes derived from the national accounts. These individual indexes can be considered as partial indicators as they each relate to a particular economic activity. Each index was developed to meet specific requirements and is released in its own separate, specialized publication, with substantial differences in profile. The Consumer Price Index is frequently used as a measure of inflation but it has a number of conceptual shortcomings for such purposes. In recent years, there has been increasing international attention directed towards developing new approaches to the measurement of inflation. The purpose of this paper is to briefly outline the framework and current or future developments in the field of price statistics. The paper concludes that although no studies of bias have been undertaken in the Australian CPI, it is believed that any bias is likely to be small.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M19970103362
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    The debate on the measurement of bias in the CPI has been around for decades. However, given the size of government budgetary deficits, the issue of overestimating inflation and therefore payments in social benefits has triggered the interest in the measurement of the CPI bias. The final report of the U.S. Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index, chaired by Michael Boskin, states that the U.S. CPI has been overestimated by 1.1% per year since 1996. Following the release of the report, many interested groups have asked the question as to the magnitude of the bias for Canada's CPI. This result raised the question whether the bias in the Canadian CPI was of the same magnitude. This paper begins by presenting the bias issue in the context of the Canadian CPI and then outlines some of the plans Statistics Canada intends to undertake in the near future to improve the measurement of the CPI. The paper concludes that, although the Canadian CPI may suffer from the same potential problems as the U.S. CPI, the overall effect of these biases is less notable because Statistics Canada started to apply an appropriate methodology earlier. In fact, in recent studies Crawford (1993 and 1997) tried to estimate an overall bias and concluded that given the generous judgement incorporated in the estimate, it is likely that the bias is, on average smaller than 0.5%.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M19970103363
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    The debate over problems in measuring inflation is not new. It has recently been revived by the publication of a report by an Advisory Commission to the U.S. Senate. The Commission, chaired by Michael J. Boskin, found that the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) overestimates inflation by 1.1 percentage points a year. This article shows that the potential bias in the French CPI is on a far lower order of magnitude. It is hard to summarize the changes in a multitude of prices with a single figure. Even in the best-case theoretical scenario - a single consumer faced with a spending decision - the treatment of substitutions between existing products raises important problems. Nevertheless, it is possible to provide a fairly accurate description of the various possible alternatives and the statistical procedures used in France largely shield the country's index from criticism on this point. The introduction of new products creates serious difficulties that have not been entirely resolved in the United States, in France, or elsewhere: "new products" is used here in the broad sense to denote (1) genuinely new products on the market and (2) products already sold elsewhere but introduced in a new sales outlet, replacing existing products or not. The Boskin Commission estimates the upward bias in the U.S. CPI due to new products at 0.6 percentage points per year. The Commission's claim rest on fragile and probably exaggerated estimates. Our conclusion converges with the opinion of several U.S. statisticians.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M19970103364
    Description:

    From a U.K. perspective, the Boskin Report raises no new issues; it simply gives some issues greater prominence. AT the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics, as in other national statistical agencies around the world, a substantial amount of research has been conducted over a number of years into methodology associated with consumer prices indices, and this work is continuing. Our view is that the Retail Prices Index (RPI) presently remains the most accurate single measure of consumer inflation in the U.K. It is produced using the best available methodology following advice from an independent RPI advisory committee. We believe that many of the issues raised in the Boskin Report for the U.S.A. have less in the U.K. This view is also shared by a number of independent commentators. Nevertheless, along with many other countries, we are undertaking further research and analysis to investigate the issues raised.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M19970103365
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    The final report of the Boskin Commission (after its chair Michael Baskin) arrived like a huge boulder dropped into a quiet pool of water. It made an enormous splash in the U.S. and the tidal waves and ripples have spread out all over the world. But eight months after the report's December 1996 publication, the centre of the pool where the boulder landed has become almost completely still. This paper presents some of the reasons why no opportunities were grasped following the publication of the report. The paper concludes that one missed opportunity is the creation of a more unified economic statistical system. Although Statistics USA is not going anywhere, there is still hope for the future.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M1997010
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    The debate on the measurement bias in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) arising from the U.S. "Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index", better known as the Boskin report, is not new and has been around for a number of decades. However, several circumstances made the current debate special.

    This publication, Bias in the CPI: experiences from five OECD countries, presents the experience and point of view of five different countries relative to the measurement bias in the CPI. While most statistical agencies recognise that their CPIs are not perfect measures of inflation, some agencies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries have consistently developed research agendas designed to improve its measurement.

    Release date: 1997-10-02

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M1996001
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    For decades, Canadians have been living in an inflationary environment. Everyone remembers that at some point in the past, consumer goods and services cost less. Even young people know that a candy bar cost less five or ten years ago than it does now. Thus the purchasing power of the Canadian dollar has gradually declined over the years.

    Even though everyone knows that things cost more now than in the past, there are situations in which this seems to be forgotten. The purpose of this article is to present a situation that shows the illusion of wealth that fairly long-term inflation can foster. We begin by looking at how inflation and income tax affect a retired person's interest income for a given year. Then we look at the effects of inflation and income tax on interest income over a longer period. When taxation is not factored in, the situation is one of investing inside a registered retirement savings plan.

    Release date: 1997-05-05

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M1997004
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    Over the years, the concept of core inflation has become of crucial importance for the central banks of various countries. Indeed, many of them have at some point been given the mandate to reduce inflation and achieve price stability. In Canada, this mandate was conferred on the Bank of Canada in February 1991.

    Core Inflation is often perceived as the trend in the movements of consumer prices. This review of the literature illustrates that more than one definition of core inflation exists. Then, a brief description of the different suggested methods to measure core inflation, as well as some of their results, are shown. Finally, this review offers a bibliography of articles on core inflation.

    Release date: 1997-05-05
Data (63)

Data (63) (0 to 10 of 63 results)

  • Table: 18-10-0259-01
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description: Historical (real-time) releases of the measures of core inflation, with data from 1989 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). Data are presented for the current release and previous four releases. Users can select other releases that are of interest to them.
    Release date: 2024-06-03

  • Table: 10-10-0143-01
    Geography: Canada
    Frequency: Weekly
    Description: This table contains 7 series, with data starting from 1972 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada), Commodity (7 items: Total, all commodities; Total excluding energy; Energy; Metals and Minerals; ...).
    Release date: 2024-05-31

  • Table: 10-10-0106-01
    Geography: Canada
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description: This table contains 18 series, with data starting from 1979 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 items: Canada ...) Alternative measures (18 items: Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding food; energy and the effect of indirect taxes; seasonally adjusted; Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding the effect of indirect taxes; seasonally adjusted; Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding the effect of indirect taxes; Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding food; energy and the effect of indirect taxes ...).
    Release date: 2024-05-22

  • Table: 18-10-0256-01
    Geography: Canada
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description: This table contains 11 series, with data from 1949 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). Data are presented for the current month and previous four months. Users can select other time periods that are of interest to them.
    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Table: 18-10-0256-02
    Geography: Canada
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description: Consumer Price Index (CPI) statistics, measures of core inflation, Bank of Canada definitions, year-over-year percent change.
    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Data Visualization: 71-607-X2018016
    Description: This interactive dashboard provides access to current and historical Consumer Price Index (CPI) data in a dynamic and customizable format. Key indicators such as the 12-month and 1-month inflation rates and price trends are presented in interactive charts, allowing users to compare and analyze price changes of all the goods and services in the CPI basket over time as well as across geography (national, provincial and territorial levels).

    Other CPI indicators available in this tool include the Bank of Canada’s core measures of inflation, seasonally adjusted inflation rates, and CPI basket weights.

    This web-based application is updated monthly, as soon as the data for the latest reference month is released in The Daily.

    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Table: 18-10-0001-01
    Geography: Canada, Census subdivision, Census metropolitan area, Census metropolitan area part
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description:

    Monthly average retail prices for gasoline and fuel oil for Canada, selected provincial cities, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. Prices are presented for the current month and previous four months. Includes fuel type and the price in cents per litre.

    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Table: 18-10-0004-01
    Geography: Canada, Province or territory, Census subdivision, Census metropolitan area, Census metropolitan area part
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description:

    Monthly indexes for major components and special aggregates of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not seasonally adjusted, for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. Data are presented for the current month and previous four months. The base year for the index is 2002=100.

    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Table: 18-10-0004-02
    Geography: Canada, Province or territory, Census subdivision, Census metropolitan area, Census metropolitan area part
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description:

    Monthly indexes and percentage changes for all components and special aggregates of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not seasonally adjusted, for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. Data are presented for the corresponding month of the previous year, the previous month and the current month. The base year for the index is 2002=100. 

    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Table: 18-10-0004-03
    Geography: Canada, Province or territory, Census subdivision, Census metropolitan area, Census metropolitan area part
    Frequency: Monthly
    Description: Monthly indexes and percentage changes for selected sub-groups of the food component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not seasonally adjusted, for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. Data are presented for the corresponding month of the previous year, the previous month and the current month. The base year for the index is 2002=100.
    Release date: 2024-05-21
Analysis (125)

Analysis (125) (0 to 10 of 125 results)

  • Articles and reports: 36-28-0001202400500005
    Description: Headline inflation in Canada reached a 40-year high in 2022. Rising prices reduced the purchasing power of people whose incomes were not keeping pace with inflation and the current high inflation in Canada, as well as in many other countries, may be caused by both demand and supply factors. This article examines whether the current high inflation in Canada is demand–pull or supply–push.
    Release date: 2024-05-22

  • Stats in brief: 11-001-X20241423665
    Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin
    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M2024003
    Description: This technical paper describes the collection of food price data and the methodologies that are used to provide Canadians with accurate and timely food inflation data in both the CPI and the monthly average retail prices table.
    Release date: 2024-05-21

  • Stats in brief: 11-621-M2024003
    Description: This paper looks at how extreme weather claims have impacted the insurance industry in Canada from 2020 to 2023. A specific focus is given to homeowners insurance, which during this time, homeowners insurance consumer price index exceeded all items inflation. Insurer profitability and consumer impacts are analyzed given the significant uptick in catastrophic claims. All four years analyzed ranked in the top 10 most costly claims years in Canadian history, costing billions each year. In addition, other contributing factors are explored to provide a robust overview of trends in profitability of the insurance industry.
    Release date: 2024-05-15

  • Stats in brief: 11-001-X202413638264
    Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin
    Release date: 2024-05-15

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M2024002
    Description: In collaboration with the Bank of Canada, this research paper focuses on constructing analytical price index series for Canada, using the main owned accommodation measurement concepts proposed by the International Consumer Price Index Manual and adopted by other countries. This analysis explores these alternative treatments of owned accommodation in the Canadian context, examining their impact on the all-items Consumer Price Index. Additionally, it provides an explanation for the gap between perceived inflation and estimated inflation.
    Release date: 2024-03-28

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M2023008
    Description: An interactive timeline of the modernization of the CPI and related programs with dates, links, and summary of key developments.
    Release date: 2024-02-20

  • Stats in brief: 11-001-X20240169305
    Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin
    Release date: 2024-01-16

  • Articles and reports: 62F0014M2023007
    Description: This article is an overview of the treatment of Shelter in the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI). It describes the concepts and methodologies related to the construction of that component and briefly discusses considerations to be taken into account when using the estimates.
    Release date: 2023-12-19

  • Stats in brief: 11-627-M2023062
    Description: This infographic details the food supply chain by focusing on the price movements for wheat-based food products in 2023 and the costs to move food products from producers to consumers. Since March 2022, some costs along the supply chain have declined while others remained elevated. Prices for bread, pasta and cereal at the grocery store continued to increase in 2023 but at a slower pace compared with 2022.
    Release date: 2023-11-17
Reference (10)

Reference (10) ((10 results))

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62F0072G
    Description: The primary source of data used in post index construction are periodic retail-price and cost-of-living surveys conducted at foreign locations by the foreign service personnel stationed there. Statistics Canada analyses this survey data. In addition to a variety of price information gathered from retail outlets patronized by Canadian personnel at the post, data are also obtained regarding their spending patterns, along with information on the availability of any special local purchasing facilities, and the extent to which staff make direct importation of consumer goods from other countries. The general aim is for full-scale surveys to be carried out at about three-year intervals. However, specific studies may be undertaken more or less frequently than this, depending on the volatility of retail price conditions in each particular country, the instability of exchange rates and the extent to which close monitoring of changes in the local retail price situation being faced by Canadian personnel can be achieved through reference to other statistical indicators.
    Release date: 2023-12-22

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62-553-X
    Description:

    This Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) Reference Paper provides an overview the Canadian CPI. It is intended for a varied audience, ranging from users interested in general information to those requiring more technical or theoretical details. As such, it explains all the important aspects of the Canadian CPI: uses and interpretations, scope, classifications, sample strategy, price collection, index calculation, quality change, weights, basket updates, reliability and uncertainty, special cases and treatments and history.

    Release date: 2023-02-20

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-522-X201700014751
    Description:

    Practically all major retailers use scanners to record the information on their transactions with clients (consumers). These data normally include the product code, a brief description, the price and the quantity sold. This is an extremely relevant data source for statistical programs such as Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), one of Canada’s most important economic indicators. Using scanner data could improve the quality of the CPI by increasing the number of prices used in calculations, expanding geographic coverage and including the quantities sold, among other things, while lowering data collection costs. However, using these data presents many challenges. An examination of scanner data from a first retailer revealed a high rate of change in product identification codes over a one-year period. The effects of these changes pose challenges from a product classification and estimate quality perspective. This article focuses on the issues associated with acquiring, classifying and examining these data to assess their quality for use in the CPI.

    Release date: 2016-03-24

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62-560-X
    Description:

    This teacher's kit helps students understand how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflects price changes for the goods and services they buy.

    The Custom Inflation Simulator is a Web-based resource that demonstrates how the many consumer goods and services in the 'basket' are used to calculate the CPI, and how consumption patterns differ from person to person. Using the simulator, students can also see the effect of individual price increases on overall inflation, in other words how each item in the basket is 'weighted' to reflect its importance in Canadians' consumption patterns.

    Release date: 2004-10-01

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62-014-X
    Description:

    The growth in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector has created a need for more sector-specific economic indicators. Prices Division at Statistics Canada (STC) currently produces price indexes for several ICT goods that include computers and computer equipment or peripherals (e.g., printers and monitors). These indexes measure the price movement of ICT goods at the final or end-purchaser level (i.e., government, businesses and households) for consumption. The ICT price index series are used by economists, industry analysts and the general public to track and comprehend events and trends as they occur in this important area of the ICT sector. Within STC, the series pertaining to consumers are used in the calculation of the Consumer Price Index. In addition, several series are used by the Canadian System of National Accounts in deflating the value of gross investment by government and businesses. This reference document outlines what ICT goods price indexes are produced and their underlying data sources and methodology.

    Release date: 2003-10-30

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62F0083X
    Description:

    These Indexes are calculated for persons who do not have special access privileges and may be used by non-government organizations. They are comparative measurements that numerically express the difference between the retail prices of a representative basket of goods and services at a foreign location with prices for a similar basket of goods and services in Ottawa. Interested users should contact Statistics Canada to ensure the use of these indexes is appropriate for their needs. Customized indexes that reflect specific circumstances can be produced.

    Release date: 2003-05-01

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 62-557-X
    Description:

    This publication was prepared for the general public interested in obtaining a brief non-technical introduction the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It poses and answers some of the more frequently asked questions relating to the construction, interpretation and use of this index.

    Release date: 1998-04-01

  • Notices and consultations: 62-010-X19970023422
    Description:

    The current official time base of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 1986=100. This time base was first used when the CPI for June 1990 was released. Statistics Canada is about to convert all price index series to the time base 1992=100. As a result, all constant dollar series will be converted to 1992 dollars. The CPI will shift to the new time base when the CPI for January 1998 is released on February 27th, 1998.

    Release date: 1997-11-17

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 2301
    Description: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an indicator of changes in consumer prices experienced by Canadians. It is obtained by comparing, over time, the cost of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by consumers.

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 7522
    Description: This is non-Statistics Canada information.
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