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1. Symbols
2. Note on CANSIM
3. This publication was prepared under the direction of:
4. Cover page designed by:
5. Note to users
6. Upcoming basket update
7. Note of appreciation
8. Standards of service to the public
9. Copyright

Symbols

The following standard symbols are used in Statistics Canada publications:

Note on CANSIM

Data that appears in the The Consumer Price Index (catalogue no. 62-001-X) are also available electronically, free of charge under the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement, in our CANSIM (Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System) database through the Internet, under tables 326-0009, 326-0012, 326-0015, 326-0020, 326-0021, 326-0022, 326-0023 and 326-0031. In general, CANSIM provides a longer historical series. For further information on CANSIM call 1-800-263-1136.

This publication was prepared under the direction of:

Cover page designed by:

Note to users

The Consumer Price Index is published monthly and is not subject to revisions.

Please note that the analytical text and charts previously found in this publication continue to be available in The Daily.

At the request of the Bank of Canada, Statistics Canada produces and publishes the Bank’s three preferred measures of core inflation: CPI-trim (trimmed mean), CPI-median (weighted median), and CPI-common (common component). As of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) release on December 22, 2016, the following changes were implemented in the publication:

1. The row titled “Bank of Canada’s core index” was deleted from Table 1 and Table 2.
2. The row titled “All-items excluding eight of the most volatile components (Bank of Canada definition)” was deleted from Table 2.
3. Table 6 was replaced with a new table on recent data for the Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation.
4. The subsection titled “Bank of Canada's core index” was removed from the Data quality, concepts and methodology section.

The existing measure of core inflation continues to be produced and published by Statistics Canada, but is no longer referred to as the Bank of Canada’s core index (CPIX). Instead, it is called “Consumer Price Index (CPI), all-items excluding eight of the most volatile components as defined by the Bank of Canada and excluding the effect of changes in indirect taxes”. The current vectors associated with this measure will be available in their current CANSIM tables (326-0020 and 326-0022) until March 2017. After that, these vectors will be moved and published in a new CANSIM table (326-0023) containing the Bank of Canada’s preferred measures of core inflation.

Methodology documents have been created to help data users understand the calculation of these preferred measures of core inflation:

1. Bank of Canada's Preferred Measures of Core Inflation – General Information Document
2. Consumer Price Index: The Bank of Canada's Preferred Measures of Core Inflation –Methodology Document

Upcoming basket update

Every two years, the expenditure weights for the basket of goods and services used in the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are updated based on new estimates from the Survey of Household Spending (SHS). On February 24, 2017, with the release of the January 2017 CPI, these expenditure weights will be updated with the 2015 SHS. This new weighting pattern will replace the current expenditure weights, which are based on the 2013 SHS. Table 326-0031, Basket Weights of the Consumer Price Index, will be updated with 2015 basket weight data on February 20, 2017.

The index base period, for which the CPI equals 100, will remain 2002.

There will be changes to the CANSIM tables as two published series will be terminated: "Rental of digital media" and "Other home entertainment equipment, parts and services." As a result, their assigned vectors within CANSIM tables 326-0020 and 326-0021 will no longer be updated.

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued cooperation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, Statistics Canada has developed standards of service that its employees observe.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada

© Minister of Industry, 2016

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open License Agreement.

December 2016

Catalogue no. 62-001-X, vol. 95, no. 11

ISSN 1496-2225

Frequency: Monthly

Ottawa

Consumer Prices Division