Prices Analytical Series
Technical Supplement for the August 2020 Consumer Price Index

Release date: September 16, 2020
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Beginning in April 2020, the collection and compilation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) have been impacted by measures designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, as in-person field collection was conducted remotely, and imputation strategies were required to address an increased number of temporary business closures and out-of-stock products. These strategies were implemented according to international guidelines, and following consultation with other national statistical organizations.

Where outlets remained temporarily closed, items were out of stock at a higher rate than usual or products and services remained unavailable for consumption, the imputation treatments for the August CPI were the same as those used in April, May, June and July.Note 

Tables reflecting product and outlet availability (Table 1), imputation donors for unavailable products and services (Table 2) and CPI sub-components with an out-of-stock rate above 30% (Table 3) have been updated to reflect August data.


Table 1
Consumer Price Index product and outlet availability, field, scanner and web scraped data collection modes, August 2020 and August 2019
Table summary
This table displays the results of Consumer Price Index product and outlet availability Basket weight at link month (%), Average rate of out of stock product offerings (%), Average rate of temporarily closed outlets (%), Average rate of prices received as scheduled (%) and August, calculated using 2020 and 2019 units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Basket weight at link month (%) Average rate of out of stock product offerings (%) Average rate of temporarily closed outlets (%) Average rate of prices received as scheduled (%)
August
2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
Total 100.00 10.7 5.1 1.2 0.2 88.1 94.7
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 16.48 8.5 1.7 0.3 0.0 91.2 98.3
Shelter 27.36 3.4 0.9 1.1 0.2 95.5 98.9
Household operations, furnishings and equipment 12.80 14.3 5.5 0.6 0.1 85.1 94.4
Clothing and footwear 5.17 12.4 18.3 4.5 0.6 83.1 81.1
Transportation 19.95 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0
Health and personal care 4.79 22.3 2.9 3.9 0.7 73.7 96.4
Recreation, education and reading 10.24 13.2 9.3 1.8 0.4 85.1 90.3
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis 3.21 8.9 3.6 0.8 0.2 90.3 96.2
Source: Consumer Prices program

Table 2
Imputation donors for select products and services unavailable, or partially unavailable for consumption in April, May, June, July and August 2020
Table summary
This table displays the results of Imputation donors for select products and services unavailable Transportation and Recreation, education and reading, calculated using Air transportation, Recreational services, Travel tours and Spectator entertainment (excluding video and audio subscription services) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Transportation Recreation, education and reading
Air transportation Recreational services Travel tours Spectator entertainment (excluding video and audio subscription services)
April 2020
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) 0.35 0.13 1.21 0.35
Imputation donor Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All-items All-items All-items
Affected geography All All All All
May 2020
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) 0.35 0.13 1.21 0.35
Imputation donor Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All-items All-items All-items
Affected geography All All All All
June 2020
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) 0.35 0.13 1.21 0.35
Imputation donor Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All-items All-items All-items
Affected geography All All All All
July 2020
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) 0.35 0.13 1.21 0.27
Imputation donor Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All-items All-items All-items
Affected geography All All All All
August 2020
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) 0.35 0.13 1.21 0.26
Imputation donor Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All-items All-items All-items
Affected geography All All All All
Source: Consumer Prices program.

Table 3
CPI sub-components with an out-of-stock rate above 30%, August 2020
Table summary
This table displays the results of CPI sub-components with an out-of-stock rate above 30%. The information is grouped by Sub-component (appearing as row headers), Basket weight at link month (%) (appearing as column headers).
Sub-component Basket weight at link month (%)
Non-prescribed medicines 0.46
Eye care goods 0.32
Source: Consumer Prices program.

Questions about how the CPI accounts for outlets remaining temporarily closed, items out of stock at a higher rate than usual, or products and services remaining unavailable for consumption due to COVID-19, can be directed to statcan.cpddisseminationunit-dpcunitedediffusion.statcan@canada.ca.



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ISSN: 1706-7723

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2020

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Catalogue no. 62F0014M

Frequency: Occasional

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