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

Release date: January 20, 2021
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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 December CPI were the same as those used in April through November.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 December data.


Table 1
Consumer Price Index product and outlet availability, field, scanner and web scraped data collection modes, December 2020 and December 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 , December, 2020 and 2019, calculated using % 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
December
2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
percent
Total 100.00 9.6 4.3 1.2 0.1 89.2 95.6
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 16.48 8.0 1.9 0.4 0.0 91.6 98.1
Shelter 27.36 6.1 4.2 0.2 0.0 93.6 95.8
Household operations, furnishings and equipment 12.80 11.3 5.6 0.3 0.0 88.4 94.4
Clothing and footwear 5.17 11.5 15.0 2.9 0.3 85.6 84.7
Transportation 19.95 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 99.9 100.0
Health and personal care 4.79 19.7 4.7 1.8 0.0 78.5 95.3
Recreation, education and reading 10.24 10.7 6.2 5.3 0.4 84.0 93.4
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis 3.21 8.6 3.6 6.2 0.0 85.2 96.4
Source: Consumer Prices program.

Table 2
Imputation donors for select products and services unavailable, or partially unavailable for consumption in October, November and December 2020Table 2 Note 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Imputation donors for select products and services unavailable Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%), Imputation donor and Affected geography, calculated using October 2020, November 2020 and December 2020 units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) Imputation donor Affected geography
October 2020
Transportation Air transportation 0.35 Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All
Recreation, education and reading  Recreational services 0.13 All-items All
Travel tours 1.21 All-items All
Spectator entertainment (excluding video and audio subscription services) 0.31 All-items All
Use of recreational facilities and services 0.08 All items Que., Parts of Ontario, including Ottawa and Toronto
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis  Beer served in licensed establishments 0.06 Beer purchased from stores Que.
Wine served in licensed establishments 0.03 Wine purchased from stores Que.
Liquor served in licensed establishments 0.01 Liquor purchased from stores Que.
November 2020
Transportation Air transportation 0.35 Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All
Recreation, education and reading  Recreational services 0.13 All-items All
Travel tours 1.21 All-items All
Spectator entertainment (excluding video and audio subscription services) 0.30 All-items All
Use of recreational facilities and services 0.08 All items Que., Parts of Ontario, including Toronto
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis  Beer served in licensed establishments 0.06 Beer purchased from stores Que.
Wine served in licensed establishments 0.03 Wine purchased from stores Que.
Liquor served in licensed establishments 0.01 Liquor purchased from stores Que.
December 2020
Transportation Air transportation 0.35 Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation All
Health and personal care Personal care services 0.20 All-items Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, Man., Iqaluit
Recreation, education and reading  Recreational services 0.13 All-items All
Travel tours 1.21 All-items All
Spectator entertainment (excluding video and audio subscription services) 0.33 All-items All
Use of recreational facilities and services 0.12 All items P.E.I., N.S., Que., Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, Man.
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis  Beer served in licensed establishments 0.15 Beer purchased from stores P.E.I., N.S., Que., Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, Man., Iqaluit
Wine served in licensed establishments 0.06 Wine purchased from stores P.E.I., N.S., Que., Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, Man., Iqaluit
Liquor served in licensed establishments 0.07 Liquor purchased from stores P.E.I., N.S., Que., Parts of Ontario, including Toronto, Man., Iqaluit
Note 1

Imputation treatments for the CPI in a given reference month are outlined in the technical supplements for April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November 2020

Return to note 1 referrer

Source: Consumer Prices program.

Table 3
CPI sub-components with an out-of-stock rate above 30%, December 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 (%)
Purchase of recreational vehicles and outboard motors 0.65
Eye care goods 0.32
Source: Consumer Prices program.

Additional 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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Catalogue no. 62F0014M

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