Prices Analytical Series
Technical Supplement for the January 2021 Consumer Price Index
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 January CPI were the same as those used since the onset of the pandemic.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 January data.
| 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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | |||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| percent | |||||||
| Total | 100.00 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 89.8 | 95.7 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 16.48 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 91.7 | 97.8 |
| Shelter | 27.36 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 95.3 | 99.0 |
| Household operations, furnishings and equipment | 12.80 | 9.1 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 89.8 | 97.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | 5.17 | 11.7 | 14.1 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 84.4 | 85.2 |
| Transportation | 19.95 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 97.4 | 98.8 |
| Health and personal care | 4.79 | 19.8 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 78.5 | 90.7 |
| Recreation, education and reading | 10.24 | 13.2 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 85.1 | 91.8 |
| Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis | 3.21 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 88.3 | 96.1 |
| Source: Consumer Prices program. | |||||||
| Affected sub-component basket weight at link month (%) | Imputation donor | Affected geography | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| January 2021 | ||||
| Transportation | Air transportation | 0.35 | Affected sub-components imputed from parent, air transportation | All |
| Health and personal care | Personal care services | 0.60 | All-items | Que., Ont., Man. |
| 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) | 0.35 | All-items | All | |
| Use of recreational facilities and services | 0.25 | All items | Que., Ont., Man., Alta. | |
| Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and recreational cannabis | Beer served in licensed establishments | 0.26 | Beer purchased from stores | Que., Ont., Man., Alta. |
| Wine served in licensed establishments | 0.10 | Wine purchased from stores | Que., Ont., Man., Alta. | |
| Liquor served in licensed establishments | 0.14 | Liquor purchased from stores | Que., Ont., Man., Alta. | |
| Source: Consumer Prices program. | ||||
| Sub-component | Basket weight at link month (%) |
|---|---|
| Purchase of recreational vehicles and outboard motors | 0.65 |
| Recreational cannabis | 0.53 |
| Eye care goods | 0.32 |
| Other recreational equipment | 0.11 |
| Other fresh or frozen poultry meat | 0.11 |
| 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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