Methodology related to inflation and price indices

  • Users and uses of consumer price inflation statistics: October 2016

    Methodology | Released on 28 October 2016

    This article contains information about the users and uses of consumer price inflation statistics and user experiences of these statistics. In addition, it provides information on the characteristics of the different measures of consumer price inflation in relation to potential use, which may vary depending on the population of interest to the users and the way the indices are compiled. The last section covers the history of the indices. Users can use this information to help inform their own decision making in regards to which index is most suitable for their particular purpose.
  • Assessing the Impact of methodological improvements on the Consumer Prices Index

    Methodology | Released on 18 October 2016

    This paper sets out the impact of implementing two improvements in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI; the headline measure of inflation in the UK), CPI including owner-occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH), and their supplementary indices. These changes will not be applied to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). They are planned for March 2017. The first change is designed to improve the way that chain-linking is conducted, and is the result of an independent report on the double chain link; the second is the implementation of an additional level of detail (level 5, or ECOICOP) in the Classification Of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) structure. As the CPI is identical to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), these improvements will also help us to better meet EU regulations.

    Keywords: CPI, chain link, COICOP5 classification

  • Developing an Index of Household Payments

    Methodology | Released on 15 August 2016

    We have started to explore the concepts and feasibility of producing an index that measures changes to the cost of payments made by households. This paper aims to set out discussion points for the development of an "Index of Household Payments" and seeks feedback from users regarding their views on the required purpose and scope of the index, and its underlying methodology.
  • Services Producer Price Indices (SPPI) user guidance and methodology

    Methodology | Released on 25 May 2016

  • SPPI: Administrative Data Review for Real Estate Activities

    Methodology | Released on 25 May 2016

  • Imputing Web Scraped Prices

    Methodology | Released on 23 May 2016

    Investigates which method of imputation is the best method to deal with missing prices found in the ONS web scraped grocery prices data. Following a simulation study, it finds that carrying forward the previous price is the best method with respect to minimising imputation bias.

    Keywords: economy, weights, index, indices, scraping

  • Advisory panels on consumer prices

    Methodology | Released on 9 March 2016

    Advice to the National Statistician on the ‘Measuring Consumer Prices’ Consultation Response
  • Retail sales

    Methodology | Released on 10 February 2016

  • Prices - user guidance, methodology and developments

    Methodology | Released on 4 February 2016

    Guidance and methodology information about ONS's prices statistics including Consumer Prices and Retail Prices Indices, Producer Price and Service Producer Price Indices.
  • Consumer Prices Index (RPI) and Retail Prices Index (RPI), updating weights

    Methodology | Released on 1 February 2016