Methodology related to inflation and price indices

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Guidance and methodology information about ONS's prices statistics including Consumer Prices and Retail Prices Indices, Producer Price and Service Producer Price Indices.