Training Program

Compilers of consumer price indexes (CPIs), producer price indexes (PPIs), or export-import price indexes (XMPIs).

Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

This course, presented by the Statistics Department, is intended to broaden participants’ understanding of the concepts and methods of compiling CPIs, PPIs, and XMPIs. It provides an overview of the index number theory and its practical implications in terms of choosing the index number formula at lower and higher levels of aggregation. The course also covers methods for sampling and collecting data from outlets and establishments. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. The role of price indexes as deflators in the 2008 SNA is analyzed, as are related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. There are sessions on the following topics:

• methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing items; 
• adjusting prices for quality changes, including new products, establishments, and outlets; 
• chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and
• meeting data users’ needs to ensure relevancy.

The course follows the principles and recommended practices in the CPI (2004), PPI (2004), and XMPI (2009) manuals.