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Sources of Bias in Inflation Rates and Implications for Inflation Dynamics

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  • Lein, Sarah
  • Braun, Rahel

Abstract

Official statistics measuring the cost of living are known to suffer from several biases. This paper shows that the size of the biases can vary with economic conditions. Using homescan data, it is first confirmed that official price indexes can be tracked using such granular datasets. While the often-acknowledged substitution bias is shown to be relatively small, neglected preference adjustment and product entry/exit results in a 2.6 percentage point bias in the annual inflation rate on average. Furthermore, the bias is particularly large in the aftermath of a shock to relative prices, increasing to 3.7 percentage points.

Suggested Citation

  • Lein, Sarah & Braun, Rahel, 2021. "Sources of Bias in Inflation Rates and Implications for Inflation Dynamics," CEPR Discussion Papers 15663, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15663
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    Cited by:

    1. Carluccio, Juan & Gautier, Erwan & Guilloux-Nefussi, Sophie, 2023. "Dissecting the impact of imports from low-wage countries on inflation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Messner, Teresa & Rumler, Fabio, 2024. "Inflation heterogeneity across Austrian households. Evidence from household scanner data," Working Paper Series 2894, European Central Bank.
    3. Santiago E. Alvarez & Sarah M. Lein, 2020. "Tracking inflation on a daily basis," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 156(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. ABE, Naohito & Rao, D.S. Prasada, 2024. "On the Normalization Condition for Cost of Living Comparisons under Time-Varying Preferences," RCESR Discussion Paper Series DP24-1, Research Center for Economic and Social Risks, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Homescan data; Inflation measurement; Bias in inflation indexes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit
    • C3 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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