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Inflation measurement with high frequency data

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin J. Fox

    (UNSW Sydney)

  • Peter Levell

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Martin O'Connell

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

The availability of large transaction level datasets, such as retail scanner data, provides a wealth of information on prices and quantities that national statistical institutes can use to produce more accurate, timely, measures of inflation. However, there is no universally agreed upon method for calculating price indexes with such high frequency data, reflecting a lack of systematic evidence on the performance of different approaches. We use a dataset that covers 178 product categories comprising all fast-moving consumer goods over 8 years to provide a systematic comparison of the leading bilateral and multilateral index number methods for computing month-to-month inflation.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin J. Fox & Peter Levell & Martin O'Connell, 2023. "Inflation measurement with high frequency data," IFS Working Papers W23/29, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:23/29
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ivancic, Lorraine & Erwin Diewert, W. & Fox, Kevin J., 2011. "Scanner data, time aggregation and the construction of price indexes," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 161(1), pages 24-35, March.
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    9. Diewert, W. E., 1976. "Exact and superlative index numbers," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 115-145, May.
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    16. W. Erwin Diewert & Kevin J. Fox, 2022. "Substitution Bias in Multilateral Methods for CPI Construction," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 355-369, January.
    17. Jaravel, Xavier & O'Connell, Martin, 2020. "Real-time price indices: Inflation spike and falling product variety during the Great Lockdown," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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