Kelly-Anne Kidston
From April 2020 to July 2020 there were difficulties with some of our collection activities. Approximately 80% of CPIH basket prices (45% weight) are typically physically collected in stores at 141 locations across the UK. In August 2020 however, price collectors were able resume complete or partial in-store collections at 128 locations. This was in accordance with the Consumer price statistics: resuming an area-based price collection article. The approach for resuming in-store collections was consistent with Eurostat advice, published in their Guidance note on Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) issues emerging from the lifting of lockdown measures (PDF, 388KB) 🙌 Where we were unable to collect prices locally, prices continued to be collected over the internet and by phone and email 🙈 [1]
There were some challenges in April and July with our collection activities. Approximately 80% (45% by weight), of CPIH basket price quotes are typically physically collected at stores in 141 UK locations. Our price collectors managed to resume partial or full in-store collections at 128 locations in August following our Consumer price statistics article: Resuming a field-based pricing collection article. Our price collectors managed to collect full collections at 127 locations, and part collections in 12 additional locations. Prices will be collected by telephone and email, as well as online, in areas where we cannot collect them locally. We will monitor local lockdowns closely and, when necessary, we will revert to online price collection. Eurostat’s Guidance Note on Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, (PDF, 388KB) outlined the procedure for resuming store collections. For their latest revisions, a huge thanks to Keoka Haywood (Likasi), Dr Congo. [2]
This article is based on a brand new article by ons.gov.ukThe 0.06 percentage point increase in prices was also due to food and beverages. In June and May this year, prices increased by 0.2%, while they fell 0.6% in the same time period last year. This category saw the greatest price rises in bread and cereals. However, prices for items like individual cakes and crumpets have fallen compared to last year. Price volatility has been evident in the bread- and cereals-class during both 2021’s early months and in the same time period in 2020. Prices fluctuated in all but one month in 2021. opposite direction to the ones in the exact same month last year. Last edited by Arlisha Corona, Seattle, United States. [3]
Base effects account for around 0.2 percent of the CPIH 12-month rate easing between June 2021 and July 2021. These include items made available in July 2020 after the expiration of COVID-19’s lockdown. At that point, 55 items were available. According to published methodology, the June 2020 items indices have had no effect on the overall index. In July 2020, the collected prices had an upward impact on the index from June to July 2020 and consequently a decrease on the 12-month rate change between June 2021 and July 2021. Craven Swartz (Krasnoyarsk) updated this index last 70 days. [4]
Article references
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/december2020
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/september2020
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/june2021
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/july2021
