It is often argued that the recent shift towards evidence-based policy and the sector and product market monitoring exercise call for a new approach to price statistics that can be described as a "structural approach to prices".
In consequence, the European Statistical System (ESS) needs to go beyond serving the price statistics needs of national accounts, economic and monetary policy. This offers an opportunity to modernise current data collection practices by implementing a multipurpose data warehouse approach.
Recognising the need for more detailed price data, during 2009, Eurostat and the ESS decided to organise a Conference with a view to developing together a medium-term strategy for consumer prices. The strategy should take fully into account the increasing policy needs.
The aim of the Conference is to debate and agree the main points of the medium-term strategy for consumer prices for the period 2009-2012.
Organisation
Structure
Following the introductory speech by Ms. Marie Bohatá, four plenary sessions and a final round table are planned.
Each session will be opened by a brief introduction of the key issues that speakers will explore during the session itself. The session will end with questions from the floor and will be steered and concluded by the chair.
A final high level panel round will discuss the main messages of the four thematic sessions, and work out the key elements of the new strategy. The panel will be chaired by Mr Walter Radermacher.
Sessions 1 and 2:
Users' needs at EU and national level -- both established and emerging
What are the user needs for which price data are required? To what extent can these requirements be fulfilled by adapting existing statistical programmes (such as by producing more detailed price indices) and for which of these needs are new data collections required?
Session 3:
Statistical policy and measurement issues - Evidence from current work on detailed prices
What should be the statistical toolkit for policy makers?
Evidence from pilot work so far:
Pilot for measuring detailed prices from the HICP price observation process
Pilot for measuring detailed prices for centrally defined products across Member States
Pilot for measuring detailed prices from the PPP price observation process
The use of data sets on prices from third sources
Session 4:
Typology of needs and data requirements
The mid-term perspective:
How much can be achieved through making better use of existing data?
How much can be achieved through an increased integration of HICP and PPP data and methodologies?
and
Whether and where the current price collection should be supplemented by data taken from other sources.
An opportunity to modernise current data collection practices by implementing a multipurpose data warehouse approach.
Panel round:
A new business architecture for consumer price statistics
Conclusions - key elements of the new strategy:
Which is the best way to design a more comprehensive set of publications on consumer prices?
What is the use of detailed price level information and what can be the use of more detailed price indices?
Which are the best ways to collect any necessary new data?
The Conference will be held on 15 and 16 October 2009, Room M6, Jean Monnet Building (JMO), rue Alcide de Gasperi, Kirchberg, Luxembourg.
Participants:
Participation at the Conference is by invitation only.
The Conference will benefit from the exchange of views and experiences of a variety of users and producers of statistics and other key stakeholders, both at national and European level.
Conference language:
English.
Conference Chair:
Mr Peter Bekx, Director, Business Statistics, Eurostat
Panel chair:
Mr Walter Radermacher, Director General, Eurostat
Secretariat:
Mr Alexandre Makaronidis, Head of Unit, Price Statistics, Eurostat
For administrative/organisational queries, please contact:
Ms Teodora Mitrovska, Price Statistics; Purchasing Power Parities - Eurostat EUROSTAT G-6 Tel. (+352) 4301-31868 Fax (+352) 4301-33989 ESTAT-hicp-methods@ec.europa.eu
