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Why Elementary Price Index Number Formulas Differ: Price Dispersion and Product Heterogeneity

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  • Mick Silver
  • Saeed Heravi

Abstract

The Consumer Price Index Manual (2004) provides guidelines for aggregation formulas that are promulgated at IMF training courses and technical assistance missions. This paper develops elementary level aggregation theory to better inform users and compilers. Most countries use either the Dutot or Jevons index formula. These formulas generally give different results; advice on choice of formula matters. Using an approach based on sample estimators, and an illustration based on scanner data, the paper shows how differences in these formulas can be explained by changes in price dispersion and, in turn, by product heterogeneity. Implications for choice of formula are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Mick Silver & Saeed Heravi, 2006. "Why Elementary Price Index Number Formulas Differ: Price Dispersion and Product Heterogeneity," IMF Working Papers 2006/174, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2006/174
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Silver, Mick & Heravi, Saeed, 2005. "A Failure in the Measurement of Inflation: Results From a Hedonic and Matched Experiment Using Scanner Data," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 23, pages 269-281, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mick Silver, 2009. "The Hedonic Country Product Dummy Method and Quality Adjustments for Purchasing Power Parity Calculations," IMF Working Papers 2009/271, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Dogbe, Wisdom & Gil, José M., 2018. "Effectiveness of a carbon tax to promote a climate-friendly food consumption," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 235-246.
    3. Laczó, Ferenc, 2023. "Adalékok az inflációs folyamatok jobb megértéséhez [Additions to a better understanding of inflationary processes]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(6), pages 613-646.
    4. Dogbe, Wisdom & Gil, Jose M., 2020. "Internalizing the public cost of obesity in Spain: Distributional effects on nutrient intake," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 1352-1371.
    5. Carlo De Gregorio, 2012. "Sample size for the estimate of consumer price subindices with alternative statistical designs," Rivista di statistica ufficiale, ISTAT - Italian National Institute of Statistics - (Rome, ITALY), vol. 14(1), pages 19-47, October.
    6. Mick Silver, 2009. "An Index Number Formula Problem: The Aggregation of Broadly Comparable items," IMF Working Papers 2009/019, International Monetary Fund.

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