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The responses of internet retail prices to aggregate shocks: A high-frequency approach

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  • Gorodnichenko, Yuriy
  • Sheremirov, Viacheslav
  • Talavera, Oleksandr

Abstract

Using a unique dataset of daily price listings and the associated number of clicks for precisely defined goods from a major shopping platform, we examine whether internet prices respond to aggregate shocks at a high frequency. We find little evidence that online prices respond promptly to unanticipated announcements about macroeconomic activity. Shopping activity also appears unresponsive to aggregate shocks, suggesting that internet retailers may follow individual demand for their products more closely than aggregate demand.

Suggested Citation

  • Gorodnichenko, Yuriy & Sheremirov, Viacheslav & Talavera, Oleksandr, 2018. "The responses of internet retail prices to aggregate shocks: A high-frequency approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 124-127.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:164:y:2018:i:c:p:124-127
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.01.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Bils & Peter J. Klenow, 2004. "Some Evidence on the Importance of Sticky Prices," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(5), pages 947-985, October.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Mućk, Jakub & Błażejowska, Aneta & Łapszys, Karolina & Szafranek, Karol, 2025. "On the effect of e-commerce’s spread on inflation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
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    6. Pascal Seiler & Barbara Rudolf, 2022. "Price Setting Before and During the Pandemic: Evidence from Swiss Consumer Prices," KOF Working papers 22-506, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich.
    7. Glocker, Christian & Piribauer, Philipp, 2021. "Digitalization, retail trade and monetary policy," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles

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