A survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 found that 58 percent of respondents in India reported that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. By contrast, 49 percent of respondents mentioned that they were unable to save due to inflation.

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 in Singapore, about 76 percent of respondents aged 55 years and above stated that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. In comparison, 44 percent of respondents in the same age group reported that they were unable to save due to inflation.

In a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023, about 73 percent of female and male respondents in Singapore reported that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. By comparison, 48 percent of male respondents mentioned that they were unable to save due to inflation.

According to a survey by Rakuten Insight conducted in March 2023 on the impact of inflation on household expenses in South Korea, more than two thirds of all respondents answered that they felt the impact in paying for basic necessities with a respondent share of around 70 percent. More than half of the respondents were also affected by inflation when paying their utility bills.

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The HIECS 2008/2009 is the tenth Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey that was carried out in 2008/2009, among a long series of similar surveys that started back in 1955.

The survey main objectives are: - To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials. - To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands. - To measure mean household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. - To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. - To define mean household and per-capita income from different sources. - To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependant on the results of this survey. - To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. - To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. - To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income and expenditure for commodities and services. - To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. - To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. - To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its sources and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. - To identify the value of expenditure for food according to sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non food commodities and services. - To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ...) in urban and rural areas. - To identify the percentage distribution of income recipients according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

Compared to previous surveys, the current survey experienced certain peculiarities, among which: 1- Doubling the number of area segments from 1200 in the previous survey to 2526 segments with decreasing the number of households selected from each segment to be (20) households instead of (40) in the previous survey to ensure appropriate representatives in the society. 2- Changing the survey period to 15 days instead of one month in the previous one 200412005, to lighten the respondent burden and encourage more cooperation. 3- Adding some additional questions: a- Participation or the benefits gained from pension and social security system. b- Participation in health insurance system. 4- Increasing quality control Procedures especially for fieldwork to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS, 2008-2009 is a two-stage stratified cluster sample, approximately self-weighted, of nearly 48000 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size
It has been deemed important to retain the same sample size of the previous two HIECS rounds. Thus, a sample of about 48000 households has been considered. The justification of maintaining the sample size at this level is to have estimates with levels of precision similar to those of the previous two rounds: therefore trend analysis with the previous two surveys will not be distorted by substantial changes in sampling errors from round to another. In addition, this relatively large national sample implies proportional samples of reasonable sizes for smaller governorates. Nonetheless, over-sampling has been introduced to raise the sample size of small governorates to about 1000 households As a result, reasonably precise estimates could be extracted for those governorates. The over-sampling has resulted in a slight increase in the national sample to 48658 households.

2- Cluster size
An important lesson learned from the previous two HIECS rounds is that the cluster size applied in both surveys is found to be too large to yield an accepted design effect estimates. The cluster size was 40 households in the 2004-2005 round, descending from 80 households in the 1999-2000 round. The estimates of the design effect (deft) for most survey measures of the latest round were extraordinary large. As a result, it has been decided to decrease the cluster size to only 19 households (20 households in urban governorates to account for anticipated non-response in those governorates: in view of past experience non-response is almost nil in rural governorates).

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among the documentation materials published in both Arabic and English.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following: 1- Expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- Diary questionnaire for expenditure and consumption. 3- Income questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire

This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information. It includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 18 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 15 questions. - Means of transportation used to go to work or school. - The household possession of appliances and means of transportation. - This section includes some questions which help to define the social and economic level of households which in turn, help interviewers to check the plausibility of expenditure, consumption and income data.

Section two: Expenditure and consumption data It includes 14 tables as follows: - The quantity and value of food and beverages commodities actually consumed. - The quantity and value of the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics. - The quantity and value of the clothing and footwear. - The household expenditure for housing. - The household expenditure for furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house. - The household expenditure for health care services. - The household expenditure for transportation. - The household

Abstract

The Consumer price surveys primarily provide the following: Data on CPI in Palestine covering the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem J1 for major and sub groups of expenditure. Statistics needed for decision-makers, planners and those who are interested in the national economy. Contribution to the preparation of quarterly and annual national accounts data.

Consumer Prices and indices are used for a wide range of purposes, the most important of which are as follows: Adjustment of wages, government subsidies and social security benefits to compensate in part or in full for the changes in living costs. To provide an index to measure the price inflation of the entire household sector, which is used to eliminate the inflation impact of the components of the final consumption expenditure of households in national accounts and to dispose of the impact of price changes from income and national groups. Price index numbers are widely used to measure inflation rates and economic recession. Price indices are used by the public as a guide for the family with regard to its budget and its constituent items. Price indices are used to monitor changes in the prices of the goods traded in the market and the consequent position of price trends, market conditions and living costs. However, the price index does not reflect other factors affecting the cost of living, e.g. the quality and quantity of purchased goods. Therefore, it is only one of many indicators used to assess living costs. It is used as a direct method to identify the purchasing power of money, where the purchasing power of money is inversely proportional to the price index.

Geographic coverage

Palestine West Bank Gaza Strip Jerusalem

Analysis unit

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Universe

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A non-probability purposive sample of sources from which the prices of different goods and services are collected was updated based on the establishment census 2017, in a manner that achieves full coverage of all goods and services that fall within the Palestinian consumer system. These sources were selected based on the availability of the goods within them. It is worth mentioning that the sample of sources was selected from the main cities inside Palestine: Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqiliya, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Gaza, Jabalia, Dier Al-Balah, Nusseirat, Khan Yunis and Rafah. The selection of these sources was considered to be representative of the variation that can occur in the prices collected from the various sources. The number of goods and services included in the CPI is approximately 730 commodities, whose prices were collected from 3,200 sources. (COICOP) classification is used for consumer data as recommended by the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA-2008).

Sampling deviation

Not apply

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

A tablet-supported electronic form was designed for price surveys to be used by the field teams in collecting data from different governorates, with the exception of Jerusalem J1. The electronic form is supported with GIS, and GPS mapping technique that allow the field workers to locate the outlets exactly on the map and the administrative staff to manage the field remotely. The electronic questionnaire is divided into a number of screens, namely: First screen: shows the metadata for the data source, governorate name, governorate code, source code, source name, full source address, and phone number. Second screen: shows the source interview result, which is either completed, temporarily paused or permanently closed. It also shows the change activity as incomplete or rejected with the explanation for the reason of rejection. Third screen: shows the item code, item name, item unit, item price, product availability, and reason for unavailability. Fourth screen: checks the price data of the related source and verifies their validity through the auditing rules, which was designed specifically for the price programs. Fifth screen: saves and sends data through (VPN-Connection) and (WI-FI technology).

In case of the Jerusalem J1 Governorate, a paper form has been designed to collect the price data so that the form in the top part contains the metadata of the data source and in the lower section contains the price data for the source collected. After that, the data are entered into the price program database.

Cleaning operations

The price survey forms were already encoded by the project management depending on the specific international statistical classification of each survey. After the researcher collected the price data and sent them electronically, the data was reviewed and audited by the project management. Achievement reports were reviewed on a daily and weekly basis. Also, the detailed price reports at data source levels were checked and reviewed on a daily basis by the project management. If there were any notes, the researcher was consulted in order to verify the data and call the owner in order to correct or confirm the information.

At the end of the data collection process in all governorates, the data will be edited using the following process: Logical revision of prices by comparing the prices of goods and services with others from different sources and other governorates. Whenever a mistake is detected, it should be returned to the field for correction. Mathematical revision of the average prices for items in governorates and the general average in all governorates. Field revision of prices through selecting a sample of the prices collected from the items.

Response rate

Not apply

Sampling error estimates

The findings of the survey may be affected by sampling errors due to the use of samples in conducting the survey rather than total enumeration of the units of the target population, which increases the chances of variances between the actual values we expect to obtain from the data if we had conducted the survey using total enumeration. The computation of differences between the most important key goods showed that the variation of these goods differs due to the specialty of each survey. For example, for the CPI, the variation between its goods was very low, except in some cases such as banana, tomato, and cucumber goods that had a high coefficient of variation during 2019 due to the high oscillation in their prices. The variance of the key goods in the computed and disseminated CPI survey that was carried out on the Palestine level was for reasons related to sample design and variance calculation of different indicators since there was a difficulty in the dissemination of results by governorates due to lack of weights. Non-sampling errors are probable at all stages of data collection or data entry. Non-sampling errors include: Non-response errors: the selected sources demonstrated a significant cooperation with interviewers; so, there wasn't any case of non-response reported during 2019. Response errors (respondent), interviewing errors (interviewer), and data entry errors: to avoid these types of errors and reduce their effect to a minimum, project managers adopted a number of procedures, including the following: More than one visit was made to every source to explain the objectives of the survey and emphasize the confidentiality of the data. The visits to data sources contributed to empowering relations, cooperation, and the verification of data accuracy. Interviewer errors: a number of procedures were taken to ensure data accuracy throughout the process of field data compilation: Interviewers were selected based on educational qualification, competence, and assessment. Interviewers were trained theoretically and practically on the questionnaire. Meetings were held to remind interviewers of instructions. In addition, explanatory notes were supplied with the surveys. A number of procedures were taken to verify data quality and consistency and ensure data accuracy for the data collected by a questioner throughout processing and data entry (knowing that data collected through paper questionnaires did not exceed 5%): Data entry staff was selected from among specialists in computer programming and were fully trained on the entry programs. Data verification was carried out for 10% of the entered questionnaires to ensure that data entry staff had entered data correctly and in accordance with the provisions of the questionnaire. The result of the verification was consistent with the original data to a degree of 100%. The files of the entered data were received, examined, and reviewed by project managers before findings were extracted. Project managers carried out many checks on data logic and coherence, such as comparing the data of the current month with that of the previous month, and comparing the data of sources and between governorates. Data collected by tablet devices were checked for consistency and accuracy by applying rules at item level to be checked.

Data appraisal

Other technical procedures to improve data quality: Seasonal adjustment processes

Purpose and brief description The consumer price index is an economic indicator whose main task is to objectively reflect the price evolution over time for a basket of goods and services purchased by households and considered representative of their consumer habits. The index does not necessarily measure the price level of this basket for a specific period of time, but rather the fluctuation between two periods, the first one acting as basis for comparison. Moreover, this difference in the price level is not measured in absolute, but in relative terms. The consumer price index can be determined as a hundred times the ratio between the observed prices of a range of goods and services at a given time and the prices of the same goods and services, observed under the same circumstances during the reference period, chosen as basis for comparison. Price observations always take place in the same regions. Since 2014, the consumer price index has been a chain index in which the weighting reference period is regularly shifted and prices and quantities are no longer compared between the current period and a fixed reference period, but the current period is compared with an intermediate period. By multiplying these short-term indices, and so creating a chain, we get a long-term series with a fixed reference period. Population Belgian private households Data collection method and possible sampling Survey technique applied using a computer, based on the use of electronic questionnaires and laptops. Frequency Monthly. Timing of publication The results are available on the penultimate working day of the reference period. Definitions Weight (CPI): The weight represents the importance of the goods and services included in the CPI in the total expenditure patterns of the households. Weights are determined based on the household budget survey. Consumer price index (CPI): The consumer price index is an economic indicator whose main task is to objectively reflect the price evolution over time for a basket of goods and services purchased by households and considered representative of their consumer habits. Health index: The health index is derived from the consumer price index and has been published since January 1994. The current value of this index is determined by removing a number of products from the consumer price index product basket, in particular alcoholic beverages (bought in a shop or consumed in a bar), tobacco products and motor fuels except for LPG. Inflation: Inflation is defined as the ratio between the value of the consumer price index of a given month and the index of the same month the year before. Therefore, inflation measures the rhythm of the evolution of the overall price level. Consumer price index without petroleum products: This index is calculated by removing the following products from the consumer price index: butane, propane, liquid fuels and motor fuels. Consumer price index without energy products: This index is calculated by removing the following products from the consumer price index: electricity, natural gas, butane, propane, liquid fuels, solid fuels and motor fuels. Smoothed index: The smoothed health index, also called smoothed index (the average value of the health indexes of the last 4 months) is used as a basis for the indexation of retirement pensions, social security benefits and some salaries and wages. Public wages and social benefits are indexed as soon as the smoothed index reaches a given value, called the central index. The smoothed index is also called moving average. In order to perform a 2% index jump (laid down in the Law of 23 April 2015 on employment promotion), the smoothed health index has been temporarily blocked at its value of March 2015 (100.66). The smoothed health index was then reduced by 2% from April 2015. When the reduced smoothed health index (also called the reference index) had increased again by 2% or in other words when it had exceeded the value of 100.66, the index was no longer blocked. It occurred in April 2016. Since April 2016 the smoothed health index is calculated in the same manner as the reference index and therefore corresponds to the arithmetical mean of the health indexes of the last 4 months multiplied by a factor of 0.98. The central index is a predetermined threshold value against which the smoothed health index is compared. If the central index is reached or exceeded, there is an indexation of the wages and salaries or benefits. This indexation is proportional to the percentage between the old and the new central index. For the public sector and social benefits, the difference between the central indices always amounts to 2 %. Therefore, a 2 % indexation is applied every time the central index is reached. There are also collective labour agreements according to which the difference between the central indices amounts to 1 % or 1.5 %. The reaching of a central index then leads to an indexation of 1 % or 1,5 %. See also: https://bosa.belgium.

Abstract

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The first survey that covered all the country governorates was carried out in 1958/1959 followed by a long series of similar surveys. The current survey, HIECS 2012/2013, is the eleventh in this long series.

Starting 2008/2009, Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys were conducted each two years instead of five years. This would enable better tracking of the rapid changes in the level of the living standards of the Egyptian households.

CAPMAS started in 2010/2011 to follow a panel sample of around 40% of the total household sample size. The current survey is the second one to follow a panel sample. This procedure will provide the necessary data to extract accurate indicators on the status of the society. The CAPMAS also is pleased to disseminate the results of this survey to policy makers, researchers and scholarly to help in policy making and conducting development related researches and studies

The survey main objectives are: - To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials. - To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. - To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period. - To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. - To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands. - To define average household and per-capita income from different sources. - To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey. - To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. - To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. - To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income. - To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. - To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. - To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. - To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services. - To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index. - To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household. - To provide a time series of the most important data related to dominant standard of living from economic and social perspective. This will enable conducting comparisons based on the results of these time series. In addition to, the possibility of performing geographical comparisons.

Compared to previous surveys, the current survey experienced certain peculiarities, among which : 1) The total sample of the current survey (24.9 thousand households) is divided into two sections: a - A new sample of 16.1 thousand households. This sample was used to study the geographic differences between urban governorates, urban and rural areas, and frontier governorates as well as other discrepancies related to households characteristics and household size, head of the household's education status, ....... etc.

b - A panel sample of 2008/2009 survey data of around 8.8 thousand households were selected to accurately study the changes that may have occurred in the households' living standards over the period between the two surveys and over time in the future since CAPMAS will continue to collect panel data for HIECS in the coming years.

2) Some additional questions that showed to be important based on previous surveys results, were added to the survey questionnaire, such as: a - The extent of health services provided to monitor the level of services available in the Egyptian society. By collecting information on the in-kind transfers, the household received during the year; in order to monitor the assistance the household received from different sources government, association,..etc. b - Identifying the main outlet of fabrics, clothes and footwear to determine the level of living standards of the household.

3) Quality control procedures especially for fieldwork are increased, to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time, as well as taking all the necessary measures to guarantee that mistakes are not repeated, with the application of the principle of reward and punishment.

Geographic coverage

National coverage, covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

• Household/family
• Individual/person

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sample of HIECS 2012/2013 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample, of around 24.9 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

Sample Size The sample has been proportionally distributed on the governorate level between urban and rural areas, in order to make the sample representative even for small governorates. Thus, a sample of about 24863 households has been considered, and was distributed between urban and rural with the percentages of 45.4 % and 54.6, respectively. This sample is divided into two parts: a) A new sample of 16094 households selected from main enumeration areas. b) A panel sample of 8769 households (selected from HIECS 2010/2011 and the preceding survey in 2008/2009).

Cluster Size The cluster size in the previous survey has been decreased compared to older surveys since large cluster sizes previously used were found to be too large to yield accepted design effect estimates (DEFT). As a result, it has been decided to use a cluster size of only 8 households (In HIECS 2011/2012 a cluster size of 16 households was used). While the cluster size for the panel sample was 4 households.

Core Sample The core sample is the master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample and distributed on urban and rural areas of all governorates. It is a representative sample for the individual characteristics of the Egyptian society. This sample was implemented in January 2012 and its size reached more than 1 million household (1004800 household) selected from 5024 enumeration areas distributed on all governorates (urban/rural) proportionally with the sample size (the enumeration area size is around 200 households). The core sample is the sampling frame from which the samples for the surveys conducted by CAPMAS are pulled, such as the Labor Force Surveys, Income, Expenditure And Consumption Survey, Household Urban Migration Survey, ...etc, in addition to other samples that may be required for outsources.

New Households Sample 1000 sample areas were selected across all governorates (urban/rural) using a proportional technique with the sample size. The number required for each governorate (urban/rural) was selected from the enumeration areas of the core sample using a systematic sampling technique.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among external resources in Arabic.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following: 1) Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire. 2) Diary Questionnaire (Assisting questionnaire). 3) Income Questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of

A survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 found that 74 percent of respondents in Hong Kong reported that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. Meanwhile, 44 percent of respondents mentioned that they were unable to save due to inflation.

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The First Survey that covered all the country governorates was carried out in 1958/1959 followed by a long series of similar surveys. The current survey, HIECS 2015, is the twelfth in this long series. Starting 2008/2009, Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys were conducted each two years instead of five years. this would enable better tracking of the rapid changes in the level of the living standards of the Egyptian households.

CAPMAS started in 2010/2011 to follow a panel sample of around 40% of the total household sample size. The current survey is the second one to follow a panel sample. This procedure will provide the necessary data to extract accurate indicators on the status of the society. The CAPMAS also is pleased to disseminate the results of this survey to policy makers, researchers and scholarly to help in policy making and conducting development related researches and studies

The survey main objectives are:

• To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials.

• To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates.

• To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period.

• To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation.

• To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands.

• To define average household and per-capita income from different sources.

• To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey.

• To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas.

• To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure.

• To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income.

• To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables.

• To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas.

• To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas.

• To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services.

• To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index.

• To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

• To provide a time series of the most important data related to dominant standard of living from economic and social perspective. This will enable conducting comparisons based on the results of these time series. In addition to, the possibility of performing geographical comparisons.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS 2015 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size The sample size is around 25 thousand households. It was distributed between urban and rural with the percentages of 45% and 55%, respectively.

2- Cluster size The cluster size is 10 households in most governorates. It reached 20 households in Port-Said, Suez, Ismailiya, Damietta, Aswan and Frontier governorates, since the sample size in those governorates is smaller compared to others.

3- Sample allocation in different governorates 45% of the survey sample was allocated to urban areas (11260 households) and the other 55% was allocated to rural areas (13740 households). The sample was distributed on urban/rural areas in different governorates proportionally with the household size A sample size of a minimum of 1000 households was allocated to each governorate to ensure accuracy of poverty indicators. Therefore, the sample size was increased in Port-Said, Suez, Ismailiya, kafr el-Sheikh, Damietta, Bani Suef, Fayoum, Qena, Luxor and Aswan, by compensation from other governorates where the sample size exceeds a 1000 households. All Frontier governorates were considered as one governorate.

4- Core Sample The core sample is the master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample and distributed on urban and rural areas of all governorates. It is a representative sample for the individual characteristics of the Egyptian society. This sample was implemented in January 2010 and its size reached more than 1 million household selected from 5024 enumeration areas distributed on all governorates (urban/rural) proportionally with the sample size (the enumeration area size is around 200 households). The core sample is the sampling frame from which the samples for the surveys conducted by CAPMAS are pulled, such as the Labor Force Surveys, Income, Expenditure And Consumption Survey, Household Urban Migration Survey, ...etc, in addition to other samples that may be required for outsources.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among external resources in Arabic.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire. 2- Assisting questionnaire. 3- Income Questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

----> 1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information, it includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 25 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 16 questions. - Household ownership of means of transportation, communication and domestic appliances. - Date of purchase, status at purchase, purchase value and

Abstract

The Consumer price surveys primarily provide the following: Data on CPI in Palestine covering the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem J1 for major and sub groups of expenditure. Statistics needed for decision-makers, planners and those who are interested in the national economy. Contribution to the preparation of quarterly and annual national accounts data.

Consumer Prices and indices are used for a wide range of purposes, the most important of which are as follows: Adjustment of wages, government subsidies and social security benefits to compensate in part or in full for the changes in living costs. To provide an index to measure the price inflation of the entire household sector, which is used to eliminate the inflation impact of the components of the final consumption expenditure of households in national accounts and to dispose of the impact of price changes from income and national groups. Price index numbers are widely used to measure inflation rates and economic recession. Price indices are used by the public as a guide for the family with regard to its budget and its constituent items. Price indices are used to monitor changes in the prices of the goods traded in the market and the consequent position of price trends, market conditions and living costs. However, the price index does not reflect other factors affecting the cost of living, e.g. the quality and quantity of purchased goods. Therefore, it is only one of many indicators used to assess living costs. It is used as a direct method to identify the purchasing power of money, where the purchasing power of money is inversely proportional to the price index.

Geographic coverage

Palestine West Bank Gaza Strip Jerusalem

Analysis unit

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Universe

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A non-probability purposive sample of sources from which the prices of different goods and services are collected was updated based on the establishment census 2017, in a manner that achieves full coverage of all goods and services that fall within the Palestinian consumer system. These sources were selected based on the availability of the goods within them. It is worth mentioning that the sample of sources was selected from the main cities inside Palestine: Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqiliya, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Gaza, Jabalia, Dier Al-Balah, Nusseirat, Khan Yunis and Rafah. The selection of these sources was considered to be representative of the variation that can occur in the prices collected from the various sources. The number of goods and services included in the CPI is approximately 730 commodities, whose prices were collected from 3,200 sources. (COICOP) classification is used for consumer data as recommended by the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA-2008).

Sampling deviation

Not apply

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

A tablet-supported electronic form was designed for price surveys to be used by the field teams in collecting data from different governorates, with the exception of Jerusalem J1. The electronic form is supported with GIS, and GPS mapping technique that allow the field workers to locate the outlets exactly on the map and the administrative staff to manage the field remotely. The electronic questionnaire is divided into a number of screens, namely: First screen: shows the metadata for the data source, governorate name, governorate code, source code, source name, full source address, and phone number. Second screen: shows the source interview result, which is either completed, temporarily paused or permanently closed. It also shows the change activity as incomplete or rejected with the explanation for the reason of rejection. Third screen: shows the item code, item name, item unit, item price, product availability, and reason for unavailability. Fourth screen: checks the price data of the related source and verifies their validity through the auditing rules, which was designed specifically for the price programs. Fifth screen: saves and sends data through (VPN-Connection) and (WI-FI technology).

In case of the Jerusalem J1 Governorate, a paper form has been designed to collect the price data so that the form in the top part contains the metadata of the data source and in the lower section contains the price data for the source collected. After that, the data are entered into the price program database.

Cleaning operations

The price survey forms were already encoded by the project management depending on the specific international statistical classification of each survey. After the researcher collected the price data and sent them electronically, the data was reviewed and audited by the project management. Achievement reports were reviewed on a daily and weekly basis. Also, the detailed price reports at data source levels were checked and reviewed on a daily basis by the project management. If there were any notes, the researcher was consulted in order to verify the data and call the owner in order to correct or confirm the information.

At the end of the data collection process in all governorates, the data will be edited using the following process: Logical revision of prices by comparing the prices of goods and services with others from different sources and other governorates. Whenever a mistake is detected, it should be returned to the field for correction. Mathematical revision of the average prices for items in governorates and the general average in all governorates. Field revision of prices through selecting a sample of the prices collected from the items.

Response rate

Not apply

Sampling error estimates

The findings of the survey may be affected by sampling errors due to the use of samples in conducting the survey rather than total enumeration of the units of the target population, which increases the chances of variances between the actual values we expect to obtain from the data if we had conducted the survey using total enumeration. The computation of differences between the most important key goods showed that the variation of these goods differs due to the specialty of each survey. For example, for the CPI, the variation between its goods was very low, except in some cases such as banana, tomato, and cucumber goods that had a high coefficient of variation during 2019 due to the high oscillation in their prices. The variance of the key goods in the computed and disseminated CPI survey that was carried out on the Palestine level was for reasons related to sample design and variance calculation of different indicators since there was a difficulty in the dissemination of results by governorates due to lack of weights. Non-sampling errors are probable at all stages of data collection or data entry. Non-sampling errors include: Non-response errors: the selected sources demonstrated a significant cooperation with interviewers; so, there wasn't any case of non-response reported during 2019. Response errors (respondent), interviewing errors (interviewer), and data entry errors: to avoid these types of errors and reduce their effect to a minimum, project managers adopted a number of procedures, including the following: More than one visit was made to every source to explain the objectives of the survey and emphasize the confidentiality of the data. The visits to data sources contributed to empowering relations, cooperation, and the verification of data accuracy. Interviewer errors: a number of procedures were taken to ensure data accuracy throughout the process of field data compilation: Interviewers were selected based on educational qualification, competence, and assessment. Interviewers were trained theoretically and practically on the questionnaire. Meetings were held to remind interviewers of instructions. In addition, explanatory notes were supplied with the surveys. A number of procedures were taken to verify data quality and consistency and ensure data accuracy for the data collected by a questioner throughout processing and data entry (knowing that data collected through paper questionnaires did not exceed 5%): Data entry staff was selected from among specialists in computer programming and were fully trained on the entry programs. Data verification was carried out for 10% of the entered questionnaires to ensure that data entry staff had entered data correctly and in accordance with the provisions of the questionnaire. The result of the verification was consistent with the original data to a degree of 100%. The files of the entered data were received, examined, and reviewed by project managers before findings were extracted. Project managers carried out many checks on data logic and coherence, such as comparing the data of the current month with that of the previous month, and comparing the data of sources and between governorates. Data collected by tablet devices were checked for consistency and accuracy by applying rules at item level to be checked.

Data appraisal

Other technical procedures to improve data quality: Seasonal adjustment processes

Abstract

The Consumer price surveys primarily provide the following: Data on CPI in Palestine covering the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem J1 for major and sub groups of expenditure. Statistics needed for decision-makers, planners and those who are interested in the national economy. Contribution to the preparation of quarterly and annual national accounts data.

Consumer Prices and indices are used for a wide range of purposes, the most important of which are as follows: Adjustment of wages, government subsidies and social security benefits to compensate in part or in full for the changes in living costs. To provide an index to measure the price inflation of the entire household sector, which is used to eliminate the inflation impact of the components of the final consumption expenditure of households in national accounts and to dispose of the impact of price changes from income and national groups. Price index numbers are widely used to measure inflation rates and economic recession. Price indices are used by the public as a guide for the family with regard to its budget and its constituent items. Price indices are used to monitor changes in the prices of the goods traded in the market and the consequent position of price trends, market conditions and living costs. However, the price index does not reflect other factors affecting the cost of living, e.g. the quality and quantity of purchased goods. Therefore, it is only one of many indicators used to assess living costs. It is used as a direct method to identify the purchasing power of money, where the purchasing power of money is inversely proportional to the price index.

Geographic coverage

Palestine West Bank Gaza Strip Jerusalem

Analysis unit

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Universe

The target population for the CPI survey is the shops and retail markets such as grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants, public service institutions, private schools and doctors.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A non-probability purposive sample of sources from which the prices of different goods and services are collected was updated based on the establishment census 2017, in a manner that achieves full coverage of all goods and services that fall within the Palestinian consumer system. These sources were selected based on the availability of the goods within them. It is worth mentioning that the sample of sources was selected from the main cities inside Palestine: Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqiliya, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Gaza, Jabalia, Dier Al-Balah, Nusseirat, Khan Yunis and Rafah. The selection of these sources was considered to be representative of the variation that can occur in the prices collected from the various sources. The number of goods and services included in the CPI is approximately 730 commodities, whose prices were collected from 3,200 sources. (COICOP) classification is used for consumer data as recommended by the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA-2008).

Sampling deviation

Not apply

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

A tablet-supported electronic form was designed for price surveys to be used by the field teams in collecting data from different governorates, with the exception of Jerusalem J1. The electronic form is supported with GIS, and GPS mapping technique that allow the field workers to locate the outlets exactly on the map and the administrative staff to manage the field remotely. The electronic questionnaire is divided into a number of screens, namely: First screen: shows the metadata for the data source, governorate name, governorate code, source code, source name, full source address, and phone number. Second screen: shows the source interview result, which is either completed, temporarily paused or permanently closed. It also shows the change activity as incomplete or rejected with the explanation for the reason of rejection. Third screen: shows the item code, item name, item unit, item price, product availability, and reason for unavailability. Fourth screen: checks the price data of the related source and verifies their validity through the auditing rules, which was designed specifically for the price programs. Fifth screen: saves and sends data through (VPN-Connection) and (WI-FI technology).

In case of the Jerusalem J1 Governorate, a paper form has been designed to collect the price data so that the form in the top part contains the metadata of the data source and in the lower section contains the price data for the source collected. After that, the data are entered into the price program database.

Cleaning operations

The price survey forms were already encoded by the project management depending on the specific international statistical classification of each survey. After the researcher collected the price data and sent them electronically, the data was reviewed and audited by the project management. Achievement reports were reviewed on a daily and weekly basis. Also, the detailed price reports at data source levels were checked and reviewed on a daily basis by the project management. If there were any notes, the researcher was consulted in order to verify the data and call the owner in order to correct or confirm the information.

At the end of the data collection process in all governorates, the data will be edited using the following process: Logical revision of prices by comparing the prices of goods and services with others from different sources and other governorates. Whenever a mistake is detected, it should be returned to the field for correction. Mathematical revision of the average prices for items in governorates and the general average in all governorates. Field revision of prices through selecting a sample of the prices collected from the items.

Response rate

Not apply

Sampling error estimates

The findings of the survey may be affected by sampling errors due to the use of samples in conducting the survey rather than total enumeration of the units of the target population, which increases the chances of variances between the actual values we expect to obtain from the data if we had conducted the survey using total enumeration. The computation of differences between the most important key goods showed that the variation of these goods differs due to the specialty of each survey. The variance of the key goods in the computed and disseminated CPI survey that was carried out on the Palestine level was for reasons related to sample design and variance calculation of different indicators since there was a difficulty in the dissemination of results by governorates due to lack of weights. Non-sampling errors are probable at all stages of data collection or data entry. Non-sampling errors include: Non-response errors: the selected sources demonstrated a significant cooperation with interviewers; so, there wasn't any case of non-response reported during 2019. Response errors (respondent), interviewing errors (interviewer), and data entry errors: to avoid these types of errors and reduce their effect to a minimum, project managers adopted a number of procedures, including the following: More than one visit was made to every source to explain the objectives of the survey and emphasize the confidentiality of the data. The visits to data sources contributed to empowering relations, cooperation, and the verification of data accuracy. Interviewer errors: a number of procedures were taken to ensure data accuracy throughout the process of field data compilation: Interviewers were selected based on educational qualification, competence, and assessment. Interviewers were trained theoretically and practically on the questionnaire. Meetings were held to remind interviewers of instructions. In addition, explanatory notes were supplied with the surveys. A number of procedures were taken to verify data quality and consistency and ensure data accuracy for the data collected by a questioner throughout processing and data entry (knowing that data collected through paper questionnaires did not exceed 5%): Data entry staff was selected from among specialists in computer programming and were fully trained on the entry programs. Data verification was carried out for 10% of the entered questionnaires to ensure that data entry staff had entered data correctly and in accordance with the provisions of the questionnaire. The result of the verification was consistent with the original data to a degree of 100%. The files of the entered data were received, examined, and reviewed by project managers before findings were extracted. Project managers carried out many checks on data logic and coherence, such as comparing the data of the current month with that of the previous month, and comparing the data of sources and between governorates. Data collected by tablet devices were checked for consistency and accuracy by applying rules at item level to be checked.

Data appraisal

Other technical procedures to improve data quality: Seasonal adjustment processes and estimations of non-available items' prices: Under each category, a number of common items are used in Palestine to calculate the price levels and to represent the commodity within the commodity group. Of course, it is

Abstract

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The survey's main objectives are: - To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials. - To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. - To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period. - To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. - To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands. - To define average household and per-capita income from different sources. - To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey. - To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. - To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. - To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income. - To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. - To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. - To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. - To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services. - To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index. - To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sample of HIECS 2010/2011 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample of around 26500 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described below.

• Sample Size : It was deemed important to collect a smaller sample size (around 26.5 thousand households) compared to previous rounds due to the convergence in the time period over which the survey is conducted to be every two years instead of five years because of its importance. The sample was proportionally distributed on the governorate level between urban and rural areas, in order to make the sample representative even for small governorates.

• Cluster size : The cluster size was decreased compared to older surveys since large cluster sizes previously used were found to be too large to yield accepted design effect estimates (DEFT). As a result, a cluster size of only 16 households was used (that was increased to 18 households in urban governorates and Giza, in addition to urban areas in Helwan and 6th of October, to account for anticipated non-response in those governorates: in view of past experience indicating that non-response may almost be nil in rural governorates). While the cluster size for the panel sample was 4 households.

• Core Sample: The master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample(1004800 household) that is distributed across urban and rural areas of all governorates.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document that is provided as an external resources in both Arabic and English.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires were used: 1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire: This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household. 2- Diary Questionnaire (Assisting questionnaire): This questionnaire was prepared to help households record - on a daily basis- the quantity and value of food and beverages consumed during the reference period (15 days). 3- Income Questionnaire: This questionnaire consists of several tables; each designated to a specific income source.

Cleaning operations

The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to clean and harmonize the datasets.

Response rate

For the total sample, the response rate was 93.0% (91.2% in urban areas and 95.6% in rural areas).

Sampling error estimates

The sampling error of major survey estimates has been derived using the Ultimate Cluster Method as applied in the CENVAR Module of the Integrated Microcomputer Processing System (IMPS) Package. In addition to the estimate of sampling error, the output includes estimates of coefficient of variation, design effect (DEFF) and 95% confidence intervals.

Data appraisal

Quality Control Procedures included: 1) Procedures implemented by the survey division a - Applying the recent international recommendations of different concepts and definitions of income and expenditure considering maintaining the consistency with the previous surveys in order to compare and study the changes in pertinent indicators. b - Evaluating the quality of data in all different Implementation stages to avoid or minimize errors to the lowest extent possible through:

Implementing field editing after finishing data collection for households in governorates to avoid any errors in suitable time. Setting up a program for the Survey Technical Committee Members and survey staff for visiting fieldwork in all governorates (each 15 days) to solve any problem in the proper time. For the purpose of quality assurance, tables were generated for each survey round where internal consistency checks were performed to study the plausibility of consistency of data collected.

2) Procedures implemented by the quality control general division a - It was put into consideration during the survey implementation to assign the quality control general division a core role in controlling the quality of the fieldwork to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time, as well as taking all the necessary measures to guarantee that mistakes are not repeated, with the application of the principle of reward and punishment, and announce the results to all those working in the survey. b - 24 quality control rounds (2 rounds weekly) covering all governorates were implemented. A complete report on the results of each round was produced and distributed to all workers in the survey.

The quality control procedures covered 73.2% of total kism/district in urban areas, 48.3% of rural districts, and 48% of total EAs of the new sample, where the percentage of inconsistencies did not exceed 2%. As for the panel sample, the quality control procedures covered 50.3% of total kism/district in urban areas, 16.9% of rural districts, and 14.2% of total EAs of the new sample, where the percentage of inconsistencies did not exceed 2.1%.

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The HIECS 2010/2011 is the tenth Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey that was carried out in 2010/2011, among a long series of similar surveys that started back in 1955.

The survey main objectives are: - To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials. - To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. - To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period. - To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. - To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands. - To define average household and per-capita income from different sources. - To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey. - To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. - To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. - To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income. - To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. - To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. - To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. - To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services. - To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index. - To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

Compared to previous surveys, the current survey experienced certain peculiarities, among which : 1- The total sample of the current survey (26.5 thousand households) is divided into two sections: a- A new sample of 16.5 thousand households. This sample was used to study the geographic differences between urban governorates, urban and rural areas, and frontier governorates as well as other discrepancies related to households characteristics and household size, head of the household's education status, ....... etc. b- A panel sample with 2008/2009 survey data of around 10 thousand households was selected to accurately study the changes that may have occurred in the households' living standards over the period between the two surveys and over time in the future since CAPMAS will continue to collect panel data for HIECS in the coming years. 2- The number of enumeration area segments is reduced from 2526 in the previous survey to 1000 segments for the new sample, with decreasing the number of households selected from each segment to be (16/18) households instead of (19/20) in the previous survey. 3- Some additional questions that showed to be important based on previous surveys results, were added, such as: a- Collect the expenditure data on education and health on the person level and not on the household level to enable assessing the real level of average expenditure on those services based on the number of beneficiaries. b- The extent of health services provided to monitor the level of services available in the Egyptian society. c- Smoking patterns and behaviors (tobacco types- consumption level- quantities purchased and their values). d- Counting the number of household members younger than 18 years of age registered in ration cards. e- Add more details to social security pensions data (for adults, children, scholarships, families of civilian martyrs due to military actions) to match new systems of social security. f- Duration of usage and current value of durable goods aiming at estimating the service cost of personal consumption, as in the case of imputed rents. 4- Quality control procedures especially for fieldwork, are increased, to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time, as well as taking all the necessary measures to guarantee that mistakes are not repeated, with the application of the principle of reward and punishment.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS 2010/2011 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample, of around 26500 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size
It has been deemed important to collect a smaller sample size (around 26.5 thousand households) compared to previous rounds due to the convergence in the time period over which the survey is conducted to be every two years instead of five years because of its importance. The sample has been proportionally distributed on the governorate level between urban and rural areas, in order to make the sample representative even for small governorates. Thus, a sample of about 26500 households has been considered, and was distributed between urban and rural with the percentages of 47.1 % and 52.9, respectively. This sample is divided into two parts: a- A new sample of 16.5 thousand households selected from main enumeration areas. b- A panel sample with 2008/2009 survey data of around 10 thousand households.

2- Cluster size
The cluster size in the previous survey has been decreased compared to older surveys since large cluster sizes previously used were found to be too large to yield accepted design effect estimates (DEFT). As a result, it has been decided to use a cluster size of only 16 households (that was increased to 18 households in urban governorates and Giza, in addition to urban areas in Helwan and 6th of October, to account for anticipated non-response in those governorates: in view of past experience indicating that non-response may almost be nil in rural governorates). While the cluster size for the panel sample was 4 households.

3- Core Sample The core sample is the master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample and distributed on urban and rural areas of all governorates. It is a representative sample for the individual characteristics of the Egyptian society. This sample was implemented in January 2010 and its size reached more than 1 million household (1004800 household) selected from 5024 enumeration areas distributed on all governorates (urban/rural) proportionally with the sample size (the enumeration area size is around 200 households). The core sample is the sampling frame from which the samples for the surveys conducted by CAPMAS are pulled, such as the Labor Force Surveys, Income, Expenditure And Consumption Survey, Household Urban Migration Survey, ...etc, in addition to other samples that may be required for outsources. New Households Sample 1000 sample areas were selected across

A survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 found that 82 percent of respondents in Taiwan reported that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. Meanwhile, 48 percent of female respondents and 42 percent of male respondents mentioned their inability to save due to inflation.

This dataset covers ballots 396-407 spanning January-December 1977. The dataset contains the data resulting from these polls in ASCII. The ballots are as follows: 396 - January This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about the Federal budget and other important political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as who should pay for child care; pollution and inflation. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical and social variables. Topics of interest include: a balanced Federal budget; changing the standard of living; the dangers of pollution; giving workers the right to strike; whether or not the government should pay for child care; the government's handing of the economy; the growing Separatist movement; interest in politics; the opinions about Rene Levesque; pollution in the community; the seriousness of pollution; and the success of fighting inflation. Basic demographic variables are also included. 397 - February This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. Topics of interest include: whether the U.S. and Canada have succeeded in clearing the Great Lakes of pollution; political refugee centres; relaxing requirements for the entry of political refugees; gun permits; community council spending; the political engagement of unions; Trudeau or Clark for prime minister; secession of Quebec; sharing of power between the federal government and the provinces; and voting behavior. Basic demographic variables are also included. 398 - March This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as inflation; rising prices and whether or not there should be smoking in restaurants. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical and social variables. Topics of interest include: the government's anti-inflation program; increasing racial intolerance; knowing the horoscope signs; the minimum amount of income a family needs; problems facing Canada; reading astrology columns; reasons for increasing racial intolerance; rising prices; smoking in restaurants; the successfulness of family life; taxing church property; and the treatment of criminals by the courts. Basic demographic variables are also included. 399 - April This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about the Federal budget and other political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as the effect of T.V violence; divorce and business conditions. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical variables. Topics of interest include: the business conditions in the community; continuing anti-inflation controls; dividing assets equally in a divorce; the effects of the Federal budget on family finances; the effect of T.V. on children's aggression levels; favouring Quebec Separation; how interesting a respondents job is; making marijuana illegal; and whether or not wages are rising as the standard of living does. Basic demographic variables are also included. 400 - May This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on various political issues. The questions ask opinions about political leaders and other political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as the impact of organized religion; homosexual rights and the Queen's visit. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical and social variables. Topics of interest include: attending church; deposits on drinking bottles/cans; the difficulty of filling out tax returns; Ed Broadbent's impact on the NDP; improving English-French relations; handling unemployment; the impact of organized religion on life; Joe Clark's impact on the PC party; learning French in schools; opinions about Trudeau as a member of the Liberal party; protecting homosexual rights; the possibility of the Queen extending her visit; and vacation plans. Basic demographic variables are also included. 401 - June This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on various political and other current issues. Topics of interest include: opinion of the federal government and their handling of price and wage control, national unity, pensions, cost of living; onion of the Prime Minister; whether prices or income will rise more; food spending; human rights, i.e. freedom of speech and religion, freedom from fear or want; political leanings, the best and worst thing about living in Canada; union membership; the most important problem facing the country; the development of a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline; increase in oil prices; increasing gas shipments to the U.S.; and voting behavior. Basic demographic variables are also included. 402 - July This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions the possibility of Quebec separation, as well as other important political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as the effects of smoking, inflation and whether or not to give work to strangers. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical and social variables. Topics of interest include: Canadians buying control of U.S. firms; confidence in United States problem solving; controlling price and income; the effects of smoking on health; giving provinces more power; giving Quebec more power; giving work to strangers; inflation caused by not having wage controls; opinions about capital punishment; plans to quit smoking; the preferred anti-inflation policy; smoking in the last week; supporting Quebec separation; unemployment caused by not having wage controls; and U.S. investments in Canada. Basic demographic variables are also included. 403 - August This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about the federal governments rights with information, unions, elections, government employees and homosexuals. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical variables. Topics of interest include: crime; extramarital sex; homosexual relations; ideal number of children in families; metric system; faith healing; family; unions; government influence on Canadians lives; elections; government employees versus private sector employees. Basic demographic variables are also included. 404 - September This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on mostly social issues. The questions ask opinions about the declining Canadian dollar and the issue of striking within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest such as the economic conditions, changes in peace of mind and the influence on religion on every day life. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic and political variables. Topics of interest include: the biggest threat to Canada; the causes of the declining Canadian dollar; changes in peace of mind; the degree of difficulty with metric conversions; economic conditions; the effect of the declining Canadian dollar; energy situations in the future; essential workers striking; giving workers the right to strike; improving happiness; improving honesty; improving morals; the influence of religion on life; and the value of services provided. Basic demographic variables are also included. 405 - October This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on both political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about the upcoming election and other political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as self-protective laws, unemployment levels and nuclear power stations. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographical variables. Topics of interest include: the amount of unemployment benefits; banning public opinion polls before elections; biased news reporting; the big issues in the next election; Canada becoming a Republic; causes of unemployment; common worries; the government guaranteeing jobs; high school emphasis on basic subjects; increasing nuclear generation; job security; making binding arbitration mandatory; the most accurate media new report; opening a nuclear power station in the community; opinions of self-protective laws; predicted unemployment levels; and the right to French or English education. Basic demographic variables are also included. 406 - November This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on predominantly political issues. The questions ask opinions about political leaders and other important political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as airline boycotts; national unity and reasons for inflation. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic and social variables. Topics of interest include: the airline boycott of certain countries; the approval of compulsory retirement; approval of Ed Broadbent as the N.D.P. leader; the approval of Joe Clark as the leader of the Opposition; the approval of Trudeau as Prime Minister; Bill 101

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys assume a prime importance among all household surveys undertaken by the national statistical offices all over the world. On the basis of such surveys, the standard of living of both households and individuals can be measured. Determining poverty line and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance depend on these surveys. In addition, weights for consumer price index which in turn is an important measure of inflation are derived from such surveys. Egypt has recognized the greatest importance of these surveys long time ago, the current HIECS 2004/2005 is the eighth Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey that was carried out in 2004/2005, on a sample of 48000 households, among a long series of similar surveys that started back in 1955, and followed by several surveys.

The survey main objectives are: To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio-economic and demographic differentials. To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is an important input for national planning. Current and past demand estimates are utilized to predict future demands. To measure mean household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. To define mean household and per-capita income from different sources. To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey. To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income and expenditure for commodities and services. To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its sources and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. To identify the value of expenditure for food according to sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non food commodities and services. To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ...) in urban and rural areas. To identify the percentage distribution of income recipients according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

It is the first time that the Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey implies the following issues: 1- The use of the classification of individual consumption according to purpose (COICOP) in designing the expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- The inclusion of the main sales outlets of food and beverages. 3- The addition of school enrollment (6+ years) to the household schedule. 4- The inclusion of expenditure for used commodities (durables and semi durables). 5- The addition of data related to change in assets owned by the household during the reference year.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of the Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) of 2004/2005 is a multi-stage stratified cluster sample and self-weighted to the practical extent. Its designed size is 48000 households allocated among governorates and their urban/rural components in proportion to size. The sample was selected in three stages (the second stage is considered dummy), the first two stages is related to the Master Sample which has been drawn directly before the fieldwork of HIECS started. The third sampling stage concerns with the selection of a sample of 40 households from each Master Sample Areas (1200 areas with approximately 700 households in each).

The Master Sample (1200 areas) has been allocated among the governorates of Egypt, with its urban/rural components, in proportion with the estimated size of households of every stratum (governorate) and substratum (urban/rural populations). At the first sampling stage, the shiakha in urban and village in rural are considered the smallest administrative divisions for which census data are available. Therefore such divisions were considered Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) for urban and rural samples of all governorates respectively. Small towns which are not further subdivided into smaller administrative units are dealt with as urban PSUs. While the larger shiakhas or towns were subdivided into several PSUs using the 1996 census data. At the contrary, a village with less than 600 households in 1996 (700 households at present) was joined to the adjacent village so as to make certain that all PSUs are greater than 600 households in 1996. Subsequently, the sampling frames of the first stage sample of urban/rural substrata for all governorates were formed. Implicit stratification was introduced to both urban and rural frames. At the second stage of sampling, a single area segment was selected following the equal probability selection method. A field operation has been carried out for the purpose of creating a household list for each selected second stage sample segment. In the third sampling stage representing the final stage, 40 households were selected from each area segment selected in the second sampling stage of the master sample. With the aim of reducing the field efforts it was deemed efficient to limit the spread of the household sample over the entire area segments by sampling clusters of 5 households each instead of sampling individual households directly. It is worth mentioning that the method of systematic selection will jeopardize the property of equal probability selection as each household in the list still has 40 chances of being selected in the sample.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among the documentation materials published in both Arabic and English.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following: 1- Expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- Diary questionnaire for expenditure and consumption. 3- Income questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire

This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information. It includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 16 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 15 questions. - Means of transportation used to go to work or school. - The household possession of appliances and means

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 in China, about 73 percent of respondents aged 55 years and above stated that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. Meanwhile, 30 percent of respondents in the same age group reported that they were unable to save due to inflation.

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The First Survey that covered all the country governorates was carried out in 1958/1959 followed by a long series of similar surveys. The current survey, HIECS 2017/2018, is the Thirteenth in this long series. Starting 2008/2009, Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys were conducted each two years instead of five years. this would enable better tracking of the rapid changes in the level of the living standards of the Egyptian households.

CAPMAS started in 2010/2011 to follow a panel sample of around 40% of the total household sample size. The current survey is the fourth one to follow a panel sample. This procedure will provide the necessary data to extract accurate indicators on the status of the society. The CAPMAS also is pleased to disseminate the results of this survey to policy makers, researchers and scholarly to help in policy making and conducting development related researches and studies

The survey main objectives are:

• To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials.

• To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates.

• To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period.

• To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation.

• To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands.

• To define average household and per-capita income from different sources.

• To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey.

• To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas.

• To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure.

• To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income.

• To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables.

• To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas.

• To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas.

• To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services.

• To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index.

• To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

• To provide a time series of the most important data related to dominant standard of living from economic and social perspective. This will enable conducting comparisons based on the results of these time series. In addition to, the possibility of performing geographical comparisons.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS 2017/2018 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size The sample size is around 26 thousand households. It was distributed between urban and rural with the percentages of 45% and 55%, respectively.

2- Cluster size The cluster size is 20 households in all governorates.

3- Sample allocation in different governorates 45% of the survey sample was allocated to urban areas (12020 households) and the other 55% was allocated to rural areas (13780 households). The sample was distributed on urban/rural areas in different governorates proportionally with the household size A sample size of a minimum of 1000 households was allocated to each governorate to ensure accuracy of poverty indicators. Therefore, the sample size was increased in Port-Said, Suez, Ismailiya, kafr el-Sheikh, Damietta, Bani Suef, Fayoum, Qena, Luxor and Aswan, by compensation from other governorates where the sample size exceeds a 1000 households. All Frontier governorates were considered as one governorate.

4- Core Sample The core sample is the master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample and distributed on urban and rural areas of all governorates. It is a representative sample for the individual characteristics of the Egyptian society. This sample was implemented in January 2010 and its size reached more than 1 million household selected from 5024 enumeration areas distributed on all governorates (urban/rural) proportionally with the sample size (the enumeration area size is around 200 households). The core sample is the sampling frame from which the samples for the surveys conducted by CAPMAS are pulled, such as the Labor Force Surveys, Income, Expenditure And Consumption Survey, Household Urban Migration Survey, ...etc, in addition to other samples that may be required for outsources.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among external resources in Arabic.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire. 2- Assisting questionnaire. 3- Income Questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

----> 1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information, it includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 25 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 16 questions. - Household ownership of means of transportation, communication and domestic appliances. - Date of purchase, status at purchase, purchase value and current imputed value of the household possessed appliances and means of transportation. - The Duration since the household was established - The main outlet

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in March 2023 in Hong Kong, about 78 percent of respondents aged 55 years and above stated that rising inflation affected their ability to pay for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and healthcare. Meanwhile, 47 percent of respondents in the same age group reported that they were unable to pay utility bills due to inflation.