Abstract

The Colombo Consumers' Price Index (CCPI) which was introduced in 1952 by the Department of Census and Statistics and which is now published on the last working day of every month is the official index by which changes in price levels of consumer goods and services in Sri Lanka are measured. Since then the index has been used to date for very vital purposes as described below. It is used for multi-purpose functions such as :

                              for conversion of total current values of national income up to fixed values, 
                              policy making on monetary income and wages, 
                              payment of salaries and wages, 
                              providing social security facilities and analysis of economic and social activities. 

Thus the government mechanism and the non-government organizations use this index as the vital official measurement unit in the fields of financial, revenue, salaries, wages and socio-economic policy making.

Geographic coverage

All urban Divisions in Colombo District

Analysis unit

Commodities (in Retail outlets in Colombo City)

Universe

Retail commodity prices of the goods in Colombo MC and suburban areas

Kind of data

Observation data/ratings [obs]

Sampling procedure

The Weekly Test Purchases operation is not a sample survey. But the following points should be noted:-

From each market, about five outlets have been identified for this operation. Out of the five outlets three are visited by the enumeretors regularly. The selected three outlets in each market are usually visited in every price collection day of the week. The fourth & the fifth outlets will be kept as optional in case the regular outlets are not operational due to some reason.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

There are two types of questionnaires,

  01  A , B , C , D , E - Food Items

  02  Mis01,Mis02,Mis03,Mis04,Mis05,Mis06,Mis07,Mis08 - Non Food Items

General Instructions in filling Forms:

***Group I Form

Price quotations should be collected in few representative and fixed open market retail outlets or stalls in the main marketing area of the Town on morning (9 to 12) of Tuesdays 1st and 3rd week

This price schedule should be perfected and sent by post to the Director Prices and Wages Division in the same week.

***Group II Form

Price quotations required should be obtained once a month from the same outlets, which should be chosen from the selected establishments listed above.

If a particular item is not available in the selected retail outlet, Price quotations may be obtained from the other establishments, whose address should be given. If the item is not available at all in the town, the price of substitute item which resembles most closely the specified item should be priced and brand name, weight should be entered in the form. Brand name and weight of "other" item where it is priced should also be given.

***Group III Form

The item should be selected under specification which has been mentioned here. Two price quotations should be obtained quarterly from the same establishments as far as possible and prices should be collected from the same establishment in future too.

If a particular item is not available in the selected retail outlets, price quotations may be obtained from the reserve or other establishments whose address should be given. If the item is not available at all in the town, the price of a substitute item which resembles most closely the specified item should be entered in the form. Brand name and Weight of "Other" item where it is priced should also be given.

Where transactions take place in other than metric units, the weight of volume of the item priced should be carefully recorded in grams or milli-liters in the space provided.

When you complete item 4 in 1st page of schedule cross-out months except the price collection month.

***Producers' Prices Form

You are instructed to obtain the Producers' prices once a month from selected two main producing centers, and few other production centers are selected for all other agriculture production. The district officer can select the producing centers with the help of the field officer in the respective DS Division. The farm-gate price of every item should be completed in column 4,5,and 6 by the field officer and monthly average prices given in the pricing schedules should be recorded systematically in a price list or in the register maintained in your office.

The average price for three columns (4,5 and 6) should be computed and recorded in the 7th column. If there is noticeable change in average price of column 7 and 8 or if current available price in column 7 is not available. Please give your reasons in column 9. Livestock prices should be collected quarterly and for this purpose the second month of each quarter is more appropriate. (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)

You are advised to collect the prices during the second week of each month and the completed forms should be sent to the Director, Prices and Wages Division by post on or before the given date.

PRODUCERS' PRICE - This is at the farm-gate price or at village market price (pola) charged to customer/buyer. This value figures should include all duties and taxes which fall on products when they leave the farm-gate, but should exclude any subsidies received. This valuation should exclude any transport charges that may be invoiced to the purchaser or user.

Cleaning operations

Usually the prices collected should fall within a range accepted by the Prices and Wages Division staff. If by chance, an abnormally high or a low price have been recorded, that price item will be discarded and not taken for computation purposes.

In a rare situation where the prices of a commodity have not been recorded due to a problem in the market, then the previous day's recording will be assumed for the respective price collection round.