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In April 2020, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 1,52 units and reached 99,82 units compared to 101,34 units in March 2020. Compared to April 2019, the CPI decreased by 1,2%. (Table 1)

For the period January-April 2020, the CPI increased by 0,5% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

As regards the economic origin, the largest change when compared both to the index of April 2019 and to the index of the previous month was recorded in Petroleum Productswith percentages of -15,1% and -11,6% respectively. (Table 2)

Analysis of percentage changes

Compared to April 2019, the category “Transport”recorded the largest change with percentage of -7,5%.(Table 1)

In comparison to the CPI of the previous month, the largest changes were noted in “Transport” and “Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels” with percentages of -4,6% and -4,3% respectively. (Table 1)

For the period January–April 2020, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the largest change was recorded in “Communication”(3,7%).  (Table 1)

Analysis of effects in units

Compared both to the Index of April 2019 and to the index of the previous month, the category “Transport” had the largest effect on the change of the CPI with -1,12 and -0,67 units respectively. (Table 3)

Finally, petroleum products had the most notable effect on the change of the CPI of April 2020 compared both to April 2019 and to the previous month with -0,99 and -0,88 units respectively. (Tables 4 and 5)

Methodological Notes

Definitions

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is compiled to measure the changes of prices over time of consumer goods and services acquired, used or paid by households. Specifically, the national CPI of Cyprus covers the consumption expenses of specific goods and services (shopping basket of goods and services), of the resident households and of the households that intend to live in Cyprus for at least one year. CPI is the official index for the estimation of inflation.

The Inflation shows the change of the CPI when compared with the index of the corresponding month of the previous year.

The Effect represents the amount of the overall change in the General Index which is accounted for by any given category.

Collection

The price collection is carried out only in urban districts of Lefkosia, Larnaka, Lemesso, Pafo,. For each city, the fluctuations in the product prices each month are weighted according to their population. Specifically, the weights for the four districts are: Lefkosia42%, Lemessos30%, Larnaka 18% and Pafos 10%.

The prices of 805 goods and services are recorded once every month, except for some seasonal products (e.g. vegetables and fruits), meat and fuels, whose prices are collected every week (every Thursday).

Base year

The index reference period was 2005=100 for the period between January 2006 and December 2015. From January 2016 and onwards, the base year is 2015=100.

Classification  

Until December 2015, COICOP 4 classification was used for the calculation and the dissemination of the CPI. From January 2016 and onwards, CYSTAT is adopting the ECOICOP classification satisfying relevant Eurostat’s Regulation. In other words, the lowest level of detail for the classification used in CPI is COICOP 5-digits.

Products/Services and weights

From January 2018 and onwards, the products included in the CPI as well as their corresponding weights have been revised. The revision was based on the results of the Household Budget Survey 2015/2016.

Exceptional  Methodological Adjustment

The implementation of precautionary measures and relevant decrees to address the negative consequences of COVID-19 disease had a direct impact on the price collection process for the month of April 2020 due to the limitation in price collection from certain stores/ businesses. As the problems anticipated were common to all Member States of the European Union they were tackled by applying the same methodologies under the supervision and guidance of the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

Data Collection

Field collection was carried out in supermarkets, bakeries and kiosks, while for the other retailers that were still offering their products to consumers, prices were collected either via telephone or online.

Missing Prices

In cases where products/goods were not available for consumption, the following practices were followed:

• Missing prices were imputed by the price change of other products or services in the same subcategory,
• In the cases where all the prices were missing for a subcategory, then the previous’ month collected price data were taken as the price of the present month and it included prices that rarely change such as cultural services or services connected with the personal care.

Seasonal Products/Services

The airfares along with the prices for hotel accommodation were estimated by carrying forward previous’ month prices adjusted with the seasonal factor recorded last year, during April.

Weights

The weights of goods and services in the CPI basket have not been adjusted.

Further information:

Statistical Service (CYSTAT) Website, subtheme Consumer Price Index

Contact:

Constandia Papageorgiou: Tel: +35722602116, Email: cpapageorgiou@cystat.mof.gov.cy

Andri Eftychiou: Τel: +35725878595, Email: aeftychiou@cystat.mof.gov.cy

 (SS/SCH)