Explanatory Notes on Main Statistical Indicators
Consumer Price Indices reflect the trend and degree of
changes in prices of consumer goods and services purchased by urban and rural
households during a given period.They are obtained by
combining Consumer Price Indices of Urban Household and Consumer Price Indices
of Rural Household. The Indices enable the observation and analysis of the
degree of impact of the changes in the prices of retailed goods and services on
the actual living expenses of urban and rural residents
Consumer Price Indices of Urban Household
reflect the trend and degree of changes in prices of
consumer goods and services purchased by urban households during a given
period. It can be used to observe and analyze the impact of price changes in
consumer goods and services on urban household income and consumption expenditure.
Consumer Price Indices of Rural Household reflect the trend and degree of changes in prices of
consumer goods and services purchased by rural households during a given
period. It can be used to observe the impact of change in retail prices of consumer
goods and service prices on rural household income and consumption expenditure
on living.
Retail Price Indices reflect the trend and degree of change in retail prices of commodities during a
given period. The change in retail prices of commodities is related to
government revenue, the equilibrium of market supply and demand, and the ratio
of consumption to accumulation. Therefore, the retail price indices are useful
from an oblique perspective for observing and analyzing the changes of the
above economic activities.
Price Indices for Means of Agricultural Production reflect the trend and degree of changes in the prices of the means of agricultural
production during a given period. Compilation of these indices helps to
understand the price changes of material input in agricultural production and
facilitate the compilation of national accounts. Before 1994, price indices for
means of agricultural production were a sub-category in the retail price
indices for commodities, and it has been compiled separately since 1994.
Producer Price Indices for Industrial Products reflect the trend and degree of changes in general ex-factory prices of all
manufactured goods during a given period, including sales of manufactured goods
by an industrial enterprise to all units outside the enterprise, as well as
sales of consumer goods to residents. It can be used to analyze the impact of
ex-factory prices on gross output value and value-added of the industrial
sector.
Purchasing Price Indices for Industrial Producers reflect changes in the level and degree of prices paid by industrial enterprises
when they purchase production input such as raw materials, fuels and power from
the market or from other energy or raw materials producing enterprises. These
indices provide an important basis for measuring the material consumption of
industrial enterprises after removing the influence of price changes.
At present, products in 9
categories, including fuels and power, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals,
chemicals, building materials, are covered in China for the survey to produce
indices for purchasing’ prices for industrial producers.
Price Indices for Investment in Fixed Assets reflect the trend and degree of
changes in prices of investment goods and projects in fixed assets during a
given period. The investment in fixed assets consists of three components,
namely the investment in construction and installation, the investment in
purchases of equipment and instrument, and the investment in other items. Price
indices for investment in fixed assets are calculated as the weighted
arithmetic mean of the price indices for the three components of investment in
fixed assets.
Removing the factor of price
change in the aggregates of investment at current prices, this indicator shows
the changes in the prices of commodities and fees involved in the investment of
fixed assets, and can be used to observe the actual size, growth, structure,
and efficiency of investment in fixed assets and provides reliable and
scientific data for government planning, management, decision-making, and
further improving the current national accounting system.