Brief Introduction (Key Indicators):

Price Statistics Section is responsible for collection, compilation and preparation of retail and wholesale prices, as well as computation of price indices. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics is being prepared and released National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), Urban Consumer Price Index (UCPI), Rural Consumer Price Index (RCPI), Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) on regular basis. These indices are extensively being used by planners, policy makers of public and private sectors, researchers and by the general public. The methodology for computation of these indices, selection of basket of goods & services for these indices, weights, number of cities and markets are approved by the Group of Experts/Technical Committee and endorsed by Governing Council and Economic Coordination Committee.

Price Statistics Section is the pioneer for digital data collection using Tablets through Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI).

1. Consumer Price Index (CPI) : It is a statistical measure of the average change in the consumer prices of a predetermined basket of goods and services customarily purchased/consumed by inhabitants of country belonging to specified income groups in the selected geographical areas over a fixed period of time. PBS is compiling and disseminating Urban and Rural CPIs. Urban CPI (UCPI) covers 68 markets in 35 cities/urban centers of the country. Prices of 356 consumer items are collected from open market and used for computation of indices on monthly basis. Rural CPI (RCPI) covers 27 markets in 27 rural centers of the country. Prices of 244 consumer items are collected from open market and used for computation of indices on monthly basis.
2. Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI):  It is computed on weekly basis to assess the price movements of essential commodities at shorter interval of time so as to review the price situation in the country. SPI comprises of 51 essential items, the prices for which are being collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.
3. Wholesale Price Index (WPI): It is computed on monthly basis and is considered as an appropriate measure of the movement of wholesale prices of predetermined items in primary wholesale markets. It covers 19 markets in 19 cities of the country. Prices of 419 items are collected from open market and used for computation of indices on monthly basis to measure inflation.
4. Producer Price Index (PPI): Producer Price Index measures the average change over time in the selling prices of goods and services produced domestically. The prices used in PPI are determined at factory-gate and exclude transport charges and all taxes”. PBS will initiate the Rebasing of PPI soon.