Brunei Darussalam
Official title
Consumer Price Index for Brunei Darussalam.
Scope
The index is compiled monthly, covering pivate households with
monthly expenditure between 250 and 4,999 dollars in 1987, i.e.
85% of total number of households in 1987.
Official base
1990 = 100.
Source of weights
The weights and selected items were derived from a household
expenditure survey carried out between April 1987 and March 1988
covering a sample of 3456 households representing about 10% of
total households in 1987. The weighting pattern of the
index was based on households with expenditure between 250 and
4,999 dollars in 1987.
Weights and composition
| Major groups
| Number of items
| Weights
| Approximate number of price quotations
|
| Food
| 42 | 4507 | ...
|
| Clothing and footwear
| 8 | 614 | ...
|
| Housing:
| | |
|
| Accommodation
| 1 | 181 | ...
|
| Fuel and Utilities
| 1 | 83 | ...
|
| Household Goods and Operation
|
| Row 7
| 1 | 215 | ...
|
| Row 8
| 1 | 20 | ...
|
| Row 9
| 8 | 831 | ...
|
| Transport and communication
| 6 | 1718 | ...
|
| Row 11
| 8 | 893 | ...
|
| Miscellaneous goods and services
| 8 | 938 | ...
|
| Total
| 84 | 10000 | ...
|
The classification sceme is based on the SNA classification, exept
of medical end health expences.
Household consumption expenditure
Consumption expenditure for the purpose of the index comprises
almost all goods and services consumed by the index population.
It excludes expenditure on land and buildings, life insurance
premiums, savings and income taxes.
Sampling
Representative sample of goods and services normally consumed by the
selected households was chosen. The selecton was based on their
relative importance, the co-relationship of their price movements with
other similar items not included and their long-term availability. The
selection was also drawn up with the assistance of the price collectors,
who are familiar with the popularity and preference of consumers over
certain items. 634 items are included in the index.
The large departmental stores and supermarkets in each district were
visited in order to assess their popularity, reliability and the range
of item availabile.
The number of outlets for particular item was selected depending on the
variability of its price. 122 outlets were selected for the new CPI.
Method of data collection
Prices are collected from selected retail stores and
establishments. The fequency of price collection varies according
to the price behavior of the item. Information on prices for all the
items is collected by personal visits to shopkeepers by officers
of the Statistics Division of the Economic Planning Unit and by
telephone calls.
For items whose prices fluctuyte frequently such as
fresh fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, prices are collected
three times a week, while prices of the items with a fairly stable
price are collected monthly. For items with very stable rate, such
as water and electricity tariffs, house rents and school fees, their
prices are updated as and when changes occure.
The prices used for the index are those actually charged in
cash transactions. Extra charges for credit are excluded .
Promotion prices, bargaining prices offered on short-term bases,
discount for bulk purchases, "freegift" and other sale gimmiks are
excluded.
Housing
Information on rent is obtained monthly with respect to a building
containing flats with two bedrooms.
Specification of varieties
To ensure that the price changes are coused solely by price movements
and not by the change in type, quality or size detailed specification
of the items to be priced such as brand name, unit, size, country of
orgin, material and packing are given.
Substitution, quality change, etc.
When a particular item is no longer available on the market, the
price of the nearest similar item available is substituted.
Seasonal items
Seasonal fresh food items are omitted from the index during their
off season and their weights are distributed among the remaining
items in the same group.
Computation
The index is computed according to the Laspeyres formula as a
weighted arithmetic average with fixed base, using weights
corresponding to the base (1990) period.
The annual index is computed as simple arithmetic mean of 12 monthly
indexes.
Organisation and publication
State Secretariat, Economic Planning Unit, Statistics Division:
Brunei Statistical Yearbook
(Bandar Seri Begawan).
Idem: Consumer Price Index for Brunei, Base year
1990 = 100
(Bandar Seri Begawan).