Tanzania (Tanganyika)
Official title
National Consumer Price Index.
Scope
The index is compiled quarterly and covers all types of
households and population groups in 20 urban centres in
mainland Tanzania.
Official base
1977 = 100.
Source of weights
The weights and selected items were derived from a household expenditure
survey conducted during one year from September 1976 to November 1977
among a sample of 6,042 households. Items with significant weights are
priced. The weights of items not priced are excluded.
:hp4.Weights and composition:ehp4.
| Major groups
| Number of items
| Weights
| Approximate number of price quotations
|
| Food
| 44 | 64.2 | ...
|
| Drinks and tobacco
| 5 | 2.5 | ...
|
| Rent
| 1 | 4.9 | ...
|
| Fuel, light and water
| 6 | 7.6 | ...
|
| Clothing and footwear
| 21 | 9.9 | ...
|
| Furniture and utensils
| 18 | 1.4 | ...
|
| Household operations
| 9 | 3.4 | ...
|
| Personal and medical care
| 9 | 1.3 | ...
|
| Recreation
| 5 | 0.7 | ...
|
| Transport
| 12 | 4.1 | ...
|
| Total
| 130 | 100.0 | ...
|
Household consumption expenditure
Consumption expenditure for the purpose of the index includes
almost all important goods and services purchased by the index
population. It excludes taxes, fines, gambling, money transfers,
gifts, savings and investment, life insurance premiums and bride
prices.
Method of data collection
Prices are collected in March, June, September and December from
markets, retail outlets and service establishments in 20 urban
centres. No point-of-purchase survey was carried out, but either
all outlets are covered if there are only a few, or at least 50 per cent
of them if there are many. Prices for items from markets,
including fruit, vegetables, cereals and pulses, are obtained
through direct purchase. Some prices are obtained from shops by mail
questionnaires. Prices for electricity, water and
communications are the official tariffs. The prices
used to calculate the index are the regular free-market
prices paid by consumers. Sale and discount prices are not
taken into account. Black market prices are used if the items
are available to all consumers.
Housing
Rent quotations are obtained each quarter by mail inquiry, for at least
30 dwellings occupied by low-income group families, 30 by middle-income
group families and 30 by high-income group families, in each town.
Owner-occupied housing not covered in the index.
Specification of varieties
Item specifications are given in terms of variety, quality, make, brand,
unit etc.
Substitution, quality change, etc.
If an item disappears from the market or the quality of an item
changes, a similar item is substituted for pricing.
Seasonal items
Seasonal items are priced when they are available and in season.
Computation
The index is computed according to the Laspeyres formula as a weighted
arithmetic average with fixed base, using weights corresponding to the
base period. Price relatives for the current and base periods are used
to compute item indices. The national index is a weighted average of
the indices relating to 20 towns, using weights proportional to the
population of each town.
Organisation and publication
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs, Bureau of
Statistics: Quarterly Statistical Bulletin
(Dar-es-Salaam).
For further methodological detail, see: Ministry of Economic
Affairs and Development Planning, Bureau of Statistics:
National Consumer Price Index
(October 1974).