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Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board Special Data Dissemination Standard (AS PROVIDED TO THE IMF BY THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY)   Greece Price index: Consumer prices Last Posted: May-14-2008 Last Certified: Jan-7-2009 Last Updated: Apr-4-2008 Contact Person(s)          Printer Friendly Page   Mrs. Maria Stavropoulou, Economic and Short-Term Indicators Division, National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG), Greece   Phone : 30 210 4852 125   Fax : 30 210 4852 724   Email : cpi@statistics.gr, stavropm@statistics.gr    Mr. John Moshakis, Economic and Short-Term Indicators Division, National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG), Greece   Phone : 30 210 4852 128   Fax : 30 210 4852 724   Email : cpi@statistics.gr  gianmosh@statistics.gr  Dissemination Formats Summary Methodology Access National Summary Data Page Cross-country comparisons: access the DSBB metadata query facility

The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness
Coverage characteristics	5.1.1 Statistical presentation Data are disseminated on the CPI, which covers the entire country of Greece. Prices are not seasonally adjusted. In addition to the national Consumer Price Index the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is compiled. The revised CPI, in conformity with the HICPs practice, is rounded up to 2 decimal figures when published. HICPs are compiled by the member states of the European Union, in conformity with Council and Commission Regulations, in order to provide comparable data for international inflation comparisons and, in particular, for the assessment of the price stability convergence criterion, as required by EU Convention.
Periodicity	4.1.1 Periodicity Monthly.
Timeliness	4.1.2 Timeliness In the first two weeks from the end of the reference month.
Access by the Public
Advance dissemination of release calendar	5.1.3 Advance release calendar An advance release calendar which gives one-quarter-ahead notice of the precise release dates is disseminated on the Internet on the IMF's DSBB (http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/sddsctycatarclist/?strcode=GRC). In addition, in the end of each year the NSSG publishes a release calendar giving the precise release dates for the coming year. The calendar is distributed to the press and is available free of charge to all interested parties. The calendar is also disseminated on the NSSG's Internet website (http://www.statistics.gr) under the item "Calendar of Press Releases".
Simultaneous release to all interested parties	5.1.4 Simultaneous release The release is provided, on an embargo basis, to the media at a press conference held 30 minutes prior to general release. Data are released in the "Press Release for the CPI", which is available to all interested parties simultaneously. The press release is subsequently posted on the NSSG Internet website (http://www.statistics.gr). In addition, there is an automatic telephone line (30-210-4852 142), providing information (in Greek) on rate of the CPI of the last month as well as the rate (%) to be used for readjustments of rents, which is derived on the basis of the twelve month rate of change of the overall CPI.
Integrity
Dissemination of terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including those relating to the confidentiality of individually identifiable information	0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) The National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) is a public agency, supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and responsible for the conduct and dissemination of official statistics. Price index: Consumer prices The framework Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 ''for the establishment of Harmonized Indices of Consumer Prices'' and other sixteen (16) related Council and Commission EC Regulations have been adopted so far and lay down particular implementing measures governing the compilation of HICPs, which are obligatory to be followed by the Member States. 0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) Provision has been made in specific articles of the Foundation Law 3627/56 and of Law 2392/96 so as to ensure the confidentiality of individual data. These laws govern all individual statistics collected by the NSSG. According to the above laws, individual data are subject to confidentiality and cannot be published or made available to any person or organization. 1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) Principles of methodology as well as data dissemination can be freely determined by the NSSG, taking into account international practices and, in particular, existing Eurostat recommendations, instructions and norms related to the corresponding statistical item.   1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) The data on the real sector and general government operations are disseminated by the NSSG as a service to the public. There are no legal provisions applying specifically to a particular statistics apart from the general legal provisions applying to all statistical areas. The public can obtain copies of the above-mentioned laws from the Statistical Information and Publications Division (tel. (30) 210-4852 311, Fax: (30) 210-4852 312, e-mail: (data.dissem@statistics.gr) and (data.source@statistics.gr)) upon request and free of charge. Mail orders can be placed by writing to National Statistical Service of Greece, Statistical Information and Publications Division, 46 Pireos & Eponiton str, P.O. Box 80847, GR 18510 Pireas. Law 2392/96 is also available in English. Copies of the Greek version are also posted on the NSSG's internet site (http://www.statistics.gr).
Identification of internal government access to data before release	1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) There is no internal government access to the data before their release to the public.
Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases	1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG) No ministerial commentary is attached to the release of the data.
Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology	4.3.1 Revision schedule The data are final when first released and are not revised. 1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. Major changes of methodology usually relate to the renewal of items and weights. They usually occur in each revision of the index, every 5-6 years, when the results from the new Household Budget Survey are available.  A new HBS has been conducted since January 2008 and a decision has been taken for this survey to be conducted on an annual basis in the future. This will increase the frequence of occurrences of the CPI revisions. The methodology of the CPI compilation is approved by an ad hoc committee, the "Committee for the CPI Revision," which is set up for this purpose before each revision of the Index. The public is informed of changes in all relevant publications as well as in a specialized press release at the time the changes are introduced.
Quality
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics	5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques Detailed methodology and sources used are published in the special methodological issue "Revised Consumer Price Index" on the occasion of the CPI revisions, which actually occur every 5 - 6 years, approximately. This special issue is available in Greek and English upon request for a fee and is sent to all subscribers. Mail orders can be placed by writing to National Statistical Service of Greece, Statistical Information and Publications Division, 46, Pireos & Eponiton str, P.O. BOX 80847, 18510 Pireas (tel. (30) 210-4852 311, Fax: (30) 210-4852 312, e-mail: (data.dissem@statistics.gr) and (data.source@statistics.gr)). A specific publication for the HICP is also available in Greek and English for a fee upon request in the aforementioned address. (See also summary methodology)
Dissemination of component detail, reconciliations with related data, and statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness	4.2.1 Internal consistency A publication in Greek and English for the revised CPI with new base year 2005=100.0 is available. Mail orders can be placed by writing to National Statistical Service of Greece, Statistical Information and Publications Division, 46, Pireos & Eponiton str, P.O. BOX 80847, 18510 Pireas (tel. (30) 210-4852 311, Fax: (30) 210-4852 312, e-mail: (data.dissem@statistics.gr) and (data.supply@statistics.gr)). 4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency Between the national Consumer Price Index of Greece (base year 2005=100.0) and the relevant Harmonized Consumer Price Index (base year 2005=100.0) similarities as well as differences can be found. Therefore, the above indices cannot be fully compared to each other.
Footnotes Last posted: Date IMF staff last posted an update to these metadata on the DSBB. Last certified: Date subscriber last officially certified the accuracy of these metadata. Last updated: Date subscriber last submitted an update of these metadata to the IMF.