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| The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness | ||||||||||||
| Coverage characteristics | 5.1.1 Statistical presentation The presentation of CPI data is highly detailed level with breakdowns in many dimensions: six data tables for the CPI are released on the monthly website release. The tables are easily accessible on the SBJ’s homepage under the heading “Statistics” and the link to “Consumer Price Index/Latest Monthly Results.” The same data can also be found on the homepage under “Latest Indicators.” | |||||||||||
| Periodicity | 4.1.1 Periodicity Monthly | |||||||||||
| Timeliness | 4.1.2 Timeliness Indices for Ku-area of Tokyo (preliminary figures) are released at the end of the observation month. | |||||||||||
| Access by the Public | ||||||||||||
| Advance dissemination of release calendar | 5.1.3 Advance release calendar The press release is made on the Friday of the week including the 26th of each month. The release dates for Japan given as of January 2009 were for January 2009 to Februay 2010. The release dates for the Ku-area of Tokyo given as of January 2009 were for February 2009 to March 2010.
Every issue of the Monthly Results on the Consumer Price Index carries this release. The homepage of SBJ’s website provides an easily identifiable link to the schedule of release: “Consumer Price Index/Schedule of Release.” | |||||||||||
| Simultaneous release to all interested parties | 5.1.4 Simultaneous release The SBJ releases the data to the public, in principle, at 8:30 a.m. of the release day, and then holds a press conference. Immediately after the release, the CPI data are available from a hardcopy summary report (in Japanese only) and on the Internet website (http://www.stat.go.jp/data/cpi/index.htm (in Japanese) and http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/index.htm (in English)). | |||||||||||
| 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 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) executes and tabulates the Population Census and other fundamental statistical censuses and surveys in order to accomplish its responsibilities by the Law to Establish the MIC (July 16, 1999) . These census and surveys conducted by the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) are governed by the Statistics Act (Act no.53 of 2007). Price index: Consumer prices Article 119 of the Cabinet Order on the Organization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and Article 74 of the Regulation on the Organization of the MIC specify that the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) has the responsibility for compiling the CPI. Within the SBJ the CPI is compiled by the Consumer Statistics Division (CSD).
The Retail Price Survey (RPS) Regulation stipulates the methods and dissemination of the RPS which supplies price data for the CPI. 0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The administrative organ or an incorporated administrative agency, etc. may utilize questionnaire information pertaining to statistical surveys they have conducted in the following cases: (i) When producing statistics or conducting statistical research (ii) When preparing lists of names to be used for surveys for producing statistics. Price index: Consumer prices The CPI compilation is primarily an in-house activity of the SBJ so there is no data sharing and coordination with other agencies on this issue.0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Statistics Act (Article 39, 40, 41 and 43) stipulates the confidentiality of statistics. The act also stipulates the penalty for offenders (Article 57,58,59,60,61 and 62).Price index: Consumer prices Data collectors for the RPS and FIES are provided with manuals and training that emphasize their responsibility to maintain confidentiality.0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The administrative organ may, when conducting a fundamental statistical survey, request individuals or juridical persons, or other organizations to report on matters necessary for producing fundamental statistics. (Statistics Act (Article 13)).0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing Staff: The number of staffs who produce, analyze, and disseminate the CPI is about 10. The number of staffs who plan and instruct the RPS conducted every month is also about 10. The number of the staffs who are in charge of the selection of the survey specifications representing the items which prices are collected is about 30. And the number of staffs in the tabulation section is about 50. Price survey is conducted through each prefecture by about 130 supervisors and about 750 enumerators.
Facilities: There are enough office equipments, and the office environment to carry out the tasks is provided.
Computing resources: Data are transferred through PDA carried by enumerators, and are processed by the mainframe. Each staff member in the SBJ has a PC by which he/she can analyze data. Replacement cycle of these equipments is about three years.
The information processing staff develops and maintains the system to implement examination and data-collection effectively.
Financing: The budget to carry out the work is relevant on the whole. But the budget to purchase the price data of additional new items by changes of consumption structures and keeping data sources are limited. 0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources To use resources efficiently, an action plan is prepared every fiscal year. The collection, data-processing and dissemination of the statistics follows this plan. And the staff resources are allocated accordingly. Budgets are revised every five years at the time of the base-period revision to meet, where applicable, new needs. Budgeting is fairly stable during these five-year periods. However, provision exists in the annual budget plans to request funding for special projects, although such projects are expected to lead to, and have to be justified by, efficiency savings. 0.3.1 Monitoring user requirements Opinions are sought from related ministries and agencies and at international meetings and conferences on an ad hoc basis. The Statistics Commission (SC) acts as a formal advisory body to the MIC. Methodological issues are discussed in internal workshops held about three times a year, to which academic experts are invited. Users’ opinions are mainly sought during the base period revision every five years. Further, the staff participate in the ECE/ILO Joint Meeting on Consumer Price Indices, Ottawa Group Conference etc., to keep abreast of country/international best practices.0.4.1 Quality policy Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) In the “Mission and action precept of the SBJ”, which is announced in April 2003, following points are shown; (i) To maintain the statistics which are useful to the society systematically, corresponding to the changes of socioeconomic situation, (ii) To pursue the neutral, objective, and accurate statistics based on definitive theories and technologies and (iii) To contribute to internal and external development of statistics by acquiring professional knowledge appropriate as a staff of the statistical agency playing a core part in Japan, with attention to the latest theories and technologies actively. The concepts are well known broadly to the whole organization. The staffs have a chance to take various trainings.Price index: Consumer prices The CPI is scrutinized, particularly at subcouncil meetings of the SC, and at the time of base-weight revisions. Government ministries and agencies, including the Bank of Japan (BOJ), are also consulted on methodological issues at the time of the base-period revision.
Operational manuals provide practical guidelines for CPI data collection, validation, and processing. 0.4.2 Quality monitoring The problems of accurately compiling the CPI including the quality of the CPI program are discussed in research workshops that include external committee members (academic experts).0.4.3 Quality planning Cost considerations and its trade-off with accuracy are important during discussions to introduce new items in the CPI (i.e., items whose weight in aggregate expenditure exceeds 1/10000 of the total). Similarly, when survey specifications are revised the cost considerations are balanced against the expected quality enhancements.1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) It is an important role for the SBJ to provide accurate statistics. The SBJ does not make a political decision. Therefore, the published statistics data are not interfered by other governmental organizations. The SBJ puts high value on the specialties such as the data processing (or IT) and statistical techniques. The Statistical Research and Training Institute provide statistical training for the personnel of national and local governments regularly. And we always try to enhance the statistical techniques through internal workshops including external committee members (academic experts). Price index: Consumer prices Staff responsible for the CPI have a good knowledge of statistical issues, as well international visibility. The SBJ benefits from having its own Statistical Research and Training Institute (SRTI), which provides statistical training for national and local government personnel. The SRTI offers 17 courses each year, ranging from basic statistics to advanced theory, and conducts collaborative research work with guest researchers. The PSO also conducts internal workshops. 1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination The choices of data sources and statistical techniques are decided solely by the statistical viewpoints. For example, in selecting items for the CPI, items sharing more than a certain percent of the consumption expenditures are selected. In deciding the number of prices, it is decided by region according to the extent of price differences by item. Thus, data sources are selected solely from the statistical viewpoints. Selected techniques are open to the public as much as possible. 1.1.3 Commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics The SBJ responds to erroneous interpretations or misuse of statistical series. It monitors newspapers for articles on the CPI. Particular newspapers have an earlier release of their Web versions than their print versions, and PSO monitors the Web versions so that it can advise on corrections prior to the PSO releases information sheets to journalists to help counter misreporting. A link to “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the CPI” is available on the website.1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Tokei Roppo, a statute book concerning statistics, contains the law, order, and regulations. This book and copies of the Statistics Law are available in Japanese at:
The Statistics Law is also reproduced on the SBJ internet website (http://www.stat.go.jp). Price index: Consumer prices The terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination may be found at http://www.stat.go.jp/data/cpi/10.htm (in Japanese), http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1589.htm (Outline of the 2005-Base CPI in English), http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1586.htm (More detailed explanation of the 2005-Base in English). 1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) All officials attend the ethical training program as they start to work. As for statistics, confidentiality rules and disclosure penalties covering all statistical activities are covered in the Statistic Law. Especially, staffs who are involved in statistics must also get ethical training on statistics.
Price index: Consumer prices The staff are given copies of the Law for Public Servant Ethics (1999) and the Outline of the National Public Service Ethics Law (1999). Article 3 of the latter notes that employees shall not give unfair, discriminative treatment to the public, such as giving preferential treatment to any party of the public with respect to information gathered in the performance of their duties. | |||||||||||
| Identification of internal government access to data before release | 1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) In principle, no government officials except the engaged staff members of the SBJ have access to the data prior to release.Price index: Consumer prices Only Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has access to the data in the afternoon one day before the data are released. Also, only the Prime Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary have access to the data one hour before release time. | |||||||||||
| Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases | 1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Concerning statistical reports which the SBJ produces, the origin of the statistics is explicitly stated.Price index: Consumer prices The SBJ's publications have its name, while its questionnaires note that the survey is for a designated statistic, and show the number of the designated statistic. | |||||||||||
| Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology | 4.3.1 Revision schedule Revision of the base period is carried out every five years. In the following year of base revision, the indices are calculated and released using the old base until June, and using the new base from July. Then, the indices with the old base are replaced with the new base indices starting from January of the new base year. The seasonally adjusted data of the corresponding year are released and revised retrospectively when the data from January to December of the year are available. Since the data for Ku-area of Tokyo are released as preliminary at the end of the corresponding month, they are finalized at the end of the next month.4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data The preliminary data for Ku-area of Tokyo is clearly identified, and the seasonally adjusted data are identified as revised. The revision associated with the change of the base period is announced to the users.1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. Major changes in methodology, source data and statistical techniques that are often introduced every five years are well publicized and documented. The outline of the periodical revision is provided in advance. The outline of the latest periodical revision is published on the following internet website (http://www.stat.go.jp/data/cpi/14.htm (in Japanese) and (http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1589.htm (in English).
For the 2005 base-year revision, a draft of the principles of the base revision was released in May 2004 and opinions requested. Answers to the opinions were released on the Japanese language website in November 2004. | |||||||||||
| 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 The SBJ’s website (http://www.stat.go.jp/data/cpi/10.htm (in Japanese) and http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1589.htm (in English) contains easily accessible short and full versions of the detailed Outline of the 2005-Base CPI on sources and methods used to compile the CPI. (Detailed explanation of the 2005-Base in English;http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1586.htm )
The short form is also included in The Annual Report on the Consumer Price Index. Highly detailed appendices are provided in both cases. At every base-year revision, a comprehensive account of the changes is released, which again can be readily found on SBJ’s website. Information on the sample designs of the FIES and RPS is also provided. 5.2.2 Disseminated level of detail CPI metadata are available at three levels of detail to meet user’s needs: the Explanation of the CPI is for experts, Outline of the CPI (in a full and summary form), for ordinary users, and an easy-to-read Mechanism and View of the CPI, for the lay person. The full version of the outline of the CPI is highly comprehensive with detailed appendices. (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 Upper level indices are calculated from the lowest level index. Thus, indices are consistent in aggregation.4.2.2 Temporal consistency Indices of the same base year are calculated for 7 years from the base period, but revision of the CPI is carried out every five years. Since new and old indices are linked by annual average of the identical period, time series data which are consistent for a long period are obtained. Thus, annual indices, using the same price reference period of 2005=100, are published for the overall CPI, major groups, and subgroups from 2005. 4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency The CPI is comparable with the GDP deflator. | |||||||||||
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