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Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board
Special Data Dissemination Standard
(AS PROVIDED TO THE IMF BY THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY)
 
Flag of Japan Japan
Producer Price Index - Corporate Services Price Index
Last Posted: Jan-29-2010
Last Certified: Jan-29-2010
Last Updated: Jan-29-2010

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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

The Monthly Report on the Corporate Services Price Index” (CSPI) provides indexes for the CSPI, and the Domestic Corporate Goods Price Index (DCGPI) for reference. The CSPI exists for All items, Major group and Subgroup. The preliminary indexes are presented along with the weights, the yearly and monthly price changes and the previous month’s indexes (and whether it was revised or not). There is a graph of the CSPI and the DCGPI for the user’s convenience.

Periodicity

4.1.1 Periodicity

Monthly.
Timeliness

4.1.2 Timeliness

In principle, the preliminary figure indexes are released on the 18th working day of the following month after the surveyed month of the index. The revised figures are released in line with the next month’s preliminary figure indexes.
Access by the Public
Advance dissemination of
release calendar

5.1.3 Advance release calendar

The precise release date is generally announced in Statistical Releases and Publications Scheduled for the Next Six Months, which is published at the end of every quarter and is available to all. These statistical releases are also available on the BOJ's websites: http://www.boj.or.jp/type/schedule/index.htm (in Japanese), http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/schedule/index.htm (in English). 

 

In addition, an advance release calendar, which gives four-weeks-ahead notice of the approximate release dates, and provides the precise release dates no later than the last working day of the week prior to release, is disseminated on the IMF's DSBB.

Simultaneous release to all
interested parties

5.1.4 Simultaneous release

The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties at 8:50 a.m. on the day of release by issuing a press release entitled, “Monthly Report on the Corporate Services Price Index.” The press release can also be obtained simultaneously on the BOJ's website.

http://www.boj.or.jp/type/stat/boj_stat/cspi/index.htm  (in Japanese), http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/stat/boj_stat/cspi/index.htm (in English).

The data released at 8:50 a.m. meet the SDDS requirements.

More detailed data, which are not available in the press release, can be obtained at 8:50 a.m. on the BOJ Time-Series Data Search

 http://www.boj.or.jp/type/stat/dlong/price/cspi_2000/index.htm (in Japanese),
 http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/stat/dlong/price/cspi_2000/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

The BOJ is responsible for compiling the CSPI under Article 25 of the Statistical Act. 

To ensure appropriate implementation of monetary policy, the BOJ must have an accurate understanding of the overall economic and financial conditions in Japan. To this end, the BOJ compiles various statistics, including the Corporate Goods Price Index (CGPI), the CSPI, TANKAN (Short-term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan), Money Stock and Flow of Funds.

0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies

The BOJ, as a part of official statistics compilers in Japan, has close contact with the statistical departments of the government through several meetings in cooperation with the government statistical services. For example, the Director of the Research and Statistics Department was appointed a member of Statistics Committee and attends meetings to discuss the coordination among the related governmental bodies.

In compiling price data for the CSPI, the BOJ draws on the Input-Output (I-O) Tables for Japan compiled by the statistical departments of the government, as source data for the weights. The BOJ has meetings with data-producing agencies. In case of major methodological changes, for instance, the BOJ exchanges opinions with the statistical departments of the government. 

0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data

Articles 14 and 15 of the Statistics Law (SL) provide obligations to maintain confidentiality of information on respondents, and this applies to both notified and designated statistics. Article 15.2 of the SL provides that the responses to individual questionnaires shall be kept, in principle, confidential and that they shall not be used for other than statistical purposes.

The Price Statistics Section (PSS) of the Research and Statistics Department (RSD) abides by an internal code of conduct: "the rule(s) for handling price statistics-related information” and protects the confidentiality of reported information.

Data from reporting companies are protected to ensure the confidentiality; each Item index is, in principle, compiled using at least three Sample prices (see 2.4.1) of two companies. Otherwise, Item indexes are not released without the reporting company’s agreement. 

0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting

A response to the CSPI survey is not obligated by Statistics Law (SL) because the CSPI is a notified survey under SL. However, most of enterprises in Japan are generally cooperative for the survey.

0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing

The Price Statistics Section (PSS) has approximately 40 staff members whose responsibilities extend to the compilation of the CSPI.  Most of the PSS staff works more than three years, and the staff participates in training program both internally and externally with job rotation views. Research is undertaken in the BOJ on methodological issues related to the index number methodology including hedonic and other quality adjustment methods. Members of the PSS attend and contribute not only to the Japan Statistical Society, but also to the international research meetings such as a user’s meeting on the “PPI Manual” and the Voorburg Group meeting.

The working environment is satisfactory, as are the computing resources. Adequate protection is provided for computer resources, including provision of emergency back-up systems for retrieval of statistical series and updates in the event of natural or other disasters.

Funding is reasonably secure for the identified needs of the statistical program, and the budget for the computer system is planned from a medium-term perspective. The funding horizon is flexible to allow for planning for statistical developments over a two- to three-year period.  

0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources

The BOJ releases “The Bank of Japan’s Action Plans” each fiscal year.  The action plan details the issues and concrete action plans that the BOJ intends to tackle during the coming fiscal year, as well as the principles for the Bank’s organizational management and the resources.  Each department of the BOJ itemizes its assignment in accordance with the action plan, and each staff sets his/her objectives in accordance with the assignment. With regard to staff objectives, regular staff self-assessments and management assessments of staff take place.

 Price statistics systems are adequately renovated for upgrading the quality of the statistics with medium- to long-term perspective.

0.3.1 Monitoring user requirements

The BOJ obtains expert advice from academics on methodological issues. Information on user’s needs is continuously sought, and public comments are collected every five years at the time of the weight revision. Other than academic circles, occasional discussion with economists takes place additionally.

0.4.1 Quality policy

The Bank of Japan's Medium-Term Strategic Framework for Fiscal 2005-2009 points out the BOJ's intention to constantly examine ways to “improve the quality of statistics it publishes with a view to further strengthening its policy planning capabilities.”

Japanese official statistics with base year indexes are rebasing every five years in accordance with the directive of Statistics Council, which is the forerunner of Statistics Committee.  Selection of commodities, weight calculation, and major methodological changes take place during rebasing.

0.4.2 Quality monitoring

The Price Statistics Section (PSS) holds data quality-related meeting each month. At the meeting, industry specialists report on overall price changes for their industry and how they dealt with unusual changes. Individual staff members are given projects, such as to examine the quality of the “unit value” (see 3.3.1) and must report on their progress at following meetings.

The monthly compilation process is monitored and reviewed by senior staff through the meeting. All the “replacement of Sample prices” (see 3.3.1) is examined by both senior staff and PSS expert of statistical compilation.

PSS manual detailing with every aspect of job procedure is distributed to PSS staff, and ready for reference.

0.4.3 Quality planning

As mentioned (see 0.4.1), revisions for the most part take place during rebasing every five years. All the revisions are discussed both internally and externally.  And public comments are sought if necessary.

1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics

The Bank of Japan Law mandates the professional independence of the Bank and its activities from external intervention: “In light of the public nature of its business and property, the Bank of Japan shall endeavor to conduct its business in a proper and efficient manner” (Article 5.1) and “In implementing this Law, due consideration shall be given to the autonomy of the Bank's business operations” (Article 5.2). Further, Articles 23 and 24 clearly define "appointment of executives" and "executives' term of office," and Article 25 stipulates that executives of the BOJ shall be protected from dismissal against their will, during their term of office. In addition, Article 2 of the BOJ’s Internal Rule of Staff states that staff of the BOJ must recognize the public mission of the BOJ and perform their duties fairly and smoothly.

1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination

Selection of sources: In principle items are selected by the objective standards in value of intermediate services listed in Input-Output (I-O) Table for Japan in the year of weight calculation.

Methodology: With respect to statistical techniques, the CSPI generally follows “PPI manual” and its methodologies are almost the same as those of other countries.  In case of major methodological changes, public comments on the changes are sought beforehand.

Modes of dissemination: The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties at 8:50 a.m. on the day of release by issuing a press release entitled, “Monthly Report on the Corporate Services Price Index.” The press release can also be obtained simultaneously on the BOJ's website.

1.1.3 Commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics

The Price Statistics Section (PSS) holds a press conference on the day of release.  The BOJ does not add any policy judgments or interpretations to the statistics it releases. If there are misuses of statistics in the media, the PSS corrects them through the Secretariat of the Policy Board, which is in charge of contacting the media.

1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination

A complete set of documents presenting the terms and conditions under which the Price Statistics Section (PSS) implements its statistical activities is available to the public from the BOJ website. The BOJ website has details of the principles governing its economic statistics.
Identification of internal
government access to data
before release

1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release

Access to price statistics data before their release is strictly restricted to the staff members of the Price Statistics Section (PSS).
Identification of ministerial
commentary on the occasion of
statistical releases

1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products

All statistical products are identified as produced by the BOJ’s Research and Statistics Department.
Provision of information
about revision and advance
notice of major changes in
methodology

4.3.1 Revision schedule

The release schedule for the preliminary and the revised CSPI, along with the revision policy, are provided on the BOJ’s website. 

http://www.boj.or.jp/theme/research/stat/stat_pub/pi_geppo/cr/index.htm (in Japanese), http://www.boj.or.jp/en/theme/research/stat/stat_pub/pi_geppo/cr/index.htm (in English)  

Some figures are revised in order to incorporate belated reports and corrections from reporting companies. Periodic retroactive revisions of published indexes are conducted twice a year in April and October, when the preliminary figures of March and September are released. These periodic retroactive revisions apply to figures up to 18 months in principle. In addition, figures are revised on the subsequent monthly release if the belated reports and corrections from reporting companies are likely to cause a large impact on the original publication, such as those resulting in changes at the index level of “All items.”

4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data

In principle, preliminary figure indexes are released on the 18th working day of the month following the survey month. The revised figures are released in line with the next month’s preliminary figure indexes; revised data are marked with the symbol “r.”

1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques.

As mentioned (see 1.1.2), the BOJ provides advance notice of major changes in methodology and public comments on the changes are sought beforehand. Revisions for the most part take place during rebasing every five years, and these, along with accompanying major methodological changes, are discussed with various statistics users: experts from universities, specialists from trade association and government ministries.
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

A summary description of the methodology and sources used to compile the CSPI is disseminated on the BOJ’s website.                                       

http://www.boj.or.jp/type/exp/stat/pi/excspi2k.htm (in Japanese)http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/exp/stat/pi/excspi02.htm (in English).

(See also the IMF’s DSBB summary methodology)

5.2.2 Disseminated level of detail

The BOJ provides two different explanation of the CSPI for different types of users, on “Statistics, Research and Studies” section of the BOJ’s website. 

For experts; “Explanation of the 2005 base CSPI” 

http://www.boj.or.jp/type/exp/stat/pi/excspi2k.htm (in Japanese),
http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/exp/stat/pi/excspi03.htm (in English) 

For ordinary users; “Outline of the 2005 base CSPI” 

http://www.boj.or.jp/type/exp/stat/pi/ecsp2k0.htm (in Japanese),
http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/exp/stat/pi/excspi02.htm (in English)



(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

“Monthly Report on the Corporate Services Price Index”:

The press release “Monthly Report on the Corporate Services Price Index” publishes major index series (index series of upper classification levels) on monthly data for the latest month:

(a) The CSPI (Basic grouping index): Indexes of (i) All items, (ii) Major group and (iii) Subgroup.

(b) Reference: Indexes of (i) Excluding International transportation and (ii) Contract currency basis.

(c) Reference Index: Indexes of (i) Lease rate and (ii) Export Corporate Services Price Index.

“Price Indexes Quarterly”:

In line with the revision of the CGPI to the 2005 base, the BOJ has started to publish the new statistical booklet, “Price Indexes Quarterly”, instead of “Price Indexes Monthly.”

4.2.2 Temporal consistency

On revision of the base year, the index of the old base year is linked to that of the new base year to create a long-run time series. The 2005 base CSPI goes back as far as a price reference period of January 1985 (2005 average =100).

Historical data for all indexes are available on the BOJ Time-Series Data Search

http://www.stat-search.boj.or.jp/index.html (in Japanese),

http://www.stat-search.boj.or.jp/index-en.html (in English).

4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency

The CSPI is generally consistent with other price statistics.
 
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.

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