The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Chris Giles about quality of the Retail Prices Index (RPI)

15 September 2017 · Sir David Norgrove, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 15 September 2017, replies to correspondence of 21 July 2017. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Response on quality of the Retail Prices Index (RPI). Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the UK Statistics Authority wrote

“(2) The Board may report any concerns it has about— (a) the quality of any official statistics, (b) good practice in relation to any official statistics, or (c) the comprehensiveness of any official statistics, to the person responsible for those statistics.”

“We will continue to publish information about the formula effect and the RPI/RPIJ “wedge” so that users can understand how the difference between the Carli and Jevons formulas affects consumer price inflation measures.”

“6 See final para, www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/news/consultation-on-the-retail-prices-index/ 7 Statement on future of consumer inflation statistics in the UK (November 2016) 8 Statement on the redesignation of CPIH as a National Statistic (July 2017) 9 Consumer Price Indices Technical Manual (2014 edition) 10 Consumer price inflation, updating weights (March 2017) 11 Consumer Price Inflation: Quality and Methodology Information (March 2017) 12 Measuring changing prices and costs for consumers and households (July 2017)”

“14 March 2013 UKSA statement – Retail Prices Index 16 May 2013 UKSA launch of review of the range of prices statistics (by Paul Johnson) and the Governance of Price Statistics (Prof Sir Adrian Smith) 12 February 2014 Publication of Governance of Price Statistics (Smith Review)”

From Sir David Norgrove, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 15 September 2017. Read the full letter.

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Quality of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) (21 July 2017)

Related key figures

• UK RPI inflation rate
• UK inflation rate (CPI)
• UK CPIH inflation rate

Receipt