Explanatory Notes on Main Statistical Indicators
Retail Price Index
reflects the trend and degree of
change in retail prices of commodities during a given period. The change in
retail prices of commodities directly affect the living expenses of urban and
rural residents, government revenue, purchasing power of residents and the
equilibrium of market supply and demand, and the ratio of consumption to
accumulation. Therefore, the retail price indices are useful from an oblique
perspective for observing and analyzing the changes of the above economic
activities.
Urban Consumer Price Index
reflects the trend and degree of
changes in prices of consumer goods and services purchased by urban households
during a given period. It can be used to observe and analyze the impact of
price changes in consumer goods and services on wages (in monetary terms) of
urban staff and workers, and provide a basis for research on the livelihood of
staff and workers and policy-making concerning wages.
Price Index of Investment in
Fixed Assets
reflects the trend and degree of
changes in prices of investment in fixed assets during a given period. The
investment in fixed assets consists of three components, namely the investment
in construction and installation, the investment in purchases of equipment and
instrument, and the investment in other items. Price index of investment in
fixed assets is calculated as the weighted arithmetic mean of the price indices
of the three components of investment in fixed assets. Removing the factor of
price change in the aggregates of investment at current prices, this indicator
shows the changes in the prices of commodities and fees involved in the
investment of fixed assets, and can be used to observe the actual size, growth,
structure, and efficiency of investment in fixed assets and provides reliable
and scientific data for government planning, management, decision making, and
further improving the current national accounting system.
Producer Price Index of
Industrial Ex-factory Products
reflects the trend and degree of
changes in general ex-factory prices of all industrial products during a given
period, including sales of industrial products by an industrial enterprise to
all units outside the enterprise, as well as sales of consumer goods to
residents. It can be used to analyze the impact of ex-factory prices on gross
industrial output value.
Producer Price Index of
Industrial Purchase
reflects the trend and degree of
changes in purchasing price of raw material, fuel and power paid by industrial
enterprises when they purchase production as input from the market or other
energy and raw material producers during a given period, and provide basis for
measuring the material consumption of industrial enterprises after removing
influence of price from cost.