Introduction
The environment in which statistical agencies operates is changing. New opportunities to access and
interrogate big data are becoming available, increasing the potential to provide new insights into
matters of importance.
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has the mandate and responsibility of producing and compiling
statistical information in Namibia including "Price Statistics“. NSA has embarked on the exploration of
using Scanner data by setting up meetings with selected major Supermarkets, Headquarters.
Although, most of the visited Supermarkets have agreed to be submitting scanner data by filling in
price collection questionnaires, there have been some inconsistencies in data submission and some
outlets have argued that it is extra work for them.
Scanner data are digital transaction data on turnover, sales, price, and type of items sold, which are
recorded by bar code at the cash registers of retail shops.
www.nsa.org.na Slide 2
Introduction: current practice
At the moment, prices used for the compilation of the Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) are
collected by personal visits to selected retail outlets by Price Agents (PAs)/ field officers every month.
This exercise is undertaken during the first two weeks of every month by PAs from all fourteen
regions of the country in 8 localities/towns on handheld computers. This is a time-consuming
processes as everything is excel based, From price collection, data entry which is done manually to
data analysis, making the production of the NCPI tedious. Additionally, the price data collection
covers retail outlets (such as supermarkets, butcheries, bottle stores, pharmacies, salons, private
doctors, rescue services, school fees, renting fees, clothing shops, hotels etc.,) on sampled items.
This means that not all shops / outlets are covered by this exercise, due to resource constraints. The
office, therefore, statistically selected several outlets and items which can be covered using the
resources available.
www.nsa.org.na Slide 3
NCPI geographical coverage
www.nsa.org.na Slide 4
Why Scanner Data?
Resources having by the Agency
To update CPI weights
Data confrontation and quality
assurance
Updates pricing samples
www.nsa.org.na Slide 5
Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets
experience
The Agency shares excel price
collection questionnaires with
the retail outlet via email
during the first week of every
month.
Delayed data submission,
multiple follow ups to
remind the outlet to submit
the requested data.
There are data disparities
between the SD and field
collected prices received
Poor respondence rate
by the data providers
Access to Scanner Data
Data transmission to the
Agency
Quality of data received and
the preparation of SD for use
Cooperation with data
providers
www.nsa.org.na Slide 6
Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets
experience cont..
www.nsa.org.na Slide 7
FGI House
Post Street Mall
P. O Box 2133
Windhoek Namibia
Tel + 264 61 431 3200
Fax + 264 61 431 3253
www. nsa.org.na
CPI Region: Khomas Checked by: Location: East
Locality: Windhoek Date:
Contact
Details:
Outlet Name: Outlet A
Collector's Name:
Collection Date:
COICOP Code Group/Section/Item UoM Specification Jun-22 Jul-22 Jul-22 Collector's remarks Office use
Scanner
Data
Field
Data
1112.01 Bread N$ N$ N$
01112.01.01 White bread each Own Bakery: sliced 11.99 12.99 11.99
1115.01 Breakfast cereals
01115.01.04 Wheat biscuit cereal 450g Bokomo: Weetbix 24 biscuits 28.99 40.49 28.99
Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets
experience cont..
www.nsa.org.na Slide 8
COICOP Code Group/Section/Item UoM Specification Jun-22 Jul-22 Jul-22 Collector's remarks Office use
1151.01 Butter
01151.01.01 Butter 500g Lurpak danish butter 65.99 92.99 79.99 Price increased
1154.01 Cooking oil
01154.01.02 Sunflower blend 2litre Nola: sunflower oil 104.99 109.99 109.99 Price increased
1152.01 Magarine & fatspreads
01152.01.02 Magarine in tubs 500g Sunshine: in tubs original 39.99 77.99 n/s
1163.01 Apples
01163.01.02 Apples, loose: per kg Apple loose yellow 31.99 31.99 31.99
01163.01.03 Apples, loose: per kg Starking 33.99 33.99 33.99
1168.1 Nuts
01168.10.01 Peanuts, roasted 150g Safari: Roasted & salted in plastic bag 25.49 39.99 23.99 Price decreased
1212.01 Tea
01212.01.01 Tea bags 125g
Five roses: Tagless tea bags, in
cardboard box 50bags 36.49 56.99 36.49
12131.04
Other; toilet paper, serviettes, facial tissues, paper towels, sanitary towels, cotton
wool, cotton tops, toilet sponges, etc.
12131.04.03 Cotton wool. 25g Dove: 100% pure cotton wool, roll 12.99 43.99 12.99
Way forward
1. To outline contracts with all major Supermarket headquarters who
have agreed to be providing the Agency with Scanner Data
2. To compile the NCPI using Scanner Data in accordance with
international standards and best practices.
3. To save resources i.e., field officers would no longer be required to
visit businesses where prices were collected. The potential for
National Statistics Office (NSO) resource savings is influenced by the
size of the field officer reductions and the increase in resources
required by the NSO to manage and process scanner data sets.
www.nsa.org.na Slide 10
Conclusion
The NSA could possibly benefit from the use of Scanner Data which
presents the potential to improve the accuracy, timely and quality of
CPI index through the cooperation of several NSOs who have
successfully negotiated the supply of scanner data direct from retail
businesses and used this data in the compilation of their Consumer
Price Index (CPI).
www.nsa.org.na Slide 11
Questions and Discussions
www.nsa.org.na Slide 12
- Slide Number 1
- Introduction
- Introduction: current practice
- NCPI geographical coverage
- Why Scanner Data?
- Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets experience
- Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets experience cont..
- Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets experience cont..
- Way forward
- Conclusion
- Questions and Discussions
- Slide Number 12