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Namibia

Investigating the possibilities for using scanner data for CPI in Namibia

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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.

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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.

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NCPI geographical coverage

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Why Scanner Data?

Resources having by the Agency

To update CPI weights

Data confrontation and quality assurance

Updates pricing samples

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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

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Challenges encountered: The Namibian supermarkets experience cont..

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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..

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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.

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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).

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Questions and Discussions

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  • 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

Finland and Namibia pilot twinning initiative to strengthen transboundary water cooperation under UN Water Convention

Finland and the Republic of Namibia, both countries which are strong advocates for transboundary water cooperation in their respective regions and globally, have just embarked on a two-year pilot Twinning Initiative to exchange experiences, build capacity and strengthen bilateral cooperation on transboundary water management. It is the first Twinning of its kind between the two countries. 

Namibia posits benefits of Water Convention accession to manage its shared water resources

Namibia shares all its perennial rivers with neighboring countries and is both a mid-stream and downstream country. Transboundary water cooperation is therefore crucial for Namibia’s water security and sustainable socio-economic development. In today’s interconnected world, water availability is directly related to peace and security.