KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says it will be conducting a pilot for the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) during the period May 30 to July 29.

In a press release today, STATIN said that the main purpose of the HES is to obtain information on the goods and services purchased by private households in order to determine the general pattern of expenditure throughout the economy.

This information, they say, will be used to provide data for the computation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most commonly used indicator of inflation in Jamaica.

Data from the HES is expected to determine the ‘basket’ of goods and services as well as the weights (the relative importance of the various consumer goods and services to total expenditure) used in the compilation of the CPI.

“It is important that the weighting pattern used should adequately reflect the spending habits of the Jamaican population,” STATIN said, adding that the current weights used in the CPI are based on the 2004/2005 HES and therefore need to be updated.

The survey will also be used to collect information on the changing consumer tastes and preferences, changes in income levels and real per capita income, quality changes with the entry of new products to the market, technological advancement, and changes in the demographic structure of the population.

STATIN has urged individuals to participate in this activity as it will impact the lives of every Jamaican. The information garnered is critical to the review of pensions, calculation of electricity rates, computation of wages and salaries, as well as socio-economic policy formulation and other decision-making processes in public and private entities, STATIN said.