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Consumer Price Index
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Price Index > Data > Research

R-COICOP Homepage

Background

We calculate indexes using the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) system at the request of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This research project started in 2014 and we continue to calculate and send the indexes to OECD on a monthly basis.

Like the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (R-HICP), the R-COICOP, developed under the auspices of the United Nations Statistics Division, facilitates international comparisons of price change. COICOP is a classification of consumption space (goods and services consumers buy), not a classification of consumers for index eligibility. Thus, it can apply to any population index target. The OECD is a primary user of this data and publishes numerous economic indicators, including consumer inflation, from around the world. A number of countries base their item categories on the COICOP structure.

Limitations

These indexes are calculated outside of the official production system, and are at greater risk of calculation errors than the official CPI indexes. Additionally, they differ from the official indexes in both scope and aggregation, and may not have the same data quality as the official indexes we publish. Customers should be aware of the caveats and limitations of any of these products they consider using.

Where definitional differences exist between U.S. item strata and COICOP classes, factors are used to bridge between the two structures. This allocation and imputation procedure is an approximation of direct collection of COICOP item categories.

Available data

Monthly indexes are produced for the urban (U) population. Data are usually available a few days after the release of the CPI-U. Release of indexes may be delayed due to resource availability and other constraints. Indexes for all items and all items less food and energy are calculated in addition to the 12 COICOP divisions and some additional special aggregates:

  • 01: Food and non-alcoholic beverages

  • 02: Alcoholic beverages and tobacco

  • 03: Clothing and footwear

  • 04: Housing, water, gas, electricity, and other fuels

  • 05: Furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house

  • 06: Health

  • 07: Transport

  • 08: Communications

  • 09: Recreation and culture

  • 10: Education

  • 11: Restaurants and hotels

  • 12: Miscellaneous goods and services

Data

  • R-COICOP, December 2013-Present (XLSX)
  • R-COICOP relative importance, December 2023 (XLSX)
  • R-COICOP relative importance, December 2022 (XLSX)

COICOP consumer prices data are also available from the OECD webpage.

Related articles

Additional information is available on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development What contributes to annual inflation? page, on the Eurostat COICOP HICP glossary page, or Eurostat homepage.

Last Modified Date: April 10, 2024