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HOUSEHOLD BUDGETARY SURVEY 2008. Reno Camilleri A/Director General 10 September 2007. National Statistics Office Lascaris Valletta CMR 02 Tel: 25997000 Fax: 25997205 / 25997103 E-mail: nso@gov.mt www.nso.gov.mt. Purpose & Characteristics.
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HOUSEHOLD BUDGETARY SURVEY 2008 Reno Camilleri A/Director General 10 September 2007 National Statistics Office Lascaris Valletta CMR 02 Tel: 25997000 Fax: 25997205 / 25997103 E-mail: nso@gov.mt www.nso.gov.mt
Purpose & Characteristics • a statistical inquiry into household spending patterns • to provide a new weighting frame for Retail Price Index (RPI) • normally held every 5 years • last HBS was held in 2000/01
Historical Development The HBS has a long history: • 1925: Dept. of Labour monitored changes in a basket of goods in order to ascertain changes in the standard of living of workers’ families in the wake of the 1914-1918 World War • 1936: 1st ‘scientific’ inquiry by the Commissioner of Labour and emigration into the spending habits of 100 workers’ households • 1937: ‘Cost of Living’ index constructed • 1943-1969: Other partial inquiries were held • 1971: 1st full-scale survey held; followed by several national surveys • Last 3 HBSs: held 1988/89; 1994/95; 2000/01
Pensioners Price Index • does it make sense? • 400 households will be interviewed • results will determine its introduction
Targeted Population for HBS 2008 • all private households – some 140,500 • sample frame: 2005 Census will be used as a sampling frame from which sample of households will be selected • sample: originally a sample of 6,500 households will be selected using a systematic random sampling from the Census • Some households will refuse to participate; others will prove difficult to reach (different address from census records, etc.)
Method used for HBS 2008 • final random sample of 3,500 households will be selected and spread over all localities, to include 400 pensioners’ households • screening to assess whether households want to participate • filling in of questionnaire on the main demographic characteristics of the selected households and their possessions • above information will then be used to correct certain imbalances in distribution of sample • filling in of diary. Households will be provided with 2 diaries in which to list all their purchases during a 2-week period • interviewers will assist the households
Errors • sampling error: will be around 3% • bias: • attributed to human error • may include non-response to certain questions • attributed to non-adherence with exact definitions • careless notes • missing data • editing errors • data entry errors
Cooperation of Households - Crucial • correctness of the new weighting frame for RPI depends on the full cooperation of participating households • reliability of inflation index which is used for: • wage adjustments • adjustments of rents • contractual obligations • ..and others ..depends on the full cooperation of participating households
Conclusion • Correctness of new weighting frame and reliability of inflation index are objectives towards which the Office will be working with the carrying out of HBS 2008 • NSO seeks full cooperation from Maltese households and the active collaboration of all interested stakeholders