Getting the price right

Sigma is a magazine published by Eurostat, addressing those who are interested in European statistics. Each issue deals with a specific statistical theme. This issue focuses on price statistics in all forms. The spotlight first falls on the European Union's first-class inflation measure – the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) – produced by Eurostat for the past 14 years. Sigma also sheds light on the constantly evolving field of energy prices as well as the emerging sector of service producer prices. Another field that is featured is agricultural prices, which have been at the core of European policy since the very birth of the European Union. Sigma further shows the importance of the Purchasing Power Parities in international comparisons of, for example, GDP across countries. Import prices and external trade unit value indices are the subject of an interview with two Eurostat experts. Finally, Sigma gives a glimpse of the world and work of the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria