International price comparison: Data collection for motor vehicles, restaurants and hotels prices
The aim of the international price comparison is to produce country-specific purchasing power parities. Purchasing power parity is an exchange rate by which the prices of commodity baskets in two countries are made equal in a common currency. The data collection is based on Regulation (EC) No 1445/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Consumer prices are collected six times during three years for the international price comparison. The schedule for the next price survey is:
- 2023 spring: services
- 2023 autumn: health care and furnishings
- 2024 spring: food, beverages and tobacco
- 2024 autumn: clothing and footwear
- 2025 spring: domestic appliances and other household
commodities - 2025 autumn: motor vehicles, restaurants and hotels
In addition, prices are collected every two years for machinery and equipment for the price comparison of investment commodities.
Price data are collected from retail outlets in the Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo areas. The outlets vary randomly by survey group. They comprise a representative sample of stores of different sizes and types.
Depending on the survey, altogether approximately 2,000 to 5,000 price observations are collected, in other words around 4,000 to 10,000 prices per year. Around 200 price observations are collected for machinery and equipment. Statistics Finland’s statistical interviewers collect the prices either by visiting the stores or by telephone in connection with the collection of prices for services, for example. In addition, some data are collected by email.
Respond to the inquiry
Statistikcentralens statistikintervjuare samlar in prisuppgifterna antingen vid ett besök i affären eller per telefon t.ex. i samband med prisinsamlingen för tjänster. Därtill samlas en del av priserna in per e-post.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Data protection, rights and obligations
All data collected for statistical purposes are confidential. When processing data, it is seen to that no person's privacy or business or professional secret are endangered. Every person employed by Statistics Finland has signed a pledge of secrecy.