INSTAT, Institute of Statistics

Price Unit, Department of Real Sector Statistics

Street: Vllazën Huta, Building 35, Entrance 1, Tirana, Albania, ZIP Code, 1017

Import Price Index measures the performance of transaction prices of imported industrial products to be sold to the domestic market. All data under this heading are index data. Percentage changes are available. The index data are presented as quarterly and annual data.

The classification used for these statistics is the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities NACE Rev.2. Import prices are collected and processed and are published on the basis of the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA 2008). Goods are classified into individual CPA activities from the field of products (classes, groups, divisions, subsections and sections). Products are classified by activity in which they are imported. Classification of products by activity in which they are imported allows accordance between classification CPA 2008 and NACE Rev.2.

The data collection results from the Regulation 1165/98 which was adopted in 1998 and amended in 2005 by Regulation 1185/2005. The data are published at 2-digit level of the NACE classification (an EU standard classification of economic activities) for: · Section B: 05- 09 Mining and quarrying · Section C: 10-34 Manufacturing · Section D: 35 Electricity, gas and steam supply · Section E: 36-38 Water supply, sewerage and waste.

Import price indices measure changes in the prices of imports. Import is every product that was not produced in Albania but imported from a third country or supplied from another. The relative price is the simplest index of the price change in percentage of a product in two given time periods, one of which constitutes the base period.

Weights. The arithmetic weighing average of elementary indices of individual products will form the index. The index compares current year prices with the prices of December of the previous year (short-term - link) for the 6-digit level according to NACE Rev.2 is calculated by multiplying each item's weight at 6- digit level at the corresponding relative price and dividing their amount by the weight amount. The base period of the Index is the period for which the index is equal to 100. The price reference period is the period for which the price information for the calculation of the index is obtained. The weights reference period is the period to which the information on building the weights of the products is referred.

Statistical unit represent enterprises which supply or import products from foreign markets. The survey covers all the enterprises engaged in production activity, and also those engaged in trade activity. One of the conditions that must be fulfilled in order for an enterprise to be included in the survey is that it supplies the products on the Albanian market.

The Statistical population for IPI are all active enterprises that according to Statistical Business Register are operating in the sections: B, C, D, E. according to NACE Rev.2.

The IPI comprises all territory of Albania

Time series from 2012 onward by NACE Rev2.

The base year is: 2020 = 100

But the base year to EUROSTAT: is 2015=100

       The unit of measure are:

• Indices
• Annual percentage change
• Quarterly percentage change

The reference period of IPI survey is monthly but published quarterly. This report is for the reference year 2022.

The legal basis on which STS indicators are based consist on:

• National Statistical Law
• Official Statistics National Program 2022-2026

Classifications and definitions according to relevant EU regulations:

• Regulation (EU) 2019/2152
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197

IPI data are sent to EUROSTAT.

The data collected are considered as strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes and scientific research in accordance with the national Statistical Law No.17/2018 “On Official Statistics”, date 10.03.2018 and the Law no. 9887, dated 10.03.2008 "Personal Data Protection", Article 31 of the Law on Official Statistics clearly define that all statistical information collected by INSTAT are confidential and may only be used or published in such summary tables that do not identify the information of the unit. The direct identification is called when a statistical unit is directly identified by the name, address or any officially recognized identification number. When data processing is performed in such a way as to enable the data subject to be identified.

Albanian Institute of Statistics protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units. Albania Institute of Statistics takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by Albania Institute of Statistics if and only if:

a) these data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation, in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or 

b) the statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.

The confidential data that are transmitted to Albania Institute of Statistics are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task. Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the staff working in Albania Institute of Statistics. The responsibilities of this staff are to recommend on:  which detailed level the statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible; the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users; the access granting to researchers on confidential data for scientific purposes.

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. The announcements and delays are pre-announced in this calendar. In the case of delays, the date of the next publication and the explanation of the reasons for the delays are specified.

The calendar of publications is available on the INSTAT website.

In accordance with article 34 of Law No. 17/2018 "On Official Statistics", official statistics are disseminated so that all users have an immediate and equal right and all possible forms of media are used. INSTAT and statistical agencies, having in the program the responsibilities of dissemination, seek to meet every requirement of any organization or individual for unpublished data or specific analysis. The following dissemination channels are used to release the results:

• Website – online release;
• Written requests;
• Special publications;
• Data request, section available for external users

The frequency of data dissemination is quarterly and yearly.

According to the calendar of publications, every quarterly published press release on the Import Price Index. The format of press release has not been changed; it is defined by publication sector as well as the date of release. Press release of IPI is published online at INSTATs website.

Users can find the results on the INSTAT website as follows:

• Figures      
• Import Price Indexes

All the information is available in both Albanian and English language. The IPI data is accessed in excel format starting from the 2012 timeline. A simple methodological explanation exists also in the web page. Data on IPI are published in the Official website of INSTAT Database

IPI data bases at micro level are not published due to confidentiality reasons Aggregated data is the only type of data that is provided to external users. Even the micro data are not published they can be accessed based on the article 31, point 7 of the low No. 17/2018 “On official statistics”.

IPI data are sent to EUROSTAT.

Users can submit specific requests for data through the INSTAT website in a dedicated session to contact in the following link: Data-Request

A short explanation related to the definitions of the main concepts and methodological explanations are provided to users in the end of press releases and publications. Additional support information is given to internal users when needed or required. Also the methodologicalnotes are published at INSTATs website.

Price Sector document all the work process and procedure for the IPI (Import Price Index) for internal purposes.

INSTAT is committed to ensure the highest quality with respect to the compilation of statistical information. In accordance with the Statistics Law, INSTAT use statistical methods and processes in compliance with internationally recognized scientific principles and standards conduct on-going analyses of the statistics with a view to quality improvements and ensure that statistics are as up to-date. In performing its tasks it follows the general principles of quality management from the European Statistics Code of Practice. INSTAT declares that it takes into account the following principles: impartiality, quality of processes and products, user orientation, employee orientation, effectiveness of statistical processes, reducing the workload for respondents.

Quality controls and validation of data are actions carried out throughout the process. The staff is involved in different stages such as the data collection, data control, data input and other necessary controls and all are well trained.

Quality monitoring processes for quality dimensions (eg timeliness estimates) exist. Periodic reviews have been carried out to identify the measures that are in place and further meet the quality requirements

Users of IPI are classified as external and internal.

External users are:

• Institutions of public administration,
• Universities,
• National and international NGOs.
• Enterprises
• Researchers, students and other similar groups.

 Internal users are those within the institution of INSTAT.

• National Account Directory

Views (Hits) about Import Price Index in 2022 are around 6,635 clicks.

During 2022 INSTAT conducted User Satisfaction Survey concerning INSTAT publications. The survey results show that the overall quality of Import Price Index statistics is rated 3.67 (or 73.4%) on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good).

INSTAT organizes every year User Satisfaction Survey.

The degree of completeness of the data, for the IPI 2022 is 100%. This calculation took into account the ratio of indicators met by INSTAT to what is required by European regulations.

The accuracy of IPI is generally considered to be high. There is methodological accuracy in regards of weights and prices and calculations according to European Regulations.

Not applicable. Sampling errors for the IPI cannot be calculated because the survey is not based on a random sample but on threshold sampling 

The non-sampling errors are mainly errors occurring during measurement or no response. Errors are evaluated and compared to results of other periods. Phone or physical contacts to the enterprises are used to obtain the correct information and to increase the response rate.

Unit non response takes in consideration enterprises that are unable or unwilling to give the answers or when interviewers are unable to find the enterprises address, or when other barriers exist to complete the interview. Unit non response in enterprise level for IPI 2022 is 9.1%.

Over-coverage is possible when a unit is registered in the activity under observation, but it actually performs some other activity, which is not the subject of observation or the enterprise’s status has changed, it’s not active anymore. Over-coverage rate for IPI 2022 is 0.7%.

Results of Import Price Index are published on INSTAT website 65 days after the end of the reference period (T+ 65 days). The reference period of these results is December 31st, 2022.

The data of Import Price Index are disseminated according to the publication calendar. The publication of Import Price Index has been punctuality in time to 100% of publications carried out over the years.

All the territory of the country was considered and included in IPI sample. INSTAT uses methodological aspects that are based on concepts, definitions and guidelines of European Parliament and Council Regulation concerning of STS. Therefore, IPI produced could be comparable with other countries. 

IPI statistics are provided quarterly and annually and are comparable between them. Time series for IPI exists from the reference year 2012 (2020=100), providing a comparability of 11 years (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=11).

The data are constantly checked to ensure their comparability over time.

Not available.

Import price data are comparable to the Statistical Data of the Foreign Value Unit Index. The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized. The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series confirmed.

Persons working for all the price surveys: CCI, PPI, IPI and SPPI are: Total 73 employees

• Total staff in Central Office 3 employees
• Enumerators 52: 40 long term and 12 short term
• Operators (four months) 9 employees and 9 controller.

Revision policy of IPI is done in accordance with general revision policy and errors treatment policy set by INSTAT. The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.  For further information refer to:

• Revision Policy
• Errors Treatment Policy

Published data are not considered final and can be revising. Data are revised for a whole range or for other reasons such as: new and/or improved data sources, corrections of errors or methodological changes, but the revisions are generally rather limited in scale.

No reviews of data on “IPI” for 2022 have been conducted. No numeric values are available for MR and MAR indicators.

The sources for selecting enterprises are the Annual Survey on Industrial Production and Custom Data.

Data is collected quarterly with monthly information 

Prices which are the basis for calculating Import Price Indices are collected with the quarterly survey of Import Price. Regular collection of prices data normally flows from a sample of units and a sample of their imported products. Enterprises fill the questionnaires every quarter with the information for each month by interview face to face. Each questionnaire is prepared for the enterprise individually. 

Verification of prices: Collected import prices will be compared to their historical trend, price changes for similar import products and other knowledge gained by analysts; implausible price changes are verified with the reporting unit. Reporting units verify prices of the import products by reporting prices for both the current and the previous month and, if any changes occurred, those changes have to be explained in the questionnaire. In INSTAT, prices have been checked by checking prices on questionnaires, by data entry and by telephone in cases when the questionnaire is not properly completed.

National level:

First step is collecting information from the interviewers. The purpose is to bring this information to the statistic level. This process follows:

• Physical control of questionnaires
• Logical control of questionnaires (control of logical marked of responses indicators, description and codification of activity, and control of accurate values.)
• Editing process of data collected (errors and modification)
• Non response units and the missing information need to be completed through the imputation process.
• Analysis of results under each domain of publication 

Missing prices: In case of a missing price, the price of the previous month is carried forward. Treatment of products out of production: If a product becomes unavailable, an appropriate replacement item is selected with similar specifications. Selection of replacement items: A new item within the product group (CPA 6- digit) is suggested by the respondent and selected. Adjustments for quality differences: Overlap pricing - collection of previous period price of the new item – or judgmental explicit valuation of the specification difference. If none of the two are possible “no price change” is assumed. New Products: New products are included at the end of the year and are part of the sample for the following period. Introducing new products: New products are included as from each new annual link. Seasonal items: The latest observed price is carried forward until the item reappears on the market. Seasonally-adjusted indices: Not compiled.

None