Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The Food Price Monitoring Tool (FPMT) analyses price developments along the supply chain for common food products using available statistical indicators. A supply chain refers to the sequence of economic activities that are performed by different economic actors involved in producing, processing, trading and selling a consumer product or a group of consumer products.
The FPMT covers 41 supply chains. It compares the price indices for four stages:
Agricultural commodities: the agricultural commodity prices index(ACPI), reflecting price changes in agricultural raw ingredients;
Imported products: the import price index (IPI), based on unit values from international trade in goods statistics;
Domestic production: the domestic producer price index(PPI), reflecting price changes for domestically produced products;
Retail sector: the harmonised index of consumer prices(HICP), reflecting changes in prices faced by households.
The tool is intended to support analysis of price transmission across the food supply chain. Coverage, methodology and comparability may vary across products, countries and data sources.
The data are available for the following aggregates or countries:
eight enlargement countries (Albania, Georgia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine),
the United Kingdom until 2020.
The data are disseminated monthly. Data availability depends on the indicator, supply chain and period.
ACPI The ACPI measures the change in the prices of goods and services as they leave their place of production. In the FPMT, the ACPI represents the first stage in the supply chain: the agricultural commodities market.
IPI The IPI measures the monthly transaction price development of imported goods purchased from non-domestic areas by domestic residents. All price-determining characteristics of the products are taken into account, including quantity of units sold, transport provided, rebates, service conditions, guarantee conditions origin and destination. The non-domestic market is defined as third parties, which are not resident in the same national territory as the observation unit. In the FPMT, the IPI represents the second stage in the supply chain: the import side.
PPI The domestic producer price index, also known as the domestic output price index, measures, for an economic activity, the average price development of all goods and related services resulting from that activity and sold on the domestic market. In the FPMT, the PPI represents the third stage in the output side (domestic production side).
HICP The HICP gives comparable measures of inflation for countries and country groups for which it is produced. In the FPMT, the HICP represents the final stage in the supply chain: the retail sector. The FPMT includes 41 distinct series that measure the change over time of the prices of consumer goods acquired by households.
* this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
3.2. Classification system
All four stages of the supply chain use a different classification system. The mapping of the classification systems is given in 3.4.
ACPI The ACPI uses the agricultural price index code (API).
IPI The IPI uses the Statistical Classification of Products by Activity in the European Economic Community (CPA).
PPI The PPI uses the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community Revision 2 (NACE-Rev.2). The domestic producer prices are European system of accounts (ESA) basic prices. They exclude invoiced VAT and other taxes on products, but they include subsidies on products.
HICP The HICP uses the European Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose version 2 (ECOICOP ver. 2).
For a full list of products covered, see 3.4. For more information on the source data, see 18.1.
3.3. Coverage - sector
ACPI The ACPI covers output prices of agricultural goods of the agricultural sector.
IPI The IPI covers import prices of the industrial sector.
PPI The PPI covers domestic producer prices (output prices) of the industrial sector.
HICP The HICP covers the consumption expenditures of the household sector.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The FPMT combines and transforms data from various sources. See Table 1 for the all 41 supply chains covered.
All data are published monthly in reference year 2025=100. The HICP data are available in reference year 2025=100 and are not rebased. The ACPI, PPI and IPI data are re-referenced to 2025=100.
All data are published with a monthly frequency. For the ACPI, monthly data are available until December 2005. Quarterly data are used for data for January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Monthly data are available for the PPI, IPI and HICP.
Annual and monthly rates of change are published for all data when possible. The IPI, PPI and HICP rates of change correspond to sts_inpi_m, sts_inppd_m and prc_hicp_minr respectively.
Table 1: Product chains
Label
Agricultural Commodity Price Index ACPI (API code)
Import Price Index IPI (CPA)
Producer Price Index PPI (NACE Rev. 2)
Harmonised Index of Consumer Price HICP (ECOICOP ver. 2)
Food
140000 - Total agricultural goods, including fruit and vegetables
CPA_C10 - Food products
C10 - Manufacture of food products
CP011 - Food
Cereals (ND)
010000 - Cereals (including seeds)
CPA_C106 - Grain mill products, starches and starch products
C106 - Manufacture of grain mill products, starches and starch products
CP01111 - Cereals (ND)
Bread
011000 - Wheat and spelt
CPA_C1071 - Bread; fresh pastry goods and cakes
C1071 - Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
CP011131 - Bread
Other bakery products
011100 - Common wheat and spelt
CPA_C1071 - Bread; fresh pastry goods and cakes
C1071 - Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
CP011139 - Other bakery products
Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar pasta products (ND)
011200 - Durum wheat
CPA_C1073 - Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products
C1073 - Manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products
CP01115 - Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar pasta products (ND)
Meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (ND)
110000 - Animals
CPA_C101 - Preserved meat and meat products
C101 - Processing and preserving of meat and production of meat products
CP01122 - Meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (ND)
Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen
111000 - Live cattle
CP011221 - Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen
112000 - Live pigs
CP011222 - Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of goats, lambs and sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen
114000 - Live sheep and goats
CP011223 - Meat of goats, lambs and sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen
115000 - Live poultry
CPA_C1012 - Processed and preserved poultry meat
C1012 - Processing and preserving of poultry meat
CP011224 - Meat of poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of hares and rabbits fresh, chilled or frozen
119000 - Other animals
CP011225 - Meat of hares and rabbits fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of horses and other equines, fresh, chilled or frozen
113000 - Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies
CP011226 - Meat of horses and other equines, fresh, chilled or frozen
Fish and other seafood (ND)
CPA_C102 - Processed and preserved fish, crustaceans and molluscs
C102 - Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs
CP0113 - Fish and other seafood (ND)
Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND)
120000 - Animal products
CPA_C1051 - Dairy and cheese products
C1051 - Operation of dairies and cheese making
CP0114 - Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND)
Raw and whole milk (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01141 - Raw and whole milk (ND)
Skimmed milk (ND)
121100 - Raw cows' milk
CP01142 - Skimmed milk (ND)
Cheese (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01145 - Cheese (ND)
Yoghurt and similar products (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01146 - Yoghurt and similar products (ND)
Eggs (ND)
122000 - Eggs
CP01148 - Eggs (ND)
Oils and fats (ND)
021000 - Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (including seeds)
CPA_C104 - Vegetable and animal oils and fats
C104 - Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
CP0115 - Oils and fats (ND)
Vegetable oils (ND)
021000 - Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (including seeds)
CPA_C1041 - Oils and fats
C1041 - Manufacture of oils and fats
CP01151 - Vegetable oils (ND)
Olive oil
080000 - Olive oil
CPA_C1041 - Oils and fats
C1041 - Manufacture of oils and fats
CP011513 - Olive oil
Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk (ND)
121100 - Raw cows' milk
CP01152 - Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk (ND)
Fruits and nuts (ND)
060000 - Fruit
CP0116 - Fruits and nuts (ND)
Citrus fruits, fresh (ND)
062000 - Citrus fruit
CP01162 - Citrus fruits, fresh (ND)
Fruits, frozen (ND)
061000 - Fresh fruit
CP01166 - Fruits, frozen (ND)
Fruits, dried and dehydrated (ND)
061942 - Dried fruit
CP01167 - Fruits, dried and dehydrated (ND)
Nuts, in shell or shelled (ND)
061941 - Nuts
CP01168 - Nuts, in shell or shelled (ND)
Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND)
041000 - Fresh vegetables (including melons)
CP0117 - Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND)
Potatoes
051000 - Potatoes for consumption
CPA_C1031 - Processed and preserved potatoes
C1031 - Processing and preserving of potatoes
CP011751 - Potatoes
Cane sugar and beet sugar (ND)
024000 - Sugar beet
CPA_C1081 - Sugar
C1081 - Manufacture of sugar
CP01181 - Cane sugar and beet sugar (ND)
Chocolate, cocoa and cocoa-based food products (ND)
CPA_C1082 - Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
C1082 - Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
CP01185 - Chocolate, cocoa and cocoa-based food products (ND)
Ice, ice cream and sorbets (ND)
CPA_C1052 - Ice cream
C1052 - Manufacture of ice cream
CP01186 - Ice, ice cream and sorbets (ND)
Salt, condiments and sauces (ND)
CPA_C1084 - Condiments and seasonings
C1084 - Manufacture of condiments and seasonings
CP01193 - Salt, condiments and sauces (ND)
Fruit and vegetable juices (ND)
061000 - Fresh fruit
CPA_C1032 - Fruit and vegetable juices
C1032 - Manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice
CP0121 - Fruit and vegetable juices (ND)
Coffee and coffee substitutes (ND)
CPA_C1083 - Processed tea and coffee
C1083 - Processing of tea and coffee
CP0122 - Coffee and coffee substitutes (ND)
Tea, maté and other plant-derived products for infusion (ND)
CPA_C1083 - Processed tea and coffee
C1083 - Processing of tea and coffee
CP0123 - Tea, maté and other plant-derived products for infusion (ND)
Cocoa drinks (ND)
CPA_C1082 - Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
C1082 - Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
CP0124 - Cocoa drinks (ND)
Wine from grapes (ND)
070000 - Wine
CPA_C1102 - Wine from grape
C1102 - Manufacture of wine from grape
CP02121 - Wine from grapes (ND)
Beer (ND)
013200 - Malting barley
CPA_C1105 - Beer
C1105 - Manufacture of beer
CP0213 - Beer (ND)
Tobacco (ND)
023000 - Raw tobacco
CPA_C12 - Tobacco products
C12 - Manufacture of tobacco products
CP023 - Tobacco (ND)
Consult the respective indicator's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
3.5. Statistical unit
Consult the respective indicator's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
3.6. Statistical population
Consult the respective domain's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area depends on the indicator, see Table 2 for a detailed breakdown of reference area per indicator.
Table 2: Reference area per indicator
Reference area
ACPI
IPI
PPI
HICP
EU aggregate(s)
Included
Included
Included
Included
EA aggregate(s)
Included
Included
Included
EEA aggregate excluding Liechtenstein
Included
Individual EU Member States
Included
Included
Included
Included
Individual EFTA countries
Norway, Switzerland
Norway, Switzerland
Iceland, Norway, Switzerland
Individual enlargement countries
North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine
Albania, Georgia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye
Other countries
United Kingdom until 2020
Data availability depends on the indicator, supply chain and period.
* this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The coverage depends on the indicator. See Table 3 for the coverage per indicator.
Table 3: Coverage per indicator
Indicator
Coverage
ACPI
From January 1995 onward
IPI
From January 1995 onward
PPI
From January 1995 onward
HICP
From January 1996 onward
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
3.9. Base period
All data are published in reference year 2025=100. The HICP data are available in reference year 2025=100 and are not re-referenced. The ACPI, PPI and IPI data are re-referenced to 2025=100.
The data are either indices or rates of change.
All data are published with a monthly frequency.
For the ACPI, monthly data are available until December 2005. Quarterly data are used for data from January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Monthly data are available for the IPI, PPI and HICP.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
There is no institutional mandate. The development of the FPMT follows from proposals put forward in the Commission Communication of December 2008 on Food prices in Europe (COM(2008) 821 final).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
There is no institutional mandate.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Article 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 was last amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/3018. The consolidated version is available in The European Union legislation portal (Eur-lex).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The confidential data transmitted are used exclusively for statistical purposes and only accessible to staff working in statistical activities within their specific domain of work, according to Article 22(5) of the Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 March 2009, on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/3018.
8.1. Release calendar
The FPMT does not have a dedicated release calendar.
For more information on the release calendars of the indicators, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
8.2. Release calendar access
The FPMT does not have a dedicated release calendar.
For more information on the release calendar access of the individual indicators, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice (June 2018) Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see point 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users (as from July 2024).
This metadata, together with the metadata pages of each indicator, is the most complete information available regarding the FPMT.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
For full information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
11.1. Quality assurance
The quality assurance depends on each stage of the food supply chain.
ACPI Quality checks and validation of data are done throughout the whole process: first by the Member States, then by Eurostat with the aid of an IT anaysis tool.
IPI Quality checks and validation of data are done throughout the whole process: first by the Member States, then by Eurostat in the calculation of European aggregates. The quality is regularly monitored on the basis of usual quality checks in the process of validation of data and national reference metadata.
PPI Quality checks and validation of data are done throughout the whole process: first by the Member States, then by Eurostat in the calculation of European aggregates. The quality is regularly monitored on the basis of usual quality checks in the process of validation of data and national reference metadata.
HICP Eurostat undertakes compliance monitoring visits to Member States during which it reviews HICP methodological issues. That way, it ensures that the statistical practices used to compile the national HICP are compliant with the HICP methodological requirements.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality management depends on each stage of the food supply chain:
ACPI Working groups are organised by Eurostat to meet countries and discuss future activities with eventual developments and improvements.
IPI The main strengths are the relevance, the timeliness and punctuality, the accessibility, the clarity and the coherence. Their main weaknesses are the accuracy and the comparability.
HICP Working groups are organised by Eurostat to meet countries and discuss future activities with eventual developments and improvements. Results of compliance monitoring visits are publicly available.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
In the Commission Communication of December 2008 on Food prices in Europe (COM(2008) 821 final), the European Commission proposed better monitoring of agricultural commodity and food prices. To this end, the FPMT was developed.
The FPMT is an interactive tool that monitors 41 supply chains and compares four different price indices. The FPMT is relevant to user needs as it brings together, in one place, price developments across several stages of the food supply chain. By comparing the ACPI, IPI, PPI and HICP, it helps users understand how price changes may move from agricultural commodities, through imports and domestic production, to consumer food prices.
The FPMT is used by the following users:
Policymakers and public authorities. They monitor food price inflation, detect unusual divergences within and across supply chains, assess possible transmission of global commodity shocks to EU consumers and support evidence-based policymaking.
Market analysts and economists. They study price transmissions along supply chains, identify structural difference between supply chains, analyse inflation dynamics and use the data to make forecasts.
Businesses and sector organisations. They benchmark price developments in their sector, monitor the supply chain to understand where price increases are coming from and support strategic planning with evidence.
Farmers and agricultural stakeholders. They use the FPMT to place farm-level price developments in a wider context, compare agricultural commodity price developments with downstream producer and consumer price developments and evaluate if and how shocks in agricultural commodity prices affect the supply chain.
Consumers and journalists. They seek to better understand food price developments and examine where consumer price increases are coming from.
With the data of the FPMT, the following analyses can be performed:
Supply chain price transmission analysis,
Inflation monitoring,
Cross-chain comparison and analysis,
Shock analysis,
Time-series and comparative trend analysis.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Not available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy depends on each stage of the food supply chain.
ACPI Based on the reference weighting schemes, price indices transmitted should not deviate from the expected result more than a range of + 0.5%. Due to transforming quarterly to monthly data by means of temporal disaggregation for the period from January 2006 onward, some inaccuracy might be introduced, especially in the last three months.
IPI As intra-EU trade statistics stem from Intrastat declarations by the traders, a main source of error that affects accuracy of intra-EU data is late or non-response. Intra-EU as well as extra-EU trade data accuracy is also affected by specific characteristics of this statistical field, such as the practice of concealing confidential information and the exemption thresholds applied by countries in order to reduce the burden on enterprises.
PPI Accuracy is tackled at national and European levels, by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors, by calculating sampling errors and studying and analysing revisions. The available information at country level is summarised in the reports Principal European Economic Indicators in focus and in national reference metadata.
HICP The accuracy of the source data is monitored by assessing the methodological soundness of price and weight sources and the adherence to the legal framework and methodological recommendations.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
13.2. Sampling error
Consult the metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Consult the metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
14.1. Timeliness
There is no institutional mandate nor a dedicated release calendar for the FPMT. Data are typically updated monthly.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable since there is no pre-announced schedule.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Geopgraphical comparability depends on the indicator.
ACPI ACPI data are comparable among all Member States due to the adoption of the agreed common EU methodology.
HICP Definitions and classifications have been harmonised in a series of legal acts. HICP data are comparable among all Member States.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability over time depends on the indicator.
ACPI The ACPI is calculated from the monthly API until December 2005 and from the quarterly API for January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Comparability over time is high but depends on the supply chain and country.
IPI Comparability over time is considered to be very good since the year 2000.
PPI Comparability over time is considered to be very good since the year 2000.
HICP Comparability over time is considered to be very good. However, due to changes in methodology, breaks in the time series might occur.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The values published are reconcilable with the original data.
ACPI The ACPI data are calculated by combining the monthly API data from January 1995 until December 2005 with the quarterly API data for January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data is automatically estimated. Then, the data are rebased so that 2025=100. As such, the data are coherent across domains, but not directly comparable. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated.
IPI The IPI data are re-referenced so that 2025=100.
PPI The PPI data are re-referenced so that 2025=100.
HICP The HICP data are directly comparable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The data are internally coherent.
The FPMT was developed using already existing data and does not increase the burden on Member States, EFTA, enlargement or other countries.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The FPMT is based on the ACPI, IPI, PPI and HICP. It changes the base year of all except for the HICP. For the ACPI, some data are changed from quarterly to monthly with temporal disaggregation. Thus, revisions for the FPMT are dependent on its subcomponents as well as the methodology within the FPMT.
The FPMT follows the general Eurostat revision policy. The data are updated monthly and any revisions in the underlying indicators as well as changes within the methodology of the FPMT are published.
ACPI The ACPI follows the general Eurostat revision policy. Changes in the underlying API data change the results of the temporal disaggregation.
PPI The revision policy of the European aggregates is generally in line with the ESS guidelines on revision policy for PEEIs. Errors are corrected immediately when detected and an error report is released. In the FPMT, the error would be rectified in the next release rather than right away.
For more information on the subcomponents, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Revisions can only be made monthly in the FPMT. The revision practices of the subcomponents can be found in the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
In case any errors are discovered in the calculation methods of the FPMT, these errors are carried over into the FPMT, and corrected in the already disseminated FPMT data for all reference periods that are impacted in connection with the next monthly data release.
In case any of the subcomponents are revised (due to reported errors or due to new data being provided), these revisions are carried over into the already disseminated FPMT data, which are revised (i.e. corrected or updated) for all reference periods that are impacted in connection with the next monthly data release.
In case the FPMT methodology is revised, the entire already disseminated FPMT time series is revised retroactively in connection with the next monthly release, and the change in methodology is documented in the FPMT metadata.
18.1. Source data
Consult the respective domain's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The IPI, PPI and HICP are collected monthly. The underlying API data is collected quarterly since January 2006.
18.3. Data collection
Consult the respective domain's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
18.4. Data validation
For the FPMT, data validation is performed by Eurostat. The data validation of the underlying indicators is done by both the national statistical institutes (NSIs) and Eurostat.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
18.5. Data compilation
Data compilation differs for each stage in the supply chain.
ACPI Agricultural price statistics provide information on the development of producer prices for agricultural products. The indices are based on sales of agricultural products. Prices should be recorded at points which are as close as possible to those of the transactions that the farmer actually undertakes.
The ACPI is calculated from the monthly API until December 2005 and from the quarterly API from January 2006 onward. The data compilation procedure to obtain the final ACPI is as follows for each supply chain:
Quarterly data are obtained from apri_pi_outq. These data are available in different bases: 2005=100, 2010=100, 2015=100, and 2020=100. The period in which the data are available depends on the base. For instance, data for 2006 are available in 2005=100 but not in 2020=100.
The quarterly data of all different base years are transformed to the same base year. First, the data of 2005=100 and 2010=100 are combined by applying the mean splice. First, the overlap period is determined when both series are available. Then, the mean period is determined and serves to rebase the 2005=100 to the 2010=100 data. In case of an even overlap period, the result is rounded up (e.g. the overlap period is January to April, then March is used to rebase the data). This results in new 2010=100 data. This procedure is repeated for the new 2010=100 and the existing 2015=100 data, resulting in new 2015=100 data. This procedure is then finally repeated for the new 2015=100 and the existing 2020=100.
All newly rebased quarterly data are combined by taking the most recent value when available. For instance, if January 2020 exists in both (the new) 2015=100 and 2020=100, then the values of 2020=100 are taken.
The combined quarterly data are disaggregated by means of temporal disaggregation to obtain monthly data. Missing data are automatically estimated.
The newly calculated monthly data are rebased to the existing monthly data by applying the mean splice. The data are combined by prioritising the monthly data that were not calculated by temporal disaggregation. This means that the resulting series is based on monthly data until December 2005 and quarterly data from January 2006 onward. Data for January 2006 onward is flagged with e - estimated.
The final result is rebased so that 2025=100. Rates of change are calculated directly on the rebased data.
The temporal disaggregation used is Ecotrim. It is a program developed by Eurostat that supplies a set of mathematical and statistical techniques to carry out temporal disaggregation of time series. When the series are disaggregated, the quarterly average of the monthly indices is set equal to the quarterly indices.
Ecotrim offers the possibility to use a benchmark. The exponential of the disaggregated values of the logarithm of the original series are used as a benchmark (disaggregation setting the geometrical quarterly average of the monthly indices equal to the quarterly indices). The use of this benchmark affects most series slightly, but it is required to avoid negative index values in volatile series.
Confidential quarterly data are treated as missing for the purpose of temporal disaggregation, but the resulting monthly data are marked confidential and not disseminated. Thus, confidential data in 2025 Q1 would result in confidential data for January, February and March.
IPI The IPI measures monthly transaction price developments of imported goods purchased from non-domestic areas by domestic residents.
The data compilation procedure to obtain the final IPI is done by re-referencing the available data to 2025=100. Rates of change are already available and not recalculated on re-referenced data.
PPI The PPI is a business cycle indicator showing the development of transaction prices for the monthly industrial output of economic activities. The PPI measures the gross monthly change in the trading price of manufactured products.
The data compilation procedure to obtain the final PPI is done by re-referencing the available data to 2025=100. Rates of change are already available and not recalculated on re-referenced data.
HICP The HICP data is the primary indicator for measuring inflation and price stability across the euro area. It is calculated monthly according to a harmonised approach and a single set of definitions.
In the FPMT, the HICP data are taken directly from the source.
18.6. Adjustment
The data are not seasonally adjusted.
General notes:
1. The food supply chain The prices paid for the outputs in each step of the supply chain reflect the values of the inputs, including the payment for labour and other production factors, and the profit margins made by the player.
The supply chain may be relatively short and simple for some food products or more complex for others. It may also differ across countries. Prices of each input in the supply chain may change over time. These changed prices for inputs may be passed through to the next player in the chain and change the prices of intermediate products or they may affect the profit margin of the players involved.
2. Limitations of the monitoring tool The tool concentrates on the comparison of the agricultural product prices through the supply chain. It should be acknowledged that for many products the value added to the final product from labour, energy and transport may be higher than the cost of the basic level agricultural inputs. Food products that are sold to consumers after a short and uncomplicated production process may react more directly to changes in commodity prices than food products that have undergone a lengthy and costly production process, where the basic agricultural commodity forms a small part of the total cost.
The Food Price Monitoring Tool (FPMT) analyses price developments along the supply chain for common food products using available statistical indicators. A supply chain refers to the sequence of economic activities that are performed by different economic actors involved in producing, processing, trading and selling a consumer product or a group of consumer products.
The FPMT covers 41 supply chains. It compares the price indices for four stages:
Agricultural commodities: the agricultural commodity prices index(ACPI), reflecting price changes in agricultural raw ingredients;
Imported products: the import price index (IPI), based on unit values from international trade in goods statistics;
Domestic production: the domestic producer price index(PPI), reflecting price changes for domestically produced products;
Retail sector: the harmonised index of consumer prices(HICP), reflecting changes in prices faced by households.
The tool is intended to support analysis of price transmission across the food supply chain. Coverage, methodology and comparability may vary across products, countries and data sources.
The data are available for the following aggregates or countries:
eight enlargement countries (Albania, Georgia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine),
the United Kingdom until 2020.
The data are disseminated monthly. Data availability depends on the indicator, supply chain and period.
ACPI The ACPI measures the change in the prices of goods and services as they leave their place of production. In the FPMT, the ACPI represents the first stage in the supply chain: the agricultural commodities market.
IPI The IPI measures the monthly transaction price development of imported goods purchased from non-domestic areas by domestic residents. All price-determining characteristics of the products are taken into account, including quantity of units sold, transport provided, rebates, service conditions, guarantee conditions origin and destination. The non-domestic market is defined as third parties, which are not resident in the same national territory as the observation unit. In the FPMT, the IPI represents the second stage in the supply chain: the import side.
PPI The domestic producer price index, also known as the domestic output price index, measures, for an economic activity, the average price development of all goods and related services resulting from that activity and sold on the domestic market. In the FPMT, the PPI represents the third stage in the output side (domestic production side).
HICP The HICP gives comparable measures of inflation for countries and country groups for which it is produced. In the FPMT, the HICP represents the final stage in the supply chain: the retail sector. The FPMT includes 41 distinct series that measure the change over time of the prices of consumer goods acquired by households.
* this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
21 October 2026
The FPMT combines and transforms data from various sources. See Table 1 for the all 41 supply chains covered.
All data are published monthly in reference year 2025=100. The HICP data are available in reference year 2025=100 and are not rebased. The ACPI, PPI and IPI data are re-referenced to 2025=100.
All data are published with a monthly frequency. For the ACPI, monthly data are available until December 2005. Quarterly data are used for data for January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Monthly data are available for the PPI, IPI and HICP.
Annual and monthly rates of change are published for all data when possible. The IPI, PPI and HICP rates of change correspond to sts_inpi_m, sts_inppd_m and prc_hicp_minr respectively.
Table 1: Product chains
Label
Agricultural Commodity Price Index ACPI (API code)
Import Price Index IPI (CPA)
Producer Price Index PPI (NACE Rev. 2)
Harmonised Index of Consumer Price HICP (ECOICOP ver. 2)
Food
140000 - Total agricultural goods, including fruit and vegetables
CPA_C10 - Food products
C10 - Manufacture of food products
CP011 - Food
Cereals (ND)
010000 - Cereals (including seeds)
CPA_C106 - Grain mill products, starches and starch products
C106 - Manufacture of grain mill products, starches and starch products
CP01111 - Cereals (ND)
Bread
011000 - Wheat and spelt
CPA_C1071 - Bread; fresh pastry goods and cakes
C1071 - Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
CP011131 - Bread
Other bakery products
011100 - Common wheat and spelt
CPA_C1071 - Bread; fresh pastry goods and cakes
C1071 - Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
CP011139 - Other bakery products
Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar pasta products (ND)
011200 - Durum wheat
CPA_C1073 - Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products
C1073 - Manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products
CP01115 - Macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar pasta products (ND)
Meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (ND)
110000 - Animals
CPA_C101 - Preserved meat and meat products
C101 - Processing and preserving of meat and production of meat products
CP01122 - Meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (ND)
Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen
111000 - Live cattle
CP011221 - Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen
112000 - Live pigs
CP011222 - Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of goats, lambs and sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen
114000 - Live sheep and goats
CP011223 - Meat of goats, lambs and sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen
115000 - Live poultry
CPA_C1012 - Processed and preserved poultry meat
C1012 - Processing and preserving of poultry meat
CP011224 - Meat of poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of hares and rabbits fresh, chilled or frozen
119000 - Other animals
CP011225 - Meat of hares and rabbits fresh, chilled or frozen
Meat of horses and other equines, fresh, chilled or frozen
113000 - Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies
CP011226 - Meat of horses and other equines, fresh, chilled or frozen
Fish and other seafood (ND)
CPA_C102 - Processed and preserved fish, crustaceans and molluscs
C102 - Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs
CP0113 - Fish and other seafood (ND)
Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND)
120000 - Animal products
CPA_C1051 - Dairy and cheese products
C1051 - Operation of dairies and cheese making
CP0114 - Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND)
Raw and whole milk (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01141 - Raw and whole milk (ND)
Skimmed milk (ND)
121100 - Raw cows' milk
CP01142 - Skimmed milk (ND)
Cheese (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01145 - Cheese (ND)
Yoghurt and similar products (ND)
121000 - Milk or raw milk
CP01146 - Yoghurt and similar products (ND)
Eggs (ND)
122000 - Eggs
CP01148 - Eggs (ND)
Oils and fats (ND)
021000 - Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (including seeds)
CPA_C104 - Vegetable and animal oils and fats
C104 - Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
CP0115 - Oils and fats (ND)
Vegetable oils (ND)
021000 - Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (including seeds)
CPA_C1041 - Oils and fats
C1041 - Manufacture of oils and fats
CP01151 - Vegetable oils (ND)
Olive oil
080000 - Olive oil
CPA_C1041 - Oils and fats
C1041 - Manufacture of oils and fats
CP011513 - Olive oil
Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk (ND)
121100 - Raw cows' milk
CP01152 - Butter and other oils and fats derived from milk (ND)
Fruits and nuts (ND)
060000 - Fruit
CP0116 - Fruits and nuts (ND)
Citrus fruits, fresh (ND)
062000 - Citrus fruit
CP01162 - Citrus fruits, fresh (ND)
Fruits, frozen (ND)
061000 - Fresh fruit
CP01166 - Fruits, frozen (ND)
Fruits, dried and dehydrated (ND)
061942 - Dried fruit
CP01167 - Fruits, dried and dehydrated (ND)
Nuts, in shell or shelled (ND)
061941 - Nuts
CP01168 - Nuts, in shell or shelled (ND)
Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND)
041000 - Fresh vegetables (including melons)
CP0117 - Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND)
Potatoes
051000 - Potatoes for consumption
CPA_C1031 - Processed and preserved potatoes
C1031 - Processing and preserving of potatoes
CP011751 - Potatoes
Cane sugar and beet sugar (ND)
024000 - Sugar beet
CPA_C1081 - Sugar
C1081 - Manufacture of sugar
CP01181 - Cane sugar and beet sugar (ND)
Chocolate, cocoa and cocoa-based food products (ND)
CPA_C1082 - Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
C1082 - Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
CP01185 - Chocolate, cocoa and cocoa-based food products (ND)
Ice, ice cream and sorbets (ND)
CPA_C1052 - Ice cream
C1052 - Manufacture of ice cream
CP01186 - Ice, ice cream and sorbets (ND)
Salt, condiments and sauces (ND)
CPA_C1084 - Condiments and seasonings
C1084 - Manufacture of condiments and seasonings
CP01193 - Salt, condiments and sauces (ND)
Fruit and vegetable juices (ND)
061000 - Fresh fruit
CPA_C1032 - Fruit and vegetable juices
C1032 - Manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice
CP0121 - Fruit and vegetable juices (ND)
Coffee and coffee substitutes (ND)
CPA_C1083 - Processed tea and coffee
C1083 - Processing of tea and coffee
CP0122 - Coffee and coffee substitutes (ND)
Tea, maté and other plant-derived products for infusion (ND)
CPA_C1083 - Processed tea and coffee
C1083 - Processing of tea and coffee
CP0123 - Tea, maté and other plant-derived products for infusion (ND)
Cocoa drinks (ND)
CPA_C1082 - Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
C1082 - Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
CP0124 - Cocoa drinks (ND)
Wine from grapes (ND)
070000 - Wine
CPA_C1102 - Wine from grape
C1102 - Manufacture of wine from grape
CP02121 - Wine from grapes (ND)
Beer (ND)
013200 - Malting barley
CPA_C1105 - Beer
C1105 - Manufacture of beer
CP0213 - Beer (ND)
Tobacco (ND)
023000 - Raw tobacco
CPA_C12 - Tobacco products
C12 - Manufacture of tobacco products
CP023 - Tobacco (ND)
Consult the respective indicator's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
Consult the respective indicator's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
Consult the respective domain's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
The reference area depends on the indicator, see Table 2 for a detailed breakdown of reference area per indicator.
Table 2: Reference area per indicator
Reference area
ACPI
IPI
PPI
HICP
EU aggregate(s)
Included
Included
Included
Included
EA aggregate(s)
Included
Included
Included
EEA aggregate excluding Liechtenstein
Included
Individual EU Member States
Included
Included
Included
Included
Individual EFTA countries
Norway, Switzerland
Norway, Switzerland
Iceland, Norway, Switzerland
Individual enlargement countries
North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine
Albania, Georgia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye
Other countries
United Kingdom until 2020
Data availability depends on the indicator, supply chain and period.
* this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
All data are published with a monthly frequency.
For the ACPI, monthly data are available until December 2005. Quarterly data are used for data from January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Monthly data are available for the IPI, PPI and HICP.
The accuracy depends on each stage of the food supply chain.
ACPI Based on the reference weighting schemes, price indices transmitted should not deviate from the expected result more than a range of + 0.5%. Due to transforming quarterly to monthly data by means of temporal disaggregation for the period from January 2006 onward, some inaccuracy might be introduced, especially in the last three months.
IPI As intra-EU trade statistics stem from Intrastat declarations by the traders, a main source of error that affects accuracy of intra-EU data is late or non-response. Intra-EU as well as extra-EU trade data accuracy is also affected by specific characteristics of this statistical field, such as the practice of concealing confidential information and the exemption thresholds applied by countries in order to reduce the burden on enterprises.
PPI Accuracy is tackled at national and European levels, by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors, by calculating sampling errors and studying and analysing revisions. The available information at country level is summarised in the reports Principal European Economic Indicators in focus and in national reference metadata.
HICP The accuracy of the source data is monitored by assessing the methodological soundness of price and weight sources and the adherence to the legal framework and methodological recommendations.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
The data are either indices or rates of change.
Data compilation differs for each stage in the supply chain.
ACPI Agricultural price statistics provide information on the development of producer prices for agricultural products. The indices are based on sales of agricultural products. Prices should be recorded at points which are as close as possible to those of the transactions that the farmer actually undertakes.
The ACPI is calculated from the monthly API until December 2005 and from the quarterly API from January 2006 onward. The data compilation procedure to obtain the final ACPI is as follows for each supply chain:
Quarterly data are obtained from apri_pi_outq. These data are available in different bases: 2005=100, 2010=100, 2015=100, and 2020=100. The period in which the data are available depends on the base. For instance, data for 2006 are available in 2005=100 but not in 2020=100.
The quarterly data of all different base years are transformed to the same base year. First, the data of 2005=100 and 2010=100 are combined by applying the mean splice. First, the overlap period is determined when both series are available. Then, the mean period is determined and serves to rebase the 2005=100 to the 2010=100 data. In case of an even overlap period, the result is rounded up (e.g. the overlap period is January to April, then March is used to rebase the data). This results in new 2010=100 data. This procedure is repeated for the new 2010=100 and the existing 2015=100 data, resulting in new 2015=100 data. This procedure is then finally repeated for the new 2015=100 and the existing 2020=100.
All newly rebased quarterly data are combined by taking the most recent value when available. For instance, if January 2020 exists in both (the new) 2015=100 and 2020=100, then the values of 2020=100 are taken.
The combined quarterly data are disaggregated by means of temporal disaggregation to obtain monthly data. Missing data are automatically estimated.
The newly calculated monthly data are rebased to the existing monthly data by applying the mean splice. The data are combined by prioritising the monthly data that were not calculated by temporal disaggregation. This means that the resulting series is based on monthly data until December 2005 and quarterly data from January 2006 onward. Data for January 2006 onward is flagged with e - estimated.
The final result is rebased so that 2025=100. Rates of change are calculated directly on the rebased data.
The temporal disaggregation used is Ecotrim. It is a program developed by Eurostat that supplies a set of mathematical and statistical techniques to carry out temporal disaggregation of time series. When the series are disaggregated, the quarterly average of the monthly indices is set equal to the quarterly indices.
Ecotrim offers the possibility to use a benchmark. The exponential of the disaggregated values of the logarithm of the original series are used as a benchmark (disaggregation setting the geometrical quarterly average of the monthly indices equal to the quarterly indices). The use of this benchmark affects most series slightly, but it is required to avoid negative index values in volatile series.
Confidential quarterly data are treated as missing for the purpose of temporal disaggregation, but the resulting monthly data are marked confidential and not disseminated. Thus, confidential data in 2025 Q1 would result in confidential data for January, February and March.
IPI The IPI measures monthly transaction price developments of imported goods purchased from non-domestic areas by domestic residents.
The data compilation procedure to obtain the final IPI is done by re-referencing the available data to 2025=100. Rates of change are already available and not recalculated on re-referenced data.
PPI The PPI is a business cycle indicator showing the development of transaction prices for the monthly industrial output of economic activities. The PPI measures the gross monthly change in the trading price of manufactured products.
The data compilation procedure to obtain the final PPI is done by re-referencing the available data to 2025=100. Rates of change are already available and not recalculated on re-referenced data.
HICP The HICP data is the primary indicator for measuring inflation and price stability across the euro area. It is calculated monthly according to a harmonised approach and a single set of definitions.
In the FPMT, the HICP data are taken directly from the source.
Consult the respective domain's metadata for full information on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
The data are disseminated monthly.
There is no institutional mandate nor a dedicated release calendar for the FPMT. Data are typically updated monthly.
Geopgraphical comparability depends on the indicator.
ACPI ACPI data are comparable among all Member States due to the adoption of the agreed common EU methodology.
HICP Definitions and classifications have been harmonised in a series of legal acts. HICP data are comparable among all Member States.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
Comparability over time depends on the indicator.
ACPI The ACPI is calculated from the monthly API until December 2005 and from the quarterly API for January 2006 onward. These quarterly data are transformed into monthly data with temporal disaggregation, where missing data are automatically estimated. All ACPI data from January 2006 are marked estimated. Comparability over time is high but depends on the supply chain and country.
IPI Comparability over time is considered to be very good since the year 2000.
PPI Comparability over time is considered to be very good since the year 2000.
HICP Comparability over time is considered to be very good. However, due to changes in methodology, breaks in the time series might occur.
For more information, consult the metadata on the ACPI, IPI, PPI, and HICP.
