1.1. Contact organisation
Institute of Statistics (INSTAT)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Price Statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
'Vllazën Huta' Street, Building No.35, Entrance1, 1017, Tirana, ALBANIA
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
11 September 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
11 September 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
11 September 2025
3.1. Data description
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is a consumer price index (CPI) that is calculated according to a harmonised approach. It measures the change over time of the prices of consumer goods and services acquired by households (inflation).
Due to the common methodology, the HICPs of the countries and European aggregates can be directly compared.
3.2. Classification system
European classification of individual consumption according to purpose (ECOICOP).
3.3. Coverage - sector
The HICP covers the final monetary consumption expenditure of the household sector.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The main statistical variables are price indices.
3.5. Statistical unit
The basic unit of statistical observation are prices for consumer products.
3.6. Statistical population
Please see the information under the next points.
3.6.1. Statistical target population
The target statistical universe is the 'household final monetary consumption expenditure' (HFMCE) on the economic territory of the country by both resident and non-resident households. The household sector to which the definition refers, includes all individuals or groups of individuals irrespective of, in particular, the type of area in which they live, their position in the income distribution and their nationality or residence status. These definitions follow the national accounts concepts in the European System of Accounts.
3.6.1.1. Statistical target population - national specifics
The Domestic concept is used for the HICP weights, expenditure data are largely based on national accounts data adjusted to the needs of the HICP. The household population sector to which the definition refers includes all individuals or groups of individuals irrespective of, in particular, the type of area in which they live, their position in the income distribution and their nationality or residence status. The HICP comprise all purchases by households within the territory of Albania; those by both resident and non-resident households (i.e. 'domestic concept').
The consumption expenditures of individuals living in institutional households are not explicitly covered in the Albanian HICP, they are implicitly included via the use of national accounts data.
3.7. Reference area
Please see the information under the next point.
3.7.1. Geographical coverage
The HICP refers to the economic territory of a country as referred to in paragraph 2.05 of Annex A to ESA 2010, with the exception that the extraterritorial enclaves situated within the boundaries of a Member State or a country are included and the territorial enclaves situated in the rest of the world are excluded.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Please see the information under the next points.
3.8.1. Start of time series
The HICP series started in January 1997.
3.8.2. Start of time series - national specifics
The Albanian HICP series started in 2016.
See the HICP database
3.9. Base period
2015=100.
The following units are used:
- Index point
- Percentage change on the same period of the previous year (rates)
- Percentage change on the previous period (rates)
- Percentage share of the total (weights).
HICP is a monthly statistics.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICPs) are harmonised inflation figures required under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Regulation (EU) 2016/792 of the European Parliament and the Council of 11 May 2016 (OJ L 135) sets the legal basis for establishing a harmonised methodology for the compilation of the HICP and the HICP-CT (harmonised index of consumer prices at constant tax rates).
This regulation is implemented by Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1148 of 31 July 2020.
Further methodological documentation, namely recommendations and guidelines, is available in the HICP dedicated section, under 'Methodology'.
6.1.1. Legal acts - deviations
The HICP is largely compliant with HICP regulations and guidelines.
Evaluation Compliance level- Medium compliance.
6.1.2. National legal acts and other agreements
There is no specific HICP regulation, but general Statistical Law includes this requirement.
Albania collects processes and publishes HICP in accordance with national legal acts:
- Law No. 17/2018 'On official statistics'
Based on Annex 1 of the Law, INSTAT is mandated as the responsible body that produces official statistics, for the field of Economic Statistics, including:
-
- 3.7 Prices.
Specifies in details the statistical activities and statistical indicators that INSTAT will produce based on the EU requirements for:
-
- 3.7 Prices.
- 3.7.1.2 HICP and 3.7.1.3 HICP-CT
- Decision of Council of Ministers No. 515, date 20 September 2017 on “Approving and implementation of Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP)”.
6.1.3. Access to administrative data
National authorities are obliged by law to grant access to administrative data for the purposes of statistics.
6.1.4. Organisation unit - portfolio
The Price Statistics Unit is responsible for producing:
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HICP)
- Producer Price Index (PPI)
- Import Price Index (IPI)
- Construction Cost Index (CCI)
- Additionally, the unit conducts all surveys and tasks related to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
Currently, the unit is working on implementing the following indicators:
- HICP-CT (Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices - Constant Taxes)
- House Price Index
- Service Producer Price Index
6.1.5. Regional organisation of consumer price statistics
Albania has 12 main Regional Statistical Offices; however, prices are collected only in 11 regions. Regional offices are responsible only for collection of the data, while the Central Office is responsible for calculating and publishing the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
All data received from the regional offices undergoes validation by the Central Office prior to its use in HICP calculations. If any errors are detected, the Central Office will verify the figures with the respective regional office to confirm or revise the data as necessary. This process ensures the accuracy and integrity of the price information used in the HICP.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
No data-sharing arrangements are in place.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Privacy preservation
This privacy notice is intended to inform personal data subjects about the manner of collection, processing, dissemination, storage, and security measures taken for their data.
Based on:
- The Constitution of the Republic of Albania,
- Law No. 9888, dated 10 March 2008 'On the Protection of Personal Data'
- Law No.17 / 2018 'On official statistics'
INSTAT performs the lawful processing of personal data by respecting and guaranteeing the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons and, in particular, their right to privacy. Data related to specific statistical units, which are collected directly or indirectly for statistical purposes from administrative or other sources, are processed based on the principle of statistical confidentiality, which implies the prevention of the use of data collected for non-statistical purposes and their unlawful disclosure.
Protection of Data
Is based on:
- processing that is fair and lawful;
- a collection for specific, clearly defined, and legitimate purposes and shall be processed in a way that is compatible with these purposes;
- adequate data, which are relevant to the purpose of their processing and not excessive in relation to such purpose;
- accurate data, and where necessary, updated; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that data which are inaccurate or incomplete, having regard to the purposes for which they were collected or for which they are further processed, are erased or rectified;
- keeping data in a form that allows the identification of data subjects for no longer than it is necessary for the purpose for which they were collected or further processed.
Processing for Scientific and Statistical Research
- Personal data collected for any purpose may be further processed for historic, scientific, or statistical research purposes provided that the data is not processed in order to take measures or decisions related to an individual.
- The disclosure of sensitive data for scientific research shall take place only in cases of important public interest. Personal data shall be used exclusively by individuals who are bound by confidentiality.
- When data processing is made in a manner that allows the identification of the data subject, the data should immediately be encrypted in order for the subjects to be no longer identifiable. Encrypted personal data shall be used exclusively by individuals bound by confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
HICP data is represented in index or percentage from (rates) and is therefore not treated for confidentiality.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice 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.
8.1. Release calendar
The HICP is released according to Eurostat’s Release calendar.
The calendar is publicly available and published at the end of the year for the full following year. Calendar | Instat
8.2. Release calendar access
Data is published on the webpage of INSTAT (Home | Instat) in Albanian and English.
The following dissemination channels are used to release the results of HICP:
- Website - online release,
- Written requests,
- Special publications,
- Data request, session available for external users through this link: Data Request | Instat
8.3. Release policy - user access
HICP is published in accordance with the release calendar on or around the 17th of each month (T+17 days).
The users are informed about any delay in publication through the publication calendar where it is specified the new date of release and the reasons for not being published on time.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The CPI/HICP news releases are published online on the INSTAT web page in Albanian and English. CPI/ HICP news release gives information for monthly index, monthly and annual changes in prices.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
All data are published on INSTAT webpage on the Price theme: Harmonized Index Of Consumer Price | Instat.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The database can be accessed in the following link: Harmonized Index Of Consumer Price
10.3.1. Publication levels
On 4-digit ECOICOP. The HICP rates and indices are disseminated with around 12 decimal places.
10.3.2. Publication by regions
Not applicable.
10.3.3. Publication by households
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
HICP data are not available at microdata level, because of preserving the confidentiality.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The HICP Methodological Manual 2024 provides the reference methodology for the production of HICP.
10.6.1. Further methodological guidelines available at national level
Harmonized Index Of Consumer Price | Instat
10.7. Quality management - documentation
For internal users, Price Unit documents all processes and procedures used to calculate HICP.
11.1. Quality assurance
See information under the next points.
11.1.1. Quality management - Compliance Monitoring
11.1.2. Quality assurance - national specifics
INSTAT is committed to ensuring the highest quality with respect to the compilation of statistical information. In accordance with Law No.17/2018 on Official Statistics, INSTAT uses statistical methods and processes in compliance with internationally recognised scientific principles and standards and it conducts ongoing analyses of the statistics to improve their quality and ensure that statistics are 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 relies on the following principles: impartiality, quality of processes and statistical products, user-oriented, employee-oriented, effectiveness of statistical processes, and reducing respondent burden. Collected data are compared in terms of internal coherence, thus ensuring the quality of the final product.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
See below information under the next points.
11.2.1. Compliance monitoring - last report and main results
The last available compliance or follow-up report can be found in the dedicated HICP section ‘Compliance Monitoring’ of Eurostat’s website, under ‘Methodology’.
11.2.2. Quality assessment - national specifics
CPI and HICP are the best indicators to measure inflation in Albania (CPI) and to compare inflation across countries in European Union (HICP). The Prices Unit checks prices every month. If we notice that a price has a big difference compared to the previous month, the interviewer is contacted to confirm this change and if it is well justified, this price is included in further calculations. Else, the interviewer should verify once more the collected price. In the reporting format used to collect prices, a logical control is implemented to signalise prices that have a monthly change of + or – 25%. In this reporting format, there is also an explanatory code for different types of big changes in prices.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
In addition to being a general measure of inflation, the HICP is also used in the areas of:
- wages, social benefit and contract indexation
- economic forecasting and analysis
- measuring specific price trends
- accounting purposes and deflating other series
- inflation targeting by central banks
- cross-country economic comparisons.
The euro area (evolving composition) index is used by the European Central Bank (ECB) as the main indicator for monetary policy management. The ECB and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) use the HICP for assessing price stability and price convergence required for entry into European Monetary Union.
Other users include: National Central Banks, financial institutions, economic analysts, the media and the public at large.
12.1.1. User Needs - national specifics
Users of CPI/HICP are classified as external and internal. External users are:
- Institutions of public administration
- Universities
- National and international NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)
- Private businesses
- Researchers, students, and other similar groups.
Publication of the results of CPI is sent to specific groups of users.
Internal users are those within INSTAT, who use CPI and HICP results as input for their work. These users are:
- National Account Directory
- Short-Term Statistics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
In 2024 INSTAT conducted a User Satisfaction Survey from INSTAT publications. The survey results show that the overall quality of Harmonised Index of Consumer Price is rated 3.92 (78.45 %) on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Page Views (Hits) about HICP in 2023 are around 2514 clicks.
12.3. Completeness
HICP indices and weights are available since January 2016.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy of HICP is generally considered to be high. There is methodological accuracy in regards of weights and prices and calculations according to European Regulations. The products in the basket are selected using HBS data. The goods and services selected are those of most importance to the customers, have a significant share in total consumption and best reflect the changes of prices of related products. Prices are collected in different type of outlets, supermarkets, markets, etc., in 11 prefectures in the country, some of them also via internet and by phone. For the calculation of weights for HICP expenditures of resident and non-resident households in Albania (domestic concept).
13.2. Sampling error
The methodology for calculating the precision of HICP is not applicable, because HICP is based in non-probability sample. To reduce errors we have increased the number of observations for each product.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Nonresponse in observation level is calculated using retail outlets that refuse to give information and enumerators who do not find the required product in the outlet. The non-response rate in observation level for CPI/HICP is 0 %. The non-response rate in variable level for CPI/HICP is 0 %.
13.3.1. Coverage error
None.
13.3.1.1. Coverage error population
There are no deviations from the target population.
13.3.1.2. Coverage error regions
The economic territory of Albania is the same as the geographic territory on which Albanian government institutions conduct administrative control. The HICP covers the entire area of the country.
14.1. Timeliness
The full set of HICPs is published each month according to a pre-announced schedule, between 15 and 18 days after the end of the reference month. Each year, the January news release is published at the end of February to allow for the annual update of the weights of individual product groups and the relative country weights of Members States in the country-group aggregates.
The euro area flash estimate is published on the last working day of the reference month or shortly after that.
14.1.1. Time lag - final result
T+17.
14.1.2. Timeliness of sub-indices
No.
14.2. Punctuality
Since the March 1997, launch of the HICP release, the HICP for the country groups aggregates has always been published on the pre-announced release dates.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
HICPs across Member States aim to be comparable. Any differences at all levels of detail should only reflect differences in price changes or expenditure patterns.
To this end, concepts and methods have been harmonised by means of legislation. HICPs that deviate from these concepts and methods are deemed comparable if they result in an index that is estimated to differ systematically by less than or equal to 0.1 percentage points on average over one year against the previous year (Article 4 of Council and Parliament Regulation (EU) 2016/792).
15.2. Comparability - over time
CPI/HICP data are fully comparable over time. There have been several improvements in methodology since HICP was introduced with the aim of improving the reliability and comparability of HICP. However, previous indices are recalculated based on the latest methodology so they can be compared over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
CPI and HICP are two separate indicators to measure inflation. Their main difference is the weight concept. HCIP is based on each monetary unit (ALL) spent in the territory of Albania, from Albanians and non-Albanians. CPI is based on each monetary unit (ALL) spent by Albanians inside and outside the territory of Albania. Other changes are:
CPI:
- Weights of goods and services are calculated based on HBS data
- Weights are expressed in percentages
- Monitored by INSTAT.
HICP:
- Weights of goods and services are calculated based on National Accounts data
- Weights are expressed in per thousand
- Monitored by EUROSTAT
- Imputed rents are excluded.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The HICPs are internally coherent. Higher level aggregations are derived from detailed indices according to well-defined procedures.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The HICP series, including back data, is revisable under the terms set in Articles 17-20 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1148.
17.1.1. Data revision - policy - national specifics
The published CPI/HICP data may be revised for corrections due to new or improved information.
The revision policy of CPI/HICP is done in accordance with the general revision policy and errors treatment policy introduced by INSTAT. See links below:
17.2. Data revision - practice
The Albanian HICP has not been revised since it is published for the first time.
18.1. Source data
Please see information under the next points.
18.1.1. Weights
National accounts data (t-2) are the main source of data for construction of the HICP weights at the highest levels of aggregation. For lower levels of aggregation, Household Budget Survey (HBS) data is used. Weights are updated annually.
Price updating from full year t-1 to December t-1 is carried out at elementary aggregate level.
18.1.1.1. Compilation at elementary aggregate level
The lowest level of aggregation where explicit weights are introduced is 7-digit level. The main sources used in HICP weights construction are NA (t-2) and HBS.
18.1.1.2. List of elementary aggregates
Please see information on the next points.
18.1.1.3. Compilation of sub-index weights
The reference period of the data used for the calculation of the weights of sub-indices (ECOICOP sub-classes and higher) is t-2.
18.1.1.4. Price updating
Price-updating to December t-1 is conducted by calculating price changes between the average of the t-1 and December t-1 (price reference period). Price updating from full year t-1 to December t-1 is carried out at elementary aggregate level.
18.1.2. Prices
Price data are based on a survey.
18.1.2.1. Prices Data Source - detailed information
Prices for CPI/HICP indices are based on survey data.
18.1.2.2. Price collection survey
Most of the prices are collected with face to face interview.
In 2023 the baskets have 331 products in CPI and 329 products in HICP. On average during the month we collect about 22,820 individual prices in about 3.500 outlets.
Number of representative items at the lowest classification level: All- items: CPI 331 (HICP 329):
- 01 Food and non-alcoholic beverages 101
- 02 Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: 6
- 03 Clothing and footwear 40
- 04 Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: 13 (12)
- 05 Furniture household goods and maintenance House: 42
- 06 Health 12
- 07 Transport 20
- 08 Communications 8
- 09 Recreation and culture 36 (35)
- 10 Education service: 7
- 11 Hotels, coffee-houses and restaurants: 19
- 12 Miscellaneous goods and services: 27
Average number of price observations per month: 22,753:
- 01 Food and non-alcoholic beverages: 7,692
- 02 Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: 444
- 03 Clothing and footwear: 2,751
- 04 Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: 642
- 05 Furniture household goods and maintenance House: 2,774
- 06 Health: 770
- 07 Transport: 1,250
- 08 Communication: 410
- 09 Recreation and culture: 2,086
- 10 Education service: 305
- 11 Hotels, coffee-houses and restaurants: 1,490
- 12 Miscellaneous goods and services: 2,139
18.1.2.3. Administrative data sources
List of administrative data sources
| COICOP | Description | Data sources |
|---|---|---|
| 0441001 | Water supply system bill | Municipality |
| 0443001 | Sewage collection | Municipality |
| 0451001 | Electric price | OSHEE |
| 0731101 | Train tickets | Ministry of Transport |
| 0732102 | Urban transport | Municipality |
| 0810101 | Postal services (letters, cards, telegraphs, postage stamps) | Albanian Post |
| 0810901 | Postal services (letters, cards, telegraphs, postage stamps) | Albanian Post |
| 0951201 | School books | Ministry of Education |
| 1041110 | Public university | Rectorates |
| 1240110 | Tariffs for kindergarten | Municipality |
| 1271110 | Fees to lawyers, notaries, architects, etc. | Ministry of Justice |
| 1271130 | Expenditures for the provision of documents | Municipality |
18.1.2.4. Transaction data - general information
Not available.
18.1.2.5. Web scraping - general information
Not available.
18.1.3. Sampling
See information under the next points.
18.1.3.1. Sampling design - locations for survey
Albania has 12 districts. For CPI and HICP calculations, survey price collection is carried out in 11 districts. Kukës district is covered by the Dibër district.The sample is checked and updated every year.
18.1.3.2. Sampling design - outlets
In the absence of a real register of outlets, the selection of them is done on the basis of the knowledge of price collection and regional statistical specialist, based on instructions prepared for this aim from staff of Price Statistics Unit at INSTAT. Three criteria are used in the outlet selection process:
- Popularity with buyers;
- Turnover;
- The availability of goods and services included in basket of CPI/HICP.
Once a year, usually in November and December, the sample of outlets is checked and updated. Department stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets, traditional groceries and markets are included in the sample.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Price data is collected every month.
18.3. Data collection
See information under the next points.
18.3.1. Timing of price collection
Prices are collected monthly between the 10th and 25th of the month.
18.3.2. Devices for price collection
INSTAT does not use electronic devices for CPI/HICP price collection.
18.4. Data validation
The validation is done by Central Office.
18.4.1. Data validation - Survey data
Data validation for the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is conducted at several levels to ensure data integrity:
- Field Collection: Price collectors conduct initial checks on prices during data collection, verifying them before sending the information to the Regional Office.
- Regional Office Review: Staff at the Regional Office perform a second validation round, using a data reporting format that automatically flags any incorrect pricing during the entry process.
- Central Office: At the Central Office, the Price Statistics Unit carries out additional checks using a data control program. This program helps identify potential errors, and if there are concerns about specific prices, staff may contact the price collectors for clarification or verify the prices directly in the field.
Each issue is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with adjustments made based on accurate and relevant information. This comprehensive validation process helps ensure the reliability of the HICP.
18.4.2. Data validation - transaction data, web scraping and large administrative data
Not applicable.
18.4.3. Data validation - weights
Weights are validated by checking for significant differences compared to the previous year, which are then cross-verified. Additionally, the additivity of the weights is confirmed to ensure that their total equals 1,000.
18.4.4. Indices
Mathematical plausibility checks are performed in the production environment to ensure consistency. For instance, higher-level indices should equal the weighted sum of lower-level indices when rebased to December.
18.5. Data compilation
See information under the next points.
18.5.1. Elementary price index formulae
At the elementary level, products and services are calculated with the geometric mean.
18.5.2. Aggregation of different data sources
Not applicable.
18.5.3. Chaining, linking and splicing methods
The compilation of the HICP follows the chain linking method, with December of the previous year as the base. Following this process, each index is converted to reference year 2015 = 100.
18.5.4. Quality adjustments and replacements
The quality adjustment methods procedure used in the CPI/HICP:
- Package size adjustment: food and beverages
- Direct price comparison: food and beverages, clothing and footwear, second-hand cars, household appliances, medicines, and personal care products
- Bridged Overlap: clothing and footwear, household appliances, new motor cars, second-hand cars, TV-sets
- Option pricing: household appliances, new cars, computers
- Judgemental and supported expert judgement: new cars, used cars, furniture, household appliances
- Annual overlap: For many products new samples are selected each year during the annual revision of the consumer basket. December is taken as the 12-link month when prices are collected for both the old and new samples. Quality differences between these two samples are then eliminated by the 'annual overlap' method
When an item (variety) is not available in the market for two months or it is no longer important in terms of consumption because of a new variety, it is replaced by the item that has taken its place in the market.
18.5.4.1. Quality adjustment - detailed information
The quality adjustment methods procedure used in the CPI/HICP:
- Package size adjustment: food and beverages
- Direct price comparison: food and beverages, clothing and footwear, second-hand cars, household appliances, medicines, and personal care products
- Bridged Overlap: clothing and footwear, household appliances, new motor cars, second-hand cars, TV-sets
- Option pricing: household appliances, new cars, computers
- Judgemental and supported expert judgement: new cars, used cars, furniture, household appliances
- Annual overlap: For many products new samples are selected each year during the annual revision of the consumer basket. December is taken as the 12-link month when prices are collected for both the old and new samples. Quality differences between these two samples are then eliminated by the 'annual overlap' method
18.5.4.2. Replacements - detailed information
When a non-seasonal item is temporarily missing in a given outlet, the last recorded price is retained for one month to two months, but usually at the same time the price for its substitute is observed. When it is clear that a non-seasonal item is missing permanently (in the third month or earlier), the item is substituted with the most comparable one in the same outlet or its price is extrapolated by the price change of the same or similar item in another outlet(s). Sometimes replacement of products is accompanied by quality adjustment.
The replacement is chosen by the price collector based on the rules specified above and the opinion of the outlet manager
18.5.5. Administered prices
List of administered prices:
| COICOP | Description |
|---|---|
| 0441001 | Water supply system bill |
| 0443001 | Sewage collection |
| 0451001 | Electricity |
| 0731101 | Train tickets |
| 0732102 | Urban transport |
| 0810101 | Postal services (letters, cards, telegraphs, postage stamps) |
| 0810901 | Postal services (letters, cards, telegraphs, postage stamps) |
| 0951201 | School books |
| 1041110 | Public university |
| 1240110 | Kindergarten |
| 1271110 | Fees to lawyers, notaries, etc. |
| 1271130 | Official documents |
18.5.6. HICP at constant tax rates
List of HICP at constant tax rates:
- D211 VAT on imported goods
- D211 VAT on goods and services within the country
- D2122C Imported fuel excise
- D214D Car registration taxes
- D214D Annual road tax
- D2122C Excise cigarettes
18.5.7. HICP flash estimate
Not applicable.
18.5.8. Other quality and processing issues
See information under the next points.
18.5.8.1. Missing prices
As a general rule, we impute missing prices for two months, if the product offer is still missing in the third month it is replaced. When a product offer disappears from the outlet the price collectors are instructed to select a replacement immediately. Product offers priced for replacements are compared directly with the replaced product offer unless they differ significantly in their specifications, if they do differ, implicit quality adjustment is performed.
18.5.8.2. Sales and discounts
Sales are included in HICP. Discounts connected to loyalty cards are not available in our country. Seasonal sales, other sales prices, and reduced prices (e.g. special offers, discounts, etc.) are included in the index when they are available to all potential consumers.
18.5.9. Specific product groups
See information under next points.
18.5.9.1. Seasonal items
Seasonal products are treated according to the requirements of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1148.
- 01.1.6 Fruits
- 01.1.7 Vegetables
- 03.1 Clothing
- 03.2 Footwear
- 09.6 Package holidays
Strict annual weights are used or determining the weights for seasonal items, i.e., the indices of seasonal items are calculated with fixed weights during the whole year. Therefore, estimated prices are applied for seasonal items that are out-of-season.
18.6. Adjustment
Please see the information under the next point.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
The HICP is not seasonally adjusted.
None.
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is a consumer price index (CPI) that is calculated according to a harmonised approach. It measures the change over time of the prices of consumer goods and services acquired by households (inflation).
Due to the common methodology, the HICPs of the countries and European aggregates can be directly compared.
11 September 2025
The main statistical variables are price indices.
The basic unit of statistical observation are prices for consumer products.
Please see the information under the next points.
Please see the information under the next point.
HICP is a monthly statistics.
The accuracy of HICP is generally considered to be high. There is methodological accuracy in regards of weights and prices and calculations according to European Regulations. The products in the basket are selected using HBS data. The goods and services selected are those of most importance to the customers, have a significant share in total consumption and best reflect the changes of prices of related products. Prices are collected in different type of outlets, supermarkets, markets, etc., in 11 prefectures in the country, some of them also via internet and by phone. For the calculation of weights for HICP expenditures of resident and non-resident households in Albania (domestic concept).
The following units are used:
- Index point
- Percentage change on the same period of the previous year (rates)
- Percentage change on the previous period (rates)
- Percentage share of the total (weights).
See information under the next points.
Please see information under the next points.
Monthly.
The full set of HICPs is published each month according to a pre-announced schedule, between 15 and 18 days after the end of the reference month. Each year, the January news release is published at the end of February to allow for the annual update of the weights of individual product groups and the relative country weights of Members States in the country-group aggregates.
The euro area flash estimate is published on the last working day of the reference month or shortly after that.
HICPs across Member States aim to be comparable. Any differences at all levels of detail should only reflect differences in price changes or expenditure patterns.
To this end, concepts and methods have been harmonised by means of legislation. HICPs that deviate from these concepts and methods are deemed comparable if they result in an index that is estimated to differ systematically by less than or equal to 0.1 percentage points on average over one year against the previous year (Article 4 of Council and Parliament Regulation (EU) 2016/792).
CPI/HICP data are fully comparable over time. There have been several improvements in methodology since HICP was introduced with the aim of improving the reliability and comparability of HICP. However, previous indices are recalculated based on the latest methodology so they can be compared over time.
