A joint production by six international organizations, this manual explores the conceptual and theoretical issues that national statistical offices should consider in the daily compilation of export and import price indices. Intended for use by both ...

"International Labour Office, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, The World Bank."

The consumer price index (CPI) measures the rate at which prices of consumer goods and services change over time. It is used as a key indicator of economic performance, as well as in the setting of monetary and socio-economic policy such as indexation of wages and social security benefits, purchasing power parities and inflation measures. This manual contains methodological guidelines for statistical offices and other agencies responsible for constructing and calculating CPIs, and also examines underlying economic and statistical concepts involved. Topics covered include: expenditure weights, sampling, price collection, quality adjustment, sampling, price indices calculations, errors and bias, organisation and management, dissemination, index number theory, durables and user costs.

Export and import price indices are essential for assessing the impact of international trade on the domestic economy. Among their most important uses are analyzing developments in the trade balance, measuring foreign prices' contribution to domestic inflation, and deflating nominal values of exports and imports for estimating the volume of gross domestic product. This paper discusses the main uses of trade indices and the data sources used to compile them. It also presents various approaches used to compile foreign trade price indices, addresses various problems encountered in developing these indices, and provides some recommendations on how to address them.

The Guide provides practical support on the compilation of service transactions between residents—non-residents transactions utilizing the EBOPS classification with special emphasis on the partner country break-down, the foreign affiliates statistics (FATS) and also on flows by modes of supply. The overarching aim is to increase the availability and quality of SITS in order to fulfil the urgent needs and demands for such data by policy makers, researchers, market analysts and the public in general. While the international standards in economic statistics are in the process of being implemented, this Guide comes timely, providing the statistical community with guidelines, best practices, case studies, and practical advice on the compilation of SITS.

Presents an in-depth analysis of international trade theories and techniques. Explains concepts underlying international trade operations, recommends goals and procedures for businesses, and discusses price setting, export sales contracts, risks of foreign trade, and methods of payment. Explores trade agreements such as GATT/WTO and NAFTA and how they affect trade in areas including investment and intellectual property policies, government procurements, and safeguards. Includes chapter summaries, and Web site addresses. Seyoum teaches international business studies at Nova Southeastern University. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR