The use of African Budget Data in Price Indices : submitted by the Central Statistical Office, Salisbury

Abstract

It is important that the section of the population covered by the expenditure survey should be clearly defined. Thus, for example, the current African consumer prices index number for Northern Rhodesia is based on the average monthly expenditure of unrationed urban African families as revealed by family expenditure surveys carried out in the main towns of Northern Rhodesia from April to August, I960. This index number does not claim to measure the effect of price changes on rural families or urban fanilies who receive rations in kind or single men whether rationed or unrationed, though undoubtedly in the absence of any other indication the index number for unrationed urban families will be applied to other sections of the community.