Price Statistics is an important indicator of changes in the general price level of essential commodities in the state. The data indicates the economic situation of the state and plays a vital role in the policy decisions of the Government. These policies impact economic growth and development. The main objective of the Price Section of the Directorate is to collect, compile, and publish various data in the form of a Price Bulletin, made available to the public from time to time.

Collection and compilation of price statistics on food and non-food items is a regular work programme of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Wholesale and retail prices are collected from selected centres in all seven districts. Prices are collected from two designated shops in each market. If prices are unavailable, the data is collected from the open market by Directorate staff or Sub-Inspectors of Statistics in various C&RD Blocks. Monthly averages are computed from weekly and monthly returns.

The following price data are collected and maintained by the Directorate:

• 1. Wholesale Prices: Collected from 7 urban centres for:
  • 24 food commodities (weekly)
  • 13 non-food commodities (monthly)
• 2. Retail Prices:
  • (i) Urban: From 7 urban centres:
    • 84 food commodities (weekly)
    • 60 non-food commodities (monthly)
  • (ii) Rural: From 25 rural centres (including Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi District):
    • 84 food commodities (monthly)
    • 60 non-food commodities (monthly)
• 3. Consumer Price Index Numbers: Maintained for:
  • Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) from Labour Bureau, Shimla
  • Used for DA fixation for government employees and minimum wage revision
  • Agricultural/Rural Labourers (CPI-AL/RL)
  • Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI - Combined, Rural, Urban) from NSO

The Directorate also computes the annual average change in prices for 21 essential commodities every five years, published in the form of a price bulletin.

List of Publications

• Price Bulletin 2020 (17.8 Mb)
• Price Bulletin 2019 (5.94 Mb)