Attachment XIII - Modernizing Data Collection Corporate Data

U.S. BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Modernizing Data Collection: Corporate Data

To continue to produce high quality data, the BLS is looking to supplement traditional survey collection with
modernized methods utilizing electronic data. We are looking at how the world is changing, and how our
statistics must change to keep pace. The quality of BLS statistics is the direct result of the collected data.
Our agency is seeking to integrate new technology and alternative data sources as part of a continuous
process to increase data quality while reducing costs and respondent burden. While the CPI already
includes prices for goods and services purchased in stores across the country, the BLS is exploring corporate
data. This data can provide a much more robust and expansive perspective in understanding average
price changes over time in the modern retail environment. Your voluntary cooperation is needed to make
the results of this survey comprehensive, accurate, and timely.

What is the CPI?

What is Corporate Data?
Data that is based on sales and characteristic
data which provides prices for items in specific
categories for a specific period of time at
specific store locations across the country. Item
descriptions allow our analysts to match items to
our CPI item structure.
Once the elements of the data submission are
identified, this data can be generated using
automated processes and transferred to BLS
servers safely and securely.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the
average change over time in the prices paid by
urban consumers for a market basket of goods and
services. The CPI is one of the most closely watched
Principal Federal Economic Indicators (PFEIs)
produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Some of the people who follow the CPI closely include
landlords (to help them calculate changes in rental
prices), Social Security recipients (to anticipate their
next cost-of-living adjustment), and Wall Street
financial institutions and traders (in order to determine
potential moves of the stock and bond markets).

Example of Corporate Data
STORE
NUMBER

DIVISION

PRODUCT
TYPE

ITEM TYPE

ELLIPTICALS &
BIKES

EXERCISE BIKES

BRAND1 BLUETOOTH ENABLED RECUMBENT BIKE WITH
HEARTRATE MONITOR

1234567

3

$1,325.50

5/1/2020

RUNNING GEAR

BRAND2 MISSES COTTON PULLOVER HOODIE WITH NBA
LOGO

1234568

1

$1,011.15

5/1/2020

TOTES

BRAND3 TRIPLE HANDLE 16”X40”X5” LEATHER TOTE

1234570

10

$17.57

5/1/2020

CATEGORY

ITEM DESCRIPTION

ITEM
NUMBER

TOTAL ITEMS TRANSACTION
SOLD
PRICE

DATE

22

HOME LEISURE PRODUCTS SPORTING GOODS

237

WOMENS APPAREL

191

FOOTWEAR & HANDBAGS HANDBAGS & WALLETS

467

WOMENS APPAREL

WOMEN'S CAREERWEAR SWEATERS

SHRUG

BRAND4 OPEN ACRYLIC 3 QUARTER SLEEVE CARDIGAN

1234571

4

$37.49

5/1/2020

87

HOME FURNISHINGS &
HOUSEWARES

BATH

HAND TOWELS

BRAND5 EGYPTIAN COTTON ZEBRA HAND TOWEL

1234572

10

$37.03

5/1/2020

WOMEN'S ATHLETIC WEAR JACKETS
JUNIORS
HANDBAGS

BATH TOWELS

Timing of Data Transmission
The data can be sent once a month, or other
agreed upon frequency. Data is needed by the
1st or 2nd of the following month in order to
adhere to CPI production processing deadlines.
Back data transmitted as a one-time event
greatly reduces the time spent on methodology
research, and a minimum of two years of data
is preferred. All data are carefully researched to
ensure usability and maximum benefit.

How Can I Get CPI Data?

Your Confidential Participation
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, its employees, agents,
and partner statistical agencies will use the
information you provide for statistical purposes only
and will hold the information in confidence to the full
extent permitted by law. In accordance with the
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical
Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C. 3572) and other applicable
Federal laws, your responses will not be disclosed in
identifiable form without your informed consent. Per
the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015,
Federal information systems are protected from
malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of
transmitted data.

Information is always available on the BLS-CPI homepage at www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm.
CPI data releases are generally issued between the 10th and 15th of the month, reporting the data for
the previous month. Sign up for monthly news releases at
https://subscriptions.bls.gov/accounts/USDOLBLS/subscriber/new

U.S. BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
BLS National and Regional Offices

Washington, DC

Bureau of Labor Statistics
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212
(202) 691-7000
CPI_info@bls.gov

Atlanta

Bureau of Labor Statistics
61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 7T50
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 893-4222
BLSInfoAtlanta@bls.gov

Boston

Bureau of Labor Statistics
JFK Federal Building, E-310
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-2327
BLSInfoBoston@bls.gov

Chicago

Bureau of Labor Statistics
J.C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn Street, Room 960
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-1880
BLSInfoChicago@bls.gov

Dallas

Bureau of Labor Statistics
525 South Griffin Street, Room 221
Dallas, TX 75202
(972) 850-4800
BLSInfoDallas@bls.gov

Kansas City

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Two Pershing Square Building
2300 Main Street, Suite 1190
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 285-7000
BLSInfoKansasCity@bls.gov

New York

Bureau of Labor Statistics
New York-New Jersey Information Office
201 Varick Street, Room 808
New York, NY 10014
(646) 264-3600
BLSInfoNY@bls.gov

Philadelphia

Bureau of Labor Statistics
1835 Market Street
Suite 1946
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2924
(215) 597-3282
BLSInfoPhiladelphia@bls.gov

San Francisco

Bureau of Labor Statistics
90 7th Street, Suite 14-100
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 625-2270
BLSInfoSF@bls.gov

Questions?

If you have any questions or comments
regarding any aspect of the survey, you
may contact:
Division of Consumer Prices and Price
Indexes
Bureau of Labor Statistics
2 Massachusetts Avenue,
NE Washington, DC 20212
(202) 691-6991 or
CPI_info@bls.gov.
The U.S. Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has approved this
collection of information and has
assigned 1220-0039 as the control
number. Without OMB approval and this
number, we would not be able to
conduct this survey.