The OECD collects and disseminates a range of indicators of price change. The principle indicators are GDP price deflators, consumer price indices (CPIs), producer price indices (PPIs) and construction price indices.

Price indices are key economic indicators used extensively by both government and non-government analysts to observe: changes in the rate of inflation and cost of living; price movements and price formation at the level of industry branches or commodities; and escalation of pensions/wages and price and wage adjustments in contracts. They are also used for the deflation of national accounts.

Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) are currency conversion rates that both convert to a common currency and equalise the purchasing power of different currencies. In other words, they eliminate the differences in price levels between countries in the process of conversion.

For further information about:
- Prices, please consult: http://www.oecd.org/std/prices-indices
- PPPs, please consult: http://www.oecd.org/std/PPP

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Statistics Brief

The March 2002 issue of the Statistics Brief gives an overview of the measurement and the uses of PPPs.

Purchasing Power Parities – Measurement and Uses