Retail Services Price Index (RSPI)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 2006

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2015

With the release of fourth quarter 2015 data, the Retail Services Price Index (RSPI) was updated. The RSPI update included the selection of a new sample for 4 of 10 major retail subsectors, the adoption of the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and updates to RSPI basket weights for all retail subsectors. The following retail subsectors were updated with new samples:

1. Furniture and home furnishings stores (NAICS 442)
2. Electronics and appliance stores (NAICS 443)
3. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (NAICS 451)
4. General merchandise stores (NAICS 452).

The RSPI series were also converted to 2013=100, with 2013 as the base year. The RSPI weights were updated using enterprise revenues from the Business Register and the 2013 industry gross margins from the Annual Retail Trade Survey (2447).

Two new CANSIM tables, 332-0024 (monthly) and 332-0025 (quarterly), based on 2013=100 and using new vectors, replaced CANSIM tables 332-0003 and 332-0007, which were archived with the release of fourth quarter 2015 data. A concordance table of the old CANSIM table vectors with the new CANSIM table vectors is available.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2013

Target population - Beginning with the third quarter of 2013, the target population consists of all enterprises with at least one establishment classified to the retail sector (NAICS 44-45) on the Business Register (BR) as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2007), excluding Automobile and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers and Non-Store Retailers (NAICS 4411, 4412 and 454).

Reference period of change - first quarter 2012

With this release, an additional CANSIM table (332-0007) is available that presents the RSPI as a quarterly index. The table that presents monthly data will continue to be updated with each release.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2008

As of this quarter, 2008 = 100

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2008, the data are classified based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2007.

Reference period of change - fourth quarter 2006 (pilot)

Target population - The target population consists of all establishments classified to the retail sector on the Business Register (BR) as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2002), excluding Automobile and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers and Non-Store Retailers (NAICS 4411, 4412 and 454).