New Lending Services Price Index (NLSPI)
Detailed information for first quarter 2020
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Quarterly
Record number:
5207
The New Lending Services Price Index (NLSPI) measures monthly price changes over time for new lending services in Canada. The estimates are produced on a quarterly basis.
Data release - July 10, 2020
Description
The NLSPI measures monthly price changes over time for new lending services in Canada; the estimates are produced on a quarterly basis. Prices are derived as the difference between annual percentage rates for new loan products and weighted averages of yields on financial market instruments. The variables used to derive the prices are weighted annual percentage rates for new lending services, funds advanced by product, and market rates. The primary purpose of this measure is to provide supplemental information to help inform the deflation of output in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA) for BS5221A0 Banking and Other Depository Credit Intermediation. The index represents new lending only, and as such has limited coverage in relation to the overall activity of the industry which includes services provided on existing loans as well as other activities.
This index is part of the Services Producer Price Index program (SPPI) at Statistics Canada.
The SPPI program develops and produces price indexes for a number of business service categories. This initiative fills an important data gap in the area of economic statistics and has resulted in a more comprehensive set of service price indexes. These indexes allow Statistics Canada to produce more accurate estimates of real-value added (Gross Domestic Product) and changes in productivity.
Reference period: The time period for which the NLSPI equals 100; currently this is the year 2011.
Collection period: Monthly data are collected 6 weeks after the end of each reference month. Data are published quarterly.
Subjects
- Prices and price indexes
- Service price indexes
Data sources and methodology
Target population
The target population for the NLSPI is Canadian Chartered Banks. Chartered banks fall under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry 52211, Banking.
Instrument design
This methodology does not apply.
Sampling
This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design and a longitudinal follow-up.
The sample was chosen deterministically. Each sampling unit consists of establishments defined by the Bank of Canada as deposit-taking institutions.
Collectively the chosen banks account for over 86% of all new lending activities in the industry.
Data sources
Data are extracted from administrative files and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.
Administrative data is collected under the authority of the Statistics Act.
The data for the NLSPI are obtained from the Bank of Canada's Report on New Lending as well as from the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts' Gross Domestic Product by Income and Expenditure Accounts, and Financial Market Statistics used in the preparation of the Bank of Canada Review.
The Report on New Lending is collected monthly by the Bank of Canada through a survey of all Canadian chartered banks. Each bank is required to provide data on interest rates and funds advanced for 10 lending products by 6 interest rate term maturities as well as for the aggregate of all products and all maturities.
Error detection
Error detection is conducted at the time of data collection and also during post collection processing, using a set of systematized error detection procedures to identify outliers and possible reporting anomalies. Records that fail these edits are reviewed for editing and correction when necessary or edit failure may trigger a follow-up with the respondent.
Time and effort is devoted to keeping the specifications constant such that only the pure changes in price are tracked. Some information are also collected in order to ensure, as much as possible, that the collected data correspond to the same specifications over time. This constant quality price then feeds into the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts' (CSMA) estimates of constant dollar GDP.
Imputation
Missing data are generally estimated by a systematized imputation process. In any given period, price data may not be available for estimation. In such cases, missing data are imputed using the average price movement of remaining units within the same stratum (overall mean or targeted mean imputation method).
Estimation
Prices
In order to calculate prices for each lending product, a reference rate was deducted from each product's lending rate (by bank and maturity). The reference rate was derived from data on Financial Market Statistics used in the preparation of the Bank of Canada Review and available on CANSIM. Certain market instruments were chosen and their yields were aggregated in order to produce the reference rate.
Since the value of money is eroded over time, a deflation factor is applied to the spread. The deflation factor is derived using the implicit price index for Final Domestic Expenditure from the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts' Gross Domestic Product by Income and Expenditure Accounts.
Weights
In order to weigh the prices at the microdata level to use for estimation, derived revenues are used. These revenues are derived by multiplying the derived prices by the funds advanced for each product at each maturity for each establishment.
To calculate a reference rate for NLSPI, a weighted average of the yields to maturity for each of the market instruments collected is used. The weight of each market instrument is the 12-month trailing funds advanced for the corresponding loan term maturity.
The weights used are calculated from data provided by the Bank of Canada. The weight reference period is currently 2017.
Basket weights are updated during a sample/basket update which typically occurs every 2 years.
Weights used to calculate the reference rate for NLSPI are updated with data collected during each collection cycle.
Indexes
Estimates are produced by calculating a weighted average of monthly price changes by product, which are chained together to form an index series. The NLSPI is a Laspeyres chain linked index which uses derived revenues as its weighting source, available at the Canada level only.
Linking of indexes
With the introduction of a new basket, historical estimates are linked to the new basket by maintaining the same historical period-to-period changes. This is done by calculating a link factor for each index series as the ratio of the new index series in the overlap period to the old index series. This link factor is then applied to the old index series to bring it up or down to the level of the new index series.
The overlap period for NLSPI is currently December 2016.
For a more detailed explanation of the methodology please refer to the NLSPI Methodology Summary Document.
Quality evaluation
An in-depth assessment of quality is conducted prior to the dissemination of estimates. This assessment is based on two key elements of quality (accuracy and coherence); as defined in Statistics Canada's guidelines for the validation of statistical outputs.
The quality of the index depends on price and weight data obtained from administrative data sources. Using Statistics Canada's Quality Assurance Framework to assess the fitness for use of administrative data, continuous monitoring of the data received and ongoing discussion with the data supplier, the analysts ensure that the targeted industry coverage rates are met every cycle. Analysts pay close attention to this metric and react appropriately to ensure that the coverage of the industry is thorough. Particular attention is also given to ensuring that sampled products or services are representative of actual transactions happening in the market place. These two activities, fundamental to the overall quality of the estimates, are done consistently.
Analysts also undertake additional validation activities every cycle to ensure the coherence of survey estimates. These include: analysis of price changes at the company, industry, subsector and sector levels; certification of key contributors to price change; and confrontation of estimates against other related data sources. Contextual analysis of survey results is also performed in light of prevailing economic conditions.
Engagements with relevant stakeholders are also undertaken periodically. Forums involving other Statistics Canada analysts, industry stakeholders and partners at other national statistical agencies provide valuable insights that inform the development and research agenda of the program.
Disclosure control
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.
Revisions and seasonal adjustment
Data for the most recent quarter are preliminary. The previous quarter of the series is subject to revision. The series is also subject to an annual revision released with second quarter data of the following reference year. The index is not seasonally adjusted.
Data accuracy
The statistical accuracy of this index depends on price and weight data, which are obtained from administrative data sources. Each type of input data is subject to its own errors. Processing procedures for editing and imputation are in place to ensure the quality of data. Consequently, the aggregate indexes at all levels are considered to be statistically reliable.
Documentation
- New Lending Services Price Index - Methodology Summary Document
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