Machinery and Equipment Price Index (MEPI)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1955

Reference period of change - January 2026

As of the January 2026 reference month release, the weights of the Machinery and Equipment Price Index (MEPI) have been updated to the 2022 final demand expenditures by machinery and equipment categories. The classification structure by product in the MEPI series is now based on the 2022 Supply Use Product Classification (SUPC) while the classification structure by industry in the MEPI series is now based on the 2022 Input Output Final Demand Classification (IOFDC). By using the 2022 SUPC and 2022 IOFDC, five commodity series have been terminated: glass (including automotive), glass products and glass containers; hand tools, kitchen utensils and cutlery (except precious metal); medical devices; blinds and shades; and medical, dental and personal safety supplies, instruments and equipment. Two new commodity series have been added: batteries and battery chargers; and medical equipment and supplies. Medical equipment and supplies has replaced the terminated series medical devices; and medical, dental and personal safety supplies, instruments and equipment. Three sub-industries have been added under educational services (excluding private): elementary and secondary schools; community colleges and C.E.G.E.P.s; and universities. Two sub-industries have been added under hospitals, ambulatory health care services and social assistance: ambulatory health care services and social assistance; and hospitals.

Reference period of change - August 2024

Starting in October 2024, at the request of our clients, the Machinery and Equipment Price Index (MEPI) will shift from a quarterly to a monthly update. This adjustment provides our clients and users with more timely data.

Reference period of change - third quarter 2014

With the release of third quarter 2014 data, the MEPI series has been converted from a base year of 1997=100 to 2010=100. The relative importance of the basket items has been updated using the 2010 annual gross additions to capital for machinery and equipment purchases by industries in Canada.

Also, the MEPI (2010=100) adopted the commodity and industry classifications incorporated in the current input-output tables of the Canadian System of National Accounts (CSNA) for final demand expenditures by machinery and equipment categories. With the 2012 historical revision of the CSNA, the classifications incorporated in the input-output tables published by Statistics Canada have been updated. The update of the classifications was triggered by the need to capture the evolving structure of the Canadian economy and to align the classifications to updated international classification systems (such as the North American Industry Classification System and the North American Product Classification System). As a result, the number of industry categories used for the MEPI (2010=100) increased from 60 to 66, while the number of commodity categories decreased from 106 to 56.

Reference period of change - first quarter 2006

Estimation - As of the first quarter 2006 release, weights are updated to 1997 current expenditure on capital investment. Both the time and weight base for the rebased MEPI is 1997=100. The classification system of industries and commodities is the 1997 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).