Revisions

Background

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is revised every 5 years. While the CPI is subject to continuous improvement, particularly in terms of consumer market coverage and price survey techniques, revisions are necessary to:

• analysing the feasibility of implementing new price survey techniques;
• analysing the feasibility of implementing new calculation methods;
• taking into account changes in the supply and demand of goods and services;
• taking account of changes in the COICOP, the international classification used to establish the standard consumer basket for the CPI and ensure comparability across borders;
• improving internal processes related to the production and dissemination of results.

The 2025 revision is the twelfth revision of the CPI since its creation in 1914. It is being conducted in parallel with the revisions of other price statistics. The possible synergies in terms of project objectives have already been analysed and themes common to the various revisions were defined during the initialisation of the revision projects in 2022 (imputation techniques, calculation methods).

Main revision topics

Continue the implementation of price survey techniques that increase the productivity and accuracy of the indices:

• by extending the use of web scraping for internet surveys;
• by extending the use of scanner data to new distributors and/or by extending the product groups covered/surveyed  in existing points of sale;
• by continuing the development of online surveys (eSurvey), where this survey technique can bring productivity gains;
• by continuing to develop online surveys (eSurvey), where this survey technique can increase productivity;
• by studying access to other data sources (API, feeds, etc.).

Optimise calculation methods to increase the accuracy of results:

• by studying the possibility of implementing multilateral calculation methods that would enable gains in quality and productivity in the surveys for which information on product turnover is available;
• by implementing a method of imputation of missing prices that is neutral on the movement of the indices.

Update the standard basket and the weighting source of the consumer price index (CPI) and the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) to ensure their international comparability:

•  by adopting COICOP 2018 - the United Nations classification of individual consumption by purpose on which the standard basket is based - in place of the current structure - ECOICOP;
• by studying the possibility of using national accounts for the weighting of the CPI and HICP;
• by adapting the content of the standard basket to the reality of consumer markets and updating the weighting of survey regions and distribution channels; consultations with industry associations and other stakeholders.

Pursue the efforts made during the 2020 revision in terms of knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• by offering new explanatory clips for each of the price statistics;
• by providing users with more information on current projects on the web page;
• by providing users with more information on the use of price indices, indexation in particular;
• by considering new publications as well as innovative formats for disseminating existing publications.

Support

An advisory group monitors and gives its opinion on the work carried out and the results of the project. An information and consultation session is held in principle once a year. The main users, data providers and the academic world are represented in this group: the Swiss Economic Institute at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (chair), the Swiss National Bank, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Federal Social Insurance Office, the Federal Office for Housing, the Statistical Office of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the Cantonal Statistical Office of the Canton of Geneva, the Statistical Office of the City of Zurich, Travail. Suisse, the Swiss Trade Union Federation, economiesuisse, the Swiss Employers‘ Association, the Swiss Trade Association, the Swiss Retail Federation, Coop, Migros, the Swiss Tenants’ Association, the Swiss Landlords' Association, the Fédération romande des consommateurs, the University of Fribourg, BAK Basel Economics and the National Accounts Section of the FSO.

Project results and implementation in production from 2026

Continue the implementation of price survey techniques that increase the productivity and accuracy of the indices:

• The web scraping technique has been extended to around 60 online retailers in the beverage, clothing, footwear, furniture, household equipment, electronic goods, games and toys, and personal care products sectors, among others.  Web scraping automatically collects the prices of existing online items using an R or Python script; products that disappear are replaced manually. This technique automates the collection of more than 80% of prices collected on the internet.
• The use of scanner data has been extended to two new major retailers. This electronic data captured at the checkout replaces traditional field surveys and reduces the workload for stores. More accurate because it covers a longer period of time, it also provides valuable information for sampling the best-selling items. The price is calculated by dividing the turnover of a specific item by the quantity sold.
• Other data sources have been studied but will not go into production in 2026. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) could eventually replace the web scraping developed. Automatic access would no longer be via a website but via the database that feeds it. This requires close collaboration with online retailers.

Optimise calculation methods to increase the accuracy of results:

• Multilateral calculation methods have been studied and tested. These methods consider more than two periods for calculating indices and allow each item to be weighted without introducing statistical and mathematical biases into the results (chaining bias). This requires turnover figures per item sold. That is why they have been tested for books, petrol, computers and scanned data, for which we have turnover figures. The differences are insignificant for books, computers and petrol and therefore do not add any value. However, they could be useful for the parts of the standard basket covered by scanned data, allowing for greater accuracy and automation. Implementing them in the computer calculation module requires significant development work, which is why this work will be taken up again as part of the next revision in 2030.
• When a price is temporarily unavailable – due to seasonality (e.g. fruit and vegetables, clothing) or a temporary stock shortage (delivery delay) – an imputed price must be entered in order to ensure the continuity of the series and enable the subsequent calculation of price changes. In this context, a new imputation method, known as ‘neutral imputation’, has been implemented and tested to replace the current price carry-forward method. Unlike price carry-forward, which assumes price stability between two periods, neutral imputation ensures that missing items do not influence the results. The differences observed in the total index are very small, while more marked differences appear at the group and sub-group level, particularly for seasonal products, which warrants further analysis. In addition, the combination of neutral imputation with the various quality adjustment techniques needs to be carefully studied before its introduction. Finally, this new method involves a change in data entry practices within the production team. The price carry-forward method will therefore continue to be used in 2026.

Update the standard basket and the weighting source of the consumer price index (CPI) and the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) to ensure their international comparability:

• The new United Nations COICOP 2018 classification of private household consumption functions has been fully adopted. It provides a consistent structure for grouping goods and services in the CPI and HICP. Its implementation was essential to continue to enable international comparison. It now has 13 main groups instead of 12: the main group "other goods and services" has been split into two, with "insurance and financial services" now constituting a main group on its own. A large number of product types have been moved within the hierarchy of the standard basket: for example, postal services are no longer part of the main group "communication" but of the main group "transport". Personal computers have been moved from the group "recreation and culture" to the group "information and communication". 
• The detailed level CPI basket has also been adapted following the implementation of the new classification and in order to accurately reflect changes in household consumption patterns and the emergence of new products at the fine level. Plant-based milk, electric scooters, electric car charging stations, motorhomes, funeral services and long-term care have been added to the 2026 basket. All current and past results are published using the new classification and the new standard basket. These changes have no impact on past results at the total level; however, they may have an impact on detailed retrospective results, as the structure and content may have changed. 
• The HICP has also adopted the new COICOP 2018 classification (ECOICOP_2). Since 2024, the weighting has been based on final household consumption expenditure from national accounts (in accordance with Regulation 2020/1148). The HICP has been produced in parallel with the CPI since 2008. It allows inflation to be compared at European level as it is produced using harmonised methods based on European regulations and directives.

Pursue the efforts made during the 2020 revision in terms of knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• Several videos have been produced to explain in simple and understandable terms what the CPI is, what it is used for and how it is calculated              

  > CPI, standard basket, inflation: the FSO explains

  > The Consumer Price index at a glance

  > How does the consumer price index work?

  > Price statistics in brief

  > Understanding inflation in Switzerland

• Information on current projects has been published

  > FSO Revisions

• as well as guidance on using indices for indexation purposes: which index to use, how to index, what to look out for when drafting indexation clauses, examples, etc.

  > Why price indices?  

  > Instructions for use

Background

The Producer and Import Price Index (PPI/IPI) is revised every 5 years. These revisions are necessary to:

• update the structure of the indices for the domestic production, import and export markets (weighting of product groups, firms and updating of the sample);
• analyse the feasibility of implementing new calculation methods and new survey techniques;
• improve internal processes related to the production and dissemination of results.

The 2025 revision is the seventh revision of the PPI/IPI since its creation in 1914 (wholesale price index). It is being conducted in parallel with the revisions of the other price statistics. The possible synergies in terms of project objectives have already been analysed and themes common to the various revisions were defined when the revision projects were initialised in 2022 (allocation techniques, calculation methods).

Main revision topics

Further extension to the service sector (SPPI):

• continue to expand producer price surveys in the services sector to improve coverage of this important sector for Switzerland;
• develop rolling planning to periodically (every five years) revise surveys already in place;
• develop survey synergies between the PPI and the consumer price index (CPI);
• establish aggregates and include them in a total PPI.

Extension of the use of customs data to other product groups:

• analyse the feasibility of using customs data for the collection of export prices of ”other organic basic chemicals” (CPA 20.14).

Adaptation of electricity price surveys to market liberalisation (in collaboration with the CPI):

• set up a quarterly (instead of annual) survey, due to the strong fluctuations in electricity prices;
• launch a new structural survey to determine the weighting values for the electricity index;
• observe and monitor political developments concerning the further opening of the market and examine any necessary adjustments to the survey and weighting method.

Revision of the baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels:

• revision of the structure of the various baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels, exploitation of available data to judge the economic importance of the various branches and sub-branches, consultations with branch associations and other stakeholders;
• study of the possibilty of using turnover figures for weighting companies in the internal market PPI instead of full-time equivalents (FTEs);
• standardisation of the complex system for updating weighting and development of a system for the day-to-day management of recruitment.

Improve knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• by offering new explanatory clips for each of the price statistics;
• by providing users with more information on current projects on the web page;
• by providing users with more information on the use of price indices, indexation in particular;
• by considering new publications as well as innovative formats for disseminating existing publications.

Collaboration on cross-cutting objectives (with the CPI):

• in the study of the implementation of multilateral calculation methods in order to improve the quality and productivity of surveys, particularly when information on product turnover is available (customs data);
• in the implementation of a method of imputation of missing prices neutral on the evolution of the indices; 
• in the development of web scraping for the survey in the services sector.

Support

An advisory group monitors and gives its opinion on the work carried out and the results of the project. An information and consultation session is held in principle once a year. The main users, data providers and the academic world are represented in this group: the University of Neuchâtel (chair), the Swiss Economic Institute of the ETH Zurich, the Swiss National Bank, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, economiesuisse, the Coordination Conference for Construction Services and Buildings for Public Clients (KBOB), the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, the Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts, the Swiss Contractors' Association and the National Accounts Section of the FSO.

Further extension to the service sector (SPPI):

• A feasibility study for the production of a producer price index in the trade sector (wholesale and retail trade) was commissioned from an external company. The study concluded that feasibility would be very difficult: the trade sector is too heterogeneous, and it would be complicated to get the associations and companies active in this sector to provide the information needed for the calculation. For the time being, work on this project has been suspended. 
• Producer price indices for health services have been developed but require internal methodological checks before publication.
• Several indices have been revised (structure, products and sample): telecommunications services, postal services, IT services, market research services, labour hire services, and security and guarding services.
• Producer price indices in the services sector are not currently included in the total producer price index, as coverage is not yet sufficient. Twenty-six indicators are published separately: Producer Price Index for Services - 1.4.2001-31.12.2025. The development of services statistics is being carried out in stages and will be integrated into the total producer price index in the long term.

Extension of the use of customs data to other product groups:

• The use of customs data (foreign trade statistics) to calculate export prices will be extended to "other basic organic chemicals" (CPA 20.14). Customs data has been used in the pharmaceutical sector since 2020; it records all exports of goods from Switzerland to other countries and contains a description of the goods, their value and quantity, which makes it possible to calculate an export price for a specific item. The use of administrative data reduces the burden on companies. 

Adaptation of electricity price surveys to market liberalisation (in collaboration with the CPI):

• The producer price survey for large consumers has been conducted on a quarterly basis since 2023 due to greater volatility in electricity prices.
• The weighting values for the electricity index have been updated on the basis of the structural survey conducted among energy suppliers.
• The electricity market has not yet been opened up to all consumers. Price surveys and survey techniques have therefore not had to be adapted for small consumers and households. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

Revision of the baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels:

• The standard baskets for production, imports and exports have been updated and the weightings revised. The weighting of companies (for the producer price index) is now based on turnover rather than the number of jobs (full-time equivalents). Finally, the complex system for updating the weighting and the sample of data providers has been standardized. 

Improve knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• A video has been produced to explain in a simple and understandable way what the PPI/IPI is, what it is used for and how it is calculated, as well as a video on the importance and use of price statistics in general:             

  > The Producer Price index at a glance

  > Price statistics in brief ;

• Information on current projects has been published

  > FSO Revisions

• as well as guidance on using the indices for indexation purposes: which index to use, how to index, what to look out for when drafting indexation clauses, examples, etc.

  > Why price indices? 

Collaboration on cross-cutting objectives (with the CPI):

• Multilateral calculation methods were initially tested for the consumer price index (see CPI project results above).
• When a price is temporarily unavailable – due to seasonality (e.g. raw materials, fruit and vegetables) or a temporary stock shortage – an imputed price must be entered in order to ensure the continuity of the series and enable subsequent calculation of price changes. In this context, a new imputation method, known as ‘neutral imputation’, has been implemented and tested to replace the current price carry-forward method. Unlike price carry-forward, which assumes price stability between two periods, neutral imputation ensures that missing items do not influence the results. The differences observed in the total index are very small, while more marked differences appear at the group and sub-group level, particularly for seasonal products, which warrants further analysis. In addition, this new method involves a change in data entry practices within the production team. As a result, the price carry-forward method will continue to be used in 2026.
• The web scraping technique will be developed for certain services (airfares) in 2026.

Background

The Producer and Import Price Index (PPI/IPI) is revised every 5 years. These revisions are necessary to:

• update the structure of the indices for the domestic production, import and export markets (weighting of product groups, firms and updating of the sample);
• analyse the feasibility of implementing new calculation methods and new survey techniques;
• improve internal processes related to the production and dissemination of results.

The 2025 revision is the seventh revision of the PPI/IPI since its creation in 1914 (wholesale price index). It is being conducted in parallel with the revisions of the other price statistics. The possible synergies in terms of project objectives have already been analysed and themes common to the various revisions were defined when the revision projects were initialised in 2022 (allocation techniques, calculation methods).

Main revision topics

Further extension to the service sector (SPPI):

• continue to expand producer price surveys in the services sector to improve coverage of this important sector for Switzerland;
• develop rolling planning to periodically (every five years) revise surveys already in place;
• develop survey synergies between the PPI and the consumer price index (CPI);
• establish aggregates and include them in a total PPI.

Extension of the use of customs data to other product groups:

• analyse the feasibility of using customs data for the collection of export prices of ”other organic basic chemicals” (CPA 20.14).

Adaptation of electricity price surveys to market liberalisation (in collaboration with the CPI):

• set up a quarterly (instead of annual) survey, due to the strong fluctuations in electricity prices;
• launch a new structural survey to determine the weighting values for the electricity index;
• observe and monitor political developments concerning the further opening of the market and examine any necessary adjustments to the survey and weighting method.

Revision of the baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels:

• revision of the structure of the various baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels, exploitation of available data to judge the economic importance of the various branches and sub-branches, consultations with branch associations and other stakeholders;
• study of the possibilty of using turnover figures for weighting companies in the internal market PPI instead of full-time equivalents (FTEs);
• standardisation of the complex system for updating weighting and development of a system for the day-to-day management of recruitment.

Improve knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• by offering new explanatory clips for each of the price statistics;
• by providing users with more information on current projects on the web page;
• by providing users with more information on the use of price indices, indexation in particular;
• by considering new publications as well as innovative formats for disseminating existing publications.

Collaboration on cross-cutting objectives (with the CPI):

• in the study of the implementation of multilateral calculation methods in order to improve the quality and productivity of surveys, particularly when information on product turnover is available (customs data);
• in the implementation of a method of imputation of missing prices neutral on the evolution of the indices; 
• in the development of web scraping for the survey in the services sector.

An advisory group monitors and gives its opinion on the work carried out and the results of the project. An information and consultation session is held in principle once a year. The main users, data providers and the academic world are represented in this group: the University of Neuchâtel (chair), the Swiss Economic Institute of the ETH Zurich, the Swiss National Bank, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, economiesuisse, the Coordination Conference for Construction Services and Buildings for Public Clients (KBOB), the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, the Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts, the Swiss Contractors' Association and the National Accounts Section of the FSO.

Project results and implementation in production from 2026

Further extension to the service sector (SPPI):

• A feasibility study for the production of a producer price index in the trade sector (wholesale and retail trade) was commissioned from an external company. The study concluded that feasibility would be very difficult: the trade sector is too heterogeneous, and it would be complicated to get the associations and companies active in this sector to provide the information needed for the calculation. For the time being, work on this project has been suspended. 
• Producer price indices for health services have been developed but require internal methodological checks before publication.
• Several indices have been revised (structure, products and sample): telecommunications services, postal services, IT services, market research services, labour hire services, and security and guarding services.
• Producer price indices in the services sector are not currently included in the total producer price index, as coverage is not yet sufficient. Twenty-six indicators are published separately: Producer Price Index for Services - 1.4.2001-31.12.2025. The development of services statistics is being carried out in stages and will be integrated into the total producer price index in the long term.

Extension of the use of customs data to other product groups:

• The use of customs data (foreign trade statistics) to calculate export prices will be extended to "other basic organic chemicals" (CPA 20.14). Customs data has been used in the pharmaceutical sector since 2020; it records all exports of goods from Switzerland to other countries and contains a description of the goods, their value and quantity, which makes it possible to calculate an export price for a specific item. The use of administrative data reduces the burden on companies. 

Adaptation of electricity price surveys to market liberalisation (in collaboration with the CPI):

• The producer price survey for large consumers has been conducted on a quarterly basis since 2023 due to greater volatility in electricity prices.
• The weighting values for the electricity index have been updated on the basis of the structural survey conducted among energy suppliers.
• The electricity market has not yet been opened up to all consumers. Price surveys and survey techniques have therefore not had to be adapted for small consumers and households. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

Revision of the baskets and adaptation of the different weighting levels:

• The standard baskets for production, imports and exports have been updated and the weightings revised. The weighting of companies (for the producer price index) is now based on turnover rather than the number of jobs (full-time equivalents). Finally, the complex system for updating the weighting and the sample of data providers has been standardized. 

Improve knowledge transfer and transparency of methods:

• A video has been produced to explain in a simple and understandable way what the PPI/IPI is, what it is used for and how it is calculated, as well as a video on the importance and use of price statistics in general:             

  > The Producer Price index at a glance

  > Price statistics in brief ;

• Information on current projects has been published

  > FSO Revisions

• as well as guidance on using the indices for indexation purposes: which index to use, how to index, what to look out for when drafting indexation clauses, examples, etc.

  > Why price indices? 

Collaboration on cross-cutting objectives (with the CPI):

• Multilateral calculation methods were initially tested for the consumer price index (see CPI project results above).
• When a price is temporarily unavailable – due to seasonality (e.g. raw materials, fruit and vegetables) or a temporary stock shortage – an imputed price must be entered in order to ensure the continuity of the series and enable subsequent calculation of price changes. In this context, a new imputation method, known as ‘neutral imputation’, has been implemented and tested to replace the current price carry-forward method. Unlike price carry-forward, which assumes price stability between two periods, neutral imputation ensures that missing items do not influence the results. The differences observed in the total index are very small, while more marked differences appear at the group and sub-group level, particularly for seasonal products, which warrants further analysis. In addition, this new method involves a change in data entry practices within the production team. As a result, the price carry-forward method will continue to be used in 2026.
• The web scraping technique will be developed for certain services (airfares) in 2026.

Background

The Swiss residential property price index, which was created in 2020, is currently undergoing its first revision, in accordance with the five-year revision cycle for official price statistics. The aims of a revision are to:

• develop alternative data collection strategies to reduce the burden on data providers;
• implement the latest methodological improvements from the international community;
• extend the measurement of price developments to other real estate sectors (currently, price indices are only available for single-family houses and condominiums);
• improve the internal processes related to the production and dissemination of results.

Main revision topics

Use of land registry data:

• to determine the number of real estate transactions in Switzerland (transaction population) which will make it possible to assess the current coverage of the sample;
• with the aim of establishing a property transfer statistic (number of transactions per year).

Extension to other real estate sectors:

• to establish a feasibility study for the setting up of a price index for investment and commercial property (PDF in German);
• to define the priorities and, if feasible, develop the new indicator.

Update of the sample, structures and optimisation of dissemination:

• analysis of the relevance of integrating other types of mortgage institutions (insurance, pension funds);
• adapt the weightings and nomenclatures to the most recent data;
• verify the publication of alternative sub-indices;
• update of the data collection software.

Improve knowledge transfer and the transparency of methods:

• by providing users with more information on current projects on the web page;
• by considering new publications as well as innovative formats for disseminating existing publications.

Advisory board

An advisory board monitors and comments on the work carried out and the results of the project. An information and consultation session is held in principle once a year. The main users, data providers and the academic world are represented in this group: the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (chair), the Swiss National Bank, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, the Federal Housing Office, the Federal Office for Spatial Development, the Federal Office responsible for land registry and land law, the Swiss Conference of Land Registry Officials, the Statistical Office of the Canton of Zurich, the Cantonal Statistical Office of the Canton of Geneva, the Statistical Office of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the Statistical Office of the Canton of Lucerne, the Swiss Union of Real Estate Professionals, the Swiss Association of Real Estate Economics, the University of Basel, the Centre for Regional Economic Development of the University of Bern, the Swiss Tenants' Association, the Swiss Landlords' Association, the Swiss Bankers Association, the Swiss Association of Cantonal Valuers, the Swiss Association of Real Estate Appraisers, the National Accounts Section of the FSO and the Buildings and Dwellings Section of the FSO.

Project results and implementation in production from 2026

Use of land registry data:

• The publication of the first results on the number of real estate transactions in Switzerland and by canton is planned for the end of 2026. This will be the first census of the number of real estate transactions based on administrative data from land registers. The plan is to distinguish between the type of property (detached houses, condominiums, multi-family houses, etc.), the type of transaction (purchase, inheritance, etc.) and the region (cantons). 
• The total number of property transactions in Switzerland will also make it possible to determine the coverage rate of the residential property price index sample with precision.

Extension to other real estate sectors:

• The next indicator to be produced in the real estate sector will be a price index for multi-family dwellings (apartment buildings): transactions will be identified in land registers and matched with the building and housing register and geolocated data; transaction prices will also be provided by land registers. The implementation of data collection will begin in 2026, a quality adjustment model will be developed in 2027, and initial results are planned for the end of 2027.
• The feasibility study for the establishment of an index of investment and commercial property prices has been drafted and is available (PDF in German).

Update of the sample, structures and optimisation of dissemination:

• New data providers (mortgage institutions) have been included in the sample. The most important banks and insurance companies participate in the quarterly survey.
• The data collection software is currently being updated, and the EGID (building identifier in the building and housing register RegBL) is now one of the identifiers used to match data from mortgage institutions with the RegBL database.