From 1 December this year, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) will start receiving data from the largest food retailers in Latvia (Rimi, Lidl, Maxima), serving as an intermediary in the development of price comparison tools — a secure environment for collecting data and passing it on to developers of such tools. The goal is to enable consumers to compare prices of frequently used products essential for daily nutrition and make informed purchasing decisions.
This new task will be carried out by the CSB in accordance with Article 19.2 of the Consumer Rights Protection Law and the Cabinet of Ministers regulations “Rules for Submitting Food Product Prices for Price Tracking and Monitoring.”
In December, under this regulation, the CSB will also start receiving so-called scanner data, which can later be included in methodologies for comparing consumer price changes.
CSB’s Role – a Reliable and Secure Data Environment
According to the legal framework, the CSB will receive two types of data from retail chains:
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Starting 1 December, the CSB will receive operational data daily for products included in the list of basic food items. Retail chains will provide this data to the CSB each day by 8:00 a.m. via a secure data exchange channel.
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At least once a week, the CSB will receive data on the previous week’s electronic transactions (scanner data) from retailers. For example, the first data delivery to the CSB will take place on 8 December for transactions from 1–7 December. These will also be provided via a secure data exchange channel.
What data will be provided to price comparison tools?
Retailers will be required to provide the CSB daily with data on basic food products, including: product name, barcode number, price, discount price and loyalty prices, and discount period. The quantity and unit of measurement, retailer name, store type, and store addresses where the product is available must also be provided. Additionally, information about the product manufacturer and country of origin must be included.
These data must be provided daily for the following basic food products:
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White bread, rye bread, sourdough bread
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Pasteurized milk
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Cheese, curd, butter, cream, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk
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Onions, carrots, garlic, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, cauliflower, leafy lettuce, pumpkins, zucchini, potatoes, apples, pears, strawberries, cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries
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Pork, minced pork, poultry, minced poultry, beef, veal, lamb
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Fresh and chilled sea and freshwater fish
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Wheat flour, whole grain flour
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Buckwheat
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Chicken eggs
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Olive oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil
So far, the CSB has received one application from a company interested in obtaining data to create a price monitoring tool — from SIA Lēta pārtika. Companies planning to develop such tools and receive data must submit an official request to the CSB.
Scanner Data – More Detailed and Accurate Consumer Price Analysis
Electronic transaction (scanner) data will provide detailed information on purchase volumes, average prices, and consumer spending patterns. The CSB will use these data for statistical purposes, including calculating the consumer price index. Scanner data will cover a much wider range of products than the currently used sample-based method, allowing for a more accurate reflection of price dynamics relevant to a larger portion of society, and enable faster responses to changes in household expenditure patterns.
To include these data in calculations, comprehensive analyses will be carried out, defining aggregation formulas, data integration levels, and other aspects to ensure calculations comply with all methodological and regulatory requirements and Eurostat procedures.
CSB Director Raimonds Lapiņš:
"The regulation approved by the Saeima and the government allows us to take another step forward in the overall statistical data collection and processing development. It will also help optimize the production of statistics within the CSB itself."
"Scanner data received from retailers are and will remain confidential. The CSB will process these data and use them in aggregated form for official statistical purposes. Once we start receiving scanner data, we will be able to observe consumer purchasing habits in more detail, faster, and more regularly — what people buy more or less of. These data will also be useful for the business sector for market analysis and decision-making," added R. Lapiņš.
Prepared by:
Public Relations Division, Central Statistical Bureau
Email: media@csp.gov.lv
* According to Article 19.2 of the Consumer Rights Protection Law, the CSB is required to receive data on products included in the basic food list from those food retailers whose net turnover in the last financial year exceeds EUR 400,000,000.