Consumer Price Index – Oman

CPI Application for Field Price Data Collection — Integrated digital solutions to support the calculation of the Consumer Price Index

The CPI (Consumer Price Index) application is a version customized for tablet devices. It aims to facilitate field price data collection by providing an integrated interface for managing tasks, browsing markets and sources, and recording commodity prices and updating their data, supporting data accuracy and field work efficiency.

Key Application Features

Task and source management by classification: Browse sources linked to each classification, with indicators showing completed and incomplete items and the distance between the researcher’s location and the target market.

GPS-based market identification: Browse markets within a specific geographic area using GPS to reach target markets and organize fieldwork.

Support for data collection cycles: Select the required week for classifications that follow weekly collection cycles.

Flexible organization of main and sub-groups: Display main groups and sub-groups on a single screen for faster navigation to required commodities.

Price entry and data updates: Dedicated interface for entering and editing commodity prices, including source, sub-groups, and full description.

Tracking and verifying price changes: Compare the current price with the last recorded price, considering permitted change limits.

Updating commodity data and documenting changes: Record changes to commodity name, weight, and price, with simplified entry of new names.

Adding and viewing notes: Write notes linked to commodities and view previously recorded notes.

Additional functions: Support notes, weighting, and substitute commodities according to approved system mechanisms.

Toward More Efficient Field Work

The CPI application combines task management, geographic organization, price entry, and tracking of changes in commodity data within a unified working environment on tablet devices. This integration helps simplify data collection procedures, improve progress tracking, and provide more consistent and reliable data for calculating the Consumer Price Index.