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News BulletinOctober 2007 No.4 |
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS2007 National Survey of Prices to be Conducted |
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The National Survey of Prices will be conducted in November 2007, in order to obtain a cross-sectional picture of retail prices, particularly with respect to regional differences as well as price variations among outlets and item specifications.
The survey, started in 1967, has been taken almost every five years, and the coming survey is the tenth one. The survey covers around 170,000 sample outlets and service establishments in 673 municipalities selected from across Japan. The characteristics of the outlets and sales prices of 180 goods and services will be surveyed. The municipal governments will employ about 3,000 temporary enumerators to collect goods prices, while the prices of services will be collected by officers of the municipalities. In addition, the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) will cover online/mail-order sales prices of about 3,000 enterprises. For the convenience of the respondents, the Bureau offers an Internet survey system by which questionnaires may be downloaded. The detailed regional price indexes compiled by the survey results are used for various area allowances and welfare payments both public and private. The results will also be utilized for the verification of the monthly Retail Price Survey, the data of which is the source of the Japanese Consumer Price Index. The survey results are scheduled to be released in three lots from June 2008 to March 2009. |
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The SBJ together with the Statistical Research and Training Institute and National Statistics Center has been providing technical cooperation for the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), Ministry of Planning, Cambodia through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the form of the Project on Improving Official Statistics in Cambodia.
From 28 August 2005 to 18 March 2007, Phase I of the Project was implemented for the purpose of improving statistical capacity of the NIS staff, provincial statistical staff, and the statistical staff of main line ministries. After the successful completion of Phase I, Phase II was launched on 23 April 2007 and will continue to 30 September 2010. The following is an outline of Phase II of the Project. Project Purposes The statistical staff in NIS, provinces, and main line ministries will be able to conduct planning, data processing, analysis, dissemination, and use of the Population Census or related surveys basically. Outputs expected 1. Delineation of EA (Enumeration Areas) is completed. The results of the delineation of EA are used for the enumeration of the Population Census and prepared for other statistical surveys. 2. As the output of the data processing and scrutiny of the Population Census, statistical tables as well as micro-data are prepared. And the statistical tables are released. 3. The Population Census results are analyzed statistically. The results of the analysis are released. 4. Database of the Population Census results is developed. 5. The Population Census results are disseminated by means of publication, CD, web site, statistical map, and census atlas. 6. Small area statistics are tabulated and released. 7. List of establishment is developed and is used for economic statistical surveys as a sampling frame. 8. Related Personnel share the common understanding in the matter of the Population Census (EA, the Census results, etc.) 9. Detailed Procedures (e.g. important processes, important examples, manuals) of the Population Census activities are prepared and compiled. 10. Necessary coordination among the related donors of the Population Census are properly made. |
Technical Assistance on Computer Programming at NIS
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The SBJ is planning to conduct the Housing and Land Survey as of October 1, 2008 for the purpose of obtaining basic data for various housing and land policy measures. This survey has been conducted every five years and the 13th survey is to be conducted in 2008.
The 2008 survey is required to improve the items on housing quality such as the actual conditions of existing house repairs, earthquake protection, fire safety and security. It is based on the fact that the emphasis in Japanese housing policy has in real terms changed from quantity to quality. Against this background, we conducted a pilot survey this July and carried out a practical examination, and have also conducted workshops and discussed the survey execution plan with academics and specialists. The next step is to finalize the survey execution plan based on the present deliberations of the Statistics Commission. |
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The Population Census in Japan has been conducted every five years to provide important data on the situation and changes in the state of Japan's population. According to the results of the 2005 Population Census, Japan has been in a phase of decreasing population, declining birthrate and aging. On the other hand, many problems arose in the process of conducting the survey against a background of changes such as greater emphasis on protecting personal information and the diversification of lifestyle and dwelling circumstances. For example, the enumerators were not able to make contact with members of some households, and other households refused to complete the questionnaire.
Therefore, the SBJ has been talking with local governments, academics and specialists, and private organizations, on how to improve the survey methods and acquire households' understanding and cooperation for smooth and accurate conduct of the Census ahead of the next Population Census in 2010. As part of the review for the next Census, we conducted the first pilot survey in July. We verified the ratio of collection and completion of the questionnaires by mail, ascertained the situation regarding collection of the questionnaires by mail and ways of administering them, and examined ways to follow up households that had not returned the questionnaire. Hereafter, we are planning to conduct the following pilot surveys: a second pilot survey to verify the results on the basis of the first pilot survey and to consider the survey items in 2008, and a third pilot survey to execute the final verification and rehearse the next Census in 2009. |
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A new monthly survey on service industries will start in FY 2008.
Value added of tertiary industry accounts for approximately 70% of the Japanese economy. However, only a limited range of monthly service sector output is published covering electricity, gas, heat supply, wholesale and retail trade. Therefore a monthly source of data for turnover and employment covering the full range of service sectors is needed, in accordance with the Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform 2006 (July 7th 2006 Cabinet Decision). Based on the Policies, a monthly survey will be established to collect data for sales and number of persons engaged in business for service sectors in information and communications, real estate, eating and drinking places, accommodations, medical, healthcare, welfare, and others. The survey will help to improve the accuracy of economic indicators such as quarterly estimates (QE) of the National Accounts. A test survey was carried out for a feasibility study of the survey from July to September 2007. |
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The SBJ is planning to conduct the Economic Census (tentative title) in 2009 for the following purposes:
1. To clarify the scale and activities of establishments and enterprises, and the basic industrial structure in Japan. 2. To maintain the sampling frame intended to provide the base for various types of statistical survey. For the 2009 Economic Census, we conducted a pilot survey in some areas as of 1 September 2007, to examine practically in advance the adequacy of the survey plan such as the design of the survey method and the questionnaires. |
RECENT RELEASESResults of the 2006 Establishment and Enterprise Census |
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The preliminary results of the 2006 Establishment and Enterprise Census conducted on 1 October 2006 were released on 13 July 2007.
The total number of establishments, the number of persons engaged at these establishments and the number of enterprises declined by 6.9%, 2.3%, and 6.3% respectively compared with the 2001 Census. |
Trends in Number of Establishments, Persons Engaged and Company Enterprises (1981-2006)
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| Among main industries, the number of establishments in “Medical, Health Care and Welfare” increased 17.9% against the 2001 Census. Meanwhile, “Manufacturing” decreased 14.8%, followed by those in “Wholesale and Retail Trade” (-11.2%), “Construction” (-9.6%). |
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| For further information, please see our website: http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jigyou/index.htm |
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The Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities aims to obtain comprehensive data on daily patterns of time allocation and free time activities. The survey was first carried out in 1976, and has been conducted every five years.
The 2006 Survey was conducted as of 20 October 2006, using the questionnaires A and B. The survey sample was approximately 80,000 household members aged 10 and over, randomly chosen from the entire population of Japanese households. The results deriving from questionnaire A concerned main activities such as Internet Use, Study and Research, Sports, Hobbies and Amusements, Volunteer Activities, and Travel and Excursions for the latest previous year, from 20 October 2005 to 19 October 2006. The following is an outline of the results for Internet Use, Sports and Volunteer Activities. Results for Internet Use Persons who used the internet (participants) numbered 67,500,000 and the participation rate was 59.4% of the total population aged 10 and over. Regarding the participation rate by sex, Internet Use among males was 62.5% and among females was 56.5%. By age group, the participation rate of males over 15 to 19 was 88.2% and that of females over 20 to 24 was 92.3%, accounting for the highest rate. As the age group became older, the participation rate declined. The overall participation rate went up 13.0 % points, compared with the last 2001 survey (46.4%) including use for business and study, showing how much the internet has infiltrated our lifestyles in these past five years. |
Percentage of Internet Use by Age (2001, 2006)
* The 2001 data for Internet Use includes access for business and study. |
| Results for Sports Persons engaged in sports activities numbered 74,236,000 and the participation rate was 65.3%, down by 6.9 % points compared with the 2001 survey. In categories compatible with the 2001 survey, all participation rates except for Soccer declined, that with the highest number of participants being Walking or Light Physical Exercise (down by 7.7 % points) followed by Swimming (down by 6.0 % points), and Bowling (down by 4.5 % points). |
Percentage of Persons Engaged in Sports (2001, 2006) 
* Above are categories compatible with 2001 survey. |
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Results for Volunteer Activities |
| Persons engaged in volunteer activities numbered 29,722,000 and the participation rate was 26.2%, down 2.7 % points on 2001. Participation was highest among the 40 to 44 age group (33.6%), and lowest among those aged 25 to 29 years (15.8%). By sex, females under 60 years old had a higher rate of participation than males, while over the age of 60, the rate among males was higher than females. |
Percentage of Persons Engaged in Volunteer Activities by Age (2006)
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