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Outline of the 2002 National Survey of Prices
1. Purpose of the Survey
The purpose of this survey is to obtain basic data on prices for price policy, etc. For this purpose, it aims to study the actual conditions of the price differentials among outlets, brands, regions, etc. by widely surveying prices of goods and services which are important objects of consumer spending, as well as the factors that influence price decisions including types and locations of outlets.
2. Characteristics of the 2002 Survey
Recent fall in retail prices is expanding in many areas due to consumers' demand for goods with high quality but low price, severing competitions as a result of regulatory reform and declines in land prices, and technical innovations in distribution system and so on.
In these conditions, the 2002 survey focused on recognizing the price differentials among types and locations of outlets and clarifying the long term changes of this price level.
3. Date of the Survey
This survey was carried out as of November 21 (Thursday) 2002.
4. Coverage of the Survey
(1)Municipalities surveyed
The survey was carried out in every city with a population of 100,000 or more (including Ku-area or special wards of Tokyo). As for municipalities of less than 100,000, the survey was carried out in 408 selected ones.
Number of Municipalities by Population Size
| Population size | Number of municipalities surveyed |
| Cities with a population of 100,000 or more | 228 |
| Cities with a population of less than 100,000 | 235 |
| Towns and villages | 173 |
| Total | 636 |
(2)Stores surveyed
The survey was carried out covering outlets, eating and drinking places, and establishments engaged in service industries in the municipalities surveyed.
A.Survey by the enumerators
The types of stores surveyed by the enumerators were outlets. Outlets surveyed were divided into several groups by sales floor spaces, industrial classification and type of outlets. About 132,000 outlets were selected nationwide from every group.
B.Survey by the municipalities
The types of stores surveyed by the municipalities were eating and drinking places, and establishments engaged in service industries (about 60,000 outlets and about 64,000 prices). The municipalities selected stores according to certain criteria.
C.Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
The types of stores surveyed by MIC were establishments engaged in service industries covering a wide area, and about 300 establishments engaged in internet sales, which was a nation wide selection. Statistics Bureau of MIC selected stores according to certain criteria.
5. Survey Items
(1)Items concerning basic attributes of outlets
A.Name of outlet
B.Type of outlet
C.Discount sales
D.Number of persons engaged
E.Presence of rival outlet
F.Distribution of advertisement papers
G.Main supplier
H.Location
I.Concentration of outlets
J.Treatment of the consumption tax
(2)Items concerning prices of goods and services
Among the goods and services that were important to consumers, 211 items were selected in order to survey ordinary prices on Thursday, November 21, 2002, the date of the survey.
As for 18 items out of the 211, "the lowest price in the past month" and "prices on the days between November 15, Friday and 21, Thursday" were surveyed, as well.
(3)Survey Items
Survey items were divided into three groups according to the persons in charge.
| A. |
Survey items by the enumerators |
170 items |
| B. |
Survey items by the municipalities |
39 items |
| C. |
Survey items by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Communications |
8 items |
6. Flow of the survey process
(1)Survey by the enumerators
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications - Prefectural governors - Heads of the municipalities - Enumerators (supervisors) - Enumerators - Stores
(2)Survey by the municipalities
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications - Prefectural governors - Heads of the municipalities - Stores
(3)Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications - Stores
7. Survey Methods
(1)Survey by the enumerators
The enumerators distributed questionnaires to the designated stores. After the representatives of the designated stores filled out the questionnaires, the enumerators collected them. They submitted them to the municipalities or supervisors after checking them.
(2)Survey by the municipalities
The municipality officers interviewed representatives of the designated stores.
(3)Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The Statistics Bureau officials interviewed the representative of the designated stores or mailed questionnaires to the stores and the representatives of the stores returned them after the entry in them.
8. Tabulation Items
The following items were tabulated on the basis of nationwide, prefecture, region, city group, etc.
A.Items concerning price distribution and retail prices by basic attribute of outlets
B.Items concerning retail prices by region
C.Items concerning bargain price distribution by basic attribute of outlets
D.Items concerning consumer prices by attribute of households and region
9. Publication of the Results
The results of the survey are to be published in result reports, etc.
They are also available via the Internet.
Symbol for National Survey of Prices
The symbol "
" (yen) with the motif of young leaves expresses prices. Young leaves depict enriching life.
