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Data Sources

finPack uses CPI information from recognized national statistical providers.

The initial finPack CPI data service supports:

  • Canada — Statistics Canada.
  • United States — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The source for the selected CPI series is displayed in the CPI Data preview in the finPack task pane.

Statistics Canada​

Canadian CPI data originates from Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada describes the Consumer Price Index as a measure of price change over time based on a fixed basket of goods and services.

Statistics Canada publishes CPI information for Canada and multiple regional geographies.

Useful Statistics Canada resources​

The Statistics Canada command in the BPOpti Ribbon opens the Statistics Canada CPI portal.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics​

U.S. CPI data originates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPI indexes for the United States and a range of geographic areas and consumer-expenditure categories.

Useful BLS resources​

The U.S. BLS command in the BPOpti Ribbon opens the BLS Consumer Price Index website.

finPack and the data providers​

finPack is a BPOpti product.

Statistics Canada and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are external statistical data providers and are not part of BPOpti.

finPack makes supported CPI information available within Excel and provides tools for working with that information.

The statistical providers may publish more CPI datasets, geographic areas, categories, or historical information than finPack currently exposes.

CPI calculations​

finPack performs supported CPI calculations through BPOpti services.

These calculations include:

  • CPI Increase.
  • Change from last month.
  • CPI Average Change.

The underlying CPI observations used in those calculations originate from the applicable statistical-provider data available to finPack.

CPI Increase​

CPI Increase compares the CPI for the selected month with the CPI for the same month one year earlier.

This same-month comparison is consistent with the conventional 12-month CPI comparison described by the statistical providers.

For detailed information about the calculation, see FINPACK.CPIINCREASE.

Estimated observations​

Occasionally, an observation required by finPack may not have been published by the provider.

Where applicable, finPack may use an observation estimated according to the provider's recommended methodology.

These observations are explicitly identified as estimated.

Calculations that use one or more such observations are identified in the task pane as includes estimated.

See Estimated CPI Observations for details.

Verify source information​

For work where the exact provider publication, methodology, historical series, or official interpretation is important, consult the applicable provider website directly.

The Data Sources group in the BPOpti Ribbon provides convenient access to the CPI websites for Statistics Canada and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.