Over the past two decades, alternative data sources have become increasingly important in the compilation of Consumer Price Indices. Sources such as scanner data, web-scraped price data, and administrative records are being utilized more and more within national statistical systems for calculating price indices. In response, the UN Task Team on Scanner Data was established in 2017 as part of the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics. Its initial mandate focused on exploring the use of scanner data in official statistics, particularly in the context of consumer price statistics. Subsequently, the team's scope expanded to include other alternative data sources, including web-scraped and administrative data, relevant to the construction of consumer price statistics.

The Task Team has developed a comprehensive e-handbook detailing the application of these alternative data sources for compiling consumer price indices, which includes guidelines on data classification. This handbook is available on the UNSD wiki.

In conjunction with the e-handbook, the Task Team is also releasing aligned training materials via the UN learning platform. These courses are based on the following structured curriculum that may be further expanded in the future:

1. Alternative Data Sources (ADS) to compile CPI: an overview

2. Data acquisition (forthcoming)

3. Preparation of data (forthcoming)

4. Classification (forthcoming)

5. Data filtering and missing prices (forthcoming)

6. Price index methods (forthcoming)

7. Aggregation and implementation of a new production system (forthcoming)

Each course consists of modules released on the UN learning platform. After each module there is a quiz to assess the participant's understanding of the material presented. Upon completing all modules and quizzes successfully, attendees receive a certificate for the course.

For any observation or suggestion, please send a message to Federico Polidoro (fpolidoro@worldbank.org) or Luigi Palumbo (luigi.palumbo@bancaditalia.it).

This introductory course is the first of a curriculum about “Alternative Data Sources for compiling Consumer Price Indices”.

It aims to raise awareness of what these data sources are and to showcase how they can be applied at a National Statistical Organisation.

The main characteristics of Alternative Data Sources, with their advantages but also challenges for incorporating their use at the National Statistical Institutes, are described focussing the attention on scanner data, web-scraped data, data obtained through Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, and administrative data.