Price Statistics is an important indicator of the changes in the general price level of essential commodities in the state. The data on price statistics indicates the economic situation of the state and thus plays an important role in the policy decision of the Government. Such policies have an impact on the economic growth and development of the state. The main objective of the Price Section of the Directorate is to collect, compile and publish various data in the form of Price Bulletin and its report is made available to the public from time to time.
Collection and compilation of price statistics on food and non-food items is one of the regular work programme of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Wholesale and Retail prices are collected from selected centres in all the seven districts of the state. These prices are collected from selected shops (i.e., 2 shops in the market) and if prices are not available from the selected shops, prices are collected from the open market by the staff of the Directorate posted in different districts and by the Sub-Inspector of Statistics posted in different C & RD Blocks of the state. The monthly average of for each centre has been computed from the weekly and monthly price returns.
The following are the price data collected and maintained by the Directorate.
1.Wholesale Prices:- Wholesale prices on food and non-food items in Meghalaya are collected from 7 price centres in the urban areas. Wholesale price of food items is collected for 24 commodities on a weekly basis while that of non-food items is collected for 13 commodities on a monthly basis.
2. (i) Retail Prices (Urban):- Retail prices for urban areas are collected from the 7 urban centres. The price data for food items are collected on a weekly basis for 84 commodities while non-food items are collected on a monthly basis for 60 commodities.
(ii) Retail Prices (Rural) :- Retail prices from rural areas are collected on a monthly basis for both food and non-food items from 25 rural centres including the newly incorporated rural price centre i.e., Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi District. The retail price data for rural areas are collected on food items for 84 commodities and non-food items for 60 commodities.
In addition, the Price Section of the Directorate also computes the annual average changes in the price of 21 essential commodities for every five years which the Directorate publishes annually in the form of price bulletin.
3. Consumer Price Index Numbers:- The Consumer Price Indices for Industrial Workers CPI (IW), released for each month by the Labour Bureau, Shimla are being compiled and maintained by the Directorate on a regular basis. Price Indices on Industrial Workers are also utilised for fixation/revision of dearness allowance of Government employees in the state and the same data is provided to the office of the Labour Commissioner for calculation and revision of Minimum Wages. Consumer Price Indices on Industrial Workers and Agricultural Labourers/Rural Labourers CPI (AL/RL) are also useful for calculation, fixation and revision of wages for different categories of labourers in the State. Consumer Food Price Index Numbers for Combined, Rural and Urban CFPI (CRU) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, National Statistics Office are also collected and maintained in the Directorate which shows inflation.
Price Bulletin 2020 
(17.8 Mb)
Price Bulletin 2019 (5.94 Mb)