3. Background

In June 2015, the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) announced the formation of two independent advisory panels on consumer price statistics: a Technical Panel (APCP-Technical) and a Stakeholder Panel (APCP-Stakeholder).

The Technical Panel functions to provide independent advice to the National Statistician on technical aspects of consumer price indices, as requested by ONS and/or the Stakeholder Panel. The Stakeholder Panel functions to provide independent advice to the National Statistician on the uses and applications of consumer price indices, to ensure that these statistics meet the needs of users and serve the public good.

Their establishment was recommended by an independent review of the governance of price statistics in February 2014, which considered matters relating to the governance arrangements and structures underpinning the production of consumer price indices by the ONS.

The panels have continued to meet regularly (quarterly) throughout 2021 and 2022.  The Technical Panel typically meets 1-2 weeks prior to the Stakeholder Panel and Stakeholder Panel members are able to request to see the papers from the Technical Panel if they wish, and vice versa. The panels do not necessarily discuss the same papers, but there is inevitably overlap in the topics discussed.