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6. What is Index Numbers ? Explain the methods of construction of Index Numbers.
Ans: What is Index Numbers? A Story-like Explanation
Imagine one day you open your fridge and see some vegetables, fruits, and groceries. You
think about how much money you used to spend on these items a year ago and compare it
with today’s prices. You notice that the same basket of goods which cost you ₹1,000 last
year is now costing you ₹1,200. Immediately, you realize that prices have gone up by 20%.
Now, what you did here is a very simple, everyday example of Index Numbers.
Index Numbers are nothing but a special kind of statistical tool that helps us measure
changes over time. These changes could be in prices, quantities, production, wages,
imports, exports, or anything else that keeps varying.
In short:
Index Numbers = A thermometer of the economy.
Just like a thermometer tells us whether the temperature is rising or falling, Index Numbers
tell us whether prices, production, or other factors are going up or down.
Formal Definition
Index numbers are statistical measures that show changes in the level of a variable or a
group of related variables over two or more periods of time.
For example:
• Price Index Numbers tell us whether prices are rising (inflation) or falling (deflation).
• Quantity Index Numbers tell us whether the production or sales are increasing or
decreasing.
• Value Index Numbers show changes in value, i.e., price × quantity.
Why Index Numbers are Important?
Think of the government, businessmen, and common people:
• The government uses index numbers to make policies about inflation, wages, and
trade.
• Businessmen use them to decide about investments, production, and pricing.
• Common people are indirectly affected, because their salaries, pensions, and DA
(dearness allowance) are linked with index numbers.
For example, if the Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that prices of essential goods have
increased, the government may increase salaries or pensions to balance the cost of living.