The State Statistics Service updates the consumer set: focus on digital services

29 August 21:24

The State Statistics Service of Ukraine is preparing to revise the structure of the consumer basket, which is used to calculate the consumer price index (CPI), a key indicator of inflation in the country. According to the head of the State Statistics Service, Arsen Makarchuk, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, the list of goods and services may include new categories, including cumulative subscriptions to digital services such as Google One, Netflix, Spotify, and others, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.

According to him, we are talking about platforms that are actively used by a significant part of the population.

Mr. Marchuk explained that the current consumer set is formed with a focus on lower-income households. Such a structure does not always reflect the real expenditures of an average family, especially in large cities or among the young population. In view of this, the State Statistics Service is initiating an update of approaches and filling the index with more modern items.

I don’t think we will immediately include, for example, a subscription to ChatGPT in the consumer price index, but a certain cumulative subscription to services ranging from Google One to Netflix can be included, because many people use these services,” commented Makarchuk.

He also added that he welcomes public discussion on this topic.

Currently, the State Statistics Service is preparing to modernize the methodology: in 2025, it is planned to launch an updated digital platform for collecting data on household consumer spending. The new tool will allow Ukrainians to be surveyed online, which will increase the accuracy and efficiency of information collection. It will also make it possible to better track consumption trends and change the structure of the basket in line with real changes in consumer behavior.

Experts note that the revision of the consumer basket is infrequent, but is critical to the quality of macroeconomic analysis. The inflation expectations of businesses, citizens, and international partners directly depend on how realistic the index published by the statistical agency is.

In general, updating the CPI in the direction of digitalization is a logical step that is in line with international practices. For example, many EU countries already take into account the costs of streaming platforms, cloud services, or mobile applications that have become an everyday part of life.

It is expected that the State Statistics Service will present the updated consumer basket in 2026, after the completion of the consultation phase, testing of the new data collection platform and analysis of household responses. According to Arsen Makarchuk, the goal of the service is to create a more representative and modern model of inflation measurement that will correspond to the economic behavior of Ukrainians in the context of digital transformation.

What is the consumer basket?

The consumer basket is an officially approved representative set of goods and services necessary for a minimum standard of living. It is the basis for determining the subsistence level, which affects the amount of social benefits, pensions, and the minimum wage.

What does the consumer basket in Ukraine consist of in 2025?

Food (per person per month):

bread and bakery products – 8.2 kg;
cereals, pasta, legumes – 2.7 kg;
meat products – 5 kg;
fish products – 1 kg;
dairy products – 18 liters;
eggs – 18 pcs;
vegetables – 10 kg;
fruits and berries – 3 kg;
sugar – 1.5 kg;
confectionery – 0.8 kg;
oil – 1 kg;
other fats – 0.5 kg;
salt and spices – 0.2 kg.

Non-food items:

winter shoes – one pair for 3 years;
jacket – one piece for 4 years;
underwear, socks, etc. – repair and replacement as needed.

Household appliances:

refrigerator – 1 device for 15 years;
tV set – 1 device for 10 years;
washing machine – 1 device for 14 years.

The basket also includes dishes, bedding, hygiene products and household chemicals.

Services:

utilities (electricity, gas, water, heating, garbage collection);
public transportation (city and intercity);
basic medical care, outpatient treatment;
basic education costs, including textbooks and stationery;
mobile communication, internet and minimal expenses for cultural leisure (e.g., buying books or attending art events).

Chronic problems and the need for revision

Despite the importance of the tool, the consumer basket has not been revised for a long time. It still reflects the norms of the last century’s worldview and economic system, such as one blanket for 10 years or a maximum of 6 hairdresser visits per person per year.

Accordingly, the official subsistence minimum (UAH 2,920 per month in 2025) significantly underestimates real needs. The actual minimum may be 3-3.5 times higher.

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