1 week ago
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The Statistical Institute of Belize is preparing to roll out its latest Household Budget Survey (HBS) this weekend, March 6, a critical national exercise aimed at updating the country’s basket of goods and services used to calculate inflation. Officials say the survey will provide fresh data on how Belizean households are spending their money, ensuring that the Consumer Price Index more accurately reflects current economic realities. The last Household Budget Survey was conducted in 2018, and the Institute says an update is now necessary given shifts in consumer behavior. Manager of Census and Surveys at the SIB, Christian Orellano, explained that household consumption and purchasing patterns have evolved significantly in recent years. He noted that changes range from where families shop to the types of goods being purchased, including a noticeable increase in the purchase of used clothing.
The nationwide survey will involve thousands of households and will be conducted over an extended period to capture reliable data across different regions and income groups. Statistician II at the SIB, Melvin Perez, outlined the scale of the operation and the scientific approach behind the selection process. According to Perez, a total of 3,040 households were electronically and randomly selected using data from the most recent Population and Housing Census. He also explained the step-by-step process field officers will follow and the expected timeline for data collection.
The Statistical Institute is encouraging selected households to fully cooperate with enumerators, emphasizing that the information collected will remain strictly confidential and will play an important role in shaping national economic indicators and policy planning in the years ahead.
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