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Statbel’s pre-release policy

Statbel’s pre-release policy for the consumer price index (CPI)

Statbel (DG Statistics - Statistics Belgium) does not provide embargoed results, except for the consumer price index (CPI). For this, Statbel has a specific pre-release policy.

Statbel provides the results from the CPI statistics under embargo - i.e. before the official date and time of publication - to the members of the Index Commission, government organisations and news media.

This should enable these organisations to prepare efficiently for the publication and application of the figures.

Making these figures available under embargo is not a right. It is at the discretion of Statbel's manager to grant embargoed access. Access under embargo is granted for legitimate reasons:

Provision under embargo to the Index Commission (48 hours prior to publication)

The monthly results of the CPI are made available to the members of the Index Commission under embargo two working days (48 hours) before publication.

This is necessary for the Index Commission to fulfil its tasks as provided for in the Royal Decree of 22 December 1967 establishing a special commission called the “Index Commission”, amended by the Royal Decree of 30 July 1985. Indeed, one of the tasks of the Index Commission is to advise the Minister of Economy on the CPI figures. The Index Commission acts as a scientific committee and therefore gives additional legitimacy to the calculated figures.

Provision to the members of the scientific committee called the “Index Commission”

  • the representative of the Central Economic Council, as president of the Index Commission
  • the 7 representatives of the university institutions
  • the 7 representatives of the workers’ organisations and their deputies
  • the 7 representatives of the employers’ organisations and their deputies

Provision under embargo to the Belgian Official Journal (48 hours prior to publication)

The CPI is used for all kinds of indexations. To obtain a timely legal basis for these indexations, the figure must be published in the Belgian Official Journal on the last working day of the month. To guarantee publication on the scheduled date, the figure must be sent to the Belgian Official Journal no later than 3 working days (72 hours) before publication so that the necessary proofs can be submitted to Statbel for approval.

Provision to the Belgian Official Journal

  • Belgian Official Journal

Provision under embargo to the Minister of Economy (24 hours prior to publication)

As the Index Commission has to give advice on the monthly figures to the Minister of Economy, it is necessary that the latter also has the figures available in advance. The Minister receives the results in the form of a press release and under embargo maximum 1 working day (24 hours) before publication.

Provision to the Minister of Economy

  • the Minister of Economy

Provision under embargo to other government organisations (48 hours prior to publication)

Statbel provides the results of the consumer price index and its derived figures to well-defined government organisations so that they can fulfil their tasks and duties in a timely manner. For instance, social benefits and pensions are linked directly and without delay to the consumer price index or figures derived from it (indexations on the 1st of the following month). Public institutions that need these figures in advance should request them explicitly and with justification. They receive the results maximum 2 working days (48 hours) before the official publication time.

Provision to other government organisations in the context of indexations

  • Federal Public Service Policy and Support (BOSA)
  • Federal Public Service Finances
  • Federal Public Service Justice

Provision under embargo to the institutions of the National Accounts Institute (3 hours prior to publication)

The institutions of the National Accounts Institute are responsible for compiling national accounts and inflation forecasts. To fulfil their duties, they receive the figures the morning of publication by Statbel.

Provision to institutions of the National Accounts Institute

  • National Bank of Belgium
  • Federal Planning Bureau
  • Price Observatory

Provision under embargo to news media (1 hour prior to publication)

Statbel provides the consumer price index results and the figures derived from them in the form of a press release monthly to news media that explicitly request them, under embargo, maximum 1 hour before Statbel's official publication time. This should allow the media to launch their communications at the same time. Media that have access to the embargoed results are also not allowed to disclose them to third parties before Statbel's publication.

Provision to news media

  • domestic and foreign press agencies and media companies requesting it